Read Novel Full Chapter 276: Slums
Chapter 276: Slums
Zheng Weili never expected that there was more to the story of her parents death, that they didn’t die from heatstroke at all, but were actually starved to death.
She grabbed them and beat them fiercely one by one.
The children were terrified, and in their panic, they spilled everything.
Zheng Weili’s parents had land and stocked up on food at home. Although natural disasters caused their two sons to return home with their families, as long as they managed carefully, they could still get by.
But no one expected the natural disaster to last so long.
At first, the atmosphere at home was still harmonious, but gradually selfishness emerged.
The elder brother felt that the younger brother’s family was eating too much, while the younger brother felt that the elder brother was hoarding warm clothes.
In the end, they all dug into their parents savings.
Forced to divide the family, everyone acted like they were in a big show, completely emptying all their parents money. Each felt they were at a loss, accusing the other of being selfish and unfair.
The two brothers, each guarding their own sack of grain, refused to yield to each other and let their parents to starve to death.
But they still had their pride; knowing that their parents didn’t die decently, they found other reasons to justify it.
Zheng Weili, who knew the truth, went crazy and immediately rushed to his brother’s house, nearly beating them to death.
If it weren’t for the military personnel maintaining order arriving in time, lives might have been lost.
During the fight, Zheng Weili suffered a miscarriage due to intense emotional distress, and the heavy bleeding could not be stopped right away.
Fortunately, there were doctors at the base, so her life was saved. However, due to the lack of medicine for timely treatment, repeated infections led to the complete breakdown of her once strong body.
To make matters worse, due to the severity of the fight, Zheng Weili was expelled from the base.
With no other choice, the three of them had to return to Fengcheng to make a living.
By then, it was already after the earthquake, and the Jinrong community had long since collapsed, leaving no trace of its former self.
In order to survive, they had to resort to their old ways.
Jiang Ning couldn’t help but sigh. They left with hope but returned with scars all over.
Lu Yu still had to patrol and couldn’t stay in the car for too long.
He smiled bitterly and got out of the car.
After a few steps, he turned back and said, “I forgot to tell you, Zhang Chao found a partner.”
Jiang Ning was stunned, “Auntie?”
“We were scavenging outside, and he saved a sister. To repay him, she invited us to dinner, but accidentally got drunk and ended up sleeping with Zhang Chao.”
The sister felt it was okay, so she slept with Zhang Chao a few more times, and then they got together.
“The sister is three years older than him and was quite capable. She used to lead a team, but when the team got too big, there were all kinds of people, so she went solo.”
I guess she got tired of being solo and started sleeping with men.
“They’ve been together for more than half a year. The sister won’t make any promises, so who knows how long they’ll last.”
Lu Yu gave the address, saying they could come over when they had time.
Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Ning sat in the car for a long time before finally driving home.
As soon as she stopped the car, the dog rushed out, anxiously nudging her with its nose.
Huo Yishen came downstairs, “It’s so late, did something happen?”
“No, I just took Teacher Ma back to Yuecheng.”
Jiang Ning thought for a moment, “On the way back, I ran into Lu Yu.”
“Lu Yu?” Huo Yishen was a little surprised. “Shouldn’t he be happy to see him? Instead, he sensed her worry.”
“What happened to them?”
Jiang Ning sat on the sofa and recounted everything.
Huo Yishen remained indifferent, “During times of disaster, almost every family at the bottom will go through this, even if Zheng Weili’s parents hadn’t died, they would have eventually faced this test.”
Parents, siblings, nephews, not everyone can withstand the test in the apocalypse.
“Being poor means looking out for oneself, and being prosperous means helping others.” Huo Yishen held her hand, “Everyone has their own path to walk, we just need to take care of ourselves.”
Jiang Ning also had similar thoughts.
After the joy of reunion, challenges arose.
If it were before, she might have visited Zheng Weili immediately.
But she didn’t, and even began to wonder when she should go see her, and what she should say when they met.
In two years, not only had Lu Yu changed, but Zheng Weili had also suffered from both mental and physical torment.
Was she still the same optimistic and positive girl who didn’t care about gains and losses and loved to smile?
Jiang Ning was even worried that her appearance might create a strong contrast and make Zheng Weili uncomfortable.
Although it was only two years, for some people, it felt longer than a lifetime.
As they turned off the lights and went to bed at night, Jiang Ning consulted with Huo Yishen, “I want to go see Zheng Weili tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?”
“Where do they live?”
Jiang Ning provided the address Lu Yu had given.
Huo Yishen pondered for a moment, “That place is complicated. It’s all survivors from the bottom, no different from a slum.”
Having moved to the new city district a few months ago, Jiang Ning had some understanding of the surroundings. That area was near the edge of the city area, where the rent was relatively cheap, but the living environment was indeed much worse.
“I’ll go with you, but I won’t go up.”
Firstly, he and 1803 were just partners before, with no deep personal feelings. Secondly, he wasn’t good with words, and with him around, Zheng Weili might not be willing to open up to Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning thought about it and agreed, “I’ll go by myself. You stay home and take care of Doudou and Coke.”
“It’s too far. It’s not safe for you to walk.”
The next day, Jiang Ning selected some herbs: fishwort, motherwort, aloe, moneywort, and mugwort, all of which could regulate various gynecological issues after a miscarriage.
She didn’t bring anything valuable, just fast-growing herbs. She would make plans after understanding the situation.
Building 50 had a bad reputation, and recently no one dared to provoke it. Even if they ran into it halfway, they would detour.
Huo Yishen drove Jiang Ning to Changming Street in the south of the city.
Everywhere was garbage, sewage flowed, and there were naked children running around under the buildings.
As soon as the car stopped, many pairs of eyes looked over.
Jiang Ning intentionally wore slightly worn-out clothes, but still felt unsafe after getting out of the car, “Come pick me up in an hour.”
Saying that, she took out a pig-killing knife from her bag and stepped into the narrow and cramped building.
The shack was crowded, the corridors and stairs were piled with all kinds of junk, and people had to walk sideways. The place was filled with bad smell.
It was the same in every building, with many pairs of eyes, all elderly, weak, or children, their clothes ragged and their eyes dull.
Endless gloom, and a chill rising from the soles of her feet.
Carefully climbing to the fifth floor, Jiang Ning knocked on the door for a long time, and a hoarse voice came from inside, “Who is it?”
Jiang Ning was stunned for a moment, “Weili?”
After a while, the door opened, revealing a tired and thin face.
Jiang Ning thought she had got the room number wrong, but she didn’t expect it to be Zheng Weili for real.
This was no longer the Zheng Weili she knew, her face is pale and yellowed, and she coughs so violently that she struggles to stand steadily.
The former national university Sanda champion, who could knock a man flying with one punch and had even beaten a wild boar to death, how could she now be as thin as a skeleton?
Her thighs, thicker than Lu Yu’s waist, were gone.
The clothes she wore seemed empty.
Zheng Weili was stunned, “Anning?”