The World Turned into Zombies, So I Went Back to the Countryside to Farm 40

Chapter 40: Victory

Later, Jiang Zao wrote in her diary:

That was our first real victory against a large-scale horde of zombies. Although, each of us was injured to varying degrees.

My eyes were even temporarily blinded, but if I had to do it again, I would still make the same choice.

Just like the sentence I wrote in the outdoor goods store in Cangchuan City: “I will never let my life submit to the will of others—not even fate can make me submit.” [1]

More importantly, that victory laid the foundation for the happy years we spent afterwards.

I think my feelings for Wen Zhao also started from that time.

***

The smoke and dust gradually dispersed.

But the snow was falling heavier and heavier, like pear blossoms.

Although she had lived here since she was a child and had seen countless snowfalls, Li Mi couldn’t help but reach out to catch them. Something brushed past her fingertips and was blown to her feet.

Li Mi bent down and picked it up.

“Big sister, it’s a piece of paper, and there are words on it.”

A huge sonic boom came from the sky above. Wen Zhao stood up. Realizing that a plane was passing through the clouds and dropping things, a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes, and she waved her hands vigorously.

“It’s a plane! It’s an official Chinese plane! We haven’t been forgotten. There are still survivors here!”

Jiang Wuni also jumped up excitedly.

“Hello?! Is anyone there?! Can you see?! There are still people alive here!”

Kele was also barking loudly.

“Report, a thunderstorm is approaching from the northwest. Vertical visibility is almost zero. Morning Star 1 requests to return.”

The pilot glanced out of the cockpit window. He couldn’t see anything under the thick clouds.

The control tower quickly replied.

“Morning Star 1, permission to return granted. Be safe.”

“Morning Star 1, roger. Three survivors rescued today, one of whom is seriously injured. The preliminary physical examination has been passed, not infected with the Pandora virus. Medical assistance is needed.”

“The base runway has been opened. You can land at any time. The medical team is on standby.”

The pilot put down the walkie-talkie and glanced at the co-pilot.

“Open the cabin door.”

“Open the cabin door.”

The co-pilot pressed a button on the dashboard.

The rear cabin door of the military transport plane slowly opened, and crate after crate of supplies, mixed with pieces of paper, flew out like snowflakes.

“Boss, we’re not even sure if there are any survivors down there. What if there aren’t? Isn’t that a waste?”

“What’s there to be afraid of wasting? Can supplies be more important than a human life? What we’re airdropping is not just supplies, but also a glimmer of hope, to tell those survivors who are struggling to survive—”

“The motherland has not forgotten them.”

It wasn’t until the sonic boom of the plane had completely disappeared into the horizon that Wen Zhao’s waving hands slowly lowered.

Jiang Wuni kept muttering, her expression not without disappointment. “They just left like that. They’re not going to take care of us…”

Jiang Zao raised her head. The snowflakes fell on the black cloth covering her eyes, and she felt a coolness on her brow.

“Maybe the weather is bad… they can’t see us… Little Mi, didn’t you pick something up? What’s written on that paper?”

A Letter to All Chinese Compatriots on New Year’s Eve (Public)

To the combat personnel and all compatriots fighting on the front lines:

On this festive occasion, we would like to extend our highest respect and deepest concern to all of you. In the storm of the fight against the Pandora virus, this year’s New Year’s Eve is destined to be without a “family reunion.”

The outbreak of the Pandora virus is the most serious pandemic in the history of the world since records began, even more so than the COVID-19 epidemic 56 years ago. It can be said that this is not just a disaster, but a war.

A war in the field of public health.

Hundreds of millions of people have died in this war.

China has a vast territory of 9.6 million square kilometers and the second-largest population in the world. People are the cornerstone of our technological development and rapid economic growth, but they have also caused us to suffer heavy losses in this war. Our rescue work has spanned from the Greater Khingan Mountains to the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, and across the Taiwan Strait. A total of about 4 million troops have been deployed, including 500,000 reservists and 800,000 militiamen. There are also tens of thousands of unarmed medical personnel who are still fighting on the front lines against the Pandora virus.

Although the rescue work is fraught with difficulties, we have never thought of giving up. The long night will eventually end, and there will be light.

With the strength of the entire nation, and relying on military bases or geographical environments, four survivor bases have now been established. The specific coordinates are as follows:

Northeast, Greater Khingan Mountains Survivor Base, 53.98°N, 133.45°E

North China, Taihang Mountains Survivor Base, 38.57°N, 114.23°E

Northwest, Dongyuan City Survivor Base, 29.34°N, 91.68°E

Southeast, Qiongzhou Maritime Survivor Base, 20.02°N, 112.49°E

In addition to the four major survivor bases, more survivor bases are being built one after another across the country…

1% of the country’s airports have resumed operations.

5% of the country’s railways have resumed operations.

The restoration plan for public facilities such as water, electricity, internet, and gas is proceeding in an orderly manner.

…

We know that only by developing a vaccine can we completely win this war. But the Pandora virus does not belong to any known human virus species. It is more like a test given to us by the creator out of thin air. Therefore, the vaccine research and development plan is progressing slowly, but our scientists have never given up!

We are deeply aware that it is about saving, not destroying!

A civilization without people will be a ruin.

We are also deeply aware that in the face of disaster, the power of an individual is insignificant. But the five thousand years of Chinese history have taught us the principle of gathering sand to form a tower and accumulating soil to form a mountain.

At this special moment, we should unite and help each other with the people around us.

Besides waiting for official rescue, we also call on everyone to actively carry out self-rescue within their personal capacity. The coordinates of the four major survivor bases have been made public and are open to survivors from all over the world.

…

In Li Mi’s naive voice.

Wen Zhao looked up and saw more and more pieces of paper floating down like snowflakes. This snow had also spread to all parts of the country.

“Captain, the horde of zombies is here! We can’t hold on much longer!”

This was an open space surrounded by old buses and various obstacles.

The young and brave soldier glanced at the crowd huddled together not far behind him and once again rushed forward without hesitation to block the gap with his body.

“We have to hold on even if we can’t! We have no retreat! All units, fix bayonets, prepare for battle!”

Under the searchlights, the horde of zombies surged over like a tide. Someone in the crowd was already sobbing softly.

An old man silently held the child beside him tightly, and a husband held his wife tightly.

“Does everyone have a bullet left?!”

The human wall of zombies was about to cross the iron gate.

Seeing that everyone had only one bullet left in their magazines, the battle-scarred commander nodded in approval.

“Very good… if you get infected, don’t implicate others…”

The snow fell silently, landing on her comrade’s black military uniform. The soldier was still holding a gun. Warm blood was flowing from the dark hole in her temple and quickly dissipated in the snow.

The commander reached out and closed her eyes, then looked back at the crowd, a smile on her lips. She picked up the weapon that had fallen on the ground and charged forward again.

She thought she was alone, but when she turned around, more and more people were rushing up with all kinds of weapons.

“All who can move, who can still breathe, except for the old and the children, help the soldiers, take up arms, and fight these monsters!”

The old man let go of the child.

The husband let go of his wife, but was held back tightly.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Mayor! The helicopter has arrived! Let’s go, it’ll be too late if we don’t go now!”

The government building had been submerged by the tide of zombies. The gunshots were gradually becoming sparse, and the soldiers below were still making their last stand.

“Let the children go first.”

The white-haired mayor stood up from his office chair, opened the drawer, and took out the handgun he hadn’t used in a long time.

The way he wiped the dust off it was like gazing at an old comrade. The secretary noticed that he had changed into his military uniform again.

It was said that this mayor had retired from the army.

“Mayor…” The secretary’s eyes were already filled with tears.

He patted the young man’s shoulder.

“You go. Go to the survivor base. There’s still a lot of work to be done. The government needs talented people. I believe in your ability.”

“Many years ago, I made a mistake—”

With a click, he loaded the gun and strode out. “But now, I will stand with my people.”

“Dad!”

“Mom!”

When she pulled the knife out of their bodies, the woman also fell to her knees, exhausted, and wailed.

After a long time, she dragged the two bodies to the center of the living room, laid them side by side, sprinkled alcohol on them, and then threw down a lighter.

In the raging fire, in the deafening sound of the door being pounded, she stepped on a stool, threw a rope over the chandelier on the ceiling, tied it tight, and then tilted her head to look at the family photo hanging on the wall. A relieved smile touched her lips, and she slowly closed her eyes.

The overburdened wooden door finally collapsed at this moment.

A beam of a flashlight cut through the night and shone in.

“PRRF, wake up, wake up!”

“Director! Everyone… everyone is dead… we… let’s go… I haven’t even graduated from graduate school yet… my mom is still waiting for me at home… I… I don’t want to die…”

The young doctor had a resident’s ID badge hanging on his chest. His white coat was covered in blood. He clenched his fists tightly, tears streaming down his face.

“Do you know what a non-emergency evacuee is?! If we leave… what about them?!” The older doctor grabbed her by the collar.

The small hospital room was crowded with people in hospital gowns, some sitting, some standing, their expressions either numb or panicked.

Some had urine bags, some were bandaged, and among them were a few people lying in bed, connected to ventilators. Only their eyeballs could move. Hearing the sound, they turned over.

An old woman with silver hair gently wiped the tear from the corner of his eye, then took off her lover’s oxygen mask.

“Girl, you guys go. You’ve done enough for us.”

“No—”

The older doctor was about to rush over to resuscitate him but was blocked by a human wall. Someone also sat up from a hospital bed and pulled out their IV tube.

“Go, go.”

“Go quickly.”

“Before those things come.”

“Young people, you must live well and see what the new world is like for us.”

I don’t know what the new world will be like, but the world at this moment must be hell.

A mother holding her child pushed the child out just before she was pulled to the ground by a zombie.

This was what she thought as she watched her child stand there, wailing and crying “Mom.”

She struggled to get up but was pulled down by the zombies again and again. Her vision gradually blurred, and her black eyes were slowly turning red.

She reached out again, trying to hold her.

Child, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for bringing you into this world that is like hell…

A tide of zombies surged over again.

The snowflakes fell silently, gradually burying the woman’s body.

Cars were parked haphazardly on both sides of the road.

It also buried those black military uniforms and that handgun.

The only thing left in the whole world was the deafening cry of a child.

The zombies rolled and surged towards her.

“Open fire! All units, open fire!”

A helicopter hovered overhead. The fire from the machine gun mowed down rows of zombies. A searchlight shone on the child.

A black figure slid down from mid-air and pulled her into his arms just before a zombie could grab the corner of her clothes.

The pilot looked down at the dense hordes of zombies surging forward like a plague of locusts in the street below and said with a heavy heart.

“Report to the command center, Hong City… has fallen. We… are too late.”

The voices of other pilots kept coming from the channel.

“Cangchuan City… has fallen.”

“Qiongzhou, except for the base… has fallen.”

“Linhai City… has fallen. Command… lost contact.”

…

In the base, an old man in a military uniform looked at the numbers on the map that were constantly turning red from east to west. He took off his headphones and stood up.

“All units, hats off—to mourn the victims!”

Pairs of hands took off their hats and placed them on their elbows.

“Dismissed!”

“The rescue work is not over yet. We… have a long way to go.”

Li Mi continued to read in a naive voice:

Please, all compatriots, do not give up the will to survive and hope in any desperate situation. I resist, therefore I exist. [2]

We firmly believe that no winter is insurmountable, and no spring will not come. [3]

Human civilization will live on, forever.

National Anti-Pandora Virus Command Center

On the eve of the 2075 New Year’s Eve, by telegram

***

Jiang Wuni was already in tears without realizing it. She came to her senses and quickly wiped the tears from her face.

“Look at me… I’ve forgotten… today is New Year’s Eve… let’s go, let’s go home… Grandma will make everyone something good to eat.”

When they got home, Jiang Wuni carefully folded the piece of paper and put it in the notebook she often used for calligraphy practice.

“Grandma, how many rabbits should I kill?”

Li Mi called out from downstairs. Jiang Wuni acknowledged and stood up. “Eh, we’re happy today. Let’s celebrate the New Year too. Let’s kill the two fattest ones and eat the meat.”

They were busy cooking and starting the fire. Jiang Zao also wanted to help but was pushed down by Wen Zhao.

“You have more important things to do now.”

Jiang Zao knew she was referring to her eyes, so she nodded. Wen Zhao untied the black cloth that was tied behind her head.

“Open your eyes.”

Jiang Zao did as she was told and slowly opened her eyes.

A dazzlingly strong light shone on her eyeballs. Although Jiang Zao still couldn’t see clearly, she subconsciously blinked.

Wen Zhao put down the flashlight and was finally completely relieved.

“Fortunately, there’s still a light reflex. Do you have any eye drops? Put them in and get a good rest for a few days, and you should be able to see.”

“I do, in my room—”

Jiang Zao was about to get up but was pushed down again.

“How can you walk around like this? I’ll do it.”

When Wen Zhao came down with the eye drops, Jiang Zao had gotten up from the sofa again and was fumbling for something.

Seeing that she was about to touch the chimney of the stove in the living room, Wen Zhao leaped over and pulled her away.

“What are you doing?! Why are you so restless! I was only gone for a moment… you dare to walk around when you can’t see. Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be like this now!”

Her stern tone made Jiang Zao a little unaccustomed. She mumbled, “I… I just wanted to get some water to clean myself.”

Wen Zhao’s gaze fell on her blood-stained hands, and her breathing hitched. Jiang Zao shrank her hands into her sleeves.

“You sit on the sofa and wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

Wen Zhao ran to the kitchen to get some hot water, then added some cold water. She tested the temperature with her hand and brought the basin to her.

“Come.”

She pulled Jiang Zao’s hand down bit by bit until it was immersed in the warm water. Wen Zhao handed her the soap.

“I’ll do it myself, I’ll do it myself.”

Jiang Zao fumbled to take the soap from her hand, but Wen Zhao did not leave as she was told. She still held her hand, and the calluses on her rough palm caressed the back of her hand inch by inch, devouring her skin, then entwined in her palm, and finally, their fingers were intertwined.

The posture of being held from behind also brought the two of them very close. Their breaths mingled, and their heartbeats gradually warmed up.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Outside, the snow was falling heavily, but inside, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Until Li Mi came in with a thermos.

“Big sister, there’s still more hot water. Grandma asked if you want to wash your hair.”

Only then did Jiang Zao seem to come to her senses. She frantically pushed Wen Zhao away with her elbow.

“I’ll wash it. Little Mi, why don’t you help me wash it?”

Translator’s Notes

[1] “I will never let my life submit to the will of others—not even fate can make me submit.” (我绝不使我的生命屈服于他人的意志——哪怕是命运也休想让我臣服。) – This is a modified quote from Romain Rolland’s “Jean-Christophe.” The original is “I will never let my life submit to the will of others.” The author has added the part about fate.

[2] “I resist, therefore I exist.” (我反抗，故我存在。) – This is a play on René Descartes’ famous philosophical proposition, “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito, ergo sum). It’s a powerful statement of defiance and self-affirmation in the face of overwhelming adversity.

[3] “We firmly believe that no winter is insurmountable, and no spring will not come.” (我们坚信，没有一个冬天不可逾越，没有一个春天不会来临。) – This is a well-known and often-quoted line in China, used to express hope and resilience during difficult times. It became particularly widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic.