[edited]

Following her rebirth, Jiang Ning deeply understands the good and evil of human nature. 

“I don’t want to give it either, but staying at a stalemate isn’t a solution. It is safest for us to let them go out to find their own supplies. 

When people are starving, they can completely lose their sanity, and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do when it comes to life and death. 

Only then did Zheng Weili agree. 

Jiang Ning came down and said to He Zhian, “We don’t need to find supplies together, but we can lend you the rubber boat for a day. And I suggest not to rush to find food but first, find a way to get a boat.” 

He Zhian didn’t expect the 18th floor to agree to go out together, it was just a strategy so they can make a request if they wouldn’t agree, and then settle for something less. 

He just came to borrow the rubber boat, “Okay, thank you.” 

“But we’re only lending it to you this one time. What if you lose it or damage it?” 

“This… we’re all neighbors…” 

“Don’t give me a crap!! Are neighbors supposed to be as overbearing as you?” Jiang Ning was not polite, “This is our lifeline. Lending it is about friendship, not lending it is about principles. Don’t think you can just push us around because you have more people. If you truly provoke me, taking out one won’t be a loss, while taking out two will be an advantage. Anyone who’s not afraid of death, come at me!” 

Survival is human instinct, they might have more people, but who would be foolish enough to go and court death? The 18th floor has killed people before, and for a moment no one dared to speak. 

He Zhian looked at them, feeling very angry in his heart. Just now, they were all talking big downstairs, but now they’re like turtles hiding in their shells. 

But now, he could only grit his teeth and go up. After all, his wife and children were still hungry at home. 

Taking the lead in this matter, he would receive relatively more supplies later, and many things would be easier to handle with him at the center. 

“If it gets damaged, we’ll compensate you with another one.” 

“Words are just words. Let’s have it in writing.” 

“You…” He Zhian was infuriated, but thinking about it, he gritted his teeth and agreed, “Okay.” 

It’s just a broken rubber boat. What’s the worst that could happen if they don’t return it? If they cause trouble when the flood recedes and they’re just going to report it to the police station, by then, they’ll just compensate her with another one.

After the agreement was reached, Zheng Weili went to write the contract, and both parties signed and sealed it. 

After getting the rubber boat, He Zhian smiled like Maitreya Buddha, he said a lot of nice words, and then gestured for everyone to disperse. 

“He Zhian.” Jiang Ning stopped him, “The rubber boat is borrowed by you. If anything happens, I’ll only come to you.” 

“Of course.” 

Jiang Ning smiled at him, “You live in 1303, with a wife and two children, and your mother has a problem with her feet, right?” 

He Zhian was shocked, his face turned pale. 

Frightened, he immediately said, “You can rest assured, we will take good care of the rubber boat.” 

With so many calculating faces, how much can one rubber boat bring back in supplies? If the distribution is uneven, chaos will ensue. Let them fight it out amongst themselves! 

Back on the 18th floor, Zheng Weili returned the 2,000 yuan to Jiang Ning. “Originally, we wanted to pay, but the supermarket was too chaotic. We ran away with our things, and we had no chance to pay.” 

Jiang Ning accepted the money, “The order is in chaos now, but I believe the government will soon control it, and there will be a chance to spend it later.” 

The money wasn’t spent, but the suggestion was made by Jiang Ning, so Zheng Weili decided to split the retrieved supplies in half. 

“You haven’t spent any money, how can I take yours?” Jiang Ning directly refused, “Besides, these are the supplies you risked your lives to snatch back.” 

“The accounts shouldn’t be settled like this. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to snatch the supplies, and even if we did, we wouldn’t have been able to bring them home.” 

The two of them were determined, and Jiang Ning had no choice but to accept it. 

In the end, she reluctantly took two packs of noodles, along with some alcohol blocks and dried vegetables, but refused to take any more. 

After she left, Lu Yu discussed with his girlfriend, “The one from 1801 looks cold, but he’s quite righteous. We are being watched now, so we have to work together, and without his help today, we won’t be able to save our things.”   

Zheng Weili agreed, “Why don’t we send something over? It’s also a way to formally get to know each other, and we can help each other out in the future.” 

Lu Yu packed five kilograms of rice and went to knock on 1801’s door. 

Jiang Ning stood on the balcony, watching the rubber boat paddle out of the building, with six men sitting on it, each holding a stick as a weapon. 

People from other units were envious, and some even wanted to come up and snatch it but hesitated when they saw the sharp weapons in their hands. 

1801 came to knock on the door, “Do you know where we can find gas?” 

Jiang Ning not only knew but had also been there, “I probably know but that area is situated at a lower level and people were asked to evacuate before the typhoon arrived. It may not be available now, and even if it is, it’s likely underwater.” 

The entire neighborhood used pipeline gas, and there were hardly any portable gas cylinders in use. 

To put it bluntly, even if they found rice, noodles, and oil, they wouldn’t be able to cook without fire. 

Jiang Ning had the capability, but going through the clear route would easily expose her, “There are several snack shops at the entrance of the neighborhood. I’ve seen them using gas cylinders. Why don’t we try to get some?” 

Lu Yu immediately came over, saying, “What we need most now isn’t food. Why don’t we give it a try? But we have to be quick. If they come to their senses, there won’t be anything left; even the dregs will be gone.”

Huo Yishen had no objections, and they all agreed. 

Seeing Zheng Weili going out, he frowned, “If everyone leaves, what if someone tries to break in?” 

That was indeed a problem. They weren’t afraid of the front yard being lit up; they were afraid of a fire in the backyard. 

Everyone discussed again, and each family provided one person, leaving Zheng Weili to look after the house and take care of Doudou, while Huo Yishen provided a motorboat and gasoline. 

Doudou was a little afraid of Zheng Weili, but still bravely nodded, “Brother, come back with Sister soon.” 

Huo Yishen gently patted her head and spoke softly, “Alright.” 

So, while most of the people went out to snatch food, the 18th floor took advantage of the gap to search for liquefied gas cylinders. 

Lu Yu pondered, thinking that if they found extra cylinders, they could exchange them for food if they were short. 

As soon as the motor of the motorboat started, it immediately attracted the attention of so many people. Some shameless ones even dared to come over, but the boat roared at them, scaring them off before they could even see the back of the boat clearly. 

Several snack shops were submerged under the flood, but it wasn’t difficult to find them since they’re near the entrance of the neighborhood. 

Jiang Ning took out a portable diving mask and a waterproof mining lamp, but the situation was a bit awkward. 

Lu Yu was so weak and couldn’t go underwater, nor did he have the strength to pry the doors open. 

The water was over ten meters deep, and prying the doors open took time and effort, and Jiang Ning didn’t have enough lung capacity. 

Huo Yishen picked up the diving mask. “Let me do it.” 

After putting on the diving mask and headlamp, Jiang Ning tied a rope around him. “The water flow is strong. If there’s a problem, just pull the rope.” 

Once in the water, the two of them remained vigilant, wielding sharp sticks and keeping an eye out for anyone trying to ambush them. 

The floodwater was clouded, and Lu Yu looked surprised at something not far away. “Anning, what’s that?”