Chapter 21: Bringing Two Kids into the Village
Qin Xiao’s eyes held no amusement; his expression had completely changed, a stark contrast to his usual playful self. He exuded a casual yet dangerous aura.
The two burly men were momentarily stunned, neither of them speaking.
Qin Xiao asked again, “Who insulted Ji Nian just now?”
Ji Nian stood in the distance, watching this scene unfold. Tall, but somewhat thin, he was enveloped in a large white hoodie, his collarbones prominent, his wrists slender.
He walked over. “Forget it, let’s go.”
“Forget what? They insulted you.”
Qin Xiao wouldn’t let it go.
“I said let’s go.”
Ji Nian coldly looked at him again. If they didn’t leave soon, he might be stopped.
Fearing Qin Xiao would continue to insist, Ji Nian grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him away.
Qin Xiao almost stumbled, pointing at the two burly men. “Don’t let me see you two again! Or I’ll beat you to a pulp!”
Since the virus outbreak, no strangers had ever entered the village.
Getting Qin Xiao and Ji Nian to stay in the village wasn’t easy for Han Qing.
Just after walking down a street, many people emerged from each house, as if they’d planned it, surrounding the three of them.
They had all heard the intense fight with the zombies and the car horn; they were terrified and hid in their closets, under beds, in water jars…
They had even thought about how painful it would be if the zombies broke into the village and attacked them.
Seriously, what was wrong with them?!
A car horn just like that?!
Were they trying to die?!
A woman at the front of the crowd looked up and down at Ji Nian and Qin Xiao, her chin raised arrogantly. “Who are they? They look unfamiliar.”
They weren’t two or three-year-old children; everyone understood this.
Han Qing raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing…”
Before Lü Zhen could say anything else, Han Qing pushed her aside. “If you don’t mean anything, don’t block the way!”
Then she reached out, pulling Qin Xiao on her left and Ji Nian on her right. “Come home with Grandma!”
Lü Zhen: …
Damn it, she actually ignored me!!
She glanced at several people in the crowd; they nodded understandingly and walked over to stop Han Qing and the others.
“Unclear people coming into the village—what if they carry the virus? They can’t stay!”
“If they carry the virus, the first one they’d bite is that troublemaker!”
Han Qing didn’t mince her words, looking coldly at those blocking her path. “Get out of the way! If I have a latent virus and suddenly mutate and bite you, don’t blame me!”
Those people were a little scared and quietly made way.
Lü Zhen glared at them resentfully, stubbornly stretching out her arms to block them. “No! Those two can’t come in!”
“Why not?”
Han Qing held back her anger, looking calmly at her.
“Were they the ones honking outside earlier?”
Lü Zhen didn’t answer; she changed the subject. “Zombies are most sensitive to sound. Who honked the horn just now? Don’t you know that could attract zombies? Don’t you know how much fear and danger it could bring us?”
“People who only care about themselves and don’t think things through—why should they enter our village? Is it just so that when there’s danger, they can push everyone else out and save their own lives?”
Lü Zhen incited the crowd. “Such people are like tumors! They can’t stay!”
Those people readily agreed. “Right! They can’t stay!”
“Get them out! They can’t stay in the village!”
“They must be expelled!”
The village head and other officials all went to a city meeting on the day the virus broke out and tragically didn’t return.
Later, a manager was chosen to manage everyone.
But in the apocalyptic times, people were anxious, and selfish human nature was amplified. Everyone only wanted to survive; no one listened to the manager, so the manager stopped caring.
“They don’t have any common sense!”
Seeing that Han Qing didn’t speak, Lü Zhen thought she was ashamed and smugly curled her lips. “Luckily, our village’s defenses are good; otherwise, those zombies would have stormed in!”
Ji Nian wanted to laugh; unaware of the facts, she sounded convincing.
Qin Xiao was a little worried about him; his eyes seemed glued to Ji Nian, unable to move.
“Ji Nian, Ji Nian.”
He whispered Ji Nian’s name. Ji Nian looked over, and he said, “Don’t worry, we won’t leave you behind. Trust my grandma.”
Ji Nian smiled; it was hard to say. Qin Xiao was Han Qing’s grandson; it was understandable that he would stay.
If the village wouldn’t let him stay, he had no choice but to leave.
In difficult situations, comforting words were very helpful.
At least Ji Nian felt warm inside.
He looked at Qin Xiao and mouthed “Thanks,” but Qin Xiao didn’t understand and was determined to know the answer, leaning in to look at him, repeatedly asking, “What did you say, Ji Nian?”
“Ji Nian, what did you say?”
“I didn’t hear you clearly. Say it again?”
While Han Qing and the villagers were arguing about whether to let them stay, Qin Xiao and Ji Nian remained silent.
From their perspective, speaking might backfire.
Also, they really couldn’t find a way to participate.
Han Qing truly deserved her nickname, Biao Qing (Fierce Qing).
She single-handedly faced a hundred people and shut them up with her words.
It was like a debate; Lü Zhen posed a question, and Han Qing immediately retorted, leaving them speechless.
Lü Zhen: “These people can’t stay in the village!”
Han Qing: “Which people?”
Lü Zhen: “Those who honked their horns, disregarded others’ safety, and were selfish!”
Han Qing: “Then I want to ask you, are you still alive? Is that thing standing in front of me a human or a ghost?”
Lü Zhen: …
Han Qing: “It’s laughable. You say zombies are sensitive to sound, but do you know why the zombies didn’t rush into the village when they heard the sound?”
Han Qing: “Don’t say it’s because the defenses are good. It’s because this child drove the zombies away!”
Han Qing raised the hand holding Ji Nian’s, her emotions a little agitated. “He honked to save people, to save our grandmother and grandson!”
“You say they’re selfish? Bullshit! Do you know how many days they waited outside the village?”
“Two days! For two days, they sat in their car, zombies all around them. Weren’t they afraid?”
“Tell me! Are those teenagers afraid or not?”
Han Qing asked; no one answered. She continued, “They were driving a car. Do you really think that iron plate is indestructible? They could have just slammed into it and entered the village, but why didn’t they? Because you’re good-looking?!”
“What nonsense about carrying viruses?”
“Who told you they have viruses? Who told you that you don’t have viruses?”
“Who the hell knows for sure?!”
Han Qing became angrier and angrier, pulling out a cigarette from her pocket, lighting it, and holding it in her mouth; she looked like a gangster leader. “I’m saying this now! I won’t let you chase either of these kids away, or you’ll face the consequences!”
Having said that, she tightened her grip on Ji Nian and Qin Xiao’s hands, pulling them through the crowd and into the depths of the village.
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