Prologue. Chapter 0 Blank 2156. Sprout

Jean slept peacefully one night. In the faint light of the morning light, Jean woke up and could already hear the sounds of children playing outside the house.

Opening the door, Tasia took some children and played happily in the snow. Gene yawned and walked over. Many of these young children also had physical problems, but Tasia was the only one. Ya, every move she made on the snow seemed full of vitality, and Tasia didn't have any of these symptoms, which surprised Gene.

"Perhaps Tasia was born with better genes. She has never had any dark spots or tumors on her body in these years, so she was chosen by the Sheriff."

Jean nodded. The Sheriff named Yefim is the Sheriff in the south of Winter City. He is very powerful and can indeed bring Tasia a good life.

"Come on Gene, you can go hunting now, I'll take you there."

Oleg looked at his granddaughter with some worry, Jean said with a smile.

"I won't let your granddaughter come to harm in the slightest."

Oleg's body could no longer hold on anymore. This month of continuous hunting was almost too much for him. Many younger people in the village followed him, and Oleg felt relieved.

Under the guidance of the villagers, Gene and Tasia were talking and laughing. At this time, they were at the back of the team. Tasia deliberately slowed down, and there was a hint of shyness on Tasia's red face.

"Jean, do you think I'm beautiful?"

Gene nodded, and Tasia smiled happily. She could see through Tasia's thoughts at a glance. This simple and kind-hearted child has a bright heart. In such a harsh environment, she still smiles every day. There is no Like everyone else, I look sad every day.

"Jean, I think if I'm pretty good like you, I don't want to marry Yefim, who is almost 20 years older than me."

Gene didn't know what to say, so he took out his pipe, put in a little tobacco, and started smoking.

"Listen to your grandpa Tasia, this is the way to survive."

Tasia felt a little aggrieved for a moment, but she still nodded, with a hint of helplessness on her face. Gene smiled and nodded.

"Jean, do you have a lover?"

"Can you tell?"

Tasia nodded.

"The way I look at you is different. If you have someone important, your eyes will be brighter. Can you tell me about it?"

Gene smiled and nodded.

"My wife is a girl named Ellie. She is very similar to you, very beautiful and very kind. We met in an alley on the corner of a street."

Tasia was a little confused. At this time, there was a sudden movement in front of her eyes. Gene was ejected in an instant. Tasia looked at everything in front of her in disbelief.

Bang bang

Accompanied by two loud noises, two black monsters hidden in the trees rushed out in an instant. They were hit by Jean and flew out. One of them fell unconscious immediately. The villagers hurriedly took out their guns and bows. Jean Signaling them not to mess around, another monster pounced on them again.

Click

Jean broke the monster's neck with one hand, and the villagers cheered with joy. They had gained a lot less than an hour after they came out.

"Can you teach me Gene?"

Tasia asked with a smile. Gene looked at this innocent and romantic girl and nodded.

A group of people also planned to go back. After all, if Jean hadn't been in time, some of them would have been bitten by the monster. This kind of monster is very powerful. If it is bitten, the bones will be broken.

The sky was always gray, with a glimmer of light. Even though it was already approaching noon, I could still only feel a hint of warmth.

Back in the village, all the villagers came out. Everyone was laughing and joking happily. Oleg breathed a sigh of relief and captured two more of these mutated beasts. Now the village does not have to worry about it for a whole month. Food is no longer a problem, and the bones can be exchanged for some food, so everyone doesn’t have to go to bed for three months.

The village that originally seemed like a backwater began to become lively because of Jean's arrival.

At this time, there was the sound of an engine at the entrance of the village not far away, and a car drove slowly towards this side.

"Brother Lev!"

Tasia ran over from afar, and Gene saw it was a truck with some bags covered with animal skins, which were supplies in the back.

There were two people driving. One of them looked much younger. He was wearing a black uniform with a star brochure on his shoulder. The other was wearing a hat and uniform. He looked older. He had a big beard and a different look on his face. Fewer dark spots.

The car stopped slowly. After the young man who called Lev got out of the car, he immediately hugged his sister Tasia affectionately. From Tasia's eyes, Gene probably guessed that the person next to him was Ye Fim.

Sure enough, the villagers gathered around and greeted Yefim respectfully. Yefim stared directly at Tasia. At this time, Oleg also came closer, and Yefim looked towards Gene. , and the two monster corpses on the ground that were being processed, felt a little surprised.

However, at this moment, Yefim laughed and walked to Tasia's side.

"Dear Tasia, I"

Seeing Tasia's disdainful look, Yefim just smiled helplessly.

"Brother Lev, when did you become a security guard?"

Tasya asked excitedly. Oleg and the villagers also knew that it was because of her that Lev got the upper hand. Lev worked in a greenhouse in the city and took care of crops. It should be impossible for him to be so lucky to become a security guard.

Looking at the full car of food, the villagers also helped to unload it. At this time, Tasya was immersed in the reunion with her brother who had not seen her for a long time. She talked a lot with her and finally introduced Gene. Yefim was a little confused.

Especially when he heard the villagers talk about Gene's incredible power, he seemed even more confused.

"Your name is Gene, right? What is your purpose here?"

Yefim spoke with a hint of hostility, and Gene shook his head.

"I just got lost and came here. I will leave after a while."

Then Yefim and Oleg walked into the room. Although Lev had a smile on his face, Gene saw some helplessness in his eyes.

Gene looked at the two people who walked into the room, walked slowly, and disappeared after a while.

Tasya looked around for Gene, but no one saw him. Oleg was sitting in the room, looking a little uncomfortable. Yefim sighed.

"I've seen many girls, but I only like Tasya. If I keep dragging it out, I might be forced to marry another girl."

Oleg nodded immediately. Yefim looked around, his eyes excited, and took out a small bottle of medicine from his pocket.

"I'll leave the things here. If I decide, I'll stay tonight."

Oleg picked up the medicine on the table without saying a word.

"When Tasya falls asleep tonight, you can enter her room. When things are done, you can take her back to Winter City tomorrow morning. I just hope you can..."

"Thank you, Oleg."

Yefim gave Oleg a hug excitedly, but at this time Oleg always felt that there were other people in the room, staring at the two of them, and felt a little numb on his back. He also knew Tasya's character and would not agree.

Lev came here today and has become a security guard. The two siblings will have a good life in the future. If Tasya still does not agree to marry Yefim, Lev will not be able to continue his work as a security guard, and he will not have much time left.

"Don't worry, Oleg, I will treat Tasya well in the future, and you may have a chance to see your great-grandson."

Yefim stood up and walked out of the house in a good mood. At this time, Oleg looked at the stairs at home. He was not sure if his consciousness had reached the point of suspicion, but as an old hunter with years of experience, he could not hide any noise from himself.

"Is it you, Mr. Gene!"

Oleg sniffed, and at this time he looked at Gene in amazement as he appeared out of thin air and leaned against the stairs.

"It's a bit cruel to force a young girl in her prime in this way."

This can't be helped, Gene. You should be able to understand it. If you have really witnessed too many things along the way, Gene nodded and disappeared into the corridor again without saying a word. Oleg clenched the anesthetic in his hand and planned to put it in his granddaughter's food tonight. As long as he wakes up early tomorrow morning, everything will be fine.

"Where have you been, Gene? This is my brother Lev."

Tasya finally found Gene behind a room.

"I just went for a walk."

Tasya pouted and pulled Lev over. Lev was full of hostility at this time, because he felt that his sister's eyes looking at this man were a little wrong, and this man was indeed very handsome.

Many people in the village were talking about him along the way. If it weren't for him, someone might have starved to death yesterday.

"Can we talk? Your name is Gene, right?"

Gene nodded. Tasya wanted to follow, but Gene shook his head.

"Tasia, can you go see your grandfather? He doesn't seem to be in good health."

After a while, at the edge of the grove near the village, Lev took out his gun and pointed it at Gene's head.

"Stay away from my sister. This is my warning to you. You'd better leave today, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."

Gene smiled and stretched out a finger to push on Lev's revolver and moved away.

"Do you really think your sister will be happy in the future?"

Lev's eyes were full of hesitation and cowardice. He didn't dare to look into Gene's eyes. The man in front of him seemed to be able to see through everything.

"It has nothing to do with you. You are an outsider and don't know anything about this place."

Gene reached into his pocket, Lev was nervous, and Gene took out his pipe.

"Do you have any tobacco on you!"

Lev took out a small box of tobacco from his pocket. Gene said thank you and walked slowly.

"Ah, it has nothing to do with me. I will leave tomorrow."

Lev punched the tree angrily, and snowflakes fell. He was very sad at this moment, because his sister was only 16 years old. He thought that he could rely on his own strength to take his grandfather and sister to live in Winter City, but the result was cruel.

The people here don't understand the situation in Winter City at all. Corruption is rampant. Those who control the materials live a carefree life every day, while the poor can only starve every day.

In a recent fight, Lev was arrested. He was to be sent to a mine in the west to work indefinitely until his death. The reason was that the owner of the small farm where he worked withheld their food. Originally, in addition to food and accommodation, there were 5 kilograms of wheat per month, but the farmer was mean and only gave them 1 kilogram each. Everyone was dissatisfied, and a fight broke out with the farmer's men. In the end, not only did they not get 1 kilogram of wheat, but they were also sent to the mine.

When Lev thought of his grandfather who was getting worse and worse and his sister who was only 16 years old, he regretted it. He would send some food back every month. If he was really caught in the mine, the two people in his family would starve to death.

In the end, Lev was sent to the mine. He didn't go back for several months. Later, Lev was brought to the mine by the cruel sheriff Yefim and fished out.

At that time, Lev was shocked. He followed Yefim back home once. At that time, Yefim proposed to marry his sister Tasya, but he didn't expect his grandfather to agree at once.

The city has become like this because of the collusion between the sheriffs and the farmers. Now the city is overcrowded, and every person at the bottom is suffering and struggling, but the city center is prosperous every day. He doesn't understand what's wrong with this world and why everyone can't help each other more.

After that, Lev was assigned to the team of security guards. He was a little proud at first, although he knew very well that Yefim had changed more than ten wives in a row, and there were rumors that he had killed several wives.

Gene was walking in the snow. At this time, in the distance, a car was coming towards this side, and nearly 30 security guards came over.

"What are you doing!"

Looking at several men who were already drunk, Yefim was a little angry. He was still a little afraid to come to such a place, so he brought more than 30 men with him. Unexpectedly, these men disappeared halfway, and Lev was driving the car all the time. He was always alert to Lev next to him.

Yefim knew that his life was precious, so he had always been kind to Lev, providing him with shelter and food. As long as he married the little beauty, he planned to send Lev to this village.

"Boss, we have no choice. We saw some animals on the road, so we went hunting."

As the security guards showed the animals they had hunted, Yefim immediately laughed and began to praise them.

Jean quietly looked at the guys in front of him, and the villagers didn't dare to approach them.

"No matter what kind of society it is, it's the same."

Jean, who was leaning against the wooden house, said, Yefim was already very happy at this time. She liked beautiful and delicate girls like Tasya the most, and planned to have some fun tonight.

"Jean, what did you just say to my brother? I saw my brother going crazy by the woods alone."

Jean looked at Tasya with a slightly serious expression, but he began to hesitate in his heart. He had seen many of those guys in front of him. Women were just toys in their hands at best. Once they got tired of playing, they would throw women away and dispose of them like garbage.

At this time, Lev, who was not far away, was still staring at Jean, his eyes were straight as if he was about to spit out flames, and Jean smiled and walked away.

Tasya followed all the way and kept asking Jean the reason, but Jean just smiled and said.

"Your brother is a little angry because he is very worried about you, because he knows that you don't like Yefim very much."

"That's right, why do you all tell me to listen to grandpa, can't I make my own decision? What kind of person do I like and what kind of person do I want to marry for the rest of my life."

Jean raised his head, took out some more tobacco, lit it and smiled helplessly.

"This may be something that cannot be helped in such an era."

"Why Gene!"

Gene was a little surprised, looking at Tashia who looked at him stubbornly, with a red face.

"Why in such an era, people must choose to swallow their anger and feel that they are miserable? I don't think so. We are human beings, not animals. Come with me, Gene."

Tashia said, pulling Gene's hand and running. After a while, in a place outside the village, Gene looked at a piece of land with some surprise. The snow had been cleared, and things were planted in the exposed land, and some things had sprouted.

"Look, Gene, it's just that we don't want to move and accept the tragic facts. If we don't want to accept these tragic facts, we should move. I and a few children will come here to clean up every day. Although the snow will not melt, we can clear the snow and plant things."

Tashia said and began to move some stones and put them where the snow and the land were connected. Gene slowly stepped on the small piece of land reclaimed by the children, and for a time, he felt mixed emotions.

"That kind of thing can't be grown at all. If it snows, it will freeze to death."

At this time, Lev's cold voice came from behind. Gene turned around and stroked the sprouts with one hand. Tasya immediately stood up and argued with Lev.

"If you don't believe me, just watch. It will definitely grow."

"It can't be grown."

"How do you know if you don't try?"

Lev was a little speechless for a while, but he still shouted angrily.

"I can tell it can't be grown with my own eyes."

Gene smiled gently, looking at the crops here. Although the girl behind him was only 16 years old, her heart was much stronger than his brother and grandfather, and even other people in the village.

"Don't waste the seeds you bought with great difficulty. Tasya, come back with me. Yefim wants to see you."

Tasya shook her head stubbornly.

"I won't marry him. If I marry, I will only marry a man like Gene."

Gene stood up helplessly for a while and pushed Tasya's back. It can be seen that Lev's eyes were very anxious.

Lev was a little scared. He was afraid that Yefim would use tough measures, which might harm the villagers.

"Go and see him. As long as you follow your heart, you won't lose a piece of meat."

As soon as Gene finished speaking, Lev widened his eyes. Tasya was still dragged away by Lev. Gene carefully surveyed the land, took some branches, and began to loosen the soil of the hard land. The temperature here was obviously higher than the temperature outside.

In the process of loosening the soil, Gene also found some tender shoots that were about to grow.

"The power of belief, or the power of hope! What you said happened again in front of me, Ellie."

Gene quietly lay on the ground, digging the soil carefully.

For all this in front of him, the hope that finally appeared, Gene wanted to protect this hope. He looked back at the village behind him, and after fiddling with it for a while, he sat in the snow, smoking silently, and one smoke ring after another came out of Gene's mouth.

The girl in front of him made Gene feel incredible. She was so petite and weak, but there seemed to be a huge power hidden in her body, which was enough to break through despair.