The Cat Who Farms in the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland – CH91

Chapter 91 – Rely On

Everyone was exhausted after a full day’s work.

Yan Xi Nian glanced at their supplies. “Let’s not go overboard tonight. How about I just make something simple?”

“Sure, whatever you think is best,” Xia Huo Qu gathered the firewood they had collected into a pile and lit a fire with matches.

“As long as you don’t mind if it’s not gourmet,” Yan Xi Nian said, directing Kong Zhi, “Kong Zhi, go wash the mushrooms. Xia Lu Nong… actually, you’ve had a long day, just sit and rest.”

Xia Lu Nong nodded wearily.

Xia Huo Qu retrieved a large kettle from the truck, filled it with fresh stream water, and placed it over the fire to boil.

The flames licked the bottom of the kettle, and soon steam rose from the spout.

Yan Xi Nian rinsed the rice, added the right amount of water to the pot, and placed it over the fire.

The rice gradually began to give off a fragrant aroma.

Yawning, Xia Lu Nong rested his head on his knees, his long eyelashes fluttering as he fought off drowsiness.

Once the water was boiled, Xia Huo Qu filled everyone’s cups with hot water and left them to cool on the ground.

The wind was strong, rippling the water as it cooled.

Xia Huo Qu touched the side of the kettle with two fingers and, finding it no longer too hot, went back to the truck’s cab to fetch a small plastic jar.

Inside the jar was dark brown honey. When Xia Huo Qu opened it, a rich honey scent wafted out, filling the air.

Xia Lu Nong turned his head, his eyes fixed on the honey in his brother’s hands.

Catching his gaze, Xia Huo Qu scooped two large spoonfuls of honey into Xia Lu Nong’s cup and added one spoonful to each of the other cups.

Xia Lu Nong’s eyes lit up immediately.

After stirring the honey, Xia Huo Qu handed the cup to him. “Drink up.”

Xia Lu Nong had used his powers multiple times today and was already exhausted. Hearing this, he didn’t hesitate and held the cup with both hands, gulping down over 500 milliliters of sweet honey water in one go.

After drinking, the sweet scent of honey filled his mouth and nose, and he felt like a well-watered plant, exuding a sense of laziness. Xia Huo Qu offered him his own cup of honey water, “Want more?”

Xia Lu Nong wiped his mouth and quickly shook his head.

Xia Huo Qu took back his cup, “Turn back into your beast form and rest a bit. We’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”

Xia Lu Nong yawned again and gave a small, satisfied burp, looking content. “Brother, keep an eye on that little pepper tree for me.”

Xia Huo Qu turned to look at the grove at the foot of the mountain. The pepper tree had mingled with the other trees and was staying put quietly, showing no signs of leaving, blending in almost invisibly.

“Rest now. If anything happens, I’ll call you.”

With that reassurance, Xia Lu Nong turned into a cat, curled up on his clothes, and fell asleep. The sound of the wind, crackling firewood, and low murmurs around him was incredibly soothing. His cat ears twitched slightly before going still.

Kong Zhi washed the mushrooms, and the rice was almost done steaming. He tossed the mushrooms into a big pot, added a generous amount of cured sausage, dried tomatoes, and winter melon, sprinkled some chili powder, salt, soy sauce, and oil, and stirred it all before placing it on top of the rice to steam. The aroma of a freshly cooked clay pot meal soon filled the air.

In his sleep, Xia Lu Nong dreamed of various flying delicacies. The longer he slept, the hungrier he felt, his soft belly rumbling as if it would stick to his spine. Half-asleep, the cat stretched out, turning into a long, fluffy cat blanket as the wind tousled his fur.

Kong Zhi passed by, pausing briefly before returning with something to cover Xia Lu Nong. The little cat half-opened his green eyes, looked at the clothing draped over him, then glanced at Kong Zhi in confusion, “Meow?”

“Go back to sleep,” Kong Zhi said in a low voice, gently patting the cat’s head and wrapping him up like a little cat burrito. “Keep your belly covered so you don’t catch a cold.”

The cat felt the soothing comfort of Kong Zhi’s touch, like static electricity tingling on his skin, and he couldn’t help but squint in pleasure, lifting his head to ask for a chin scratch. Kong Zhi obliged, gently scratching his chin, and soon enough, Xia Lu Nong was fast asleep again.

When Xia Lu Nong woke up, it was already dark. The mountain wind blew, carrying a sharp whistle that sounded somewhat eerie, making the crackling campfire nearby seem even more comforting.

“Now that you’re awake, get up and eat,” said Xia Huo Qu, sitting right next to him.

Xia Lu Nong transformed back into human form behind the truck, quickly dressed, and even put on Kong Zhi’s coat, which was still warm with his body heat. He hurried back and asked, “Brother, where are Kong Zhi and the others?”

“They took a flashlight to catch eels and fish,” Xia Huo Qu replied, dishing out food he had saved for Xia Lu Nong. “If they have a good catch, we can make eel rice tomorrow.”

“I bet they will!” Xia Lu Nong exclaimed, stuffing a large bite into his mouth, his cheeks bulging. The rice was fragrant, the cured meat delicious, and the mushrooms fresh, with the balance of spicy and salty just right. Kong Zhi’s cooking skills had improved again.

After eating, Xia Lu Nong washed his dishes and suddenly remembered the little pepper tree. Standing up straight, he looked around, trying to find the tree in the darkness.

Xia Huo Qu, seeing this, pointed to where the tree was, “The pepper tree’s over there.”

Xia Lu Nong followed his brother’s gesture and finally spotted the little tree, now at a diagonal angle from where he last saw it. Before he slept, it wasn’t there. With a puzzled expression, Xia Lu Nong asked, “How did it move over there?”

Xia Huo Qu chuckled, “Maybe it got scared by our fire and noise. It’s been shifting positions all night, moving further and further away.”

Xia Lu Nong suddenly felt pity for the little guy. He stood up, “I’m going to check on it.”

“Let’s go,” Xia Huo Qu said, grabbing a ladle of fresh water from a bucket and handing it to his brother, “See if it needs watering.”

Xia Lu Nong gratefully accepted it, “I almost forgot it still needs water.”

The brothers shone their flashlights as they headed towards the pepper tree. From several meters away, Xia Lu Nong noticed that the tree’s leaves were drooping, probably tired from the day’s exertions, just like them.

The pepper tree quickly noticed their approach. Its leaves perked up, and the crown of the tree shifted slightly, looking alert.

“It’s me,” Xia Lu Nong called out.

Recognizing him, the pepper tree relaxed, its crown drooping again, looking listless.

Xia Lu Nong walked over and gently touched the part of the tree trunk without thorns, shaking the ladle in his other hand, “Need some water?”

The tree’s crown lifted slightly, and the leaves rustled in response.

Sensing its thirst, Xia Lu Nong poured the ladle of clean water at its roots. The tree shivered slightly, conveying a sense of gratitude.

Closing his eyes, Xia Lu Nong channeled the last of his powers into the tree. He could feel something leave his body and flow into the tree, which responded with joy, its crown swaying back and forth, pulling its sharp thorns back in entirely.

As Xia Lu Nong retracted his finger, the pepper tree gently hooked one of its branches around his finger, reluctant to let go.

Xia Lu Nong smiled at the tree and said, “I’ll give you more energy tomorrow.”

He then turned and walked back to the makeshift camp with his brother. Behind them, the pepper tree pulled itself up by the roots and bounced a little as if it wanted to follow them. After a few meters, the tree hesitated, unwilling to leave the forest, and eventually hopped back to the spot where Xia Lu Nong had watered it.

Xia Lu Nong, having used up the bit of energy he’d gathered while resting, was now thoroughly exhausted. He yawned, sat by the fire, and began nodding off like a sleepy chick, paying no attention to the pepper tree’s behavior.

Xia Huo Qu observed everything, calmly poured his brother a cup of honey water, and sat by the fire. “The pepper tree will probably follow us tomorrow.”

“Let’s worry about that tomorrow,” Xia Lu Nong muttered, finishing the honey water. He rubbed his head against his knees, looking drowsy. “Brother, I’m so tired.”

“Go to sleep,” Xia Huo Qu replied. “Kong Zhi and the others aren’t back yet, no need to wait.”

Though Xia Lu Nong was curious about their catch from eel-hunting, he was too tired to press further. He transformed back into his beast form, climbed onto his brother’s lap, and meowed.

Xia Huo Qu stroked his back and wrapped him in Kong Zhi’s coat. “Sleep now,” he murmured.

Xia Lu Nong, soothed by the warmth, quickly drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When he awoke, it was already dawn. The sky was lightening, and mist hung over the forest and mountains. By the fire, only his brother was adding wood, and the pepper tree had somehow moved within two meters of him, now planted neatly in the ground like a regular plant.

Confused, Xia Lu Nong’s green cat eyes stared at the tree. What happened last night? How did the pepper tree get here?

Sensing his gaze, the pepper tree shook its branches.

Xia Lu Nong let out a soft “hmm” in his mind, realizing that this was indeed the familiar pepper tree and hadn’t been replaced.

Yàn Xi Nian noticed Xia Lu Nong had woken up and explained, “The pepper tree came over last night. I didn’t want to disturb it, so I didn’t move you to the truck bed to sleep.”

Xia Lu Nong nodded, but his cat eyes still looked puzzled.

Suppressing a smile, Yan Xi Nian added, “Some sheep came by to eat the pepper tree’s leaves. We chased them off and moved the tree closer to us.”

Xia Lu Nong instinctively turned to look at the pepper tree.

The tree wiggled its branches, turning a small chewed branch towards him, looking pitiful and droopy.

“Meow?” Xia Lu Nong called out in confusion.

Why didn’t you fight back?

The confusion in his meow was obvious, and both Yan Xi Nian and the pepper tree understood.

Yàn Xi Nian chuckled, “The sheep ran off too fast. They just nibbled some leaves and bolted, like mosquitoes constantly bothering it.”