Famine 34: Reunion

Reunion

The Farm Master!

That name had long circulated beneath the decks of the Bone Ferry. In just one afternoon he had become a legend, stirring up countless conflicts, a figure known to every household. For a moment, Sha Tong and the others were speechless, staring at Si Zhiyan’s calm face, swallowing hard.

The Farm Master merely lowered his eyes, not bothering to look at them.

It was as if such a godlike fissure was created by him on a whim, not even worthy of his attention.

Just what manner of being was this… Li Shize dared not dwell on it, his legs growing weak beneath him.

No matter what, at this moment, gratitude nearly brought him to his knees.

Li Shize mustered his courage and fixed his gaze on the farm master, each syllable heartfelt: “Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart… I don’t know what to say. You are our miracle, sir.”

Tang Qinghuai! Tang Qinghuai was still alive!
And he looked very well—far better than any of them.

Little rascal. Nearly scared us to death.

Li Shize supported Aunt Zhong, his eyes reddening, squeezing out a smile.

“You’re safe, thanks to the farm master’s great kindness. Thank goodness, you’re safe… Qinghuai, Qinghuai…”

Zhong Manwen’s choked voice was nearly incoherent. If not for Li Shize’s hand holding her up, she would have collapsed to her knees. Tears of overwhelming joy blurred her vision as she gazed at her son’s healthy, glowing face, speechless with happiness.

“I can’t believe I can still see you… I can’t believe… there is yet a chance…”

“How are you? How have you been? Are you all right?”

The divide of life and death, once believed immovable, suddenly vanished. It was as if the whole world’s color had come flooding back in an instant. Were it not for Sha Tong, Yi Zheng, and the others watching nearby, she would have wondered if it were all her own fantasy.

Without noticing, Zhong Manwen rushed forward and stretched out her hand to touch the border where the space met.

Snap!

She was instantly repelled.

Si Zhiyan quietly sipped his coffee.
It seemed the fissure allowed only the sharing of things like pasta—not the crossing of people.

The euphoria faded, and Tang Qinghuai regained his composure. He hurriedly wiped his tears, reset his glasses, and leaned toward the rift.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, Mom, don’t worry.”
He turned a circle, showing his whole self:
“I have everything I need here. Look, all my wounds have been healed by the farm master. That bastard Gu Haoping can’t do anything to me now.”

“How wonderful… how wonderful you’re well…” Zhong Manwen’s thin, aged fingers hovered near the boundary—as if caressing her long-lost child across the space.

Seeing his mother’s face grown more gaunt, Tang Qinghuai’s heart softened with a bitter ache. He quickly said, “Mom, are you hungry?”
“Hurry, have some food. Senior brother, you as well.”

With that, he pushed the plate of tomato meat sauce pasta, barely touched, toward the other side of the fissure.

The pasta slipped easily through the rift with a faint tap, coming to rest on the wooden table.

At once, the rich aroma of tomato meat sauce and cheese filled the frosty cabin.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“Meat sauce noodles…” Sha Tong muttered, “We’re here, shivering in the wind to fulfill your wishes, and you’re roasting by a fireplace, eating meat sauce noodles?”

Li Shize, half laughing, half crying, ground his teeth: “A bit too comfortable, aren’t you, young master?”
And you even remembered to mention me.

Tang Qinghuai: “…”
No, what legacy? Who said anything about a legacy?

Zhong Manwen understood that Li Shize hadn’t had a proper meal in some time, and after all the running today, she quickly beckoned him over. The two sat together, forked up the pasta, and began to eat.

The tart sweetness of tomato and the savory fat of meat bloomed together on the tongue—so delicious it was all one could do not to lose oneself. Li Shize chewed each bite slowly, eyes closed, as if carving the taste of wheat and minced meat into his soul for life.

Everyone else’s eyes were glued to that plate of noodles, unable to look away.

Life on the Bone Ferry had always been harsh. Whether a supply runner or one like Yi Zheng or Sha Tong, none had enjoyed a decent meal in so long—subsisting day to day on potatoes and nutrient paste, hoarding rations to manage other tasks, God only knew how many hard days they’d endured.

Even as they marveled at the scene, they couldn’t help but swallow mouthfuls of saliva. Sha Tong’s face looked so sour it could wilt a chrysanthemum.

Meat sauce pasta! My goodness! Meat sauce pasta! Even with cheese on top! That cheese was hot and stringy!

Of course, greed and envy aside, none here would stoop to robbing an elderly widow of her meal. They could only sign and lament quietly in their hearts.

Gurgle! Someone’s stomach rumbled.

Tang Qinghuai only just realized, quickly stammering, “Forgive me, please forgive me.” In his excitement, he had completely overlooked the good-hearted people who had helped save his mother and senior brother.

He turned to Si Zhiyan. “Thank you, farm master. May I ask, do you still have—? I’d like to buy more, I could trade any amount of points!”

Si Zhiyan set down his coffee and raised his eyes. “Certainly.”

…

Ten minutes later.

The wooden table was spread with meats and vegetables, the center filled with steaming hot food.

Warm vapor drifted through the log cabin.

The group formed a circle, bowls and chopsticks in hand, each wearing an expression of dreamy disbelief.

“Ah… such springy beef tendon balls…” Yi Zheng pressed her cheeks, eyes unfocused. “Beef tendon balls… and they’re fresh and bouncy, hand-made, tastier than Anjin’s…”

Even as she spoke, she tossed half a platter of lamb slices into the spicy hot pot.

One of the resistance fighters had already scooped a steaming bowl of tomato broth, filled with fried tofu rolls and shrimp paste. He blew on it and took a sip, the heady aroma of tomato and mutton nearly making him faint.

The young man slurped down half a bowl in one go, his spirits soaring. He turned and cursed gleefully at Sha Tong, “You little bastard! If you’d told me joining the resistance meant hot pot, I wouldn’t have wasted half a day working up my nerve—I’d have followed you through hell and high water! You wasted my feelings.”

“Wu! Wuwu! Mmph!” Sha Tong couldn’t reply, too busy tearing into mouthfuls of beef rolls, both cheeks bulging. He looked half out of his mind with hunger.

What came out was a garbled half-curse, more or less, “How could I know you get a five million point reward just for being a good guy?”

All the while, his chopsticks darted once more for the lamb floating atop the soup.

Yi Zheng couldn’t take it anymore. “Swallow your food before you talk!”

“And stop grabbing my meat!! Let me finish before you take another helping!!”

Sha Tong: “Wuwuwu!”
Like hell I will!

The group dissolved into a merry scuffle.

Hot pot—steaming hot pot, meat and vegetables anew!

All that, and the conversation between Tang Qinghuai and the farm master, and this whole meal… just a thousand points? The price of a potato?

My God, those following the farm master must be living like kings.

After a while chatting with Tang Qinghuai, the group had learned that at the farm, everyone ate and dressed well, secure in home and hearth. At once, regret and envy welled up in them, and the cabin burst with excited chatter.

Zhong Manwen, by now composed, sat quietly at the far end of the table. At her age, with her stomach shrunken from hunger, a plate of pasta had already filled her eight-tenths full. She watched the young ones with a gentle smile as they made a lively ruckus.

Li Shize stood up, ladled some tomato soup into a bowl, and placed it in front of her with some simple, easy vegetables—potatoes, bamboo shoots, tofu.

“Auntie, have some hot soup.”

His movements were smooth and familiar; clearly, he was used to caring for her.

Li Shize had pulled two all-nighters. Heavy circles lined his eyes, and he was gaunter than ever. Tall and thin to begin with, now his limbs stuck out, joints sharp, shoulders so narrow they seemed fit to snap with a single breath of wind.

Tang Qinghuai sat at the farm, eyes stinging, and quietly called out, “Senior brother Li.”

Li Shize grunted, “I’m surprised you even remember my surname.”

Tang Qinghuai was about to say something, but Li Shize cut him off, crossing his arms. “Let’s be clear: save the sentiment. I help Aunt Zhong because she’s looked after me enough in the past, not because of you.”

Senior Brother Li hadn’t changed at all. Tang Qinghuai, unused to his jibes after so long, couldn’t help but laugh.

No matter—it was easy enough to deal with him.

“Senior brother, want some fried chicken?”

Li Shize: “….”
Li Shize: “Yes.”

Honesty unleashed.jpg

Si Zhiyan beside them stifled his laughter with great difficulty.

A thousand-point hot pot barely covered enough for two—soon everyone had devoured it. Not wanting to mooch off Tang Qinghuai any further, Sha Tong and the others quickly spent their own points on more meat and soup. Seeing Li Shize’s longing look at the fried chicken, they hurriedly buttered up Si Zhiyan and ordered more.

Someone, crispy chicken in hand, sighed contentedly: “Even if we bite it tomorrow, this meal—last supper or not—it’d have been worth dying full.”

Yi Zheng kicked him. “Don’t jinx us!”

A burst of cheerful, well-natured laughter followed.

Fighters lived by the knife—life and death never far, today’s wine for today, never waiting for tomorrow.

Zhong Manwen cradled the tomato soup, her eyes and brow gentle as she watched everyone, drinking slowly.

They ate for a good, long while, bellies filling, until Tang Qinghuai remembered his purpose.

“Mom, where are you now?” he asked bright and cheerful. “If we pinpoint your location, we can get you out of there right away! Before I leave, I’ll make sure Senior Brother Li has enough food as well.”

Zhong Manwen looked up.

A few people offered congratulations, then turned to Sha Tong. Straightforward as ever, he gave out their coordinates.

With the farm master’s backing, if he meant harm, they wouldn’t have made it this far anyway.

Si Zhiyan gave a slight nod, indicating no problem.
If needed, he could have Anderson come right away.

Tang Qinghuai drew a deep breath, excited: “Then, why not now? Or should we set a time for tonight…”

“Wait a moment,” Zhong Manwen said.

Sha Tong asked, “What is it?”

Zhong Manwen did not answer directly, but asked in return: “Mr. Sha, are you all planning to go to the farm?”

“Now that we know the farm has ample food, no oppressive overseers, and its location is no secret—to someone like you, a day’s journey would be nothing.”

Sha Tong, toothpick in mouth, answered without hesitation: “No.”

Zhong Manwen: “Why not?”

“Most people here were once Commander Nie’s. Since the founding of Bone Ferry, we’ve lived here. After so long, with all that’s passed, if Commander Nie never gave up, neither will we. The Bone Ferry is our shared dream—our home.”

A flash of cold light appeared in Sha Tong’s eyes.

“If we lose Bone Ferry, we’d be nothing.”

“The farm’s a great opportunity. We all know—there’s food, survival, answers. But Bone Ferry should cooperate with the farm for mutual benefit, not be abandoned here to become a living hell!”

“Commander Nie is gone; now we’ll take matters into our own hands. If I say we’ll kill Gu Haoping, then we’ll kill Gu Haoping.”

“As long as Gu Haoping lives, the resistance will not disband!”

As long as Gu Haoping lives, the resistance will not disband!

Thump, thump!

Everyone struck their bowls and chopsticks twice in unison.

Even Tang Qinghuai was moved, but Zhong Manwen’s expression remained unchanged.

She asked, “What will you eat and drink? Where will you buy clothing for the cold?”

“There’s only one entry to the Bone Ferry—they’ll seal it and check strictly. Crossing will be nearly impossible.”

“Once you go up against Gu Haoping, you’ll surely be added to the wanted list. If that day comes, you won’t be able to cross Black Reef Bridge. Even task runs will be cut off—you won’t reach the farm for supplies.”

“Have you truly thought this through?”

“However much can be brought out today, it will not last long. For security, none of you can hoard large stores.”

Sha Tong shook his head. “Ma’am, that’s our internal affair—don’t trouble yourself…”

Zhong Manwen cut him off calmly. “You have no solution.”

Sha Tong’s expression changed.

“When Sister Zheng came to us before, you’d planned to support us. Yet in just a few days, your attitude has changed.”

“Why? Is it just cold weather and need for expensive clothing? That’s no reason. As qualified players, even if in difficulty, you could soon earn more points and grain by taking on tasks.”

“There’s only one answer: your plans have changed.”

“You intend to do something that will soon make you fugitives.”

“You don’t want to feed a dozen idle mouths—so you’re saving rations. What you plan next is extremely dangerous; that’s why someone called today’s meal your last supper.”

“Without what’s happened today, Li and I likely wouldn’t be able to keep up with you.”

“Let me guess—your plan for today is to bring me over, lure away the guards, and then leave this house to us. And then, starting tonight, launch your rebellion in full.”

“Am I right?”

Every word left the group stunned into silence. Sha Tong put away his toothpick, for the first time sitting up straight at the table, the foolishness gone from his expression, watching Zhong Manwen intently.

Slowly, Sha Tong said, “…You’re very astute, Ms. Zhong.”

No longer “old lady,” nor Tang Qinghuai’s mother, but Ms. Zhong.

Zhong Manwen gently swept her hair from her brow. “Don’t forget, Mr. Sha, I was once at Commander Nie’s side—one of Bone Ferry’s first residents.”

Tang Qinghuai sensed a vague dread. “…Mom, why are you saying all this?”

Zhong Manwen looked up past her anxious son, to Si Zhiyan behind him.

“Farm master, Qinghuai said this fissure was opened for me—is that truly so?”

Si Zhiyan replied coolly, “Yes.”

Zhong Manwen asked, “If I travel through, will this rift remain? And for how long?”

Si Zhiyan understood her meaning, and replied gently, “It is the bond between you and Tang Qinghuai. How long it exists will be up to you.”

Zhong Manwen smiled.
The elderly woman was as ever—gentle, with the fine-worn lines of age, yet unwavering.

“Thank you, farm master. I understand.”

“—I will stay.”

Tang Qinghuai leapt to his feet. “Mom?!”

Swish.

Sha Tong stood. Yi Zheng stood. The resistance fighters shoved back their chairs and rose in a clatter.

Many stared in shocked uncertainty, but already their faces shone with deep respect.

Zhong Manwen straightened her clothes and bowed to everyone.

“Children, you need me.”

She lifted her eyes, her words weighted with blood, pronounced one by one:

“As long as Gu Haoping lives, the resistance will not disband.”

“All the suffering and hatred we have endured—he must pay blood for blood!”