Chapter 11: CH 11

Chapter 11: Brother and sister

When Bai Qingqing returned to the old lady’s house, Big Yellow glanced at her a few times and disappeared into the dirt road.

After dinner, Bai Qingqing laid on the bed and thought about the weird feeling she had about this place. She felt it had something to do with Abao and decided to go back to see him tomorrow and ask him about it.

The next morning, she ate a bowl of porridge under the warm greeting of the old lady. She then followed the road she had walked yesterday and headed to Abao’s house.

She didn’t know where his parents had gone and the courtyard was very quiet. Big Yellow was lying on the ground; the dog smelled the intrusion and raised its head before looking around vigilantly. When Big Yellow finally noticed Bai Qingqing, it wagged its tail and came to her. Bai Qingqing took a dog bone from her space and threw it to the dog to chew. She then walked to the door and knocked gently.

“Abao.”

She called the boy two or three times before she heard some movement from the window. Abao was laying there, looking at her with wide eyes.

“Why did you come back?” He whispered.

Bai Qingqing leaned over with a smile: “Don’t you want to see me?”

She was slightly alarmed when she saw the red mark on the child’s face and asked: “Did your mother hit you?”

Abao pouted and looked down.

“I didn’t listen to my mom. Big sister, you should leave, mom will scold me again if she knows I am talking to you.”

Bai Qingqing took a bag of dried plum and said: “Abao, let’s make a deal in secret, ok?”

“No.” Abao covered his mouth, “I don’t want your things.”

Bai Qingqing kept taking things from her space: dried fruits and vegetables, cinnamon-flavored soda, … each and every snack full of temptation for children.

“I won’t say anything. If you don’t tell your mother, no one will know.”

Bai Qingqing left the courtyard and as she walked down the road, she ran into the man who had shown them the village the first time. As soon as he saw her, Huzi came over and said: “Here you are. Come with me, hurry up.”

Bai Qingqing looked at her surroundings. This time, there were a lot more people than when they had first entered the village; there were men with weapons and a few older women, and they all were sizing her up. Their status in the village should not have been low; in two days, she had realized that Zhou village had retained many feudal customs.

The white-haired man who was sitting on the highest chair touched his long beard and said: “I called you today because there is something I need to ask.”

“You have been in the village for a few days now, do you want to leave or stay?”

Bai Qingqing did not answer but looked at Fu Chen. It had not been three days, Fu Chen would not want them to leave just yet and she still had a task to complete.

Fu Chen finally spoke: “Elder, there are so many zombies outside now. We like your Zhou village very much, we hope you will let us stay here.” To prove his words, he added in an urgent tone: “As long as you let us stay, we can do anything.”

Zhou village was a place with no exit. When outsiders entered the village, their goods were stolen and they would be left to work in the village until they disappeared in odd circumstances. The Thunder Squad had tried to find all of their bizarre secrets; they had been careful and even checked the food they ate, yet were still caught in a trap in the end. In any case, Bai Tiantian had not been found yet, it was impossible to leave just like that.

The Elder was very satisfied when he heard Fu Chen’s answer. He touched his white beard again and with a smile, he said: “Young man, you are kind, I also want to let you stay here.”

“I want you to stay, but…” He pretended to be embarrassed, “There isn’t much food in our village. If you want to stay, you must work, can you endure it?”

Xiao Yang grinned, revealing white teeth, and replied: “Is there anything strong men like us can’t bear? Elder, you can arrange work for us at any time, we definitely will not stay here for free.”

The old man laughed: “Good boy. If you say so, I am relieved.” He had clearly been waiting for these exact words.

A chubby woman looked at Bai Qingqing: “There is a rule in our village that unmarried men and women cannot meet each other.”

Before she was done talking, Bai Qingqing had already looked at Fu Chen and taken his arm. She said with anxiety: “I can’t see my brother?”

After the meeting in the ancestral hall, the group separated. Bai Qingqing followed the woman back to the south mountain and listened to her as they walked.

The woman led her to a building, opened the door, and walked in. Bai Qingqing found out she was going to sleep on a plank bed, large enough to accommodate at least five or six people.

When they saw the Aunt enter, another woman wrapped into a quilt climbed out of the bed and respectfully greeted: “Sister Hong.”

There was one table, two stools, and a large wardrobe in the room. It was simple and clean, somewhat similar to a prison cell.

Bai Qingqing recognized three of the women, the ones who had been traveling with Zhang Qiang’s group.

“Why are you standing still?” The woman pushed Bai Qingqing, “Come on, say hello to everyone.”

Bai Qingqing gave them a sweet smile: “Hello, my name is Bai Qingqing. I am very happy to join you, please take care of me in the future.”

Listening to her introduction, the Aunt smiled and said: “You will sleep here tonight. You have to get up early tomorrow.”

Once Sister Hong left, the women in the room climbed onto the bed and fell asleep, all very disciplined, lying flat on their back with their hands placed on their belly.

After a peaceful night, Bai Qingqing followed the woman to a large wooden house the next day. The room they entered was equipped with tables and stools, and all women sat neatly. Bai Qingqing also took her place in the corner, the odd feeling of joining a classroom spreading in her heart.

As she thought about this, Sister Hong led another person in. It was Bai Tiantian, whom she had not seen in a few days. She was dressed in a purple ethnic costume with a silver crown on her head, looking both beautiful and colorful.