Jiang Ning went into the kitchen, picked up a cleaned egg, dipped it in a bowl of white wine, then rolled it twice in a bowl of salt, and finally wrapped it in plastic wrap. “After a month, it’ll be ready to eat.”

Just as she was about to take a nap, there was a knock at the door.

1801 and 1803 were going out, and even Dou Dou was put into a raincoat.

Huo Yi really wanted to take the two dogs out for some experience. Seeing Kele so excited, Jiang Ning thought about it and didn’t refuse. “Wait a moment.”

She went back to get her makeup box and chose some dull colors to smear on Dou Dou’s face.

It was right to let Dou Dou see the cruelty of this apocalypse early, but she was just too fair-skinned, and going out like that would make her an easy target.

After smearing and blotting, Jiang Ning made Dou Dou’s face look bruised and was finally satisfied.

The dog rubbed its face against her—it wanted makeup too!

She said, “No way, your brown and black face is ugly enough already.”

Kele’s confidence was hit hard; it snorted and left with the instructor without looking back.

After waking up from her nap, Jiang Ning prepared to give Granny Zhong acupuncture treatment.

Granny Zhong pulled out a roasted sweet potato wrapped in several layers of cloth from her pocket. “Xiao Ning, my waist feels much better now, really thank you.”

The sweet potato was still warm, but Jiang Ning didn’t want it. “I charge for treatment. You keep it for yourself.”

Food rations are life; she wouldn’t steal someone else’s chance to survive.

Granny Zhong insisted on giving it, and just then, there was a knock downstairs.

“I appreciate your kindness,” Jiang Ning told her, “Keep it for yourself. If you really want to give it, you can use sweet potatoes to pay for later treatments.”

The knocking downstairs kept going on, but no one answered. Then a loud voice shouted, “Young lady on the 18th floor, I’m here to see you for treatment. Please open the door quickly.”

With a voice so full of energy, what kind of illness could that be?

Jiang Ning found it annoying and went downstairs coldly, “What illness?”

A middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties saw her come down and quickly put on a smile. “Are you Doctor Jiang?”

“I’m not a doctor, just a medical school student.”

“Doctor Jiang, I have a headache and fever. Please take a look.”

“I charge for treatment.”

Upon hearing this, the woman’s smile stiffened. “What? It’s just a headache and fever. Just give me two pills.”

“Do you shop at the department store without paying?” Jiang Ning didn’t bother with her. “I don’t have any medicine here and can’t treat your illness.”

“No… no medicine? Then can you at least give me two acupuncture shots?”

“Acupuncture is possible. Five jin of grain per session.”

“What? You don’t have costs for acupuncture, why do you want five jin of grain?”

The woman was so angry she jumped up. “Listen, young lady, that’s not how you should behave. We’re neighbors, we should help each other. You all have so many good things and don’t share, and now you even want our food for survival. Your heart’s way too black!”

Jiang Ning opened the door and drew her knife. “Say that again.”

“What? What are you doing? Trying to kill someone?” The woman was scared, took a few steps back. “There are people in the police station. If you dare to touch me, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

She was really noisy, making Jiang Ning’s ears ring.

Jiang Ning swung her knife.

“Ahhhh, murder! Murder on the 18th floor, you heartless monster…”

“Keep yelling. Look at you, loud and round-waisted, all fat. You must have stuffed yourself before coming here to cause trouble, right?”

Jiang Ning recognized her — a woman who came from out of town with her grandson, selfish and greedy, rummaging through garbage cans in every building, even begging for unfinished drinks from others.

“You’re lying…” The woman’s face instantly turned pale, her voice weakened noticeably. “My family has no food, we’ve run out of rations.”

She actually had plenty of food stored. When the typhoon came, she went door to door borrowing food and managed to get quite a bit. Nobody expected Jiang Ning to see through her.

She had heard there was medicine on the 18th floor and wanted to get some, but Jiang Ning was too difficult to deal with.

The woman’s voice weakened, “Really no grain. If I had any, I’d have brought it to you to exchange for medicine.”

“If you dare try to take what’s mine again, don’t blame me for breaking into your house.”

Seeing the fierceness in Jiang Ning’s eyes, the woman broke into a cold sweat and dared not make more trouble. She hurried downstairs to hide her stuff.

No medicine gained, and she caused trouble — now she was in real trouble.

Back upstairs, the acupuncture continued.

“Xiao Ning, that woman talks badly. Don’t take it to heart,” Granny Zhong chatted with her. “She lives right below me, always taking advantage, always coming over with her kid to mooch food and drink.

Her kid wasn’t raised well either, grabbing anything good she saw and wouldn’t let go. We stopped letting them into our place after a while.

Oh, and you should watch out for the young girl living next to me — she’s been saying a lot of bad things about you.”

“The one who got her hair shaved?”

Granny Zhong lived on the 12th floor, so she must be talking about Su Mengyao.

“Yes, she’s been sneaking around asking about you, wondering if you have medicine.”

Granny Zhong was no fool and knew her intentions weren’t pure. “I told her you don’t have medicine, but she didn’t believe it. She’s led those people astray and they seem to have a grudge against you.”

Having lived a lifetime, Granny Zhong had seen everything. “Xiao Ning, this disaster has harmed people and corrupted hearts. I know you’re capable, but you still have to be careful going out.”

Having died once before, Jiang Ning was naturally cautious. She chose who to treat, not treating just anyone.

In the previous life, she saw the darkness of human nature in this building. She was willing to help only those with a conscience left, though many still died in the end.

Thinking of Su Mengyao, Jiang Ning narrowed her eyes. “Granny Zhong, what exactly did she say about me?”

“She didn’t say it outright, just hints and insinuations — saying you have something.”

Granny Zhong recalled another thing. “She also tried to flirt with that handsome young guy in your building, but the guy didn’t pay her any attention.”

Flirt with Huo Yi?

“She’s so young but so scheming. She played the beauty trick really well — pretending to twist her ankle and fall right in front of the young guy. But the guy was really proper, didn’t even glance at her and just walked away.”

Granny Zhong wasn’t just talking about Su Mengyao. Several pretty girls in the building did this, even trading their bodies for food.

For a pack of instant noodles, they could be with two or three men at the same time…

Sigh, how did the world come to this?

Zheng Ping was also harassed, but fortunately, she was strict and dared not act rashly.

Zheng Weili and others returned near dusk, bringing back a lot of firewood, and even dragged a large cylindrical stainless steel water tank.

Kele was strong-willed, dragging a big tree branch upstairs, followed by Dou Dou carrying firewood. “Sister, open the door, we’re back.”

The dog was very excited, constantly jumping into Jiang Ning’s arms, soaking her all over with water.

Dou Dou had scratches on her face, probably from a fall or a scrape, but her eyes shone brightly when she smiled.

She leaned close to Jiang Ning’s ear and whispered, “Sister, there’s meat. Kele found it. Brother hit someone.”

Oh wow, no wonder the dog was so proud — waiting for her praise.

She petted the dog’s head and even gave a little kiss.