Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space

Living in Hua Village, borrowing someone else's land, and using the bricks and stones brought back by Miss Hua Jin to build their houses, they had a home once more, allowing their restless hearts to calm. It was only right for them to do what they could, especially after receiving so much before. Qin Dagen always felt guilty receiving these benefits.

Qin Shu nodded along with his father. Since returning to Qin Village, life hadn't been as difficult as it was in the mountains. After all, they had found over 300 pounds of grain in their cellar. However, the hardships on the mountain had left deep psychological scars. Whenever they found food, they were reluctant to eat it, and even when they did eat, it was only in small amounts, fearing unexpected events and wanting to save it for emergencies.

But things were different now. Mother had dried plenty of wild vegetables and stored a good amount of home-grown produce. More importantly, they had harvested a lot of grain, not just from their own land but also from the forty or so acres farmed by a dozen or so families in Qin Village.

Even though nobody managed the fields as well as they managed their own, the harvest was not bad due to the sheer acreage. Nearly 200 pounds per acre meant they harvested around 9,000 pounds of grain in total, so the family genuinely was not short on food. Even if they stopped farming, it would be enough to last them for years.

"Father is right. Hua Jin... Miss Hua Jin, the rewards you've already paid are more than enough," Qin Shu said. However, as he was about to say the word 'Miss', his eyes flickered and he accidentally skipped over it. Saying the words 'Hua Jin' made his heart skip a beat.

"Uncle Qin, Brother Qin Shu, one thing is separate from the other. What we agreed on is what we'll stick to, plus the wall still needs to be raised, and this will require your hard work. As long as it's not finished, the payment shouldn't be short. Besides, apart from the promised payments, didn't you also use Silver to purchase other things I brought? All of this, I accepted without hesitation," Hua Jin insisted with a raised eyebrow.

Encircling the entire Hua Village wasn't a small project, nor was it an easy task. Especially since the entire family had expanded the village's bounds considerably, and completed the difficult job so well. With merely an ounce of Silver and thirty pounds of grain, Hua Jin felt it was too little, but the Qin family wouldn't accept more. For now, things had to stay that way, and she could only make it up elsewhere.

Seeing the father and son about to speak, Hua Jin showed some impatience, "Alright, Brother Qin Shu, quickly put things away. By the way, I've brought a few bolts of cloth and two ounces of black sugar for you. Have your aunt keep them well."

Hua Jin spoke lightly, yet Qin Dagen didn't know how to respond, feeling only gratitude.

Even though they could survive anywhere, they wouldn't be living this well. Grains might be cultivated, but salt and sugar were indeed hard to come by, and since these things were essential, this alone was enough for him to feel grateful.

After saying this, Hua Jin shifted her gaze to the children behind them.

At this moment, both Da Liu and Gouzi were staring at the people ahead in shock. They clearly looked like benefactors by their appearance and clothing, yet their voice had changed. It wasn't the kind Big Brother they thought; it was Big Sister! How could that soft, sweet voice belong to Big Brother?

"Da Liu, Gouzi, don't you recognize me anymore?" Hua Jin suddenly laughed, using the raspy voice they were familiar with.

"It really is you, Benefactor Big Brother." Gouzi reacted immediately, taking a few steps forward, looking at Hua Jin with delight.

At the same time, a few children at the woodshed door ran out joyfully, especially the older ones.

"Benefactor Big Brother!" they called in unison, while the younger ones were more shy since they had less interaction. The first time they had been hazy and sick, and though they were much better by the second meeting, they were still unsure and dared not approach closely.

"Benefactor," Da Liu also called out in excitement, feeling that deep string in his heart finally loosen when seeing their benefactor.

They truly hadn't found the wrong place!

"Alright, enough with 'Benefactor' this and 'Benefactor' that, just call me Sister Jin," Hua Jin said with a smile.

Hua Jin felt very fond of these children. Traveling over a hundred miles and making it safely showed a lot and made one see them in a new light.

They were a group of smart and hardworking children.

Even some adults might not manage it. Her judgment was spot on, and her efforts in helping them were not in vain, even leaving them an address.

"Sister Jin, we thought we might have come to the wrong place," Gouzi, who was especially fond of Benefactor Big Brother, laughed. Perhaps because Hua Jin had rescued them at their most desperate, they felt an inexplicable closeness and reliance on her, and seeing her made him unconsciously speak with affection, even a little coquettishly.

Patting the head of the boy slightly shorter than her brother, with obvious admiration in her voice, Hua Jin replied softly, "You are very impressive; you didn't come to the wrong place. But I don't live in the village for now; the village is now watched over by Uncle Qin's family, but you can safely live here."

Upon hearing these words, Da Liu, Huahua, and the other children's eyes visibly brightened.

With Benefactor Big Sister's permission, they really wouldn't have to leave anymore. All the children couldn't help but laugh with joy for a moment.

"Thank you, Sister Jin," Gouzi directly grinned widely.

"No need to thank me, but how did you decide to come looking for me?"

Considering the distance and the many uncontrollable factors along the way, saying it's not dangerous would be a lie, so Hua Jin felt a growing fondness for these children.

The fact that they found their way safely here demonstrated how attentive and daring they were, no less than adults.

Upon hearing this, Gouzi's spirit immediately rose, his expression turning somewhat grievances.

"Sister Jin, we grew so much grain but couldn't bring it all; there's still a lot left in the cellar..."

Gouzi's words made the spirits of the children, Hua'er and Caogen, drop a bit as well.

Hua Jin remained silent, waiting patiently for Gouzi to continue, but she understood that something must have happened.

"Suddenly a lot of refugees came to the deserted village, over a hundred people. Sister Jin, you know there's only our house in the deserted village, the one Sister Jin helped us build. Those people knocked on our door first as soon as they arrived, and since then, we haven't dared to go outside, fearing they would find out we were just a group of kids and take our things. The third night, someone even climbed over the wall, but Brother Da Liu scared them away. Plus, our water was running out, and we were all terrified, so in the end, we decided to leave before they discovered us and come find Sister Jin. We just couldn't bring all the grain with us."

Talking about the grain clearly still upset Gouzi. After all, they had put great effort into planting and then harvesting it little by little, only managing to bring less than 40% despite trying everything they could.

As for the hardships along the way, not a word was said.

"You did the right thing," Hua Jin affirmed with a reassuring gaze.

A group of children unable to even bind a chicken wasn't a match for adults; avoiding danger early was the wise choice.