Lin Dong didn't care whether his words would have any effect—he just started cursing first.
"You bunch of idiots! How can you trust this Liu Erlong? Have you forgotten that this bastard Liu Erlong was the one who infiltrated the homeowners' group as a mole for the property management? He sabotaged the formation of the homeowners' committee multiple times!"
"It's been over two years since Blossom Garden was handed over. Every time we tried to organize the homeowners' committee, the news would leak in advance. Don't you know who the mole in the group is?"
"Back then, the property management was literally shitting on our heads. Why? Because they could unite as one, so they could bully you."
"But now? The property management company is gone. Since the Great Flood, who the hell isn't fighting for their life? Who the hell is born to be inferior? Born to be someone else's lackey?"
"Why are you so spineless? Did you pay property fees for two years just to be dogs for the property management?"
"Today, Liu Erlong can send two lackeys to die at my doorstep. Tomorrow, he'll dare to send you to your deaths."
Lin Dong cursed sentence by sentence, each word making the people downstairs pale.
Liu Erlong's expression turned especially ugly, and he immediately roared, "Go! Everyone, back downstairs! This kid has gasoline and gas canisters—we can't touch him for now. Let's regroup with the other floors first."
With that, he urged everyone to leave immediately, afraid they'd continue to be swayed by Lin Dong's words.
The others silently lowered their heads and quickly followed Liu Erlong downstairs.
Wu Hua stood in the crowd, his eyes flickering slightly as he exchanged a glance with Zhang Li beside him.
Their gazes met, pausing for a split second before they both turned away expressionlessly and followed the crowd out.
Lin Dong stood at the door and cursed a few more times. Only when the footsteps downstairs faded did he stop, letting out a cold chuckle.
"I've never lost an argument in my life."
As he turned to close the door, the door across from him suddenly cracked open.
"Little brother, wait! Hold on!"
Lin Dong paused and looked over to see Yang Mei peeking out halfway, her eyes darting around warily as she urgently called out to him.
She was still wearing that goose-yellow step-mother dress. Because she was being cautious, she was half-bent at the waist as she leaned out.
Though the door crack was narrow, the residual light from the flames on the ground instantly illuminated the generous view of her snow-white pomelos as she bent over.
Lin Dong's gaze froze, fixed on Yang Mei's… face, as he said gravely, "Sis Mei, you dare come out? Aren't you afraid Liu Erlong's people will see you?"
Yang Mei forced a weak smile. Of course she was afraid. When the Great Flood first started, the way Liu Erlong looked at her was like he wanted to devour her alive.
For the past six months, she'd mostly stayed hidden in her room, too scared to go out—largely because of Liu Erlong.
Even now, if possible, she wouldn't have opened the door.
But…
"Hurry up and talk! He's about to close the door!"
Behind her, her husband Li Zhiqiang urged her impatiently, even giving her a push.
Yang Mei nearly stumbled out from the scare.
Resentful but helpless, she could only look at Lin Dong pleadingly. "Little brother, Liu Erlong and his gang won't let this go. They'll definitely find a way to deal with you. Your Brother Li has an idea—he wants to discuss it with you."
Lin Dong was surprised. Since when did Li Zhiqiang have guts?
Daring to team up with me against Liu Erlong?
His interest piqued, Lin Dong asked, "Let's hear your plan."
Yang Mei quickly replied, "Brother Li's idea is that he can monitor Liu Erlong's men at the door. If they dare come up again, he'll make noise to alert you immediately."
"We don't want anything else—just provide some food for the two of us."
Lin Dong was speechless: "Sister Mei, are you joking? With this security door here, could Liu Erlong's men break in silently? Do I need you to guard the door? And I should pay you with food? What are you thinking?"
With that, he moved to shut the door.
Li Zhiqiang, standing opposite, panicked. He pulled Yang Mei aside and leaned forward urgently, saying, "Lin Dong, we won't eat much. If it's too much, just provide food for me alone!"
Yang Mei, shoved aside, hit the shoe cabinet, her forehead swelling red. Hearing Li Zhiqiang's words, she froze as if struck by lightning, her eyes reddening as she bit her chapped lips and glared at him.
But as a traditional woman, she didn't dare lash out at Li Zhiqiang. She could only pray silently that Lin Dong wouldn't agree.
Lin Dong naturally refused. What a joke—food was so precious, yet they had the nerve to ask for it.
Just for watching the door? And they wanted food in return?
Nothing came that cheap.
Bang!
Lin Dong slammed the door shut without another word.
Seeing this, Li Zhiqiang's eyes filled with venomous resentment.
"Damn it, you bastard, Lin Dong. Liu Erlong will kill you sooner or later, damn it, damn it!" he muttered under his breath, not daring to raise his voice.
Suddenly, noises came from downstairs. Li Zhiqiang jumped in fright, quickly retreating and shutting his own door.
He peeked through the peephole for a while. Seeing no one approaching, he finally relaxed.
Turning around, he saw Yang Mei still sitting on the floor, rubbing her forehead. His anger flared again.
"Are you dead? Why are you still sitting there?"
"Damn it, what was the point of forming a Combined family with you? Any decent wife would've stockpiled rice and flour. But you—you didn't prepare anything, leaving us with nothing to eat now!"
Li Zhiqiang ranted, venting his fury on Yang Mei.
Hearing this, Yang Mei could no longer hold back her grievances. With reddened eyes, she retorted, "Li Zhiqiang, haven't you been eating the supplies I fought to buy when the Great Flood first started?"
"Back then, the crowds were overwhelming. You, a grown man, didn't go—you sent me, a woman, to compete with all those men. How could I possibly grab enough?"
"And now you have the nerve to blame me? In these six months, you've eaten three-quarters of our food!"
"And me? I only ate one meal a day, and I was the one fetching water and cooking. How… how dare you say that to me? Wuwu…"
She broke down in tears.
But instead of remorse, Li Zhiqiang's face darkened further. "Damn it, you still dare talk back? If I hadn't been here these past six months, Liu Erlong would've broken in and had his way with you! And now you're yelling at me?"
"Believe me, I'll hand you over to Liu Erlong right now—he'd definitely give me food in return!"
Yang Mei turned pale with fright, too scared to even cry out, her entire body trembling.
Remembering the tragic fates of some of her female neighbors she had witnessed before, she scrambled backward into the room in terror, using both hands and feet.
"No, I won't go, I won't! Li Zhiqiang, if you hand your own wife over to others, you're worse than an animal, worse than a beast..."
Li Zhiqiang's face darkened as he sneered. "Beast or not, Yang Mei, do you think those people outside are still human? Let me tell you, they've all turned into beasts long ago."
"I'll give you one more day. If you still can't figure out a way to borrow food from that Lin guy, don't blame me for forgetting our years as husband and wife. Hmph!"
With that, he turned and went back to his own room.
In the living room, only Yang Mei remained, shivering uncontrollably.