The Chef Rules the Last Days
Chapter 274 - 272: Snowing

Chapter 274: Chapter 272: Snowing

She touched her stomach and said, "We’ve worked all day, let’s spend the night here and set off again tomorrow."

"Mhm."

After filling most of the empty oil drums, the oil tanker began to drip slowly. Lu Chen still left an empty bottle there to catch the drops and then went to the front of the vehicle, taking out the food that Su Mo had prepared at the base and placing it on the hood of the car.

Each dish was hot, and the aroma was enticing.

Su Mo swallowed, took a sugar rice ball she had prepared from the plate, and bit into it, then passed one to Ling Ye while boasting, "I did a great job on these."

Ling Ye nodded appreciatively, "Delicious."

Li Qian smiled gently, the eyes behind his glasses slightly dim.

Zhao Changsheng noticed his odd behavior throughout the day and elbowed him, handing over a rice ball, "Eat, it’s sweet."

Accepting the rice ball, Li Qian’s eyes deepened, "Thank you."

"We’re brothers, no need for thanks," Zhao Changsheng said nonchalantly and added, turning to Su Mo, "Momo’s cooking is the best."

Su Mo smirked and bit off another large chunk of the rice ball, then stuffed a mouthful of Bok Choy into her mouth with her chopsticks.

In the vehicle, after feeding her baby, Jiang Yulian finally managed to lull the child to sleep. She walked down from the car, folded her clothes around her, and joined the group.

Seeing her, Su Mo immediately took a pair of chopsticks and handed them over, "Aunt Jiang, eat quickly, it’s cold now, and the dishes will cool off soon."

"Thank you," Jiang Yulian bent slightly in thanks, took a bite of fish with her chopsticks, and then froze as a notification sounded in her mind. She grabbed a rice ball and asked softly, "Miss Su, does all the food you make have this function?"

Su Mo, biting her chopsticks, looked at her and said with a forced smile, "Yes, Aunt Jiang, you’ll have to keep this a secret for me."

Jiang Yulian nodded, "Of course, my life and the child’s were saved by you and Chenchen. It’s all because of that old man, Jiang Hai..."

With reminiscences of Jiang Hai, still at the base, she started to cry again, "It must be in ruins now; he just wouldn’t listen to me."

Su Mo couldn’t understand someone like Jiang Hai, but every consequence was of his own doing, and naturally, he had to bear them.

Lu Chen put down his chopsticks and gently patted Jiang Yulian on the back.

He didn’t know how to comfort others but understood the need to provide comfort.

Su Mo spoke up at the right moment, "Aunt Jiang, what you need to do now is to protect the child. He is your only hope."

"Yes," Jiang Yulian wiped her tears and thought, despite all her grief, she must live on for the child’s sake. She gave Su Mo a forced smile, "I will try my best not to be a burden, and I’ll take good care of the child."

Su Mo’s lips moved, and in a low voice, she said, "I believe you."

In this world now, having an infant who needs constant care was indeed troublesome, and Su Mo couldn’t guarantee that the child could grow up safely with them. All she could do was help as much as possible.

She didn’t want the last of Lu Chen’s relatives to disappear from this world.

She couldn’t bear to see that.

After eating their fill, Lu Chen took out the tents stored in the Space, and with the help of others, they set up three tents. They then sat together, discussing the road ahead.

With Jiang Yulian added to the group, a sizable issue had arisen.

"When I left, I didn’t bring any clothes for the child, not even diapers," Jiang Yulian said awkwardly, holding the baby tightly and looking down, unable to meet their eyes.

"The situation was urgent at that time," Lu Chen glanced at the child deeply asleep in her arms.

"Then we still need to look for a maternity and baby store. It’s going to smell awful if we have to haul it on the cart," Zhao Changsheng imagined the scene, and his delicate face wrinkled in disgust.

Her words made Jiang Yulian even more embarrassed. A hint of crimson crawled up her neck, "It was indeed a... a moment of desperation."

Su Mo sat down next to Jiang Yulian and gently poked the cheek of the child in her arms. The baby’s face, completely different from the wrinkly little one she saw the first time, was now fair and tender, with eyelashes long like palm fans and bubbles unintentionally blowing from the lips, very adorable.

Su Mo’s heart melted, "Anyway, the bridge just leads to G city’s territory. There’s no harm in us going there, no one’s going to steal diapers during the apocalypse."

"Momo makes a good point," Zhao Changsheng continued to butter her up.

Su Mo then turned to Jiang Yulian, "I don’t even know what the child’s name is yet."

Jiang Yulian stroked the child’s face lovingly, "Jiang Zhuoyang. I hope he grows up strong and full of hope in his life."

Su Mo nodded, "It’s a good name."

"Tonight, I’ll take the first watch," Li Qian spoke up then, expressionless, with his glasses reflecting his serious thoughts.

"Then I’ll sleep in your tent, and you call me for the second watch. I’ll take over," Zhao Changsheng unapologetically grabbed a sleeping bag and squeezed into his tent. Jiang Yulian still had the child, and she didn’t want to sleep with a baby, too noisy in the middle of the night.

Ling Ye sat there, somewhat at a loss, when Su Mo tugged at his finger and pointed towards Jiang Yulian, "You should sleep with that little brother. Remember to protect him, okay?"

"Mm," Ling Ye nodded, and Lu Chen brought over two sleeping bags for them.

Su Mo looked at Jiang Yulian’s clothing and took out a coat made from gorilla skin from the System Bag and handed it to her, "Aunt Jiang, see if this coat fits you. Don’t let the child get cold tonight."

That was originally meant for Su Niang, but since the two were about the same size, Jiang Yulian wore it, and other than the sleeves being a bit short, it fit well. She then stood up with the child to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Miss Su, for all your help until now."

Su Mo waved her off, "Go get some sleep."

Except for Li Qian, everyone crawled into their tents.

Lu Chen laid out a bedsheet made of gorilla skin and brought out a quilt. This was something Su Mo had specifically asked the shopkeeper to make.

She lay down on it, sighing comfortably, "This fur really is warm."

Lu Chen pulled the quilt over them, holding her as he whispered, "Sleep now."

Su Mo wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a light kiss on the lips, "Have sweet dreams."

...

In the first half of the night, Li Qian sat engulfed in darkness until a chill passed overhead. He looked up; his glasses were blurred by the falling snowflakes.

He reached out, catching a snowflake that melted into water in his palm.

Pure white, with not a trace of pollution.

He glanced at his tent, then stood up and approached Su Mo’s tent, saying softly from the outside, "Lu Chen, you take the second watch. I’m afraid Zhao Changsheng won’t be able to stay alert."

The man inside the tent opened his eyes, and Su Mo was still resting in the crook of his arm. Her ear twitched as she overheard Li Qian’s words, and nudging Lu Chen, she mumbled sleepily, "I’ll keep you company."

"No need, sleep a bit longer. Dawn is almost here," he withdrew his hand, tucked her in properly, put on his coat, drew the curtains, and walked out.

Outside, it had become exceptionally cold.