[edited]

Lu Yu had a pair of gossip ears, ‘It seems like they’re prying open doors, and there seem to be quite a few people.’ 

Jiang Ning’s expression turned serious. ‘The sudden drop in temperature the night before should have claimed quite a few lives. They’re probably trying to pry open the rooms of those victims.’ 

‘This… this is really outrageous.’ 

Jiang Ning shrugged. ‘There’s no other way. The dead must make way for the living.’ 

If her guess is correct, it’s He Zhian checking the number of survivors, then organizing a manpower to clear the survival supplies from the deceased. 

Lu Yu felt powerless. ‘There have been floods for several months. Not to mention that every household has no food. Some people even boil their leather shoes to satisfy their hunger. All the furniture that can be burned is broken. What can they find if they pry the door open?’ 

‘Some things can still be found.’ 

Although they felt uncomfortable, they couldn’t find any words to blame them. 

They were lucky to have acquired some supplies themselves. If their situation was like theirs, they might also go pry and open the doors of those who died as well. 

As Anning said, the dead must make way for the living. 

Feeling depressed, they exchanged some words and went back home to hide under the covers. 

Having been out in the freezing cold, they wished to warm their hands on the electric heater as soon as they got back inside. 

Xiao Bai nursed the baby, while Da Hui came out to find food, circling around Jiang Ning continuously. 

Both seemed lively, so she added some grass and feed them. 

Apart from the daily practice and archery, Jiang Ning was adamant about not leaving the house, so either she bury herself in books under the covers or cultivate with her consciousness. 

The heavens seemed to pity her, as she finally tilled about 100 square meters and dug small plots to plant corn seeds before filling them with soil. 

Her mental energy was consumed rapidly, and she felt as if her body had been drained. 
 

Hungry, she quickly grabbed a Snickers bar! 

1803 was very proactive, they cleared the snow off the roof every day and not forgetting to clear Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen’s portion as well. 

Nobody said anything, but they all kept it in mind. Their survival skills weren’t as strong as the two, and they contributed more to finding supplies, but they gained an advantage in supplies distribution. 

So, they tried to do more within their capabilities. 

Jiang Ning mentioned it a few times, but 1803 didn’t listen. 

She thought about taking turns to go to the rooftop to collect the snow, but she couldn’t match their speed. Every time she opened the door, the buckets filled with snow were already at the doorstep. 

Perhaps this would put 1803’s mind at ease, so Jiang Ning didn’t stop them anymore. 

There is no shortage of water in space. So, she closed the door and poured the ice and snow into the black soil garden and considered it watering. 

She felt guilty about wasting her friend’s kindness, but who would let go of better options if available? She really felt sorry.

The temperature dropped every day, sometimes noticeably, sometimes not, until it reached negative 26 degrees without them realising it.” 

The banging downstairs continued every day for several days before finally quieting down. 

Listening to the commotion, it seemed like even the 17th floor was being broken into. 

It’s estimated that there have indeed been quite a few casualties. 

After all, this is the South, where neither the housing structures nor the winter clothing are as sturdy as those in the North. 

On this day, the knocking on the door downstairs resounded once again, and it was Grandma Zhong who had come. 

Given the terrible weather, it was obvious she wasn’t here for acupuncture. 

As they were old acquaintances, Grandma Zhong didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point: ‘Little Jiang, we have something we’d like to discuss with you.’ 

Seeing she’s visibly not well, with a worried expression on her face, Jiang Ning frowned and said, ‘Please, go ahead.’ 

Grandma Zhong immediately broke down, gripping Jiang Ning’s hand tightly as she choked out, ‘Little Jiang, you truly are our family’s savior.’ 

If it weren’t for Jiang Ning advising her to wipe herself with medicinal alcohol and then cover herself in blankets to sweat out the cold, she would have frozen to death on that night when the temperature suddenly dropped. She wouldn’t have had a chance to wake up. 

Waking up just in time, she managed to evade the grasp of the King of Hell.” 

“Zhong’s family wasn’t supposed to have such bad luck, but others were not so lucky. Floods and food shortages had already caused a lot of damage, but this time many more died. 

Having lived her whole life, she never expected the warm south to drop to negative 26 degrees, a temperature even colder than the harshest winters in the Northeast. 

Compared to before the typhoon hit, probably only about thirty percent of the entire building remained. 

Typhoons, floods, extreme cold… what’s happening to this world? 

Jiang Ning didn’t take credit, ‘I merely provided advice based on the condition. It’s because you followed the doctor’s advice and prepared well.’ 

Grandma Zhong didn’t see it that way and deliberately brought a jar of fermented fish with black beans as a token of gratitude, ‘This was made by my daughter in law, a specialty from our hometown. You should both try it.’ 

The jar weighed around three to four pounds, a very generous gift indeed. 

Although Jiang Ning had already received quite a few jars of the fermented fish in her space but Grandma Zhong was so determined that she almost shove it in her face, so she had no choice but to accept it. 

Seeing that she accepted it, Grandma Zhong continued chatting, “Our family is also lucky. Not only did we not get frostbite since we woke up on time, but the people next door seemed to be freezing to death. Some of them even suffered from frostbite. The little girl named Su was so shameless she came knocking on the door to ask for medicine. 

Where would we get the medicine from? She acts like we’re intentionally withholding it. She has come back several times already. Another person died yesterday, supposedly from fever caused by frostbite.’ 

Although they’re pitiful but forcing the Zhong family to provide medicine is unacceptable. 

Even if they had it, they needed to keep it to save their own lives. 

This weather was no joke; a simple cold could be fatal. 

Jiang Ning frowned. Everyone else died, why is Su Mengyao still alive? She must be incredibly resilient! 

Grandma Zhong wouldn’t come up here without a good reason. 

She sighed deeply, looking worried, ‘Little Jiang, something doesn’t feel right. I fear something big is about to happen in this building.’ 

‘What makes you say that?’ 

‘He Zhian is gathering the survivors to pry open the homes of the deceased. He takes away their grain, clothes, blankets, and wooden furniture. This alone isn’t too surprising; after all, everyone wants to survive.’ 

But He Zhian isn’t fair; he distributes resources based on his preferences. 

More for the men and half as much for the women. If it weren’t for the entire Zhong family surviving, they would have been bullied too. 

Although men are stronger at prying the doors open, women are better at finding things. Many supplies were hidden in unexpected places, all found by the women. 

But women are outnumbered, and they dared not to resist. He Zhian withholds what should be evenly distributed, keeping most of it for himself, and the other men who take small advantages don’t complain either. 

But that’s not the worst part; he not only frequently interacts with other building managers but also collaborates with outside criminal groups. 

‘Yesterday, he took a few young girls out. They get a pound of grain per hour, and he allowed them to play as they pleased for five hours. He’s a damn animal. 

That girl surnamed Yu next door was brought back almost dead and her pants soaked in blood.” 

“Exchanging her body for five pounds of rice, and then He Zhian wants to take half of that, leaving only two and a half pounds for several people to share. How much do you think she can eat?” 

Jiang Ning wasn’t surprised; after all, Yang Weicong had also advised her to exchange her body in a past life, but he ended up with a broken head from her rolling pin. He never dared to bring it up again afterward. 

She didn’t expect Yu Qingqing to be so hopeless. 

“Su Mengyao didn’t go out?” 

“No, but sooner or later, it’ll be her turn.” 

Grandma Zhong didn’t come to gossip intentionally; she heard some bad news, “People from outside have come into Buildings 18 and 19 to collect protection grain. Every household must give it up. If they can’t, they’re kicked out to find it elsewhere, or else…” 

He Zhian’s close ties with these people probably mean trouble. 

Protection grain?