Chen Yuan was speechless.
Before the apocalypse, this woman would have made an outstanding salesperson.
“I thought I’d run into my family soon, so I spent two hundred copper coins on that straw hat.” She opened her bundle for the woman to see. “Now I’ve only got two copper coins left.”
Inside the bundle was nothing but a change of clothes and the two copper coins. Everything else had already been transferred into her Storage Space.
She continued, “Honestly, if I don’t find my family… I don’t even know what I’ll do.”
“Little sister, I’m sure you’ll find them.” The woman’s expression immediately softened. “I won’t bother you anymore. Get some rest.”
As she spoke, she casually scooped up the two copper coins, gathered her children, and left.
…
Finally.
Chen Yuan had always believed that any problem that could be solved with a few copper coins wasn’t really a problem.
In this sweltering heat, getting into a screaming match would only leave her exhausted and drenched in sweat. Why bother when she could sit quietly and rest instead?
She stayed there until the sun was nearly setting. After feeding Daniu and changing her diaper, she secretly ate a bunch of Shine Muscat grapes, drank a cup of Spiritual Spring water, and continued on her way.
Only someone like her could manage this.
With the Spiritual Spring at her disposal, she could recover quickly. Had it been anyone else, a woman still in her confinement period would never have endured such grueling travel.
She walked until nightfall.
They were deep in the wilderness now, with barren fields stretching along both sides of the road. Refugees were scattered everywhere, camping by the roadside.
Remembering what had happened earlier that day, Chen Yuan cautiously swept the area with her gaze. Once she was certain no one was paying attention, she walked deeper into the wasteland. Using a massive boulder as cover, she slipped into her Storage Space.
She bathed Daniu first, carefully checking for rashes or heat bumps.
Nothing.
Good.
She fed the baby, changed her diaper, and only then took a shower herself. The weather was so hot that her entire body smelled of sweat.
Afterward, she tossed her dirty clothes into the washing machine and went straight to bed.
She didn’t even feel like eating.
The next morning, after having a good breakfast inside the Storage Space, she stepped back outside.
The sun was already high, and the morning air still carried an oppressive heat.
Her sickly horse had been nourished by Spiritual Spring water for the past two days and already looked much livelier.
It was time to take it out.
She disguised herself as a middle-aged man, darkened her face, put on a bamboo hat, slung her bundle and broadsword over her shoulder, left Daniu safely inside the Storage Space, mounted the horse, and urged it southward.
To be honest, her riding skills were terrible.
She wobbled all over the road, alarming passersby and earning a steady stream of curses.
Sorry, she apologized silently. Please bear with me.
Without using her psychic ability to subtly control the horse, she would have fallen off several times—and probably ridden straight into a few trees.
As bad as her riding was, the real problem came half an hour later.
She couldn’t take it anymore.
What am I supposed to do?
Her goal had been to ride all the way to Jingshi.
Her inner thighs hurt.
Her backside hurt.
When she climbed off the horse, her legs were so weak she could barely stand, let alone walk. She genuinely couldn’t understand how people in ancient times managed to stay in the saddle for an entire day.
Her little electric car had been so much better.
With no other choice, she limped off into the wasteland on the right side of the road.
After making sure no one had followed her, she flashed into her Storage Space.
Back in the apocalypse, what hadn’t she experienced?
She had slaughtered zombies.
She had hunted mutated beasts.
But whether she was killing zombies or hunting monsters, she’d always traveled by vehicle. When had she ever marched across the countryside under a blazing summer sun?
Did heaven think I’d had it too easy during the apocalypse? Is that why it dumped me here to toughen me up?
She drank another cup of Spiritual Spring water, rubbed medicinal ointment for bruises and blood circulation onto her chafed thighs, and rested for a while.
Soon she felt much better.
I really want to drive.
Unfortunately, that was all she could do—dream about it.
The road was packed with refugees day and night. Even after dark, people lined both sides of the road. There was simply no way she could drive without exposing herself.
Forget it.
I’d better stop making life difficult for myself and just keep walking.
She washed off her disguise, darkened her face again, took Daniu back into her arms, and resumed the journey.
Nothing unexpected happened for the rest of the day.
By nightfall, she finally spotted a village.
Its original residents had already fled, and the empty houses had been occupied by refugees passing through.
She found an unoccupied house and entered her Storage Space.
She bathed Daniu, changed her diaper, and fed her.
Surprisingly, the little girl was still awake.
Over the past few days, Daniu had been staying awake longer and longer. There wasn’t much she could do yet. She simply stared around with wide, curious eyes, her gaze darting this way and that, or amused herself by blowing bubbles.
In another two days, Daniu would be one month old.
She now weighed over four jin. Though she still wasn’t the chubby, rosy-cheeked baby people loved to see, at least she no longer looked like nothing but skin and bones.
Tonight’s dinner was braised pork ribs and soy-braised eggplant, paired with a glass of almond milk.
She hadn’t eaten a proper meal in days, so this dinner tasted especially delicious.
After taking a bath, she left the Storage Space.
She stored the room’s original furniture away. There wasn’t much—just a broken table with one missing leg and two stools. The heated kang bed couldn’t be moved, but that didn’t matter since it wasn’t taking up any extra space.
As before, she pushed large cabinets against the doors and windows, brought out her Simmons Mattress Bed, and lay down with Daniu in her arms.
That night, she slept more soundly than she had in a long time.
She slept so deeply that she couldn’t even remember how many times Daniu woke to nurse during the night.