Chapter 85: Everyone Goes

Jiang Huan had been standing next to her younger brother from the start. When danger struck, she grabbed him without hesitation and rushed toward Xie Congzhou.

Xie Congzhou was already on the move, having found a suitable spot to settle Uncle Kui and the others. Noticing someone lying motionless after a fall not far away, Xie gritted his teeth and dashed over, carrying the person back.

Jiang Huan saw several people from Building Six fleeing aimlessly, helpless and panicked. She held her brother for a moment, then released Jiang Xi’s hand, biting her lip. “It’s safe here, little brother. Remember, don’t ever leave. Listen to me.”

The next moment, she hurried to Xie Congzhou’s side, helping him rescue the injured and directing people from Building Six to the spot she’d just left.

The two worked in perfect harmony, saving many. When their spot was nearly full, Xie Congzhou hesitated, glancing at a certain corner.

Jiang Huan somehow understood his intent. “Based on your knowledge and experience with the land, it’s relatively safe over there, isn’t it?”

A hint of surprise and delight flashed in Xie Congzhou’s eyes. “Yes.”

Jiang Huan didn’t hesitate further, helping people over to sit in that area. Once no one was running around the complex, Jiang Huan, urged by her brother, returned to his side.

Nobody cared about cleanliness now; everyone sat on the ground, huddled together, as if proximity offered a sense of safety.

After days of tremors, the once uncleared, ice-covered roads now revealed patches of earth. Many trees lay across the paths, paint peeled from walls, countless panes of glass had crashed down from high floors. The devastation surpassed even the arrival of the ice, carrying a sense of apocalypse.

Hours slipped by again. During a brief tremor, some brave souls retrieved scattered supplies. People helped one another, managing a makeshift meal. Whether there would be food at night depended on luck.

Fortunately, firewood wasn’t scarce; a couple of tools yielded a hefty pile. The group split into two circles, facing the second night of the earthquake.

That night passed in peace, but by morning, many began coughing, and some children clutched their stomachs, crying for food.

Jiang Huan couldn’t conjure supplies in plain sight, so she fished out chocolate from her pocket for her brother, keeping his energy up.

They endured hunger at noon alongside everyone else. Just when all seemed lost, people arrived from the base—a team of ten left three backpacks of supplies and promised to return in two days, before heading into the city.

Compared to the sluggish response during the first freezing, this aid was swift and genuine.

The third night passed. On the fourth day, daylight brought no tremors. Some ventured into their homes and brought down food. With one person safe, more followed, retrieving supplies.

Jiang Huan invited Xie Congzhou to go up with her. She hoped to benefit from his keen sense of safe zones.

Xie Congzhou agreed without hesitation. “The fewer trips upstairs, the better.”

Jiang Huan understood: the next tremor wouldn’t threaten the buildings too severely. “Alright, I’ll bring two strong helpers.”

Someone suggested, “Why not toss down things that won’t break? The people below can collect them, and clear the glass from the ground?”

It was a good idea. The residents of Building Six rose—four went upstairs, the rest immediately began clearing debris and shattered glass beneath the building.

For now, only four went up. Two tossed down bedding and clothes, while Jiang Huan led Xie Congzhou upstairs, heading straight to her fifteenth-floor exchange room. She produced several large bags. “Pack as much as you can carry. Once the backpacks are ready, lower them with the rescue rope. These two big bags—fill them with whatever weight you can handle. I’ll go higher and gather other useful items.”

Xie Congzhou had no objections and began sorting supplies at once. Jiang Huan hurried upstairs, collecting her alarm system along the way.

Xie Congzhou joined her. The malicious alarm from the box didn’t sound, which confirmed Jiang Huan hadn’t misjudged him.

She jogged up further, stored the replicator, shouldered a large pack, and carried two bags of instant noodles downstairs. Seeing Xie lowering two backpacks, she set down the noodles and helped organize. One packed, the other lowered—together, they sent down a fair amount.

When the exchange room was emptied, they slung their packs and bags and rushed down. On the way, they met two helpers heading up, who took a bag each. All four descended safely.

Jiang Huan kept half the supplies for herself, assigning the rest to Wu Gang.

She pitched a tent for herself and her brother to sleep in at night, gave two sleeping bags to Xie Congzhou, one to the couple Wang Ping and his wife, and one to Bai Weishuang—no extras remained. All uncooked food was piled in the tent for now.

Before dinner, she and her brother entered the tent, sneaking him two meat floss buns and a bland oden.

With everyone around cooking instant noodles, the aroma went unnoticed.

Another day passed without tremors. More people suggested returning to their rooms to sleep; the timid refused to risk it, staying put.

Though bold, Jiang Huan didn’t rush upstairs. She lived on the twentieth floor—under such danger, she wouldn’t drag her brother up twenty flights to stay, so she remained among those who insisted on staying.

Two days later, as promised, the base delivered supplies again—this time, with uplifting news. Those unable to endure could go live at the base, where there would be at least a place to sleep, food provided for those who joined rescue and road-clearing teams.

With that, more than half the survivors in the complex signed up, taking what they could and joining the group.

Even Xiao Fang was called back into service.

He had originally offended a certain privileged second-generation. To avoid implicating his captain and comrades, he’d volunteered to leave and been temporarily entrusted to Jiang Huan by Captain Guan. Now, his departure was understandable.

Still, he came to bid Jiang Huan a solemn farewell.

Jiang Huan glanced at the people waiting for him to return, then asked, “Xiao Fang, does the base have any more secure, private housing? Even a single room would do. I’m willing to trade supplies and join the rescue team.”

Xiao Fang told her to wait, ran off to ask, then returned. “My comrade said it’s unclear. Even if such places exist, you’ll have to go to the registration area and speak to the person handling those matters.”

Jiang Huan thanked him for the information, still hesitating. Her brother sidled up, tugging her hand. “Sister doesn’t like sharing a room with everyone. I have a place.”

Jiang Huan blinked in surprise. What?

Even the base didn’t have one, but Jiang Xi did?

(End of chapter)