Chapter Eighty-Six: Choices

Jiang Xi thought for a moment, then took out some paper and a pen to sketch a simple map. She explained to Jiang Huan why she had access to a spacious, livable place: “I discovered it while flying my drone. Sis, it’s really big and dark over there. I remember a place like this is called an air-raid shelter, right?”

Although tunnels also have arched entrances like air-raid shelters, usually a tunnel’s exit isn’t far from its entrance, and besides, this is a city—there were no roads built on the mountain Jiang Xi pointed to.

To be sure, Jiang Huan had her brother check the place again with his drone.

Soon, Jiang Xi gave her an answer: “Look, Sis, there are two large pits along the way, but the rest of the ground is solid. There’s a bit more sand at the entrance to the shelter than before, but if you drive in a little ways, it’s still intact inside.”

Jiang Huan was overjoyed and told Jiang Xi to share this news with the people from Building Six.

Jiang Xi was puzzled. “Why wouldn’t we?”

Jiang Xi wasn’t foolish, just a little too reserved and mildly withdrawn, but he could still discern who treated him well and who didn’t. Take this time, for instance—everyone who came back looking for him was from Building Six.

Apart from the elderly man who needed to care for his grandson, Ren Minmin with her child, and two traditional medicine practitioners, everyone else had run upstairs.

They had all benefited from Jiang Huan’s help, and they had genuinely risked themselves for the person Jiang Huan cared about most—her brother.

Jiang Huan didn’t expect anyone to be like the loyal ministers described in old tales, but what they had done already set them apart. Living with them, she felt a basic sense of safety.

What she hadn’t expected was that her brother saw things even more clearly than she did.

Looking at the people from Building Six, waiting for her decision, Jiang Huan took her brother’s hand and addressed the dozen or so people: “When my brother was flying his drone, he found an air-raid shelter. Things must be in chaos over at the base right now. My personal suggestion is that we go to the shelter and live self-sufficiently. Of course, if you have other ideas, follow your own plans. But if you’d like to join us, pack up whatever you can carry now and let’s go take a look.”

Someone asked if it was still safe over there—after all, the ground was shaking everywhere.

Jiang Huan explained that Jiang Xi had already checked it once, and the people from Building Six no longer hesitated. They had already planned to follow Jiang Huan, and with this reassurance, no one objected. After agreeing, Jiang Huan extended an invitation to Xie Congzhou.

If Xie Congzhou, a skilled farmer who knew the land so well, could join their group, it would greatly improve their quality of life.

Xie Congzhou glanced at the others’ expectant faces and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but we have to go back first.”

Jiang Huan felt a pang of disappointment for losing such a valuable person.

She was about to wish him well and say goodbye when Xie Congzhou, catching his breath, added, “When our people are safe, I’ll come find you.”

Jiang Huan was taken aback.

Then elated, she asked, “Really?”

“Mm, really,” Xie Congzhou said, almost casually patting her on the shoulder. Jiang Huan wasn’t used to it, but thinking of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains she could rightfully enjoy in the future, and how someone else would share in the burden of attention directed at her, she endured it and didn’t brush his hand away.

With her brother’s consent, Jiang Huan handed the “map” to Xie Congzhou. “We’ll be waiting for you.”

Xie Congzhou glanced at the mountain they would be heading to. “For the next few nights, it’s best to stay indoors and not wander about. If you must go out, do it before noon.”

Jiang Huan understood that this advice came from that mysterious force supporting him. She nodded solemnly and kept it in mind.

She set aside half a backpack’s worth of supplies for Xie Congzhou’s group, watched them leave, and then set out with her brother and the people from Building Six.

After walking a hundred meters or so, Ren Minmin and her son, who were originally heading back to the base with the others, caught up to them, wanting to go with Jiang Huan instead.

Jiang Huan knew that Ren Minmin had her own child to care for and wouldn’t have risked her brother’s safety for him. But her indecisive nature made Jiang Huan’s impression of her drop a notch. “You don’t have much, and with a child, life on the mountain won’t be easy. The base is a better fit for you.”

Since Ren Minmin had already made a choice and wasn’t a major contributor to the group, Jiang Huan felt no particular obligation to extend charity.

Ren Minmin slowed her steps, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

She hadn’t expected that even after deciding to join a group with nothing, hoping to strengthen it, Jiang Huan would remain so cold.

“Miss Jiang… I’ll come back down to get my things later,” Ren Minmin insisted, stepping closer.

Jiang Huan stopped walking.

Wang Ping stepped between them, frowning. “Xiao Lu’s mom, Miss Jiang is a young woman—she’s shy about saying it, so I’ll speak for her. You’ve already made your choice. What made you change your mind? Even if you say it’s just because you want to live with people you know, and you mean no harm, I have to say: letting someone who isn’t truly with us know our future hiding place just isn’t safe.”

Jiang Huan, who wasn’t actually that shy: …

Wang Ping’s words were harsh, and Ren Minmin stopped in her tracks, watching the group pull farther away. Tears welled in her eyes. Her child looked up at her and asked, “Mama? Aren’t we going with Brother Jiang Xi and the others?”

Ren Minmin shook her head. “No, we’re going to the base. There will be lots of children there, and you’ll have plenty of playmates.”

The little boy obediently accepted his mother’s arrangement without fuss.

Ren Minmin could only hurry after the group heading for the base. She was just assigned to a twelve-person room and had barely sat down to rest when someone came to ask who she was.

Ren Minmin went outside warily.

It was a familiar face—someone she’d met when she’d led a group out to look for building materials before.

This person wanted to know if she had any information about lesser-known building suppliers or new material companies.

Ren Minmin told them everything she knew. On her way back, she overheard people talking about Jiang Huan’s group not coming to the base, wondering where they could have gone.

“Maybe she found somewhere good and just isn’t telling us.”

“I think it’s possible. She always seems to find good things. Maybe she’s been hiding supplies somewhere. If only we’d seen where Jiang Huan went. The base really needs resources for construction now.”

Ren Minmin walked past them.

Jiang Huan had once rescued her and brought her back to the community, always shared snacks with the children from Building Six, and had been kinder and more generous than anyone Ren Minmin had ever met, even though they weren’t related or particularly close. Ren Minmin herself was always hesitant and never resolute when it came to making choices. She’d lost her chance to follow Jiang Huan.

But while one isn’t required to repay every drop of kindness with a torrent, one shouldn’t become like the ungrateful wolf in the old folk tales.

Meanwhile, after an hour of walking, half an hour of climbing, and clearing countless obstacles, Jiang Huan and the group finally reached the entrance to the air-raid shelter.