Chapter 20: The Old Country Estate

Our group traveled south along the national highway, weary and covered in dust. The long trek of the past few days was etched onto everyone’s faces. Suddenly, a large archway appeared before us, its mottled inscription barely legible: Pingxia Village.

Old Man Sun, whose body had been pushed to its limits by the journey, rested on a stone pier nearby. Upon seeing the words on the arch, a flash of excitement crossed his eyes. His voice trembled as he spoke: "We're here! We're here! Finally, back to Pingxia Village!"

We walked slowly into the village, but the sight before us chilled our hearts. The village was in ruins, a scene of devastation as if it had been through a cataclysm. Only a few zombies wandered the empty streets like walking corpses.

As we made our way along the broken street, Old Man Sun’s gaze lingered on the faces of his former neighbors. Seeing his old friends transformed into these shambling creatures, he sighed deeply, his voice heavy with sorrow: "What a tragedy, what a tragedy... how could good people end up like this?"

Finally, we reached Old Man Sun’s ancestral home. I looked around, surprised. Despite being called an "ancestral home," it was far from old. It was a two-story, self-built villa with a spacious courtyard, high walls, and an imposing gate.

Jiang Hanchuan, standing nearby, gasped, his mouth agape. "Old Man Sun, is this what you called an 'ancestral home'? This is clearly a luxury villa!"

We couldn't help but chuckle at Jiang Hanchuan’s lack of sophistication.

The laughter, however, caught the attention of the zombies on the street. They turned toward us one by one, their hollow eyes filled with a bloodthirsty craving.

"Stay right there!" I tensed up and shouted sharply.

Luo Yucheng covered her mouth, smiling faintly, though her eyes remained cautious. "Let's keep our voices down. We don't want to draw the zombies over. Let's get inside first."

We hurried into the house. Luo Yucheng found a room and gently laid down little Huihui, who was fast asleep, moving with such care that she wouldn't wake her. Inside, the furniture was kept in orderly fashion, as cozy as the home we had left in the city. Though it had been vacant for years and was covered in a layer of dust, it still felt like a sanctuary. We dropped our bags and began to clean.

Old Man Sun pointed toward the basement, his voice tinged with anticipation: "See if the food stored down there is still there. It’s been years; I’m worried it might have been stolen."

I followed Xu Hanfeng toward the basement, checking cautiously. Moments later, my excited voice echoed from below, as if I had discovered a new world: "Old Man Sun, the food is still here! There’s smoked meat, all the pickles in the jars, and even some potatoes that have started to sprout!"

Old Man Sun was overjoyed, and even Jiang Hanchuan and Luo Yucheng brightened. We would finally have a proper meal.

That night, Old Man Sun and Luo Yucheng prepared a table full of dishes that filled the house with a delicious aroma. Little Huihui chewed on a roasted potato, her small face radiant with happiness. We ate hungrily, savoring this rare moment of peace.

Curious, I asked, "Old Man Sun, why is there so much food? It feels like enough to last us a long time."

Old Man Sun’s eyes crinkled into thin lines as he smiled. "It was my son-in-law. Every few days, he and his family would come back to the village to visit me, renovate the house, and stock up on food. He was a solid, dependable man who always wanted to save the best for me."

From his words, we could tell how much he cherished Huihui’s father, praising him without reservation. It was a pity that such good people had met such a cruel fate... Thinking of this, my heart ached, and I lowered my head in silence.

At night, the bright moonlight filtered through the window like silk, casting shadows across the room. The three of us men were squeezed into one room, but no one felt like sleeping. Our minds were like turbulent waves, each contemplating the road ahead.

Jiang Hanchuan finally broke the stifling silence. "Boss, we've brought the grandfather and granddaughter here. Are we going to set off again in a few days?" His voice carried a subtle note of hesitation.

Xu Hanfeng was silent for a moment, his eyes deep in the moonlight. Finally, he replied with a single word.

"Yes."

I knew the road we had traveled had been fraught with danger, a perilous journey like climbing a mountain. Now, we had to retrace that thousand-kilometer path. The hardships involved went without saying.

None of us were saints; we were prone to fatigue, doubt, and flickering like candles in the wind. I took a deep breath, as if to embolden myself. "Let’s leave once we’ve settled Old Man Sun and Huihui. We must go back. If my blood can bring hope to people like them, then my life will have been worth something."

At these words, Jiang Hanchuan and Xu Hanfeng sat up in surprise, their eyes filled with amazement and newfound respect, as if they were looking at a completely different person.

Looking back on the journey, they had witnessed my transformation from a cynical, wealthy playboy into the resilient man I was today. I had started as a coward, avoiding reality, but now, there was a firm, steady light in my eyes even in the darkness.

In the moonlit room, I caught Xu Hanfeng nodding at me. It was the first time he had shown true recognition, a warm current that thawed my heart. I lay down, staring at the ceiling, overcome by an indescribable sense of fulfillment. A faint smile graced my lips as I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke, we began our work like busy bees. Luo Yucheng and Old Man Sun were busy fetching water and cooking; the rising smoke added a touch of life to the silent village.

Jiang Hanchuan and Xu Hanfeng set about reinforcing the outer walls, hammering and sawing, adding wire mesh and spikes. They worked feverishly, terrified that zombies might attack once we were gone, shattering this hard-won peace.

I took on the responsibility of scavenging for food, searching house by house. I moved like a keen leopard, leaving no corner unchecked. Along the way, I drove the zombies toward the edges of the village, creating a natural barrier. This way, even if it weren't zombies, any passing outlaws would be intimidated and think twice before entering this land.

As night fell, the last traces of sunset were swallowed by darkness, and everything around us sank into a profound silence. That evening, we sat around the warm, inviting table, enjoying the meal Old Man Sun had prepared. The air was filled with the scent of home and a lingering sense of reluctance.

Happy times are always fleeting, passing in the blink of an eye. I noticed Xu Hanfeng’s grave expression. During a lull in the meal, he finally broke the news to Old Man Sun that we would soon be leaving.