After the Salted Fish Transmigrated into a Book, He Discovered the Whole Family were Villains - Chapter 4

Jian Chengxi reached the basement level, which seemed to be the inner part of a small clinic. It was here that he saw other patients.

The assistant waved him over and said, “Mr. Jian, this way. You’re here to pick up your meal, right? Dr. Yao already told me. We’ve saved your food here and these three tubes of nutrient solution are for you to take.”

Jian Chengxi walked over.

He had originally thought that “food” would at least resemble an actual meal, but to his surprise, the so-called food turned out to be three test tubes filled with green nutrient liquid!

Jian Chengxi looked a little awkward. “Are these some kind of medicine for the patients?”

The assistant was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly and said, “When did you become so funny? Don’t we always drink this stuff?”

Jian Chengxi stared at the still green liquid in the tubes, deep in thought.

In fact, in his mind he was already furiously ranting to the system. “Everyone in this world drinks this stuff? You’re not messing with me, right!”

System: 【Sorry to disappoint you, but yes】

Jian Chengxi was feeling a little hopeless.

The assistant handed him the tubes of nutrient solution and added, “You better appreciate having these while you still can. I heard that due to resource shortages and the ongoing war, the price of nutrient solution is probably going to go up soon. When that happens, life in the underground city is going to get even harder.”

Jian Chengxi had already heard people mention the term “underground city” more than once.

Sky City and Underground City—if he was guessing correctly, people from the Underground City must be the lower class. He had noticed it himself. The towns and villages here had outdated infrastructure, nothing like a developed society.

Jian Chengxi tentatively asked, “Then if the price goes up, does that mean we won’t even have food to eat?”

The assistant shrugged and said, “With how bad the climate and environment are, and the Zerg constantly invading, most of the supplies go to the frontlines and Sky City. Who’s going to care whether ordinary people like us live or die? Honestly, sometimes I envy those who at least qualify for welfare because they might not starve. But people like me? We just have to hope for the best.”

Jian Chengxi felt a heavy weight settle in his heart.

The assistant was a healthy young man, and even he was struggling like this. Jian Chengxi himself had two children with him. Were they all just going to starve?

He returned to the ward, still troubled and preoccupied.

At some point, the two children had fallen asleep together. On the large bed, their two small bodies were snuggled up against each other, looking especially cute and fragile. In a chaotic world like this, even adults could barely survive. If he didn’t take care of these two, they probably wouldn’t make it either.

Jian Chengxi let out a soft sigh.

Li Suisui was a light sleeper. She stirred a little in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes to look at him, her voice small and sweet as she called out, “Daddy…”

Jian Chengxi quickly said, “You’re awake?”

Li Suisui nodded. Her thin little face lifted, and when she saw what Jian Chengxi was holding, her eyes lit up completely. “Is that food?”

Maybe she was a bit hungry because she reached out to take it.

But just as her hand hovered in midair, something seemed to cross her mind. As if by instinct, she quickly pulled her hand back in fear, even sneaking a cautious glance at Jian Chengxi.

Jian Chengxi asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Suisui shrank back by the edge of the bed. She glanced at Jian Chengxi and whispered as if explaining, “I’ll be good, I won’t steal food. Daddy, please don’t hit me…”

Jian Chengxi was at a loss for words.

So the original person not only refused to feed the kids but even hit them?!

Jian Chengxi asked, “Then what did you two eat before?”

Li Suisui pressed her lips together and softly replied, “We picked fruit to eat.”

“……”

No wonder she was so frail.

Jian Chengxi’s hand trembled slightly as he held the nutrient solution. Then he placed it directly into Li Suisui’s hands and said, “Don’t eat that stuff anymore. Drink this instead. This is for you.”

Li Suisui looked at him in surprise.

Jian Chengxi’s voice was firm and sincere. “I promise, I’ll never hit you again.”

Li Suisui watched as Jian Chengxi put the other two tubes of nutrient solution on the cabinet and said, “These two are for your brother. He can drink them when he wakes up.”

“What about Daddy?” Li Suisui asked. “Daddy’s not eating?”

Jian Chengxi waved his hand and smiled. “I’m not hungry. When I came in, I saw there’s still fruit hanging on the trees outside. I’ll just eat that. You didn’t know, Daddy loves fruit. I’ve been meaning to lose some weight anyway.”

Li Suisui blinked in confusion.

He’s not even fat so why would he want to lose weight?

After setting down the nutrient solution, Jian Chengxi got ready to head outside to pick some fruit. He reminded his daughter, “Stay here and rest. Daddy’s going out to take care of something. I’ll be back soon.”

Li Suisui nodded obediently. She clung to his hand with a hint of reliance and said, “Daddy, come back soon.”

Jian Chengxi said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be quick!”

He rushed out the door, and the room fell quiet again.

Li Suisui stared at the nutrient solution in her hands for a while. Then she turned her head toward the boy lying on the bed and softly called, “Gege…”

The boy on the bed opened his eyes.

Li Suisui pointed to the two tubes of nutrient solution on the cabinet. “Daddy said those are for you.”

The boy didn’t move.

Li Suisui’s small figure scooted over to her brother’s side. She hugged the tube of nutrient solution and leaned against him, speaking softly, “Gege, I think Daddy’s changed. Do you think, maybe he doesn’t hate us anymore?”

The boy turned his eyes to glance at his sister, his voice young but hoarse. “He won’t change.”

“We’re defective children. He’ll never like us.” His face was far too calm for someone his age. He said, “He’s always wanted to abandon us. Now that he has no jade token and no money, with his personality, he’s probably planning to sell us.”

Li Suisui’s eyes widened. She didn’t cry or insist, like other little girls might, that “Daddy would never do that.”

On the contrary—

She quickly calmed down. Her little face carried a disappointed smile, but not a single tear. She only whispered, “Daddy’s gotten smarter than before.”

…

Meanwhile, Jian Chengxi, still picking fruit in the woods behind the hospital, had no idea the two kids were already scheming around him.

He spat out the fruit in his mouth. “So sour! It tastes awful!”

The system remarked sarcastically: 【Host, your children’s affection level toward you has dropped to -10】

Jian Chengxi was stunned. “What?!”

The system responded: 【When there’s a major fluctuation in affection levels, this system will issue a notification. Please examine whether your behavior may be the cause.】

“You can do that?” Jian Chengxi wiped the fruit on his clothes and said, “What could I have done wrong? Why would their affection drop? You must’ve made a mistake. Hey, this one’s actually sweet—I’ll bring it back for my daughter.”

The system had nothing to say to its hopelessly naïve host.

…

A few days later, it was time to be discharged from the hospital.

Jian Chengxi looked at the boy lying on the hospital bed. His younger son was especially quiet and hadn’t spoken a word to him these past few days.

At first, Jian Chengxi almost thought the kid might be autistic, but after seeing him communicate normally with his sister, he was relieved. Most likely, the boy still hated the original Jian Chengxi.

When Li Chen tried to get up, he struggled to walk and nearly fell to the ground.

From outside the door, the doctor said, “His leg hasn’t healed well and still needs rest. Otherwise, it could easily lead to permanent damage. The main issue is that my clinic’s equipment is poor. If you could take him to one of the big hospitals in Sky City and find the high elf Miraj, she might be able to help.”

Jian Chengxi asked, “Do you have Miraj’s contact information?”

The doctor gave him a surprised look.

Jian Chengxi said sincerely, “Once I’ve saved up enough money, I’ll take him to see her.”

The doctor wasn’t sure if he was just putting on a show or genuinely meant it, but in the end, she sighed and wrote down Miraj’s contact information for him.

Jian Chengxi took it and carefully put it away. “Thanks.”

While they were talking outside, inside the room, Li Chen leaned on his sister and tried to walk out with difficulty.

A sharp pain shot through his leg, but he endured it in silence. A thin layer of sweat formed on his pale little face and forehead. At three years old, most children would sit on the ground and cry if they fell, but he didn’t say a word. He just kept his head down and walked forward. His small frame trembled slightly from the pain, yet his back remained perfectly straight.

And then—

A warm hand suddenly rested gently on his back.

Jian Chengxi had just returned with the contact information and rushed in, saying anxiously, “Why are you walking out on your own?”

Li Chen froze, his lips pressed together, thinking he was about to get scolded.

But Jian Chengxi simply and gently picked him up. “Your leg’s not healed yet, you shouldn’t be walking around. So disobedient.”

Though the words sounded like scolding, there wasn’t a trace of harshness in his tone.

Instead, every word was laced with concern.

Li Chen’s usually calm eyes showed a rare flash of panic, but it was quickly concealed. He spoke in a low voice, finally saying his first words to Jian Chengxi in days, “I can walk on my own.”

He thought Jian Chengxi would drop the act immediately and toss him aside like before.

But—

Jian Chengxi just gave a quiet laugh and even held him tighter, saying softly, “Don’t worry, Daddy’s strong. This is nothing.”

Li Chen leaned against his back. It was solid and warm, so reliable.

He knew it was a lie, but that rare gentleness still made him lose focus for a moment.

Jian Chengxi said softly, “Let’s go.”

He walked to the doorway, took his daughter’s hand, and though his steps were slow and steady, his voice was cheerful and firm, “Let’s go home.”

…

When the group returned home, they were hit by a wave of damp and musty air.

After being away for a few days and with a rainstorm in between, not only had water pooled inside the house, but even the windows had grown mold. More cobwebs hung from the roof, and the table and cabinets were bare. It was utterly empty, a picture of poverty.

Jian Chengxi set the children down and said, “You two stay here and play for a bit.”

The two kids watched as he rushed off into his room.

Inside, Jian Chengxi began frantically rummaging through what the original owner had left behind. He searched every drawer and under the bed, but couldn’t find any money. He muttered, “Why was this guy so damn poor?”

The system said: 【The original’s husband left a large sum of money before joining the army. Over the years, he squandered it all on clothes and jewelry.】

Jian Chengxi cursed under his breath, “He still had the mood to buy clothes? Look at how starved the kids are!”

As he spoke, he choked up.

It was like something suddenly clicked in his mind. He rushed over to the wardrobe.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled it open. Despite the plain-looking exterior, the wardrobe was packed with clothes of all kinds. Just by touching the fabric, he could tell they were expensive. Clearly, the original had spent a lot of money here!

Jian Chengxi ran his hands over the clothes, a bit excited. “Money… it’s all money…”

The system remained silent.

Without hesitation, Jian Chengxi stuffed all the clothes into a suitcase. In a hurry, he flung the door open—only to find the two kids standing right outside.

Li Suisui called out carefully, “Daddy…”

Jian Chengxi bent down. “What is it?”

Li Suisui asked, “What were you doing in the room?”

They had heard all the rummaging inside, and the two kids weren’t stupid. They knew he must’ve been searching for money. After all, the house was completely empty now.

Jian Chengxi smiled and said, “Oh, nothing much. Just packing some things. You’re probably hungry, right? Daddy’s going to figure out a way to buy you some food. Be good and stay home, okay?”

Li Chen also glanced at the suitcase.

Li Suisui clutched the corner of Jian Chengxi’s shirt uneasily. “Daddy, take us with you.”

Jian Chengxi just thought the kids were being clingy and said comfortingly, “You’re both still little so what would you do out there? Don’t worry, I’m just going to exchange some things for money. I’ll be back really soon!”

With that, he grabbed the suitcase and hurried downstairs, ready to sell the clothes.

The door opened and closed again. The room went quiet. It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Li Suisui and Li Chen exchanged a glance.

Heh.

Daddy really was going to find his lover and run away again.