“Stay alert. Acid rain doesn’t take a break. In the industrial district, it’s either packed with people or crawling with zombies—no room for carelessness.”

“Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll take the lead. Just stay close behind me.” Yun Shuiyao offered confidently.

As they entered the factory zone, the banter ceased, and everyone got serious about the task at hand.

Clearing the path? That was Jiang Xiang’s job.

The industrial district wasn’t chaotically arranged—it had been meticulously planned. Facilities for waste management, greenery, worker accommodations, and leisure activities had all been thoughtfully designed. The roads were wide, and the factories operated independently without interfering with each other. However, the once-thriving environment was now a shadow of its former self. Everything in sight was charred black, and the ground and walls were pitted and scarred.

The factories were divided by purpose. Coming from their direction, the first area they entered was dedicated to clothing.

It had everything: winter and summer wear, bed linens, tents, backpacks—anything involving fabric or thread. There were also specialized facilities for textile processing and embroidery.

“Accommodations and cafeterias are likely to have the most people, so we’ll avoid them if possible.” Lan Shiru instructed. “Once inside, we’ll clear the immediate surroundings and focus on workshops and warehouses. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t wander off. This factory zone is massive—it could take days just to run through it. We need to act quickly. If others catch on and rush in, we’ll lose our chance.”

“Leave the clearing to me and the little one. You focus on gathering supplies, and the handsome guy here will watch your back and lend a hand.”

For once, Miao Miao didn’t argue and simply nodded in agreement.

“Woof woof.” Jiang Xiang the handsome canine chimed in as if to agree. For the first time, he seemed to approve of this unexpected new addition to their group.

“Alright, let’s get started.” Lan Shiru declared.

Each factory building was massive, typically divided into sections: an office area, living quarters, warehouses, and workshops. In more specialized factories, the workshops were further subdivided.

Most of the factories followed a standard layout. The main entrance led directly to the office area with the warehouse located behind it, followed by the workshops and, at the very back, the living quarters. While some buildings had slight variations, the overall design was fairly uniform.

Jiang Xiang’s first task was to check the office area for signs of life. If there were none, they could ignore it. If there were people, they’d have to abandon the location—it was better to stay under the radar.

Meanwhile, Miao Miao and Yun Shuiyao handled the few wandering zombies around the area. Lan Shiru headed straight to the warehouses and workshops, systematically collecting everything: machinery, raw materials, and finished products.

Though it was their first time working together, the trio and Jiang Xiang operated with remarkable synergy. When encountering a large horde of zombies, they’d assess the situation—either wipe them out entirely or retreat. As for encountering humans, their general policy was avoidance. However, any individual who dared to exploit the fact that they were women and a dog? One word: dead.

After an hour or two of work, Lan Shiru would always take a ten-minute break to tend to her little Le Bao. The baby was remarkably well-behaved—no crying or fussing. If awake, he played quietly; when tired, he fell asleep on his own. He only made soft whimpering noises when hungry, wet, or dirty.

For five straight days, the group toiled tirelessly. Aside from the essentials—eating, sleeping, and bathroom breaks—they spent every waking moment working. It was exhausting, but the sense of accomplishment was exhilarating.

By the end of the fifth day, they had cleared out the entire clothing sector. They were worn out, but the excitement was undeniable. With enough clothing and fabric to last several lifetimes, they’d satisfied not only the shopping cravings of any woman but also the hoarding instincts of a resourceful homemaker. Best of all? It was free.

They didn’t take any breaks along the way. As more people began arriving in the area, they had to pick up the pace. Cooking became a luxury they couldn’t afford—meals were reduced to bread, biscuits, milk, jerky, and canned luncheon meat. Anything edible right out of the package was fair game. Even bathroom breaks were hurried, and sleep came in brief one-hour naps. Aside from Lan Shiru’s essential bonding time with Le Bao, the three humans and their loyal dog practically flew through their tasks.

Fortunately, the results were worth the effort. In about a month and a half, they managed to clear out over 70% of the factory district. Any factory they worked on was stripped clean—not just of finished goods, but also machinery and materials. The downside? They were utterly exhausted. The three humans and the dog had all lost noticeable weight, becoming the epitome of “slim beauty.”

Yun Shuiyao complained daily that her “extra-large cup” had deflated. Miao Miao was even more distraught. Her barely-A chest was now practically a basin—life was unbearable.

During these moments, Lan Shiru would hold Le Bao close, smothering him with kisses. Listening to their pointless complaints was less productive than spending time with her son.

The remaining factories were mostly large construction material plants. For now, no one was interested in such resources. These would be valuable in the future when bases started development projects. Currently, people prioritized food and clothing.

The number of scavenging teams increased steadily. People came and went, their presence a constant stream. Lan Shiru and her group made an effort to avoid the peak hours of resource collection. If they encountered others, they would leave immediately rather than risk conflict.

For a temporary rest, the group chose an already-cleared factory. Finding an empty dormitory, they secured a room, barricaded the door, and set up for some well-earned relaxation. They took out a bathtub, filled it with water, and enjoyed a much-needed, thorough wash. Then they retrieved fresh ingredients and cooking supplies to prepare a proper feast. After working nonstop for so long, it was time to replenish their energy.

While Miao Miao focused on cooking, Lan Shiru harvested a fresh batch of grains and vegetables from her space and quickly planted more. Yun Shuiyao helped with meal prep, and Jiang Xiang played with Le Bao.

Inside the space, the fruit trees were in full bloom. Without seasonal restrictions, growth was regulated solely by time, and in less than a month, they would be harvesting fresh fruit.

Two hours of labor in the space coincided perfectly with Miao Miao’s two-hour culinary efforts. When they emerged, dinner was ready, and it was time to dig in.

Miao Miao’s cooking skills were on point, and after being both hungry and exhausted, the three humans and the dog devoured their food like wolves. Le Bao, lying in his crib, watched them with wide eyes, bubbles popping one after another from his tiny mouth. His long eyelashes fluttered like little fans, blinking in surprise. He thought his “mama,” “aunties,” and the dog were rather scary.

Le Bao was now almost two months old, growing sturdier and fairer, looking like a perfect little baozi (steamed bun).

“Is Le Bao hungry? Look at all that drool. You could probably wring out his little pillow.” Yun Shuiyao said, feeling quite pleased after eating her fill, in the mood to tease.

Miao Miao gave her a side-eye. “Le Bao’s just blowing bubbles, he’s not interested in your food. At his age, he’s not picky. And you, at your age, you should stop growing older without growing any brain cells.”

“Oh? Little girl, don’t just grow your brain, grow some chest too!” Yun Shuiyao lifted her chest proudly, showing off for a moment.

Miao Miao couldn’t even deal with that conversation.

She turned to Lan Shiru and asked. “Sis, what’s the point of collecting those building materials? Do we really need to gather them?”

“Yeah, just gather them for now. They’ll definitely be useful later. No rush, though. No one’s interested in them right now. We’ll stay in tonight and go out after dark.” Lan Shiru answered, clearly focused on the long-term value of the supplies. These materials would be rare and valuable down the line, so it was better to have them stored away.

“What’s next, then? What are your plans?” Yun Shuiyao asked, curious. “I heard N City’s safe zone is becoming a big deal. A lot of people are heading that way, and B City is getting less safe.”

Lan Shiru gently pulled Le Bao into her arms and spoke seriously. “I’m staying here to wait for Le Bao’s father. If you guys want to go, I won’t stop you. I’ll get you a few vehicles to transport the materials, and you can trust the people you choose to handle them. You can even leave them here for now. As long as I’m alive, I’ll find a way to get to you and deliver your share.”

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