CHAPTER 185: 179 SHORT OF YOU

Fang Tongzhou, who had been scolded, jolted as if struck, his face covered in black lines: "Huh? Truly... truly your son??" He glanced at Jiang Jinghuai’s chilling expression, then compared it to the little bundle in his arms, starting to piece things together: "A few days ago, you brought back a woman, arranged her a job here in the army—a woman named Shui Lian. Could it be that what I think is..."

Jiang Jinghuai replied coolly, "You’re overthinking."

Not her, then. "So..."

"Are you quite idle?"

"Not at all! Captain Jiang!" Fang Tongzhou shook his head furiously. "I’m very busy! I was just heading to eat!" Oh, that penetrating look—one he was all too familiar with, the kind Jiang gave every time they were about to be assigned grueling endurance runs.

**

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, startled birds formed a V-shaped flock, fluttering with a roar toward the distant sky. The golden rays of sunset bathed the entire earthquake-stricken area, oozing warmth, yet tinged with desolation.

In a makeshift stove built with stacked stones, a blazing fire roared, and the air was awash with swirling waves of heat.

Tian Sangsang lifted the lid off the large pot, revealing boiling contents that exuded tantalizing aromas. There were chefs on hand, though not enough helpers for the odd jobs. She, as a volunteer, was here to assist with the miscellaneous tasks—to wash vegetables, chop ingredients, lend a hand, and once the food was ready, serve it bowl by bowl to those in need.

In the simple kitchen, the atmosphere was harmonious and efficient.

It seemed like an incomprehensible phenomenon—during moments of crisis, after people endure hardship, they tend to band together for a time. This was survival, not living. But once survival was no longer in question, friction and conflicts would undoubtedly resurface. Perhaps that’s just how the world works. Wherever there are people, there is a community; wherever there’s a community, there are power struggles.

Just now, Tian Sangsang had taken advantage of Master Xiao Chun’s distraction and secretly added a bit of Spiritual Spring water to the pot. Though the short-term effects of the spring weren’t glaringly obvious, it would make the food taste a bit better. This time, they were cooking vegetable rice—water was added to the pot, and once the rice was nearly cooked, taro, pork, cabbage, shrimp, dried oysters, scallops, and clam meat were gradually added. However, taro, dried oysters, and scallops were unavailable; even meat was pitifully scarce, as chaos outside made supply inevitable difficult.

"Alright, it’s done cooking," Master Xiao Chun said after tasting a spoonful. "Sangsang, help serve it out—one bowl for each person. Oh, and only five pieces of meat per bowl; otherwise, there won’t be enough to go around."

"Got it, Master Xiao Chun."

Due to the absence of taro and other ingredients, the rice seemed runnier, far from thick. Both soldiers and refugees were treated equally, eating this same food.

Tian Sangsang and others carried bowls of food back and forth, serving it to people sprawled about outside. Many were fast asleep on the ground, especially the soldiers—lying one next to another, their bodies seemed to collapse into slumber the moment they hit the earth, limbs askew in all directions. The others were much the same; children nestled against their parents, and the adults leaned on each other to rest.

"Everyone, no need to rush—there’s enough for everyone. Form a line and receive a bowl one by one."

"Food is here; finally, we’ve got dinner..." Many people were moved to tears, while others expressed thanks. The scene resembled something out of ancient disaster relief efforts.

Tian Sangsang carefully wiped the sweat off her forehead. Despite the throbbing ache in her back and waist, seeing everyone in this state made her feel the exhaustion was worthwhile. She wasn’t a saint, but neither was she hard-hearted. Within her power, she wished to do what she could. She felt honored and, in a way, fortunate. If contributing something to this world was possible, then that was good.

She wondered, had her son woken up? Tian Sangsang scanned the crowd for a while, suddenly sensing a gaze fixed upon her. Instinctively, she turned toward it, meeting Jiang Jinghuai’s long, deep eyes. The silent gaze clashed, collided, and battled between them in the air.

Ultimately, Tian Sangsang was the first to yield.

She slowly raised her hand in an attempt to wave casually, but in the end awkwardly adjusted mid-motion, slapping her arm instead and mumbling as she walked away, "Ugh, these mosquitoes are everywhere." A bit of a silly response, really. Face flushed, she fled with her head down.

Jiang Jinghuai watched her slightly plump figure retreat, his deep gaze narrowing. How amusing. It was as though she’d become an entirely different person. The Tian Sangsang he used to know would never have been so diligent and tireless in helping others.

Either someone was impersonating her.

Or she was putting on an act.

He didn’t believe a person’s nature could change so completely.

When Tian Sangsang reentered, Master Xiao Chun was starting on another pot of food, hefting a sack of rice from the corner. The previously mountainous pile of rice had dwindled significantly.

Master Xiao Chun sighed, "These rice supplies should last us two or three more days, but the veggies... that’s the tricky part!" Both vegetables and meat were in short supply.

Tian Sangsang’s stomach flipped; feigning ignorance, she walked off.

Footsteps sounded behind her. Master Xiao Chun seemed startled, asking, "Sangsang, when did you come back?"

"Just now." Tian Sangsang replied nonchalantly, "But, Master Xiao Chun, what were you bent over looking at earlier? Need me to help prepare another batch of rice?"

Master Xiao Chun scrutinized her suspiciously before shaking his head. "Nothing much." No overhearing was a relief. These refugees would likely need to wait here for two or three days before being relocated. If word got out that vegetables were running low, it could trigger panic. The crops in the fields had been largely destroyed by the earthquake—most were no longer fit for consumption.

When Tian Sangsang went back out with bowls of rice, she ran into a group of familiar faces.

The half-asleep Zhou Zheng caught a whiff of the food’s aroma, instantly raising his head to take the bowl from her hands.

As their eyes met, they both froze.

Zhou Zheng tightened his grip on the bowl, letting out a laugh. "So it’s you, Tian Sangsang."

Tian Sangsang couldn’t be bothered to respond.

"Mine... mine..." Tian Tian’s feeble yet eager voice chimed in as she reached for a bowl. "Wait, there’s another bowl—for Chen Ming."

Well, at least she had a conscience; she hadn’t forgotten Chen Ming.

"I went to check on Yingzi earlier; she’s still in the medical bay, not too seriously hurt." Tian Sangsang smiled at Chen Ming.

"I went to see her too," Chen Ming replied, "Been wondering where you were... turns out, you’ve been busy helping with the cooking. Where’s Yanyan? Why isn’t he with you?"

"He’s fine; someone’s looking after him." Tian Sangsang asked further, "Are the folks from the village alright?"

"Doing alright. Most of the villagers have been rescued, though some haven’t made it to the town hub yet." Chen Ming exhaled with relief, reassured that everyone was safe.

Zhou Zheng scarfed down several mouthfuls of rice, glancing at the two of them sideways. "Oh, what’s the point of all this back-and-forth chatter? If we’d all died, would any of these words even matter between you two?"

"But we didn’t die," Tian Sangsang shot back. "Though seeing some people alive and kicking, I have to say, it’s surprising."

Zhou Zheng huffed and returned to his meal with a vengeance.

**

Tian Sangsang placed a bowl of rice by Jiang Jinghuai’s side, speaking casually, "Here, yours." She set the bowl down on the ground. "Pass Yanyan back to me; you can take a break for a bit." Meng Shuyan, likely still groggy from the ordeal and under the effects of medication, remained deeply asleep in Jiang Jinghuai’s arms.

"I’m not very hungry." Jiang Jinghuai kept holding Meng Shuyan, neither relinquishing his grip nor reaching for the food. Instead, his gaze lifted briefly, surveying the surrounding chaos.

Tian Sangsang seemed to understand, blurting out instinctively, "They all got their portion—it’s just you left."

"And what about you?" he suddenly asked.

"I..." Under his scrutiny, Tian Sangsang felt too nervous to lie successfully. She lowered her eyes. "I’m on a diet. I’m used to being hungry."

"And what about him?" Jiang Jinghuai glanced at Meng Shuyan in his arms.

"Yanyan just had medicine; he doesn’t need to eat right now either," Tian Sangsang explained.

"Yanyan—is that his name?"

"It’s his nickname. His full name is Meng Shuyan," Tian Sangsang replied earnestly.