"Meet by the river tomorrow morning at 6 AM. Bring food, weapons, and your vehicle," Feng Tang instructed.
"We'll head east for 100 kilometers to City B, where there's a large foreign chain supermarket on the outskirts of the city. We'll take the national highway to get there, and it should lead us directly to the city's outer development zone."
Feng Tang reminded them, "If you need fuel, you can go to Ah Tu's place. They own long-haul trucks, so they usually have more fuel. You can exchange some with them."
With that, Feng Tang left.
Jian Yi wanted to chase after him to ask how the supplies he brought back would be distributed, but a hand grabbed her arm.
"Chen Junsheng, what are you doing?" Jian Yi turned around, displeased, and stared at Chen Junsheng, whose speed of transformation from a neighborly girl had surpassed that of Sichuan opera face-changing.
Chen Junsheng, with his clear eyes and a faint smile, didn't let go of her hand. "Sis, what would you like to eat tonight?"
Jian Yi thought about saying "anything," but then changed her mind. She said, "Make something convenient to eat on the road. You'll be out for at least two days, so prepare a bit more, just in case."
Speaking of which, Jian Yi remembered the bottled water in the underground storage. She added, "You three should take a case of water."
As for instant noodles, which were easy to store, Jian Yi didn't intend for Chen Junsheng to take them with him.
"Oh, remember to bring back the empty water bottles; they can be reused," Jian Yi added.
Chen Junsheng finally released her hand after meticulously going through the checklist one by one. Jian Yi had already gone downstairs, so he hadn't noticed her attempt to chase after Feng Tang.
Zhang Ming entered the room with a puzzled look. "Don't we still have plenty of food? The recent reinforcement of the defenses around the houses hasn't been completed yet. Is it okay to leave like this?"
"Do you not want to go?" Jian Yi asked directly, her eyes revealing no emotion.
Zhang Ming was taken aback for a moment and quickly shook his head. "No, you misunderstood. I just wanted to ask if it's possible for me to keep a portion of the supplies we bring back this time."
As he spoke, he felt Chen Junsheng's icy gaze, but he still clenched his fists and continued, "I only want some snacks, medicine, and, uh, I want to smoke..."
Zhang Ming felt embarrassed and rubbed his nose. Chen Junsheng hadn't missed the slight trembling in his eyes when he lowered his head.
Jian Yi looked at Chen Junsheng and gestured for him to decide.
Chen Junsheng spoke, "You can. You can even take all the supplies you receive, but you'll have to use resources to get water in the future."
Zhang Ming was dumbfounded. What good were these resources to him?
"What, not satisfied?" Chen Junsheng's tone grew colder, and Jian Yi had already gone downstairs. Without her by his side, Chen Junsheng's dark eyes turned wicked, and he seemed completely unrestrained.
Zhang Ming felt a chill down his spine. Had he made a mistake by assuming that this brother and sister were still fundamentally good-hearted after their peaceful interactions with the villagers over the past two weeks? He selectively forgot the gruesome sight of Hao Zhenzhu's death.
Did Chen Junsheng want to kill him already?
The thought sent shivers down Zhang Ming's spine, and he hesitated for a moment before stammering, "I, I don't want it anymore. Just leave it the way it was before."
Chen Junsheng's eyes narrowed, and he restrained himself from crushing Zhang Ming's hand when he reached out. "Do you think our family operates according to your wishes?" Chen Junsheng stepped closer, leaned in close to Zhang Ming's ear, and smiled menacingly. "Zhang Ming!"
"Chen Junsheng!"
A clear shout caused Zhang Ming, who was feeling suffocated, to suddenly feel alive. He gasped for breath and watched as Chen Junsheng quickly entered the basement. The whole time, Chen Junsheng's eyes seemed to be looking at a dead man.
Zhang Ming was terrified. Did Chen Junsheng really want to kill him?
Thinking of this, whether it was an illusion or not, Zhang Ming suddenly felt that the gaze of the tall and thin youth in front of him was like that of someone looking at a dead person.
His back shivered, and he hesitantly said, "I don't want it anymore. Let's go back to how it was before."
Chen Junsheng relaxed his clenched fists and took a deep breath. He struggled to contain his rage and motioned for Zhang Ming to leave.
"Do you think our family can be dictated to by you?" Chen Junsheng took a step forward, leaned close to Zhang Ming's ear, and smiled with a sinister edge. "Zhang Ming!"
"Chen Junsheng!"
A clear shout rang out, jolting Zhang Ming back to his senses. He gasped for air and watched as Chen Junsheng quickly headed down to the basement. Throughout the entire ordeal, Chen Junsheng's eyes had looked at him as if he were already dead.
Zhang Ming was terrified. Did Chen Junsheng really want to kill him?
With these thoughts in mind, Zhang Ming suddenly felt that the gaze of the tall and thin youth in front of him was like that of someone looking at a dead person.
His spine tingled, and he hesitantly said, "I don't want it anymore. Let's go back to how it was before."
Chen Junsheng relaxed his clenched fists and took a deep breath. He struggled to contain his anger and signaled for Zhang Ming to leave.
As for the food supplies, they would be handled according to the original plan. The episode had made everyone tense, but it was finally resolved with Jian Yi's return.
Zhang Ming, who felt like he had just escaped death, sat on the sofa, gasping for air. Little Tonton approached him, hugging a stuffed bunny she had found in a shop on the road, and took small steps toward him. Her big curious eyes stared at him.
"What happened to you, Zhang Ming? Did you get scolded by Brother Junsheng for not listening?"
Upon hearing the girl's innocent question, Zhang Ming's embarrassment was washed away. He mustered a weak smile, reached out, and gently patted her head. "I'm fine, Tonton. Don't worry. Did you get upset because I didn't listen to Brother Junsheng?"
He consoled her, and she giggled, hiding her little face in his arms. Her laughter, accompanied by a big teardrop, created a poignant yet adorable scene.
"Zhang Ming, how are you feeling now?" Jian Yi asked, appearing from the kitchen.
Zhang Ming looked at the smiling Jian Yi and couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence. "I'm okay now. I'm sorry for asking earlier. I won't bring it up again."
Jian Yi sighed, realizing that Zhang Ming had misunderstood the situation. "It's alright. Just don't ask about sensitive topics like that in the future. Tonton's parents... Well, it's a painful memory for her."
Tonton, in Zhang Ming's arms, raised her head, her eyes still brimming with tears. She looked at Jian Yi with gratitude in her eyes and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Jian Yi."
Jian Yi smiled warmly and patted Tonton's head. "You're welcome, Tonton. We're all a family now, so we should take care of each other."
As for the food supplies, they would be distributed according to the original plan. The incident had caused some tension, but it was finally resolved when Jian Yi returned.
Zhang Ming, who felt like he had just narrowly escaped danger, sat on the sofa, still catching his breath. Little Tonton approached him, holding a stuffed bunny she had found in a shop on the road. She took small steps toward him, her big curious eyes fixed on him.
"What happened, Zhang Ming? Did Brother Junsheng scold you for not listening?"
Hearing the innocent question from the girl, Zhang Ming's embarrassment faded away. He managed a weak smile and reached out to gently pat her head. "I'm fine, Tonton. Don't worry. Did you get upset because I didn't listen to Brother Junsheng?"
He comforted her, and she giggled, burying her little face in his arms. Her laughter, accompanied by a big teardrop, created a touching yet adorable scene.
"Zhang Ming, how are you feeling now?" Jian Yi asked as she emerged from the kitchen.
Zhang Ming looked at Jian Yi's smiling face and couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence. "I'm okay now. I'm sorry for asking earlier. I won't bring it up again."
Jian Yi sighed, realizing that Zhang Ming had misunderstood the situation. "It's alright. Just don't ask about sensitive topics like that in the future. Tonton's parents... Well, it's a painful memory for her."
Tonton, in Zhang Ming's arms, raised her head, her eyes still teary. She looked at Jian Yi with gratitude and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Jian Yi."
Jian Yi smiled warmly and patted Tonton's head. "You're welcome, Tonton. We're all family now, so we should take care of each other."