The World Turned into Zombies, So I Went Back to the Countryside to Farm 76

Chapter 76: Nun

When Jiang Zao returned to the tent, Yan Zhen had also returned.

She was sitting alone by the hospital bed, her expression a little lost, her hair a little messy, her white coat still stained with blood, and her lips were a little bruised.

Jiang Zao leaped over in a single bound.

“Did she find you again?”

Only when Yan Zhen heard the voice did she seem to come back to life like a puppet. She turned her face and struggled to sit up.

“I… I’m fine…”

Jiang Zao helped her up. “I’ll help you back to rest.”

Her dormitory was behind the tent. Yan Zhen pushed her hand away.

“No, no need. I’ll walk by myself.”

She turned to leave but accidentally bumped into the bed frame. Jiang Zao quickly stopped her. “Don’t move. Wait for me.”

She took off her night clothes and changed into the clothes she wore in the camp. At this time, it was almost dawn, so no one would be suspicious if she walked out like this. It seemed that Yan Zhen was supporting her, but in fact, she was holding Yan Zhen’s arm tightly and sent her to the dormitory.

“Where’s the water cup?”

“In the cabinet.”

Jiang Zao opened her cabinet and took out the cup, but she unexpectedly saw a yellowed ID card under the cabinet.

It was probably her name tag from when she worked in the hospital before. She had never used it since she came here.

Jiang Zao pursed her lips and closed the cabinet again.

She picked up the kettle and poured her a glass of warm water.

Yan Zhen took it but didn’t drink it. She just stared at the slightly rippling water in the cup. Jiang Zao looked at her.

“Sorry… I didn’t know she would today…”

Yan Zhen looked up at her face and smiled wryly. The smile was mixed with some other meaning.

“Do you know? I’m quite envious of you sometimes. At least… Qingshan really likes you.”

It was precisely because she was treated as a plaything, as a dispensable substitute, that she would be hurt so wantonly.

Qingshan would not be like this to Jiang Zao. Yan Zhen had not forgotten the panicked look in her eyes when she had burst into the tent this afternoon.

“Even you think so?”

Jiang Zao seemed a little in disbelief and sat down beside her.

“If she really liked me, she should have let me be free, instead of tying me to her side like this, taking by force. That’s not love. Yan Zhen, don’t be deceived by her appearance.”

Jiang Zao held her hand and squeezed it hard.

In fact, she was also a little worried. Because of the long-term discipline and abuse, Yan Zhen would subconsciously obey all of Qingshan’s requests and develop Stockholm syndrome towards her.

At this juncture, this was the last thing she wanted to see.

“I’m the same as you. We’re both her pets. The only difference is that she and I have a little bit of a past. You see, she keeps saying she likes me, which is delaying you and…”

At this point, Jiang Zao could no longer continue.

Yan Zhen had already silently had her eyes turn red.

Jiang Zao gently placed her hand on her back.

“We’ve all held on until now. Don’t give up. Keep moving forward. We will definitely be able to escape.”

Yan Zhen also held her hand back, and tears fell drop by drop, landing on the back of her hand.

She didn’t even dare to look up at Jiang Zao’s eyes.

“I’m sorry…”

Jiang Zao thought she was talking about what had just happened, so she gently patted her shoulder and stood up.

“Alright, I’m going back. It’s almost time for everyone to get up.”

***

In the forest outside the hunting ground.

The patrol team had already found the bodies of the two dead soldiers. Lorian dismounted and walked to their side.

The bodies of the two soldiers had been gnawed beyond recognition by the zombies, but they had not yet mutated, which could only mean that they had already died before they were bitten.

Lorian squatted down, used a handkerchief to cover his hand, and with just a light push, their heads fell over like broken puppets.

This was a direct twisting of the cervical spine with bare hands, a fatal blow.

What a ruthless method.

“Captain, their guns are also gone.”

A patrol soldier reported after checking the surroundings.

Lorian stood up from beside the body.

“Let’s go. Back to the camp.”

***

“That’s how it is.” After Lorian had reported the whole story, there was not much fluctuation on Qingshan’s face.

“Do you think I don’t know? I know what kind of person Zao’er is better than you do. Not exposing her is just playing with her.”

Lorian was a little anxious. “You’re still keeping such a ruthless person by your side. You should also know that she is not at all—”

Qingshan raised her eyes coldly, and Lorian did not dare to say the rest of his words. He chose his words carefully and said.

“Either kill them, or… let them go. You should also know that a forced melon is not sweet.”

“Get out.”

Faced with his long speech, Qingshan just opened her thin lips and spat out three words, the veins on her temples bulging.

“Don’t make me say it a second time.”

Lorian took a deep breath, bowed his head, and saluted.

“Yes.”

For the next period of time, Jiang Zao lived a fairly peaceful life. In the days between spring and summer, it was the rainy season in the mountains, but it didn’t rain much. The sky was always cloudy.

Perhaps a bigger storm was brewing.

Jiang Zao thought to herself as she stood at the entrance of the tent.

Qingshan came over at this moment.

“Your foot is not yet healed. Why are you standing outside?”

She was always like this. No matter how busy she was, she would always find time to come and see her every day.

Jiang Zao familiarly took her arm.

“It’s too stuffy in the tent. I came out for some fresh air.”

“I’ll help you in.”

The church attendant followed in, holding a delicate gift box. Qingshan helped her sit down by the bed.

Jiang Zao: “What’s this?”

“Open it and see.”

Jiang Zao took it and slowly untied the bow on the gift box.

A pure black hollowed-out nightgown came into view. Jiang Zao picked it up. The light and cool silk felt like nothing in her hand. The nightgown was a halter style, with a small bow decorated at the neck. The chest was largely hollowed out, and the fabric could only cover two points.

The back was also left bare.

The waist was a mesh of the same color, and it was also paired with matching underwear.

Qingshan looked at her with deep affection.

“Do you like it? I designed it for you personally. It should… be very sexy on you.”

A hint of embarrassment naturally appeared on Jiang Zao’s face.

“Not bad. Have you also made such a dress for Doctor Yan?”

Qingshan sat down beside her and put her arm around her shoulder.

“Of course not. I’m only willing to spend time and effort on my Zao’er.”

Jiang Zao thought for a moment. It would be a good thing if she could stop looking for Yan Zhen from now on. So, she sat up from her embrace, looked into her eyes, and pretended to be a little angry.

“In that case… then you should know that I, will not allow… my lover…”

When these four words came out of her mouth, Qingshan’s eyes instantly lit up. She held Jiang Zao’s hand tightly.

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

“To find someone else.”

Fortunately, she had interjected, which gave Jiang Zao a moment to say this sentence with difficulty.

Although, when she said “my lover,” it was Wen Zhao who appeared in her mind.

Qingshan agreed without any hesitation.

“Alright. If you don’t like her in front of you, I can even transfer her from the Red Cross.”

Jiang Zao raised her hand and stopped her.

“The Red Cross still needs Doctor Yan to take charge of the overall situation. I don’t want to be that unreasonable person.”

Qingshan tilted her head and kissed the back of her hand.

“On the day of the baptism, you can wear this nightgown inside and the church’s robe outside. After it’s over, we’ll go back to my place together. I’ve also… prepared something else for you.”

A blush appeared on Jiang Zao’s face, and she buried her head in her embrace.

“These days, she probably won’t come looking for you.”

When Yan Zhen came in to “change her dressing,” the exquisite gift box was still on the table next to her.

The box was open, and she could tell at a glance what it was. She thought of the torture she had suffered at Qingshan’s hands, and the deep and shallow scars that were still on her body. Her eyebrows couldn’t help but furrow in anxiety.

“You… you agreed?! She… she’s a lunatic!”

“I know.”

Jiang Zao smiled wryly and reached out to close the box.

“But this is the only way you can be temporarily safe, and our plan can succeed.”

Yan Zhen was stunned for a moment. There was no self-pity in her eyes, but a forward-looking determination.

Her eyes turned slightly red, and she pursed her lips.

“Jiang Zao…”

But Jiang Zao just took the syringe from the tray in her hand. She stared at the sharp needle, as if she were looking at a murder weapon.

She held it tightly in her hand.

Wen Zhao had also learned to be subservient to these people from the church these days. But every time she bent down, she thought of what Jiang Zao had said to her.

To persevere, to endure. A small impatience will spoil a great plan.

She insisted on working in the engineering department and used the food tickets she got every day to exchange for food to fill her stomach. Although it was insignificant, it could also help her weak body recover some strength before that day came.

This day, when she was at work, she happened to see the team that had gone out to the farm come back from outside the camp. The cart was loaded with things. The road had just rained and was a little muddy and uneven. A jolt sent a sack falling, and the rope at the mouth of the sack came loose, and some wheat seeds fell out.

The cart was moving fast, and the white-haired old man was falling behind. He painstakingly gathered the wheat seeds that were stained with mud and water back into the sack, tied the mouth of the sack, and tried to lift the sack a few times but couldn’t.

Wen Zhao recognized him as the old man who had saved her with Doctor Yan that day. She walked over and helped him carry the sack onto the cart.

She had wanted to thank him in person, but Old En just waved his hand, signaling her not to speak, and followed the convoy forward.

Wen Zhao looked at his back.

“What a strange person…”

At dinner time, that was her happiest time of the day. The canteen was close to the Red Cross.

She could sometimes stand there and look at Jiang Zao from a distance.

When the setting sun cast its afterglow, Jiang Zao would also silently stand at the entrance of the tent. This was like a tacit understanding between the two of them.

The brief moment of eye contact could give each other great courage.

Even though Wen Zhao would soon be driven away by the soldiers, at that moment, her heart was already in full bloom.

More often than not, Qingshan would also come at this time.

She dismounted. “What are you looking at?”

Jiang Zao bowed.

“I was waiting for the Prophet to come.”

Qingshan took her hand.

A clap of thunder sounded in the sky.

“I’ve told you, you’re the only one in the camp who doesn’t have to call me that. It’s going to rain. Let’s go in.”

“Big sister, tomorrow is your baptism.”

At night, Jiang Zao went to see Little Mi. She held her hand tightly, her face full of worry.

Jiang Zao patted her head.

“Don’t forget, there’s still you.”

“I’m not important. That Prophet… is a total pervert!”

As Jiang Zao’s sister, Little Mi would also attend the baptism. As for Wen Zhao, no one cared. They were even afraid that she would cause some trouble, so the church had already sent people to watch over her.

Jiang Zao was also supposed to stay at Qingshan’s place tonight, but she said she wanted to stay with Little Mi and Kele. After she moved to the church, she would have fewer opportunities to come over.

Qingshan thought, it was just one night, so she let her be. That’s why she could now openly appear here to see Little Mi and Kele.

These days, although Yan Zhen and she had not told Little Mi about the adult matters, a precocious child could also guess about it. She wanted to escape from here but was more worried that her Big Sister Jiang would be hurt, so much so that her eyes were filled with tears.

Jiang Zao held her in her arms.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Tomorrow… we can escape tomorrow. We should be happy.”

Kele had also been staying with Little Mi these days. At this moment, it also jumped up from under the bed and licked their cheeks.

The injury on its leg was already mostly healed. Yan Zhen’s skills were very good, and there were basically no long-term consequences.

It’s just that its appearance was a little flawed.

But in the eyes of those who loved it, that was not a problem.

Jiang Zao rubbed their heads.

“Alright, let’s all rest early and keep up our strength for tomorrow.”

Wen Zhao was taken to the room where they had been quarantined before and was put under strict guard.

She was pushed in by a soldier. She didn’t react. It wasn’t until they had left that she took out the small knife from her pant leg, found a stone from the ground, and repeatedly scraped it on the stone, sharpening it to a gleaming shine.

Qingshan turned on the record player again, humming a song, and walked down the stone steps with a light pace, holding a tray, to the secret room.

An An was still waiting for her there, never having left.

The thunderstorm made An An a little agitated. She instinctively roared at any object that made a noise, but the moment Qingshan put her hand in front of her, she flinched.

Qingshan gently stroked her head.

“Good An An. Tomorrow is the day our family of three will be reunited. You have to be good and not scare Mom.”

Qingshan opened the tray, and a bloody severed arm appeared on the plate again. She picked it up and handed it to her daughter.

Watching her daughter chew on it with a crunch, she also gritted her teeth.

“After all, she is different from us.”

***

Jiang Zao’s baptism happened to be on a rest day. Qingshan wanted to make a big deal of it and let everyone be happy with her, so the camp started to get busy early in the morning.

The Ministry of Agriculture took out the food they had saved for a long time.

The engineering department was in charge of renovating the camp, decorating it with lanterns and colored streamers, and even ensuring that the camp had a full day’s supply of electricity.

This was something that had never happened before. After all, the electricity ration for ordinary residents had to be exchanged with food tickets.

The patrol soldiers had also changed into brand new uniforms.

Qingshan was wearing the dark red, floor-length robe that she only wore on important occasions. Her hair was neatly coiled at the back of her head. She stood on the high platform with her scepter and watched as Jiang Zao led Little Mi by the hand, step by step, up the steps, also wearing a robe of the same color.

This was unprecedented in the strictly hierarchical camp, but the surrounding residents had long been used to being subservient to Qingshan. Not a single person had any objection. Under the dark muzzles of the soldiers, they all knelt down and fanatically shouted “Long live the Prophet.”

A smile was on Qingshan’s lips. She took Jiang Zao’s hand, pulled her up the last step, and slowly walked to the center of the field.

Jiang Zao let go of her hand and knelt down with Little Mi.

“Please baptize us, Prophet.”

Yan Zhen handed her the tray.

Qingshan looked at her kneeling in front of her, her slender and fair neck like a piece of white jade.

She picked up the tattoo needle and couldn’t help but sigh in a low voice.

“Zao’er, this is not only your baptism, but also our wedding. Look, so many people are blessing us.”

“The Lord will surely bless you.”

A fanatical look appeared in Qingshan’s eyes. She stabbed the back of her neck. When the tip of the needle pierced her skin, the hymn sounded again, like a devil’s curse, circling over the square.

Jiang Zao instantly bit her lower lip. Little Mi could feel that she was trying her best to endure the discomfort and pain, and she also held her hand tightly, giving each other support.

Yan Zhen, on the other hand, looked at her back with a complicated expression.

After the baptism, Jiang Zao had no reason to stay at the Red Cross anymore. Qingshan took her hand and walked towards her residence step by step, receiving the worship of the residents along the way.

“Greetings, Prophet.”

“Greetings, Sister.”

To be able to enter and leave with her openly, Qingshan had even given her the title of “Sister.”

Jiang Zao followed her footsteps and stopped, nodding at these people to show her friendliness. The grandmother who had given Jiang Zao a steamed bun was also among them. At this moment, her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at them.

Qingshan was already impatient. She walked past these people with her scepter, not even glancing at them.

At this moment, all living things were ants in her eyes.

Except for Jiang Zao.

The stone house was already filled with the scent of incense, and the record player was on. There were also candles lit in the candlesticks on the table, which was covered with a red tablecloth. Everything was arranged as if for a wedding.

In the flickering candlelight, Qingshan pulled her and sat her on her lap.

“What do you think? Do you like it?”

“Of course.”

Jiang Zao turned her head to avoid her falling kiss. Qingshan then followed her down her neck, her breath a little unsteady.

“It’s time to take off this robe.”

Jiang Zao held her hand.

“Qingshan, I’m hungry. Can we eat first?”

She looked up and glanced at the two guards who were standing as still as a mountain at the door.

“Besides, you don’t want others to hear… our movements, right?”

Only then did Qingshan let go of her, waved her hand, and ordered the church attendant to serve the dishes quickly. She also had him withdraw the guards near her residence.

“Captain, are we really going to withdraw?”

Lorian looked at the brightly lit stone house, turned around, and ordered, “Withdraw. Today is a rest day anyway. Let the brothers who are on guard near the church go and rest.”

The Prophet had only said that all the guards near her residence were to be withdrawn, but Lorian had him call all the soldiers in the church away. There was no such rule even on a rest day.

He couldn’t help but be a little uneasy.

“Captain Lo…”

Lorian’s face was as cold as iron.

“Do as I say.”

The soldier quickly bowed his head. “Yes, Captain Lo.”