"So you’re telling me that our current food reserves cannot last until winter, Jiang Ping?"
My Father’s low, aggravated voice shouted at me, Son... because of a mistake during his mission, it seemed that Ping’er accidentally set fire to the reserve grains and rice stored in the silos just outside the compound.
"How much have we lost, Father?" I tried to speak, hoping my Father wouldn’t be too harsh with Ping’er. "I am sure Ping’er can make up for the losses."
"WHAT WOULD A WOMAN KNOW!?"
My disgusting ex-husband screamed out, pointing at me as if he were somehow smarter or special. This bastard loved to scream things despite being someone who married into our house and came running back when the world started falling apart.
’Ungrateful bastard... You are the reason my lovely Lan’er, refused to come home!’
He was Ping’er and Lan’er, Father... and the son-in-law of the Jiang family, at least... until we divorced two years ago.
"What don’t I understand, Meng Hao!?"
"Because of your useless son, we’ve lost 72,000 lbs of rice! Do you think we can just make that appear out of thin air?!" Meng Hao hated that I divorced him, but things became complicated because he still held a position in my Father’s business.
’The fact that you’re not on your knees begging Father for forgiveness is almost enough for me to say fuck it and kill you.’
I have become a little numb to Meng Hao’s insults.
"Father, please... don’t punish Ping’er too heavily..." I rubbed my palms, begging, though he wasn’t brilliant, I knew my son wouldn’t do something intentionally. "Please let him explain..."
My Father looked at me with such concerned eyes.
"Jiang Siwan, you must understand, the damage that Jiang Ping has caused isn’t something that can be forgiven with a simple apology. However, you do make some sense."
My Father redirected his gaze towards Ping’er.
But Ping’er looked pale, his face covered in sweat... because of his crime, two of our family guards sat on either side as if he were some criminal.
’Lan’er when will you come back... without you, everyone has become a strange.’
"Grandfather... Mother... I..."
"Get on with it!" Meng Hao grumbled, causing Ping’er to pull back, his eyes searching my face for reassurance.
’You can do it, Ping’er, ’ I mouthed and tried to show a bright smile, but even that... didn’t seem enough.
Though our family wasn’t rigid anymore, because of past mistakes that caused us to lose a shining start, even my Father became less aggressive and stubborn.
But a world filled with undead, and people trying to kill each other for a small benefit...
Will Lan’er be able to forgive me and return home?
I couldn’t help but want to hear her singing old folk songs while drunk, or going to watch her compete in martial arts tournaments as a young girl... That’s when Ping’er finally stood up.’
"To the north west, there is a huge train station that we thought might have more supplies and medicine that the people who and might have needed..."
Everything started to make sense...
Since I was in charge of the logistics of the base and helping dispense the food and supplies, the north and west were classed as danger zones.
I remember the reports of those areas crawling with undead that evolved from the small horde we had encountered in our early days.
"Jiang Ping, how could you leave the base without permission?"
Once again, Meng Hao interrupted, but this time it wasn’t I who shot back, but my Father!
"Meng Hao, you are an outsider here. Shout at my grandson once again, and I will thrash you! Don’t think I have forgiven what you did to my daughter and precious granddaughter because of your filthy greed!"
The words made my ex-husband’s face scrunch; he hated it when someone called him out.
My son continued to explain that there were some antibiotics and other medicines we could use to help the sick and injured within the base, but my Father’s face hardened as if he would kill my son just because of one small mistake.
"Do you understand that the lost land because of the Evolved ones that followed you is great enough to wipe our entire colony out if we didn’t have a secondary silo?"
A low, but calm voice filled with the wisdom of an aged general and the care of a seasoned father.
"But do you know what the biggest loss would have been, if things had turned out worse?" It seemed my Father was about to either shout or say something interesting...
I wanted to stop him, but my body couldn’t move.
My mind was in shambles, I couldn’t see how this would develop...
"If we lost you, and Xiao Len and Xiao Kun... what would your Mother and I do? Jiang Ping... How could I ever face Lan’er again, if she knew I sent you to your death, she wouldn’t forgive me."
As my Father’s words struck my heart, I realised I was almost about to make the same mistake.
The last time we argued was when I tried to stop Lan’er from going into the world on her own and said some regretful things.
’After all, my Father is still above me... I have to learn more from him.’
I can’t help but admire my Father, his ability to think of the family above everything.
So, I wanted to boost Jiang Ping’s confidence and feelings.
"Father, I have to ask... Why did you send a squad to look for Ping’er and his friends if the north-west is so dangerous?"
"Ahem..." My Father looked at me, the corner of his lips curling into a smile, before he looked at Ping’er, clearing his throat. "Because he is the future of this base." He said without a hint of doubt.
"But... Grandfather..." Ping’er looked as though he would argue...
"No buts, my boy, you have made a mistake, but what did you bring back in return? Medicine, backup food and vital items for the sick in our group. And as such, you should take pride in that and continue to develop yourself not only to avoid mistakes but also to keep your mind sharp for the future."
I am so glad to have such a good father...
’But... What happened to Lan’er, why didn’t she return?’ It’s been several years since she returned home, that girl... I felt my stomach drop. It was worse because many of her co-workers came here after the outbreak. Some sought her, and others because they heard about it from her in the past and thought it would be safe.
Why was that girl so active with things that didn’t include her?
’Thanks to that... I guess we’re doing well...’
The world is an unforgiving place.
I can’t imagine how she’s living, or where...
I couldn’t even shed tears at this point because the feeling of loss was too much.
That’s all I need right now, to see his bright smile and the light returned to his pupils. As he saw Ping’er, who stood up and bowed, he seemed almost ready to move.
"I promise to continue to do my best!"
"Then... You will start by cleaning the toilets for a week!"
"Fufufu~ do as your grandfather says Ping’er."
I couldn’t believe my Father chose that as a punishment; the water still worked for our family because we bought a private pump and generator System, both gasoline and solar power.
But... It was enough to make my son want to cry; after all, he wouldn’t have thought he’d get off so easily. We’ve all cleaned the bathrooms and toilets in the new colony at least once since the end came, even my Father.
"The meeting is over, Meng Hao... I will forgive your iteruptions but keep control of your emtions."
My husband always idolised my Father. It made me angry because most people on the base had heard about his heroics in the Second Great War and how he protected our city with a single battalion for two weeks without support.
I cannot count the number of times he’s made me listen to that annoying old war story...
So everyone else called him Elder, or General...
"Huh? But... Ping’er, have you eaten? Did you sleep? Do you feel sick?" I couldn’t help but want to check on my son, even though I knew he would be fine.
"Please, there is something we need to discuss..."
My Father used his indoor, serious voice. The tone sent shivers down my spine, and I could tell that whatever my Father was about to say to me wasn’t something I would want to hear.
’What...? Why would he call me back?’
Meng Hao looked back at me with a strange gaze, before he left... the bastard kept trying to make me drink wine and sleep with him since the apocalypse started.
I am not that desperate.
Now my Father and I sat opposite each other...
"Our scouts have spotted a group near the trainyard... I think Li Ya and the others will be delayed a little but..."
"Our Lan’er... it seems she is travelling with them."