Chapter 24: Seizing the Moral High Ground

Chapter 24: Seizing the Moral High Ground

Although she could not see the woman’s face, Gu Pan could already feel the building manager’s irritation. However, it had nothing to do with her, and she quite admired her husband’s temperament.

Although Lu Risheng worked in sales, he wasn’t the type to court clients through drinking or social networking. He was a man of few words, preferring to let quality and reliability speak for themselves. Moreover, being a veteran was a bonus, as many people placed more trust in the character of someone who had served in the military.

The building manager gathered her thoughts before speaking again: "We are all neighbors in this building. I’ve conducted a census; everyone here is a decent person. It’s right to be cautious, but you should also believe that most people are good."

Gu Pan stepped forward and addressed her: "Manager, there is no need to discuss the door. We will not move it. Is there anything else? It’s so cold; if not, we’re going back inside."

The manager hadn’t come specifically about the door; she had only mentioned it because she happened to see it. She had expected to be praised for looking out for the building, never imagining the seventh floor would be so dismissive. Though annoyed that her suggestion hadn't gained traction, she didn't lose sight of her main purpose. "Come downstairs for a meeting shortly. At least one person from each household must attend," she said, before heading upstairs to continue her notifications.

Duan Shumei looked at Gu Pan and asked, "Are you going?"

Gu Pan thought it over and nodded. "I’ll go listen."

"Then I’ll go too," Duan Shumei said.

Both households returned inside to gear up, wrapping themselves in hats and scarves before heading downstairs together. The entryway of their unit was quite spacious, furnished with two rows of chairs, and many people had already arrived. Feng Zhekai from 601 stood with them naturally, considering himself a friend of Lu Risheng and Chen Shaonan.

Soon, the manager finished notifying the rest of the building, and most residents had arrived. The manager clapped her hands to quiet the crowd. "I’ve called everyone together to discuss how to weather these difficult times. Several homes in our complex have been burglarized, likely by a gang. With police resources spread thin, we must rely on ourselves. I propose we organize the men in the building into shifts to patrol the hallways at night and protect our home together."

In her previous life, Gu Pan and her husband had participated in this initiative. At the time, they had truly believed in mutual aid. However, within days of electing Lu Risheng as team leader, others began to rely on him, frequently asking for time off and leaving him to cover their shifts. This time, Gu Pan was determined not to let her family be taken for fools.

The owner of 501 was particularly supportive: "I think the manager’s suggestion is excellent. I support it."

The young man from 901 glanced at the elderly woman from 501. "Auntie, your household has no men, so you don’t have to contribute any labor. Of course you support it."

Gu Pan had always felt that the guy from 901 was clear-headed and bold enough to speak his mind; his values were quite sound.

The elderly woman from 501 glared at him. "You young people have no sense of the bigger picture! We are doing this for the good of the whole building. You need to have a long-term perspective."

The manager clapped her hands again. "Let’s start from the first floor and confirm who is in."

The two households on the first floor were quite united; they whispered among themselves and expressed their support, acknowledging that while not perfectly fair, it was indeed beneficial for the building. The two households on the second floor followed suit. As each floor agreed, Gu Pan and her husband didn't want to appear difficult, as they would be living there for at least another half-year.

However, when it was their turn to speak, Gu Pan immediately preempted any potential issues. "My husband is a veteran who was medically discharged due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. He cannot be overworked. We will follow whatever schedule you set, but do not assign us any extra workload."

Since the manager loved moral posturing, Gu Pan decided to seize the moral high ground first.

Lu Risheng, knowing his wife had her reasons, echoed her sentiment: "I truly cannot handle excessive physical strain. I ask for everyone’s understanding."

Unable to use moral coercion, the manager still had her eyes on the iron door. "Well, I will try to reduce your shifts during the scheduling; we certainly shouldn't let a veteran who served our country suffer. But I must say, that iron door of yours would really be better suited for the unit entrance. We are all helping each other now; if everyone understands you, shouldn't you also consider the rest of the building?"

Hearing this, many in the building felt she had a point, and the discussion shifted back to the door.

Lu Risheng had never intended to compromise on the door. "Intruders don't just enter through the unit door; the stairwell windows on the second and third floors are just as vulnerable."

Before the manager could respond, Gu Pan spoke up: "Furthermore, the door only has two keys. Who would manage them? If someone has an emergency in the middle of the night, are they supposed to knock on the door of whoever is holding the keys?"

The manager from 401 gathered her thoughts: "We can find solutions to all of that! The windows on the second and third floors can be sealed with wooden boards and iron bars. The keys can be kept inside the door so they can't be taken from the outside, but can be opened from the inside. Isn't that enough?" She looked pleased with her own quick thinking.

Gu Pan laughed. She cleared her throat and said, "First, wooden boards won't stop anyone, and do you even have iron bars? Second, how can you guarantee that everyone in this building is trustworthy? Why did the thieves know exactly which apartments were well-stocked? Our group chat only includes people from this building; don't you find that strange? Perhaps it was just someone gossiping, but it could also be that someone is colluding with outsiders. I cannot gamble my family’s safety on such an unstable factor. We will not be moving the door."

As Gu Pan’s words settled, the crowd began to murmur. It was true—how did the thieves have such clear targets? If it were just someone with a loose tongue, that would be one thing, but what if someone in the building was working with outsiders?

The manager felt a pang of fear. She was also worried about this possibility. She could command and control the building, but what if someone was colluding with those outside? Her authority was meant to keep her own family safe, but if there was an inside collaborator, even her own safety would be compromised.

Seeing the expressions of the residents, Lu Risheng spoke up at the right moment: "So, if you have a clear conscience, please be vigilant and protect your own homes. Even without iron doors or extra locks, you can barricade your doors with tables and chairs before sleeping. Even if a thief manages to pry the door, it will be very difficult to get in, and if they do, it will create noise. But please pay attention to fire safety and plan how to exit quickly if a fire breaks out, especially since so many people are using fire for heating now."