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墨書 Inktalez
On New Year's Eve, it was rare for someone to set off a firecracker, and the children were joyfully wandering around the village. Tang Zhaodi brought a dozen kids to the Li Family to celebrate the New Year. They set up a bonfire in the yard, roasting some sweet potatoes. Yu Tian brought some sunflower seeds and peanuts, having previously steamed and dried the sweet potatoes, which had now become snacks.
The children gathered around Li Ming, happily playing. Li Xiaoming proudly held a water gun, looking like a little king, which made Li Yan very fond of him. She brought out a plate of warm corn cakes topped with sugar, making the children's mouths water.
When Liu Tao walked in, he picked up a piece to eat and couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "I really didn't like this stuff before, but now I can't get enough of it. By the way, everything is ready."
Li Yan nodded and went inside with Liu Tao, while Zhou Miao closed the door and asked Yu Tian to entertain the kids outside.
"I've had someone keep an eye on that person. He seems particularly agitated today," Liu Tao said with a sarcastic smile. People should have their principles; those who can abandon their principles without limits are of no use. Would they just become another Jiang Yuan?
"Liu Tao, here are the remaining grenades. Distribute them to the brothers later. It's better to be well-prepared since we’re not sure about their manpower," Zhou Miao said as he moved a cardboard box from inside. The box was unmarked from the outside but was originally from Kang Shifu instant noodles.
"Don't worry; our brothers have weathered storms together. We're all quite satisfied living in this village and have no plans to move," Liu Tao replied. He hadn't been to that base, so he couldn't judge its quality. These people had relied on the Li Family brothers to survive in this apocalypse, yet now they were thinking of betrayal—how ungrateful.
After dinner, the children went home to sleep. Yu Tian took out a radio and listened for a while; it was all about how different Safe Zones celebrated the New Year. Even in an apocalypse, New Year’s was still quite a grand occasion. Listening to those novel and lively programs, Yu Tian thought about trying something similar next year.
Once the village fell silent, the heavy wooden door creaked open quietly. Dozens of figures swiftly passed through the door against the dazzling white snow. Three or four people opened the door and gestured for others to follow them inside.
They headed straight for the weapons storage room but encountered someone who had gone out for convenience along the way. Without thinking twice, the leader shot him down instantly; it was too sudden for the man to even scream.
"What’s going on? Didn’t we agree to only occupy the village and kill Li Yan and his group?" Zhang Mo's face turned pale. Although he had agreed to cooperate with Zhang Yaoming, he didn’t want to commit heinous acts.
"Hmph, you really are naive." If it weren't for not wanting to provoke Li Family right now, he would have dealt with him already. "Enough talk; hurry up and take us there."
"Xiao Lele, look at this; it's internal strife already. They were never on the same page anyway; trying to steam buns in a pot with rotten ones is bound to cause trouble. Unlike me—kind-hearted and dedicated—I can be good to someone for life. I’m loyal to my brothers and would sacrifice everything for my loved ones; I treat enemies like autumn leaves blown away by the wind," Liu Tao occasionally praised himself.
Yin Le's face turned red as she buried her head deeper into her down jacket, silently repeating: I didn’t hear anything… I didn’t hear anything…
Just then, there was a loud explosion from where they stored munitions—clearly, the show was about to begin. Liu Tao led his group quickly toward that direction while Jiang Chao ran over with short legs, crying out: "Zhang Yaoming! Zhang Yaoming! Help me! My leg… my leg is broken!"
"Trash!" Zhang Yaoming gritted his teeth as he glared at Li Yan, his cold eyes filled with menace. "I didn't expect you all to conspire to ambush me, Li Yan."
"You are completely mistaken," Zhou Miao asserted, fully expressing the rights of a victim. "First, it was you who came to ambush us. Second, these guys..." He pointed at the dazed Zhang Hong and Zhang Mo, sarcastically adding, "These guys have nothing to do with us, and starting tonight, they are no longer part of Bright Village. As for you all, since you've come here, you might as well leave a memento, Zhang Yaoming. Don't you think?"
"Hmph, do you think it's just us here? I've already surrounded this village. If I can't get out today, none of your villagers will survive," Zhang Yaoming sneered at them. He was no longer the Zhang Yaoming who had just returned from fleeing; he was a god, he was an Ambassador, he was the ruler!
Li Yan felt pity for him—yes, pity. He had long been trapped in his own consciousness and unable to extricate himself. Perhaps he had gone mad during his escape; how else could he have consumed the flesh and blood of his kind? How could he repeatedly prioritize power over life?
"Li Yan, I advise you to be smart about this; there are plenty of people in this village," Zhang Yaoming boasted arrogantly, seemingly unconcerned about his situation. "I am an Ambassador; do you know how many followers I have outside? Just one word from me, and not just you, Li Yan; they could trample this place flat."
"No need to leave any survivors," Li Yan said, not wanting to see that face again. He patted Lu Tao on the shoulder. "Today is New Year's Eve; those people outside still have to celebrate the new year."
Zhang Yaoming could never understand why they dared to kill him. He was an Ambassador, a messenger of the great emperor; how could they have the audacity...?
"Ambassador? Hmph, what a load of crap. Fool," Liu Tao did not hold back. As a soldier, it was his duty to eradicate such scum; as a friend, he couldn't let them live. These people bullied others outside while everyone else dared only to seethe in silence. Did he really think those followers would obey him unconditionally? Perhaps at first, due to the despair of the apocalypse they relied on him, but over time not only could the emperor not provide for them, but they also committed all sorts of atrocities like stealing food and people—who would still believe in him? Only those foolish old men and women thought that believing would ensure their protection even in death; thus their children and grandchildren were selectively forgotten while their food supplies were sent away until nothing remained—they could only starve.
When Liu Tao and the others were in the Safe Zone, many desperate civilians sought their help; unfortunately, they could only close their eyes and cover their ears—what good would it do to save so many mouths in the Safe Zone?
All of Zhang Yaoming's men were dead. The villagers silently watched without saying anything but helped throw their bodies onto a cart. They did not leave; instead, they looked at Li Yan.
Li Yan still wore that same expression and tone: "I said before, those who like it here are welcome; those who don’t want to stay can leave without me saying a word. I understand and agree with your choice to elect Zhang Hong as Vice Village Chief. If you want to go, I will not say a single word against it. There is only one condition: those who leave must leave a message and never return to Bright Village."
Zhang Mo and Zhang Hong did not say anything pleading as they left; instead, their families cursed loudly. They took everything with them and even incited several others to join them in heading to the legendary base.
Li Yan sighed deeply as he watched them depart; perhaps he would never see these people again in his lifetime. Days continued to pass one by one without any change in weather despite Zhang Mo and Zhang Hong's departure.
On New Year's Day, Bright Village welcomed a new Vice Village Chief—Zhang Yi, whom Li Yan had nominated. Everyone felt heavy-hearted; previously united against outsiders, but this time it was...
Days turned into years quickly as five years passed by. On this day, a group of people arrived at Bright Village wearing military uniforms. They carried a woman into Li Yan's home; her face was veiled. Curious villagers gathered around the Li Family and whispered among themselves.
"Li Yan, do you remember me?" The woman's voice sounded relaxed. "I am Li Yuanyuan."
"I heard you became the District Chief." Li Yan was indeed surprised when he heard this news.
"Yeah, it's not easy, very difficult," Li Yuanyuan said with self-deprecation. "I used to hate you all. Clearly, we could have been doing well, so why didn't you help us? And Dad always talked about how great you were, and... never mind, I won't say more. But later I realized I was wrong. To Dad, we are just flags; when we have value, we're treasures, but when we don't, we're not even trash. And to Mom, her sons are her hope, while I was abandoned. Isn't that cute? I'm their relative, after all, blood is thicker than water, yet these two adults didn't realize it.
But I couldn't accept it. I used Jin Yu to bring down Dad and shatter Mom's hopes; I fought against many people. For five years, I couldn't sleep peacefully for a single day; not a second went by without scheming. At this moment, I thought of you. Back then, you didn't accept Dad's proposal and weren't swayed by power; it wasn't because you didn't care about it but because you understood that there are things more important than that. You are a smart person and someone who understands life. Honestly, I really envy you."
"What brings you here today?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to see you all and find someone to talk to." Li Yuanyuan might have not smiled in a long time; the corners of her mouth lifted stiffly, though all of this was hidden behind a veil. "Jin Yu's child isn't Dad's or Li Zhi's; ha ha, she can't even clarify whose it is. So I took the liberty to help her open up and take the child out to see if she could remember who the father is. As for Xiao Zhi being my mom's son, naturally he went with my mom to accompany Grandpa since my mom has always been very filial. Dad is in decent health but getting old and confused..."
Li Yuanyuan rambled on for quite a bit and seemed a bit reluctant to leave when she finally did. However, she never came back again. Five or six years later, Li Yan heard that she had united with other Safe Zones to establish a base that was quite large; no one expected she could achieve this level.
Li Yan and the others had completed their inner alchemy and entered the foundation-building stage; human lifespan had taken another significant leap forward. Bright Village had expanded several times as well; perhaps because they heard the conditions here were quite good, more and more people came. Li Yan's conditions remained the same, and everyone understood.
Once, Zhang Yi came over and said he met Zhang Hong outside; he had become so thin he was unrecognizable. It was said that his family had all died, and he wanted to come back but was stopped by Zhang Yi. The ironclad rules of Bright Village could never be changed, even though Zhang Hong cried bitterly in regret.
By the time Li Yan turned forty-five, he left Bright Village with Li Xiaoming and Zhou Miao. They still looked remarkably young...
Many years later, someone claimed to have seen a man who looked like Li Yan along with Zhou Miao. They must be their descendants... (THE END)
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