The Post-Apocalyptic Big Farm Owner

Chapter 21: Xiao Liang

Lunch was a lavish spread. There were three meat dishes alone. One of them was braised mutant beast meat. Zhou Yan’s cooking skills were second to none; the meat was stewed until tender and falling-apart, its aroma filling the air and making one’s mouth water. Baijiu, beer, and soft drinks were also served in abundance. This meal was estimated to be worth at least two hundred jin in grain coupons. Although Li Ba had already given Zhou Yan 100 jin of grain coupons that morning to cover the food expenses for Da Fang and Xiao Fang, this single meal was quite costly—it would likely eat up their entire month’s food allowance. By that calculation, Zhou Yan was definitely losing money on the food. Given this woman’s greedy nature, she certainly wouldn’t be this generous for no reason—she must be after something, right? Since the apocalypse began, Dafang and Xiaofang had never had such a sumptuous meal. Although the two brothers wanted to maintain their composure, faced with such delicacies, they simply couldn’t resist and began to wolf down their food. After the meal, the two sisters cleared the table and washed the dishes. Yan'er was sent away by Li Ba and took Da Fang and Xiao Fang back to the Villa. At that point, only Li Ba and Zhou Yan were left. “If you have something to say, just say it.” Li Ba crossed his legs, picking his teeth while watching Zhou Yan, a smirk playing on his chubby face. This woman was acting way out of character today; if she claimed she had nothing to ask of him, Li Ba wouldn’t believe it for a second. “There is a small matter—I’d like to ask Master Li for a favor.” Just as she was worrying about how to bring it up, the fatso spoke up first, so Zhou Yan saw no point in beating around the bush and got straight to her request. She wanted to get some mutant sweet potatoes from Li Ba. Last night, she’d seen him with her own eyes carrying a burlap sack filled with several large mutant sweet potatoes, along with their stems and leaves. “I knew you were up to no good—you’re after my mutant sweet potatoes! Li Ba snorted coldly inside, but kept a smile on his face as he said, “Wanting mutant sweet potatoes is no problem, but… you’re not going to trade just this meal for them, are you?” Having been extorted by this woman multiple times, this time he wanted to squeeze a hefty sum out of her in return. “We can go by market price—however many grain coupons it takes, I’ll just deduct them directly from the house payment!” Zhou Yan gritted her teeth. She knew this fat bastard had grown wary of her and wouldn’t give her anything for free so easily. “I’m not short on grain coupons.” Li Ba exuded the air of a big shot as he waved his hand dismissively. Then, his lecherous eyes fixed on Zhou Yan’s ample bosom, and he licked his lips. “What I want… you know.” His meaning was crystal clear: he had no interest in grain coupons, but he was very much interested in Zhou Yan herself. Zhou Yan’s expression shifted. That fat bastard—he’d finally shown his true colors. And to think I’d actually taken him for a decent person before! Though she seethed inside, she needed his help. So Zhou Yan humbled herself, acting like a wronged young wife. She cast a plaintive glance at Li Ba and said pitifully, “Do you want to be just like that old bastard from the Management Committee and bully me, a widow?” Hearing this, Li Ba felt his pride take a hit. He didn’t consider himself a good person, but he wouldn’t do anything truly wicked—that was his bottom line. “Stop playing the victim in front of me! Tell me, what do you want those mutant sweet potatoes for?” “It’s all because of that old bastard on the Management Committee. He’s got a lot of clout in the settlement. Ever since my husband died, he’s had his eye on me, trying to force me to marry him… I’m helpless—I’m just a weak woman on my own. Even with the help of my husband’s two best friends, I can’t hold out any longer. That’s why I have to find a backer to put pressure on that old bastard—only then will he rein himself in, and I can finally put an end to this **nuisance.” “The backer you found… is an Evolver?” Li Ba asked. “Mm-hmm,” Zhou Yan nodded. “An ordinary Evolver wouldn’t be enough to make that old bastard think twice. The person I found was a police officer at the Xibu Precinct before the apocalypse. After the apocalypse, he awakened as an Evolver—and a very powerful one at that. He’s highly trusted by the settlement’s leadership. He’s now the captain of the Public Security Brigade and holds real power. Only he can keep that old bastard on the Management Committee in check.” After hearing this, Li Ba nodded thoughtfully. For Zhou Yan, that “old bastard” on the Management Committee was her problem. But for Li Ba, wasn’t that scumbag Li Chao just as much of a major threat to him? If that scumbag found out he’d made it into the city and was living the good life, given his rough-and-tumble nature, he’d definitely not let it go—and trouble… would follow one after another. Therefore, he could fully empathize with Zhou Yan’s plight. “Wait a minute.” Without a second thought, Li Ba turned and walked away. Before long, he returned with a burlap sack in his hands. “That’s all there is—it’s all right here.” Li Ba handed the burlap sack to Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan glanced inside; there were three giant mutant sweet potatoes and half a sack of stems and leaves. “Give it—give it all to me.” Zhou Yan could hardly believe it. She was telling the truth—she’d originally planned to play the victim to win sympathy, and would have been perfectly satisfied with just a few mutant sweet potatoes from that fatso. Who would have thought that the fatso would act so unexpectedly and actually give her this much? “It’s not for free, though.” Li Ba rubbed his chin, gave Zhou Yan a lecherous look, and said, “Once this trouble’s sorted out, you’ve got to put on ten special striptease shows just for me.” He walked away laughing. As he brushed past her, he even reached out with his wolfish claws and gave Zhou Yan’s plump, curvaceous butt a good grab, satisfying his lust. Caught off guard by the surprise attack, Zhou Yan instinctively spun around. By then, Li Ba’s towering figure was already heading toward the Villa in the backyard. Holding the heavy burlap sack, a sweet smile played across her delicate face. “Fatso, once I’ve sorted out my troubles, I’ll make it up to you…” Da Fang and Xiao Fang were both very pleased with their new home. Although the two brothers shared a single room, compared to the shacks in the settlement, this place was practically paradise. Seeing how excited the two brothers were, Li Ba was delighted as well. He gave them one hundred jin of grain coupons and told them to go wander around town as they pleased. If they had any physical needs to take care of, they shouldn’t hesitate to spend the money. They were all men, after all—Li Ba understood that perfectly well. As Dafang and Xiaofang headed out, Li Ba also went to the restaurant. That woman Zhou Yan wasn’t there—she must have gone to take care of her own business. He, too, needed to find a suitable storefront. Now that Dafang and Xiaofang had moved to the city, he had enough manpower, and the plan could move forward. Public Security Brigade。 This building had originally served as the Xibu Police Station. After the apocalypse, when the settlement was established, it was converted into the Public Security Brigade’s headquarters. The six-story building housed over three hundred officers—some of whom had been police officers before, while others were recruited later. They were specifically responsible for maintaining public order within the city. Xiao Liang sat in his office, currently reviewing case files. His thick eyebrows furrowed unconsciously as he muttered to himself, “Things haven’t been too peaceful in the city lately…” Before the apocalypse, Xiao Liang was just an ordinary police officer at the police station. When the virus broke out, the station chief, the political instructor, and many of his colleagues turned into zombies and began a frenzied slaughter of the survivors. The police station was a scene of carnage. Under his leadership, they broke into the armory and, together with the surviving colleagues, eliminated every zombie inside the station. Afterward, he organized an orderly evacuation of Xibu Town’s residents, preventing significant casualties. During this time, he awakened his abilities and became a powerful Evolver. His prestige among the residents of Xibu grew day by day. Later, large numbers of survivors poured into Xibu Town from all directions. Led by a detachment of the Armed Police, they wiped out every wandering zombie in the town and established the Xibu settlement as it stands today. Xiao Liang’s outstanding performance, combined with his status as a powerful Evolver with rare abilities, earned him the respect of the settlement’s leadership, who appointed him Commander of the Public Security Brigade. His background as a police officer had forged in him a character that abhorred evil. Under his watch, no one was allowed to violate the settlement’s laws; otherwise, whether an ordinary survivor or an Evolver, he would apprehend them without mercy. This clearly demonstrates just how powerful Xiao Liang is. It is precisely because such a powerful Evolver is in charge of public security that the settlement enjoys its current prosperity. Xiao Liang’s contributions are indispensable. He works diligently, spending nearly twenty-four hours a day at the Public Security Brigade, ready to receive reports from his subordinates at any time. Whenever a major incident occurs, he personally steps in to resolve it. “Captain!” The door swung open, and a young man in a police uniform walked in. “Chunming, is something the matter?” Xiao Liang looked up and asked with a smile. The man who had entered was Xiao Liang’s former colleague and current deputy, Ning Chunming. The two were extremely close; even before the apocalypse, they had been bunkmates. “Do you remember that hot spring resort in the center of town?” Ning Chunming walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat down, saying with a grin. “Oh, you mean… ‘The Flower of Xibu’—the resort run by that family?” Xiao Liang had worked in Xibu for several years and knew the area like the back of his hand, so he caught on immediately. “Yeah, that’s the one. The owner brought two soldiers from Zheng Jun’s unit today; she said they wanted to see you about something.” Ning Chunming sat up straight, leaned in close, and whispered, “The ‘Xibu’s One and Only’ really lives up to her name—she’s even more radiant than a flower, and her figure is out of this world. Are you going to meet her?” Upon hearing this, Xiao Liang put on a stern face and replied, half-jokingly, “We’re people’s police officers—we were before the apocalypse, and we still are now. We have to follow the police code of conduct; don’t go spouting nonsense.” “Got it!” Ning Chunming stood up with a smile. “I’ll send them on their way right away.” Just as he reached the door, Xiao Liang’s voice called out, “Never mind. We used to be neighbors. Let them in!” “I knew you’d say one thing but do another!” Ning Chunming left with a grin. Xiao Liang shook his head; there was simply no way to rein in this outspoken friend of his.