The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Prettier the Woman, the More She Lies

The man kicked Cai Su several times. When he found the scrawny woman clinging to him like glue, he slapped her swollen face.

"Get lost! That little bloodsucker is half-dead anyway. Wasting nutrient liquid on him is pointless. It’d be better off as my gambling money! If you don’t let go, you damn bitch, don’t blame me if I kill you!"

The slap split the corner of Cai Su’s mouth, drawing blood. Her expression was stubborn, showing every intention of fighting her husband to the bitter end.

Her stare infuriated the man, and he raised his hand again.

"That’s enough!" Granny Jin walked over holding an umbrella and scolded him. "Wang Hu, are you sure you want to beat her to death? If she dies, you’ll get one less share of relief supplies."

If Granny Jin had said anything else, Wang Hu would have just scoffed.

But one less person meant one less share of relief supplies, which meant less gambling money for him. For a lazy gambling addict with no source of income, this was a fatal blow.

Wang Hu resentfully lowered his hand. While Granny Jin was helping his wife up, he shook her hand off and walked away without looking back.

Cai Su was soaked to the bone, her face ashen. Her eyes were filled with hollow despair and hatred.

"Grandma Jin, you should have just let him beat me to death," Cai Su said, her voice dry and hoarse. "I waited so long for the relief supplies. It looked like Xiao Lang was finally going to be saved, but then..."

"It’s hard to raise a child in this world," Granny Jin said, helping her under the cover of the corridor. "If Xiao Lang doesn’t make it, that’s his fate. But you still have your own fate to live out."

"If Xiao Lang dies, what’s the point of me living?"

"Well, by that logic, this old woman should have died a long time ago."

"That’s not what I meant..."

"All right, I’ll lend you half a vial of nutrient liquid," Granny Jin said, lowering her voice. "Don’t tell anyone. Take it back and have Xiao Lang drink it right away."

"Grandma Jin, I..." Cai Su’s lips trembled. She wanted to refuse but couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

Granny Jin called it a loan, but Cai Su knew she could never repay it.

Wang Hu had already taken and gambled away everything of value in the house. With Xiao Lang’s poor health, it was impossible for her to find any paying work.

Granny Jin shoved the half-vial of nutrient liquid into Cai Su’s hand and gave her a push.

Cai Su pressed her lips together and went upstairs, tears welling in her eyes as she headed home.

Granny Jin sighed. Just as she was about to leave, the door behind her opened.

Shen Lu poked her head out and called to Granny Jin.

"Granny Jin, it’s me."

"Oh, it’s Xiao Shen."

Belatedly, Granny Jin realized she had been standing right in front of Shen Lu’s door talking with Cai Su.

"Granny, you really are a kind person."

It wasn’t that Shen Lu wanted to eavesdrop, but the building’s soundproofing was so poor that she was forced to hear everything.

"We’re all just suffering souls." Granny Jin shook her head and sighed. "That child, Xiao Lang, is a good kid."

Shen Lu didn’t know Cai Su and had never met Xiao Lang. She just thought that Granny Jin truly had a cold exterior but a warm heart. After a few sentences of small talk, she changed the subject.

"When will this water recede?"

’I really don’t want the apartment to be soaking in water forever. It’s damp and incredibly smelly.’

"As long as the rain doesn’t get heavier, it should recede by evening." Granny Jin paused. "If you have the money, you should buy an air purifier. After a heavy rain comes the strong sun, and the intense heat will make the smell even stronger."

Shen Lu was horrified.

’If Granny Jin hadn’t mentioned it, I would have had no idea!’

’The smell is bad enough already. Add intense sun to that, and it’ll be absolutely unbearable.’

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify