Ch37But the Food Must Not Go to Him
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"Fine, bring it on."
Meng Ci had long steeled himself mentally. Killing someone was but a blink of an eye.
In this post-apocalyptic world of survival of the fittest, weakness and compassion only became blades others could turn against you.
Since these people offered themselves as practice targets, he wouldn't hold back.
"We outnumber them. They're just two. No matter how you look at it, we have the upper hand."
"Exactly..."
The group charged forward, wielding kitchen knives and chairs.
Shen Que was a man of few words, but as they surged toward him, he immediately stepped forward, blocking their path with his butcher's knife.
Seeing Shen Que's imposing stature, several hesitated, not daring to advance.
After a moment's indecision, exchanging nervous glances, they charged once more.
One man wielded a clothesline pole, using its length to his advantage as he attacked first.
Shen Que grabbed the pole mid-swing, wresting it away before the man could react.
The man staggered, still processing what had happened.
Shen Que then began delivering heavy blows to the others, sending them yelping in pain.
Meng Ci stood behind Shen Que, never getting a chance to intervene.
Well, looks like no practice session this time.
"Shen Que, watch out!"
Meng Ci spotted a bench flying through the crowd and shouted urgently.
Shen Que dodged swiftly. The bench whizzed past his ear, smashed into the wall, and shattered.
"Enough!"
Though outnumbered, those dozen or so men were no match for Shen Que. Their faces were now covered in bruises and welts.
At Meng Ci's command, Shen Que obediently stopped fighting.
The beaten men dared not make another move, only rubbing their wounds with a look of grievance.
"I suppose you've seen now that you're no match for us when it comes to stealing. We're not unreasonable people. It's better for you to leave quietly."
Meng Ci had seen clearly who threw the chair earlier. He wouldn't let that person off easy.
Some backed down when faced with difficulty, but others refused to give up until they got the food.
"We have nothing to eat right now. We have to wait three more days for the government to deliver supplies."
"I might starve to death by then. I'm not leaving."
"Why don't you just slit my throat? At least I won't have to suffer hunger."
Several who had been about to leave reconsidered upon hearing his words and stayed.
The man sat down by the wall like a complete scoundrel, clearly intending to camp out there until someone resolved his issue.
Others followed suit, plopping down on the floor.
Meng Ci's face darkened instantly.
"Don't make me force you to drink the punishment wine."
Having them camped here, threat or no threat, was infuriating. But these people clearly had no intention of leaving, even if threatened.
When you possess treasure, there will always be those who covet it.
But then Meng Ci considered-perhaps giving them a rubber dinghy could resolve some issues.
For now, it was just a dozen or so people demanding food. Two of them could handle it.
But if the entire building's residents banded together later, they'd be overwhelmed.
Meng Ci glanced around. A few of the men here had faces worth befriending.
They might need their help later, so it wouldn't be wise to burn bridges. After pondering, Meng Ci spoke up.
"I have a rubber dinghy in my room. You can borrow it."
"Whether you find food depends on your own skills."
"And whatever food you bring back, you must share some with us."
"If you agree, I'll go get it."
"If you refuse, you can sit here and die. We won't lift a finger."
Hearing this, the others rose to their feet, all agreeing it was fine.
Meng Ci spotted Li Ping and Zhao Ze in the crowd. These two had repeatedly opposed them, so he certainly wouldn't let them off easy.
"But!" Meng Ci pointed at Li Ping and Zhao Ze in the crowd.
"They can't use my rubber boat, and they won't get any of the food brought back!"
"If I catch them using anything, I'd rather destroy it and we'll all starve together than let them have it."
Moreover, the stool that nearly hit Shen Que earlier had been thrown by Zhao Ze.
For such repeated provocations, Meng Ci considered it an act of mercy not to kill them himself.
And to think they could trade his tools for survival rations? Utterly delusional.
He then grabbed two of Li Ping's black paper clips, intending to pick the lock using techniques he'd learned online.
After fiddling for over ten minutes without success, and fearing the return of the tall, burly Shen Que, he could only retreat home in frustration.
Later, he discussed the situation with Li Ping. Together, they rallied several familiar neighbors, planning to use their numbers to seize the food.
Yet now, unexpectedly, they were being cast aside.
Meng Ci paused as he opened his own door, turning to ask, "He refuses. What about you?"
At this point, everyone was only concerned with their own survival. Who cared if others starved?
"Young man, rest assured. If we promised not to give them any, we won't."
"Exactly. If you're worried, we can distribute everything we bring back right in front of you."
"We absolutely mean what we say!"
Meng Ci was satisfied with their attitude. He went inside, retrieved the inflatable raft he'd used once before, and brought it out.
Zhao Ze and the others saw the raft-a lifesaving item!
He was the one who told everyone Meng Ci had food at home, and now they were trying to stab him in the back!
Well, he wouldn't be held responsible then!
Taking advantage of everyone's excitement over the raft, Zhao Ze rushed forward and snatched it away.
"If you won't let me live, then we'll all die together!"
Clutching the raft, Zhao Ze charged toward a nearby window.
If he tossed this lifeline overboard, these untrustworthy scoundrels would never find food again.
What a satisfying thought.
"Zhao Ze, what are you doing?!"
"Stop him!"
The others snapped to attention, reaching out to grab him.
But Zhao Ze, fueled by fury, moved too fast for their starving bodies to catch.
"Let go! Let go!"
Zhao Ze saw the window was only half a meter away when suddenly, someone clamped down on his neck.
Realizing he couldn't break free, Zhao Ze hugged the inflatable boat, trying to fling it through the glass and out the window.
But that split second was all it took for the others to close in.
Shen Que, who had been holding Zhao Ze, saw the crowd closing in, released him, and stepped back to the side.
Soon, they snatched the rubber boat away, and Zhao Ze was knocked to the ground.