Chapter 514: Chapter 514

"Mom, you guys should take some rations and go register in the underground garage. You can make do there for a few nights," Li Zhu said, already hurrying back. "I’ve already asked around. During the Spring Festival, you can go to the residential area where relatives are and temporarily stay in a communal sleeping space. Plus, during the festival, the cafeteria is all buffet-style; you can eat as much as you want."

"Once you see your mother-in-law, make sure to arrange for us to stay in the big villa as soon as possible! Even if we can’t stay there, at least get us some work," they called after him.

"I know, I know! I’ll hurry and see how they’re arranging things." Li Zhu had already run off.

Aunt Li was still yelling from behind, "We’re waiting for you to bring us food! Grab as much as you can!"

He was long out of sight.

Speaking of Li Zhu’s speed, it truly was fast. Jing Shu had just opened her door when Li Zhu came pattering up, still looking puzzled. "Jing Zhao, aren’t we living in the villa?"

Jing Zhao glared fiercely at Li Zhu. "If you don’t want to stay, then get out and go back!"

By this time, Building 25 already housed hundreds of people, with each apartment overflowing. Access to the villa area was restricted, but many people were still coming and going around here. Hearing the commotion, several residents approached, shining their cellphone lights, their eyes fixed on the carrying poles and pushcarts with a greedy glint.

It was a pity that things were too strictly controlled now. If anyone dared to steal food, they would be sent straight to labor reform. No one would dare to take the risk unless they were on the verge of starving to death.

The elder aunt covered their belongings more securely, clearly nervous.

Just then, a girl with bangs, carrying two thermos flasks, walked over quickly and called out enthusiastically, "Sister Jing Shu, these must be the relatives staying over for a few days, right? Let me register you. Just show me your phone QR codes. Oh, by the way, I’m the community manager for Building 25. Just call me Fatty Girl. If you have any problems these days, feel free to ask me." Updates are released by 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥

The entire group showed their QR codes to Fatty Girl for registration. Regulations from the authorities were strict; all transient populations had to be registered.

Fatty Girl put down the thermos flasks and smiled. "I brought you some hot water as well. The hot water station is over by the garbage station; it’s 1 Virtual Coin for 2 flasks. When you leave, just return the thermos flasks to me. These flasks are also allocated..."

In reality, each apartment block only had one communal thermos, shared among twenty to thirty people.

The elder aunt glanced at Jing Shu, who squinted slightly and nodded. Only then did the elder aunt exclaim her thanks as she accepted the thermos flasks and pressed a handful of cooked rice into Fatty Girl’s hand. "Thank you so much! You’ve been a great help."

Fatty Girl glanced at Jing Shu again. Seeing no objection, she accepted the rice and warmly added, "By the way, you can’t urinate or defecate just anywhere in our community. You have to go to the garbage station to take care of that. Of course, you can also collect it in a basin if you prefer. The garbage station collects it and even gives you Virtual Coins in return!"

The elder aunt and the others were dumbfounded. Li Zhu, the second aunt’s husband, whispered, "The city sure has a lot of rules."

After explaining more rules, Fatty Girl finally left. The elder aunt quietly asked Jing Shu, "Why is she being so nice to us? She doesn’t have an ulterior motive, does she?"

Jing Shu waved her hand, motioning for her uncle to move the luggage from the pushcart into the apartment before saying, "I helped her out a bit with the manager position."

An expression of understanding dawned on everyone’s faces. Li Zhu’s eyes darted about. This niece of mine, he thought, is far more capable than I imagined!

Warm light shone into a spacious, clean, and comfortable large room that lay before the family. A soft, luxurious sofa graced the living room. An unknown variety of wildflowers rested on the dining table. The floor was so clean it reflected the light, and a fire crackled merrily in the stove.

"Ah! There are electric lights here? And it’s so clean inside! I’m afraid our muddy selves will dirty everything." The elder aunt quickly herded everyone to the doorway. "Hurry, everyone wash your feet before coming in."

To Jing Shu’s astonishment, everyone first washed their feet and socks. The elder aunt efficiently cleaned everyone’s muddy shoes, washing out several basins of Black Water, until everything was tidy enough to enter the house.

"The path was full of sticky mud pits," Wei Zheng complained.

As they entered the house, more exclamations of surprise followed. Qiao Lian murmured, "No wonder Uncle’s family always brought their own things when they visited us. I used to think they were just being fussy and looking down on us, but now I understand."

Jing Shu then assigned the rooms. "Brother Wei Zheng, you, your wife, and little Shu’en can stay in this bedroom. Elder Aunt, your family can have this guest bedroom. Second Aunt, your family can take the master bedroom."

The elder aunt then asked, "What about your Grandpa? Is there a place for him to stay? If not, we can stay in the living room."

"They’re staying in the villa."

"Alright then. We brought our own bedding, so we don’t need to use yours."

Li Zhu whispered, "Why don’t I bring my folks over to stay in the living room? I see other apartments housing dozens of people. It’s a waste for just us to live in such a big house."

The second aunt gave Li Zhu a sharp pinch on his waist. "Just how badly do you want to trash such a nice house?"

A dangerous glint flickered in Jing Shu’s eyes, but she ignored Li Zhu and continued speaking to the elder aunt, "Grandpa was worried you’d be cold, so he had two charcoal stoves lit for you. There’s a kettle and water on top of each, making them convenient to use. He also had an extra electrical outlet installed for you, so you can charge your devices and watch TV anytime."

"Oh, right," Jing Shu said, leading them to the bathroom. "The regular toilets aren’t working right now. Here’s some cat litter and portable toilets. When they’re full, just leave them outside the door, and someone will come to collect the waste."

"That’ll work, that’ll work! You’ve all thought of everything. This is too much, too extravagant." The elder aunt’s eyes reddened slightly. She hadn’t expected such good treatment, to be surrounded by so many good things. All these items would be so expensive on the Black Market! She was deeply touched that their Jing Shu was letting them use everything so generously.

Qiao Lian, ever observant, noticed a few rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom and handed them over. "One roll costs a good few Virtual Coins! This is too much; we don’t need all this."

Jing Shu smiled. "All the small stones and twigs outside have been picked clean. You can’t just use your hands, right? Besides, it’s the New Year, and we’ll all be eating together... that would be... And the children will definitely need it."

The elder aunt wiped her eyes, tucked one roll into her bosom, and handed the rest back to Jing Shu. "One square of paper per person per day. If anyone needs more, they come to me. No one is allowed to waste it."

Jing Shu understood. In her previous life, hadn’t she also lacked paper and used a scraper instead? But now, she was more worried that these people might not clean themselves properly, or that filth might seep onto their hands. Wouldn’t that be even more embarrassing?

Suddenly, Jing Shu decided to serve individual meals in disposable boxes for this year’s Spring Festival.

Come to think of it, her supply of toilet paper and sanitary pads was dwindling. Who would have guessed there would be so many women in the house after the apocalypse? Su Malie mentioned a barter event at the Black Market happening soon. Perhaps she should stock up on more then; otherwise, these items would only become harder to find.

"There’s also shampoo and soap here, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Feel free to use them if you need to."

Good personal hygiene makes living together much more pleasant. Otherwise, it’s like today when I opened the door to that awful stench... It’s not that I’m disgusted, but it really does affect one’s appetite.