Cave Refuge

Upon hearing Dong Tianyu's statement, Mr. Thompson's brows furrowed. He did not know why his son seemed so well-informed, but considering his son's foresight in previous situations, he made no attempt to contradict him.

After a few moments of silence, Mr. Thompson stood up and said to Dong Tianyu, "Come, we need to go to the shed."

Watching her husband and son rise and leave the dining table, Mrs. Thompson did not follow. Instead, she began clearing away the dishes on the table.

After all, in Mrs. Thompson's eyes, the two men leaving were her husband and her son; she was confident that whether they faced any hardships, the two of them would never abandon her, thus allowing them to have a private conversation.

Upon entering the storage room converted from a living room, Dong Tianyu had a rough idea why his father had brought him there.

Dong Tianyu had previously prepared many supplies for his parents. Though quite a few had been utilized, there was still about half of the supplies left in the storage room. His father most likely intended for him to relocate these supplies now.

Watching his son fall silent upon entering the storage room, Mr. Thompson assumed that his son was bothered by how fast the couple had gone through the resources. He thought his son was too polite to raise the issue, hence his silence.

In fact, Mr. Thompson was not wrong. At that time, Dong Tianyu had stored many supplies in a large warehouse. Aiming to give his parents a better life, he also filled a smaller warehouse with more high-quality supplies.

These included canned meat, fruits, cigarettes, wine, chocolates, and other snacks.

Although Dong Tianyu originally said these items were for their use, in truth, they wouldn't be able to consume all these supplies by themselves. Given that only about a third remained in the warehouse now, it's clear that they had shared them with others.

This was indeed understandable; newcomers need to contribute 'something' to smoothly integrate into a new circle.

In Pengcheng, men have a simple way of making friends - a round of drinks and acquaintances are made, a few more rounds and they become ordinary friends. Regular drinking sessions can lead to tight-knit relationships among the Pengcheng men.

The saying, "Tobacco leads the way and alcohol builds bridges," does make sense.

The situation isn't dissimilar for the women of Pengcheng. Very few of them abstain from alcohol. Mrs. Thompson, for example, can typically handle eight ounces of alcohol before feeling tipsy.

Just as Mr. Thompson prepared to explain himself to Dong Tianyu, Dong Tianyu spoke up, "Dad, I understand your intentions. I won't bring these things."

Walking into the warehouse, he picked up a can of peach slices and started eating, continuing, "Even though the number of fish in the waters is increasing, and we won't likely run out of food in Pengcheng anytime soon, these items hold a high value. I reckon we may have to relocate after the next disaster strikes. I want you to trade these items for a more comfortable place in the next Refuge Center."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Thompson's brow furrowed. "Are you suggesting...?"

"My thoughts are the same as yours. You've been living here for quite a while now, and I've come here frequently. I comprehend the situation at home."

"It was initially thought better for everyone to live together, but didn't my aunt and uncle leave right away? After the Cold Catastrophe, didn't the three families of Uncle One, Uncle Three, and Uncle Four decide to separate from us? "

"Even at that time, our family and Aunt Two's family lived together here. But now, aside from the occasional gathering at my grandfather's, I'm guessing you probably don't keep in regular contact, especially after you and Mom integrated into your new circles."

Upon hearing his son's words, Mr. Thompson instinctively wanted to rebut, but after contemplating it, he chose not to say anything. Eventually, he let out a helpless sigh.

"Dad, I've also come to understand that each family has its own life. They say 'absence makes the heart grow fonder', and it is applicable here. Even though we're all relatives, living together certainly leads to conflicts. Even if it's just small disagreements, over time, it can affect everyone's relationships."

"That's why I've come to this realization. My cousin and brother-in-law have both become official workers now. This time, I won't worry too much about it. If I try to do too much, it might even become bothersome."

Upon hearing his son's words, Mr. Thompson was initially at a loss, but upon reflection, he had to concede that his son was right.

Though Dong Tianyu often came home to visit them, he lived separately and so was unaware of the household's minor matters.

But, as Dong Tianyu pointed out, even among relatives and in spite of their difficult circumstances, the three families had managed to create small conflicts due to their incompatible ideals, souring their relationships.

Even though these were just minor issues, they were accumulating and causing their previously tightly-knit relationships to loosen, leaving gaps between each.

"Let's go with your plan. You've grown up, and it seems you may see some things more clearly than I do."

Upon hearing his father's words, Dong Tianyu immediately replied, "Dad, it's not that you don't understand, it's that those who are involved are often blinded. I observe things more clearly since I don't live with you."

Despite hearing his son's words, Mr. Thompson didn't want to continue down this line of conversation and attempted to shift the topic. "How should we manage the remaining supplies in the warehouse?"

Even though only about a third of the supplies were left in the warehouse, these couldn't all fit into three or five boxes. Dong Tianyu could shift all the items using the Shadow Space, but after some thought, he felt that such an action was inappropriate, besides he didn't lack these items.

"Dad, I don't need these things. With the fish starting to appear in the water, you and Mom can be a bit more 'luxurious' with your lifestyle. Try to go through as much as you can before the water drains out, leave a bit here. Actually, even if you don't, I have reserves. Either way, you two certainly won't go hungry."

Upon hearing his son's words, full of certainty, Mr. Thompson was taken aback. The little boy in his eyes was not only standing on his own two feet but also shouldering the burden of the family at this critical time.

When they had finished their conversation, the can of peaches in Dong Tianyu's hands was empty.

If it were in the past, Dong Tianyu eating while Mr. Thompson smoking during their conversation would definitely be out of place.

But with every correct decision Dong Tianyu made, the atmosphere during their talks became less serious and their conversations increasingly relaxed.

"Have you given any thought to what we'll do about your grandpa?"

"Doesn't he have my uncle? It's said raising sons ensures care in old age, raising sons ensures care in old age. It's not that I want to shirk responsibility, but my grandfather clearly needs someone to take care of him. However, my uncle ignores this side of the family and has moved in directly with my aunt. How does that make sense?"

"Ah well, there's nothing we can say about it. Right now, we don't know where your uncle is. Let's set this issue aside for now. If all else fails, we can have your grandfather live with us."

Once the main issues were discussed, Mr. Thompson's following comments prompted Dong Tianyu to escape in a hurry.