Chapter 52: You’re Her Uncle, I’m Her Brother

Just as everyone fell silent—

Shi Yuebai had Shi Yaoyao deliver another five excavator mechanical arms.

“Auntie said, please trouble Uncle Yi Zhe to finish crushing the stones and build all the walls.”

Shi Yaoyao blurted out a long, long sentence in one breath.

Even she was stunned after she finished, not expecting herself to repeat her aunt’s words word for word.

The little girl’s clean face was flushed red, and she was secretly delighted.

She bounced back into the tent on her prosthetic leg.

The cigarette in Yi Zhe’s hand burned down, a long ash falling to the ground.

He stared at the five mechanical arms on the ground, lost in thought.

So it turns out his vision was too narrow.

This thing—Shi Yuebai actually had six of them!!!

Chen Yong and Huo Chenggui were both shocked, their eyes darting to the tightly closed tent.

For the first time, they thought that maybe Shi Yuebai wasn’t just a shallow, grumpy, bad-tempered fat girl.

Meanwhile, Ah Hong and Pang Zhenggong still stood there, at a loss.

Even Pang Ziyuan was anxious, not knowing what to say to avoid offending these powerful mercenaries.

Ordinary people in front of mercenaries were as fragile as tofu.

Yi Zhe tossed away his cigarette, patted Pang Ziyuan on the head, and said,

“You keep crushing your stones. From now on, you work for Yuebai, and I’ll feed you.”

Ah Hong and Pang Zhenggong were both baffled.

They didn’t understand what Yi Zhe meant.

After a long while, Pang Zhenggong cautiously asked,

“Um, Commander Yi, are you… planning to take care of our Ziyuan?”

“Yeah. If you agree, we can discuss the terms.”

Yi Zhe stood up. At 1.9 meters tall, he towered a whole head above Pang Zhenggong.

Pang Zhenggong’s heart pounded.

“But… but why? Our Ziyuan is just a kid. He doesn’t know anything.”

“He doesn’t need to know anything. From now on, all he needs to do is crush stones.”

Huo Chenggui excitedly sat down next to Pang Ziyuan, putting on another mechanical arm.

Did the Pang family still not get it?

The mercenary corps had taken a liking to Pang Ziyuan—Yi Zhe was grooming him.

From now on, Pang Ziyuan would spend a few years crushing stones, build up some muscle, and when Yi Zhe had the money for mechs—

By then, Pang Ziyuan would be a killing machine.

Pang Zhenggong and Ah Hong were over the moon.

Could there really be such a good thing in this world?

Commander Yi was willing to feed their son just so he could crush stones for the Shi family.

Why?

Could it be that Commander Yi had his eye on Second Sister-in-law Shi?

Trying to curry favor with her through this?

Well, their son would benefit either way.

Everyone knew that a few years ago, Xiangcheng suffered a total collapse of its garrison.

The profession of garrisoning disappeared entirely.

Xiangcheng split into several scattered cities, large and small.

From then on, survivors living outside the city faced a harsh and dangerous existence.

Their lives were never truly safe.

It was also around then that mercenaries began to appear.

The city’s management kept switching mercenary groups.

Eventually, they hired Yi Zhe’s Xiangcheng Mercenary Corps.

Only then did the death rate among survivors outside the city finally drop.

Yi Zhe was capable.

Rumor had it that the core of his mercenary corps was actually the old Xiangcheng garrison.

But due to various external pressures, Yi Zhe managed to regroup the garrison and turn it into a mercenary corps.

His group was more disciplined, more humane, and still followed pre-apocalypse military regulations.

For Pang Ziyuan to be taken in by Yi Zhe was like landing a government job for life.

It seemed love really was powerful.

Ah Hong and Pang Zhenggong nodded repeatedly.

Pang Ziyuan still didn’t quite understand.

Shi Yuebai sat in the courtyard, coldly watching everything unfold outside.

Amid Ah Hong and Pang Zhenggong’s repeated thanks, Yi Zhe turned and walked into the courtyard.

Seeing Shi Yuebai come out, he asked,

“What’s wrong? What’s with that look on your face, Yuebai?”

He reached out and flicked her forehead.

Shi Yuebai angrily covered her forehead and said coldly,

“The Pang family still doesn’t realize that their son is going to risk his life for you in the future.”

There’s no such thing as a selfless good guy.

Yi Zhe was only good to the lonely Shi family.

He was willing to take in Pang Ziyuan—not because of some so-called love, or because he fancied Second Sister-in-law Shi.

He wanted to buy Pang Ziyuan’s life!

Right now, he was just digging a pit for Pang Ziyuan.

Yi Zhe’s smile grew wider.

He bent down, hands on his knees, meeting Shi Yuebai’s gaze,

“Yuebai, has anyone ever told you you’re pretty smart?”

Shi Yuebai rolled her eyes.

Before she could say anything, Yi Zhe reached out, palm pressed to her forehead, and gently pushed her back.

“In the end, everyone’s just trying to survive, right?”

“Your family doesn’t have enough food to raise him to adulthood. If he doesn’t eat, he’ll die anyway.”

So, starve to death in a few days, or live a few more years and die piloting a mech in battle?

It’s a false choice from the start.

“Yuebai, your brother Yi Zhe could die too.”

Yi Zhe’s expression suddenly turned serious as he met Shi Yuebai’s eyes.

“So before the Pang family even realizes it, your brother Yi Zhe might already be dead.”

“Once you walk this path, there’s no turning back.”

“Your big brother thought the same way back then.”

Back in the day, Shi Yi was a great garrison soldier.

If he hadn’t been injured and lost his wits, he’d have made the same choice as Yi Zhe.

Shi Yuebai snorted, “You’re not bad. I doubt dying will be that easy for you.”

If Yi Zhe wanted to die, he’d have to get her, the Grand Witch’s, approval first.

Shi Yuebai couldn’t be bothered to argue further. She tossed a bag into Yi Zhe’s arms.

“This is for the three of you. Today’s wages for Pang Ziyuan. You hand it over.”

Whatever Yi Zhe was planning, she wasn’t losing out.

After all, if Yi Zhe wanted to train Pang Ziyuan, he’d be the one feeding him.

And Pang Ziyuan would still be crushing stones for the Shi family.

Shi Yuebai couldn’t care less if Pang Ziyuan ended up piloting a mech or dying in a swarm of mutant beasts or zombies.

Not her problem.

Shi Yuebai was full of restless energy—her favorite thing was bullying honest folk.

She rolled her flatbed cart to the edge of the tent, turned her head, and shot a cold, mocking look at the dazed Ah Hong.

“What? Someone’s willing to feed your son—are they going to feed you too?”

“Or are you planning to live off your son’s rations forever and never work again?”

Ah Hong snapped out of it, immediately rolled up her sleeves, blushing as she hurried into the courtyard to mix cement.

“I’ll work, Yuebai, don’t be mad.”

Chen Yong glanced at Shi Yuebai, then at Ah Hong, and sidled up to Yi Zhe, whispering,

“Suddenly, I think this chubby girl is kind of cute. I’ll be nicer to her from now on…”

Yi Zhe opened the bag Shi Yuebai had given him, turned to Chen Yong, and corrected him,

“You’re her uncle. I’m her brother.”

Chen Yong was about to protest—why?

[Scan: 0 radiation contamination in purified water.]

[Scan: 0 radiation contamination in purified water.]

[Scan: 0 radiation contamination in purified water.]

Chen Yong: Shi Yuebai is so fierce.

Yi Zhe: So cute."