Chapter 36: Shi Zijin’s Gift
Dongyang Shelter Low-Rent Housing.
Mei Xingxian came back and didn’t see his old man. He frowned and asked, “Where’s my dad?”
Tan Fangchun wiped her hands on her apron and said unhappily:
“You ask as if I lost the old man. He owed money, and debt collectors came to the door. He couldn’t repay it, so they took him away.”
Mei Xingxian’s expression changed. “Impossible! My dad isn’t the kind of person who wouldn’t pay his debts. He’d rather starve or die of illness than borrow a penny from anyone.”
Tan Fangchun was stunned for a moment, then raised her voice again:
“Well, I don’t know. Don’t blame me! If you don’t believe me, ask the aunties next door. They all saw him being taken away, and they came in a jeep!”
“Who were those people?”
“I didn’t ask! The girl leading them was fierce, and there was a woman with a gun. I’ve never seen anything like that!”
Mei Xingxian was furious: “Are you stupid? Debt collectors only want money. What would they do with an old man, take him home for retirement care? Those people were obviously scammers! Didn’t I tell you before I left to keep an eye on my dad? Is this how you watched him?”
The more Mei Xingxian spoke, the angrier he became: “Do you realize that the Taoyang community is looking for a planner right now? My dad is good at that! If he got the job, we could get three spots to live in Taoyang. We wouldn’t have to stay in this dump anymore! Someone must’ve known my dad’s skills and tricked him away!”
Tan Fangchun’s mouth dropped open. “A planner?”
She had always thought her father-in-law was just an art teacher who taught kids to draw.
But in this post-apocalyptic world, what use is drawing? It’s better to have strength and do manual labor at the base.
But what’s this about living in Taoyang?
Were those people from a few days ago scammers?
Tan Fangchun was utterly confused.
Mei Xingxian couldn’t be bothered to explain. His wife only had an elementary school education before the apocalypse, and there had been no chance for more learning since. Talking to her about planners was like playing music to a cow.
He paced back and forth angrily, then rushed out to find the “scammers.”
*
Su Tao slept until the sun was high, and her stomach growled as she prepared to find something to eat. Suddenly, she saw the twins, Zhou Hai and Zhou Yang, had returned.
She asked happily, “Mission completed? Where’s your captain?”
The twins, still as cold and withdrawn as ever, spoke only two words: “Nope.”
Mission not completed.
Shi Ziyue quickly explained: “My brother hasn’t returned yet. He just found some supplies and sent Zhou Hai and Zhou Yang back first. Oh, and he asked them to bring you a little gift. Hehe.”
She grabbed Su Tao’s hand:
“They arrived last night. We wanted to surprise you, but you were already asleep. No worries, they’re still lively now.”
They?
Before Su Tao could react, Ziyue brought out a small nest from the sofa. A soft, milky meowing sound came from within.
Oh my god.
Su Tao’s voice trembled: “Are these kittens?”
She had never seen a cat before. Her impression of them came entirely from pre-apocalypse images and texts.
Twenty years ago, when the apocalypse broke out, many pets and stray animals were either infected or became food, leading to a drastic population decline. Within just five years, they had nearly disappeared.
Humanity’s best friends, the fluffy companions of the lonely, the cute and clingy fur babies… all vanished from people’s lives.
“Do you like them? My brother said they’re only three days old. Their mother hid in an abandoned tire to give birth, but passed away that night. My brother heard them crying and brought them out. He thought you spend so much time at home alone, so he sent them to keep you company.”
Su Tao’s nose tingled. She took the little nest into her arms.
A black kitten and a white kitten, both barely the size of her palm. Their eyes weren’t even open yet. Their pink noses nudged around, and their soft pink tongues mewled weakly.
Su Tao carefully extended a finger to gently touch their heads and little bellies—so warm, so fragile.
Her heart melted.
“Please thank your brother for me. I love them so, so, so much.”
Shi Ziyue twirled around joyfully: “I knew you’d love them! Even Sister Pei liked them and wanted to snatch one away, but my brother immediately turned her down.”
Su Tao laughed, her eyes red, picturing Pei Dong’s sulky face.
“I could let her pet them a bit.”
Shi Ziyue said: “You’d better take them to your room. When they arrived last night, the tenants nearly lost their minds. If I hadn’t stopped them, the kittens might’ve been smothered by their cuddles!”
Su Tao tightened her grip on the nest, forgot all about food, and hurried to her room.
She searched online and found that newborn kittens should drink goat milk.
Scratching her head, she opened the system’s food store and finally found goat milk in the self-service vending machine section.
She immediately ordered two machines for 1,600 Federal Coins.
The machines offered not only goat milk but also cow milk, fresh juices, and more—all for a reasonable price of 20 Federal Coins per bottle.
She planned to place one in the small dining hall and keep the other in her room, just for the kittens.
She also bought blankets, small pillows, and made two little cat nests.
Then, she purchased a set of baby supplies and used the smallest baby bottle as a feeder.
Altogether, it only cost 4,500 Federal Coins.
The tiny kittens seemed starving. As soon as Su Tao brought the bottle close, the black kitten started sucking eagerly.
The white kitten, a bit slower, fumbled around before finding the nipple.
Seeing them eat to their hearts’ content made Su Tao happy. She decided to name them—one would be Sesame White, and the other Sesame Black!
When the little ones fell asleep, Su Tao finally grabbed a quick bite and then rushed to find Old Mei.
“Mr. Mei, I plan to start construction tonight.”
Mei Hongyi thought she’d already found a construction team: “That was quick. Good, let’s do it.”
“I also plan to announce the search for a planner. Otherwise, too many people apply every day, and Zhuang Wan is overwhelmed. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my promise. The three spots are reserved for you. When you’re ready, just let Zhuang Wan know.”
Mei Hongyi let out a long sigh and smiled:
“I didn’t expect to enjoy such blessings at my age. Thank you, Su Tao. Also, I have one more request: please don’t reveal my name. My ungrateful son will definitely cause trouble if he finds out. Even if I give up those three spots, I’d rather offer them to homeless people on the street than to him.”
