Chapter 213: What? You and Liang Xiu Actually Did That?
The polar day had already lasted for three months, and Meng Ci and Shen Que decided to venture outside the base.
After all, once the polar day ended, the zombies would swarm in, and it would be incredibly difficult to go out again.
However, after Meng Ci left the base, the space could no longer support living creatures, which raised concerns about the rabbits' survival.
Their current living space was too small to accommodate pigs or sheep.
Rabbits didn't eat much and reproduced quickly. If the meat supply in the space ran low, rabbit meat would become the main food source.
Therefore, they couldn't kill all the rabbits.
In the end, Meng Ci made the final decision to leave two pairs of rabbits and have Liang Xiu and Zhao Jingyu take care of them. When they returned, they would only ask for one pair of rabbits for themselves.
Meng Ci and Shen Que put the rabbits into cages, thinking that although Zhao Jingyu didn't lack food, they should still bring something since they needed his help.
Considering Zhao Jingyu's childish nature, Meng Ci took out a pack of cola from the space and sprinkled some dirt on it to disguise it as something that had been left for a long time.
There was cola stockpiled in the basement of Villa No. 8 before, so there was no need to worry about raising suspicion with Liang Xiu and the others.
Then Meng Ci took twenty pounds of white flour produced in the space, along with some fermented wheat-based liquor.
While not expensive, these items were now scarce.
Zhao Jingyu's villa and Meng Ci's residence were at opposite ends of the base. Usually, Zhao Jingyu stayed indoors all day, enjoying the air conditioning because he found the outside too hot.
Liang Xiu, on the other hand, hadn't given up his job at the points redemption center, leaving and returning early every day.
Occasionally, while redeeming points or traveling, they would bump into Liang Xiu.
Even though the three of them had lived together for a long time during the extreme cold period, they were all adults. After Meng Ci stated that Liang Xiu didn't owe the Meng Family and should live for himself, Liang Xiu no longer mentioned repaying Meng Ci.
However, whenever the officials gave out welfare to staff, such as pork or mutton, Liang Xiu would always send half of it to Meng Ci.
Meng Ci always accepted it and, in return, would give Liang Xiu some of his homemade braised pork or steamed buns.
Of course, these were always delivered to Liang Xiu's office, and this was the first time Meng Ci had visited Zhao Jingyu's villa. Seeing the massive villa, Meng Ci couldn't help but marvel at how wealthy Zhao Ting must have been.
Knock knock knock!
With no doorbell, they knocked to get attention.
Zhao Jingyu's villa dwarfed the neighboring homes, its sheer size making it stand out. The floor area was at least 500 square meters, if not closer to 1,000, and the walls were at least five meters high, topped with electrified fencing.
According to Liang Xiu, when the house was built, Zhao Ting had the walls thickened on purpose, making it very safe inside.
Meng Ci sighed, realizing how much Zhao Ting had done for his son, though he never got to enjoy the house himself.
After several knocks with no response, Meng Ci signaled Eggplant and Eagle to start barking and howling.
The dogs barked loudly, and the wolves howled in response.
Eggplant and Eagle's howls were high and low, in a strangely mismatched rhythm.
When no one answered, Eggplant and Eagle circled the wall, still howling. For those inside the villa, it was like being surrounded by sound.
Just as Meng Ci began to wonder if Zhao Jingyu had actually left the house today, Eggplant and Eagle ran back and sat obediently on either side of him.
They occasionally called out towards the inside.
"Who is it?"
"Are you sick? It's the middle of the day! Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here, causing a ruckus?"
Zhao Jingyu's grumpy voice echoed from inside, and then a small window on the gate creaked open, revealing his groggy face.
"It's you guys!"
When Zhao Jingyu saw them, a bright smile immediately appeared on his face, and he opened the door to let them in.
However, as soon as the door opened a crack, Zhao Jingyu seemed to remember something and tried to close the door again.
"Hold on, I'll be right there to let you in!"
But Eggplant didn't listen. Seizing the moment before the door could close, it slipped its head and two paws inside, as fast as lightning.
"What are you doing, you sneaky thing!" Zhao Jingyu was furious.
Half of Eggplant was inside, half outside, leaving Zhao Jingyu unsure whether to close the door or not.
"Eggplant!"
Meng Ci called out, trying to get Eggplant to back off. Although he didn't know why Zhao Jingyu didn't want to let them in directly, there must have been a reason.
"Aowu!"
But Eggplant didn't want to listen. It felt that if the door was closed again after it had worked so hard to get it open, it would have to call for a long time again.
Besides, it was so hot outside; what if its mate got too warm?
Meng Ci sighed and patted the eagle beside him, a look of helplessness on his face.
"Eagle, go bring that stubborn one back."
Only now did Meng Ci realize how wild and stubborn Eggplant was in comparison. And how obedient and well-behaved Eagle was, always following orders.
If he hadn't spent so much time raising Eggplant, Meng Ci might have just given it to Lu Chen.
"Wang wang wang!"
Eagle obediently walked over to Eggplant and barked twice at it.
Eggplant looked at Zhao Jingyu, then at its mate, and had no choice but to reluctantly back away!
"Aowu!"
Eggplant's ears, which had been perked up, now drooped dejectedly, making the wolf look utterly wronged.
Seeing Eggplant looking so dejected, Zhao Jingyu felt guilty for making them wait.
"Alright, you can come in now."
Zhao Jingyu gritted his teeth, then swung the door open, ushering Meng Ci and the others inside.
As the door creaked open, Meng Ci got a clear view of Zhao Jingyu's current state.
It turned out he was only wearing a pair of shorts, his chest completely bare.
Shen Que gave Zhao Jingyu a quick glance before looking away, muttering to himself how shameless Zhao Jingyu could be, even in broad daylight.
Since Shen Que had only glanced briefly, he didn't get a clear look at Zhao Jingyu's condition.
Meng Ci, however, stood there with his jaw dropped, stunned by the sight.
"Zhao Jingyu, what the hell is going on?"
Meng Ci stepped closer to Zhao Jingyu, and upon seeing the bruised marks on his neck and chest, he immediately recognized them for what they were—signs of something he'd seen before.
Then, realizing that Zhao Jingyu lived alone with Uncle Liang, Meng Ci's voice rose in shock.
"You and Uncle Liang?! …"
Meng Ci pointed at Zhao Jingyu, still struggling to believe what he was seeing. Zhao Jingyu's face flushed, but he didn't respond, his eyes darting away.