Chapter 6: Planning an Expedition

Fucheng was an industrial city. When the flood hit, the city’s grain warehouses were submerged, and surrounding cities were also suffering from heavy flooding.

At the moment, there were still people distributing supplies, but it was obvious that the upper authorities’ reserves wouldn’t last long.

Though secretly scavenging from flooded stores gave Sun Qing a slight twinge of guilt, she couldn’t ignore the harsh reality: if you don’t look out for yourself, no one else will. Given the current situation, if they didn’t prepare, she and Ye Xiaojie might starve to death.

Worried that Xia Xiaoman might feel morally conflicted, Sun Qing explained,
“Xiaoman, don’t worry. We’ll only salvage items that have already been submerged. We won’t touch anything else.”

“Those things can’t be sold anymore after being underwater. Instead of letting them rot down there, why not let us make use of them?”

Xia Xiaoman didn’t have the slightest issue with it. “When are we going?”

She had also checked the weather forecast and figured storms would likely continue. That’s why she had taken the risk to ‘zero-dollar shop’ at the supermarket across the street during the last thunderstorm.

Sun Qing glanced out the window. Gale-force winds, pounding rain, crackling lightning—it was dark as night outside with not a single ray of light.

Going out now would be suicide.

She pursed her lips. “The weather today is too bad. I wasn’t planning on going now.”

“Before we head out, we need to prepare. At the very least, we need to make a raft so we can move on water.”

Xia Xiaoman nodded. “What’s your plan? Can you walk me through it?”

“Of course.”

Sun Qing smiled. “I’m into outdoor sports—rock climbing, diving, hiking, I’ve done it all.”

“Xinbai Mall has a huge outdoor gear store. Whether you want to go to space or dive into the sea, they’ve got equipment for it.”

“Our neighborhood is quite far from the mall, and swimming there might exhaust us.”

“So, Xiaojie and I plan to dismantle our bed boards, tie them to floatable materials, and build a raft. We’ll paddle to the mall and see if we can find diving gear.”

“With proper gear, scavenging for supplies will be much easier.”

She paused, then added, “And I remember the store had inflatable kayaks. According to their ad, they fold down to backpack size—easy to carry.”

Diving gear and inflatable boats could literally be lifesaving right now.

Xia Xiaoman was immediately interested. “Alright. When do you plan to go? If you’re short on wood, I’ve got an extra bed board at my place.”

“We’ll head out when the rain lets up a bit. I checked the forecast—tomorrow should be calmer.”

After saying that, Sun Qing looked at Xia Xiaoman with a hesitant expression.

Xia Xiaoman frowned. “What is it? Something else?”

Sun Qing hesitated, then said,
“The lock on our door was broken in. If Xiaojie and I both leave, I’m afraid someone might sneak in.”

The rising water level meant few empty homes were left in the building. Once it reached the fourth floor, the residents there might start knocking door-to-door looking for shelter.

If people realized no one was home at her place, they might move in by force or loot the place. That would be a huge loss.

Xia Xiaoman couldn’t help with that; she was worried about it too.

All the apartment doors were identical, and anyone with ill intent could pick the locks fairly easily.

“Why don’t one of you two stay behind to guard the place?” Xia Xiaoman asked.

Sun Qing looked conflicted. She didn’t want to separate from her teammate in such dire circumstances.

That’s when Ye Xiaojie finally spoke,
“We can ask the guy across the hall to help watch the place.”

Xia Xiaoman blinked. “You mean the food delivery guy in 703?”

Ye Xiaojie nodded. “He seems decent. He helped us carry our luggage when we moved in.”

That guy’s name was Zhou Qiuyang—cold-faced but warm-hearted. He often fed the stray cats around the complex.

Xia Xiaoman knew him. He had a knack for finding food delivery coupons—some so good you could get a meal worth over ten bucks for just two. She had even added him on social media just to get more of those deals.

“How about we bring him into the team and let him come scavenge with us?” Sun Qing suggested.

Xia Xiaoman shrugged. “Up to you.”

She wasn’t the one assembling the team, so it wasn’t her call. As long as she got her fair share, she didn’t care how many people were in the group. But if the supplies were unfairly split, don’t blame her for using her storage space to hog them all.

Sun Qing was a woman of action. Once the idea was decided, she immediately went next door to find Zhou Qiuyang.

A few minutes later, she returned with him and repeated the plan she’d shared with Xia Xiaoman.

When he heard his “task” was to stay behind and guard the house, Zhou Qiuyang’s face twisted.
“You really want me, a grown man, to sit at home and play guard dog?”

Afraid he might try to join the scavenging run, Xia Xiaoman quickly confirmed,
“Yes, we’re sure.”

“Guarding the house may look easy, but it’s actually the most dangerous job.”

“Anyone in this building might try to break in. But if you’re there, they won’t dare.”

“If one of us girls stayed behind, people might think we’re easy targets.”

Sun Qing and Ye Xiaojie nodded in agreement—they had no desire to be the ones guarding the home base.

With Xia Xiaoman’s logic and strong argument, Zhou Qiuyang finally gave in and agreed to stay behind and keep watch.

They spent the next two days building the raft—three bed boards, countless empty bottles, and a mix of plastic materials.

By the end, they had a raft sturdy enough to carry three people.

Five days had passed since the last aid drop. All the phones in the building were dead, and even if charged, they might not get a signal.

Uncertain if the rescue team would come that day, many residents started going door to door asking to borrow or buy food.

While moving the raft downstairs, Xia Xiaoman’s group ran into Qin Yali and her boyfriend—out looking for food.

“Xia Xiaoman, are you guys heading out?” Qin Yali asked.

Before Xia Xiaoman could reply, Sun Qing snapped,
“Can you not block the damn stairs? We’re carrying stuff here!”

“If you’re going upstairs, then move. If not, get lost!”

Qin Yali’s face stiffened. “I’m talking to my friend. What’s it got to do with you?”

Xia Xiaoman rolled her eyes. “Who’s your friend? A good dog knows to stay out of the way. Move.”

“Hey, bitch—who the hell are you calling a dog?” Qin Yali’s boyfriend glared at her.

Xia Xiaoman’s expression turned icy. She pulled a firefighter’s axe from behind her back and slammed it into the stair railing.

CRACK!
Cement and debris flew everywhere.

“I said, MOVE. Do you understand human language or not?”

Qin Yali and her boyfriend flinched at her deadly expression, stepping back quickly and pressing themselves against the wall in silence.

Xia Xiaoman and the others successfully brought the raft to the third floor. After testing it to make sure it floated properly, they donned raincoats and paddled off.

As they rowed, Sun Qing laughed and shouted,
“Xiaoman, didn’t know you had the guts to pull out an axe and chop like that!”

Xia Xiaoman grinned,
“Desperate times. If you don’t get tough, people will walk all over you.”

If she hadn’t toughened up, she wouldn’t have made it through school.

She had nothing to lose—barefoot people don’t fear those in shoes. If anyone dared to bully her, she’d fight them to the death.