Chapter 22: What is the Shi Family's Foundation?

Nong Yasi frowned as she looked at Shi Yuebai. This girl, whose obesity was quite abnormal, possessed an indescribable quality. One felt compelled to listen to her, as if disobeying would lead to dire consequences should she become angry.

Nong Yasi’s lips parted. "Your mother’s labor will be extremely difficult; you must prepare some food for her, or she won't have the strength to pull through."

In the wasteland, giving birth was naturally discouraged. With radiation everywhere, there was no telling what kind of monster might be born. Yet, in such harsh environments, women were often subjected to cruel fates. Most of the time, pregnancy was not a choice; it happened, and often, the women didn't even realize it until it was too late. Such was the case with Mother Shi.

Shi Yuebai struck Chen Huaihai with her staff once more. She turned around and said, "Let's go. I need to give my mother some mental strength."

When Shi Yuebai entered the tarp shelter, Mother Shi was drenched in sweat, pinned to the bed by the second daughter-in-law. Even now, she was trying to stand up, thinking that perhaps changing positions would alleviate the agony.

"Yuebai, your second sister-in-law is unfilial! She wants to kill me, hurry and help me hit her!"

Mother Shi had never liked her second daughter-in-law. It was a remnant of the class-conscious mindset from before the apocalypse. The Shi family had been wealthy, and the second son was the typical heir to a family conglomerate. The second daughter-in-law had been a famous actress at the time. It was a classic "actress marries into a wealthy family" story. Mother Shi, who held herself in high regard, naturally disliked a woman she suspected of being after their money, and she had often made life difficult for her.

When the apocalypse arrived, the second daughter-in-law did not abandon her dim-witted husband like the other vain women had. But by then, Mother Shi had already been driven mad by the wasteland radiation. The story of the actress marrying into wealth had reached its end.

Shi Yuebai coasted over on her flatbed cart. "Mom, she is not being unfilial. Once you deliver the baby, the pain will stop."

Mother Shi could barely listen to anyone else, but she would listen to her most cherished daughter. She stopped struggling, though she remained limp. Shi Yuebai took her mother’s hand and turned to Nong Yasi. "I can ensure she has enough strength. Hurry with your work."

Nong Yasi glanced at the sick, frail, and pregnant members of the Shi family. Although they were just women and girls under a tarp, the atmosphere here was surprisingly comfortable. She gritted her teeth, knelt on the mat, and began to press on Mother Shi's massive belly.

Mother Shi let out a shriek like a slaughtered pig.

At the same time, Shi Yuebai closed her eyes, beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead. Enduring the pain in her meridians, she compressed the fat in her body, converting it into energy, and funneled it bit by bit into her mother.

To resist such intense pain, one must consume all of one's energy. Over the past few years, Mother Shi had lived in the wasteland in a state of madness, yet even in her delusions, she had always saved her own rations for her beloved daughter. Her body was already shattered—a mere skeleton carrying a massive belly. It was impossible to imagine the extent of her suffering.

To counter this pain and give her mother the strength to deliver, Shi Yuebai had to output double the fat energy. This wasn't just about the amount, but the intensity of the flow. Her own meridians were blocked to a maddening degree, and the energy could only travel through gaps thinner than a strand of hair. It was slow and limited. But because her mother’s needs were great, Shi Yuebai had to force a double output.

She had no choice. Her meridians were fragile; forcing it too hard could cause them to snap, risking her own life. She could only double the speed of the energy flow. The pain, too, doubled. Shi Yuebai bit her lip, holding her mother’s hand tightly, providing a constant stream of energy.

In the depths of the pain, Shi Yuebai cursed internally. *What is this? I am a Great Shaman, a selfish being by nature. Why am I sacrificing myself for this group of people? It’s infuriating.* She felt as though her personality was turning into that of a saint.

"Yuebai, Yuebai..."

Mother Shi’s voice sounded. Lying on the mattress, tears streaming from her eyes, she saw her daughter drenched in sweat, biting her lip to hide her own agony. Even then, Mother Shi cried, "Yuebai, does it hurt?"

"Mom is here. Oh, oh, Mom is here. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt."

Shi Yuebai felt a pang of sorrow. Mother Shi might not have been a good mother-in-law, but she was undoubtedly a good mother. She took a breath, keeping her voice steady. "It’s okay, Mom. It will stop hurting soon."

The original owner had eaten her mother's rations, and Shi Yuebai now inhabited this body. This debt of gratitude, Shi Yuebai would repay. She gritted her teeth and pushed her fat energy to flow three times faster than before. Her meridians went numb with pain. She couldn't tell if her own suffering was lighter or heavier than her mother's labor.

"It’s out! It’s out!"

Nong Yasi, who had been stoic and exhausted, suddenly burst into a smile. A sense of vitality returned to her face. She said excitedly, "It’s a girl."

The second daughter-in-law was also moved. She turned toward the sound of the faint, thin cry. "How is the baby?" Specifically, were there any missing limbs?

"The baby is perfectly formed." Nong Yasi handed the blood-covered infant to the second daughter-in-law and began to clean up.

Shi Yuebai finally released her mother’s hand. The pain subsided, and she sat silently on her cart, looking at the newborn in her sister-in-law's arms.

Little Shi Yaoyao crawled over from the fire, not minding that Shi Yuebai was drenched in sweat. She climbed into her lap. "Auntie..."

"Good girl, Yaoyao. Pass that kettle to Auntie."

The kettle was a new aluminum one they had brought during their flight. Shi Yuebai resignedly used a water-summoning spell to fill it. While Nong Yasi was busy with her mother, Shi Yuebai had Yaoyao take some coals from the fire and place them into the base of the kettle. This type of outdoor kettle was designed conveniently; the coals not only kept their heat but also warmed the water.

Shi Yuebai had Yaoyao fetch a small plastic basin, then poured the warm water into it. "Second sister-in-law, bring the baby over. Let's wash her a little."

Nong Yasi watched the steaming basin in shock. What kind of background did the Shi family have? To have such clear water—and to use it to bathe a newborn?