Chapter 18: A Battle of Wits and Strategy in the WeChat Group

Chapter 18: Wits and Wisdom in the WeChat Group

Gu Pan and the others didn’t linger long after buying their supplies; they hurried back home. After all, staying outside too long in this weather was unbearable. While waiting in line earlier, they had taken turns moving around to keep warm, lest they freeze.

At the community gate, they saw many people just heading to queue up. When these people noticed Gu Pan and the others returning with goods, they asked what they had bought and if there were many people in line.

Gu Pan gave brief answers and quickly headed back. In such cold weather, after standing in line for two or three hours, they were eager to get home and warm up.

As soon as they entered the building, they saw the owner of unit 501 waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing them, she hurried over. “What did you all manage to buy?”

Looking at the woman in her sixties, eyes gleaming with sharpness, Gu Pan felt truly annoyed. They had already clashed in the group chat before, and now she pretended as if nothing had happened, coming to ask for supplies. Such shameless people were truly frightening.

Gu Pan didn’t want to waste words. “If you go queue, you’ll know. We’ve been freezing all morning and really need to warm up at home.”

The owner of 501 saw Gu Pan was unmoved and grabbed Chen Lang’s arm. “Young man, you students know to respect your elders. What did you buy? Let grandma see.”

Chen Lang, having experienced the aid situation with his parents before, covered his bag tightly and broke free from her grasp. “Grandma, we queued for three hours. It was cold and exhausting. We really need to go home now.”

Worried that 501 might try persuading Feng Zhekai, Gu Pan turned to Feng and said, “Doctor Feng, your family must be worried about you. Let’s get going.”

Feng Zhekai, hearing this, grew anxious and quickened his pace upstairs.

They all clutched their bags and hurried home, mainly because the cold was unbearable.

After giving them a disdainful glance, the owner of 501 lingered at the entrance. She didn’t want to queue at the supermarket herself, hoping to get a share from whoever returned. Leaving her grandson alone at home for hours worried her, and in such cold, if she could avoid going, she preferred not to.

When they stopped on the sixth floor, she asked Feng Zhekai, “Doctor Feng, do you want to exchange anything with us?”

Chen Shaonan added, “We have two kinds. If you want to swap, just let us know.”

Feng Zhekai shook his head. “No, as long as there’s food, it’s fine. I’ll get another share early tomorrow.”

Gu Pan and the others didn’t press further and said their goodbyes before heading upstairs.

Once inside, they bid farewell to Chen Shaonan and the others, then went their separate ways.

Taking off their thick layers took some time. After shedding their down jackets, the two quickly went into the bedroom.

Since daytime power was cut off, they started using stored power supplies for heating. The energy wasn’t renewable, so they had to conserve it, only keeping the bedroom warm. Though they had plenty stored, the future was uncertain, so saving was necessary.

Entering the bedroom, they finally relaxed. Sitting on the bed, they checked messages in the group chat.

Not many residents reported having bought supplies; few had gone out as early as Gu Pan’s group. Also, those still on the road couldn’t check their phones—many had frozen and shut down, making the devices useless.

Two hours later, someone in the high school group mentioned that the supermarkets near their homes had sold out today, and many had queued in vain. They planned to go earlier tomorrow.

Soon after, members of Gu Pan’s residential group also reported returning empty-handed, arriving too late.

Complaints quickly multiplied: even after arriving early, how could everyone queue up so early?

The owner of 501, frustrated at missing out, was in a bad mood.

Recalling Gu Pan’s earlier remark about her freezer full of frozen food, which had caused her significant losses, she was still bitter.

She posted in the group: “Looks like those on the seventh floor got the news first. They bought supplies early but didn’t bother telling anyone to come earlier.”

Gu Pan replied: “We were just prepared for any situation. Besides, unlike you, we still have food left. Your two refrigerators probably have enough to last months, right?”

Gu Pan wasn’t anxious to confront the woman further. With her resources exposed, when disorder broke out outside, her home would be the first target for robbery. If she wanted to snatch Gu Pan’s supplies, Gu Pan wouldn’t let her keep her own.

The conversation soon focused on the owner of 501’s supplies. Everyone asked how much food she still had. Gu Pan chose to stay out of it and watch the drama unfold.

Lu Ruisheng smiled at Gu Pan. “People like that don’t know if they’re clever or just foolish. So many supplies, why not keep a low profile? Why flaunt it?”

Gu Pan laughed. “Greedy people who can’t be satisfied are common. We don’t need to bother with them. Let their own homes get robbed.”

At that moment, Feng Zhekai sent a message: “Thank you, little Lu. If we hadn’t gotten up early with you, I probably wouldn’t have bought anything.”

Lu Ruisheng replied: “No need to thank us. Even if we invited you, you had to be willing to get up early to buy it.”

Feng Zhekai: “Still, thank you. Are you going again tomorrow?”

Lu Ruisheng: “We haven’t decided yet. Once we do, we’ll let you know.”

Feng Zhekai: “Okay, thanks.”

Lu Ruisheng showed the phone to Gu Pan and asked, “Are we going again tomorrow?”

Gu Pan shook her head. “Unless we start lining up at midnight, going tomorrow is pointless.”

Lu Ruisheng said, “Then I’ll still go with them tomorrow morning. It can’t seem like we know everything. Someone has to go and fail to buy to keep others balanced.”

Gu Pan nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go once more.”

Lu Ruisheng contacted Chen Shaonan and Feng Zhekai to arrange tomorrow’s trip.

At noon, Gu Pan prepared a pot of mutton soup. They drank it warmly and comfortably but avoided hot pot to prevent strong smells that might arouse suspicion.

Just after finishing, Lu Ruisheng received a call from Zhuang Jie. He put the phone on speaker so both he and Gu Pan could hear.

Zhuang Jie, sobbing with tears and sniffles, pleaded, “Brother Lu, you really have to save us. Our windows are sealed shut by snow. There are elderly and kids at home. It’s unlivable. You know my mother-in-law dotes on my brother-in-law, so we can’t stay with her. Now, we can only come to you.”

Lu Ruisheng flatly refused, “My place isn’t convenient. You need to find another solution.”

Zhuang Jie gripped the phone tightly. “Brother Lu, we’re brothers. I’m truly desperate now. You’re the only one I can turn to. You can’t just let us die, can you?”

Lu Ruisheng feigned ignorance. “This weather won’t last forever. It will warm up in a few days. Don’t make things worse.”

Zhuang Jie had doubted for a moment but felt reassured hearing this. They really didn’t know anything and still hoped for warmth.

He said, “Brother Lu, if it’s still like this after a few days, I really will have to come to you.”

Lu Ruisheng replied, “Bringing your old and young here is too far and dangerous in this cold. Hurry and rent a high-floor apartment in your community. When you’ve rented it, tell me the address. Your sister-in-law and I will come see you.”

He needed to know exactly where they would stay. When chaos came, he could seek precise revenge. For now, with the state’s order intact, murder was illegal. As a former soldier, he still had his limits.

(End of Chapter)