Chapter 255


    Austin couldn''t help but chuckle at their timid behavior, "Why are you all looking at me like that? Just


    take it."


    He wasn''t keen on doing so, but they all had families to take care of. He couldn''t let his pride lead


    their families to hunger.


    When Monkey came to receive his ration, Ste smiled and asked, "Did you get a house?"


    "I did," Monkey grinned, "I couldn''t have done it without you."


    Their points were sufficient, but they were short on food. Austin had covered it for them.


    Monkey was pleased, "Miss, our house is right across the police station. Once it''s all fixed up, you


    shoulde and visit."


    They never thought they could afford such a hot spot. It was Austin who had used his connections


    to get the deal done.


    Ste almost choked, "You folks who engage in spective buying and selling chose to live right


    across a police station? You''ve got balls. Aren''t you afraid they''ll raid your ce?"


    Monkey boasted, "You''re missing the point. The most dangerous ce is often the safest."


    Fate indeed. Ste never expected that she, along with Jasper, Monkey, his buddies, and the


    residents from the Eastwood Eden would end up owning the entire building.


    At least they knew each other very well, lessening the chances of major chaos.


    The major work was temporarily done and Monkey and his group shifted their focus on renovating


    Austin''s vi.


    To Ste''s amusement, they copied everything down to thest dot. Not just the structure but even


    the brand of cement Austin used was the same as that of Ste''s.


    Ste had a lot of finishing touches to do and had already paid their wages in food, so she didn''t


    need to go and help.


    The outer walls of the house were thick. Jasper decided to install two doors, an electrically charged


    stainless steel door on the outside and a heavy wooden door inside. It was like the ancient city


    gates, not even a battering ram could break it down.


    However, they didn''t have the right materials. Ste quickly came up with a solution, "Let''s install


    the steel door first andter we can have Patrick custom-make the wooden one."


    They nted vegetables and raised rabbits in the backyard. In the front yard, they built two flower


    beds where they nned to nt honeysuckles.


    Jasper smoothed andpacted the ground while Steid out the pebbles they had gathered


    from the river.


    They installed a sr generator on the roof and wired the entire house.


    There was refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, heater, induction cooktop and gas stove.


    Always enjoy what you have while you can, since cmities can strike anytime.


    Ste had stockpiled many appliancesin Arcadia. She had brought out almost everything that could


    improve their lives. They were all ced on the second floor. The living room on the first floor was


    kept rtively simple.


    Jasper installed a door at the stair entrance. It could be left open but when guests or rowdy children


    were around, it was best to keep it closed.


    The reasons were easy to find: in the post-apocalyptic world, it wasn''t safe. Having an extrayer of


    protection by installing the door added an additional safeguard in case someone unauthorized tried


    to enter.


    The second floor was more luxurious with a sofa, a tea table and, to top it off, a six-figure massage


    chair.


    In the corner, there was a high-end three-door refrigerator filled with various fruits and snacks. So,


    whenever Rosie and Cooper were hungry, they could just grab something. Rosie, who was eight,


    still had a lot to learn about cooking.


    It took a few days to clean the entire ce.


    Rosie''s room was right next to the study and Ste and Jasper''s master bedroom was next to that.


    The windows were doubleyered with thick, anti-peeping ss and the doors were just as heavy.


    They even tested the soundproofing, which was pretty good.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    However, Cooper wasn''t satisfied. He gave up his own room, dragged his bean bag to the second


    floor and imed the living room as his territory.


    What a sensitive and clingy dog.


    Ste brought out 30 fertilized eggs from Arcadia, 10 each of chicken, duck, and goose, and ced


    them all in an incubator.


    Three years had passed since the disaster, and the 3000 chicken eggs they had stored were almost


    gone, as was the poultry meat. It was time to replenish their stock.


    Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they could live in the vi for six to seven years. As long as


    they raised their poultry well, they could easily store meat enough for several years.


    Jasper was supportive, "You can get some bamboo or wood out tomorrow, and I''ll build a coop for


    the chickens and ducks."


    Ste teased him, "Are you sure you can do it?"


    "Is there anything I can''t learn?"


    Three years of grinding had turned Jasper from a kitchen disaster and nting failure to a home


    chore expert. Now, he was a wall mason. What else could possibly stump him?


    Ste decided to dete his ego a bit, "Jasper, I suggest you not be too cocky."


    Jasper leaned in and pecked her lips, "I''ve got more confidence in other areas. Care to try?"


    Ste suddenly realized where this was going. Before she knew it, the door was locked, the curtains


    were drawn, and she was trapped.


    Ste grumbled, "You weren''t like this before."


    "Really?" Jasper opened a drawer to retrieve something, "Maybe you didn''t know me well enough."


    Indeed, this man was deceptively clever. At first, he appeared to be an upright, serious man. But in


    reality? He was a cunning fox in sheep''s clothing.


    After their fun, they woke upte. By the time they were done washing up, Rosie had already


    cooked a soup with meatballs, garnished with green onions. The aroma was heavenly.


    Listening to the radio while having breakfast was now a routine.


    New job openings were announced: official store managers, food factory workers, lime factory


    workers, ntation workers, security patrol officers, and more. Government positions were also


    avable, inviting capable individuals for interviews.


    Newtown was gradually improving and operating smoothly.


    Ste wasn''t interested. She had no intention of working and was determined to continue herid-


    back lifestyle.


    Just as they finished breakfast, they heard a car honk outside.


    Austin, along with his son, appeared, "Ste, my house is under construction and not safe. I''m


    afraid my son might get hurt. Can I leave him here for a while?"


    Survivors were constantly migrating to Newtown, making the old city area increasingly unsafe.


    Austin was busy with the renovation work and wasn''tfortable leaving his son at home.


    Dn, Austin''s precious son, was around eight or nine years old. He was dressed in a smart little


    suit and carried a big backpack. Unlike his talkative father, Dn was gentle and shy.


    In the future, they would be neighbors. Besides, since the little was already here, Ste found it


    difficult to refuse. "Okay, he can stay and y with Rosie. But remember to pick him up on time."


    "Alright, thanks for doing this."


    Austin didn''t go in. Standing at the entrance, he encouraged his son. "y with Rosie, buddy. I will


    be right next door. I''lle get youter."


    Dn felt a bit uneasy, but he still nodded in agreement.


    Ste guided Dn inside, "Rosie, we have a new friend here."


    Rosie, who had been upstairs sharing a peanut butter sandwich with Cooper, quickly wiped her


    mouth, stashed the food away, and even rinsed her mouth before descending.


    A new human? The dog narrowed his eyes as he watched from the stairs. He quickly used his paw


    to shut the door to the staircase, not allowing the neer to ascend.