Chapter Fifty-Two: Immediately Pick Someone to Eat Peanuts, Forcing Jiang Huan to Surrender

This anomaly made her wary, prompting her to go downstairs and speak to Wu Gang personally.

“I find it strange as well,” Wu Gang said. “Everything’s prepared, yet hardly anyone has come to borrow supplies.” According to his calculations and estimates, there should have been at least three times as many people; the numbers simply didn’t add up.

He handed the registration book to Jiang Huan without hesitation.

Jiang Huan glanced at the familiar names: Ren Minmin, Little Deer, Wanwan, Fei’er, Xiaoyi, Chen Pei, Qiu, Chen… Qiuqiu, Lanlan…

So it was Wanwan, not Wanwan or Late Evening.

Altogether, there were fewer than thirty names, yet the residential compound now housed two to three hundred people.

She asked, “Did the school bus group come to collect supplies?”

“Only a child around ten years old showed up. None of the others came.”

“What about Chun Mei?” It was only natural for Jiang Huan to remember her now, given their recent conflict.

Wu Gang straightened up. “You mean, they’re causing trouble again?”

“It’s possible. Use the loudspeaker to notify everyone and see what happens.”

Wu Gang agreed, dusted off the loudspeaker, and made an announcement: anyone needing supplies should come quickly, otherwise the property office would soon be locked.

A few more trickled in, but then all activity ceased.

Wu Gang was so uneasy that he didn’t dare leave the property office that night.

Jiang Huan told Liu Ling and Wang Ping to stay alert and not open the door for anyone.

She loaded every gun she had with fresh rounds, preparing for any potential situation.

But Jiang Huan still underestimated one thing: the limits of human decency.

She suspected some would try to steal supplies, perhaps even targeting her directly, but never expected that the survivors brought back by Xiaoyi and Deputy Director Xu—people they had kindly rescued—would betray the compound so thoroughly.

They took their catch of fish, slipped away under cover of darkness, using the search for supplies as a pretext, and left with their group and resources.

Then, they swapped themselves for a band of fleeing robbers encountered outside and led them into the compound.

Because Liu Xiuguo had recently ingratiated himself by sharing a few cigarettes, the two gatekeepers didn’t think much of it—just checked the headcount out of routine—allowing the newcomers to slip inside.

When Jiang Huan heard gunfire and the blare of the loudspeaker, her hands trembled.

The loudspeaker broadcast, word by word: “We’re here not to take lives, only to claim our territory. Be sensible, folks—don’t make us waste bullets on your foreheads.”

Jiang Huan rushed to the window, grabbed her binoculars, and scanned outside.

She recognized a face she’d seen before on the ninth floor of an apartment building in the city.

Tsk—it was the same gang that had stolen guns from the police station and occupied territory.

Captain Guan had said some escaped; evidently, these were the ones downstairs.

The big group chat, dormant for so long, suddenly erupted with messages.

“What’s going on, Liu Xiuguo? Didn’t you say your friend had guns, could protect us, and share Jiang Huan’s supplies? We listened to you, didn’t go borrow anything, and waited quietly—now you bring these people? Damn, they’re bandits!”

Wu Gang: “Liu Xiuguo! You traitor, take your people and leave! We’ve already called for help from the base! Don’t do anything you’ll regret!”

Liu Xiuguo: “Stop bluffing. It’s pitch-dark; I don’t see any light outside. If you want to scare people, at least make it believable. I told you, Jiang Huan isn’t fit to manage all these supplies. You ignored my advice and warned me off. Fine, let someone who listens take charge.”

“You’re insane—inviting wolves into the house. What good can come of this?” More and more people were waking up and condemning Liu Xiuguo.

Others pleaded for help: “There are two strangers next door, just tried to break down my door, help, please, help!”

“Me too, downstairs there’s someone—just now they jabbed the ceiling on purpose. I’m scared.”

Jiang Huan had no time to read these messages. She locked up the twentieth floor, instructed her brother to hide and stay silent, not to move.

Ten days had passed since she last saw these people; they looked even more vicious now, likely because their territory had been taken and life was harsher.

This was the trouble with not eradicating the threat at its root.

The short, stout man and the tall, thin one she’d seen before—once rivals, now cooperating smoothly.

After the fat man finished his threats, the other took over: “By the way, we hear there’s a tough character in this compound—always heading into the city to bring back supplies. Let me tell you, all those supplies were ours, taken by that woman. Now I’m here to reclaim what’s mine—isn’t that fair? What’s her name—oh, Jiang Huan, Jiang Huan, Little Jiang, Little Huan. Hand over the supplies, you hear? We know you have a gun, but we’ve got more than ten. Any smart person knows what to do. Don’t worry, we’re gentlemen—we won’t harm a lady if you hand over the supplies and your gun.”

Immediately, the group chat urged Jiang Huan to give everything back.

“Jiang Huan has a gun, doesn’t she? Tell her to drive these people out—it’s all her fault anyway.”

“Shut up. These guys are obviously here to rob us. You’re gullible if you believe their lies.”

Liu Xiuguo, seeing the flood of pleas for help, sneered and typed, “Stop asking for help in the group. Anyone who does, I’ll come for you first. I know exactly who each of you are.”

She had always brought back the most supplies—it must be her who took others’ things.

Finally Jiang Huan’s message appeared: “The supplies were gathered bit by bit, citywide, by myself. If you really want them, then take them—just don’t hurt anyone.”

Liu Xiuguo’s eyes gleamed; he whispered to a middle-aged man with a scar, “She’s still arguing in the group—must think she’s safe because of her gun.”

“So what? Women only act tough on the surface. You do this: in your group, post a message—if Jiang Huan doesn’t come down, I’ll grab someone at random and send them peanuts.”

These peanuts, of course, were not the bar snack.

Liu Xiuguo relayed the threat; the group fell silent for a moment, then resumed, ignoring Wu Gang’s words, urging Jiang Huan to comply.

A few wanted to help, but didn’t dare speak up, since Liu Xiuguo had already said he’d choose who would “eat peanuts” first.

Jiang Huan was genuinely baffled—she had no real grudge against this man; why did he hate her so much, that he’d risk everything?

Soon, the first “peanut recipient” was chosen.

It was the electrician who’d used his battery to charge devices for others; Jiang Huan had once used his services to blend in.

Now, his wife was frantically pleading in the group: “Miss Jiang, please come down! If you don’t, my husband will die! Without him, my child and I are lost! Please, come down!”

Below, Liu Xiuguo escorted the man to the open ground, about to grab the loudspeaker, but the fat man elbowed him aside: “You dog, you want to take things from me? Know your place.”

Liu Xiuguo froze.

He’d joined the boss, brought a dozen young men, was now part of the gang—how dare this fat man treat him like this?

Once he established himself, he’d make sure that fat man got what he deserved!

(End of Chapter)