Chapter 162: Ahhh, Let Her Go Pack the Vegetables!

At first, You Zhizhen was only standing sideways to Zhang Xueyao and the other two women.

To be honest, when they saw the anxious look on You Zhizhen’s profile, the three of them actually felt a bit schadenfreude.

But when You Zhizhen heard what they were saying, she turned to face them.

The three women were instantly stunned.

How could they even describe what they saw?

You Zhizhen’s face was incredibly clean.

In fact, it wasn’t just her face—her hands, and all the skin she had exposed, were spotless.

Her skin even had a kind of indescribable, delicate fairness.

It was as if You Zhizhen had suddenly become several years younger.

In that instant, a tidal wave of jealousy surged in Zhang Xueyao’s heart.

She lifted her chin and looked down her nose at You Zhizhen.

“Well, well, look who it is. Haven’t seen you in days—whose coattails have you latched onto this time?”

“We’re all sisters here. If you’ve found a good place, why not introduce us too?”

In the wasteland, who isn’t living covered in dust and grime?

So why does You Zhizhen get to look so clean and fair?

Just look at her skin—it looks so tender, like you could pinch water out of it.

With looks like that, if she stood at the city gate, she’d be the undisputed queen of the streetwalkers.

Right now, You Zhizhen was so anxious it felt like smoke was coming out of her head.

She’d been working underground in the drainage ditches, packing vegetables day and night.

If it weren’t for Xu Xuejiao dragging her out to eat, drink, and wash up, You Zhizhen would have lost all track of time.

But even though she’d worked so hard packing, there were still so, so many vegetables left.

Xu Xuejiao was anxious, Commander Qiao was anxious, and Dajiao was anxious.

Even You Zhizhen herself was anxious.

They were all worried the vegetables would spoil if they sat around too long.

But even though they were feeding everyone in the team boiled vegetables with every meal, and making sure everyone ate until they were stuffed, they still couldn’t use them all up.

And the stockpile was visibly growing every single day.

What to do?

The vegetables they’d picked five days ago still weren’t all packed, and today there was another big batch.

Dajiao was calling her to breakfast.

No, You Zhizhen didn’t want breakfast at all—she just wanted to hurry back to the ditch and pack more vegetables.

Ahhh, just let her go pack the vegetables!

Zhang Xueyao looked You Zhizhen up and down, her tone sharp and sour.

“What, you’ve made it big now and can’t be bothered to talk to us anymore?”

“I’m just saying, the way you look now, you’re really putting it out there.”

You Zhizhen looked totally refreshed, her skin so plump and hydrated it seemed to glow.

But she and Zhang Xueyao were the same age—both around thirty.

You Zhizhen was so anxious she could jump three feet in the air; she didn’t even hear what Zhang Xueyao was saying.

“I’ve got things to do, I’m leaving.”

She turned to head back inside the second wall.

Zhang Xueyao grabbed her arm.

“No matter which man you’ve hooked up with, I’ve got a good thing going here. We’ve just gotten in touch with a new team.”

“They said they’ll be coming here regularly. Their group is huge, and they want to use our place as a fixed stop. As long as we have enough women, there’ll be even more fun—”

Before Zhang Xueyao could finish, You Zhizhen yanked her arm free.

“Why are you still doing this?”

She stared wide-eyed at Zhang Xueyao.

The eyes that used to be full of suffering and anxiety were now much clearer.

“I don’t need to follow you and do this kind of thing anymore.”

She was living better than Zhang Xueyao now.

She ate more every day, and, well, went to the bathroom more too.

Those vegetables were delicious, and after every meal, everyone would go to the public toilets once or twice.

Some changes happen so gradually, no one notices at first.

But later, people realized—even the old and frail had become several years younger and stronger.

It was probably because they were finally eating their fill and their bodies had strength again.

You Zhizhen could eat her fill, drink water, and at night, sleep with the elderly inside the second wall.

Shi Yuebai had given them permission to sleep inside the second wall.

They just had to be careful not to fall into the ditch in the middle of the night.

To help, Guai Guai had even strung up lights on both sides of the ditch.

These days, Yi Zhe’s side kept sending tents over to Shi Yuebai.

The kind of simple tents that used to sell for 99 yuan each in the pre-apocalypse livestream shops.

Yi Zhe would send dozens at a time.

Yuebai told Xu Xuejiao to distribute the tents to the elderly, children, and pregnant women.

Everyone got one.

Even though they were just simple tents, they were much better than tarps.

Everyone could line up to shower at the public toilets every day.

Each person even got a bottle of body wash, a towel, and a set of new clothes.

For the elderly and children who couldn’t take care of themselves, each got 100 diapers.

Life was just too good now.

Why would You Zhizhen degrade herself, fighting over a few bites of spoiled food just to be some man’s plaything?

Zhang Xueyao looked at her coldly and mocked,

“Tsk tsk, you’ve really changed. Do you really think your good days are guaranteed now?”

“What a man gives you, he can take away at any time. Take my advice—you’d better rely on yourself.”

But what right did she have to talk about relying on herself?

You Zhizhen couldn’t help but argue back.

“Are you relying on yourself? You’re just selling your body—that’s not relying on yourself. You’re still depending on men.”

Seeing Zhang Xueyao’s “you don’t understand, only I do” expression, You Zhizhen shouted at her,

“Come on, wake up! Go scavenging, look for food—there’s always another way.”

Just as she opened her mouth, Xu Xuejiao suddenly appeared from the end of the second wall.

“You Zhizhen!”

The warning in her voice made You Zhizhen snap her mouth shut.

Xu Xuejiao walked over, grabbed You Zhizhen’s wrist, and gave Zhang Xueyao a once-over.

Her scrutinizing look instantly changed to a smile as she said,

“You’re absolutely right. In the wasteland, what else can women rely on if not their bodies?”

“We’re all the same, just hustling for customers in our own ways. No need to argue.”

Zhang Xueyao snorted, “All that righteous talk just now, but now you’ve shown your true colors. You’re only living well because of men.”

“Right, right, you’re absolutely right.”

Xu Xuejiao smiled, pulling You Zhizhen away.

“We’re busy entertaining guests, so we won’t chat. If you find any good men, introduce them to us too.”

Watching Xu Xuejiao and You Zhizhen walk away quickly,

The women behind Zhang Xueyao were full of jealousy.

“See that? You Zhizhen’s landed herself a big fish, and even Xu Xuejiao too. Maybe their daughters are the top girls here.”

Another woman said, “Why don’t we just work with You Zhizhen? She seems to have more to offer.”

After all, it’s all about spreading your legs. That team we served last night was nothing compared to what the mercenaries give.

That’s right—other than mercenaries, who else can keep women looking so fresh and radiant?

Mercenaries never lack supplies.

Zhang Xueyao was both angry and jealous.

But what could she do? You Zhizhen really was living better than her now.

[Author’s note: I have anxiety caused by cognitive issues, which is compounded by insomnia. My mood swings a lot, my attention is scattered, and sometimes I feel inexplicably down, but it hasn’t gotten to the point of self-harm. Please don’t worry about me.]"