Chapter 162 - 160 Live Fish (Additional Update 3/16)

Words : 1202 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

"Is the oxygen pump connected, Xiao Hai?" Inside the garage, Li Wensheng was checking his car, while his son Xiao Hai, who had just loaded the cargo into the trunk, was asked again by his somewhat uneasy father. Xiao Hai nodded, "Yes, it’s connected, and I put the oxygen head into the water like you said, Dad." Hearing his son say this, Li Wensheng nodded as well and said, "Alright, then you go back. Take good care of your mom and keep an eye on your sister. I’m going out to make a delivery." After speaking, Li Wensheng was about to get in the car and prepare to drive out. However, Xiao Hai didn’t obediently return to their family’s shelter, but instead said to Li Wensheng, "Dad, I want to go with you!" "Go with me? No way, it’s too dangerous outside!" Li Wensheng’s brows immediately furrowed, and he refused without hesitation. "Dad! Please let me go with you! I want to help you!" Xiao Hai pleaded with Li Wensheng, feeling that he had grown up and was eager to share some of the burden with his father. But Li Wensheng still refused his son’s plea, got directly into the car, closed the car door, rolled down the window, and said to his son who was still standing there, "Go back, listen well and help me by taking good care of your mom and watching your sister, that’s the biggest help." After saying this, Li Wensheng started the car and drove out of the garage. "Close the garage door and go back quickly!" Li Wensheng stuck his head out of the car window and shouted to his son, who was still standing there, before driving away. Xiao Hai looked disappointedly at his father driving away into the darkness before reluctantly closing the garage door and returning to their shelter. Li Wensheng drove the car carefully. The road outside was no longer visible, so he relied on buildings that were not completely buried on both sides to determine the tracks of the road. Driving in such conditions requires extra caution, as any oversight could lead to various accidents. Tire skidding or wheels getting stuck in the snow are minor issues that Li Wensheng believed he could handle, but if he encountered an icy road and the whole car skidded, that would be very dangerous. If he hit something, it could result in vehicle damage or it could simply crash. In today’s world, if the car breaks down, you have to find a way to fix it yourself; you can no longer tow it to a repair shop like before, and there are no replacement parts for damaged components. Li Wensheng drove to the bridge leading to the suburbs, which was the bridge that Chen Xin had to pass when entering the city before. At the moment, Li Wensheng was filled with tension, and he reduced the speed to the slowest, driving the car carefully onto the bridge. Li Wensheng had no choice but to be cautious. Although the bridge was built solidly and had six wide lanes in both directions, the bridge railing was less than a meter high, and now the bridge deck was already covered with nearly a meter of snow. Driving on it was like driving on snow without guardrails, and any carelessness could result in falling off. Fortunately, before leaving home, Li Wensheng had put anti-skid chains on his tires, and he drove slowly enough, so he managed to cross the bridge safely. Letting out a sigh of relief, Li Wensheng slightly increased the car’s speed and headed towards Chen Xin’s house. Successfully reaching the destination, Li Wensheng took out a shortwave radio to contact Chen Xin, informing him that he had brought the fish. In the pitch-black snowfield, visibility was extremely poor. Even if he turned on the high beams, it was hard to see anything a hundred meters away. Everything was pitch black, like some kind of monster or as if lurking danger was waiting to pounce or swallow him at any moment. Although it was hard to admit, Li Wensheng was indeed afraid of the dark, which was related to his childhood experiences. But he couldn’t tell anyone because he couldn’t let his wife and kids know he was afraid of the dark. And as a man, he couldn’t expect his wife and kids to go out in such situations, could he? Li Wensheng believed he couldn’t bring himself to do that. Luckily, he didn’t have to wait long. Chen Xin quickly opened the gate of the shelter, adding a glimmer of light to the darkness. "Writer, I’ve brought the ten fish you wanted. They’re all alive. I was worried they would die on the way, so I kept the oxygen pump running, and the car heater was on to ensure none froze to death." Li Wensheng said to Chen Xin somewhat eagerly and boastfully about the fish he had delivered. This seemed like seeking credit, but Li Wensheng himself couldn’t tell if it was boasting or using the conversation with Chen Xin to dispel the fear of darkness he had just felt. Chen Xin apparently saw nothing suspicious and asked Li Wensheng to open the trunk to check the fish he had brought. Confirming they were alive, he nodded with satisfaction and let him drive into the shelter. Once the car was inside the shelter, Chen Xin closed the gate, keeping the cold and dark outside. "Thank you, farmer. If convenient, please help me carry the fish down." Chen Xin politely addressed Li Wensheng while pulling over a pre-prepared trolley and a water-filled plastic box placed on it. Li Wensheng, naturally, didn’t refuse to help. The two of them quickly transferred the fish from Li Wensheng’s trunk into Chen Xin’s plastic box, and sure enough, the fish were alive, as Li Wensheng had said. One even made a splash, getting both men wet. After transferring all ten fish to the plastic box, Chen Xin covered the lid to prevent water from splashing everywhere. Li Wensheng helped Chen Xin move the trolley and box into Chen Xin’s shelter. Although he had visited Chen Xin’s home several times, entering Chen Xin’s shelter was a first for Li Wensheng. Looking around Chen Xin’s shelter, Li Wensheng couldn’t help but express envious admiration: "It’s impressive, writer, you’ve built a fantastic shelter." Hearing this, Chen Xin raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Everyone uses the same basic design; I just added a few more containers, that’s all." Saying this, Chen Xin opened the door to his growing greenhouse and pushed the trolley inside. The aquaponics equipment obtained from Li Wensheng was already in place. While turning on the equipment, Chen Xin transferred the fish from the plastic box to the hydroponic tray’s water tank. Fortunately, the water conditions had already been adjusted, so when the fish entered the water, they experienced no obstacles or discomfort. At this moment, Li Wensheng curiously entered Chen Xin’s greenhouse, looking around and feeling full of envy, especially at the unharvested roots of drought-resistant rice in Chen Xin’s fields. Li Wensheng remarked with envy, "Writer, your rice looks great! Seems like a bumper crop!"

Chapter 162 - 160 Live Fish (Additional Update 3/16)

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