Chapter 303 - 302: That Really Is a Peaceful Life
After listening to their words, Guo Xu was also dumbfounded.
This was the first time he heard someone ask if another person’s hand hurt after being slapped.
After driving away the people around, he summoned these dozens of individuals into a separate room.
The atmosphere in the room was oppressive and heavy, as if a thick layer of frost had formed.
Seeing the anxious crowd below, Guo Xu asked a question even he found unbelievable.
"Were you all driven away?" His voice echoed in the quiet room, carrying a hint of disbelief.
The crowd below was silent.
The air seemed to freeze at this moment, and everyone bowed their heads, not daring to meet Guo Xu’s gaze.
After a long time, someone took the lead and nodded.
"Because we accidentally offended the madam..." His voice was low and hoarse, filled with regret.
"It was our fault, despite knowing Brother Che’s attitude towards family, we still couldn’t control our emotions at the time," another person continued, his voice choked with tears.
"Yes, even though there were so many people at the scene, it was only us who couldn’t control ourselves." Someone else echoed, full of self-blame.
...
This is also something they realized only later—there were more people at the scene back then, but upon reflection, some of those around them only hesitated for a moment before regaining their composure.
Only they couldn’t accept the truth and continued causing a scene, which was why Brother Che drove them out.
Now thinking about it, Brother Che introducing his wife to everyone was already a gesture of trust.
It was just that they didn’t understand the situation at the time and let fear and irrationality cloud their judgment, leading to such a foolish mistake.
Listening to their regret, Guo Xu fell into deep thought, unsure of what to think.
Ever since the lords established their territories, there had been an air of lament and complaint everywhere.
The miserable sight was like the elegy of the apocalypse, tightening hearts.
In fact, the environments of various territories weren’t good in the early stages, so grievances were quite normal.
In harsh conditions with scarce resources, even finding a place to settle became difficult, leaving everyone in dire straits.
But now, after dividing the territories, such grievances have greatly diminished.
People gradually adapted to the new order, striving to survive within their respective territories.
On Leng Feng’s side, the population is large, but people have become accustomed to such crowding.
The people there are prepared to die; although they don’t know why Leng Feng does what he does, they have been ready to fight to the death.
Whenever you go over there, there’s an air of heroic sacrifice.
Since then, there has been no more comparison between the major territories.
Everyone fights on their own, just to survive a little longer in this brutal world.
Occasionally, someone recalls the previous environment.
This was the first time someone came from Jiang Che’s territory.
Everyone knew his territory was in the suburbs, with no residences.
The only place to stay was the Red Pearl Mental Hospital, but that place wasn’t a residential area and looked oppressive.
Now seeing people from Jiang Che’s territory, the first reaction was that these people had found ways to escape, and only Jiang Che’s kindness prevented their death.
In this world of survival of the fittest, kindness is often seen as weakness.
As for Guo Xu, if someone from his territory followed him and wanted to desert, he would show no mercy.
"What’s the situation on your side?" he asked leisurely.
Suddenly, he was very curious about what the situation was like over there.
To make this group of people speak for Jiang Che, even long after leaving, they still thought of it.
"Just a very ordinary life, nothing much," someone said softly, avoiding eye contact.
"Yes, yes, it’s the same as everyone else, nothing special."
"There’s really no difference from here, just want to go back because friends are still there..."
...
They didn’t even dare say it was because family was there, thinking of bringing family out with them made them feel sad.
Hearing Guo Xu’s inquiry, they exchanged glances, already having made up their minds internally.
No matter how people questioned them, they wouldn’t say anything.
Guo Xu was stunned. He had seen unity before, but never had he seen such unity from those who were driven out.
The determination in their eyes was striking.
It seemed they were truly waiting for a chance to go home.
Even if that hope was slim.
"You can tell me," Guo Xu said again, his tone more earnest this time.
His gaze was full of expectation, fixed on the crowd before him.
"There’s really nothing, you misunderstood,"
"It’s just very ordinary over there, just can’t bear to leave good friends," another person quickly agreed.
...
"I’ve sent Xiong Jie to take my family to your side," after a moment of thought, Guo Xu finally told them.
His expression was complex, with a hint of unease and anticipation.
"I will know sooner or later."
"I’m just a bit curious, so I wanted to ask you." He spoke as he walked down to sit among them.
Dragging a chair to sit beside the crowd, as if he were one of them too.
After hearing Guo Xu’s words, they were dazed.
It reminded them that Xiong Jie indeed privately spoke a lot with Guo Xu.
He sat silently, waiting for them to share information about Jiang Che’s dungeon.
"Over there, it’s really just a very ordinary life," someone finally spoke.
Only this time, the voice was gentle.
This time, the ordinary they spoke of was different from before.
"Very ordinary, you have to work during the day, if hungry, you can go to the cafeteria to eat, work is rewarded with credits you can exchange for power-up energy balls." The person spoke in a calm and soothing tone.
"Besides that, there are all kinds of scenery, you can go for walks in the evening, and watch the stars at night."
"There’s even an amusement park nearby, Xiong Jie said, Brother Che didn’t prohibit people from having fun," someone laughed.
Although it was originally built for Ding Ning, Jiang Che hadn’t stopped people from enjoying it.
Because amusement facilities are fun only when shared with everyone.
"That Ferris wheel project was one I participated in, I wonder what scenery Brother Che sees from up there, I haven’t gone up yet myself," the person spoke with a tad of regret, yet full of pride.
...
Once they started talking about the territory, this group of people became extremely chatty.
Their words came like a torrent, one after another, without stopping.
Guo Xu was dumbfounded.
He didn’t expect that their version of ordinary was actually this ordinary.
It really was too ordinary, because it was just the kind of life every ordinary person lived every day before the evil spirits descended.
Leisurely and pleasant.
But now, such ordinary life has become an unattainable luxury.
His wife and children seemed to have really gone to a good place.
After these people finished speaking, they stood up, bowed to him in salute, and slowly exited.
For the first time, Guo Xu understood their mindset; upon knowing that his wife and children went to such a good place, he too didn’t want outsiders to know and disrupt that ordinary and peaceful life.