Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 257. Rewarm

"Of course not," Sun Yiliang, the most spirited among the brothers, quickly said.

He couldn’t shake his head, still feeling a bit dizzy.

"Then it’s settled. Since you are brothers recognized by Xiu Niang, you’re naturally my family too. There’s no need for formality among family. Come, don’t say more, quickly have some hot porridge. With something warm in your belly, you can recover faster and have more strength."

Hua Chengtian served each person a bamboo bowl of meat porridge. Apart from Sun Laosi, there was Sun Siliang. Sun Yiliang and Sun Erliang moved their bodies to the wall and managed to eat by themselves. They quickly finished a bowl, feeling a warmth in their stomachs and a sense of truly having survived.

Although Sun Siliang’s fever had subsided quite a bit, his body remained very weak, especially since both of his arms were severely injured, making it impossible for him to eat by himself. Hua Chengtian fed him. After finishing one bowl, apart from Sun Siliang, Daliang, and Erliang drank another bowl each, just enough to clear out the remaining porridge in the pot.

Hua Chengtian then checked Sun Laosi’s wound. The situation wasn’t too bad; although it was still swollen, it hadn’t worsened. After applying medicine and bandaging the wound, he let the three brothers each take some anti-inflammatory and fever medicine, and Hua Chengtian, utterly exhausted, collapsed into sleep.

It felt like he had just fallen asleep when he was awakened by the brothers. Upon opening his eyes, he discovered that the meal was ready, and even the Sun family brothers were all awake.

Sun Yiliang and Sun Erliang could barely walk. Although there was still a slight fever, they were obviously in much better condition than the day before, even Sun Laosi, who was lying on the stretcher, could now be cared for.

Upon waking, Hua Chengtian met three pairs of grateful eyes. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

He understood; after all, they owed him their lives. If it were him, he would treat someone who saved him like an ancestor.

He greeted the three brothers and then went to wash up and eat.

He then gave the brothers more medicine. To not delay the journey, he arranged for them to be carried on wooden frames.

Sending them back was impossible, but neither could he leave them in the cave; the final decision was to have them return with him.

On this day, the temperature clearly went up a bit, allowing their group to move faster and return to their mountain before noon.

Upon returning, they were met with a warm welcome, especially from the elders of the family. The children had been away for months and were dearly missed.

As for those who didn’t return, although there was some regret, they weren’t too sad, knowing the kids were safe and working hard for their future home.

Almost everyone, except those who helped carry the frames, were hugged by their families back into the cave.

The presence of the Sun brothers caused quite a stir in the Hua family, especially with Qi Shi, who hadn’t even noticed that her second son hadn’t returned. Seeing the three brothers, who had always taken care of her, so badly injured, she couldn’t stop her tears, which flowed like torrents, leaving the Sun brothers at a loss, seeking help from Hua Chengtian.

Hua Chengtian couldn’t bear to see his wife cry and quickly went to comfort her, heedless of anyone watching.

After a while, Qi Shi’s emotions calmed down, and she, feeling concerned, began to warmly inquire about and attend to the three brothers.

Old Man Hua and Old Woman Hua looked with a sorrowful tenderness at the brothers from their daughter-in-law’s family, who were not blood relatives but felt like family.

Especially upon hearing about their encounter with a wolf pack, Old Woman Hua was heartbroken and hurried to the stove to prepare food, thinking the three brothers needed to be well-nourished after such an ordeal, covered in blood as they were.

Although her heart ached, she was still a woman, and since they weren’t her real brothers, she left them to her husband and joined her mother-in-law in preparing food.

The three brothers were touched by Qi Xiu’s family’s warmth, especially seeing her doing so well, which put their minds at ease. They decided to recuperate here, as Hua Chengtian suggested.

They had no choice; their injuries wouldn’t allow them to return until they were healed, even though they missed their family.

Especially Old Si, who was so severely injured that even simple movements were currently impossible.

With three additional people in the family, Hua Chengtian, along with his eldest son, quickly set up a new makeshift tent, providing them with a place to rest. Fortunately, the space in their cave was ample, and they could squeeze them in.

After settling the three brothers in for a rest, Hua Chengtian took his father aside to discuss matters.

He talked about the warming temperatures.

Old Man Hua truly hadn’t noticed this; he had been busy making crossbow parts and seldom left the cave unless necessary.

"Is what you said true?"

Seeing his son nod, Old Man Hua immediately stood up and went outside the cave to experience it for himself.

The idle Hua Jin’er, curious, followed him out.

"Grandpa, what’s wrong?" Hua Jin’er curiously looked at her grandfather, surprised that he had pulled down his scarf as if he weren’t afraid of the cold anymore.

"Jin’er, try and see if the temperature has risen."

Perhaps because he often stayed inside the cave, he only ever felt cold whenever he came out. He hadn’t really noticed any temperature rise, but his dear granddaughter was different. She had always feared the cold, so Old Man Hua quickly said.

Has it really warmed up? Hua Jin’er glanced at her father.

Seeing her father nod, she quickly pulled down her furry scarf, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

With her brother effectively keeping her under house arrest lately, she hardly ever went out. Spending her days cooped up in the cave, Hua Jin’er simply hadn’t noticed any temperature changes.

Not to mention, given her grandfather’s reminder, even before pulling down her scarf, she felt the temperature indeed had changed. Normally, stepping outside felt like cold air or a bitter wind stabbed at her eyes, but now she could almost keep her eyes open.

Though the cold still pierced her face once she pulled her scarf down, it seemed less unbearable.

It really was warming up. Hua Jin’er widened her eyes; knowing what’s to come, she couldn’t have been happier.

She mentally calculated the time; indeed, the severe cold had lasted a year, just like in her dreams.

"Father," Hua Jin’er looked at her father and then quickly took out a thermometer, finally seeing the mercury settle at minus fifty-three degrees.

Although still cold, it was a significant improvement from the previous nearly minus seventy degrees. The severe cold was indeed passing.

She handed the thermometer to her father and grandfather.

Old Man Hua, who was already proficient with thermometers, confirmed it multiple times.

In the cave, Hua Da Ge saw his grandfather, father, and little sister with strange expressions. Although he was curious, not being someone who liked to pry, he figured he should take over his sister’s cooking duties instead.

As for Xiao Si, he couldn’t sit still. After his father returned, he was happy for a while but soon ran back to the Big Cave to assume his role as a little leader.

"Jin’er, did you dream whether the weather warms up suddenly or gradually? Take your time to think." Old Man Hua said softly, sitting his granddaughter down beside him.

Hua Jin’er wanted to know this too. Showing her thoughts on her face, she carefully recalled her dream scenes.

After a moment, she shook her head at her expectant grandfather and father.

Her dreams were always fragmented, with no transitions, just one scene after another, lacking detailed information.

Father and son exchanged a glance, starting to deliberate.

Since they couldn’t rely on the child’s dream, they’d need a plan for the warming temperatures.

"Father, I think we should relocate to the valley once the temperature rises a bit more, reaching those of our usual winters. I’m afraid if we wait too long, the melting snow and ice might delay our departure, and more importantly, hinder planting in the valley," said Hua Chengtian, voicing his concerns.

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