In a chaotic world of infrastructure development, a woman's path to survival after being reborn

The night was quiet, and everyone around them gradually drifted off to sleep, but Su Li and Zhao Zexuan, the couple who had temporarily joined together, were still awake, or rather, they were both a little uncomfortable with each other.

Logically, with such a lot of activity today, she should have fallen asleep long ago, but Su Li is wide awake. She attributes her inability to sleep to Zhao Zexuan's strong presence next to her. How can anyone feel at ease falling asleep when he's lying right next to her?

Zhao Zexuan had been in the army for some years and was naturally aware of everything happening around him. He was also having trouble sleeping, so he said, "Why don't I go out? I'm keeping you from sleeping peacefully here."

Upon hearing this, Su Li paused in her turning over, then said in a muffled voice, "I'm just used to sleeping alone, it's not just because of you. I'll get used to it. If you leave now, Madam Zhao will start nagging."

Hearing Su Li mention his mother, Zhao Zexuan felt a little embarrassed, knowing that Su Li had understood the deeper meaning behind his mother's words.

The relationship between the two is still in an awkward stage, and his mother is criticizing him, which is indeed a bit much. So Zhao Zexuan said apologetically, "My mother really went too far today. Don't take those words to heart."

Su Li naturally didn't take those words to heart, but since Zhao Zexuan had said so, she wouldn't pretend she didn't know anything. She directly said, "The deeper meaning in some words doesn't matter. Anyway, we're not really husband and wife. After the divorce, we have nothing to do with each other, so your mother naturally has no right to say anything about me."

Hearing this, Zhao Zexuan felt inexplicably upset. Although it was true, it just didn't sound right to him. So, to avoid feeling upset again, he changed the subject and said, "Tomorrow I'm taking the soldiers up the mountain. If there's anything you need to do, you can tell Mo Bei to do it."

"Don't worry, I know my limits. I won't be reckless. I'll speak up if anything comes up, after all, this isn't just my responsibility alone," Su Li said.

Hearing Su Li say this, Zhao Zexuan felt relieved. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then go to sleep early. Tomorrow will probably be anything but peaceful. Those aunties will likely come looking for us first thing in the morning."

Su Li: Hmm...

***

I slept soundly through the night, and when I woke up the next day it was already bright. The person beside me was nowhere to be seen, so they must have gotten up.

Su Li wasn't particularly concerned about Zhao Zexuan's whereabouts, nor did she have the right to. What puzzled her was why the aunties hadn't come to urge him yet, even though it was so late.

Outside, the women who had gathered all the firewood were gathered together talking. They were looking at Su Li's oxcart and wondering why Su Li hadn't gotten up yet.

"Has the General's wife not gotten up yet? Should we go and wake her?" a woman suggested.

Upon hearing this, the other women beside him shook their heads repeatedly and said, "Don't go. The general specifically instructed us not to disturb the lady before he went up the mountain. If we disturb the lady's rest, the general will be angry later."

Upon hearing this, the woman who had made the suggestion immediately abandoned her idea of ​​calling for help, and instead asked with a gossipy look, "The general cares so much about his wife, so the two of them must have a very good relationship."

"Of course, otherwise why would the general give such instructions?"

……

Amid the women's teasing, Su Li got up and got off the oxcart. As soon as she got off, she saw the village women coming towards her.

"I'm sorry, I overslept and took up everyone's time," Su Li said apologetically.

Upon hearing this, the women in the camp waved their hands and said, "It's not too late, it's just that we were too anxious."

"Madam, we've prepared everything. Shall we check to see if anything has been forgotten?"

Hearing this, Su Li nodded in agreement, and then said, "All of you aunties are my and Ze Xuan's elders, so please just call me Su Li."

Upon hearing this, the women present were slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Alright, then we'll call you Su Li. Hurry up and go deal with it. We can't wait to see what the milk will look like after it's been processed."

Su Li smiled and agreed, then followed the crowd toward the open space where the firewood was piled up.

……

With everything prepared, Su Li had nothing to complain about. After asking around, she selected a few women skilled in cooking to oversee the firewood, and then led the group to begin cooking and preparing the food.

Everyone in the camp knew that they would be processing the milk brought down from the mountain today, so apart from the women who were there to work, everyone else stayed in their places and tried not to wander around, especially the children in the camp, who were all kept under control.

The women in the camp were busy, while the soldiers who went up the mountain to fetch water were not idle either. In the meantime, they also found work to do and went hunting with General Zhao Zexuan.

Three years of drought have reduced the number of animals living in the mountains, but they are not entirely absent. Taking advantage of his spare time, Zhao Zexuan led his men to search for traces of those animals. After finding some, he led his soldiers to hunt, and they had quite a haul.

Seeing the trail of prey on the ground, the soldiers were grinning from ear to ear. They excitedly said, "This much prey is enough for a meal. I can hardly remember the last time we had meat."

This statement was agreed upon by everyone present, and their eyes were fixed intently on the prey before them, as if the prey could become food on the dinner table at any moment.

Having received a series of good news in the past two days, even Zhao Zexuan rarely showed a smile. Seeing the soldiers' happy expressions, he smiled and said, "Since you want to eat, hurry up and pack it up. We'll cook it and have a meal after we go down the mountain."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers cheered, full of energy and eager to return to camp immediately.

Just then, all the containers that had been brought to hold water were filled, and Zhao Zexuan led the group down the mountain in high spirits.

Down the mountain, the milk had been almost completely processed under the heat of the fire, with only the final finishing touches remaining. Everyone was extremely nervous, and just then, Zhao Zexuan returned with his men, laden with their spoils.

Because they were preoccupied with the milk in the pot, the women showed no reaction to the return of Zhao Zexuan and the others. They all stared at the large pot in front of them, not daring to relax for a moment.

Normally, at this time of year, the village women would be seen happily, but they weren't there this time. Zhao Zexuan then beckoned a soldier forward and asked, "Where are the village women? Why haven't I seen them?"

Hearing this, the soldier glanced cautiously at the smoke rising from the chimneys not far away before saying, "The women are all busy working over there; we don't dare disturb them."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zexuan seemed to ponder for a moment and asked, "Have you been busy since this morning? Is it still not finished?"

Soldier: "Yes."