Chapter 66: Waiting at Home for the Birth

Chapter 66: Waiting at Home for the Birth

The national flag waved proudly on the walls of the safe zone, visible even in the night, allowing one to see its full form clearly.

Standing at the foot of the city gate, Shenchi gazed at the flag and suddenly understood its purpose—it was guiding survivors to safety.

A small door opened beneath the city wall, guarded by soldiers. After explaining their intentions, they were led through security checks and then filled out some forms.

The staff member behind the counter appeared young, likely new to his position, and scrutinized their documents carefully. "Why didn't you fill in your personal guild account? These points can be exchanged for equivalent monetary value and serve as a measure of individual contribution. If you want a better life here, fill in your account and earn more points; that's how you'll support your family."

Cao Kun still didn’t fill it in. Shenchi, now presenting himself as pregnant, couldn’t risk exposing his gender if his personal account was revealed. Cao Kun wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

Moreover, their personal accounts had probably been registered with the military since they joined the hp-017 rescue team. If they filled it in, they could be dispatched for rescue missions again. With Shenchi due in four months, Cao Kun couldn’t leave him hiding such a significant secret alone in the safe zone.

Cao Kun replied, "Forgot."

The staff member sighed with regret, inputting their information while saying, "Apart from defending the safe zone, which is every citizen’s duty, each person must contribute one Level 1 crystal core daily or complete the corresponding workload. Special cases, like the elderly, weak, women, and children, can apply for welfare, exempting them from the head tax and providing one free meal."

"In your case, you can’t apply for welfare, but pregnant women receive special treatment. You can be assigned to Area B, where family members can accompany you, and you can collect nutritional supplements every three days."

He placed their identity cards and the safe zone handbook into a slot, signaling that Cao Kun and the others could leave.

Cao Kun took the items but didn’t move, instead resting his hand on the counter and looking at the staff member. "Little brother, do you have any nicer houses? We prefer a quieter place."

The staff member brightened up. "Yes, there are some on Jingyu Road." He glanced around, seeing no colleagues nearby, and said, "I’m about to finish my shift. Let me show you."

After Xiao Li finished handing over his duties to the incoming staff member, he led Cao Kun and the others into the safe zone. Inside, reflective road signs and patrol teams were present. Upon seeing them, the patrol team immediately approached.

"Who are you? Who allowed you to be out after curfew?!"

Xiao Li hurriedly explained, "They just arrived. I just processed their entry. I’m taking them to Garden Neighborhood."

The patrol team leader checked their identity cards and said, "Hurry up, don’t linger outside too long."

Xiao Li nodded. After a few steps, they heard the patrol team leader say, "Xiao Li, I’ll tell your senior about meeting you later."

Xiao Li shrank his neck and waved apologetically.

Turning two streets over, they entered a residential area called "Garden Neighborhood," where the tallest buildings were six-story staircases, and the lowest were three-story detached villas.

Each building had a certain distance between them, with greenhouses covering the empty spaces, neatly arranged with layers of shelves growing various fruits and vegetables. Workers in uniforms moved among them.

Stopping in front of a building, Xiao Li introduced, "This building belongs to my senior. It has four floors, with the second floor being the most expensive and the fourth floor the cheapest. Only six families live here now, with three on the third floor, one on the second, and two on the first. The people are easy to get along with, and the rent is reasonable. The most expensive is ten Level 1 crystal cores for seven days."

Xiao Li led them to the second floor, turned on a dim light, revealing a living room with a sofa and TV cabinet. Inside, there was an open kitchen on the left and a balcony on the right. Though not large, the space was clean and tidy.

"A two-bedroom apartment with a study that can be used as another bedroom. Just add another bed, and everything else is provided. There’s also a balcony where you can grow some vegetables. If you have the means, you can buy a solar power generator." Xiao Li asked, "Can you accept it?"

Cao Kun nodded. "Who do we give the crystal cores to?"

Xiao Li smiled, pulling out paper and a pen from his pocket. "Just give them to me; I’ll write a receipt."

Cao Kun handed him ten Level 1 crystal cores and received the receipt.

Xiao Li was delighted. "Thank you for your trust! We regularly clean the place, but there might still be some dust. You can clean it yourselves. Since you have an ice ability, water won’t be a problem. It’s too late tonight to connect the water supply, so we’ll start the date from tomorrow! If you renew the lease, someone will come to collect the next week’s rent the day before it expires. My phone number is on the receipt; text me if you need anything, and I’ll check it periodically!"

Ming Jing patted the talkative Xiao Li. "Amitabha, benefactor, do you have any food?"

Xiao Li responded, "Oh, right, I forgot. Let me check."

Xiao Li returned shortly with two bags of instant noodles and a bag of dried noodles, charging three Level 1 crystal cores.

After sending Xiao Li away, the three began dividing tasks. Shenchi washed the pots, bowls, and cooked the noodles, while Cao Kun and Ming Jing cleaned the house. The place wasn’t too dirty; they only needed to wipe the dust and sweep the floors, finishing quickly.

After eating and cleaning up, they took turns washing up. There were no toiletries, so they simply rinsed themselves briefly.

Ming Jing claimed the study, which lacked a bed, so he slept on the sofa temporarily, planning to buy a bed the next day. Cao Kun and Shenchi each took a room and retired for the night after finishing their chores.

Unable to sleep, Shenchi picked up the handbook and read about the rules and prohibited activities, such as private fights, spreading rumors, going out after curfew, stealing, robbery, sexual harassment, and rape. Violators faced warnings, penalties, or expulsion from the safe zone and inclusion on a wanted list.

The next morning, Shenchi adjusted his wig in front of the mirror. The wig was high quality, almost indistinguishable from real hair, except for the risk of falling off during vigorous movements.

Exiting the bathroom, Shenchi saw Cao Kun stretching and Ming Jing sitting on the ground, tapping a wooden fish. Ming Jing glanced at Shenchi and, before he could get angry, pointed at his Adam’s apple. "Adam’s apple."

Shenchi understood, touching his own Adam’s apple. Last night’s lighting was poor, so no one would have noticed, and he hadn’t thought of it.

Ming Jing stood up. "Do you need makeup? I can help you!" His last words were said with evident excitement.

Cao Kun rubbed his chin. "Also, your voice can easily reveal your gender."

Shenchi ignored them, returning to his room to practice different tones. He found that speaking with his tongue slightly curled back and his voice lowered produced a more neutral sound.

As for the Adam’s apple...

Knock knock.

"Come in," Shenchi said.

Cao Kun walked in, hands behind his back, grinning mischievously. "I have a perfect way to cover your Adam’s apple. Want to try it?"

Shenchi, not known for his patience, nodded anyway.

Cao Kun approached him, wrapping a blue scarf around his neck twice, effectively concealing his neck and chin.

They were very close, close enough for Shenchi to see Cao Kun’s newly grown stubble and hear his slight breathing.

Cao Kun finished quickly, smoothing the scarf and praising, "Not bad, very good."

It was unclear whether he was complimenting his own skill or Shenchi.

Shenchi looked at the mirror and asked, "Where did you get this?"

Cao Kun replied matter-of-factly, "Of course I stole it."

Shenchi didn’t bother to ask when he had stolen it.

The three of them locked the door and went out. At this hour, the safe zone was fully alive with alternating day and night patrol teams. Banks, restaurants, bookstores, weapon shops, liquor stores, jewelry shops, barber shops, foot massage parlors, bathhouses, eyeglass stores, mobile phone outlets, public phone booths, supermarkets, and street vendors selling pots, pans, clothes, shoes, cosmetics—both new and used—were all open. There were even people sitting on small stools by the roadside offering palm reading and fortune-telling.

The three of them sat down at a stall and ordered flatbread, tofu pudding, and soy milk. Shenchi placed the order, and Cao Kun and Ming Jing were surprised to find that his voice had truly changed.

Shenchi’s voice had always been clear, but now it sounded more neutral. Coupled with his appearance, he no longer looked like a man at all.

Afterward, they started shopping. They bought a second-hand single bed for Ming Jing, some daily necessities like oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, and then went to the market to buy vegetables and meat.

The vegetables here were grown and raised by the guild, with limited production only enough for daily consumption. Therefore, purchases required verification through an ID card.

They also bought phones and SIM cards from a mobile phone store. The phones themselves weren’t expensive, but the call charges were high, costing half a level-one crystal core per call. Text messages were cheaper.

Large items came with delivery services, and smaller items could be delivered for a small fee. However, giving keys to others was too risky, so they opted for storage and registered with the guild.

The guild hall was divided into two sections: the left side was the living area, overseeing various production jobs within the city, while the right side was the Self-defense Corps, responsible for the safety of the safe zone and missions outside for clearing and rescue operations.

Cao Kun and Shenchi reported to the Self-defense Corps on the right, while Ming Jing, who didn’t want to engage in combat, reported to the living area on the left.

The staff member saw Shenchi’s protruding belly and immediately shook his head, refusing to allow him to join, suggesting he go to the living area instead. Even if he was a nature-type ability user, he couldn’t risk the baby inside him.

The staff member advised, "I understand your desire to protect your home and country, but you must also understand that your current condition doesn’t permit it. Wait until after you give birth and finish your confinement period, and we’ll definitely welcome you!"

Shenchi frowned; not killing zombies was impossible. He needed to kill to enhance his strength and obtain crystal cores to upgrade his abilities. He hadn’t expected that the Self-defense Corps wouldn’t allow pregnant members, which meant they would have to form their own group to hunt zombies.

As Shenchi turned to leave, someone behind him said, "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Shenchi turned around and saw a bald man standing at 1.9 meters tall. Dressed in military uniform, his muscular build made him look exceptionally upright. He pointed at himself, "Jiang Leming, a level-three strength ability user. If you can withstand three moves from me, I’ll let you join the Self-defense Corps."

Shenchi naturally accepted the challenge, and the outcome was predictable.

From then on, the two rejoined the Self-defense Corps as members of Team A.

Shenchi’s status as a pregnant man often led to underestimation of his abilities, and there were even reports to higher-ups about Commander Jiang Leming allowing a pregnant man to participate in "clearing" missions. However, after several missions, Shenchi’s performance convinced everyone of his capabilities.

Days passed, and Cao Kun and Shenchi became increasingly well-known in the safe zone. Shenchi’s belly grew larger, and eventually, Cao Kun couldn’t bear it anymore. Using both gentle and firm persuasion, he stopped Shenchi from going out with his pregnant belly.

Shenchi was scared off by a few aunts Cao Kun had brought over, and finally, he stopped mentioning going on missions. Instead, he found a job similar to driving a water truck, regularly cooling the city and receiving crystal core subsidies.