Volume One, Chapter 13: Resentment Takes Root in the Heart

Late at night, in the western sector of the safe zone.

Li Duoshun mustered his last bit of strength to help Li Duocai onto the bed, then collapsed weakly onto the floor beside it, unable to hold on any longer.

The journey had been grueling; he had half-dragged, half-carried his younger brother from the wilderness all the way home.

Exhausted and sprawled on the ground, Li Duoshun for the first time felt resentment that his brother ate more than him and was physically stronger.

If only he had been a little lighter, he wouldn’t be in such a pitiful state now.

After resting for quite a while, Li Duoshun regained some strength, stood up again, and leaned close to his brother on the bed to untie the leaf-wrapped package tied to him, revealing a roasted chicken inside.

He sniffed it gently. Though the chicken had been chilled by the wind the entire way and no longer smelled of anything, Li Da still felt a faint, savory scent of meat.

He opened the door and went outside, circling around their makeshift shelter, and returned with a small iron basin filled with charcoal.

He placed the basin in the empty space inside the shack, then stood up to firmly close all the doors and windows before squatting down to light the fire.

But the shack was drafty, and it took Li Duoshun a long time to get the charcoal burning, finally warming the room a little.

After lighting the fire, he sat by the basin, warming his hands and trembling as he removed the fallen leaves and dirt clinging to the roasted chicken.

Still weak from exhaustion, his hands trembled uncontrollably, and a strange chill crept over him, making him want to move closer to the fire.

What had once seemed like a sizeable roast chicken now looked barely larger than his palm in his hands. After picking through it, it seemed even smaller.

Looking at the half-eaten chicken with only a few bites left, Li Duoshun hesitated—should he eat it all now while it’s warm, or just tear off a little to taste?

“Ugh…”

At that moment, Li Duocai on the bed made a sound, as if waking.

Better to heat it all up then, so there’s enough for his brother, Li Duoshun thought to himself.

He retrieved an iron cross-frame, trembling as he skewered the half chicken over the basin’s fire. The fumbling made him both frustrated and amused.

Maybe he was angry at his own weakness, or at the damned Lin Youyu for still being alive, or perhaps at his brother sound asleep on the bed while he was shivering and weak yet still thinking of sharing the food.

As the charcoal fire roasted the chicken, its aroma gradually spread, slipping through the cracks of the shack and reaching nearby homes.

---

At the Wang family’s home, those who had been asleep were awakened by the scent, rubbing their eyes and exchanging glances.

“Big brother, do you smell something delicious?”

“Yes, what about you?”

“Me too. Where’s third brother?”

They looked around the bed, floor, and windowsill but found no sign of him.

“Where did third brother go?”

The youngest, yawning, replied, “He went to grandma’s room.”

After a while, a thin, somewhat limping boy appeared carrying a wrinkled old woman on his back.

“Grandma, stay here and rest with big brother and fourth brother for a while. I’ll go check things out and be back soon.”

“All right, be careful.”

“Wait, I’ll come with you.”

Wang Jiabao grabbed the coat by the bed and hurriedly put it on, then left with third brother Wang Jiazhu.

Food was scarce these days; not to mention meat, even minced meat was a luxury. Suddenly catching the scent of roasted meat in the impoverished western district always stirred unease.

They worried some unthinkable atrocity might be happening.

After a short while, the smell faded, and soft footsteps approached, followed by a familiar gentle call, “Grandma…”

Wang Jiabao called out as he pushed the door open, reporting his findings.

“The smell came from that old shack up ahead. Not sure what people are doing inside; the doors and windows are tightly shut, so I can’t see in.”

“There’s no smell of blood nearby, nor any bloodstains or anything else. Third brother is still outside spying. I came back first to tell you all, so you wouldn’t worry.”

Wang Pozi looked at her grandson without saying a word.

Meanwhile, the half-awake second grandson mumbled, “No need to look, I know those two brothers have probably sneaked off somewhere again and brought back some good stuff.”

“I heard they pulled off a big score a few days ago and earned a huge amount of points. I wonder what kind of mischief they’ve been up to all these years outside, ruining the reputation of our entire western district…”

Wang Pozi glanced at her second grandson, who spoke with disdain but whose eyes betrayed envy.

“Mind your own business. Just take care of yourself.”

“If you dare get any crooked ideas, I’ll have your brothers break your legs so you don’t run off causing trouble and dragging the family down!”

Hearing this, Wang Jiabei, still half-drowsy, suddenly snapped awake and sat up, quickly explaining, “Grandma, I would never do anything bad. I’m not that kind of person.”

It was dark inside; Wang Jiabei couldn’t see her expression, but seeing no reply, he guessed she was displeased with him again.

Thinking this, he hurriedly leaned over and shook her arm, coaxing, “Grandma, believe me. If I were up to no good, wouldn’t big brother and third brother have found out already? And wouldn’t they have told you?”

“Besides, there’s fourth brother too. We’re always together. If I did any sneaky or rotten things, wouldn’t he have made it known to everyone by now?”

“If you don’t believe me, ask fourth brother,” he said, glancing toward fourth brother’s spot, only to see a lump of blankets. He then looked toward big brother standing by the door.

Following Wang Jiabei’s gaze, Wang Pozi saw Wang Jiayu curled up asleep and sighed inwardly but said calmly, “Don’t ask. Grandma trusts you. Just don’t let her down.”

“Mm,” Wang Jiabei lowered his head and leaned on her shoulder, softly saying, “Grandma, I won’t disappoint you. You still love me the most, right?”

With that, the room fell silent. No one spoke again, only the gentle rise and fall of the blanket mound on the bed.

Outside, seeing nothing amiss, Wang Jiazhu was about to leave when he suddenly spotted Lin, the northern district’s gang leader, striding into the western district with several brothers, radiating menace.

They were headed straight for the Li brothers’ rundown shack.

He immediately withdrew and slipped back into the shadows.

---

Inside the Li brothers’ home.

Li Duocai, just awakened, sat by the iron basin waiting for Li Duoshun to share the meat.

“Brother, it smells so good…”

“Good, eat quickly before someone smells it.”

Li Duocai was about to shove the chicken into his mouth when—

“Bang!”

The shack’s door was forcefully kicked open, and a slightly stout man swaggered in.

“Well, brothers, eating, are you?”