Chapter 104: News from the Wastelands
The journey home went smoothly without any trouble. When she got off the bus, two members of the Defense Corps got off as well.
They began walking toward Camp 69 as soon as they disembarked. After a moment of hesitation, Huai Yu slung her basket onto her back and jogged a few steps to catch up with them.
“Um… excuse me, do you know when the team that went to the wastelands will return?”
The two were a bit surprised. “You… chased after us just to ask that?”
Then they turned to look at the departing bus, now just a silhouette in the distance.
Huai Yu instantly realized they had misunderstood and waved her hands quickly. “No, no, I didn’t come to the camp just to ask. I live right next to the Rose Corridor.”
Hearing that, the two immediately understood.
“Oh, it’s you—you’re that brave little girl, right?”
Nowadays, only someone like Huai Yu would dare live near the Rose Corridor. Not to mention that time General Wu Yue came to investigate General Lin’s whereabouts and accidentally broke the ice sculpture left for the little girl…
Anyway, the more secretive the gossip among the higher-ups, the faster it spread.
So even though Huai Yu herself didn’t know, her name had actually become quite well-known in the camp due to all the recent events.
Their expressions relaxed slightly.
“We’re not sure,” one of them said.
“But there is some news we can share. Progress in the wastelands is apparently a bit slow… Do you have someone out there?”
Huai Yu paused, then nodded.
“Yeah. I heard Captain Zhou Qian went, and I’m a little worried.”
“It’s alright,” the man said with a big smile. “These missions happen two or three times a year, it’s routine—don’t worry.”
The other added after a beat, “Usually they come back within a month. We’re only responsible for the early stages of operations anyway. The central battlefield in the wastelands is off-limits to civilians—it’s up to the Defense Army.”
Huai Yu nodded and did a quick mental calculation. Then, brightening, she said, “So that means they’ll be back soon?”
She thanked them earnestly before heading off toward her home in District 37, finally feeling unburdened.
Behind her, the two Defense Corps members stood still, watching her cheerful figure disappear into the distance—their expressions growing more serious by the second.
…
Even though she hadn’t brought anything back today, Huai Yu felt in great spirits when she took Keta Rō out of the basket again.
She had just counted the days: it had been over half a month since Zhou Qian left, so he should be back in just a few more days.
Though she always tried to play it cool around Zhou Qian… deep down, she really liked him.
What should she prepare for his return?
Bamboo heart tea? Dry some more bamboo shoots? Or have Kuang Biao grow some fresh ones that day?
The locust flowers on the mountain should be blooming around now, right? Too bad she didn’t know the exact day—otherwise, she could pick some fresh ones and make locust flower cakes. That would be super tasty!
Oh right—vegetable seeds!
If she bought some seeds tomorrow—like bok choy or lettuce—they’d grow fast. In 7–10 days, there might be fresh shoots ready to eat.
Then she could secretly purify them and send them over…
Wow! Sometimes giving brings more joy than receiving. Just thinking about it made her happy.
Her thoughts were flying so fast and thick, as if the more she imagined, the more she could drive away the shadow of Zhou Qian possibly being hurt.
Meanwhile, Keta Rō quietly stood there as she bustled around, muttering to herself, rummaging through her cabinets. Not a single peep from him.
Until she remembered him—and only then did he flutter his wings slightly.
“Keta Rō…”
Now Huai Yu really felt a little guilty.
“Sorry… I kind of forgot about you. Do you want some dried bamboo shoots?”
She had no idea what the mutated Keta Rō’s diet looked like, but since he seemed to eat everything, maybe he’d like these too?
So she took a piece from the basket and handed it to him.
It was lightly salted. Keta Rō let go of the black ball in his arms, letting it fall to the ground, and then carefully took the bamboo shoot and stuffed it right into his mouth.
Watching him, Huai Yu couldn’t help but laugh.
She picked up the Keta Rō ball with fire tongs and slipped it back into the sack with practiced ease—so smooth, even she found it odd.
Then she reached out hesitantly to touch Keta Rō’s smooth shell.
“There’s plenty of space here. Let me show you around first—there’s a friend named Little Tian, but it’s smaller than you, so it’s not really a threat. No need for introductions.”
Little Tian often vanished into thin air, and Huai Yu didn’t even know where it went most of the time.
“But Kuang Biao and my Big and Little Ones—you’ll need to meet them so we don’t have any friendly fire…”
She rambled on, showing Keta Rō around the house. He simply held his bamboo shoot and followed her obediently, wandering back and forth at a lazy pace.
Then they finally headed outside.
Out front was the chicken coop Huai Yu had built. Keta Rō stood by it for a while, watching. Huai Yu almost wanted to ask if he was… interested in chicken poop or something…
But then Keta Rō turned away, carefully handed her back half the bamboo shoot with his front claws, rubbed his claws together, and began scuttling across the ground searching for something.
Huai Yu: …
She was stunned by how naturally and matter-of-factly Keta Rō returned the bamboo shoot!
No wonder Boss Tang fell so fast for him—he’s really good at interacting with people!
Keta Rō crawled around with a rustling sound, occasionally picking up grass blades and rubbing them like he was cleaning something. Soon, he spotted a row of tiny ginseng sprouts planted in the square brick holes by the wall.
His wings trembled with excitement, and he darted over.
“Not those! Not those!”
Huai Yu panicked. “They’re just seedlings—they haven’t even grown yet!”
Keta Rō paused, then obediently turned away again, his front claws resuming their rubbing motion with the plain grass leaves he picked up from the ground.
Huai Yu: …
Why did she suddenly feel guilty toward him?!
Was Keta Rō’s mutation not about rolling dung balls—but winning hearts?!
But his disappointed mood didn’t last long. This land, compared to his previous life with Gao Ming and then the tiny space at Boss Tang’s, was absolutely massive!
He scurried quickly, wings vibrating faster than usual, rustling through the grass, zipping around happily—It was obvious he loved it here.
Huai Yu figured as much. Back at the crowded market, Keta Rō must’ve been sneaking around early and late just to collect those Keta Rō balls in secret!
But now? 600 acres of land! As long as the Rose Corridor didn’t smack him, he could roam free as he pleased!
Push as many balls as he wanted!
This… this was the peak of Keta Rō’s Keta Rō-life.
