Chapter 101: Conflict, Changxi’s Selfishness

(from ""Restarting the Farm at the End of the World"")

Of course, there are some mutated beasts that are delicious and tasty, but they’re rare, hard to hunt, and always expensive. That’s exactly why she’s so determined to raise poultry and livestock in Ning.

So that evening, everyone ate until their mouths were greasy and their hearts content—except for Bian Changxi, who only took two bites of meat. This made Chu Hao worry that she was afraid of being disliked for eating too much, and he tried to reassure her.

After dinner, night gradually fell. Bian Changxi took a walk along the road, then sat down under a tree. A cool breeze drifted through the woods, carrying the low croaks of frogs. If you ignored the stench from the river, it was a rare moment of leisure.

She took out an earpiece from Ning and rolled it between her fingers. This earpiece, given to her by Gu Xu, had stopped working since she woke up from her coma, and her watch communicator was the same. Hearing Chai Zhong mention Gu Xu today, and that he seemed to have done something because of her, stirred something in her heart. It wasn’t anything romantic, just the feeling that someone cared about her, both in life and after death, that someone had truly invested their feelings in her. It was as if, even if she disappeared from this world one day, there would still be a thread tying her to it.

Having died once, she knew just how rare and powerful that feeling was.

It was like how Chen Guanqing fell into despair for his wife, or how Granny Gu refused to leave because of her family.

The heaviest burden in life is nothing more than the longing between life and death.

Footsteps approached, and Chu Hao sat down beside her. He stared at the fields at his feet for a long time before suddenly asking, “What are your plans after this?”

Bian Changxi looked at him in surprise—not because he asked, but because he was so direct, as if they were already close friends.

Maybe that’s just Chu Hao’s personality, treating everyone with sincerity.

So she answered honestly, “I’m running low on supplies. I want to restock in town, then collect some crystal cores, and after that, head north to Su City.”

Chu Hao frowned tightly. “What’s Su City like?”

“To put it simply, it’s just a larger settlement with more people. It’s basically the same as here, but with a clear leader, well-defined industries, solid defensive walls, organized guards, and so on. You could think of it as a small city-state.”

Chu Hao scratched his head and leaned heavily against the tree trunk. “It must be safer there than here, but do you think the road will be safe?”

Bian Changxi laughed. “Forget the road—even inside the base, it’s not a hundred percent safe. What, you think it’s some kind of Western paradise? The real question isn’t whether it’s safe, but whether you’re willing to go.”

Chu Hao deflated, hugging his head and sitting motionless for a long time before asking, “Do you know how to get there?”

That was a real question. Bian Changxi thought for a moment. “I know the general direction.” Lots of people knew which way Su City was, but finding a base in such a huge area without knowing the exact location was a real hassle.

“So what do we need to prepare for the trip? I know about food and water, but you said something about collecting crystal cores?”

“That’s right,” Bian Changxi said. “You have to live in Su City, right? You’ll need money. Old cash is worthless now, and gold, silver, and jade are just pretty to look at. I’ve heard that crystal cores are the main currency in Su City, so I want to collect as many as I can so I won’t be too hard up when I get there.”

Chu Hao knew she used to travel with a big group, so if she wanted to say she “heard” something, he’d just take her word for it. After all, only people who’d actually been to Su City would know these things.

Honestly, crystal cores really were important. In her previous life, like so many others, she’d arrived at Su City with nothing but the clothes on her back, fleeing for her life. She was stopped at the city gates, queued for days to register, get a health check, and receive an ID card. The whole process took three or four days, during which she had no ID and nowhere to stay. She spent the first two nights sleeping rough outside the outer city, and the next two dozing in the inner city, suffering all kinds of humiliation and frustration.

Actually, Su City’s base wasn’t that inefficient. Most people had some assets—either supplies or crystal cores—and as long as you offered a little something, your case would be handled first. The more you gave, the faster things went. Those who had nothing to offer were always pushed to the back, endlessly cut in line. If a big group arrived, you’d be waiting forever.

In that situation, you could cry to the heavens and the earth and get no answer. That was the first time she truly understood: money isn’t everything, but without money, you’re nothing.

Chu Hao asked, puzzled, “Are crystal cores really that important? I heard Su City was founded by the military and government. Would they really kick us out if we didn’t have any?”

Bian Changxi looked at him like he was an idiot. “Of course they won’t kick you out. But think about it—before, people on welfare had social security, but how many of them lived comfortably? The rich, on the other hand, slept on soft beds and lived in luxury.”

Only then did Chu Hao get it. He counted on his fingers, looking constipated. “Then we really need to start preparing early. Otherwise, when we get there, we won’t even have food or a place to stay.”

Bian Changxi suddenly understood—no wonder he was speaking so intimately. He already considered her one of his own, worrying about the whole group’s future before anything was even settled.

If his name wasn’t Chu Hao, she’d really wonder how long someone with this saintly, meddlesome personality could survive. It was enough to worry about the few people close to you. As for people like George and Ye Xiaojin, who were perfectly healthy, she could tell they weren’t that close. To put it bluntly, who did they think they were?

These thoughts churned in her mind, but she didn’t say them out loud. She kept reminding herself to be a good person—save people when you can, and if you can’t, at least don’t make enemies. Those people had nothing to do with her. If Chu Hao wanted to meddle, let him. Why should she be the bad guy?

Chu Hao was still lost in his plans, muttering, “We have to convince Granny and Old Six. When are you planning to leave?”

Bian Changxi wanted to say, Granny Gu might be convinced, but as for Chen Guanqing—even if you persuade him for now, he’ll still come to a bad end later. Clearly, that approach doesn’t work.

She said, “Preferably tomorrow or the day after. At the latest, we have to leave by the fourteenth.”

“So soon?”

Bian Changxi nodded. A strong wind picked up, and the chill of night set in. It was going to be a windy night. She remembered that in her previous life, the wind started blowing a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the festival day, there was a heavy rain during the day, and at night, the moon was so bright it was eerie. The next day, zombies everywhere got stronger, and mutant plants grew like crazy.

She had just entered Su City base then, and more than once she was grateful for her quick actions on the road.

This time, there was no way to make it in four days from here to Su City. She might as well take the time to gather more supplies and crystal cores, so she wouldn’t be stranded with nowhere to go. As for whether to wait until after the heavy rain to leave, she thought it wasn’t a good idea. Today’s bridal zombie and mutant beast had left a deep impression on her. This town was almost entirely overrun by zombies, which was very dangerous. At the very least, they needed to leave before things got worse.

After a night of strong winds, they woke to find a roof had been blown off—not the one they slept in, thankfully. The river’s filth had been swept onto the banks, making the stench unbearable.

Bian Changxi stepped out of her temporary lodging and saw Chu Hao and Chen Guanqing arguing.

“Enough!” Chen Guanqing shouted, his voice sharp. “If you want to go, go. I’m not leaving. I’m staying here with Xiao Ai, until she dies, or I do!”

The commotion brought George and Ye Xiaojin out. Ye Xiaojin was supporting a man with a face full of sores, leaning on a wooden crutch—presumably Wang Dezhou.

Everyone looked at each other, until Chu Hao, exasperated, shouted, “Xiao Ai? Xiao Ai is already dead! What’s left is just a walking corpse! When will you wake up? Fine, you say you’ll only leave when she’s dead? Then I’ll go kill her right now!”

“You dare!”

The two of them started shoving and wrestling in front of the house, scaring George into trying to break them up, but he got punched a few times for his trouble.

Granny Gu stood silently by the house, not watching the fight, but staring at the few shriveled cabbages in the vegetable patch. Her equally wrinkled face was expressionless, as cold as death. Anran hid in the corner, clearly terrified.

Bian Changxi frowned, wanting to go over and help her up, but Granny Gu turned and shot her a cold look, none of yesterday’s kindness or warmth in her eyes.

Bian Changxi touched her nose. Well, it was all her fault. Ever since she arrived, everyone’s hearts had been in turmoil. Some wanted to leave, some wanted to stay—a huge conflict.

She decided not to bother trying to break up the fight. She just smiled faintly, slung her backpack and weapons over her shoulder, and walked away.

As she walked, she didn’t feel much pain inside.

The truth was, she had her own selfish reasons for coming here with Chu Hao.

It was like she’d realized after what happened two months ago: since her rebirth, she’d always been passive in dealing with people. Whoever she met, befriended, or made enemies with—aside from Gu Xu and a few others—it was always others who approached her. At first, she even thought she’d be a lone wolf this life, going solo.

But reality proved she’d overestimated herself. She put too much faith in her rebirth advantage, thinking that just knowing who would make her suffer or harm her in the future was enough. She kept her eyes on those few people, always thinking she’d settle things with them in Su City, whether by revenge or by letting it go. Even when Boss Zhang showed up and she realized he didn’t know about Ning, she didn’t worry much. Maybe, deep down, she thought that if someone wanted to mess with her, she could always run away—she had Ning, what was there to fear?

The result was a disaster. If she hadn’t had some strength that night, if Yingzi and Niunai hadn’t risked their lives to save her, she’d have died several times over. Without Ning’s miraculous abilities, her powers would be gone by now.

She finally realized how naïve she’d been. In this world, lone wolves don’t end well—especially when there are hidden enemies watching her every move."