Chapter 502: Times Have Changed
Chapter 502: Times Have Changed
Translator: Liu_Kaixuan Editor: Valvrave
General Zhang had commanded his soldiers to arrange accommodation for Jiang Liushi and his team. On the way, a soldier found Jiang Liushi and Ran Xiyu and then led them to a community. The community could be regarded as a middle-grade one with a relatively good environment. The four-room residence allocated to them was well-decorated, and the furniture inside was clean. The only downside was that needed to use briquettes to cook and generate heat.
"Wow! It's so cool! I never expected to see briquettes again," said Zhang Hai excitedly.
In fact, there was a coal mine in Jiangning, and thus, they could extract briquettes again after doomsday.
After lunch, Ran Xiyu got herself busy, packing a box of supplies and a bag of rice. When she finished, Jiang Liushi accompanied back where they had met Jiang Xiaochu. Unfortunately, she was not there as Jiang Xiaochu had finished working for the day.
"We work in shifts round the clock," explained the man in charge.
"Do you possibly know Jiang Xiaochu's address?" asked Ran Xiyu.
Jiang Liushi offered a cigarette to the supervisor, so they got the address easily. The supervisor caressed the cigarette before carefully placing it on his ear.
If he knew that cigarettes were of no value to Jiang Liushi, how would he feel? Not only Jiang Liushi was not a smoker, but he also didn't like cigarettes as they were too cheap and he couldn't trade them for valuable resources. But in the end, they could still serve a purpose such as getting information from ordinary survivors.
Soon, Jiang Liushi and Ran Xiyu reached the address which the supervisors had given them. It was a relatively remote residential area. The environment had changed a lot, and even the light was somber. The buildings beside the streets were very old. They were close to construction sites. The streets were dirty, and an indescribably strange smell permeated the air.
Ran Xiyu tried her best to find the house number, and not long after they stood in front of a door.
"Who?" A female asked after hearing the knocking sound from the door.
"I'm a friend of Jiang Xiaochu," said Ran Xiyu.
A woman, who was about 28 years old, opened the door. She was wearing clean clothes, and she had lipstick on her lips. When the woman saw Ran Xiyu and Jiang Liushi, she frowned. "Are you looking for Jiang Xiaochu?"
"Yes. Is Jiang Xiaochu here?"
"No."
"What about her parents?" asked Ran Xiyu.
"No, no!" said the woman impatiently.
Suddenly, another voice came from inside the house. "What are you doing?" And then, a 30-year-old man dressed in uniform appeared from inside. At first, he was kind of irritated, but the moment his eyes landed on Ran Xiyu, it was like he became a completely different person.
"Xiyu! Long time no see."
"Zhang Haojing? Why are you here?" Ran Xiyu was stunned.
"This is my house," said Zhang Haojing. "Come in, Xiyu. Don't stand outside," Zhang Haojing said to them enthusiastically.
"Where are Jiang Xiaochu and her parents?" Ran Xiyu asked again. "I thought they lived here."
"Yes, I took them in. They're currently in the coal yard, extracting coal briquettes."
Although Ran Xiyu had no knowledge about that type of work, Jiang Liushi clearly knew how tiring and hard it was. According to Ran Xiyu's description, Jiang Xiaochu's parents should be in their 50s. How could they still work in the evening? As for Jiang Xiaochu, it was simply a torture.
"Why is that? Did they receive the military's protection before the virus outbreak?" asked Ran Xiyu.
How about them? Are they not protected in advance?" asked Ran Yuxin.
"Things are different in Jiangning. How could they still receive the same treatment? I am the one protecting the family now. I can't believe we met here Xiyu. Please wait until dinner is ready and eat with us," said Zhang Haojing.
"You, don't just stand there! Go to the kitchen and cook!" ordered Zhang Haojing that woman.
That woman was fuming in anger, but she suppressed it after noticing what Ran Xiyu and Jiang Liushi were holding. "You're really polite. What are the things you're carrying?"
"It's something for Xiaochu and her parents," said Ran Xiyu.
"You should know that we don't treat them shabbily. You should leave some things for yourself," explained Zhang Haojing with a smile.
Suddenly, a few footsteps came from the stair. It seemed that Jiang Xiaochu and her parents were back.
"Xiyu? Mr. Jiang?" Jiang Xiaochu was stunned after seeing Jiang Liushi and Ran Xiyu.
As soon as Ran Xiyu saw them, she felt happy. "Xiaochu, uncle and aunt. I'm happy to see you again."
Jiang Xiaochu's parents looked way older than in the past. Although they looked tired, their temperaments were still very good. They also felt happy when they saw Ra Xiyu. Their daughter had already recounted to them about Ran Xiyu's situation, so they just asked her about her living conditions.
"Xiyu, how could you join a survivor's squad? You can only have a stable life and future only if you join the military. Moreover, stability should be all that girls should be asking for. I think you should leave your squad and come to live with us. I will make sure to find you a good job," said Zhang Haojing.
However, Ran Xiyu didn't pay any attention to him. And then, she passed all the things she had prepared to Jiang Xiaochu and her parents. "These things are a token of gratitude."
"No, we can't accept…"
"Don't refuse," said Ran Xiyu.
In the end, Jiang Xiaochu accepted the box and opened it. She was astonished by the roasted pieces of mutant meat inside and the mouth-watering aroma they exuded.
Zhang Haojing and that woman were also shocked by the contents.
"Mutant Meat!" Although Zhang Haojing was a paranormal, who worked for the government, the monthly amount of distributed meat was very limited.
Moreover, the mutant meat Ran Xiyu had brought was extremely good and well-cooked. It wasn't rare for survivor squads to have some mutant meat, but it was too wasteful to let ordinary people eat it.
In the next second, the second layer of the box was opened. Inside it were fresh vegetables.
"Im- impossible!"
How could they not react like that? After doomsday, vegetables, and fruits had become rare and precious commodities that only the elites could enjoy. The government had to plant them in rare fertile lands, and their first priority was to distribute them to the scientists and military officers. As for ordinary people? They could only enjoy dried vegetables in soups…
"Here you are." Jiang Liushi handed the rice to Xiaochu's parents. They tried to refuse, but Ran Xiyu simply shoved the bag in their embrace.
"That's 25 kg of rice! Too much! Too much!" They were quite shocked by the amount as they knew the rice's worth. In order to earn a fistful of rice on a daily basis, they had to work extremely hard. The 25 kg could sustain them for a whole month!
"I also have these…" Ran Xiyu took off a small backpack. Inside were commodities such as honey and canned fruits that Jiang Liushi's team had easily gathered during their journeys. Those goods had an expiration date, and it would be wasteful to throw them away. As a result, Ran Xiyu had decided to gift them to Jiang Xiaochu. Jiang Liushi's team had gathered lots of supplies so they could spare a few things.
Zhang Haojing and that woman were struck dumb by the many things that Ran Xiyu and Jiang Liushi had brought.
"Oh, Xiaochu, let me help you. Xiyu, you are too polite," said Zhang Haojing while stretching his hand out. At the same time, the woman followed his lead. However, the moment she moved she felt a little bit dizzy.
"Don't touch these things," said Ran Xiyu in a commanding tone. The woman nodded and took a few steps back swiftly. And then, she stood in place like a disciplined soldier while repeating, "I won't touch them. I won't touch…"
Zhang Haojing was flabbergasted. Not even in his wildest imaginations could he have dreamt that Ran Xiyu would be a psychic paranormal. And a powerful one at that.
"Xiyu, what are you doing?" asked Zhang Haojing.
A serious expression appeared on Ran Xiyu's face. She stared at Zhang Haojing and said, "I want you to engrave in your mind that these things are only for Xiaochu and her parents. If you dare to touch them, I will make you regret it. Also, if you were to mistreat them, I will punish you. Oh, and something else. Don't call me Xiyu ever again! We're not familiar!" said Ran Xiyu angrily. Wherever Zhang Haojing called her Xiyu, she felt terrible.
Zhang Haojing was rendered speechless. The moment Ran Xiyu had stared at him he had lost control over his body!
However, he soon recovered. And then he retorted, "Ran Xiyu! Do you still think that you're the Ranke Group's princess? Stop dreaming! Times have changed! Before me, you're just a-"
Before Zhang Haojing could complete his sentence, Jiang Liushi had already pulled out his gun, aiming it at him!
It happened so fast that he was at a loss. He hadn't even seen Jiang Liushi pulling the gun!
"You! What are you doing! Nobody is allowed to kill in this area!" said Zhang Haojing.
"I don't really care," said Jiang Liushi indifferently.
Although Jiang Liushi seemed nonchalant, Zhang Haojing could tell how serious he was. Jiang Liushi would really pull the trigger!
'F*ckers! Who would dare to shoot in the safety zone, disregarding the military?' thought Zhang Haojing.
"Ran Xiyu…No, Miss Ran. I shall do what you said. Please, calm down your friend," said Zhang Haojing immediately. He felt that Jiang Liushi would kill him at any time.
Ran Xiyu looked at him coldly, and then she said to Jiang Liushi, "Brother Jiang, let him go."
"Zhang Haojing, you are right. Times have changed. I only disliked you in the past, but I couldn't do anything to get rid of you. However, I have changed. Mark my words. If you dare to have any funny ideas, I will personally kill you!" said Ran Xiyu coldly.
"Xiaochu, we should leave. If you need any help, you can come and find us to this address…" Ran Xiyu gave their address to Jiang Xiaochu.
When Zhang Haojing heard the address, he was astounded. That area was where the all the elites were living. Initially, he was under the impression that he was stronger than Ran Xiyu after doomsday. However, not only was he not stronger than her, but her status was still superior to his.