Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Wang Xiao rubbed his face vigorously to shake off some of the sleepiness.

Holding the dagger in his hand, he chose a spot where he could sit and rest while also having a clear view of the surrounding tree roots, and whispered, "Understood, you all go to sleep."

Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Yingtang said no more, each finding a relatively comfortable position, leaning against a rock or a tree trunk.

Almost as soon as their heads touched their backpacks, a wave of sleepiness washed over them. Their bodies’ self-protection mechanisms kicked in quickly, plunging them into a deep sleep and allowing them to recover their energy as fast as possible.

For a moment, only the faint sounds of Wang Xiao straining his eyes to survey the forest, and the even, heavy breathing of the other two, could be heard.

The next morning, the forest was filled with a damp mist.

The three of them used the small knives they carried to cut the pumpkin into thick slices, roasted them over the embers, and ate the hot, slightly sweet pumpkin.

The meal dispelled the morning chill and replenished much-needed energy. Without further ado, they quickly packed their belongings and set off again along the northwest road.

Along the way, they began to encounter other travelers sporadically.

There were groups of three or five, their faces filled with fear.

There were also those who, like them, formed small groups and were wary of each other.

They were separated by a great distance, and their eyes met briefly, yet both saw the same wariness and scrutiny in each other's eyes.

They quickly moved away, maintaining a safe distance, and continued on their way in silence without any communication.

Until a winding river came into view.

Survivors from different directions seemed to be drawn to the water source, gradually converging near the riverbank.

They tacitly dispersed to different sections of the riverbank, quickly fetching water with various containers, their eyes constantly glancing around, especially at other people fetching water.

Perhaps it's because of shared needs.

Perhaps it was because they had temporarily left the most open and vulnerable area.

Or perhaps it's a remnant of human social instincts.

After completing the essential task of fetching water, the tense atmosphere eased slightly, and some of the bolder people began to tentatively talk in hushed tones, a few meters apart.

"Where are you from?" a man wearing a worn-out baseball cap asked a family of three who were filling a water jug ​​next to him.

"We can't stay in Lijiazhuang to the east anymore... We heard that many troops are retreating to the west or north, and we want to try our luck by following them."

The man of the house sighed, his voice filled with exhaustion and a faint glimmer of hope.

"The military?" This word was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly attracting the attention of many people nearby, including Xu Xiaoyan and her group.

Another middle-aged woman from nearby Wangjiatun chimed in:

"Yes, we also heard from a few people who passed by that they saw a convoy carrying equipment heading northwest, saying they were going to establish some kind of safe zone there... We don't know if it's true or not."

"Following the troops is better than wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness!" someone whispered in agreement.

Upon hearing the words "troops," "northwest direction," and "safe zone," Xu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up immediately.

She firmly believed that heading northwest, towards a direction where there might be a larger-scale organization, was the only hope for long-term survival. She subconsciously looked at Xie Yingtang and Wang Xiao.

Xie Yingtang noticed her unusual behavior, and he and Wang Xiao exchanged a glance, both revealing a smile that was both understanding and complicated.

Xie Yingtang patted Xu Xiaoyan on the shoulder. "Did you hear that? If you're lucky, you might actually run into a large army unit."

You can follow them; that's definitely much safer than wandering around aimlessly like this.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoyan asked with a puzzled tone, "What about you? Aren't you going with them? Going with the army will definitely be much safer!"

Perhaps we can even find a proper, safe base with electricity and security, so we won't have to live like this, exposed to the elements and constantly on edge!

Her question shattered a tacit balance that had been maintained between the three of them.

Xie Yingtang's smile faded, his gaze filled with obvious hesitation, and he subconsciously looked at the person beside him.

Wang Xiao pursed his lips, lowered his gaze, and unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes with his fingers, seemingly somewhat uneasy.

Xu Xiaoyan looked at Wang Xiao, her eyes filled with confusion and probing. "You have a criminal record???"

The question startled Wang Xiao, and he almost jumped up from the spot. His drowsiness and exhaustion were instantly replaced by a mixture of anger and grievance.

His voice rose involuntarily, "I didn't!! Don't slander me! No matter how down on my luck I am, I, Wang Xiao, have never done anything illegal!"

Seeing his strong reaction, Xu Xiaoyan became even more puzzled, her brows furrowing.

"Then why are you so opposed to the military? Wouldn't it be safer to stick with them? Unless... you have some unspeakable reason, something you're afraid of being investigated?"

Wang Xiang's sore spot was struck, and his arrogance instantly deflated. He slumped against Xie Yingtang and sighed deeply.

"I'm not afraid of having my criminal record checked... I'm... the child of a fallen high-ranking official. My father has already been executed."

He paused for a moment before continuing, his tone filled with bitterness.

"He deserved it, I have nothing to say, but... his political enemies are still in office, aren't they?"

When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when a wall collapses, everyone pushes it down. I'm worried... I'll be targeted, so I'll avoid it if I can.

"What?!" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she had heard something out of the blue.

"No way, what era are we living in? The order is almost completely broken, and there's still talk of collateral damage? We're too busy trying to save our own lives to bother targeting you?"

The military is busy dealing with natural disasters and maintaining basic order; who has the time to investigate you, the son of a former high-ranking official?

Wang Xiao shook his head with a wry smile, his smile full of self-mockery. "They say 'the sins of the child should not be visited upon the child'? Anyone can say nice things, but I was implicated before!"

I was still in college at the time, and not long after my dad's accident, I was expelled without my consent!

Without any official documents or reasons, my counselor simply implied that "some people don't like you!"

I didn't graduate from university, and all the money in my bank account, which my family had deposited for me, was frozen overnight!

I could only disappear from school like a rat in a sewer, wandering aimlessly, hiding and running away…

His voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob; that memory was clearly a deep-seated wound he least wanted to revisit.

"If it weren't for... if it weren't for Xie Yingtang's family... his family has a strong backing, and out of consideration for the past relationship between our two families, they have been protecting me both openly and secretly, giving me a way out..."

I don't even know if I'll be alive enough to stand here and talk to you right now!

After he finished speaking, he let out a heavy breath, as if he had used up all his strength to pour out the secret that had been suppressed for a long time.