Before everything goes out

Shuanghe Village.

It's strange, really.

Southern villages shouldn't receive so little rain.

But actually, the last time it rained was half a month ago.

In the Niu family's courtyard, Niu Wenbing brought out a chair, sat under the eaves, and took a deep breath, letting the moist air nourish his lungs.

I looked up and gazed at the distant mountains.

Dark clouds gathered, and through the rain, the once clearly visible mountains became increasingly blurred.

"It's raining so hard, I wonder how Sanwa and the others are doing."

Beside him, he heard the voice of his wife, Liu Ping.

She wore her hair in braids, and her gentle face revealed a hint of worry.

"Don't worry, this time is different from last time. With your uncle with them, they'll be fine."

Niu Wenbing reached out and gently stroked the sleeping child in Liu Ping's arms.

The "uncle" he referred to was Liu Yongxiao.

It was because of this blood relation that the Niu family was able to become Liu Yongxiao's confidants.

"Is your uncle that amazing?"

"Yeah, you haven't seen him when he gets ruthless; he's inhumanly powerful."

"Even more powerful than those zombies?"

"Much better."

Niu Wenbing said.

I recall a few years ago when I went into the mountains with Liu Yongxiao and encountered a mutated bear.

The bear had four arms, and its body was completely red with no skin, only bulging muscles like steel bars.

He figured that even if seven or eight Niu Sans attacked together, they would only be able to feed the other side.

And even such a bear was killed by Liu Yongxiao in no time.

So this time...

The mutated zombies from the rings are no problem at all.

even.

With that pack of stray dogs, Niu Wenbing felt that even if they ran into Grandpa Tree, Liu Yongxiao could still lead the two men away unscathed.

"That's good. Mom said we'll have pork stew with potatoes for dinner. Come back early so we can eat early."

Liu Ping, holding her child, sat down next to Niu Wenbing.

The rain was loud, and like any other rainy day when they couldn't work in the fields, the couple looked at the rain and talked about the past.

Even after many years of marriage, they still have endless things to talk about, just like they did back then.

The story begins with the kidnapped son and then moves on to the second uncle who raises livestock.

They talked about how the harvest was on that family's land, and the hardships they faced in the years leading up to the disaster.

During their casual conversation, memories briefly resurfaced.

Even going back to before the cataclysm.

"Honey, if it weren't for the disaster, wouldn't you have gone to the city long ago?"

"In the city?"

"Yeah, you're smart and good at studying. If it weren't for the disaster, you might be a town mayor now, and we might never have met."

"You have a point, but even if I am the mayor, you are still my mayor's wife."

Niu Wenbing smiled as Liu Ping looked at him with admiration.

"However, whether or not we go to the city to become officials is not important. In this day and age, we can eat our fill, dress warmly, live peacefully in this small village, and watch our two children grow up. That's good enough."

Niu Wenbing is intelligent, therefore he is content.

Others who haven't been into the mountains don't know how dangerous it is outside.

In this apocalyptic world, the survival of Shuanghe Village is truly remarkable; to be able to live out one's life peacefully here is already a miracle.

"If we can find Zhiyuan this time, and the whole family can be together again, that would be even better."

Niu Wenbing thought to himself.

Just then.

An excited shout came from the rain; it was Sister Xiu from next door.

"Brother Niu! Hurry to the village entrance, someone's distributing grain!"

"Distribute food? Who will distribute the food?"

"Rings, but not the previous few, it's their main force, they came in big trucks!"

Why are they distributing food?

"How would I know? Hurry up and go, don't blame me for not calling you!"

Sister Xiu threw down a sentence and ran away in the rain.

Only then did Niu Wenbing realize that not only Sister Xiu next door, but also other scattered villagers were running towards the village entrance along the country road.

After hesitating for a moment, he stood up with a complicated expression and greeted Liu Ping.

"Keep an eye on the two little ones, I'm going to check on them."

...

...

Wang Guodong's home.

The simply furnished clinic was filled with the pungent smell of herbs.

The dried flowers and plants covered the ground, leaving Wang Guodong with almost no place to step.

These herbs were all brought over from Sheqi's house early this morning.

Snake Seven is dead.

His daughter, She Qingqing, is also likely to meet a tragic end.

This rain meant that the weather would be damp for the next few days, and he was afraid that the herbs would all be ruined if not stored properly, so he moved them all back to his home.

"Plantago asiatica, motherwort, dandelion..."

Wang Guodong reviewed his notes and tried his best to categorize the herbs he could recognize.

After that, he found a soft cloth, wrapped it up, marked it on the outside, and put the packages into earthenware jars to prevent moisture.

Unlike Snake Seven.

He wasn't as skilled with herbs, and he couldn't just pile them up haphazardly like Snake Seven, picking up whatever he needed...

He likes to do things in a very proper and orderly manner.

In his view, this was a necessary procedure for the job.

Unlike the hospitals in the village before the disaster, there were no modern synthetic drugs. These herbs were the life-saving things.

Although it's not very efficient, it can still serve some purpose.

Even if it's just a placebo, it's better than nothing.

This point had already been proven during his seven-year medical career in Shuanghe Village.

"I can't believe so many years have passed..."

After tidying up, Wang Guodong moved a chair to the doorway and looked at the rainy scenery of the mountain village.

seven years ago.

He came to Shuanghe Village by chance and settled down there.

In the blink of an eye, seven years have passed. He has long since used up all the medicines he brought, and he has aged seven years.

Fortunately, as time passed, his efforts were not in vain.

For seven years, he treated the villagers' illnesses, big and small, free of charge, which can be considered as living up to the oath he took on the day he became a doctor.

For example, right now...

"Dr. Wang, are you watching the rain?"

In the rain, greetings could be heard.

An elderly woman, supported by her daughter, arrived at his doorstep.

Judging from his movements as he climbed the stairs, his legs were clearly not very agile.

"Dr. Wang, I brought my mother..."

"Is Mom's rheumatism acting up again?"

Wang Guodong answered quickly.

Over the years, he had long known which villager had what chronic ailments.

"Hmm, she was fine a couple of days ago, but the pain gets really bad whenever it rains. Could you please get her two doses of medicine? Also, please keep this Dr. Wang's prescription..."

As the woman spoke, she pulled a tattered cloth bag from her bosom.

Upon opening it, I found several small chunks of cured meat inside.

In Shuanghe Village, there is no concept of money; cured meat is the only form of currency.

"No need, I can't eat it all by myself, you can keep it for yourselves."

Wang Guodong pushed the cured meat back.

"No, Dr. Wang, this isn't the first or second time. You have to accept it no matter what this time."

The woman was stubborn.

After a few tugs, Wang Guodong reluctantly accepted the meat, intending to return it at a later opportunity.

"Come in and sit for a while. I'll get you some aconite to soak in water and drink."

As soon as Wang Guodong finished speaking, he stopped making way for the door.

In the rain not far away, a little girl came running up and called out to the woman in front of the door:

"Mom! Huanzi is here!"

Ring?

It just so happened that the village chief was leaving the village.

Recalling the previous misdeeds of the ringleaders, the faces of the people at the door, including Wang Guodong, were not pleasant.

Just as I was about to ask further, I heard the girl shout again:

"It's not the bad ring from before, it's a good ring!"

...

...

The rain was heavier than in the morning.

In the courtyard, the swing made a crisp sound as it was struck, which captivated Lin Wen.

She squatted under the eaves, looking up at the sky with a slight frown.

Is it just my imagination?

The sky on a rainy day seems even more expansive than on a sunny day.

On the leaden-gray curtain, dark clouds stretched out in patches, from which large raindrops fell, pelting everything on the ground.

This reminded her of many years ago.

After her parents left, she was all alone and felt like she was sinking into the mud, with everything going downhill out of control.

Sinking, sinking.

Just as she was about to actually fall into a certain place, Bai Xiaowu appeared.

It was also a rainy afternoon.

She still remembers Bai Xiaowu squatting by the roadside, his face so dirty, but his eyes so bright.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

"Teacher Lin, are your uncles alright?"

Bai Xiaowu's voice came from the side, and Lin Wen's recollection came to an abrupt end.

Before she knew it, Bai Xiaowu was squatting down beside her, and together they looked up at the distant mountains.

"Yes."

Lin Wen smiled.

Then, more children filed out of the house and stood under the eaves.

They held various homemade toys in their hands, such as small buckets made of bamboo sections, or scraps of copper and iron they had picked up from somewhere.

"Teacher Lin, we want to go play in the water!"

The children looked at the heavy rain, eager to try it out.

Rainwater gathers in a pit on one side of the courtyard, forming a small pool that looks like a swimming pool.

"no."

Lin Wen resolutely refused.

Playing in the water on rainy days can easily cause children to catch a cold, and it can be difficult to deal with if a child gets sick.

"Teacher Lin, let them play."

Turning her head, Lin Wen found Bai Xiaowu looking at her with a serious expression.

Just like that afternoon, her eyes were shining.

"this..."

Lin Wen was stunned for a moment.

Bai Xiaowu is usually on her side; she's like a second parent to these kids, and they generally go along with her...

What's wrong with me today?

"With you taking care of us, getting a little rainy won't hurt."

Bai Xiaowu offered this advice.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Wen nodded as if possessed.

"Alright, you can only play for a little while."

Then, the children burst into cheers.

"Yay!"

"Let's play in the water!"

"Let's build a small boat!"

"Look! I'm a fish!"

The steamed buns lay in the water, stirring the mud back and forth.

Er Ya used a bamboo tube to collect water and then splashed it around in circles.

The children crowded into the puddle, their hair and faces covered in dirt, laughing happily.

Of them, only Bai Xiaowu did not go.

She simply squatted quietly beside Lin Wen, watching everything in a daze with Lin Wen.

After a long pause, she suddenly spoke:

"Teacher Lin."

"Um?"

"Thanks."

Why are you thanking me?

"Nothing much, just thank you for taking care of me for so long. Without you, we definitely wouldn't be this happy right now."

"Hehe, why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

Lin Wen smiled.

Before Bai Xiaowu could answer, she pulled him into her arms.

"I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

...

...

In the pigsty.

My second uncle carried a basket of pig feed and sprinkled it evenly into the trough.

The pigsty smells bad, and it gets even worse on rainy days.

As a professional breeder in the village, he had long been used to it.

The Lunar New Year is just two months away, and these pigs are almost ready. Although they don't grow as fast as feed-fed pigs, their meat is firm and delicious.

When the time comes, the pig will be slaughtered, and the villagers will enjoy a delicious meal. Any leftovers will be made into cured meat, and another year will pass.

...

...

Feng Xiuhui and her family sat in a circle, chatting and laughing.

When it rained and they couldn't go out to work, she and her sisters would stay at home and do some simple needlework.

But when a long-sleeved shirt was handed to her, her smile froze.

The long sleeves feature a cartoon rooster printed in the middle, so lifelike it looks like it's about to spread its wings and take flight.

It was her deceased son Ah Ji's clothes.

After Ah-Ji died, the clothes were no longer usable, so she decided to shorten them and give them to someone else to wear.

"Mom, my brother..."

"It's okay, Mom still has you."

A tear glistened in Feng Xiuhui's eyes, but she blinked and smiled at her daughter who was comforting her.

"Your well-being is more important than anything else."

then.

Her hesitant needle and thread began to move again, and everything continued forward.

...

...

All of the above.

Whether it's children playing and having fun.

The pigs were fed by the second uncle, and the sewing was done by Feng Xiuhui.

The movements of the dozens of villagers gradually ceased amidst shouts.

"Huanzi is here."

At 3 p.m., dozens of villagers from Shuanghe Village gathered at the village entrance one after another, amidst shouts.

Under the watchful eyes of dozens of people, the entire convoy slowly came to a stop outside the village.

Unlike before.

This time, it wasn't just a few rings that arrived, but an entire convoy.

Trucks, off-road vehicles, pickup trucks.

A long line of all kinds of cars stretched out, with a high-clearance off-road vehicle leading the way, parked right outside the main gate of the village.

Before the car door even opened, the two umbrella rings were already in place.

crunch...

The car door was pulled open from the outside.

Beneath the two large umbrellas, a pair of tall military boots emerged, stepping into the mud.

She was a tall woman.

Even before the disaster, the villagers had never seen such a person.

She has delicate features and an elegant demeanor.

With a warm, gentle smile on his face, he was young, yet the word "kind" inexplicably came to mind for them.

"No need to use an umbrella."

After getting off the bus, the woman did not stand under the umbrella, but walked into the rain alone.

She calmly surveyed the villagers.

Under the uneasy gazes of the crowd, she bowed ninety degrees and addressed the villagers solemnly:

"I'm sorry I'm late."

...