Before everything goes out

It was completely dark when I left Wang Guodong's house.

The dirt streetlights that were just on have long since gone out.

As it approached eight o'clock, close to curfew, no one could be seen on the village paths anymore, only stray dogs scattered everywhere.

"See you tomorrow."

After parting ways with the Niu brothers, Li Fei carried an oil lamp and walked alone on the road.

As he walked, he recalled Liu Yongxiao's arrangements for the future that he had just discussed at the clinic.

"The three of you have suffered a lot; go back and rest."

"I will take care of bringing the bodies of my fellow villagers back to the village; you don't need to worry about it."

"As for what to do next, whether or not to look for the remaining two, we'll discuss that tomorrow."

"Keep the gun yourself, just don't throw it around. We don't need it."

That's what Liu Yongxiao said.

As for Li Fei personally, he didn't care about bringing the body back to the village; he even thought it might be better not to find it.

But Niu Zhiyuan, and She Qi's daughter, he simply didn't want to give up.

Especially Niu Zhiyuan.

As another transmigrator, his mental state is unstable, switching back and forth between the original owner and the transmigrator. From this, it can be seen that he may know a way to go back.

This place is dilapidated, poor, and dangerous.

If he could, he wouldn't want to stay a second longer.

As for the seventh daughter of the snake...

It was the last wish of his savior. If possible, it would be best to find him. As for whether he could be taken inside the wall to live a good life, that was another matter.

"But right now, the most important thing is to figure out how to tell Bai Xiaowu about her mother..."

The country road was smooth and flat, but Li Fei unconsciously slowed down his pace.

Look ahead.

A fire was lit in the small courtyard at the end of the road.

This is the only place with light in the village; it's Lin Wen's house.

In the courtyard, you can vaguely see a few figures playing and frolicking; they are those innocent and lively children.

There may be Bai Xiaowu among them, or there may not be.

"Xiao Wu, your mother is dead."

"Xiao Wu, your mother has gone to a very far place and will never come back."

"Xiao Wu, it's okay. You still have Teacher Lin and other younger brothers and sisters."

As he walked home, Li Fei practiced what he was going to say later.

If possible, he hoped to be as gentle as possible, after all, Bai Xiaowu was just an eight or nine-year-old girl, and no matter how mature she was, she might not be able to withstand such a blow.

"It's Uncle Huanzi!"

"His surname is Li!"

"Uncle Li is back!"

Even from a distance, before Li Fei had even stepped into the courtyard, the children excitedly surrounded him.

"Teacher Lin said that Uncle went to the mountains for fun these past two days!"

"Is it fun in the mountains?"

Did you bring us any fruit to eat?

Looking at the circle of innocent and lively smiling faces, Li Fei, with empty hands, still managed to force a smile.

"Next time, I'll definitely bring you some next time."

He also breathed a sigh of relief.

Bai Xiaowu isn't here; he's probably helping Lin Wen prepare dinner.

Surrounded by children, he walked inside, crossed the courtyard, and stepped into the house, glancing at a corner of the stove.

Beside the water tank, Bai Xiaowu was washing vegetables while standing on a low stool.

"You're back?"

"Um."

"Sit down. We'll have roast chicken tonight. Teacher Lin made it yesterday, but we didn't eat it since you weren't back. Just heat it up."

"Let me wash it for you."

Li Fei stepped forward and took some of the cabbage and potatoes from the basket.

Submerge the vegetables in cold water, shake them a couple of times, take them out, submerge them again, and take them out again.

"How can you get it clean like this?"

"I..."

Li Fei wasn't incapable of washing vegetables; it's just that his mind wasn't on the vegetables at all.

He thought Bai Xiaowu would immediately ask about his mother, but to his surprise, the other party didn't mention it at all, which put him in a difficult position.

"Look how well I washed it."

Bai Xiaowu said.

Those little hands, red from the cold, unfolded each vegetable leaf and gently rubbed and washed them.

"He is indeed better than me."

Li Fei tried to imitate her, wanting to find an opportunity to speak frankly, but it felt like something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't find the right angle.

So he could only silently wash the vegetables and wait for Bai Xiaowu to speak.

Surprisingly.

Bai Xiaowu remained silent throughout.

Until the vegetables were washed, until Lin Wen brought out the heated roast chicken, until the family sat down at the table, until everyone was enjoying their meal.

"This chicken is delicious."

Li Fei picked a chicken collarbone and gnawed it clean.

He wasn't lying; the chicken really was delicious.

Despite the lack of seasoning, with only a sprinkle of salt, the hunger made it better than any food he had ever eaten in his previous life.

"It tasted even better yesterday. It might have gone a little off after sitting overnight. If you like, we'll have it again in a few days."

Lin Wen smiled.

Seeing her subtle expression, Li Fei seemed to sense something was amiss.

Although he didn't mention the dead person when he was at the village entrance, logically, only Liu Yongxiao should know about it.

"Did you put soy sauce in this? It's been so many years since the cataclysm, and you still have soy sauce in here?"

Staring at the candle on the table, Li Fei awkwardly started to make conversation.

Although I'm still not full, I definitely won't be able to enjoy this meal properly.

With each bite he took, the cloth shoes tucked in his pocket bothered him, making it almost impossible for him to eat anymore.

"Yes, the soy sauce was brewed by my second uncle at the entrance of the village. When he was young, he worked in a factory outside and also knew how to brew wine and make salt. He knew a little bit of everything."

"No wonder, when I was wandering around earlier, I saw that yard full of big vats, wasn't that his house?"

"Yes, my second uncle is a very kind person. He gave us all of these things for free."

As Lin Wen spoke, she served Bai Xiaowu another bowl of corn porridge.

The soil in Shuanghe Village is not moist enough and there is very little rain, so rice cannot be grown. Corn porridge is considered a decent staple food.

Seeing Bai Xiaowu earnestly drinking his porridge, Li Fei breathed a sigh of relief.

Forget it.

It's better not to ask.

It's better to leave it for later; these kinds of things can only be healed by time...

"Uncle, my mother is dead, isn't she?"

Bai Xiaowu, who was drinking porridge, suddenly said something that startled Li Fei so much that he almost choked.

He exchanged a glance with Lin Wen and slowly put down his chopsticks.

"Um..."

Li Fei nodded.

"Teacher Lin said that whether or not my mother is found, if you don't tell me when you get home, then my mother is dead."

Bai Xiaowu stared at the porridge in the bowl and spoke slowly, word by word.

"Um."

Li Fei nodded again.

With a sigh of relief, he placed the muddy shoe in front of Bai Xiaowu.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get a chance to say it earlier."

Upon seeing the shoes, Bai Xiaowu paused slightly, but aside from biting her lip, she didn't react much, except that she made a louder sound while drinking her porridge.

but.

As the porridge in her bowl dwindled, her eyes grew increasingly red.

She could no longer drink because she was choking up, and Li Fei gently placed the bowl on her hand and put it down.

"It's okay, cry if you want to."

then.

Bai Xiaowu put down his chopsticks and buried his face in Lin Wen's arms, going from choking back sobs to whimpering, and then to wailing.

The loud crying pierced through the small house and carried far into the night.

"Just cry it out."

Lin Wen patted her back gently and said this.