Chapter 12: Daddy, we won’t starve anymore, right?

“Daddy, are we going to starve to death?”

The child, skin and bones, with eyes unusually large, and a sharp jawline with no flesh, looked up at him. Her head was bald because she lacked the nutrition to grow hair. Her limbs were as thin as bamboo sticks, fragile enough to break with just a little force.

Raising this child was extremely difficult for Cheng Fang.

She had a congenital nutritional deficiency, needing twice the nutrients of an average child. Even though he gave her all the remaining nutrient and protein liquids, she still wasn’t growing well.

He knew she lacked meat.

Not synthetic meat, but real meat.

He secretly cut the flesh from his own legs to feed her, and it worked.

But when she realized it was his flesh, she refused to eat more.

She would rather starve.

“It’s daddy’s fault.”

A man who had fought on the battlefield, shedding blood without shedding tears, now had red eyes but could not cry. Crying needed water, but there was none in his body.

“No, it’s not…”

The child, weak in voice, with hands so small and delicate they seemed almost transparent, clutched his clothes.

“Daddy is great, it’s just that I’m too weak…”

“If I die, daddy, eat me… to live…”

The little one struggled to breathe, but her breath was faint, lacking strength.

Cheng Fang’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart.

He didn’t believe in gods, but at this moment, he prayed earnestly.

“All gods, please save my child. As long as she can survive, I will serve as your slave forever.”

After his plea, there was silence.

Cheng Lin’s eyes closed weakly.

Cheng Fang was frantic, yet helpless.

Knock knock knock.

At that moment, the door was knocked on.

He hadn’t wanted to answer, but the knocking was too loud.

He limped over to open the door, ready to vent his anger, but was instead stopped by a bowl of chicken and a bowl of water.

“What is this?”

“General Cheng Fang, this food is from the city lord. It’s a gift from the Savior. Please feed it to your child, and you should eat too. I have to go to the next house.”

The soldier who delivered the food restrained himself from looking, smelling, or thinking about the food, fearing he might steal a bite.

After delivering the food, he quickly ran away.

Cheng Fang stood there, holding the food and water in the thermos, stunned.

Realizing something, he rushed to his daughter’s side.

“Linlin, hurry, wake up and drink some water.”

The child opened her eyes just a slit.

“Water…”

Her throat was dry, and her lips were cracked.

She was so hungry that her consciousness was fading.

Cheng Fang immediately brought the water to her lips.

After tasting the water, Cheng Lin, driven by the will to survive, drank eagerly.

This wasn’t the foul-smelling, rust-flavored melted ice water—it was sweet and refreshing!

After finishing the bowl of water, her lips weren’t as cracked, and her eyes had more strength to open.

She looked at the bowl and then at her father.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“What should we do, daddy? I drank it all, I didn’t leave any for you.”

But Cheng Fang felt as if he had come back from the edge of hell.

His daughter was alive!

That was the greatest comfort.

Even though he was dying of thirst himself.

“Daddy isn’t thirsty, not at all.”

“Linlin, look, what’s this?”

He carefully picked out a piece of chicken leg.

This was specially saved for her.

Cheng Lin had already smelled the rich aroma of chicken. Her eyes widened, and saliva started to drip.

“Is this… meat?”

She took a few deep breaths, then pushed the meat toward Cheng Fang’s mouth.

“Daddy, eat it, you’re hurt. You eat…”

Cheng Fang’s heart ached. This was his obedient daughter, the best daughter.

“Silly, look, there’s plenty in the bowl. Why don’t you try it first, see if it’s good?”

She pushed the meat back.

At just eight years old, Cheng Lin was in a growth spurt, and pushing the meat back had already taken all her strength.

When she saw there was indeed plenty of chicken in the bowl, she no longer hesitated and took a bite.

Once she started eating, she couldn’t stop.

Mmm, it was so delicious!

It was the most delicious food she’d ever had!

She devoured the meat hungrily, and her body felt warmer and more comfortable.

“So good!” she exclaimed.

“Drink some soup.”

Cheng Fang brought the yellowish chicken soup to her lips.

Cheng Lin took a sip.

She smacked her lips, and her eyes sparkled.

“It’s really good, it’s so fragrant, daddy, you drink some too!”

Cheng Fang raised the bowl to his lips, pretending to drink, but he didn’t actually drink.

Cheng Lin noticed and got a little annoyed.

“Daddy, if you don’t drink, then I won’t drink either!”

Cheng Fang had no choice but to take a sip.

It felt like he was in a world of fireworks, reminded of when he was twenty, meeting Cheng Lin’s mother…

“It’s good, right? Hehe.”

Cheng Fang nodded.

“Really good.”

He fed his daughter a few more pieces of meat.

After finishing, her pale little face had gained a little color.

He felt reassured.

The nutrition from the soup was worth more than a thousand nutrient liquids.

His daughter would get better!

“Daddy, what kind of meat is this? Where did it come from? How could the base have such delicious meat?”

Now that she had strength, Cheng Lin’s playful side emerged.

“This is from the city lord… it’s a gift from the Savior…”

At first, Cheng Fang didn’t believe in a Savior.

But with such delicious food, how could it not be from the Savior?

This was a taste beyond imagination!

“Savior?” Cheng Lin blinked.

She sat up.

Her frail body knelt on the ground, her face full of reverence and hope.

“Thank you, Savior, for your gift. You are the best Savior. Linlin will forever be grateful to you.”

She bowed several times.

Father and daughter finished the entire bowl of chicken.

Afterward, they both felt a sense of loss.

Fearing they would never taste such delicious food again.

Knock knock knock.

The door knocked again.

This time, Cheng Fang immediately went to open the door.

“Is the city lord summoning me? I’ll go right away—”

“No, General Cheng Fang, the city lord said you should spend more time with your daughter these next few days. Here are two bags of instant noodles, 500ml of water, and two sausages. The instructions for the noodles are on the package. Please enjoy a good meal with your daughter. I have to leave now!”

The soldier delivering the food and water had a joyful expression.

The city lord was generous. They had eaten one bag of noodles, drunk water, and had half a sausage, enough to give them energy.

He felt that this food could last for a week.

“Wait, where did this food and water come from?”

“It’s a gift from the Savior!”

The soldier’s voice was filled with gratitude and hope.

Cheng Fang froze.

It was the Savior again.

The Savior had sent chicken, water, instant noodles, and sausages!

Oh my god!

This was food from the golden age!

“Daddy, what’s instant noodles? What’s sausage?”

“We won’t starve anymore, right?”

Cheng Lin’s curious little face peeked out.

Cheng Fang smiled through tears.

“I’ll cook it for you right away… we won’t starve anymore, we won’t starve anymore…”