The Post-Apocalyptic Big Farm Owner

Chapter 17: Returning

with a Full Load A third-class road connected the settlement to the provincial highway, a distance of about eight or nine kilometers. There were a dozen or so villages nearby, as well as vast tracts of farmland. When the apocalypse struck, this road became the only exit from the Xibu settlement to the outside world. To ensure their safety, the settlement dispatched troops and teams of Evolved to sweep the nearby villages clean of zombies along the road. At the same time, they erected barbed-wire fences along the provincial highway, stationed troops there, and established a safe zone. Zombies were rarely seen within the safe zone. It was also where most refugees went in search of food. In just two or three months, the dozens of square kilometers of land within the safe zone were ravaged by refugees like a swarm of locusts. Grass roots, leaves, insects—everything edible—was completely stripped away, leaving the area a barren wasteland. At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, pouring down searing rays that baked the earth. Driving along the highway, Li Ba rolled down his window, and a scorching wind swept in, making him feel unbearably hot all over. “Damn! If only there were air conditioning!” Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Li Ba muttered under his breath. Under the scorching Sun, the car felt like a furnace, with the temperature well over forty degrees. He felt as if the fat on his body was about to melt away. With a flick of his left hand, a piece of sorghum stalk appeared, and Li Ba began chewing it in big bites. Surprisingly, the mutated sorghum stalk tasted fantastic—juicy, sweet, and delicious—and as he ate, the heat in his body immediately subsided considerably. As he ate, he looked out the window. Along both sides of the highway, the skeletal remains of refugees were scattered everywhere—he couldn’t tell if they’d died of starvation or dehydration. Many of the skeletons were severely decomposed, emitting a foul stench. On the barren land flanking the highway, he could make out small groups of people here and there; some were staggering along, while others were crouched on the ground, their backsides raised as if searching for something in the dirt. With the apocalypse upon us, the climate had turned harsh, and the refugees’ locust-like plundering had already devastated the ecosystem of this land. Nowadays, let alone food—it was hard enough to find even a blade of grass within the safe zone. To find food, refugees had to either head into the mountains or leave the safe zone to cross to the other side of the provincial highway. As for Li Ba, he wasn’t one to take risks; the reason he’d bought a car and equipment was solely to launder the grain grown in his bracelet’s storage space. After driving five or six kilometers, the refugees gradually grew scarce. Li Ba spotted a rural gravel road to his left and ahead; without a second thought, he turned the steering wheel and drove straight onto it. He was looking for a secluded spot. Driving along the gravel road, Li Ba passed a small village but didn’t stop; he kept going. After the apocalypse, the supplies in the villages near the safe zone had long been looted clean by survivors. Even so, some refugees still wouldn’t give up and would come here looking for food. Therefore, the village wasn’t a good place to “launder” his food. He kept driving until he reached the end of the gravel road, where Li Ba finally pulled over. He opened the door, got out, and looked around. The area was deserted and utterly quiet. About ten meters ahead was a small earthen hill with a few dead trees on it. Though they had no leaves or branches left, their trunks still blocked some of the sunlight. “This is the spot!” Li Ba walked to the back of the tricycle, lowered the cargo bed, and re-sheathed his steel spear on his back. Then, he retrieved a plastic tarp from the space in his bracelet, spread it flat over the cargo bed, and with a wave of his hand, piles of golden corn kernels appeared on the tarp. This corn was the grain he’d just harvested that morning. After removing the cobs, there were still over five hundred jin left. Since the corn was fresh after being shelled in the bracelet’s storage space, it needed to be sun-dried before he could take it back to the city to sell. Li Ba took a wooden rake from the bracelet’s storage space and spread the corn kernels evenly across the plastic sheet. In the small space left over, he placed the harvested wheat from the bracelet’s storage space to dry in the midday sun. Ten minutes later, the work was done. Li Ba wiped the sweat from his brow and walked up the dirt slope to rest in the shade beneath a dead tree. The vantage point offered a clear view, allowing him to spot any developments in the area immediately. Leaning against the tree trunk, Li Ba squinted his eyes and sat waiting for the sun to set. When he was thirsty, he had sorghum stalks to quench his thirst. When he felt restless, he had plenty of cigarettes on hand. It was actually quite pleasant. Glancing at the corn and wheat drying on the truck bed, a happy smile involuntarily spread across his plump face. As soon as evening came, he’d be able to return home with a full load. “If that slut Zhou Yan sees me coming back with a whole truckload of grain, she’ll definitely drag me off to a strip club tonight!” It was rare for Li Ba to have such lecherous thoughts at a time like this. Thinking of that slut’s alluring, sexy figure, a surge of lust welled up in his lower abdomen for no apparent reason. He thought to himself, Once I’ve made it big, I’ll definitely make that slut kneel and lick me—even if it costs me two thousand jin of grain, it’ll be worth it! The scorching Sun gradually began to sink toward the west. By evening, the corn and wheat left out to dry were completely parched. The harvest began. Li Ba first stored the corn and wheat in the space within his bracelet, where his consciousness could easily sort and package the grain. When he was done, he whistled as he climbed into the vehicle. Accompanied by the roar of the engine, the tricycle belched billowing black smoke and sped off into the distance. After the apocalypse, the climate had changed, and the temperature difference between day and night was extreme. During the day, the high could reach over forty degrees; as evening fell, the temperature would plummet by more than twenty degrees, bringing a hint of coolness to the scorched earth. Night gradually fell. Yan'er stood at the intersection, not moving a muscle, her large, lively eyes fixed on the street, her little face filled with anxiety and sorrow. She had once been her grandparents’ most cherished granddaughter. The apple of her parents’ eye. A model student with excellent grades and character in her teachers’ eyes. In the eyes of her classmates, she was the class beauty—well-off and stunningly pretty. Little did anyone expect that the apocalypse would strike and destroy all that beauty. Of the five family members, her grandmother and parents had contracted the virus and turned into zombies. If it hadn’t been for her grandfather’s quick thinking—which allowed him to lead her to safety—she would likely have been torn to pieces and devoured by her own flesh and blood. After enduring hunger, panic, despair, and a long, dark period, she and her grandfather relied on each other for survival and finally escaped the city—which had become a living hell—with the help of the military. After a grueling journey, they arrived at the Xibu settlement. She had thought they could start a new life there. Instead, she and her grandfather were turned away at the city gates and found themselves wandering through a filthy refugee camp teeming with danger and murderous intent. To survive, she and her grandfather, like many other refugees, scoured the wilderness for food. They ate everything that could fill their stomachs—grass roots, tree bark, you name it. This cruel world filled her heart with despair. Fortunately, her grandfather’s comfort and encouragement kept her going; otherwise, she would have long since given up, preferring death to continuing to live in this cruel world. However, their resolve did not bring good fortune. Her grandfather, who had sacrificed himself to care for her, fell gravely ill from starvation. At the same time, this attracted the most vile beasts in the refugee camp—creatures who not only sought to devour her grandfather but also intended to harm her… Fortunately, at the critical moment, Uncle Li appeared—like a ray of dawn, bringing hope to her dark life. This man, who didn’t look like a good person at first glance, agreed to her grandfather’s dying request and treated her with almost doting care, gradually melting the ice of despair in her heart. Life began to improve. Hunger and suffering gradually receded. All of this was thanks to Uncle Li; his broad shoulders and large belly had become her warmest refuge. To Yan'er, Uncle Li was the sky itself, the mighty mountain she leaned on. Now that the sky had collapsed and the mountain had vanished, she was filled with dread and anxiety; not a single day had passed since then when she felt at peace. “Uncle Li, Uncle Li, you said… that even if we died, we’d die together. Why did you leave the city… Do you know how dangerous it is outside the city walls…” Before she knew it, tears blurred her vision. Zhou Yan and the two sisters stood beside her. No matter how much they tried to persuade her, Yan'er refused to go back. She was determined to wait here for Uncle Li; until she saw him, she wouldn’t find peace of mind. Night fell. A sudden gust of wind swept through the streets, and the temperature plummeted. Yan'er, wearing only a short-sleeved T-shirt, shivered uncontrollably, yet she stubbornly remained at the crossroads, waiting for the person most important to her to return. Seeing this, Zhou Yan sighed inwardly, feeling even more guilty. If it weren’t for her, Fatty probably wouldn’t have left the city. She didn’t even need to think about the dangers outside the city walls. It was so late, and Fatty still hadn’t returned—it was clear… the situation looked grim. Tap, tap, tap… Just then, the roar of an engine echoed down the street, accompanied by a blinding beam of light. An agricultural tricycle sped toward them, and when it reached the intersection by the restaurant where Yan'er was standing, it screeched to a halt with a sharp “squeal.” Yan'er couldn’t keep her eyes open in the glare of the lights. She vaguely saw a figure get out of the vehicle, followed immediately by a familiar, boisterous laugh: “Kid, it’s so windy out here—what are you doing standing here!” Uncle Li! Yan'er rushed over and clung tightly to the figure, refusing to let go. Seeing the little girl’s face streaked with tears, Li Ba knew he’d caused her worry and anxiety all day. His chubby face softened with tenderness as he smiled and said, “Uncle’s fine. Look, I’ve got a gun in my hand—that’s enough to protect myself.” He patted his back—steel spears and iron shields were strapped to his body. Even his ****** was strapped to his back. Paired with his black trench coat, his tall, stocky frame looked incredibly imposing. Seeing this, the little girl finally felt a little better. To ordinary people, a gun was a deadly weapon that was out of reach. With Uncle Li holding a gun, he’d be much safer even if they went outside the city. “Wow, you sure brought back a lot of supplies from your trip out of town this time!” Zhou Yan and the twin sisters gathered around. The three women had sharp eyes; spotting six or seven bulging **bags** arranged in the tricycle’s cargo area, they all looked on in amazement. Li Ba chuckled smugly and said proudly, “I brought back quite a few good things from my trip out of town this time. I’ve already sold a batch at the market, and I’m bringing the rest home for you all to see!” He pinched Yan'er’s little cheek, then turned to start unloading the goods. Seeing this, the women all stepped forward to help. Carrying two burlap sacks each, they carried them back to the inn and piled them in the corner. After several trips, all the cargo in the cargo area was unloaded. Taking a moment to look, Zhou Yan examined the sacks and found they were filled with bright yellow corn and plump wheat. There were seven sacks in total, each weighing over one hundred jin. That meant this batch of grain alone weighed seven or eight hundred jin. “I never would’ve guessed that fat guy had some skills!” Zhou Yan’s eyes lit up. Of course, she had no idea that this grain had all been grown by Li Ba in the space within his bracelet; she assumed he’d gathered it while searching outside the city that day, and her heart was filled with delight. The fat man was safe and sound—she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about that. Moreover, returning with such a bountiful load meant that this batch of grain alone would be nearly enough to pay off her debt. Of the seven sacks, two contained wheat—all top-quality grain. Once husked, they’d be worth at least three or four hundred jin in grain coupons. Counting the five sacks of corn, it should be enough to pay off her debt. Zhou Yan was overjoyed. Once the Fat Man had paid off his debt, she would be one step closer to her goal.