Chapter Forty-Eight: Such a Family (Part Two)

Aside from the middle-aged man and his son, the rest of the group showed varying degrees of reluctance regarding Lin Qingqing's joining them.

She did not mind at all. After greeting everyone, she simply sat in the vehicle and watched them busy themselves.

The middle-aged man was surnamed Chen and named Chen Gang, his son was Chen涛, and his wife's surname was Zhang.

Among the other three, one girl and a young boy were a brother and sister, both surnamed Yue, while the remaining girl was surnamed Zhao.

The two girls and Chen Tao were former classmates who had stuck together after meeting in the wilderness when the apocalypse struck. Indeed, Yue Tingting was Chen Tao's ex-girlfriend.

At that moment, the three women were carrying supplies from a canteen, while Chen Gang and his son were repairing a car nearby.

Their vehicle was an ordinary household seven-seater, likely their own. Chen Gang was changing a tire while Chen涛 helped out, though his mind seemed elsewhere, his gaze constantly drifting toward Lin Qingqing's direction.

"Hey! Why aren't you coming down to help?"

Seeing Lin Qingqing's leisurely posture, Yue Tingting felt deeply dissatisfied. Although she had brought her younger brother to rely on her ex-boyfriend's family, she had never shirked her fair share of the work.

"Look at her acting like some pampered young lady!" Yue Tingting muttered in a low voice to her classmate Zhao Na.

"Why bother with her? If she doesn't work, she won't get any food later!" Zhao Na replied loudly enough for Lin Qingqing to hear clearly.

Lin Qingqing raised an eyebrow and ignored them, turning instead to take out a self-heating small hot pot.

Before long, a steaming, spicy aroma drifted through the air. Lin Qingqing ate at her leisure, watching them work all the while.

As it was nearing noon, eating her lunch in advance clearly indicated that she had no intention of sharing meals with them.

The attitude of drawing a clear boundary was obvious; she was not here seeking shelter.

"It looks like she isn't short on food," Zhao Na nudged Yue Tingting somewhat awkwardly.

Yue Tingting shot Zhao Na an annoyed glare. Of course she knew; that woman was obviously doing it on purpose.

"Are you envious? Do you want hot pot too?"

"No, no, we were just making an observation. Aunt Zhang, let me help you cook!" Zhao Na quickly stepped forward to assist.

"Don't be envious of her. Let's see if she can eat hot pot every single meal!" Aunt Zhang's expression softened considerably as she watched Zhao Na busy herself attentively.

Actually, she preferred Zhao Na over Yue Tingting. Although this girl was fairly average in appearance, she was perceptive and particularly good at taking care of others, far outperforming Yue Tingting, a spoiled girl who couldn't do anything.

She glanced sideways at Yue Tingting's flustered fumbling and let out a disdainful huff.

"Thirteen years old and still acting like he's in kindergarten, completely useless."

Hearing Aunt Zhang's complaint, Zhao Na pressed her lips together and said nothing, but Yue Tingting, following close behind, grew displeased.

"Aunt Zhang, Xuanxuan is my younger brother. He's still young and can't handle heavy work yet. If there's something he can't do, just teach him. Besides, he's an ability user!"

After saying this, she picked up a piece of firewood and said sweetly to her brother, "Xuanxuan, come help sister start a fire. Just give it a spark!"

Hearing this, the boy called Xuanxuan immediately dropped his helpless expression and smiled. He used his ability to ignite three pieces of firewood in succession, then looked shyly at his sister.

Yue Tingting patted his head, happily holding the firewood back to start cooking. Aunt Zhang let out a dismissive snort of contempt but said nothing more.

Fortunately, her son had broken up with that girl; otherwise, having such a pair of pampered young master and miss would literally drag people to their deaths.

...

That half-grown boy was actually a fire-type ability user?

Lin Qingqing gave him a thoughtful look, though he was indeed far too weak. While others might not have noticed, she saw it clearly: it took the boy two attempts to ignite a piece of firewood no thicker than an arm.

Although an ability user, he didn't look like someone capable of killing zombies. Lin Qingqing cast a glance at the others, estimating the combat power of the six individuals to be at most two and a half, not exceeding three.

At that moment, Lin Qingqing could not help but wonder whether joining them was the right choice or a mistake.

Just then, a wave of fragrance drifted over. Aunt Zhang had cooked a pot of mixed-vegetable stewed noodles.

The vegetables were dried goods, such as black fungus and dried mushrooms, while the noodles were standard dried noodles. The food was simple, but the flavor was quite good. She turned to look at her sweating husband and son, gritted her teeth, and sliced half a sausage into the pot.

All six of them had healthy appetites, and finishing the pot of noodles only left them about eighty percent full. Watching her son look for more, Aunt Zhang couldn't help glaring straight at Yue Xuanxuan.

"He doesn't work, yet he eats so much," she complained while scrubbing the pot.

Yue Xuanxuan, holding the half-bowl of rice his sister had saved for him, whispered in defense, "I'm eating my sister's share!"

"Isn't your sister's food coming from mine?" Aunt Zhang flung her spatula down in annoyance.

"Xuanxuan, eat up!" Seeing her brother wronged, Yue Tingting quickly comforted him.

"Sister!" Yue Xuanxuan glared with reddened eyes.

"Xuanxuan is still young. At this age, he's growing and it's normal for him to eat a lot. Aunt Zhang, please don't be angry. I'll save my portion for my brother!" Yue Tingting twisted her fingers and spoke in a submissive tone.

"Thirteen years old and still young?"

"I... I'll definitely do more work from now on," Yue Tingting said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sigh, Mom, say a little less. Tingting, don't cry..."

Aunt Zhang was about to continue when Chen涛 interrupted. He offered placating words back and forth, while Chen Gang and Zhao Na silently ate their meal without uttering a word.

Aunt Zhang had a fiery temper and simply couldn't stand the pampered attitude of the siblings. Such arguments occurred several times almost every day, and everyone had grown used to it.

Lin Qingqing looked at the young boy with reddened eyes acting spoiled to his sister: Thirteen years old? Really?

As the saying goes, there is no comparison without contrast. Watching Yue Tingting, who genuinely doted on her brother, Lin Qingqing couldn't help thinking of Wen Ling. Despite being the exact same age, they lived in two completely different worlds.

Looking at the Yue siblings, Lin Qingqing couldn't help comparing them to Lei Min and Wen Ling. Those two were of a similar age to the siblings, yet one could not find a trace of the innocence or spoiled nature expected at that age.

The resilience emanating from their very bones was something even she admired.

Yet such individuals were bound to be the minority. The Yue siblings, along with the earlier Si Qing, probably represented the normal behavior of young girls and boys.

Seeing Lin Qingqing lost in thought, Chen涛 quietly handed over a small piece of chocolate.

"Ms. Lin, would you like some chocolate?"

"Oh... thank you!"

Seeing his furtive manner, Lin Qingqing guessed that Aunt Zhang must have secretly slipped it to her son upon noticing he hadn't eaten enough.

Children cherished by their parents and sister were truly blessed! Twirling the chocolate between her fingers, Lin Qingqing cast a complex look at Chen涛.

"Ms. Lin, where did you get this vehicle?" Chen涛 touched the car door with fascination and envious admiration.

"Found it in a parking lot. There are plenty on the side of the road; you can drive whichever one you like," Lin Qingqing answered casually.

"Ah, I've seen a few nice cars too, but unfortunately none of them had keys," Chen涛 scratched the back of his head.

"Kill the driver turned zombie, and wouldn't you have them?"

"Huh? Ms. Lin, you've even killed zombies?"

Hearing her speak so casually, Chen涛 was extremely surprised. He re-evaluated her with disbelief; frankly, the reality was quite a distance from what he had imagined.

"You don't believe me? If I didn't kill zombies, how could I survive alone?"

"But you're a girl..." Chen涛 muttered with a tangled expression, adding inwardly, and you don't look tough at all.

In his view, his mother was already considered very fiery and formidable, yet upon seeing zombies, she still only knew to hide behind his father.

As for the two young girls Tingting and Zhao Na, their work ethic was no worse than his own as a man, yet they hardly dared face zombies either.

"That's because you guys are here!" Lin Qingqing sighed inwardly. With someone protecting them from the front, who would willingly face those disgusting creatures?

Just like Aunt Zhang, Yue Tingting, Zhao Na, and even Yue Tingting's younger brother Yue Xuanxuan—none of this had anything to do with gender or age. If no one sheltered them from the wind and rain, would they dare kill zombies?

Lin Qingqing shook her head inwardly, keeping these thoughts to herself.