"Here, two for each of you. Eat them while they're still hot. No leftovers allowed, and don't say you're not hungry!
Everyone else has their share too. Don't worry, just eat!
Haah… I'm so sleepy. Brian, I'm going to sleep for a bit. Wake me up in half an hour so I can work on the wheelchair. You all keep doing your tasks."
Freya pulled out the buns from her bag and handed them to the two. She yawned and turned back to her room.
The older and younger one looked at each other, then down at the delicious meat buns wrapped in oiled paper. They both swallowed unconsciously.
"Eat. If you don't, knowing your aunt, she'll probably stuff them right into your mouth."
Brian chuckled and took the first bite, then gently encouraged Dan, who was still stunned.
His wife was the kind of person who always repaid kindness, though she pretended to be tough.
"Thanks, Uncle. It's really good!"
Dan lowered his head and took a small bite, hiding his teary eyes from Brian.
Since his dad died when he was three, he hadn't eaten a single bun. Even meat was something Grandma secretly saved for him—just two slices to let him taste it.
His own mother had never given him even one piece of meat, let alone a meat bun.
"Are you really going to take apart the bike and rebuild it? What if you can't put it back together?" Brian asked, sounding worried.
"I'll be fine. I borrowed the right tools and materials. I'll take them to the room and work there. Just don't disturb me."
After sleeping for half an hour, Freya was fully recharged. She needed to take tools and materials from her space, and no one could see that.
She regretted not grabbing a few wheelchairs when she was collecting medicine from the hospital back then.
Missed opportunity.
"I could help… well, maybe let Dan pass you things," Brian offered. He initially wanted to help himself, but remembering his bad leg, he suggested Dan instead.
"No. No one helps. Unless I come out, don't bother me."
Freya carried the bike and a bundle into the room.
Brian and Dan looked at each other helplessly, sighed, and got back to their own work.
Freya went into her space with her things and walked into her villa. Yes, a villa.
Her awakened space had a villa, electricity, and even a spring. At the time, she thought she was a chosen one. Other ability users only had storage spaces—no extras.
She dug out the toolbox and materials and began her intense work.
Three and a half hours later, a shiny new wheelchair was ready.
When she came out with the wheelchair, the sky had already darkened. The Xiao family had returned from work.
On the table were: a bowl of wild celery salad picked by Sister Xiao, two large plates of buns Freya had bought, and a big pot of wild vegetable soup.
Freya looked at the food, then at the tired faces of everyone.
"Wait a second. I bought something else!"
She turned around and went into her room. From her stash before the apocalypse, she took out a deboned marinated pig's head. She wrapped it loosely in today's oiled paper and handed it to Sister Lan.
"Sister-in-law, cut this up and add a dish to the table."
"Wow, more food! Freya, did you strike it rich today or what?"
Bigui asked, grinning.
"Yeah, I robbed two people today. Made a small profit.
Second brother, you should try it too."
Freya looked at Bigui with a half-smile and said:
"Really? Is that true? How much did you earn? I'll follow you and join in!"
Bigui's eyes lit up, clearly very tempted.
"Second Brother, Freya is joking with you. You better just work honestly in the fields. Didn't you do well today? I heard from Mom that you earned nine work points!" Brian advised Bigui helplessly. He had just worked for one day and was already thinking of slacking off again.
"Yeah, Second Brother, you were amazing today. Everyone in the team was impressed with you!" Brother Sheng sincerely praised.
His second brother had always been the type to try and avoid hard work, but today he actually went down to the fields and worked seriously for once. At first, he thought he was imagining it.
"Oh, nine work points?" Freya glanced at the thin and weak Bigui with a bit of surprise. He was quite diligent, she didn't expect that.
"Ah, Sister-in-law, I was wrong. I really worked hard today but just couldn't get ten points. Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll definitely try to get ten points, so please don't whip me, okay? It slows me down!"
Bigui noticed Freya looking at him and thought she was dissatisfied with his nine work points. He immediately pulled a long face and begged for mercy.
What?
What does your work have to do with me?
"Ahem, I tricked him today. Told him if he didn't get ten points, you'd whip him," Brian whispered softly to Freya.
Freya raised an eyebrow in surprise. Brian actually had such a playful side.
Bigui was quick-witted and immediately caught on to the silent exchange between the two.
"Ah, Brian, you've gone too far!" He wanted to pounce but was afraid of Freya, so he could only roar helplessly.
"Hahaha, alright, alright. Brian was doing it for your own good. Don't be mad!" the eldest brother said, patting Bigui on the shoulder to calm him down.
"Yeah, Second Brother, you worked so hard today. Mom and Dad are really happy. Your sister-in-law bought so much meat. You can eat two extra pieces later as an apology from Brian!" Sister Lan came out carrying a plate full of sliced pig head meat and smiled.
"Wow, so much meat. Tomorrow I'll help Second Uncle earn work points. Can I get a piece of meat too?" Lai looked at the big bowl of meat, drooling.
"Me too, I'll help Second Uncle work. Can I have a piece too?"
"Dad, I'll help you too. I want meat!" Even the little chubby one who only knew how to play couldn't help but speak up.
"Me… me too…" Daya also spoke timidly. Though she didn't say it clearly, it was obvious she wanted to join in.
"Alright, alright, everyone gets a share!" Madam Hua rarely saw the family so harmonious and was grinning from ear to ear.
Mr. Guo saw his wife smiling and started smiling too.
The whole family was warm and harmonious, except for Fang, who didn't fit in at all.
She couldn't hear anything around her. Her greedy eyes were fixed only on the meat buns and the big bowl of pig head meat. All she wanted was to keep it all for herself.