Apocalypse King: Recruiting S-Tier Beauties With My Ruler System Chapter 214: The Struggles of Those Who Live

???? POV

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"So you’re telling that our current food reserves cannot last until winter, Jiang Ping?"

My Father’s low, aggravated voice shouted at , Son... because of a mistake during his mission, it seed that Ping’er accidentally set fire to the reserve grains and rice stored in the silos just outside the compound.

"How much have we lost, Father?" I tried to speak, hoping my Father wouldn’t be too harsh with Ping’er. "I am sure Ping’er can make up for the losses."

"WHAT WOULD A WOMAN KNOW!?"

My disgusting ex-husband scread out, pointing at as if he were sohow smarter or special. This bastard loved to scream things like this despite being soone who married into our house and ca running back when the world started falling apart.

’Ungrateful bastard... You are the reason my lovely Lan’er, refused to co ho!’

He was Ping’er and Lan’er, Father... and the son-in-law of the Jiang family, at least... until we divorced two years ago.

"What don’t I understand, ng Hao!?"

"Because of your useless son, we’ve lost 72,000 lbs of rice! Do you think we can just make that appear out of thin air?!" ng Hao hated that I divorced him, but things beca complicated because he still held a position in my Father’s business.

’The fact that you’re not on your knees begging Father for forgiveness is almost enough for to say fuck it and kill you.’

I have beco a little numb to ng Hao’s insults.

"Father, please... don’t punish Ping’er too heavily..." I rubbed my palms, begging, though he wasn’t brilliant, I knew my son wouldn’t do sothing intentionally. "Please let him explain..."

My Father looked at with such concerned eyes.

"Jiang Siwan, you must understand, the damage that Jiang Ping has caused isn’t sothing that can be forgiven with a simple apology. However, you do make so sense."

My Father redirected his gaze towards Ping’er.

But Ping’er looked pale, his face covered in sweat... because of his cri, two of our family guards sat on either side as if he were so criminal.

’Lan’er when will you co back... without you, everyone has beco a strange.’

"Grandfather... Mother... I..."

"Get on with it!" ng Hao grumbled, causing Ping’er to pull back, his eyes searching my face for reassurance.

’You can do it, Ping’er, ’ I mouthed and tried to show a bright smile, but even that... didn’t seem enough.

Though our family wasn’t rigid anymore, because of past mistakes that caused us to lose a shining start, even my Father beca less aggressive and stubborn.

But a world filled with undead, and people trying to kill each other for a small benefit...

Will Lan’er be able to forgive and return ho?

I couldn’t help but want to hear her singing old folk songs while drunk, or going to watch her compete in martial arts tournants as a young girl... That’s when Ping’er finally stood up.’

"To the north west, there is a huge train station that we thought might have more supplies and dicine that the people who follow us and support us might have needed..."

Everything started to make sense...

Since I was in charge of the logistics of the base and helping dispense the food and supplies, the north and west were classed as danger zones.

I rember the reports of those areas crawling with undead that evolved from the small horde we had encountered in our early days.

"Jiang Ping, how could you leave the base without permission?"

Once again, ng Hao interrupted, but this ti it wasn’t I who shot back, but my Father!

"ng Hao, you are an outsider here. Shout at my grandson once again, and I will thrash you! Don’t think I have forgiven what you did to my daughter and precious granddaughter because of your filthy greed!"

The words made my ex-husband’s face scrunch; he hated it when soone called him out.

My son continued to explain that there were so antibiotics and other dicines we could use to help the sick and injured within the base, but my Father’s face hardened as if he would kill my son just because of one small mistake.

"Do you understand that the lost land because of the Evolved ones that followed you is great enough to wipe our entire colony out if we didn’t have a secondary silo?"

A low, but calm voice filled with the wisdom of an aged general and the care of a seasoned father.

"I do, Grandfather."

"But do you know what the biggest loss would have been, if things had turned out worse?" It seed my Father was about to either shout or say sothing interesting...

I wanted to stop him, but my body couldn’t move.

My mind was in shambles, I couldn’t see how this would develop...

"If we lost you, and Xiao Len and Xiao Kun... what would your Mother and I do? Jiang Ping... How could I ever face Lan’er again, if she knew I sent you to your death, she wouldn’t forgive ."

’Ah...’

As my Father’s words struck my heart, I realised I was almost about to make the sa mistake.

The last ti we argued was when I tried to stop Lan’er from going into the world on her own and said so regretful things.

’After all, my Father is still above ... I have to learn more from him.’

I can’t help but admire my Father, his ability to think of the family above everything.

So, I wanted to boost Jiang Ping’s confidence and feelings.

"Father, I have to ask... Why did you send a squad to look for Ping’er and his friends if the north-west is so dangerous?"

"Ahem..." My Father looked at , the corner of his lips curling into a smile, before he looked at Ping’er, clearing his throat. "Because he is the future of this base." He said without a hint of doubt.

"But... Grandfather..." Ping’er looked as though he would argue...

"No buts, my boy, you have made a mistake, but what did you bring back in return? dicine, backup food and vital items for the sick in our group. And as such, you should take pride in that and continue to develop yourself not only to avoid mistakes but also to keep your mind sharp for the future."

I am so glad to have such a good father...

’But... What happened to Lan’er, why didn’t she return?’ It’s been several years since she returned ho, that girl... I felt my stomach drop. It was worse because many of her co-workers ca here after the outbreak. So sought her, and others because they heard about it from her in the past and thought it would be safe.

Why was that girl so active with things that didn’t include her?

’Thanks to that... I guess we’re doing well...’

The world is an unforgiving place.

I can’t imagine how she’s living, or where...

She could be dead...

I couldn’t even shed tears at this point because the feeling of loss was too much.

"Grandfather!"

That’s all I need right now, to see his bright smile and the light returned to his pupils. As he saw Ping’er, who stood up and bowed, he seed almost ready to move.

"I promise to continue to do my best!"

"Then... You will start by cleaning the toilets for a week!"

"W-What!?"

"Fufufu~ do as your grandfather says Ping’er."

I couldn’t believe my Father chose that as a punishnt; the water still worked for our family because we bought a private pump and generator System, both gasoline and solar power.

But... It was enough to make my son want to cry; after all, he wouldn’t have thought he’d get off so easily. We’ve all cleaned the bathrooms and toilets in the new colony at least once since the end ca, even my Father.

"The eting is over, ng Hao... I will forgive your iteruptions but keep control of your emtions."

"Y...Yes Elder."

My husband always idolised my Father. It made angry because most people on the base had heard about his heroics in the Second Great War and how he protected our city with a single battalion for two weeks without support.

I cannot count the number of tis he’s made listen to that annoying old war story...

So everyone else called him Elder, or General...

"Siwan, wait here."

"Huh? But... Ping’er, have you eaten? Did you sleep? Do you feel sick?" I couldn’t help but want to check on my son, even though I knew he would be fine.

"Please, there is sothing we need to discuss..."

My Father used his indoor, serious voice. The tone sent shivers down my spine, and I could tell that whatever my Father was about to say to wasn’t sothing I would want to hear.

’What...? Why would he call back?’

ng Hao looked back at with a strange gaze, before he left... the bastard kept trying to make drink wine and sleep with him since the apocalypse started.

I am not that desperate.

Now my Father and I sat opposite each other...

"Wan’er..."

"Yes, Father?"

"Our scouts have spotted a group near the trainyard... I think Li Ya and the others will be delayed a little but..."

"But?"

"Our Lan’er... it seems she is travelling with them."

"WHAT!?"