Zhou Xiuying originally thought she was the only one left in this village.
Suddenly seeing so many 'normal' people, she was stunned for a moment.
"Sister Ying, who were those two people who came to your house earlier?"
Village chief Liu Wanfu asked with a smile.
The tears Zhou Xiuying had just wiped away streamed down her face again.
"I don't know them, but they killed my son."
"My son was just sick, but they said he was some kind of zombie, that he was already dead. But he could still move and walk, how could he be dead?"
Zhou Xiuying accused them with reddened eyes, her voice breaking.
"Aunt Xiuying, the internet says that's what zombies are. Once bitten, the virus spreads throughout the body, invading the brain. The person becomes nothing but a walking corpse, no longer the person they used to be."
Suddenly, a coquettish female voice spoke up.
"Lili, stop talking."
Seeing the shock and pain fill Zhou Xiuying's eyes, Tan Lili's mother Lei Chunyan quickly tugged on her daughter's hand.
Tan Lili pouted, "I didn't say anything wrong, that's what it says online."
When the zombie virus first broke out, before communications went down, that's what she had learned from the internet.
"It's like this, Sister Ying. We came over to ask if you want to come with us to find food?"
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, the village chief quickly tried to smooth things over.
"We've been trapped here for three months, not daring to go out. We've eaten everything in our homes, so we thought about going to the nearby plantation to pick some vegetables to bring back."
Their village made a living growing seasonal fruits, but now the fruit trees only had leaves, with nothing edible.
The few vegetables in their gardens had all died or been eaten by insects due to lack of care during this time, making them inedible.
Fortunately, there was a plantation not far from here.
The plantation workers had gone on holiday the day before the apocalypse broke out, so there weren't many people there, meaning there wouldn't be many zombies.
Going there now shouldn't be too dangerous.
Of course, while the danger was low, there was still some risk.
That's why he had called together all the surviving villagers - there's strength in numbers.
Besides, if there really was danger, it was good to have people to act as shields, right?
A flash of cunning passed through the village chief's eyes, before his face returned to a full smile.
"Later, we'll take the village tractors and any usable cars. We'll try to harvest all the vegetables there.
We can also bring back some seeds and seedlings.
After that, we'll fence off the village, and everyone can grow some vegetables and grains together. At least then we won't starve to death when our food stores run out."
Liu Wanfu spoke confidently, making a lot of sense.
Zhou Xiuying thought of the half bag of rice left at home, considered for a moment, then nodded.
"Let's go."
Half an hour later.
"Quick, look! What's that?!"
Tan Lili pointed at the hundred-meter high wall ahead, amazed.
Tan Lili's mother Lei Chunyan and father Tan Changbin also looked out the car window, their eyes flashing with surprise.
"Mmph..."
Suddenly, a gentle-looking woman in the passenger seat groaned, clutching her stomach.
Her abdomen was protruding, looking about four or five months pregnant.
"What's wrong, Huaixue? Is your stomach uncomfortable? Do you want to stop and rest for a bit?"
Liu Yi, who was driving, furrowed his brow in concern.
He wore gold-rimmed glasses and had a scholarly, refined appearance.
At this moment, his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he looked worriedly at his wife beside him.
"I'm fine, the baby just kicked me a bit hard."
Xue Huaixue dug her fingers into her flesh, trying hard to endure the cramping pain in her abdomen, forcing a smile on her face.
She didn't want to delay everyone because of herself, nor did she want them to think she was too delicate.
Even if she said she felt unwell now, it wouldn't help. There were no doctors around.
Besides, she had experienced this kind of pain before. It should pass if she just endured it for a while.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Liu Yi was still worried.
Xue Huaixue smiled, "Really, I'm fine."
"Huaixue, if you're really not feeling well, we can stop for a bit. This isn't something to joke about,"
Lei Chunyan said with concern.
"Thank you, Sister Chunyan. I'm feeling much better now," Xue Huaixue forced another smile.
"That's good. Don't try to tough it out if something's wrong, okay?"
"Mm-hmm." Xue Huaixue pressed her lips together.
About three months ago, she and her husband were returning to their hometown.
When they passed by Xiangfu Village, their car suddenly broke down.
It was almost dark, and when they called for a tow truck, they were told it would be a while before one could arrive.
But they waited and waited, and no one came.
Just as her stomach was starting to feel uncomfortable, Lei Chunyan and Tan Changbin, returning from farm work, happened to pass by. Seeing her discomfort, they offered to let them rest at their home until the mechanic arrived to take them back.
Seeing that night was falling, she and her husband discussed it briefly and decided to go with them.
They never imagined that overnight, the world would change completely.
Outside was full of zombies. Being pregnant, she couldn't engage in strenuous activity. Going out then would have certainly meant death.
Fortunately, Lei Chunyan and her husband were kind, simple people, willing to let them continue living in their home.
For these three months, they had eaten their food and used their resources, making her feel constantly guilty.
She wanted to give them money, but found that money no longer had any value.
Originally, they had wanted her husband to stay home with her this time.
But finally having a chance to help find food, how could she sit at home waiting to be fed?
Her husband didn't want to leave her alone at home, so she suggested they go together.
Perhaps she could still help pick vegetables.
Hearing Xue Huaixue say this, Liu Yi finally calmed down a bit and continued driving.
In another car.
"Strange, when did they build such a high wall here? I remember it used to just be a flattened patch of dirt."
Village chief Liu Wanfu also raised his eyebrows in confusion.
Could it have been built during this time?
"Could the government have built it?"
Liu Wanfu's son, Liu Chengfu, asked.
"If the government really built it, that would be great. We could just move right in. With such high walls, what zombies would we have to fear?
There might even be endless supplies inside,"
Liu Wanfu said excitedly.
"Heh."
As soon as he finished speaking, a young, beautiful woman sitting in the back seat let out a soft laugh.
"Damn it, what are you laughing at?!"
The incredibly ugly Liu Chengfu yelled angrily, his face fierce as he slapped her.
"Ungrateful bitch!"
Though she was hit, Xiong Xiaomin didn't fight back. She only glared fiercely at Liu Chengfu.
She knew that resisting would only lead to a more severe beating.
The worst time, she had been bedridden for three months.
Seeing Xiong Xiaomin glare at him, Liu Chengfu slapped her twice more before stopping.
"You're right, Dad. Women need to be treated harshly to behave," Liu Chengfu snorted.
Sitting in the passenger seat, the over-fifty-year-old Zhong Xiuqiong's eyes flickered. She looked sadly out the window, tears glistening in her eyes.
