73 Cambrian Consciousness Part 1
They couldn’t wait to drive to the small town. When they were about two kilometers away from the town, everything was going smoothly, but suddenly, Abu stopped and meowed continuously, refusing to move forward.
Zhuang Yao got off the car and asked, “Abu, what’s wrong with you?”
Tang Yanqiu jumped off the car and walked around in the nearby bushes. Then he squatted down and plucked a handful of grass. “There’s an animal repellent powder nearby. Humans can’t smell it, but animals dislike the smell.” He opened his palm, revealing some light yellow powder on his fingers.
“Is it poisonous?”
“If consumed, it’s poisonous. Smelling it is fine. It just makes animals naturally avoid the area, like how humans avoid bad odors unless there’s a specific purpose. But it doesn’t mean we can’t pass through.”
Zhuang Yao climbed onto Abu’s back and patted its head, urging, “Abu, it’s okay, jump over.”
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Gcw rynle alpvzlppzu yde pllxle alzwnvydv vs naspp.
“Gcw, kv’p sjyu, fwpv fwxr shla.” Gzvbswtb bl oydvle vs vlxrsayakzu ewzz Gcw’p pldpl sq pxlzz, kv oyp pvkzz ekqqknwzv qsa bkx yv vbl xsxldv. Tl nswze sdzu pvaldtvbld vbl rpunbszstknyz pwttlpvksd yde xyjl Gcw alzym kvp hktkzydnl vsoyaep vbyv pxlzz.
Usdt Dky vssj y rkdnb sq vbl rsoela yde caswtbv kv vs bkp dspl, nsdqkaxkdt vbyv bl nswzed’v pxlzz yduvbkdt. “Mbkp pvwqq kp tsse. El nyd cakdt psxl obld ol zlyhl.”
Bdela Hbwydt Zys’p watkdt, Gcw qkdyzzu fwxrle shla. Mblu tsv cynj kd vbl nya yde nsdvkdwle vsoyae vbl pxyzz vsod.
Gp vblu tsv nzspla, vblu alyzkgle vblal olal iwkvl y qlo rlsrzl kd vbl vsod, kdnzwekdt nbkzeald rzyukdt yaswde. Gzvbswtb vblal olal yewzvp oyvnbkdt vblx, kv bye clld y zsdt vkxl pkdnl vblu bye plld nbkzeald awddkdt yaswde ps qallzu swvpkel, lprlnkyzzu okvb nyalqall pxkzlp sd vblka qynlp. Rv tyhl vblx y qllzkdt yp kq vblu bye vayhlzle vs y ekqqlaldv osaze.
Mbkp pxyzz vsod oyp zkjl yd lyavbzu ryayekpl. Mbl bswplp olal xyel sq osse yde ds xsal vbyd vball pvsaklp vyzz. Mbl xselad psnklvu’p yvxsprblal oyp hlau qykdv blal, yde sdzu vbl nzsvbkdt sq vbl alpkeldvp alxkdele vblx vbyv kv oyp vbl 21pv nldvwau. Usxryale vs vbl elhypvyvksd swvpkel, vbkp rzynl oyp kdnalekczu clywvkqwz, yp kq kv bye dsvbkdt vs es okvb lhszwvksd, ldlatu, sa Uyxcakyd nsdpnkswpdlpp.
Gp vblu yrrasynble, Gcw’p ldsaxswp pkgl yde vbl pvakjkdt yrrlyaydnl sq vbl Ssye Jwzzu kxxlekyvlzu nywtbv vbl yvvldvksd sq vbl vsod’p alpkeldvp. Mblu pyo Gcw yde kxxlekyvlzu rknjle wr vblka nbkzeald, pbswvkdt yde awddkdt cynj bsxl.
Gqvla y obkzl, y xkeezl-ytle xyd lxlatle qasx y bswpl, nyaaukdt y zyatl cso. Tl ykxle vbl cso yv Gcw.
Tang Yanqiu quickly jumped off the car and exclaimed, “Uncle Liang!”
The man turned his head and looked at them, his face showing a surprised expression. However, with the bow fully drawn and ready to release, it would cause internal injuries if he retrieved it. Helpless, he had no choice but to shoot the arrow into the ground far away.
He fixed his gaze on them and then shouted excitedly, “Young Master Yanqiu!”
“Uncle Liang!”
Tang Yanqiu ran towards Uncle Liang.
Uncle Liang grabbed Tang Yanqiu’s shoulders with excitement, almost shedding tears. “Young Master Yanqiu, it’s really you! We knew you must be alive. Why did you come back just now?”
Tang Yanqiu felt guilty and said, “It’s a long story.”
Uncle Liang sighed, “Everyone in the family was so worried. We sent people to search for you, but couldn’t find you. It’s good that you’re back, it’s good.”
Tang Yanqiu said, “Seeing that you are all safe, I feel relieved.”
“Let’s go, let’s go home. Are they Young Master’s friends?”
“Yes.”
Uncle Liang warmly greeted them. The few of them looked at this peaceful and tranquil town and felt very envious. This place seemed even safer than Chongqing.
The roads in the town were obviously maintained, with hardly any damage, and the wild grass was neatly trimmed. As soon as they entered, people all over the street started shouting, “Young Master Tang has returned,” and the news spread far and wide.
Liu Fengyu raised an eyebrow and said, “Oh, so popular.”
Uncle Liang laughed, “The population of this town is small, just over two hundred households, and they all depend on the Tang family for a living. They know everyone from the Tang family. Hey, young man, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.” He looked at Liu Fengyu strangely, feeling a sense of familiarity but couldn’t remember who he was.
Tang Yanqiu glanced at Liu Fengyu and felt somewhat worried. The young women in their family were all influenced by his sister and had taken a liking to Liu Fengyu. If they brought this man into their house, he couldn’t imagine what the scene would be like.
Uncle Liang’s family had served the Tang family for several generations and later adopted the Tang surname. He was a warm and friendly person, always eager to talk and laugh. He sat on the Road Bully and kept asking questions along the way, his mouth never idle.
After more than ten minutes, they reached the depths of the small town, and before their eyes stood a quaint and elegant mansion. The mansion was so large that the fences extended in both directions, with no end in sight. The grand main gate bore two bold characters: Tang Clan.
There were guards at the entrance, and the moment they saw Abu, they became alert.
Uncle Liang rolled down the car window and shouted, “Argen, it’s me. Young Master Yanqiu has returned.”
“Dad?” The young man at the gate called out in confusion, “Who did you say has returned?”
“Young Master Yanqiu!”
Another young man was stunned for a moment, then turned and ran back. He was fast, light on his feet, clearly having some martial arts skills.
Argen ran excitedly towards them. “Young Master Yanqiu has returned?”
Tang Yanqiu also popped his head out of the window and smiled. “Argen.”
“Oh my, Young Master, you’ve finally come back!”
As they walked a short distance inside, a group of people came running from a distance, people of all ages.
The group got out of the car, and Tang Yanqiu hurriedly ran towards his parents. “Mom, Dad!”
“Yanqiu!” A beautiful woman ran towards him and hugged him tightly, her eyes immediately turning red. “Yanqiu!”
“Mom…” Tang Yanqiu’s voice was filled with sadness. “I’m back.”
A family reunion scene is always particularly touching. The few of them silently watched this scene, even though it was right in front of them, it felt distant. Cong Xia sighed, feeling deeply envious. If only his parents were still alive…
Liu Fengyu thought of his own parents, whose fate was uncertain, and lowered his eyes in sorrow. Cheng Tianbi and Zhuang Yao remained expressionless, but their gazes were somewhat unusual.
Each person had their own thoughts, standing at a distance and appreciating this heartwarming scene. The Tang family members vented their emotions and then noticed the group of people, especially the conspicuous large cat, Abu.
Tang Yanqiu’s sister stared at Abu with her crystal-like eyes, her gaze shifting from Abu to the four people, finally resting on Liu Fengyu. Her pupils suddenly dilated, and she screamed without regard for her image. Everyone was startled by her scream, except for Tang Yanqiu, who shook his head.
“Liu, Liu, Liu Fengyu! Oh my god–“
Tang Yanqiu reprimanded, “Yanjin, young girls shouldn’t be shouting and screaming.”
Tang Family had strict rules, with the eldest brother acting as a father figure. Although Tang Yanqiu and his sister had a good relationship, when Tang Yanqiu became serious, Tang Yanjin would feel a bit afraid. However, this time, Tang Yanqiu’s stern face and scolding had no effect. In Tang Yanjin’s eyes, there was no longer a big brother. She excitedly ran towards Liu Fengyu.
“Yanjin!”
Uncle Liáng suddenly realized and said, “Now I remember why you look so familiar. Miss has many posters of this person in her room.”
The young female members of the family also became excited, especially Tang Yanqiu’s several cousins, who all rushed towards Liu Fengyu in excitement.
Tang Yanjin ran up to Liu Fengyu, so excited that she almost cried, “Are you Liu Fengyu?”
Liu Fengyu showed a charming smile, “Hello.”
The little girl hesitated for a while. Due to her traditional upbringing, she didn’t dare to do anything out of line. In the end, she timidly reached out her hand, wanting to shake hands with him.
Just as Liu Fengyu was about to reach out his hand, Tang Yanqiu had already appeared next to them, grabbing Liu Fengyu’s hand and giving him a warning look.
Tang Yanjin hugged her big brother’s arm and asked eagerly, “Big brother, is he your friend? Did you bring him back for me?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you. I’ve always said I wanted to meet Liu Liu. Although you didn’t agree, you must have cared. Brother, you’re so good to me.”
Tang Yanqiu’s face turned dark as he said, “I didn’t agree with you. Meeting him was purely coincidental.”
The little girl pouted and rubbed against his arm, acting coquettishly, “Brother, you’re so good.”
Liu Fengyu lazily looked at him and said, “If you don’t let go soon, I’ll make you…”
Before he could finish saying the words “peel your skin off,” Tang Yanqiu had already let go of his hand. The female family members swarmed around, surrounding Liu Fengyu.
The head of the Tang Family, tall and handsome, exuded a heroic spirit. He politely said to the group, “As guests from afar, please come inside.”
The group sat in the spacious main hall, with steaming fragrant tea on the side and a low-smoke warming stove behind their seats, making the winter cold hardly noticeable.
Lady Tang sighed, “Yanqiu, where have you been for the past year and a half? We haven’t heard any news from you.”
Tang Yanqiu recounted his experiences over the past year and a half, particularly mentioning his promise to take others with him to Beijing. He was afraid that the longer he stayed at home, the harder it would be for him to leave. It was better to speak up early and let his family mentally prepare for it.
Upon hearing that he was going to leave again, silence fell upon the hall.
Tang Yanqiu whispered, “Dad, Mom, you taught me since I was young to honor my promises. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to leave the industrial park and come home now.”
The head of the Tang Family sighed, “I have no intention of stopping you. You’re doing the right thing. We, the Tang family, must never go back on our word. However, after you take them to Beijing, you must come back home and not let your family worry too much.”
Tang Yanqiu trembled as he spoke, “Dad, I will definitely come back. This trip is just to confirm that you’re living well. Once I see that you’re doing well, I can leave with peace of mind.”
Although Lady Tang was reluctant, she was also reasonable. She said, “Then stay at home for a few more days and make sure you’re well-prepared before setting off.”
Tang Yanqiu held his mother’s hand and felt deeply moved. He said, “How did everyone get through after the earthquake? Was this place heavily affected?”
Lady Tang sighed, “It was indeed very difficult at the beginning. All the food spoiled, the crops in the fields were choked to death by overgrown weeds, and the livestock became enormous. Some of them started attacking people. Even the things in the mountains, which used to never bother the people in the town, began coming down frequently to prey on humans. Many people died at first. If it weren’t for the fact that the Tang family members have been practicing martial arts since childhood and were able to defend themselves against so many mutated animals, we wouldn’t have been able to protect ourselves.”
Tang Yanqiu spoke in a heavy tone, “Are there… people from our family…”
Lady Tang nodded heavily and said softly, “Your second uncle’s little girl and Sun Bo’s eldest son…”
Tang Yanqiu’s eyes dimmed.
The head of the Tang Family said, “Gradually, as we adapted, things got better. We spread animal repellent powder around the town, which reduced the number of disturbances. We started becoming self-sufficient. The Tang family members went hunting in the mountains, while the people in the town cultivated the land. When we had surplus supplies, we exchanged them for some things in the surrounding cities. Although our meals are not as good as before, no one is starving. As long as we are content, the difference from our previous life is not significant.”
Tang Yanjin pouted, “It’s so boring here. No television, no internet. We can’t even go out. We’re trapped in this small town all day long, and I don’t know what to do.”
Tang Yanqiu said, “It’s the perfect opportunity for you to spend more time studying and practicing martial arts.”
The whole family burst into laughter.
Tang Yanjin looked shyly at Liu Fengyu and said with anticipation, “Brother, why don’t I go with you to Beijing?”
Tang Yanqiu frowned and said sternly, “Don’t be silly. Do you think we’re going there to play?”
Tang Yanjin lowered her head in disappointment.
Lady Tang glanced at Cong Xia and the others and said warmly, “Thank you all for helping my son.”
Cong Xia hurriedly replied, “You’re welcome. Little Tang has also helped us a lot along the way.”
“You must be tired as well. I have arranged guest rooms for you. Rest for a while and come for dinner later.”
They were indeed tired and had been wanting to find a place to lie down for a while, but also to have a conversation with Tang Yanqiu and his family.
The Tang family mansion covered an area of more than 600 mu, and there were plenty of guest rooms. Cong Xia was placed in the room next to Cheng Tianbi. In fact, he had hoped to share a room with Cheng Tianbi, but he didn’t have the nerve to ask. He felt embarrassed even to have such thoughts.
He couldn’t imagine what Cheng Tianbi’s reaction would be if he found out what he was thinking. He would probably beat him up for sure. Cong Xia lay down on the bed and took a nap. An hour later, someone came to inform them that it was time for dinner.
Tang Yanqiu changed into his own clothes, still a simple black outfit that made him look clean and handsome. Despite his young age, he exuded an aura of maturity.
As soon as Liu Fengyu appeared, he was surrounded by the Tang family’s women of various ages. He always enjoyed a life in the spotlight, and now he was experiencing star treatment once again. He seemed to be quite pleased with the attention.
Zhuang Yao and Abu were outside the door. The Tang family had prepared a live fish weighing more than 20 jin (approximately 10 kilograms) for Abu. It was truly top-notch treatment in the apocalypse. Abu ate with great enthusiasm, completely absorbed in the experience. Zhuang Yao squatted next to it, resting his chin on his knees, smiling as he watched Abu devour the fish.
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