Chapter 36: The First Signs Emerge

As soon as those words were spoken, Huang Zhiming and the others swallowed their refusals back down.

“Thank you. Well then, we’d rather comply than show disrespect.”

“No problem. Lin Yue is the only chef on the farm, and cooking for over twenty people is a huge pressure. For the next few days, you’ll have to endure the iron pot stew, and you’ll need to wash your own bowls.”

With that, Zhang Xinrou brought over several plates of cold dishes, and Lin Chaofeng handed each person a bottle of water.

Curious about the new friends, Zaizai went to the dorm supervisor and asked for a few tomatoes, holding them up with her small hands.

“Abba abba,” Zaizai said, inviting the auntie to eat the tomatoes.

Startled by Zaizai’s call, the woman instinctively pulled out a knife.

Zhang Xinrou and Lin Chaofeng quickly stepped in front of Zaizai. “Calm down, calm down!”

Jiang Nanxing picked Zaizai up into his arms and explained to the woman, “Her name is Jiang Beiyue, she’s my sister. You can call her Yueyue or Zaizai. She really likes you and wants to share these tomatoes with you.”

The small team was stunned for several minutes, exchanging looks before accepting the fact that the zombies on the farm could speak human language.

The woman put away her knife and took the large, ripe tomato. “Thank you... Yueyue.”

Zaizai cheered happily and made a heart shape with her hands.

Her mother had taught her that when it’s inconvenient to speak, this was how to express affection.

Jiang Nanxing added, “That guy Song Mingchen just eats plain rice, you can ignore him.”

After they finished eating and set out to work, Zhang Xinrou took out a small notebook and began to jot things down.

Lin Yue curiously peered over. “Xinrou, what are you writing?”

“Recording the detailed work schedule for the labor squad. Their attendance time matches that of the veteran workers. Daily wages are ten jin of vegetables of their choice, one fish, and one duck.

Overtime pay will be given in chickens and geese based on hours worked, and overtime is voluntary. Wages will be held here at the farm and paid out collectively on the day they leave for the safe zone.”

“That much?” Song Mingchen frowned tightly. “Did Tang Miao arrange this?”

Zhang Xinrou smirked. “Otherwise? Tang Miao is the boss of the farm; everything is decided by her.”

Unlike some people who have such strong possessiveness over others’ things and try to overstep their bounds.

Zhang Xinrou closed the notebook. “Song Mingchen, your leg is mostly healed now. You can work. Today, help deliver water and snacks to those working.”

Song Mingchen sneered, “Why work without pay?”

With that, he returned to his room without another word.

Lin Yue’s eyes flickered. Song Mingchen was right; all those fancy items given to her were useless—only for show, not for eating.

But the temporary workers got such generous wages—even zombies received several jin of vegetables and a chicken daily. Why did she only get two eggs?

This wasn’t fair. Was she less than the zombies?

Zhang Xinrou didn’t notice Lin Yue’s mood. She was itching with anger and glared at the silent Lin Chaofeng beside her.

“Do you think the same?”

“That’s unfair! I work every day!” Lin Chaofeng pointed in a certain direction. “Skinny tall guy, chubby one, Jiang Nanxing can vouch!”

Tang Miao was kind enough to take him in, providing meat every meal and filling his belly. Lin Chaofeng was deeply grateful.

Digging soil and feeding chickens on the farm every day was far better than struggling to survive outside. Who cared about wages?

He wished Tang Miao would treat him like a beast of burden so he could stay on the farm until death.

In the distance, Tang Miao quietly retracted her gaze, holding a large cardboard box while controlling the redwood tree to open the gate.

Yang Sen led a team out to search for supplies, accompanied by Li Yong and Yang Lin.

They arrived in an off-road vehicle, and a few underlings stood guard with guns near a van a short distance away.

Since it wasn’t yet time for the second sample collection, Tang Miao asked about Lu Qingyun’s whereabouts.

“There’s a lead. They met a survival team in the neighboring area but were delayed for unknown reasons. They’re now on their way back to the safe zone and should arrive soon. But Tang Miao, what do you mean by different treatment?”

Why was Jin’an Safe Zone allowed to take so many items, and Tang Miao even sent them strange tomatoes, while their own final payments were still unsettled?

Those tomatoes attracted zombies; that night, the men Tang Miao sent all perished.

“I was about to tell you. The farm has started a points system. Completing errands I assign earns points, which can be spent on supplies here.”

Tang Miao gestured for them to look at the information on the small blackboard, then gave Li Yong a points card, crediting him 300 points, with another 300 to be added upon the next sample delivery.

Li Yong immediately spent all 300 points.

While moving supplies, Yang Lin brought a stack of resumes to Tang Miao.

Tang Miao sighed. “Yang Lin, I know you and your brother want to rescue those people from the safe zone, but unfortunately, I won’t accept your safe zone people casually.”

“Sorry, Miss Tang, I meant no offense.”

Yang Lin clenched the resumes until they were deformed. After struggling, he asked, “Miss Tang, why can Jin’an Safe Zone people come? I mean no other meaning, just want to know the reason.”

Tang Miao hesitated. Could she tell Yang Lin the truth?

Your safe zone people are all contaminated. Their minds and spirits only grow more extreme. Wherever they go, they’re ticking time bombs.

Sigh, forget it.

Tang Miao parted and closed her lips, then after a moment said, “In a week, I will personally visit Chihuo Safe Zone to select people. Li Yong, I hope you have no objections. I know you’re listening.”

Li Yong certainly had no objections. He’d be glad to hand over the laggards from the safe zone to Tang Miao.

After delivering the supplies, Tang Miao began controlling the redwood tree’s growth, using the thick trunk to build an archway three meters long and four meters high.

About ten meters from the main gate, she set up an iron post.

She strung a palm-sized copper bell with steel wire, hanging one end from the post and the other from the archway, leading into the farm.

The guidebook showed that the local power supply system was only 12% intact, communication systems 9%, and tap water 37%.

Tang Miao guessed the power and internet would cut out tonight or tomorrow morning. From then on, anyone coming to trade at the farm could pull the wire and ring the bell.

After pondering, Tang Miao placed peas and corn on the trunk, the redwood branches tightly embracing the two potted plants.

About five meters above ground, perfect for peas and corn to watch and attack intruders.

Done, Tang Miao paced around the farm, installing fences and calculating how many special-grade plants were needed, all while observing how many eyes were watching her around the farm.

She planned to encircle the farm with a fence; the space between the fence and redwood trees would be the buffer zone.

Without permission, anyone crossing the fence into the buffer zone would be met with bombs.

After a long day’s work, evening had fallen.

The farm had a bonfire lit again. Tang Miao lay down beside it, exhausted, sore feet aching after walking the perimeter.

Zhang Xinrou led Zaizai back from the rice paddy, her expression downcast.

Tang Miao opened her eyes slightly. “What’s wrong?”

“Went to see Captain Huang and the others,” Zhang Xinrou said gloomily, pulling Tang Miao up from the ground. “Let’s eat first, then rest properly.”

Huang Zhiming’s group didn’t want to disturb Tang Miao and chose to eat near the construction site, not joining the others.

Zhang Xinrou checked on them, worried they might not be used to the food. Instead, several of them ate while crying, repeatedly expressing their gratitude, looking distressed.

Zaizai also pouted and made a crying gesture toward Tang Miao.

So strange—shouldn’t eating meat make them happy? Why were they crying?

Tang Miao took Zaizai onto her lap and pinched her cheek. “When you’re a bit older, you’ll understand.”

Hearing Zhang Xinrou mention Huang Zhiming’s group, Lin Yue’s face fell.

She put down her chopsticks. “Tang Miao, can I talk to you about something?”