Chapter Nineteen: Good News, Bad News

As she approached, she realized it wasn’t what she thought. The motorcade was here to escort people. The team leader handling the handover was the same one they’d seen before. From the rear compartment, shielded by thick quilts, he helped down several people—an elderly man and three young men.

Supposedly, they were a professor and his three students, sent to provide technical support for their survival outpost. Wu Gang thought the local authorities were being considerate by dispatching talent to help. Before long, he was downstairs, shouting to the crowd that these were technicians here to set up a 2G network base station. He added that efforts were underway to address the water supply issues, promising to restore basic living conditions as soon as possible. They’d also brought some survival guides for the ice-bound disaster.

There was good news and bad. All the announcements were printed on flyers, which Jiang Xi was reading aloud:

“Once the network is established, there will be a barter and exchange every half month, mobilizing citizens to go out and search for supplies. It’s recommended that gathering points implement a contribution system under official guidance to restore basic social order as quickly as possible.”

This was the good news. Even in the harshest conditions, they managed to unite as many as they could, striving to save more lives.

As for the bad news…

“After repeated deliberation by experts, this weather is expected to persist for at least another three months.”

That was one piece of bad news. The other was that some ill-intentioned people had also banded together; certain neighborhoods and building complexes had become the turf of organized black-market groups, who harmed innocents. Everyone was urged to stay vigilant and protect themselves.

This, of course, meant increased risk for anyone venturing out to search for supplies.

Optimists figured that once the network station was up, they wouldn’t have to keep running up and down the building just to relay a message. With meals already rationed to one or two a day, wasting energy was a luxury they couldn’t afford.

Some anxious and fearful residents hoped to follow the convoy to the military base, believing at least there they’d have food, clothing, and security, protected by the best. They didn’t realize that the manpower assigned to each outpost still needed to be supported by that outpost; even the official garrisons had no surplus rations.

Some, driven to the edge, went to the team leader to complain that Building Six was harboring a black-market gang—armed, violent, beating and stabbing people, and demanding special treatment.

It wasn’t just one person making these accusations. Even one of the women from property management stepped up to report by name. Naturally, Captain Guan, who led the team, had to bring these “unruly” people down to investigate.

And so, Jiang Huan and Jiang Xi, the siblings, were called downstairs.

Tall and slender, one composed and calm, the other with the innocent look of a bewildered youth.

“It’s you two?” Captain Guan recalled speaking with Jiang Huan once before, over the issue of military coats—her face was familiar to him.

Yet, he had only recently advised her to live well, and now she was being accused of mischief?

“That’s her! Arrest her! She’s already taken more than her share of firewood, and even took ours. She’s gotten out of hand! If it goes on, she’ll be robbing homes in broad daylight! Just look at my face—she hit me so hard it’s red and bruised!”

Lin Lili, feeling emboldened by her supposed support, pointed accusingly at Jiang Huan. She marched up to a young soldier to show her face, even trying to pry open her mouth to display a small cut inside her cheek. Her breath, stale from lack of hot water for washing—since all water was reserved for drinking—made the soldier recoil.

Unbothered, she continued her complaints.

After hearing Lin Lili’s version, Captain Guan turned to Jiang Huan for her account.

“Why bother asking a criminal? She’ll just lie! She’s a vicious woman who picks through garbage!” Lin Lili, flustered, blurted out a forbidden term she’d been warned against, “Just look at her—she’s dragging that idiot brother of hers around, she’s clearly not right in the head—ah, ahhh!”

Jiang Huan whipped out her slingshot and let fly, striking Lin Lili on the temple.

The force of the shot caught everyone off guard. Clutching her brow, Lin Lili howled for Jiang Huan to be executed.

Captain Guan and his soldier immediately tensed, hands drifting toward their holsters.

Seeing the captain reach for his weapon, Jiang Huan calmly raised her hands to show she meant no harm, and explained the conflict with Lin Lili: “I don’t bother others unless they bother me. I don’t pick fights, nor do I want to be bullied. She went too far—not only did she pick on me, she insulted my brother. If you think I should just submit to her bullying, then so be it.”

Captain Guan was speechless. Was this really something a reasonable person would say? Did she really expect him to endorse being enslaved as the right thing to do? If he agreed, who knew what might happen next.

“Take her for treatment, and bring two other residents from her building for questioning. As for you,” he told Lin Lili, “before things are clarified, speak with our team psychologist.”

Clearly, they were bringing in the professionals to handle her.

After the session, it turned out Jiang Huan was mentally resilient—so long as no one provoked or insulted her, she was calm and composed, even sharing fruit candies with the medic as they chatted.

It was Jiang Xi’s mild autism that drew a sympathetic look from the medic. Such a fine young man, and his sister didn’t despise him but fiercely protected him—in times like these, that was enough.

Lin Lili, on the other hand, was diagnosed with delusional and manic tendencies, and was temporarily barred from approaching the siblings. Were it not for the scarcity of resources in this disaster, she’d probably have faced a penalty.

Driven nearly mad with frustration, Lin Lili even questioned why Chunmei got off unscathed.

Wu Gang quickly assured that these disputes would be handled. Captain Guan had other matters to attend to. Once the technical personnel were settled, he informed Wu Gang that the four would now report to the Xingcheng Community: “Besides, if you can gather scattered survivors from the city, each one brought in earns ten contribution points for the rescuer.”

“Understood. But… when can we expect the next batch of supplies? Some people are already scared of another food shortage.”

Captain Guan paused. “Wait a few more days. We’re working on it.”

Wu Gang thanked him, but felt a chill settle in his heart.

They’d only had one delivery and already there was uncertainty about the next. With the freeze expected to last at least three more months, what would become of their supplies?

Remembering how Jiang Huan had just returned from the city, safe and sound with her brother in tow, Wu Gang made up his mind.

At noon, as people lazily climbed out of their quilts, Wu Gang’s voice blared through a megaphone: the current temperature was minus twenty-five degrees, the warmest point of the day. The community was organizing a trip to the city to scavenge for food and essentials—those interested had half an hour to assemble.

Of course, after gathering, he announced that thirty percent of whatever they found would go to property management, since they were providing the vehicle and fuel.

Some grumbled about the steep price, but others shouldered their empty packs and joined without hesitation.

Jiang Huan didn’t go—she had packages to open.

The vehicle idled for a long while before finally taking thirty or so people out of the community. Two sturdy young men stayed behind to guard the gate.

The neighborhood fell silent.

On the twentieth floor, Jiang Huan and her brother eagerly got to work, surrounded by piles of delivery parcels.

“Let’s start,” Jiang Huan said, raising her scissors. With a snip, she opened the first package of the day.