Chapter 14: Teach Xia Chaoyang a Lesson

Even if the prices were high, people still bought things — if you didn’t, you’d just starve to death.

They were actually lucky. While they were checking out, someone at the front tried to take extra supplies and ended up arguing with the cashier when refused.

Jiang Yuan watched with wide eyes as a man who looked like an armed police officer walked over and tased the middle-aged man unconscious with an electric baton, then dragged him out.

The cashier wasn’t fazed at all and simply waved to the next customer:

“Next!”

Holy crap. That was intense! But wow, that electric baton was awesome. Where could she get one?

They checked out smoothly, and Jiang Yuan felt like there wouldn’t be chaos here — things were too orderly, and with that kind of enforcement, people wouldn’t dare act out.

In her previous life, she hadn’t come out to buy supplies. Xia Chaoyang and Bai Mengmeng had done it.

She provided the money, and they brought the stuff back. She had no idea if it was this intense back then too.

“Jiang Yuan, is that really you?”

Oh hell no — speak of the devil, and the devil appears!

“Awesome! What did you buy? Share some with us!”

“Why the hell should I? Get lost…”

Jiang Yuan was already irritated. How thick-skinned could Xia Chaoyang be to actually ask her for supplies?

“Jiang Yuan, I lost my credit card, and I can’t get a new one right now. My WeChat wallet’s empty, and Mengmeng’s cash is almost all gone too.
Can you give us a little something? I’ll pay you back when I get a new card.”

Still thinking about renewing your credit card? What a delusional fantasy.

“Not giving you anything. Get lost. If you don’t leave, I’m calling for help.”

“You can’t do this! We were married, remember?”

Xia Chaoyang looked indignant. He had waited here forever, and if he couldn’t get money or food from Jiang Yuan, they’d seriously be out of everything.

“Sister Jiang Yuan, please, just a little? If not, maybe lend us some money? We’ll pay you back double later!”

“Shut your filthy mouth. You look like you’re 40, and you dare call me sister?

Not only is your brain messed up, but you clearly need to get your eyes checked too…”

Truthfully, Bai Mengmeng didn’t look that old — but she was older than Jiang Yuan. And the way she kept calling her “sister” just made Jiang Yuan want to slap her.

“What are you doing?! Stop bullying Mengmeng!”

Xia Chaoyang gave Jiang Yuan a hard shove. She stumbled backward — it looked like she might fall flat on her face — but a pair of strong hands caught her and steadied her.

A sneak attack?! You trash!

“Are you okay?”

To her surprise, it was Song Yi. What were the odds — and he even helped her?

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

Jiang Yuan glanced up and saw her dad, Jiang Xingzhi, pulling the car up and closing the door. That gave her some confidence.

“You want money, Xia Chaoyang? I’ll tell you where to get it.”

Xia Chaoyang was about to ask who that guy (Song Yi) was. He looked like he knew Jiang Yuan. Did she already find someone new?

Still, the lure of money was stronger than his jealousy. If she was willing to talk, better hear her out and not make a further fool of himself.

He didn’t have time to worry about that guy anyway. Besides, he looked pretty sturdy — no way Xia Chaoyang could take him on.

Jiang Yuan walked over slowly, a small smile at the corner of her lips.

Suddenly, she pulled out a small spray bottle from her right pocket and blasted Xia Chaoyang in the face with pepper spray!

She had prepared this anti-harassment spray before leaving the house, just in case.

Then, she rammed her knee hard into his crotch.

Xia Chaoyang instinctively covered his face from the spray, but before he could recover, a crippling pain shot up from between his legs.

That feeling — only those who’ve experienced it would understand.

“Serves you right!”

Jiang Yuan was in a great mood. She winked at Song Yi, grabbed her bags, and ran off toward her car, leaving the mess behind.

Song Yi twitched at the corner of his mouth as he looked down at Xia Chaoyang writhing on the ground, clutching himself, and Bai Mengmeng sobbing beside him.

He couldn’t help but feel a little tense.

This woman was fierce.

---

A lot of people had gone out to buy supplies today. After two days of eerie silence in the neighborhood, things were finally lively again.

But there was still no power.

They had to climb the stairs — and for someone like Jiang Yuan, who usually needed breaks after running 800 meters, this was a nightmare.

Thankfully, the physical training over the past few days had paid off.

“You guys went out for supplies? Was it crowded?”

As Jiang Yuan reached the 19th floor, someone called out. She looked up and saw the woman from the 20th floor — the one who had knocked on her door before.

“Quite a few people,” Jiang Xingzhi replied casually, seeing that Jiang Yuan didn’t want to talk.

“Can you share some of your vegetables with me? I’ll pay!”

“No. Go buy your own. We barely have enough for ourselves.”

The woman pouted:

“Are you going out again tomorrow? Can you help me get a few things?”

Jiang Yuan was done. This woman had a man at home — perfectly healthy. Why couldn’t they go buy stuff? What was she, their errand girl?

As they reached the 20th floor, she gave the woman a long look:

“Sure.”

“Great! What time tomorrow? I want to get some water, veggies, and maybe 20 kilos of rice…”

Jiang Yuan listened with interest, then grinned:

“Delivery fee is 20,000.”

“What?”

“You deaf or what?”

Jiang Yuan stepped closer and shouted:

“TWENTY. THOUSAND. Got it?!”

“I’m not deaf, why are you yelling? You’re crazy! 20,000? Are you trying to scam an idiot?!”

“No, I think you’re the idiot. I wouldn’t even take 20,000 to help you. Lazy fool!”

“Who are you calling a fool?!”

Jiang Yuan reached the 21st floor and slammed the safety door shut with a loud “BANG.”

So noisy!

---

“You’re finally back! I’ve been worried all night. Come on, let me disinfect you first.”

Qin Yue sprayed both father and daughter thoroughly. In these times, you just couldn’t be too careful with all the viruses and bacteria out there.

Jiang Yuan didn’t rush to change clothes. She’d just seen a couple of green flies in the stairwell — she needed to deal with those first. Grabbing the insecticide, she went back out and sprayed like mad.

Just then, Song Yi returned as well. He had bought a bunch of instant noodles.

They nodded to each other in silent acknowledgment — no words needed.

Back inside, Jiang Yuan quickly stripped down — she was drenched in sweat, and her hair was sticking to her neck.

She took a quick shower, washed her dirty clothes, and then went to check on Xiaonuan.

Those two people downstairs were really starting to get on her nerves. She had a feeling they’d be bothering her again in the coming days.

She hadn’t expected them to be this shameless.

What happened to basic manners?

Were they the ones who slipped through the cracks of nine years of compulsory education?

If they dared to push her further… what should she do?

So far, things hadn’t gotten bad enough for lawlessness — everyone still had a line they wouldn’t cross.

But how long would that last?

No one knew.