She said that, but Jing Shu knew it was absolutely impossible that it was that troubleso person they were supposed to pick up.
After all, they had to pick up the elder aunt’s entire family. Then, they’d need to take another route for the second aunt’s family. The journey wasn’t short, and so detours would be necessary. Conservatively, driving would waste at least a day or so.
Not to ntion, how would the families without transportation even get here? Walk? How long would it take to walk hundreds of kiloters in this freezing, snowy weather?
Jing Shu shook her head as she crunched on her homade popcorn, murmuring to herself, "I really need to add more cocoa powder."
As soon as Jing Shu opened the door, a pungent sll assaulted her nostrils. Following that, a group of people in tattered cotton clothes, with pieces of fabric haphazardly stitched together, ca into view. They looked sowhat familiar, but she didn’t recognize them.
A few beams of light from cell phones cut through the dimming sky.
A kernel of popcorn fell from Jing Shu’s petrified mouth to the ground and was imdiately snatched up by soone.
There was a buzz of whispers among the crowd.
An old lady in a jumble of clothes stared greedily at the grand house through the light of her phone’s flashlight. "Am I wrong? Is this really my in-law’s place? It’s so grand, even has a villa!"
"It must be the right place. My wife told her mother lives well these days."
Jing Shu frowned and turned her gaze to the community security guard flashing his flashlight. It seed he was the one who had led them here. Otherwise, entry into the Banana District was strictly managed, as many people outside wanted to sneak in.
Seeing the villa owner’s expression sour, the security guard imdiately started to shoo people away: "Go on, move along! I told you, these people don’t look like they have relatives in the villa district. Just look at their poor and shabby appearances..."
Then, a young man, thin as skin and bones, and a middle-aged man in bulky clothing squeezed out of the crowd.
"Misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! Jing Shu, it’s , it’s , Li Yun! Where’s Grandma? Grandma, Grandpa, it’s Li Yun! Let us in, please!" Li Yun called weakly towards the villa.
"It’s , I’m your Second Uncle-in-law," he said, then stared at Jing Shu in surprise, montarily speechless. He hadn’t seen Jing Shu for several years and couldn’t believe how his niece had grown more beautiful. Not to ntion, she was dressed cleanly, holding snacks, and looked well-cared-for in the apocalypse. How much food must they have in this house? Poor us, we can only survive on expanding soil and insects now! Indeed, Jing Zhao often said her brother’s situation improved significantly after the apocalypse. It must be those two Undead old folks who gave all their wealth to this precious son of theirs!
「anwhile.」
This is Li Yun? Second Aunt’s son? And this is Second Uncle-in-law, Li Zhuang? They look so different from how I rember them; no wonder I didn’t recognize them at first glance.
Upon closer inspection, Jing Shu finally recognized them.
They had lost so much weight that she nearly didn’t recognize them. She once swore she would recognize Li Yun—who often mocked and teased her—even if he were reduced to ash. Yet now, she couldn’t recognize him simply because he’d lost so weight.
Tsk tsk, this just goes to show one shouldn’t make such oaths lightly.
Pointing at the seven or eight people behind them, Jing Shu asked, "Who are these people? Why are they here? Isn’t Second Aunt coming?" Then what are you all doing here?
Realizing this really was Li Yun’s maternal grandmother’s place, the look in the group’s eyes changed as they gazed at the villa again, as if...they were looking at sothing that belonged to them.
Seeing that Second Uncle-in-law was still too shocked to speak, Li Yun had no choice but to brace himself and say, "This is my grandmother and grandfather. Over here is my elder uncle’s family, and this is my Little Aunt’s family. We all ca to..."
At that mont, Li Yun’s grandmother rushed forward, interjecting, "Oh, look at how pretty this girl is! You must be Jing Zhao’s niece, right? Look how standoffish you’re being, child... We were invited by your Second Aunt, Jing Zhao, to celebrate New Year’s. Aren’t we all one family? Naturally, we should celebrate together! Otherwise, why would we have co all this way?
"This journey, tsk tsk... it was quite the effort. But the hardship was worth it; we ca to have a good chat with our in-laws, after all. Co on, let us in for so warm food. We’re exhausted from the journey! Dazhuang, quickly! We’re at your mother-in-law’s ho, don’t you recognize it? What are you just standing there for?"
With that, she started to lead the whole family to squeeze into the villa.
Second Uncle-in-law ca to his senses and said with a smile, "Exactly! My mother-in-law’s house is just like our own ho. Don’t be strangers, everyone! Let’s go inside and have so food. You have no idea! Before we ca, my mother-in-law said that for this New Year’s, there would be enough rice for everyone to eat their fill. Tsk tsk, do you realize how amazing it is to have rice at a ti like this? My mother-in-law’s family is really sothing. I didn’t marry my wife for nothing!"
Jing Shu quietly closed the villa door, her smile sweeping over the group as she spoke unhurriedly, "Hold on, let’s get things clear first. Li Yun, Second Uncle-in-law, if I rember correctly, it was made very clear that we only invited Second Aunt’s family of three. Second Aunt didn’t co, yet you brought all these people. What do you think you’re doing?" Freeloading food, drinks, and accommodation? The people who were supposed to co didn’t.
Li Yun was shivering with cold, and the sound of children crying erged from the crowd. Second Uncle-in-law rubbed his hands together and said, "No, Jing Shu, please let us in first to warm up by the fire and give us so food. Is this how you treat guests? The children are crying and suffering. Let’s talk inside. Besides, your Second Aunt and your Elder Aunt’s family are on their way and will be here soon. If you have any questions, you can ask her when she arrives; she’ll clarify everything."
Jing Shu then placed a chair to block the main entrance, eating her popcorn mouthful by mouthful. The children’s cries from the crowd grew louder, and the sound of swallowing saliva could be heard intermittently. The security guard, knowing what was appropriate, stood beside Jing Shu, his walkie-talkie flashing a yellow light, ready to call for backup at the first sign of trouble.
"Oh, then there’s no rush," Jing Shu said casually. "We can discuss it when Second Aunt and Elder Aunt arrive."
Second Uncle-in-law’s face turned ugly. "This is ridiculous! What’s there to clarify? We’re all family. In these apocalyptic tis, we need to stick together even more! Didn’t we agree you’d pick us up? But to save you fuel, we walked for three or four days to get here! And now that we’ve finally arrived, you block the door? You’re preventing your uncle from entering? What’s the aning of this?
"Forget it, at least let Li Yun in to warm up a bit. Do you have the heart to let your cousin suffer, covered in sores like that?"
Have the heart? Of course, I do.
Jing Shu’s composure didn’t waver in the slightest; she even had the leisure to harvest a batch of potatoes in her dinsional space.
Second Uncle-in-law frowned at Jing Shu’s nonchalant behavior, but he couldn’t possibly resort to violence.
"Dazhuang, call your in-laws! Why are you wasting ti talking to a child? We have important matters to discuss with them," Li Yun’s grandmother said, tugging at Second Uncle-in-law’s sleeve.
"Exactly! This house isn’t hers, nor is she the one in charge. Why waste words with her? Who does this, blocking the door and not letting people in? No manners at all," muttered the Little Aunt.
Reviews
All reviews (0)