Farming for Survival in the Apocalypse Chapter 167 Discussion

If you think the ML is a "a little pushy", or an overall green flag, please re-evaluate the relationships you have with the men in your life for your own sake.

In ch163, the FL is "jokingly" upset about not letting the ML kiss/sleep with her after he interrupts her video with PDA and almost doxxes them online.

MTL of the ML's response:

Spoiler

"You have the heart to leave me without satisfying me. Who knows, one day I might make the same mistake that all men make?" Shen Yanming said in Bi Qiaoan's ear with a sly smile.

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Ah, yeah, an appropriate response to your beloved wife being upset that you PDA'd/marked your territory so hard you almost got her doxxed on her anonymous social media account—joking about cheating on her if she won't have s*x with you.

Okay. How sweet.

The very next chapter, 164, when he wants to get her pregnant:

Spoiler

Shen Yanming hummed nonchalantly, with a thought constantly turning over in his mind: if he poked a hole in the small umbrella, would Bi Qiaoan cut him when she found out?

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Another sweet moment wherein the ML extensively ponders the idea of cond*m sabotage, aka literal s*xual assault (sometimes also considered r*pe).

This happens because some old doctor suggested for them to have a kid, and (genius, easily-influenced ex-CEO that he is) he wants a baby right now even though the FL doesn't. He doesn't go through with it, because he finally thinks about her crying and being upset, but we, the readers, are clearly told that this is otherwise definitely something he wants to do.

Let me make it clear: I don't think fictional characters have to be moral or good or the least bit wholesome. (I actually quite love villains.) What perplexes me is that some readers think this ML is sweet and perfect and only a "little pushy" when we are literally told what he's thinking. Yes, he's very good to the FL in other ways. Yes, he simultaneously thinks extensively about sexually assaulting her and jokes about cheating on her. Yes, the story tries to portray him as the perfect man for the FL.

The question is, why should you believe the story? Can't you judge for yourself? Please have some standards.

(The 3rd returnee, Zhang Chenjun, has a guard lusting after her and really wanting s*x (and apparently a relationship, but the s*x is mentioned first). With no prior intimate contact, simply after following her around for a few months, he tongue-kisses a "suspect" candy out of her mouth and thinks "it's time for her to accept [him]!" in 167. Afterwards, she views him as a reasonable and good man, because this is definitely the type of thing a reasonable, good, trained government bodyguard should be doing out of the blue.)

As for the FL's alleged maturity, she gets more immature after they're married and does a lot of 'sajiao' behaviour. It's tiresome. Crying cutely when you need to take bitter medicine is only cute when you're under ten years old.

This is an overbearing CEO/spoiling-pet novel set in a disaster-type apocalypse. Ultimately, thus far, it's a story about two selfish, rich cowards living a good life in the end times. They have plenty of reasonable justifications for their behaviour that they toss about, of course, but when it comes down to it, it's selfish cowardice.

But I think the selfish cowardice is appropriate. To expect everyone to act selflessly in an apocalyptic setting, particularly with their past lives, is unrealistic. Humans are selfish.

My main problems with the novel are:

1) all the recurring male love interests (ML and 3rd returnee's BG, probably) are libido-driven, overbearing/presumptuous, and often do/say things because they don't consider how their romantic targets will feel and prioritise their needs.

2) despite their sometimes remarkably off behaviour, the 'good' female characters (FL, 3rd returnee) generally see no wrongs in their men (or nothing that might last over a day/won't be used as 'romance' fodder).

3) the novel tells you the male characters have all these good traits, but often don't show some of them/what's shown is inconsistent. It seems to expect you, the reader, to take it at face value and accept that yes, yes, this is the type of man that is a good man. Yes, the novel tells you they're good, so they must be good! Yes, the novel says it's sweet love, so it's sweet love. Yes, they have so many good traits, and their little thoughts are just normal little thoughts! Yes, they are outstanding and independent sigma chads. Yes, pulling pigtails is sooo romantic.

4) all of the above just doesn't add up, because the FL & ML aren't heroes anyway—they're more average, self-serving passersby civilians so far. Why do you have to convince me the ML is so perfect and good? He doesn't have to be perfect and good! It's unnecessary and tiresome.

Consequently, so far, it seems really genuine about all of that and therefore fails to achieve the appeal of being read as a story told from the opinions of biased narrators/character POVs. Even the overarching novel itself reinforces its sincerity too much, and that sincerity is just disingenuous.

And finally,

5) the FL sajiaos way too hard. God, this personality type is physically painful.

I'll update if I ever finish, but I don't think I can take 1000+ chapters of sajiao behaviour. It's obnoxious.