NOVPUBChapter 43: Chapter 43: I have experience in this matter
Chapter 43 -43: I have experience in this matter 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Gu Pan listened to Zhang Xiumin’s words, her heart ached too. She took a deep breath, trying not to let the tears fall, “Sister-in-law, everything will get better.”
Zhang Xiumin, while wiping her tears, said, “It will get better, it definitely will. I’ve just had too many days without speaking what’s on my mind, so I got a bit emotional.”
“In times like this, who wouldn’t be upset? You’ve got the elderly and children; the burden is heavier on you. But don’t keep everything to yourself. Talk to Brother Guo now and then. Both of you shouldn’t feel like carrying it all alone is helping the other. In fact, sharing your troubles is a good way to relieve stress.”
“But he’s out all day, scrambling for supplies. I really can’t bear to burden him.”
“He must think you’re tired from taking care of the family every day and is afraid to share his worries with you; doesn’t that make both of you feel even more suffocated?”
“Sister-in-law, you make sense. I hadn’t seen it from that angle before. I was too extreme.”
“The bottom line is you both mean well for each other. Having someone in your corner in the apocalypse doesn’t feel so terrifying.”
“You’re young, but you understand a lot. I really enjoy talking to you. Talking to you clears my mind.”
Just then, someone knocked on the door accompanied by a female voice: “Sister-in-law, open the door.”
Zhang Xiumin frowned upon hearing the voice, “The woman from downstairs, our kids go to the same preschool, so we’re familiar. Since the apocalypse, she’s always coming to borrow things. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve refused her, but she comes knocking daily. If I don’t open the door, I worry her shouting might draw attention to our house.”
Gu Pan stood up, “Sister-in-law, take the kids inside. I’ve got experience with this.”
Zhang Xiumin quickly carried Meng Meng to the bedroom and shut the door, then came back quickly.
Gu Pan grabbed a gun and went to open the door, “Crying out for spirits? What time do you think it is, still wanting to borrow food? Who has any to spare? We can’t even afford a meal, I can’t even get anything from my brother, and you think you can come ‘harvesting autumn wind’?”
The woman at the door stared at Gu Pan, terrified, and mechanically asked, “Who are you?”
“Who I am is none of your business! You seem well-fed, does your family have a lot of supplies? We’re out now, hurry, take me to your place to get some.” With that, Gu Pan stepped out, pressing the gun to the woman’s head, “Hurry.”
The woman, terrified, tried to run but was caught by Gu Pan and couldn’t move, only sobbed, “I, I just wanted to borrow some food. We don’t have any either, pressuring me won’t help. If we had anything, I wouldn’t need to borrow.”
“Liar, I won’t believe it until I see it. I didn’t get any food from my brother’s place today, so I can’t leave empty-handed, can I?”
“I—my family really doesn’t have any.”
Gu Pan dragged her to the door downstairs and shouted inside, “I’ll exchange this woman for food, if you don’t have any, I’ll just kill her and roast her.”
Soon the door opened a crack, and a loaf of bread was handed out, “That’s really all we have.”
Gu Pan couldn’t trust them, “This what you give to beggars? Bring more.”
They handed out half a bag of noodles through the door.
Gu Pan was just intimidating them; she took the bread and noodles and then let the woman go, warning them, “If my brother had any food, it wouldn’t be your turn. Don’t think about targeting my brother’s house again, or I’ll shoot you all.”
The woman dashed back inside, closing the door quickly, the house fell silent.
Gu Pan, holding the bread and noodles, went back upstairs with Zhang Xiumin.
Once inside and the door closed, Zhang Xiumin was a mix of anxiety, fear, and surprise. She herself wasn’t sure how to express her feelings.
Gu Pan smiled at Zhang Xiumin, “Sister-in-law, your family’s future problems are solved now. I know you guys have a gun too. You should learn from Brother Guo. In the apocalypse, the simplest method is often the best.”
Since they had been soldiers, when chaos broke out, while others looked for food, they thought of getting weapons. Guo Gang had also let Lu Ruisheng know, both aware that the other had firearms.
Zhang Xiumin finally snapped out of it, “I understand, I will. I really learned a lot from you today. The way you spoke out in the hallway also let others know we don’t have much food and that there are armed people in our house protecting us.”
Gu Pan nodded, “That’s right, remember you have to be ruthless in the future. Don’t give others a chance, or you’ll just be inviting trouble.”
Then she added, “Your door isn’t secure enough.” Pulling two chain locks from her bag, “Have Brother Guo install these tonight.”
Zhang Xiumin took them, “Thank you, sister-in-law. I really have a lot to learn.”
Gu Pan said, “You should go out with Brother Guo in the future, during these times everyone needs to be able to protect themselves, children included.”
Zhang Xiumin clenched her fists, “Yeah, you’re right. I can’t depend on Gangzi for everything. It’s unpleasant to say, but if something happened to him, our family would just be waiting to die. I have kids; I need to change as quickly as possible.”
“Brother Guo is skilled. You’ll improve quickly,” Gu Pan added.
While they talked, Lu Ruisheng and Guo Gang returned, carrying not much. In the backpack, Lu Ruisheng had packed two cabbages, one radish, and four apples wrapped in sponge—carrying more would have been wasteful. The fresh vegetables would sustain them well; as long as they finished them before the cellar filled with water when the weather warmed up.
For now, only their two families knew about this place; whoever needed anything could just come and get it.
As it got dark, they said their goodbyes. Zhang Xiumin would talk to Guo Gang about today’s events herself.
After leaving the Guo Family’s place, Gu Pan took a snowmobile out of the “Space” and they rode home.
Once home, they cut two cabbages, each frosted on the outside, into quarters, and did the same with the radish. They packed them into bags, each bag with an apple, and Lu Ruisheng went to deliver a portion to the neighbors across and below.
At this time, having unfrozen fresh food was truly more exciting than the New Year.
In the walkie-talkie, Gu Pan told several neighbors, “Our friends found a cellar, gave us some fresh, unfrozen vegetables and fruit. I’m sharing some with each of you.”
Chen Shaonan who was next door had already received some, and Chen Lang, over the walkie-talkie, joyfully responded, “I haven’t seen fresh veggies in so long. Raw cabbage actually tastes sweet, who knew?”
Gu Pan laughed, “That’s because, back then, there were too many sweet things, too much good food.”
Cheng Yang replied, “I’m saving this apple for Christmas Eve. I don’t celebrate Western holidays, just aiming for some good fortune.”
Feng Zhekai joked, “That’s quite ceremonial. Does that count as a new form of mysticism?”
“Dr. Feng knows quite a bit; I’m just a university student who enjoys mysticism,” Cheng Yang jokingly retorted.
The atmosphere today was great, everyone was happy, so they started joking, a rare moment of relaxation.
