Chapter 591: Bitterness in Her Heart
Chapter 591: Bitterness in Her Heart
Throughout the entire Yaoyang Base, supplies had nearly reached the breaking point. Wu Simiao was a useless fool, ordering that all the gasoline and diesel they could gather be funneled into the Grand Fortune’s generators.
Now, with the weather so lethally cold, no one was willing to risk freezing to death just to go outside the base to search for more fuel.
As a result, most vehicles in Yaoyang Base were frozen stiff and immobile.
The Liu family had been moving bit by bit to the Hexi villa district these past few days, but with so many people in their household, it was impossible to finish in a single day. Their vehicles had long since frozen, so while the younger members could still make the trek on foot from Hedong to Hexi, the elderly could only be pulled along on handcarts.
But fate had been cruel. Liu Shasha’s grandfather hadn’t survived the harsh winter. Back when there was still electricity in Hedong, his body had already begun to fail. Liu Shasha had been channeling her energy into him, trying to sustain him, but the natural cycle of heaven and earth could not be defied. When a person’s name was written in the King of Hell’s Book of Life and Death, not even the ability to bring the dead back to life could resist it.
(Translator’s Notes: In Chinese Mythology the Book of Life and Death, held by Yánwáng / King of Hell, is a divine register that records every person’s lifespan—when they are born, and when they are fated to die.)
By now, most of the Liu family had already relocated. Only Liu Shasha’s grandfather remained, along with a few strong young men handling the final loads.
They used several large carts to transport supplies and the elderly. They laid down thick quilts on the carts, and wrapped the old man in layer upon layer of bedding, tucking hot water bottles between them.
But since the day before, Liu Shasha’s grandfather had been fading. Liu Zhi and the others rushed as fast as they could, desperate to bring the dying elder to Hexi. Yet halfway across, the cart broke down. In the deadly cold, with no vehicle to replace it, they had no choice but to carry him on their backs and run.
Fortunately, Liu Shasha had found Zhang Boxun, hoping to borrow Zhan Lian’s jeep to quickly transport her grandfather to the villa compound in Hexi, where Liu Zhi had already lit a warm fire in anticipation. But before Zhang Boxun could even carry the old man to the jeep, he passed away.
A wail of grief echoed across the bridge.
Holding Doll in her arms, An Ran tilted her head and glanced over. Amidst the swirling goose-feather snow, mixed with tiny grain-like pellets of ice, people trudged across the bridge from Hedong to Hexi, bent beneath heavy luggage, leading their children and elders, a procession of weary bodies migrating through the storm.
Not far away, Liu Shasha’s group huddled around the old man who had just breathed his last, their sobs piercing through the cold.
Zhang Boxun was holding Liu Shasha, who by now was weeping so hard she was nearly incoherent.
“Let’s go.” In the passenger seat, An Ran lightly touched Zhan Lian’s arm.
Clearly, Zhang Boxun wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon. They couldn’t linger on the bridge forever either. Better to return first, then think of a way to notify Liu Zhi to come handle Liu Shasha’s family matters.
In the back seat, Tang Siluo clenched the hem of her gown tightly in her pale fists. She turned her head to the window, staring at Zhang Boxun’s upright figure as he stood on the bridge, embracing Liu Shasha. Sourness welled up inside her chest, bubbling up uncontrollably.
It felt like a toy she had tossed aside and left untouched for so long. Just when she thought she might cherish it again, someone from out of nowhere had suddenly snatched it away. The sting of it made Tang Siluo unbearably heartsick.
The car slowly rolled past Zhang Boxun’s back.
From the window, Tang Siluo kept her eyes fixed on him and Liu Shasha, who had not let go of each other once. And Zhang Boxun—he never once thought to turn around and glance at Tang Siluo in the car.