Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 456: Chapter 446: Diverting the Disaster

Xu Ru and Tan Jing listened, dumbfounded. They had never imagined Zhang Laohu’s Combat Power was so terrifying, nor had they thought that food—so precious it was worth a life—could be obtained so easily.

A change began to stir in Xu Ru’s heart. She slowly started to feel that under the current circumstances, temporarily submitting herself to the man before her might not be such a bad thing after all.

Women have always admired men stronger than themselves. When that admiration could also keep her fed and warm at a time like this, it began to transform into a flicker of affection.

This change in mindset made Xu Ru’s expression and gaze soften. She no longer wore that look like someone owed her a million bucks.

’A man like Zhang Laohu... even after the apocalypse ends, he’ll probably go on to do great things, right?’

Xu Ru’s thoughts kept shifting as she began to convince herself.

And when Zhang Laohu saw a look of admiration in the eyes of the woman he liked for the very first time, instead of her usual disdain, his heart swelled with joy.

"Ru, don’t you worry. As long as you stick with me, you can eat as much as you want from now on!"

It had to be said that no matter what kind of person Zhang Laohu was, he was mostly sincere in his feelings for Xu Ru.

In the current situation, no one could eat whatever they wanted. But eating as much as you wanted? Zhang Laohu was confident he could guarantee that.

"Eat as much as I want? Just with this?"

Xu Ru glanced at the things Zhang Laohu had brought back this time and let out a small laugh.

There was a lot of food, but with several people eating it... no, even if she ate it all by herself, eating her fill every time, it would only last three to five days.

This was the first time Zhang Laohu had seen Xu Ru smile since they met, and in that moment, he threw all caution to the wind.

"A real man keeps his word! I’ll go out right now and find more food for you. How hard can it be to break down a few doors? I’m going to take back all the food they stole from me!"

Hormones make people lose all reason. Zhang Laohu, who had been somewhat clever, was instantly blinded by love and transformed into a complete moron—the kind who doesn’t use his brain at all.

This was probably what they call being love-struck.

To be fair, you couldn’t completely blame Zhang Laohu. After all these years, being poor, having no decent job, and not being good-looking, he had never once been in a relationship.

Now that he had finally managed to snag a young woman with his strength, his brain had practically melted into honey, flowed into his heart, and was now spilling out through his eyes.

"If you’re going out again, there’s a family you should check on first. They have a ton of food," Tan Jing chimed in.

"Who?"

"The family’s surname is Xu, and they live not far from the property management center. They’re loaded! They have three whole freezers full of just meat! And there’s rice, flour, and oil piled high in the kitchen."

Tan Jing was, of course, talking about Xu Jinsan’s family. At this point, no one else was as stinking rich as them.

"Really?" Zhang Laohu was a little skeptical. He found it hard to believe that after so long into the apocalypse, a family still had such a large stockpile.

"Of course it’s true!" Every time Tan Jing closed her eyes to sleep, all she could see was the scene in Xu Jinsan’s kitchen. "If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

Tan Jing’s oath was absolute. Zhang Laohu stared at her expression for a few seconds and found himself mostly convinced.

"How many people are in their family?" With that much food, he had to wonder about the number of people in the house. If they were all strong laborers, he would have to think twice.

After all, he would be storming their den. It wouldn’t be safe without overwhelming power.

"Just one man and three women, and they’re all as skinny as rails," Tan Jing said quickly.

She was already starting to fantasize about the moment she could claim all of Xu Jinsan’s family’s food for herself.

’And their house is nice, too. It would be even better to just kick them out and move in.’

’This plan could work...’ Tan Jing decided she would have a good talk with Zhang Laohu after the deed was done. If he wouldn’t listen, she’d have Xu Ru talk to him. She could tell that as long as Xu Ru asked, the man would agree to anything.

At this moment, it seemed Tan Jing no longer had the feelings of a wife or a mother.

Her husband had become a useless burden to her, and her daughter had become a bargaining chip to secure a better life for herself.

’Only one man?’

Zhang Laohu thought it over. ’I don’t remember the family, but they’re probably just some lucky rich people who had managed to hoard a bit more food. This could work.’

"Ru, you wait here and have something to eat. I’m heading out again. I’ll be back with good news."

He had already made his boast, so this was no time to rest. Spurred on by the moment, Zhang Laohu stood up, ready to go get more food and earn a little more of Xu Ru’s tenderness.

"Go on," Xu Ru said softly.

She had coveted the things in Xu Yin’s house, of course, but she had never thought of getting them like this.

But now, hearing her mother’s words, she remembered that she had a thug like Zhang Laohu right by her side.

’Why should I be afraid of Xu Yin’s family anymore? With all that stuff, we can just have him rob them! Then I’ll be able to eat whatever I want, whenever I want! I won’t have to suck up to anyone ever again!’

’Then Xu Yin’s room will be mine, too. Let her come live here in the property management center. It would be best if we just swapped lives.’

Xu Ru and Tan Jing truly were mother and daughter, their hearts and minds in sync. At this very moment, they were fantasizing about the exact same thing.

They hated Xu Jinsan’s family. Sending Zhang Laohu wasn’t just for the food; it was also for revenge.

They had been kicked out just like that, and they had been holding a grudge ever since. It was time to let it out.

As for Xu Shan, who was still living at Xu Jinsan’s house, she was a traitor in Xu Ru and Tan Jing’s eyes and deserved to be punished as well.

’Xu Shan hasn’t managed to sneak out the child and the food after all this time. She must be enjoying herself over there and has abandoned us. It’s all Xu Jinsan’s family’s fault—and Xu Shan’s fault—that we’re in this situation!’

Meanwhile, Xu Yuanshan, still lying in the corner with barely a breath left in him, heard his wife and daughter plotting to harm his own brother and sister-in-law. In his heart, he felt they deserved whatever was coming to them.

An even greater hatred festered in Xu Yuanshan’s heart. But his hatred was no longer for his brother and sister-in-law; he now hated his wife and daughter even more than he hated Zhang Laohu.

He had been beaten into paralysis and left huddled in the corner for many days now.

All this time, it was only because Zhang Laohu didn’t want him to die that he had survived. Zhang Laohu would occasionally toss him a bite of food or a sip of water, allowing him to cling to life.