Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Family’s Signature Orchid Fingers

Everyone quietly watched the scene before them.

No one stopped it.

The elderly man, though in his seventies, had an unexpectedly strong grip, tightly choking He Yunxi’s throat.

He Yunxi said nothing, only looking at the old man with a faint smile, not even struggling.

With so many people, he wouldn’t be able to escape.

Perhaps, this was also a kind of release.

“Let’s go!”

Leng Yebai instinctively stood in front of Bai Xiqin, blocking her view.

If those dark, bright eyes were to show sadness, it would pierce his heart with pain.

Bai Xiqin glanced deeply at the frenzied old man behind Leng Yebai, then slowly walked away.

When you witness such events often, you become numb.

But each time you see them, your heart is still touched.

The aftermath was something Bai Xiqin couldn’t bear to see, it was Bai Zhengxuan who described it with a sorrowful face.

He Yunxi was ultimately strangled to death.

The old man, still unsatisfied, set fire to He Yunxi and his wife, who had turned into a zombie.

Later, the old man’s body was found in the wheat field.

He was holding a blood-stained blue down jacket, his body covered in dried blood.

The old man had slit his wrists.

His granddaughter was his only family in the world and the motivation that kept him going.

Without her, it was hard for the old man to face this apocalypse alone.

Bai Zhengxuan and Uncle Wang buried the old man and the bones found in He Yunxi’s room, leaving behind a large and a small new grave in the endless wheat field, feeling somewhat desolate.

A week into the apocalypse.

There was no rescue.

The tenth day of the apocalypse.

Still no rescue.

Today is New Year’s Eve.

In the past, at this time, every household would make a table of good dishes, watch the Spring Festival Gala, and welcome the new year.

Now, the cold wind howls.

Over a hundred cars are parked near the wind power plant, and the food placed in the vehicles is also running low.

There is still enough rice and flour to last for a while, so there’s no worry of starving, the main problem is craving.

Since it’s New Year’s Eve, some people start craving dumplings.

Without vegetables or meat, even dumplings are hard to prepare.

These few days have been without danger, so when there is no danger, cravings begin.

People’s mentality has changed, not knowing when rescue will come or how long the food will last.

Some have started to guard their cars, fearing their food might be stolen.

It’s not as if such incidents haven’t happened before; one car had its trunk pried open and all the food was gone!

Without cameras, Captain Zhu and the officers were also powerless.

The Bai Family were skilled and brave, never worrying about their things being stolen.

They were all daunted by the Bai Family’s powerful superpowers.

People pick the soft targets.

Therefore, the Bai Family had been relatively peaceful these days.

In the bus, the family gathered around the small table.

The dough in Bai Anhai’s hands transformed into various shapes, then into small dough pieces.

Bai Zhengxuan quickly used the rolling pin, rolling out thin dumpling wrappers.

Leng Yebai seriously looked at the dumpling skins in his hands, almost obsessively ensuring each dumpling had the same amount of filling.

This was his first New Year with family.

He grew up in an orphanage, where during the New Year, each child would get a bowl of dumplings, and that counted as celebrating the New Year.

Turns out, with family, it’s truly heartwarming.

“Do you have OCD?”

Bai Xiqin looked at Leng Yebai’s consistently sized dumplings, slightly twitching her lips.

Each dumpling was pinched the same number of times.

“… Aren’t they wrapped well?”

Leng Yebai paused, a bit nervous.

This was his first time spending such a New Year, and in his heart, this dinner was very sacred.

He was afraid that he might ruin everyone’s mood.

“They are wrapped very well!” Bai Xiqin affirmed Leng Yebai’s effort, noticing the sweat on his forehead, she added, “Aren’t you tired?”

The cold wind howled outside the window.

Yet, there was sweat on Leng Yebai’s forehead.

“Not tired!”

Leng Yebai slightly curved the corner of his mouth.

As long as they didn’t dislike him!

Bai Yifan looked at dumpling-making Leng Yebai with much satisfaction, “The young man has a bright future!”

In the past, it was Bai Yifan who wrapped dumplings.

Now, his title of dumpling master had a successor!

Bai Xiqin, Wang Yiyun, and grandma Liu Jing sat aside, serving as supervisors.

“Old man, this dough skin is too thick, roll it again!” Liu Jing pointed critically at a particular dumpling skin.

“Got it!”

Bai Zhengxuan quickly took the rolling pin and rolled it a couple more times.

“Honey, knead this dough more, it’ll be more chewy that way.” Wang Yiyun pursed her lips.

“Got it!”

Bai Anhai quickly kneaded the dough.

“Leng Yebai, can’t you wrap dumplings without sticking out your pinky?”

Bai Xiqin watched Leng Yebai with a slight toothache, sticking out his pinky while wrapping dumplings.

His slender, fair fingers were even more graceful than hers, which was unacceptable!

Leng Yebai: …

These three women didn’t work, but their demands were high!

“Sis, bro-in-law can’t change this habit!” Bai Yifan gestured a pinky posture, “He learned the dumpling wrapping skill from dad!”

Bai Anhai, a reputable gold-medal lawyer, (formerly) full of righteous spirit, (also once) full of iron will.

In short, very manly.

But in dumpling wrapping, his pinky ascended more gracefully than anyone else’s!

Bai Family’s dumpling wrapping stance was passed down through generations, exclusively with a pinky up, passed from men not women!

“Go cook!”

Bai Xiqin rolled her eyes at Bai Yifan.

Bai Yifan grinned at Leng Yebai, then cheerfully went to cook.

Today, he was the head chef, making several notable dishes.

In the Bai Family, there were no men who couldn’t cook!

As the outside sky gradually darkened, there were no fireworks or firecrackers this New Year’s Eve.

Fireworks and firecrackers would attract mutant animals and zombies.

The armored eagle hadn’t returned since being driven away last time.

Even so, no one ventured outside at night, they all hid in their cars.

New Year’s Eve night, cold and desolate.

Only inside the bus, it was exceptionally warm.

Bai Yifan showcased his skills, cooking an entire table of dishes.

Braised pork, squirrel fish, boiled fish, oil-braised shrimp… and Grandpa Bai Zhengxuan’s longed-for braised pork knuckle, all were masterfully prepared by Bai Yifan.

The Bai Family’s men couldn’t do without cooking skills!

The Bai Family’s fairies were only responsible for eating!

The aroma of food, filtered through the range hood’s pipe, wafted outside.

Not a bit of scent dispersed beyond.

This was also for safety reasons, fearing that some nose-sensitive mutant animals might smell the scent and come over.

The dumplings were ready to boil, each person just enough for a large bowl.

Bai Zhengxuan took his large bowl of dumplings and got off the bus.

“Knock knock knock!”

Bai Zhengxuan knocked on the garbage truck window.

“Who is it!”

Uncle Wang shouted outside, turned over, and continued sleeping.

“It’s me!” Bai Zhengxuan said softly, “I brought you some dumplings!”

Snap!

The car door quickly opened, and Bai Zhengxuan’s bowl was instantly snatched by Uncle Wang.

Bang!

The car door closed again, with Uncle Wang locking it from inside.

“Did you give me all of it?”

Uncle Wang, after locking the door, finally spoke to Bai Zhengxuan through the glass with a smile.

This whole large bowl of meat dumplings, since the apocalypse began, he hadn’t tasted again.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep