Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

"What did he say?" Matsubara Daiichi couldn’t understand Du Zhonggang’s rapid-fire speech and turned to the translator.

After the translator explained it to everyone, the few people from R Country started shouting in displeasure. "Why should you get to search us?"

The other people who had disembarked were already forming an orderly, long line under the military’s direction.

The group from R Country, however, kept roaring on the side.

"What about the people in those last two cars? Why did they get to go straight in? They didn’t have to register or get checked!"

The translator, his forehead slick with sweat, ran off to negotiate with Du Zhonggang.

However, after looking all around, he couldn’t find a trace of Du Zhonggang. So he could only continue pestering the few soldiers in charge of registration.

"They’re from the Song Family Pavilion! What is there for them to register? Hurry up and get in line! Don’t stand here blocking everyone else."

"If you don’t want to register and stay, you can leave right now!"

Hearing this, the crowd in line started chiming in with accusations. "What are you doing? Don’t stand here holding everyone up. If you’re not going to register, then leave! Why are you blocking the front?"

"Don’t think you get special privileges just because you’re from R Country! Get to the back of the line!"

Xie Ning and the others were completely unaware of the commotion at the village entrance.

By now, Xiao Gu had driven Xie Ning’s family to the gate of Number 85. He tilted his head back to look at the courtyard wall.

"Did you make it higher?"

’This wall is clearly the work of our little sister,’ he thought.

The wall was over two meters high, and a row of Metal Spikes had been added to the top, glinting in the sunlight.

Xie Ning’s eyes, however, fell on the space above the main gate, where half of a tattered, thick cotton quilt was hanging. ’What’s that about?’ she wondered.

"Wu Meng, come here," Gu Chen beckoned to the young man jumping out of the van.

The young man trotted over, and with a wave of his hand, produced a pile of supplies off to the side.

Two cases of canned meat, two cases of canned mangoes, two cases of yogurt, one case of bear-shaped cookies,

two bags of oatmeal, two bags of lotus root powder and sesame paste, plus some other miscellaneous vacuum-sealed food items.

Song You’ai quickly waved her hands as she got out of the car. "Xiao Gu, you don’t have to keep bringing us things. We still haven’t finished what you gave us last time."

"It’s no problem, Auntie. Just keep it and eat it at your leisure." Gu Chen chuckled. "Your daughter was a huge help to us this time. This is just a small token of our appreciation; it’s nothing worth mentioning."

Just then, the iron gate suddenly swung open. Song You’ai looked up to see a gaudily dressed old woman running out joyfully.

She slapped her thighs with both hands, crying out, "Oh my, oh my! Da Yong! Shufen! Hurry and come out! The government is giving us supplies!"

Xie Ning watched this drama queen of an old woman with a deadpan expression, then quickly stepped forward to stand protectively in front of the pile of goods.

The old woman ran up and tried to shove her. "Hey, get out of the way! Da Yong, Shufen, hurry!"

The small pile of things on the ground looked quite good. The old woman’s cursory glance immediately spotted a bag of black sesame paste.

’Isn’t this just perfect for an old person with bad teeth like me to eat for breakfast!’

"Tai Xian, Zong Xuan, Xiao Yuan, Mo Li, and... you there," Xie Ning waved them over. "Come move this stuff. Help me carry it up to the fourth floor."

The young man next to Mo Li hurried forward and introduced himself in a low voice, "Ms... Ms. Ning, you can call me Xiao Zhang."

"Okay. Hurry up," Xie Ning said, standing firm in front of the old woman. Despite being shoved twice, she hadn’t moved an inch.

A man and a woman, both around forty years old and bearing a strong resemblance to each other, ran out from the gate.

Song You’ai looked astonished. "Junjun’s grandma? Junjun’s uncle? Why are you all here?"

Song Shijun had also gotten out of the car by now. He stood to the side with his lips pressed into a thin line, glaring irritably at these uninvited guests.

The old woman glared at Xie Ning blocking her way, then started slapping her thighs and wailing, "Aiya, what are you doing blocking the way, you little wench? Hey, don’t hog it all! What do you think you’re doing?! These are government supplies! Everyone gets a share! You can’t just take everything for yourselves!"

"Stop wailing!" Song Shijun snapped.

Song You’ai quickly pulled him back and frowned at the old woman. "Junjun’s grandma, what are you doing? This isn’t from the government. It’s a thank-you gift from Xiao Gu for our Ningning."

"Da Yong! Shufen! Get over here and grab some! What are you standing around for?"

He Shufen lunged forward to snatch a case of yogurt that Xiao Huang Mao was holding.

Xiao Huang Mao grew frantic. "What do you think you’re doing, ma’am? Don’t start anything. I don’t know my own strength, so don’t come crying to me if you get hurt."

"In-laws, what do you think you’re doing? Let go of that, now!" The rest of the Song Family, hearing the commotion, had also run out.

For a moment, it was utter chaos.

"Sis! Sis!" Song Kexin bounced up and down behind the crowd.

"Auntie," Gu Chen said, turning to Song You’ai. "Do you need a hand?"

"No, no," Song You’ai said, shaking her head hastily and giving him a pained smile. "Xiao Gu, you must have other business to attend to. Why don’t you go ahead?"

Gu Chen nodded.

It wasn’t right for them to stick around and watch someone else’s family drama unfold.

So, he nodded to Song You’ai, said a quick farewell to Xie Ning, and departed.

"Hey, everyone, come look! There’s still a ton of stuff in this van! Da Yong, Shufen, get over here!" Seeing that her children couldn’t overpower Xiao Huang Mao and his friends, Mrs. He ran over to the vehicle to peek inside.

And what a sight it was. The small van was stuffed with medicine and seeds.

It was because that idiot Tai Xian’s dimensional Space was completely full, so he had moved some things into the van for temporary storage.

Seeing the old woman’s audacious move, a frightened Ji Taixian rushed over to pull the van door shut. "What are you doing? Don’t touch any of this! I have to deliver those seeds to my boss later. They’re for the military!"

Enraged, the old woman lunged at Ji Taixian, pummelling him with her fists.

The young man just covered his head and kept backing away until he was half-sprawled against the van. For the sake of his Ms. Ning, he didn’t dare fight back.

"In-law! In-law!" the two Song family elders cried, pacing around in a panic.

Just as the chaos reached its peak, Xie Ning suddenly drew her Heavenly Blade and brought it down with a CLANG right beside the old woman, leaving a shallow gash in the van’s roof.

"Make one more sound. See if I don’t hack you to death!"

The boisterous, chaotic scene froze in an instant!

The old woman raised her trembling hands, her mouth hanging open in terror as she stared at Xie Ning.

Beside them, He Shufen, who had still been desperately trying to wrench the case of yogurt from Xiao Huang Mao’s hands, also snatched her hands back in fright.

The shouting, crying, and arguing came to a screeching halt!

...

Half an hour later, the Song family’s iron gate stood wide open.

Suitcases and packing bags were being kicked and punted out by Miss Xie. Kicked every three steps and sent rolling every five, they were viciously booted out of the Song family’s main gate.

The Song Family members stood on either side of the path, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

From inside the house came the sounds of the He Family’s intermittent crying and cursing.

Mrs. He trailed behind Xie Ning, endlessly cursing, "You damn butcher!" and "You little bitch, you’ll die a horrible death!"

Mrs. Xie Ning exploded with rage, slamming a knife into the iron gate. "You old bitch, you dare mumble one more curse? See if I don’t gut you, you shameless old hag!"