"Mom, you guys should take the rations and register at the underground parking lot first. Just stay there for a few nights. I already checked, we can bunk with relatives during the Spring Festival, and the cafeteria's all-you-can-eat that week. Eat as much as you want," Li Zhu said quickly before running off.
"When you meet your mother-in-law, make sure you arrange for us to stay in that big villa, you hear? Even if we can't live there, at least get us a job!"
"I know, I know! I'll go check how they're arranging things now." Li Zhu was already halfway gone.
Old Madam Li shouted after him, "Don't forget to bring us some food! Take as much as you can!"
But the man was long gone.
Honestly, Li Zhu was fast. Jing Shu had just opened the door when he came running over, panting. "Wait, Jing Zhao, aren't we supposed to stay in the villa?"
Jing Zhao shot him a sharp glare. "Then go back if you don't like it."
Building No. 25 was already crowded with hundreds of people. Every apartment was packed. The villa area was restricted, so most newcomers were placed here. People kept coming and going, and many of them turned on their phone flashlights, eyeing the things piled on the cart with greedy, glowing eyes.
Too bad the rules were strict now. Anyone caught stealing food would be sent straight to forced labor. Unless someone was starving to death, no one dared to try.
Jing Pan quickly covered the luggage tighter, looking nervous.
Then a girl with straight bangs came jogging over, holding two thermoses. She called out warmly, "Jing Shu-jie! These must be your relatives staying temporarily, right? Let me register them. Just show me your QR codes, I'll scan them. Oh, I'm the living coordinator for Building No. 25. You can call me Fatty Niu. If you have any problems, just come find me."
Everyone showed their codes for Fatty Niu to scan. The management was strict here—every temporary resident had to be registered.
Fatty Niu set the thermoses down with a smile. "Here, I brought you some hot water too. If you need to refill, go to the garbage station over there. Two thermoses for one virtual coin. When you leave, just return them to me. Each household only gets one."
In fact, one thermos was shared among twenty or thirty people per unit.
Jing Pan glanced at Jing Shu. When she saw her nod slightly, she quickly took the thermoses with a grateful "Oh dear, thank you so much, that's really kind of you." She stuffed a handful of cooked rice into Fatty Niu's hands.
Fatty Niu looked at Jing Shu again, and when she didn't object, she accepted the rice with a grin. "By the way, you can't go to the toilet anywhere you want here. You'll have to go to the garbage station for that. Or you can use a basin in your room. The station even collects it and gives you virtual coins in return!"
Everyone was stunned. Li Zhu muttered under his breath, "So many damn rules in the city."
After explaining a few more regulations, Fatty Niu finally left. Jing Pan whispered, "Why's she being so nice to us? Think she wants something?"
Jing Shu waved it off and told her uncle to move the luggage inside. "She's the building manager. I helped her out once."
Everyone immediately understood. Li Zhu's eyes darted around. Clearly, his niece was a lot more capable than he'd imagined.
Warm light filled the spacious, clean room. The living room had a soft, luxurious sofa, a dining table decorated with wildflowers, and spotless floors that reflected the glow of the stove fire crackling in the corner.
"Wow, there's even electricity! It's spotless in here. We're covered in mud, we'll just dirty the place up," Jing Pan said, shooing everyone toward the door. "Go wash your feet first before you step in."
Under Jing Shu's speechless stare, everyone obediently washed their feet and socks. The aunt scrubbed the muddy shoes clean until several basins of black water were poured out before letting anyone enter.
"The road was nothing but mud pits," Wei Zheng complained.
As soon as they stepped inside, the exclamations started again. Qiao Lian whispered, "No wonder Uncle's family always brought their own stuff when they visited. I thought they were just being stuck-up. Guess I was wrong."
Jing Shu started assigning rooms. "Wei Zheng, you and your wife and Shu'en can take this bedroom. Auntie, you and Uncle stay in this guest room. Second Aunt, you and your family can have the master bedroom."
Jing Pan asked, "What about your grandparents? Do they have a place? We can sleep in the living room if they don't."
"They're in the villa."
"Alright then. We brought our own bedding anyway, so we're good."
Li Zhu muttered, "Should we bring our family over to share the living room? The other apartments are packed, and this place is huge. It's a waste if it's just us."
His wife immediately twisted his waist. "You want to turn this nice place into a pigsty or what?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Jing Shu's eyes, but she didn't say anything to Li Zhu. She turned to her aunt instead. "Grandma was worried you'd get cold, so she set up two charcoal heaters for you. You can boil water on top of them too. And we've got extra power outlets, so you can charge your phones and watch TV."
"Oh, and here," Jing Shu led them to the bathroom, "the toilets don't work right now, so use this cat litter and portable toilet instead. When it's full, just leave it by the door. Someone will collect it."
"That's fine, that's fine, you've already done so much. You're spoiling us," her aunt said, eyes red with emotion. She couldn't believe they were treated so well. All these supplies were expensive on the black market, yet Jing Shu shared them so freely. It was enough to make her tear up.
Qiao Lian, ever sharp-eyed, picked up a few rolls of toilet paper. "Each roll costs several virtual coins, there's no way we'll use that much."
Jing Shu laughed. "The stones and sticks outside are all gone. What are you gonna do, use your hands? It's New Year's, we're eating together, you can't be that unsanitary. Besides, there are kids too."
Qiao Lian looked to her mother-in-law. The aunt wiped her eyes, stuffed one roll into her pocket, and handed the rest back to Jing Shu. "One square per person a day. If anyone needs more, they'll come ask me. No wasting."
Jing Shu could only sigh. She understood. She'd lived like that in her past life too, using scrapers instead of paper. Still, she worried they wouldn't clean properly or might even get their hands dirty. That'd be even more awkward.
So she made a quick decision—this year's New Year meal would be served in disposable lunch boxes.
Thinking about it, supplies like paper and sanitary pads were running low. Who would've thought there'd be so many women at home after the apocalypse? Su Mali mentioned there'd be a black market barter fair soon. She should stock up again before things got worse.
"There's shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste in here. Take whatever you need," she added.
Good hygiene made everything easier. After all, when she opened the door earlier and that wave of stink hit her, she hadn't been disgusted... but it sure killed her appetite.
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The character initially referred to as Li Zhuang (李壮) is now named Li Zhu (李柱). Author make that change.