Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy! - Chapter 228

Chapter 228: Crystal Water facility Mission (8)
Nanzhi’s eyes flickered with interest, but she remained quiet, waiting for him to continue.

Luo Gang let out a bitter laugh. “Back then, we were just a group trying to survive. But over time… they changed. The strong started stepping on the weak, taking more than their share, treating people like tools. I couldn’t stomach it anymore, so I quit.”

He exhaled heavily. “But the Thorn Team didn’t like that. They made things difficult for me. I can take it, but… my son is still young, and I have an old friend. “If I resist too much, I’m afraid they’ll target them. That’s why I put up with it.”

Silence stretched between them, and Luo Gang’s usual carefree demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

Nanzhi set her bowl down, her voice calm but sharp. “You think enduring is protecting your son, but what you’re really doing is teaching him to live in fear.”

Luo Gang’s fingers tightened around his bowl.

Nanzhi watched him carefully, her expression unreadable. Deep down, she understood why he obeyed the Thorn Team. Fear was a powerful chain—one that latched onto people’s minds and refused to let go. But submission bred more exploitation.

She had experienced it in the past, both before and after the apocalypse.

Her father, a man of unwavering discipline, had always told her that power dictated respect. “If you bend back too much, don’t be surprised when people use it as a bridge,” he had once said.

Her mother, on the other hand, believed in picking battles wisely. “Survival isn’t just about fighting—it’s about knowing when to push back or to endure.”

But based on Luo Gang’s story and his energy field, which was stronger than any of the Thorn Team’s members, he wasn’t picking battles—he was avoiding them entirely.

“Children don’t learn from what we say. They learn from what we do,” Nanzhi continued, her tone measured. “If you keep bowing your head, he’ll grow up thinking that’s the only way to survive. One day, when someone stronger comes along, he’ll do the same—endure, submit, and never fight back. Is that what you want for him?”

Luo Gang flinched, his breath hitching.

Nanzhi took a slow sip of her noodles, letting the weight of her words settle.

Although she hadn’t had the right to say these words to him—since she wasn’t family—she had experienced oppression firsthand. She didn’t want his son to experience it too. Just like how her parents had protected her from the Lu Family.

“Fear makes people weak, but weakness invites more suffering,” she said finally. “If you don’t break free, you’re not protecting him—you’re ensuring he follows in your footsteps.”

“Even if you suffer a small loss, the other side will hesitate to take advantage of you again.”

Luo Gang’s lips parted, but no words came out.

For the first time, the usually jolly man looked truly shaken. He sat there, staring into the flames, deep in thought.

Suddenly, a cheerful voice rang out.

Yu Baoyin saw a person pop out from beside Luo Gang. She recognized her as the girl named Dai Yun. Dai Yun was clapping and staring at Nanzhi’s profile with the kind of admiration one might expect from a younger sister to an older sibling.

“I couldn’t have said it any better! Ah! I just wanted to ask—are you accepting another teammate–” Dai Yun asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

Before she could say more, Dai Run quickly grabbed her sister’s collar and pulled her back to stop her from embarrassing herself further.

“Brother!”

Longmen Base, Slums.

The four battered men, including the pockmarked one, limped through the narrow alley, their faces bruised and swollen. The beating they had received the night before still burned in their bones, and they had come seeking Elder Meng’s medicine.

A small figure stood outside one of the tents. It was Tao’er, staring up at the sky, worry etched on his face. Even though he had told his father that supplies were enough, the old man had still gone out on a mission because his birthday was coming up.

He snorted softly. “I already told him it would be fine! Even one bowl of noodles is enough! But he’s so stubborn!”

Tao’er’s ears twitched as he heard footsteps. He lifted his chin. The moment he saw the Thorn Team, he stiffened.

One of them sneered, cracking his knuckles. “Brat, where’s the old man?”

Tao’er clenched his fists. These men had come before, not just for medicine but to rob whatever little Uncle Meng had. He bit his lip but remained silent.

The tallest of the group scowled. “Playing dumb?”

Without warning, a palm swung toward him. Tao’er stumbled back, pain blooming as he hit the ground.

“Talk, or the next slap won’t be so simple,” the man growled, his voice dripping with malice. “Where’s the old man?!”

Tao’er remained stubborn, enduring the pain.

Just as the man raised his hand for another strike, a deep voice cut through the night.

“What are you doing?”

From the shadows, Uncle Meng stepped out and rushed to the boy’s side.

“Tao’er, are you alright?” Uncle Meng looked at the boy’s swollen cheeks and frowned heavily. He had heard noises and peeked out of the tent, only to find Tao’er on the ground.

The Thorn Team grinned at seeing Uncle Meng finally appear.

One of them clutched his bruised ribs and snapped impatiently, “Old man, hurry up and treat us!”

Uncle Meng glanced at Tao’er, who was still clutching his swollen cheek, eyes red from the pain. His expression darkened.

“Leave,” he said, his voice cold and firm.

The Thorn Team froze. “What did you say?”

“You hurt Tao’er,” Elder Meng said, his face devoid of warmth. “I won’t treat you.”

The pockmarked man’s face twisted in anger. “Old man, do you think you have a choice?!” He raised his fist and stepped forward, grabbing Uncle Meng’s collar. “If you know what’s good for you, you—”

Before he could finish, a heavy punch landed on his cheek.

The one who punched him was Wang Bo.

The tallest man clicked his tongue at the stranger. “Mind your own business!”

Wang Bo scoffed, rolling up his sleeves to show his hardened skin. “You’re forcing my old benefactor and beating up his grandkid. That’s my business!”

He scoffed again before throwing another punch.

Thud!

Wang Bo had almost recovered. He was just waiting for the wounds to scab over. The Thorn Team, on the other hand, was already injured and not in a condition to fight. They were easily subdued by Wang Bo.

The Thorn Team gritted their teeth but didn’t dare to stay. Shooting one last glare at Uncle Meng and Wang Bo, they cursed under their breath and hurriedly limped away.

“Do you know them?” Wang Bo asked.

Uncle Meng nodded. “They are the Thorn Team. They usually come up here to cause trouble. Anyway, Sir Wang, thank you so much.”

Wang Bo waved his hand. “If they dare come back again, call me. You treat my wounds, and that makes you my benefactor!”

Wang Bo carried Tao’er inside the tent.

“Ouch!” Tao’er hissed as Uncle Meng treated his wounds.

“Boy, you should have just said where I was. If you weren’t so stubborn, you wouldn’t have gotten hit,” Uncle Meng said.

Tao’er pursed his lips.

“Silly boy,” Uncle Meng sighed.

Dawn broke, and everyone resting in their cars jolted at the sound of screams. It was coming from the water pump station.

Nanzhi and the rest opened her eyes.

Zhao Lin’s team and the Iron Gale Squad listened to it and trembled. If they didn’t follow Nanzhi, they would be amongst the ones screaming.