Chapter 25: Very Well, Let Us Receive the Client Together

Watching Zhang Xinrou head toward Tang Miao, Jiang Nanxing withdrew his gaze and continued to supervise the others in constructing the framework for their shelters.

The rain had been intermittent throughout the week. Many spots outside the farm had turned into puddles, reflecting the bloated face of Yang Sen. Behind him, a man stepped on his face, grinding his boot into the mud with force.

"It’s been a week. You two still refuse to tell the truth?"

"Boss, we aren't lying to you! *Cough, cough!* She really can control zombies, and those zombies can actually understand human speech..."

Li Yong sneered. He returned to the sofa, lay back, and extinguished his cigarette butt against Yang Sen’s arm. "It seems I’ve been too lenient with you brothers. You’ve lost your sense of priorities, resorting to such absurd fabrications."

He refused to believe that the sixteen men he had sent out had been wiped out by a single woman and a few zombies, especially when Li Sanba and Li Sanjiu were the only ones to return unscathed.

Li Yong thought of that woman on WeChat, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Are you two planning to set up your own faction? Did you find some women to put on a show, tricking me into sending people for a trade, all to slowly dismantle my rule?"

"No, Boss, please believe me, it’s really—"

Li Yong drew his pistol, his patience exhausted. It had been a week; he had given them plenty of chances to speak the truth. The cold muzzle pressed against Yang Sen’s forehead.

"Three seconds. If you don't tell the truth, your brother and that group of women you've been secretly aiding will all be dead."

"Three..."

"Boss! I’m telling the truth! The woman has a farm, and she raises chickens there—live ones! We saw them with our own eyes, and we even drank chicken soup!"

"Two..."

"There was a little goose that opened its beak and went, 'OiOiOiOiOiOi'..."

The absurd, repetitive WeChat video call ringtone suddenly silenced the living room. *Wait, when did his precious son change the ringtone?*

Li Yong pulled out his phone, glanced at the screen, and laughed. "This video call came at the perfect time. Let's see if you're telling the truth or a lie."

Li Yong had his men hold the phone up, straightened his clothes, and sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. He stretched his arms, lifted his chin, and glared at the camera as he answered.

"Hello. This is Miaomiao Farm. I am Tang Miao, the person in charge of this trade. A week ago, it was your Chihuo Safe Zone that wanted to inquire about the details, correct?"

Before Li Yong could speak, the scene on the screen shifted to show a group of live, white geese.

Li Yong bolted upright, his entire face pressed against the phone screen. *Is this fake? Is it AI-generated?*

"The farm has a full supply of vegetables. Meat supplies include white geese, black-bone chickens, mallard ducks, and various fish. If you are certain about the trade, bring a middleman for an offline transaction. The terms will be discussed in person. I will send the location and details shortly. Please keep an eye out for the message."

"Hey! Wait!"

*Beep—*

Done. Now, all they had to do was wait for them to come knocking.

The farm had another bountiful harvest, and everyone gathered around to feast. This time, the dorm matron had stewed chicken, duck, goose, and fish soups.

It was his first time eating with the zombies, and Lin Chaofeng felt a bit excited. Over the past week, he had noticed that these zombies were remarkably human-like; they brushed their teeth, washed their faces, took baths, changed clothes, and understood human speech.

In particular, the little sea-urchin-headed child in Tang Miao’s arms was always babbling, jumping around, and even helping him and Song Mingchen pull weeds. As for Tang Miao’s eldest son, Jiang Nanxing, he was, in Lin Chaofeng’s eyes, a high-intelligence zombie.

Song Mingchen’s expression was sour. The tall, thin zombie sitting beside him kept splashing droplets of broth onto him while chewing.

At the table, Zhang Xinrou spat out a bone, which landed in a small mud pit she had dug at her feet. Song Mingchen frowned, slid his makeshift trash can over, and kindly reminded her, "The trash can is here."

The cub waved his hand frantically: "Aba!" *No trash can needed! The bones are for the farm to eat!*

Zhang Xinrou curled her lip, ignoring Song Mingchen.

Tang Miao, while replying to messages on her phone, explained, "The farm has its own purification system. If you bury the bones in the soil, they will automatically decompose in an hour."

Hearing this, Lin Chaofeng wanted to try it too.

"What do you think you're doing?" Zhang Xinrou shielded her pit. "If you want to bury bones, dig your own hole! Why use mine?"

Lin Chaofeng compromised, "Fine, fine, I’ll dig my own." Although he agreed, his eyes didn't stray; he was determined to bury his bone in Zhang Xinrou’s pit.

Zhang Xinrou wouldn't let him, so he insisted all the more!

Song Mingchen’s grip on his bowl tightened. For the past week, Zhang Xinrou had been cold toward him, frequently bickering and playing with Lin Chaofeng instead. Hadn't she previously hinted that she would confess her feelings to him when Tang Miao wasn't around?

The tall, thin zombie and the chubby one exchanged glances and let out a low growl: *Sister Miao, can I be responsible for greeting them when they arrive?*

The chubby one set down his bowl and growled: *Boss, I can do it too.*

Once they took the lead, the other zombies chimed in: *Me too, I want to as well.* They had picked out new clothes but hadn't found a chance to wear them, as they usually wore the loose nightgowns Tang Miao had given them for chores.

The cub clapped vigorously: "Aba!" *I want to too!*

"Alright, alright, you can all greet them together."

Everyone discussed it while eating. The intermittent low growls made Song Mingchen feel irritable. Lin Chaofeng was still arguing with Zhang Xinrou over a patch of dirt, and Tang Miao was chatting away with the zombies.

Song Mingchen was left all alone. The zombies didn't pay him any mind; they only listened to Tang Miao and Jiang Nanxing. Furthermore, Jiang Nanxing kept making bossy suggestions regarding his management of the farming zone.

Thinking of this, the meat in his bowl didn't taste as good anymore.

After the meal, everyone tidied up, and the items for the trade were moved to the edge of the tree line. Zhang Xinrou and Song Mingchen watched from afar, filled with longing.

Zhang Xinrou couldn't understand it. Song Mingchen’s leg injury hadn't healed, so it made sense not to let him handle the trade. But she was an veteran farm employee—why wouldn't they let her participate? Did Tang Miao know about her past with Song Mingchen? Had she lost trust in her?

"Xinrou, what's wrong with you lately? Did I do something to upset you?"

Zhang Xinrou scowled and moved away from him. It was infuriating—she was sick of hearing Song Mingchen talk.

Song Mingchen’s smile stiffened for a moment. "Xinrou, you don't need to worry about Tang Miao knowing about us. You’ve been with her for so long—haven't you noticed she’s become a bit different from before?"

The current Tang Miao had absolutely no interest in his and Zhang Xinrou’s past.

"Stop talking, I’m busy." She was busy thinking of countermeasures, busy pondering if Tang Miao was trying to distance herself—she had no interest in listening to Song Mingchen ramble.

In the distance, Jiang Nanxing quietly withdrew his gaze. It seemed his guess was correct. He moved a little closer to Tang Miao’s side.

The roar of vehicles echoed, and a message arrived on the phone: the people from the Chihuo Safe Zone had arrived.

[Host, take note! An abnormal psychic presence outside this civilization system has been detected, which may hinder farm operations and task progress. An application for intervention has been submitted to the higher-ups! Please remain vigilant!]

Tang Miao paused in her tracks. *They’re already at the front door, and you’re only warning me now?*