Chapter 17: Attack on Building One
Ding Feng opened the few remaining beers, pouring a little for each of the dozen men. They each lit a cigarette, as if performing a final farewell ritual.
“Brothers, as long as we get Dong Fei’s supplies, we’ll have food to eat, drinks to drink, and we can even trade for women from the other buildings!”
Ding Feng looked over the group. These promises were their motivation. Without this enticing picture, no one would put in the effort.
“Alright! Follow Brother Feng! Endless food, endless women! Cheers!”
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
A mouthful of beer, and they felt like they were back at a roadside barbecue stall.
Why did it feel like a distant memory? Because they had already forgotten what normal life was like. It had only been a month, but it felt like years.
“Brother Feng, a buddy of mine in Building One messaged me today, saying things are about to get chaotic over there.”
Ding Feng sneered and exhaled a puff of smoke. “That Xie Yuhong actually thought he could maintain control. Without enough food, chaos is inevitable. Besides, he’s too soft-hearted, he’ll regret it sooner or later.”
“Exactly! He even shared the food we risked our lives for with those old folks. What a waste!”
“Brother Feng, after we take Building Three tonight, when are we going to hit the other buildings?”
Ding Feng narrowed his eyes, crossed his legs, and looked at the heavy rain outside. “Feng Jin and Sun Youqing have quite a few men, and they’re united. Attacking them would cost us too many men. If we’re going to attack, it’ll be Building One. While they’re leaderless, we’ll kill all the men and keep only the women.”
The men nodded. The plan sounded good.
Just then, Ding Feng’s phone buzzed. Seeing the message, he frowned deeply, taking a long drag on his cigarette.
“Brother Feng, what’s wrong?”
“Feng Jin and Sun Youqing are saying they’re attacking Building One tonight as well.”
Ding Feng was furious. His plans were ruined.
The men looked at each other. One of them asked, “Are we still attacking Building Three tonight?”
Ding Feng glared at him, and the man shrank back.
They had invited him to join them. If he didn’t go and instead attacked Building Three, they would team up to take him out and divide the spoils. Then the two of them would fight it out for control of the complex.
He couldn’t allow himself to become their target.
With this in mind, Ding Feng immediately said, “We’re not attacking Building Three tonight. We’ll join the attack on Building One! We move in half an hour!”
The boss had made his decision. The men nodded. Some were even relieved. After all, there was a gun in Building Three. Although they knew he didn’t have much ammo, it was still their bodies on the line. Whoever got shot was dead, and medical supplies were scarce.
Building One, Apartment 2801.
“Honey, what are you doing?”
Ye Yuling suddenly came out of the kitchen and stopped Xie Yuhong, who was about to leave. Ye Qingyi, coming out of the bedroom, looked at them in confusion.
Xie Yuhong gave a smile that was uglier than crying. “Going to Gangzi’s place to discuss something.”
Ye Yuling lifted her husband’s shirt and saw a bottle of mineral water tucked under his arm.
“Do you need to bring water to discuss something?”
Ye Yuling asked in a low voice, her lips dry. Ye Qingyi, standing at the bedroom door, was also parched. The family was rationing their water, only taking small sips to wet their mouths each day.
Facing his wife’s questioning, Xie Yuhong forced a smile and explained, “In the past, we’d bring money, cigarettes, or tea when discussing business. Now, it’s normal to bring water.”
“But this is our last bottle of water! What are we going to drink?!”
Xie Yuhong didn’t answer, his expression darkening.
“Isn’t Gangzi your childhood friend? You’re so close, do you need to bring water to see him?! Answer me!”
Ye Yuling seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown, shaking her husband frantically.
Xie Yuhong suddenly exploded, pushing his wife to the ground. Ye Qingyi gasped and rushed over, looking up and asking, “Brother-in-law, what are you doing? Sister was just asking.”
Xie Yuhong suddenly laughed, then his laughter turned into sobs.
“For this family, I worked tirelessly at the company! I had to support the family, support you, support our daughter! Mortgage, car loan, each one a mountain on my shoulders!”
“When this disaster struck, for a moment I felt relieved. But I soon realized I still couldn’t relax. I have to protect you! I still have to fight for survival!”
“But what do I get? Before, it was a monthly salary, now it’s water! Do you know how much pressure I’m under? They’re all going crazy!”
Xie Yuhong roared, his voice filled with the weight that was crushing him.
The sisters were stunned, speechless. Ye Yuling burst into tears, and Ye Qingyi could only comfort her.
Xie Yuhong didn’t say anything more. He left the apartment with the water, reminding them before closing the door, “Don’t open the door for anyone but me.”
He then closed the door.
Xie Yuhong quickly went downstairs and rang the doorbell.
Footsteps sounded inside, and a muscular man opened the door. Seeing Xie Yuhong, he smiled. “Brother Yu, have you changed your mind?”
Xie Yuhong entered, placing the bottle of mineral water on the dining table. “Gangzi, as long as you support me, our Building One will remain stable. Once the storm passes, I’ll take you all out to find food.”
Mao Gang rubbed his forehead, pacing back and forth, then slammed his hands on the table and shouted, “Brother Yu! I know you’re a good person, you want everyone to be safe, but that’s impossible! You’ve done your best, but after so many days, those people have become animals. Only we are still sane.”
“Then we should persevere even more! Search for food, wait for rescue, Gangzi! We can’t become animals like them!”
Xie Yuhong grabbed Mao Gang’s shoulders and pleaded.
Mao Gang laughed. “Brother Yu, you can’t be a good person in these times. You’ve done enough. I’ll be the bad guy.”
Seeing that Mao Gang was unmoved, Xie Yuhong shouted, “Gangzi, wake up! We can’t let things descend into chaos! If we do, they will take advantage of us!”
“Brother Yu, you know that too! Then why do you object? Why don’t you support me?! Do you still consider me a brother?!”
“Of course I do! Didn’t I lend you money to buy your apartment?”
“That’s because you wanted me to live downstairs! You did lend me the money, but the 3,000 yuan mortgage is killing me! I originally wanted to buy an apartment in a cheaper complex, but you insisted I come here! I listened to you, brother!!!”
“Because I wanted to take care of you!”
“Heh, you want to take care of those old men and women.”
Speaking of this, Mao Gang became agitated and shouted, “What use are those old geezers? They’re just wasting our resources! They get a smaller share and still lecture us! What’s the point of keeping them around? Look at Building Two, they killed all the old people. They wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway.”
Hearing his childhood friend say such things, Xie Yuhong was in disbelief. “Gangzi, don’t let them brainwash you.”
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