Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Apple, cherry, peach, and grape saplings were all planted along the pond's edge.

After planting the saplings, Qi Mo clapped his hands and prepared to sow some seeds.

A few watermelon seeds, some melon seeds, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes were placed on damp paper towels, ready to be moved to a seedling bed tomorrow.

He stepped out of the space.

A blast of heat hit him outside.

It was sweltering.

The temperature inside the space remained around mid-80s Fahrenheit—very comfortable.

Outside, even at 8 or 9 p.m., the temperature hovered around high 90s Fahrenheit.

Holding Baby Yan in his arms, he went up to the third floor and took a relaxing bath. Everything else could wait until tomorrow—tonight, Qi Mo just wanted to hold his baby and collapse onto the soft bed.

The oil lamp dispelled the darkness in the bedroom.

Snowball the kitty widened her big eyes—she knew the family's piglet had been stolen.

This was Daddy and Baby Yan's pork, their food! How dare someone steal the kitty's food? They must have a death wish!

They had to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, they might come back to steal the kitty’s meat again, and that was absolutely unacceptable.

The chubby baby had stayed awake until now, his eyelids drooping, but for some reason, he was still resisting, refusing to sleep.

Qi Mo gently patted Baby Yan's bottom. "Close your eyes, baby. Time for sleepy-time."

Under Daddy's soft murmurs, Baby Yan finally relaxed, closed his eyes, and drifted off.

After getting the baby to sleep, Qi Mo reached out and stroked Snowball the kitty, giving her pets.

Petting her fur felt so nice.

He couldn't do this with Baby Yan—the little guy would protest. If his bottom was touched too much, he'd turn around and bite. Those three little teeth pack a punch—they sure hurt when they sank in.

"Today, our piglet was stolen. Don’t run around, okay? Stay with Daddy and your brother. Otherwise, if people get desperate, they might skin you for dinner," Qi Mo warned Snowball sternly.

The thought of the stolen piglet resurfaced. "Snowball, who do you think stole our piglet? I bet it was Huo Jingzhong's family—probably Huo Jianian. That guy just tried to blackmail me using you, and when I exposed him, he probably flew into a rage and sneaked in and stole the piglet."

"My roast suckling pig—now there's one less. There were only four left to begin with. The nerve! That was my future roast!" The thought made Qi Mo’s heart ache.

Before buying them, they weren’t his. But once bought, they became his food.

Having his food stolen had Qi Mo feeling all kinds of wrong.

If I choose to give it, that’s one thing. But if you steal from me? Absolutely not...

"Snowball, do you think the village head and the others will figure it out? If they can’t, I’ll handle it myself," Qi Mo muttered darkly.

After ranting under his breath for a while, Qi Mo’s voice faded, his hand resting on Snowball’s bottom as he fell asleep.

Snowball the kitty blinked her big eyes. Hold on...what was I called before?

My name... and Second Brother's name...

Snowball covered its face with its plump little paws—this was probably the price of coming back, as many things had been forgotten.

Only fragmented memories remained in its mind.

When exactly would Second Brother arrive? Why hadn’t he shown up yet? He’s so flaky! Daddy’s piglet had been stolen—that was our meat…

Mrow, mrow, mrow—Snowball ranted at the unreliable Second Brother.

Huffing and puffing, Snowball’s breath quickened. It was angry, and the more it thought about it, the angrier it got…

A furious cat pays back right then and there. Second Brother was incredibly strong—no one could defeat him. Snowball could act recklessly, even if it was just a worthless fluffball, because it had the thickest, strongest thighs to rely on.

So this time, even without Second Brother’s powerful support, Snowball darted out the window.

The village chief led two police academy students.

Holding lanterns, they followed the blood trail.

After walking over a hundred meters, the bloodstains disappeared on the road…

The weather was hot, and the concrete ground left no footprints—that lead went cold.

“It seems we can’t track them this way,” Huo Jingxuan said, adjusting his glasses.

Beside him, Huo Jingtan turned to look at Qi Mo’s house. In the dark, shadowy night, that direction seemed to hide a terrifying beast.

“Uncle Liangzhou’s courtyard walls are very high—no one in their right mind would try climbing them,” Huo Jingtan remarked.

The village chief watched the two young men stop and talk. “Well? Can you figure it out? Our village can’t fall into disarray like the outside world. The situation out there is bad, but at least our village still has food reserves. If theft starts now, what’s next—murder?”

“We must find the culprit. Otherwise, if this goes unchecked, worse things will follow,” the village chief growled.

Huo Jingtan spoke up, “Uncle Chief, don’t worry. It’s only one dead end. Uncle Liangzhou’s walls are lined with broken glass and are very tall—no one in their right mind would try climbing them easily. Whoever knew there was no glass on top of the water cellar must be someone familiar with the place.”

“To get up there, they’d need a tool—a ladder. How many ladders do we even have in the village, especially ones over four meters?” Huo Jingtan asked.

Huo Jingxuan unwrapped a lollipop and popped it into his mouth. “Does Huo Jingzhong’s family have a long ladder? After I came back, I heard that today, Huo Jianian tried to shake down Qi Mo over a cat he picked up, but Qi Mo exposed him.”

“Uncle Tian, since Uncle Liangzhou’s family member returned, who has he had conflicts with?” Huo Jingtan asked the village chief.

After listening to Huo Jingxuan and Huo Jingtan, the village chief said, “I wouldn’t have thought of it if you hadn’t mentioned it. After Momo returned, he butted heads with Huo Jingzhong. The keys to the Liangzhou family’s courtyard had always been kept by Huo Jingzhong, and no villager challenged it.”

“After Momo returned, he wanted the keys back. I heard Huo Jianian even tried to bring people into the Liangzhou house and got into a fight with Momo. Huo Jingzhong claimed that since Liangzhou hadn’t returned, he wouldn’t hand them over. Even when the Elder Clan Leader spoke up, Huo Jingzhong acted willing but then ‘lost’ the keys. Momo wasn’t having it, so he just changed the courtyard lock,” the village chief explained.

Huo Jingxuan and Huo Jingtan exchanged a glance—both zeroed in on a suspect.

Seeing their expressions, the village chief sighed. “Huo Jingzhong is always looking for a handout, but petty theft—he’s never done that before.”

That was why the village chief hadn’t suspected him.

“Just because he hasn’t before doesn’t mean he wouldn’t now. Food prices have gone through the roof these past few days. I’ve heard Huo Jingzhong blows through money—if he can’t afford food, he might resort to stealing. We don’t have proof yet, but let’s investigate first and gather evidence before making an arrest,” Huo Jingxuan said.

Having narrowed down the suspect, the two no longer wasted time visiting other houses and made a beeline for Huo Jingzhong’s place.

Standing outside Huo Jingzhong’s kitchen, Huo Jingtan and Huo Jingxuan took a deep breath.

“No trace of meat,” Huo Jingxuan noted.

Huo Jingtan turned to the village chief. “Let’s knock and question him. Huo Jingzhong knows Uncle Liangzhou’s house well and has a grudge against its current resident—he’s the top suspect.”

Before long, Elder Clan Leader knocked at Huo Jingzhong’s house.

Huo Jingzhong’s wife, Zhang Mei, opened the door. When asked about Huo Jingzhong and their grandson Huo Jianian, Zhang Mei told him that Huo Jingzhong had taken the boy to visit his aunt.

Their eyes swept over the living room before they left, having found nothing.

On the way back, Huo Jingxuan took off his glasses and wiped them before saying, “Even shadier. Who visits family instead of stocking up on food right now?”

Huo Jingtan nodded.

Back at the Elder Clan Leader’s place, even Grandpa Huakang was still out digging potatoes.

Food? Couldn’t buy it anywhere now.

They’d gotten home that morning after the toughest trip of their lives. Hardly any stores were open, prices were insane, and they’d even gotten mugged…

If they hadn’t been alert and handy in a fight, they probably would’ve been left stranded outside, never making it home.

Cities were okay by day, but at night, all hell broke loose—crime hiding in every shadow.

“We’ll hit up Huo Jingzhong’s aunt’s place tomorrow,” Huo Jingxuan said.

Huo Jingtan nodded. “Gotta keep the village in line. Once things spiral out of control like in the cities, it’ll be hard to restore order.”

The night fell quiet, everyone who’d been outside cooling off now asleep.

Snowball the cat bolted from the yard, following the scent of blood. The piglet’s scent was overpowering—blood didn’t help.

She could’ve tracked it blindfolded.

Meanwhile, the second kitten, snug in its dad’s belly, opened its golden slit eyes.

Watching its brother dart off, the second kitten was speechless.

Typical—ditching Dad instead of guarding him. Didn’t he realize he hadn’t even been born yet? Still a squishy newborn! If Dad took a bad fall, he could be gone in an instant!

On the scent’s trail, Snowball hit Huo Jingzhong’s place fast, then kept going…

Soon, she’d blown past Huo Village, full speed.

At the town’s entrance, Snowball let out a meow. The thief who stole the little pig had actually fled all the way here—so far that her tiny paws were nearly worn out.

Pissed, Snowball zeroed in on a townhouse. It was on the first floor, and the area smelled foul, with trash piled beside it.

Flies swarmed the trash heap, nobody bothering to clear it…

Squeezing past the window bars, Snowball quickly spotted bones in the living room trash—the stink of BBQ and braised pork hung thick.

Her piglet was nothing but bones now. The meat had all been devoured by the thief.

Hiss. The cat was seeing red.

Someone was gonna pay.

Inside the living room, the sofa had long been moved aside. Huo Jingzhong’s aunt’s family of five, along with Huo Jingzhong and Huo Jianian, were sprawled on the marble floor, sleeping.

The heat was brutal—sleeping on beds? Forget it.

Huo Jingzhong swore a mountain was crushing his chest, making it hard to breathe.

His eyes snapped open, instantly locking onto a pair of icy, glowing blue eyes. Before him crouched a hulking beast...

"Ahhh!" Huo Jingzhong screamed in agony. "My eyes! My eyes!"

Snowball the kitty pulled back her little paw, swiftly retracting her sharp claws before turning to head home.

The baby’s paws are dirty again—gotta wash ’em good when we get back. They’re smelly now.

Huo Jingzhong’s screams woke everyone up. Seeing him bloodied and wailing with pain, the family rushed him to the hospital.

Qi Mo got up early and immediately inspected his inner space.

Standing by the lotus root field and water hyacinth cultivation area he’d dug the night before, Qi Mo smiled. “Called it! The fields grew by themselves.”

The lotus root field was now about sixteen square meters—roughly four by four meters.

The water hyacinth cultivation area measured around ten square meters.

The space itself seemed slightly larger too, though barely noticeable.

Snuggled in Daddy’s tummy, Second Baby thought, *Daddy’s so clueless. Fields don’t just grow on their own—it’s because you wished for it, and baby made it happen.*

Qi Mo happily fed the chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs inside the space, then picked a spot to start growing seedlings.

Exiting the space, Qi Mo carried both the baby and Snowball—who was curled up like a little cat loaf—downstairs and placed them on the crawling mat.

With pig butchering coming up in a few days, they couldn’t store grain in the yard anymore.

This morning, Qi Mo decided to make cold noodles. He started by boiling water, then set up the hand-cranked noodle maker. He poured out half a bag of flour, mixed the dough, let it proof, and cranked out noodles...

After pressing a large bowl of noodles, he boiled two big pots of water.

One pot was stored in the space; the other left outside to cool.

Next came browned ground meat, shredded cucumbers, peanuts, cilantro, chili-garlic oil...

Once everything was prepped, the boiled water had cooled to 60°C. Half was stored in the space for mixing formula later.

The remaining half was split into two portions. Qi Mo poured a bowl of ice cubes into one, flash-chilling the water.

He brought the water to a boil again and tossed in the noodles.

Once cooked, they were shocked in warm water, then scooped out and plunged into ice water.

Opening lunch containers one by one, he carefully filled each with noodles.

Then came the toppings: a big spoonful of ground meat, some cucumber ribbons, peanuts, cilantro, chili-garlic oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and a splash of chicken broth.

Twenty servings of cold noodles were ready.

Nineteen went into the space, leaving the last one for Qi Mo to stir with chopsticks. He added some chili sauce and tucked in.

Hell yeah, still got it! His skills hadn’t faded after all.

These were techniques he’d learned from the canteen chef in his past apocalyptic life.

Kitty Snowball meowed hungrily.

But the cold noodles were doused in vinegar and chili—definitely not kitty-safe.

The kitty picked up on Daddy’s hesitation and panicked—*Baby can eat it, Baby can!*

Unfortunately, its Daddy couldn't understand.

So, no cold noodles—or anything else—for the kitty.

Qi Mo scooped up the remaining noodles from the pot, mixed in a little minced meat, and gave it to Kitty Snowball.

Baby Yan finally stirred, babbling sleepily.

Qi Mo quickly went over, picked up Baby Yan, first did a quick diaper change, and then handed the baby a bottle of milk.

He watched the baby sprawled on the playmat, noisily gulping from the bottle.

Qi Mo brought Kitty Snowball over to keep the baby company while he went to clean the kitchen.

Huo Huakang showed up right after breakfast: "Is Qi Mo up yet?"

Qi Mo came out to open the door and was surprised to see Huo Huakang pushing a cart of cement and sand: "No potato-digging today, Uncle Huakang?"

Huo Huakang sighed at Qi Mo's words: "The fields were picked clean by last night—too many folks digging. Aunt Wang’s scavenging for scraps today. I came to help you build the [heated bed/kang]."

Qi Mo asked, "Uncle Huakang, have you stocked up enough food?"

"No more food left to buy," Huo Huakang said.

Then Huo Huakang added, "I heard from my dad that your piglet was stolen yesterday afternoon."

Qi Mo nodded: "We’d barely left for the evening when I came back to find one piglet missing."

"The village head sent Jingxuan and Jingtan to investigate. They’re police academy grads—they’ll get to the bottom of it. If you hear anything at night from now on, don’t go outside or shout. It’s chaos out there. Best butcher the piglets now and salt the meat, so thieves won’t target them again," Huo Huakang warned.

In Taohua Town, yesterday at dawn, a home invader struck. Zhang Ming from Zhang Village was attacked by a wild beast.

His eyes got clawed out.

Huang Ming naturally knew what had happened.

Qi Mo’s adopted stray cat did it—Chen Lei told him.

But given how things are now, Zhang Ming had ill intentions, so getting his eyes clawed out by a cat was just what he deserved.

Then, in the early hours of today, another person had their eyes gouged out.

Huang Ming went to check after receiving the report. The guy swore it was some giant beast, but the investigation showed the house wasn’t damaged—no huge beast could have gotten in.

Huo Jingzhong’s face was mauled like yesterday’s victim—but the injuries were several times worse.

It was likely also caused by a cat, but not the same one.

Was Qi Mo mixed up in this?

The house had burglar-proof windows—no cat—not even a monster—could’ve squeezed through those bars.

Huang Ming’s stomach knotted with worry. If the world’s gone mad *and* beasts are mutating... how the hell were folks supposed to survive?