Chapter 161: If She Works With Us, She’ll Never Go Hungry

The news that Second Sister Shi had regained her sight caused a sensation among everyone living in the Tongzi Frame.

Though, in truth, there weren’t that many people in total.

Everyone crowded around, introducing themselves by pointing at their own noses.

“I’m Nong Yasi, Second Sister—can you see me?”

“I’m Ah Hong! Second Sister, can you really see now?”

“I’m…”

Second Sister Shi actually recognized them all—she could tell who was who just by their voices.

But not wanting to disappoint everyone, she still leaned in, squinting her eyes to look carefully.

Then she smiled and said, “Oh, it’s you!”

A wave of joy swept through the entire Tongzi Frame, a lively sense of hope filling the air.

It felt just like New Year’s before the wasteland days.

Now that Second Sister Shi could see, life really did seem like it was going to get better and better.

That night, Shi Yuebai was about to go to sleep.

Given her current size, she couldn’t fit into a tent to sleep.

But she didn’t mind—there were plenty of cardboard boxes behind the public restroom.

She used those boxes, still full of goods, to build herself a little house.

She covered the top with a tarp and put a big mattress inside.

That’s where Shi Yuebai slept now.

As she slowly and awkwardly climbed up to the public restroom, Shi Yuebai saw Second Sister Shi with a black cloth tied over her eyes.

She was sitting on the flat ground in front of the restroom, facing the Tongzi Frame below.

“Second Sister, not sleeping?”

Shi Yuebai lumbered over, moving slowly and clumsily.

Second Sister Shi had already heard her coming. She held a crossbow in her hand and turned her head toward Shi Yuebai.

“Yuebai, I’ve thought it through. You were right—I can do things others can’t.”

“So now I’m here, quietly listening.”

Now that she had her sight back, Second Sister Shi found herself more easily distracted.

Today, with so many people around her, she was shocked to realize how much her attention was scattered.

Yuebai had said her strength was in long-distance killing, which was very useful.

That way, she could stand in a relatively safe spot and kill anyone who came to bully the Shi family.

Second Sister Shi was determined not to waste her strengths.

So she waited until late at night, when everything was quiet, covered her eyes, and found an open space to practice her listening skills.

Shi Yuebai nodded and stood beside Second Sister Shi at the high point, closing her own eyes as well.

Everything around them quieted down, except for Zhang Xueyao, who was returning.

She wasn’t alone—there was a group of people with her.

Among them were the two women Zhang Xueyao had taken out to solicit clients.

The three of them brought back a few men, laughing and flirting, all over each other.

Because people in the Bridge Team didn’t like those women, Zhang Xueyao and her two companions were ostracized.

They, in turn, looked down on the older members of the team, afraid the old folks would pester them for food.

So Zhang Xueyao led the other two women to move across to the other side of the riverbed.

From a layout perspective, the wide, dry riverbed had become a dividing line, perfectly separating Zhang Xueyao and her two companions from the rest.

That group went into Zhang Xueyao’s tent, and soon, all sorts of indecent noises could be heard.

Shi Yuebai, uninterested, opened her eyes and turned to head back to her own spot.

“Second Sister, you keep practicing your listening. I’m going to sleep.”

Second Sister Shi frowned tightly.

Her hearing was so good now that she couldn’t help but hear things she’d rather not.

Even plugging her ears wouldn’t help.

For Second Sister Shi, those streetwalker women were still far too close—like they were shouting right in her ear.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xueyao and her group had no idea that everything they said and did was as good as transparent to others.

The men they brought back were clients picked up outside the big city, members of another team outside the city.

After a night of debauchery, the men got up to leave.

One of them pointed across the riverbed and asked Zhang Xueyao,

“Didn’t you say there were people living over there? Why is it all foggy—I can’t see anything.”

Maybe it was just too early, so the man didn’t care much.

Zhang Xueyao replied disdainfully, “Just a bunch of old folks, and our former team leader and his wife.”

“Haven’t seen them in ages—maybe they starved to death.”

She hadn’t checked on the other side of the riverbed in a long time.

In fact, everyone outside the second wall knew what Zhang Xueyao was up to.

The man didn’t say anything more.

Actually, the Bridge Team was quite well-known in and around the big city.

Before the wasteland era, there was an apocalypse.

During that time, Team Leader Qiao and his wife united a large group of survivors, forming the first and largest civilian team.

No one could have known that the apocalypse was just the beginning.

Next came the wasteland.

Life would never get better again—despair filled every corner of the land.

Eventually, the Bridge Team declined.

But the spot where the team was based was still the best and safest location outside the city.

The man pulling up his pants was named Bai Hansong.

His team was based farther from the city.

Whenever they came into the city for business, it was impossible to get back in one night.

People in the wasteland didn’t dare move around at night.

Besides the threat of mutant beasts, they also feared being attacked by people.

So, if they could find a suitable place to stay near the city, it was perfect to rest for the night and head back to their team in the morning.

Bai Hansong had his eye on the Bridge Team’s spot.

The only downside was that there weren’t many people in the team, so security was lacking.

But that didn’t matter—they could always leave together as a group.

Bai Hansong took out a few packs of biscuits and candy and handed them to Zhang Xueyao.

“You did well last night. We’ll be back again. Find a few more fresh faces for us.”

“The more women there are, the more fun we’ll have.”

Zhang Xueyao happily agreed.

She exchanged a look with the other two women.

The meaning was clear: thanks to her leadership, the three of them would never have to worry about food or drink again.

After the men left, one of the women asked Zhang Xueyao,

“I wonder if You Zhizhen has starved to death yet.”

Another woman spat, “Serves her right. She should have listened to Sister Zhang. If she had, she’d be eating her fill now.”

Zhang Xueyao, acting like a big boss, said,

“Alright, let’s go check on her. Didn’t those men say it?”

“They’ll be coming often from now on.”

“If she’s not dead yet, we should try to persuade You Zhizhen to join us. If she works with us, she’ll never go hungry.”

Zhang Xueyao, full of swagger, took a pack of biscuits and headed toward the Shi family.

Right near the second wall, she spotted You Zhizhen, looking anxious and hurried.

“Well, no food, no water—why are you in such a rush?”

Zhang Xueyao, flanked by the two women, stood tall and proud, looking down at You Zhizhen like a victor.

[Author’s Note:]

These past few days, I’ve been taking antidepressants, and my headaches have eased up a lot. I’m sleeping better, too.

I still wake up at 2 a.m. every night, but I don’t stay awake all night anymore.

I do have to take the meds on time, though, or my head starts throbbing.

As for my last book, I didn’t abandon it on purpose. Life just threw too many things at me, so I had to stop for a while.

By the time I was better, I couldn’t pick it back up.

After discussing with my editor, we decided to temporarily lock it as finished. If I ever feel ready to continue, I’ll reopen it.

I didn’t want to bring up unhappy personal stuff, but since I saw some comments asking, I felt it was necessary to explain again.

I really like this new book, and I’m glad you all still like it, too.

Love you all."