When Zhang Xixi personally saw the white, dry bones in the cloth bag, she could no longer suppress her grief and burst into tears. She couldn't imagine that the remains before her were those of her closest relative. They had spoken on the phone not long ago, and their family was supposed to be reunited soon. Yet, in the end, not even a letter could be sent, and all that arrived were a few fragments of bone.
Upon seeing the skeletal remains, Zhang Xixi wept profusely. She wished she could believe that Shen Feng was playing a joke on her, deliberately deceiving her with such an item. However, Zhang Xixi also knew that Shen Feng was not that kind of frivolous person. The fact that he handed the item to her so solemnly meant that it was undoubtedly real – these were her brother's bones.
Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi quickly comforted the crying Zhang Xixi. Meanwhile, Shen Xingzhi was reaching out to Zhang Xixi, saying, "Auntie, hold me."
Chang Jianyi quickly handed the child to Chang Haojie and said, "Take Xiao Hu to play somewhere else. We'll handle the comforting here."
Chang Haojie and Hua Jingran, upon learning of this heartbreaking news, understood that Zhang Xixi urgently needed comfort. They immediately took the one-year-old Shen Xingzhi to a distant spot, so as not to disturb the situation.
Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi then began to comfort Zhang Xixi. The pain of losing a loved one is unimaginable. At such times, constant comfort from close ones is essential, otherwise, it is difficult for most people to overcome the shadows in their hearts. Especially since Zhang Xixi and Zhang Jue had relied on each other; he was her last remaining relative. Now that Zhang Jue was also dead, it meant Zhang Xixi was truly alone in this world.
After crying for a while, Zhang Xixi asked, "Brother Shen Feng, how exactly did my brother die?"
Zhang Xixi couldn't understand why her brother had died. Her brother, Zhang Jue, possessed the ability to fly, yet he couldn't escape in the end. This was truly strange, especially in the vast, open plains where flying away shouldn't have been difficult. He could have even left with his wife. But her brother had died, and this was something Zhang Xixi could not comprehend.
Shen Feng did not want to hide anything. He then recounted what had happened in the coal mine, which occurred when the mutated birds were migrating south. The coal mine was guarded, as the coal mines on the plains were a vital energy source for the power plant. Therefore, Zhang Jue, an ability user, was also present. As one of the Ten Heroes, protecting the coal mine was a matter of great prestige.
However, in the end, Zhang Jue acted to cover the escape of the miners' families during an attack by a wolf pack. He used a hand grenade for self-preservation, inflicting damage on the wolf king, blinding one of its eyes. But Zhang Jue himself was blown to pieces, and even these fragments of bone were painstakingly collected by soldiers who risked their lives.
"Your brother, Zhang Jue, was a hero. He died in battle. But I am ashamed to say that I could not find your sister-in-law or your nephew. However, I have already asked the Ability Administration to help search for them. If they are found, they will be sent to Yuzhou. You will continue to live here from now on, and I will treat you like my own sister," Shen Feng said earnestly.
After receiving Shen Feng's answer, Zhang Xixi was overwhelmed with grief. Although she knew her brother had died heroically, he was still her relative, and she couldn't accept it immediately. She felt immense pain and had no appetite for food. She left with the cloth bag containing the bone fragments, saying as she walked, "I want some quiet time."
Seeing Zhang Xixi in this state, both Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi wanted to comfort her, but Zhang Xixi closed her door as soon as she returned to her room.
Chang Jianyi then looked at Shen Feng and said, "If you had waited until after dinner to say this, wouldn't that have been better? You come back and immediately deliver such sad news, how can anyone not be heartbroken? You should pay more attention to the atmosphere in the future."
Hearing Chang Jianyi's words, Shen Feng could only offer a wry smile and replied, "Zhang Xixi's brother is already dead. If I were to wait until after dinner to tell her, wouldn't that be like subjecting Zhang Xixi to extreme joy and sorrow? I couldn't do something like that."
As Shen Feng explained, Chang Jianyi immediately understood. It was true. Good news could be withheld for a while and then unexpectedly delivered to surprise someone. But if such sad news were to be kept hidden and then revealed, it would be like a bolt from the blue. Such a dire message could shatter a person's psychological defenses.
Therefore, Shen Feng chose to tell Zhang Xixi the entire story as soon as possible, believing that Zhang Xixi would eventually emerge from her grief.
When it was time for dinner, Du Xinshi also appeared, holding Xiao Long. Xiao Long was dressed in thick clothes and was still sniffling. Upon seeing Shen Feng, his eyes lit up, and he reached out, calling, "Daddy, hold me."
Shen Feng quickly asked, "Sister Du, how is Xiao Long doing?"
As his godson, Shen Feng felt he needed to inquire about his well-being. Du Xinshi also appeared somewhat haggard. She replied, "Xiao Long is doing alright now. A few days ago, he suddenly developed a fever, reaching forty-one degrees Celsius. I was almost scared to death at the time."
Fortunately, children have naturally higher body temperatures than adults. If an adult's fever reached forty-one degrees Celsius, they could very well become mentally impaired. This was not an exaggeration but a real possibility. The severity of fever in adults and children was not on the same level.
During dinner, Chang Jianyi continued, "Have you heard? The major countries around the world are preparing to deal with the mutated bird situation, meaning the entire globe is uniting to take action."
Shen Feng shook his head and replied, "I don't know. We've been traveling all these days, and I haven't heard anything about it on the radio."
Chang Jianyi explained, "Besides China, many other places are also facing problems with mutated birds. Especially this year, the breeding speed of migratory birds has been too fast. Even Europe and North America are suffering greatly. In such a situation, cooperation is the only option. Although this hasn't been reported on the radio, it is said that high-level officials from various countries have already been holding meetings to discuss cooperation."
Hearing this, Shen Feng felt that the decision of the countries was reasonable. The mutated birds were highly mobile and reproduced very quickly. In such circumstances, no country could remain unaffected. Cooperating to solve the mutated bird problem was an unavoidable necessity.
However, Shen Feng then thought it through and said, "Anyway, I don't think this matter will yield any results in the short term. Even China has become a chaotic world now, and most regions globally lack even organizations or governments. This so-called global action is essentially something only a few major countries can achieve. This so-called global cooperation is probably just talk, so there's no need to worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Chang Jianyi exclaimed in surprise, "You can actually figure this out too? Actually, Mr. Dan Zhengming said the same thing. It seems you are truly not what you used to be."
Chang Jianyi felt Shen Feng's progress and changes most profoundly. After all, the Shen Feng of the past was a shut-in, only interested in games and anime, and completely indifferent to anything else. Now, Shen Feng could even grasp the international situation. This change was truly remarkable, and Chang Jianyi noticed Shen Feng gradually becoming more outstanding.
Shen Feng said proudly, "Of course. Who do you think I am? I've spent more than half the year out and about. I've seen what I needed to see."
During dinner, Xiao Long kept reaching out towards Shen Feng. Shen Feng dotingly held Xiao Long and fed him with a spoon.
Shen Feng's actions immediately made Chang Jianyi feel a pang of jealousy. She said nonchalantly, "You're not holding your own son, but your godson. You're so fair."
Shen Feng became awkward. He then held Shen Xingzhi in his arms as well. As for Xiao Long, he was returned to Du Xinshi. Du Xinshi seemed to sense something and quickly took Xiao Long away, saying, "I'm going to give the child his medicine."
At this moment, Chang Jianyi looked at Shen Feng meaningfully and said, "Shen Feng, you'd better handle things fairly, or you'll have to watch out."
Shen Feng pretended not to hear and fed Xiao Hu porridge. Xiao Hu disliked eating and was very resistant to Shen Feng.
Zhang Xixi stayed in her room for three days. During this time, a dedicated servant delivered meals to the outside of her room, but Zhang Xixi did not eat a single bite. She cried and slept in her room, and after waking up, she continued to cry. After three days, she finally regained a semblance of calm, but this calm was only temporary, as her face wore a detached expression, as if she had seen through the true nature of the world.
The first thing Zhang Xixi said after finding Shen Feng was, "Brother Shen Feng, I plan to build a grave for my brother. Please agree."
Shen Feng quickly replied, "No problem. I will definitely hold a grand funeral for Zhang Jue. Many people will report on it, and we'll invite monks to chant scriptures, and prominent figures from Yuzhou will come to pay their respects..."
Shen Feng assumed Zhang Xixi wanted to bury Zhang Jue with a magnificent funeral, and he immediately agreed. After all, Zhang Jue was one of the Ten Heroes who stood at the commendation ceremony. Holding a grand funeral to announce Zhang Jue's passing was not an excessive act.
However, Zhang Xixi quickly said, "Brother Shen Feng, there's no need for a grand funeral. Funerals are just for the living. Brother only has me as his relative. It's meaningless for others to know. So, just find a plot of land for me in the cemetery. There's no need for a grand funeral; I just need to remember my brother."
Shen Feng was surprised that Zhang Xixi didn't want a grand funeral but rather a quiet burial. This request caught him off guard.
Nevertheless, Shen Feng agreed to Zhang Xixi's request and said, "No problem, I'll inform the cemetery staff. Also, you should rest for a month. Go out and relax in various places in Yuzhou, and don't overexert yourself."
Zhang Xixi replied, "No need. I'll start working tomorrow. I will continue to work in Yuzhou from now on. Please don't drive me away, Brother Shen Feng."
"What are you saying? Zhang Jue entrusted you to my care, so you are like my own sister. How could I drive you away?" Shen Feng said indignantly.
At this moment, Shen Feng couldn't understand Zhang Xixi's line of thinking. Did she see him as such a heartless person? Did she think that once others were no longer useful to him, he would simply drive them away? This was truly too much.
Shen Feng didn't understand Zhang Xixi's psychology. When Zhang Jue entrusted her to Shen Feng's care, she already felt like she was living under someone else's roof. No matter how good Fengshen Palace was, it didn't feel like home to Zhang Xixi. This was a feeling Shen Feng was unaware of. Now, Zhang Xixi's biggest worry was being driven away, leaving her without even a temporary place to stay.
After receiving Shen Feng's answer, Zhang Xixi left. At noon, she arrived at the cemetery, where a plot of land had already been prepared. It was located on a hilltop with beautiful surroundings. Before the apocalypse, such a plot would have cost at least a million. In this regard, the dwellings of the dead were more expensive than those of the living.
Zhang Xixi placed her brother's bones and a letter from herself in the tomb and covered it with a stone slab, silently thinking, "Brother, travel safely."