The World Turned into Zombies, So I Went Back to the Countryside to Farm 56

Chapter 56: The Rule

The three of them and a dog had just walked out of the factory gate when Jiang Zao pulled them to hide. She observed through the green belt to see if anyone was following them. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour and seeing that no one had come out, she was relieved and turned around.

As her tense nerves relaxed, Jiang Zao could no longer bear the piercing pain in her palm. Her face was pale, and she leaned against the steps. Large beads of sweat also slid down her temples.

“Little Zao!” Wen Zhao pulled her into her arms, and Jiang Zao leaned weakly on her shoulder.

“In my bag… there’s… there’s painkillers.”

Li Mi fumbled to get them out for her.

“Big sister, here.”

Jiang Zao took the medicine, and Wen Zhao brought the mineral water bottle to her lips. “Drink slowly.”

Jiang Zao gulped down several large mouthfuls, and only then did she feel better. Wen Zhao wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Li Mi was about to say more.

Jiang Zao had already grabbed Wen Zhao’s hand.

“Let’s go. Let’s go back first.”

When they got home.

Jiang Wuni saw that they were so injured and couldn’t help but wipe away her tears. “It’s all my fault. I just had to find some wheat seeds…”

Jiang Zao’s head was spinning.

“Grandma, I haven’t eaten all day. I’m hungry.”

After sending her to the kitchen, the room finally quieted down.

Wen Zhao unwrapped the gauze from her palm one by one. Seeing the bloody wound on her palm, her eyes couldn’t help but turn red.

“How did it get like this?”

Jiang Zao forced a smile.

“I don’t know. I suddenly had a severe ringing in my ears when I was fighting with the monster. Maybe my claustrophobia acted up. I couldn’t move, so I used the tip of an arrow…”

“Next time, you’re not allowed… you’re not allowed to do this kind of thing to yourself again. It’s all my fault… I should have been the one to attract that monster’s attention.”

Although the pain was on her, Wen Zhao seemed to feel it as well. She held her hand, and even her voice was trembling.

“Alright, why are you talking just like Jiang Wuni? While the painkillers are still working, hurry up and help me clean the wound.”

“Alright, you… bear with it.”

Wen Zhao poured the iodophor on it. Jiang Zao immediately bit her lip and watched as she carefully cleaned the dirt inside with a cotton ball.

“Fortunately, the wound is not deep and didn’t injure the tendon. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to shoot an arrow with this arm ever again.”

Jiang Zao looked at her red eyes and comforted her.

“Of course. I know my own limits.”

After cleaning the wound, Wen Zhao sprinkled on some anti-inflammatory powder and then wrapped her palm with a clean bandage.

“And you’re still talking. You won’t be able to use your left hand for ten days to half a month now.”

“It’s not like it has any other use besides archery…”

Jiang Zao muttered and then reached out to pull open her clothes.

“Let me see your injury.”

“Hey—”

Wen Zhao couldn’t stop her and had to resign herself to turning her back.

Fortunately, it was winter, and both of them were wearing thick clothes. Besides the regular thermal clothes inside, Wen Zhao was also wearing a cloak that Jiang Wuni had sewn for her. The cloak was already completely burned.

The scorching shockwave from the explosion had even burned through the base layer inside, leaving several black holes on the fabric.

Wen Zhao’s back was also burned because of this.

Jiang Zao dipped a cotton swab in iodophor and gently disinfected it for her, then applied burn cream.

“Fortunately, we’re not short of medicine at home now.”

Jiang Zao sighed and then thought of the scar on her right arm. “But it will inevitably leave a scar.”

“What’s the big deal? Anyway, you’re the only one who can see this place.”

Wen Zhao turned her head.

“By the way, the woman we met today, is she really the Chen Jianing you mentioned to me before?”

Jiang Zao’s hand stopped. After a long silence, she gently nodded. “Yes.”

“Does Little Mi know?”

Jiang Zao shook her head. Remembering the scene today when the arrowhead had grazed Little Mi, she couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. The medicine was almost all applied, so she put down the cotton swab.

“I’ll go and see her.”

Wen Zhao pulled her clothes on. “Alright.”

***

“Little Mi, are you there?” Jiang Zao would always knock before entering her room.

“Big sister, wait a moment. I’m changing.”

Jiang Zao stepped aside with the first aid kit. Not long after, the door opened, and she walked in and placed the first aid kit on the table.

“Let me see your arm.”

“Big sister, it’s not a big deal. It’s already…”

Before Li Mi could finish, she had already been pressed down on a chair by Jiang Zao, and her arm was taken without any explanation.

Jiang Zao unwrapped the cloth and the splint from her arm. After moving it a couple of times and finding that it was just a sprain and not a bone injury, she was slightly relieved and wrapped it again with a bandage.

Li Mi looked at her actions and couldn’t help but ask softly, “Big sister, do you know that woman?”

Jiang Zao nodded noncommittally.

Li Mi thought of the woman’s tearful cries and asked curiously, “Big sister, are you and her friends?”

“We were before.”

“Are you friends like with Big Sister Wen?”

A look of disbelief appeared on Jiang Zao’s face, and then she laughed helplessly and flicked her forehead gently.

“If your Big Sister Wen heard this, she would be jealous. That woman and I were just ordinary friends before.”

Li Mi rubbed her head and was about to say more when her face was held.

Jiang Zao carefully examined her face. Although she had changed the direction of the arrow in time, the sharp arrowhead had still left a small cut on her face when it grazed her.

Jiang Zao tore open a band-aid.

“You’re not allowed to do something like this again.”

Li Mi sat obediently and nodded.

“Big sister, why did you want to kill her? Did she do something wrong in the past?”

The feeling of being gnawed on by zombies, the pain in every limb, came to mind, and Jiang Zao’s breathing stopped for a moment.

Seeing that she hadn’t spoken for a long time, Li Mi nervously grabbed her wrist, her tone getting lower and lower.

“Big sister, don’t be angry. I won’t do anything you don’t like again. I just feel that she saved me, and she’s also pregnant. My mom was also like that at that time…”

“It’s a good thing that you want to repay kindness, but that woman is not trustworthy. She has betrayed me before. If I hadn’t been lucky, I might not be alive now.”

Jiang Zao squatted down and held her hand.

“Little Mi, you remember, anyone who has betrayed you is not worthy of being trusted again. If they betray you once, they will do it again. In this cold apocalypse, only I, your Big Sister Wen, and Grandma Jiang will never hurt you.”

Tears welled up in Li Mi’s eyes, and she threw herself into her arms.

“Big sister, I’m sorry. Little Mi was wrong. Little Mi hurt… hurt you… I will never leave you either.”

Just then, Jiang Wuni was calling them for dinner from below.

Jiang Zao smiled gently and patted her back.

“Alright, wipe your tears and let’s go eat.”

After dinner, Jiang Zao played with Kele for a while and then went back to her room to rest. Ever since Jiang Wuni had also found out about her and Wen Zhao’s relationship, Wen Zhao no longer had to sneak in in the middle of the night and was now openly lying next to her.

Jiang Zao was resting her head on her arm, her eyes half-open and half-closed. She was wearing a thin nightgown, and her black hair was spread out like a waterfall. Wen Zhao was playing with a strand of her hair.

“Still thinking about what happened today?”

“I just feel that something is not right.” Jiang Zao suddenly sat up from the bed. “Linhai City is over two thousand kilometers from Luohe Town. It took me three days and two nights to drive. How did she get here?”

That was with good road conditions before the apocalypse, not to mention that the road was now full of zombies and was perilous.

Chen Jianing was also pregnant.

According to her, Little Yu was already dead. Then whose child was it?

Wen Zhao also sat up. “You mean…”

Jiang Zao’s gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing the heart.

“She is definitely not alone.”

Wen Zhao thought of the middle-aged woman who had been following her today.

“Have you seen her family? Is that her mother…”

Jiang Zao shook her head.

“Sometimes her mother would come to the school gate to bring her things. I saw her from a distance a few times, but I don’t have much of an impression anymore.”

Jiang Zao was a little regretful at this moment. At that time, they were all injured and were only focused on leaving as soon as possible. They should have grabbed Chen Jianing and questioned her properly.

“As you said, if she’s not alone, then… I have a feeling that we will see her again soon.”

She had only heard Jiang Zao mention it before, and she didn’t like this kind of exquisite egoist like Chen Jianing. It wasn’t until she saw her in person yesterday that she realized that although Chen Jianing seemed to be crying her heart out, the greed and calculation in her eyes when she looked at Jiang Zao could not be hidden.

Such acting might be able to deceive Little Mi, but it could not escape her and Jiang Zao’s eyes.

“She’d better have listened to my advice and not come to provoke me again, otherwise…” Jiang Zao’s gaze gradually turned cold, and she clenched the quilt.

Wen Zhao gently took her hand and opened it.

“Alright, your hand is still injured. Since you’re so concerned about her, do you want me to sneak into the factory…”

Jiang Zao also understood what she was thinking, but now the enemy was in the dark and they were in the light. Perhaps the town was already full of their spies.

“No… I have a plan…”

Wen Zhao bent down, and Jiang Zao whispered something in her ear. Wen Zhao nodded gently, indicating that she understood.

She was about to get up when she was held again.

Jiang Zao was stunned for a moment. Wen Zhao had already rested her chin on her shoulder. “Sigh, I’m so tired today… it seems that we won’t have any peace for a while. I really hope that these days of fighting and killing will end soon.”

Jiang Zao was concerned about the injury on her back, so she just hung her arms around her neck, smelling the familiar pine scent on her body after she had showered. She rubbed her nose against hers and kissed her lips lightly.

“Aren’t the days with me good?”

“Of course they are.”

She had taken the initiative to come over. Wen Zhao held her waist tightly and lowered her head to catch her restless lips.

“If killing one zombie means I can be with you for one more day, then I wish I could kill all the zombies in this world.”

After their relationship was confirmed, when there were no outsiders, Jiang Zao was always very active and bold. She also enjoyed this feeling of being close to each other, especially after a big battle.

Her body also needed some other comfort.

The kiss gradually moved down her neck.

The straps of her nightgown also slipped from her shoulders.

Jiang Zao held her head.

“Do you… still have the strength?”

“I have no strength for killing zombies, but for serving Little Zao, my strength is endless.”

Jiang Zao’s soft voice had gradually become out of tune. Wen Zhao slowly helped her lie down.

“Be good… my back is injured, so I’m afraid you’ll have to be on the bottom today.”

Jiang Zao’s pale lips were dyed crimson. She raised her hand to block the somewhat dazzling light above her head and said indistinctly, “Turn… turn off the light.”

Wen Zhao chuckled and bent down. “Is it okay if I leave it on? I want… to see you clearly.”

***

As the night grew deeper, that side had already fallen into a beautiful vortex, but for Chen Jianing, this was the beginning of a hell on earth.

She had been to this room countless times, and every time was a nightmare for her. She had thought that today would be the same as usual. When she was held down and made to kneel, she obediently took off her already scant clothing.

This way, she could avoid a few beatings.

When the man stood up, she subconsciously raised her hand to protect her head. To her surprise, what fell on her was not a fist, but a thick piece of clothing.

“Put it on.”

She was still in a daze when Old Eight, who was next to her, shouted.

“If the boss tells you to wear it, then wear it. What are you dawdling for!”

She came to her senses, her gaze falling on the submachine gun in his hand. Fearing another beating, she quickly and tremblingly put on the clothes.

The scar-faced man nodded in satisfaction and sat back down in his chair. Seeing that the tips of his shoes were dusty, Chen Jianing quickly and sensibly knelt by his feet and wiped his shoes for him.

She was used to doing these things. This was how she had survived here for so long.

The hand that was wiping his shoes gradually moved up, massaging his thigh. The man had always been satisfied. Just as she thought she could escape another beating today.

The scar-faced man suddenly grabbed her by the neck.

“You know the woman who was leading today?”

Chen Jianing’s face turned blue, and she couldn’t speak. She could only nod frantically, hoping that he would let go.

The man let go.

“Tell me about your relationship. From the beginning until now.”

In Chen Jianing’s fragmented account, the man stroked the stubble on his chin, a hint of viciousness in his eyes.

“So you’re good friends?”

Chen Jianing nodded like a pecking chicken and prostrated herself at his feet again, hoping that if she told the truth, he would let her go.

“Then why didn’t she take you with her today?”

Chen Jianing cried and shook her head.

“Maybe… maybe I offended her by borrowing money from her before. I don’t know! Boss, have mercy!”

The scar-faced man grabbed her by the hair.

“To be honest, your friend is much prettier than you. Look at you. It’s really disgusting.”

He let go of her again and threw her on the ground like a dead dog. “But, you’re not completely useless. At least every time you cried and begged other survivors to take you in like this, you succeeded. And because of that, we all got a lot of weapons or supplies, right, brothers?”

A room full of scumbags all cheered and howled.

The scar-faced man waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet.

“Alright, since she’s your friend, you can think of a way to get in with them, just like you did before. If you can’t do it…”

The man stood up, and his square-toed leather shoe stomped hard on her fingers. His eyes gradually turned cold. “You know the consequences.”

Before Chen Jianing could let out a scream, her mouth was stuffed with a rag. Old Eight came forward, grabbed her arm, and a bright cold light flashed. The dagger had already cut her skin. Old Three came over and stuffed a black, fingernail-sized thing into her flesh, grinding it hard.

Chen Jianing didn’t even have time to scream before she fainted.

Old Three waved his hand, and a person who looked like a subordinate came over with a large steel needle and stitched up her wound.

Seeing that the preparations were almost done, the scar-faced man waved his hand.

“Drag her away.”

Old Eight’s face was full of excitement. He dragged her by the hair and walked out.

“Anyway, you’re leaving tomorrow. Why don’t you let me…”

The scar-faced man looked at their backs and turned around.

“You said Old Three saw them cross the stone bridge and head towards Yuanxi Village from the rooftop today?”

Old Three nodded. “Yes, boss. I don’t quite understand. It’s just two women and a child. Why don’t we just—why go to so much trouble?”

He made a gesture with his hand at his neck.

“What if that woman runs away?”

The scar-faced man sneered.

“If she had the guts, she would have jumped into the horde of zombies long ago.”

He pondered what he had seen today. For some reason, he felt that the woman with the Tang-style horizontal knife looked a little familiar, but the distance was a bit far, and he really couldn’t remember where he had seen her.

His intuition told him that he had to be cautious when dealing with these two people. This was not only in the apocalypse, but also his survival rule before the apocalypse.

“Didn’t you see the skills of those two women today? They even killed that monster. You bunch of good-for-nothings are not even a match for them.”

“So what? We have guns. We can just shoot them.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the scar-faced man slapped him.

“Why are you like Old Eight, with nothing but killing and women on your mind? They’ve survived in the apocalypse for so long and have raised that dog to be so fat and strong. They must have a lot of good things! The main thing is the supplies! The supplies!”

As the scar-faced man spoke, he also licked his lips.

“Besides, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a taste of something fresh.”

***

When Chen Jianing was thrown back, the women who were curled up in the room just numbly moved aside to make room for her. The blood-stained clothes were also thrown in.

Here, clothes and food were very important. The women swarmed over. Even though Chen Jianing held on tightly, it was of no use. Moreover, her arm was still bleeding, and it was extremely painful. The only piece of clothing she had to cover herself was also snatched away.

She struggled for a moment, but her face soon became numb, and she sat back down.

“Time to eat.”

Someone came in and threw a few steamed buns on the ground. This was a room, but it was not very clean. They stayed here all day, and their excrement was all mixed together.

The moldy steamed buns rolled on the ground, causing a scramble. Chen Jianing just watched until the woman who had been with her today picked one up and gave it to her.

She took it and looked at the moldy steamed bun in her hand, but she suddenly thought of Jiang Zao’s appearance today, a completely different person from before.

So proud, so cold, so confident. She had never seen that on her face before. When everyone was starving and cold, she hadn’t gotten thin. She was even stronger than before, looking tall and strong.

While she was scantily clad and being humiliated, she actually had good clothes to wear, and friends!

Even the dog that Jiang Zao had was more glamorous than her.

In what way was the former Jiang Zao better than her?

Why?! Why?!

She had to live like a pig or a dog!

Chen Jianing bit down hard on the moldy steamed bun in her hand, mixed with blood and tears.

***

The next morning.

Before it was light, Chen Jianing was pulled into a car and driven out of the town.

The scar-faced man stood on the tallest building in the center of the town, holding a pair of binoculars.

“Are you sure they went in this direction?”

Old Eight nodded repeatedly. “Boss, I’m sure I didn’t see wrong!”

The scar-faced man pressed the walkie-talkie. “Old Three, that’s about enough. Let her walk the rest of the way.”

The car door opened, and Chen Jianing was pushed out, rolling in the snow. A sharp pain came from her stomach. She was in pain and was holding her stomach, not yet up, when Old Three whipped her.

“Run! Run! If you don’t run, I’ll kill you!”

Chen Jianing had no choice but to get up, dodge the whips that were coming at her from all directions, and open her legs to move forward.

The scar-faced man looked at her stumbling figure and frowned. “Old Three, it’s too slow. Add some fire for her.”

Old Three took out his handgun, stood on the car, and fired a shot behind her. Chen Jianing was so scared that she fell to the ground with a thud.

The gunshot also attracted the attention of the zombies from all directions.

Old Eight looked down. A steady stream of zombies was pouring out of the alley below. He couldn’t help but shout in excitement.

“Old Three, you’re something else. The boss really knows how to think of a way!”

Old Three fired a few more shots behind her, then got into the car and drove away before the zombies could surround them.