Chapter 54 Torrential Rain

The supplies brought back by the team that went to the wholesale market were enough to make anyone's eyes turn green with envy. Those who hadn't gone couldn't get a share, leaving them so anxious they wished they could rush out overnight to grab a pile of supplies for themselves.

Shen Xiang, seeing the crowd getting rowdy and chaotic again, frowned deeply, his serious face troubled by the noise. He shouted, "Everyone, quiet down! Those who want to go to the wholesale market tomorrow, raise your hands."

Those who hadn't gone today all raised their hands.

He nodded and continued, "Shi Jun, everyone wants to use your vehicles. Are you willing to lend them?"

Shi Jun remained silent. He exchanged a look with Zhao Fangzhe and simply said, "We need to discuss it first."

He instructed the family members to keep an eye on the supplies, then gathered his team members and walked to the back to confer.

"With them blocking us like this, if we don't lend the vehicles, we probably won't get past them tonight."

"They're really pushing it. They just blurt out 'lend the vehicles' without a second thought. It wasn't easy for us to get those vehicles. What if they lose or damage them?"

Everyone more or less agreed with this point. If they were going to borrow the vehicles, they should at least ask properly. Furthermore, the vehicles were so precious, yet the others hadn't even mentioned any compensation plan.

Shi Jun listened as everyone voiced their angry opinions one after another. He actually didn't want to lend the vehicles either, but circumstances were stronger than their will. The other side had greater numbers. They had to lend them, whether they wanted to or not. Otherwise, if they pushed them too far and they resorted to force to seize the vehicles, they would only end up worse off.

The others understood this reasoning to some extent, but they were unwilling and didn't want to compromise so easily.

Shi Jun scanned their resentful faces and finally asked, "Does anyone here still want to go tomorrow? If you're really worried about the vehicles, we could go again tomorrow. That way, we can keep an eye on the vehicles and also stock up on more supplies. But the rain is getting heavier and heavier now; tomorrow the roads will likely be even harder to travel."

"In that case, let's go. And since they didn't mention compensation, we should. Make the people borrowing the vehicles give us ten jin of supplies each."

"Exactly. We can't just take a loss for nothing."

"Well..." Shi Jun hesitated, then continued, "I know no one wants to lend them for free. But they have the numbers. If they can't gather much supplies tomorrow and still have to give us ten jin each, I'm afraid they might start coveting the things we got today. Let's just forget it. It's better to swallow a small loss than to push this group to the point of trying to rob us."

Zhao Fangzhe agreed with Shi Jun's point and chimed in, "Brother Shi is right. It's already not easy to protect the supplies we have now. Let's not stir up any more trouble."

After hearing their analysis, the others reluctantly agreed.

"Today, let's all take the supplies we found individually back home first. The portion originally meant for fair distribution can't be divided in front of so many people now. If everyone trusts me, Shi Jun, let me take it back to the 12th floor first. We can divide it together when we get back tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Of course, the others knew the logic of not dividing food in front of outsiders, so they all agreed without exception.

When Shi Jun relayed the discussion's outcome to Shen Xiang, someone immediately voiced dissatisfaction, "You guys already brought back so much stuff today, and now you want to go again tomorrow to compete with us? That's just insatiable greed."

Hearing this, the team that had returned from the wholesale market was so angry they nearly lost their heads, and they started shouting and cursing in response.

"We haven't even asked you for a vehicle borrowing fee, and you have the nerve to shamelessly blame us?"

"Use the vehicles if you want, don't use them if you don't! I'm only going because I don't trust you lot! If you're not willing, then get lost! No one wants you to use them!"

"Who told you not to go today? You were afraid of hard work and getting wet, unwilling to take any risks, and now you have the nerve to blame others?"

Shen Xiang, seeing another argument about to erupt, felt nothing but frustration. "I agree with Shi Jun and his team's proposal. If anyone still has objections, they are free not to go tomorrow."

These people were somewhat aware of their own lack of justification. After the building manager made the final decision, no one raised any further objections, and the matter was settled.

Thus, the farce that had dragged on until midnight came to an end, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

...

The next day, Bai Xiao was startled awake by the sound of water slapping against the window. When she woke up, the sky was just beginning to brighten; it wasn't even six o'clock yet.

The sky looked as if it had been punctured with large holes. The rain was astonishingly heavy. If yesterday was a curtain of rain, today it was practically like someone was directly pouring water—a true, tangible downpour.

The torrential rain fell with varying intensity, sometimes fast, sometimes tight, like a mischievous child aiming a water cannon at someone's window, intermittently sending a large splash of water smacking against the glass with loud *papa* sounds.

She sat by the bay window, staring blankly outside. She didn't know how much time had passed before the sky fully brightened and a series of urgent knocks sounded at her door.

If it weren't for the enhancement potion she had taken, which sharpened Bai Xiao's hearing, she might not have been able to hear the knocking through the heavy rain and the door.

The visitors were Zhao Fangzhe and Shi Jun. Seeing her open the door, their expressions showed slight hesitation as they asked, "The people in the building wanted to borrow our vehicles yesterday. Everyone was worried, so we decided to go to the wholesale market again. Do you want to come?"

Bai Xiao hadn't expected them to still want to go out in such heavy rain. She pointed outside the window and said, "Haven't you seen the rain outside? It's too heavy. The wholesale market is so far. Are you sure you want to go?"

Hearing her words, the two men knew Bai Xiao didn't plan to go out today. They just said, "We saw the outside when we got up this morning. The rain is indeed very heavy. Yesterday the water was just up to our ankles; today it's already past mid-calf. But if we don't go out today, and the rain keeps falling like this, who knows how deep the water will get later? We probably won't be able to go out at all then."

Shi Jun couldn't agree more with Zhao Fangzhe's words. Bai Xiao and Zhao Fangzhe only had themselves to feed, but he was different. He had a wife and daughter, so their food consumption was greater. While they could still go out, he had to go stock up on more supplies.

Bai Xiao didn't intend to dissuade them further. She only reminded them, "Don't just focus on finding food. Who knows how long this terrible weather will last? It's best to look for some waterborne transportation, just in case."

After listening, Shi Jun spoke again, somewhat embarrassed, "Could we borrow your Compound Bow? Don't worry, we'll definitely return it to you intact. If we find any waterborne equipment, we'll bring a share for you too."

Bai Xiao pretended to go back inside to fetch it, but actually retrieved the Compound Bow and a box of arrows from her storage space. Shi Jun's family was still in the building, so Bai Xiao wasn't worried he wouldn't return.

Moreover, only she had stockpiled a large number of compatible arrows. Even if they took the bow and didn't return it, a bow without arrows would be useless.

There was just the risk of it potentially being lost or damaged.

Over these past days, she had been constantly targeted and harassed by Xu Zhen and his gang, and these two had always spoken up for her. She could tell they weren't the type to go back on their word or harbor deep schemes.

After the two men left, Bai Xiao continued with her planned training and study as usual. Recently, her focus had been on practicing with her new weapon.

The silver sword was slender and long. She had only trained with short blades like daggers before, so adapting to a long sword required diligent practice.

That day, when Shi Jun still hadn't come to return the bow by nine o'clock in the evening, Bai Xiao knew the trip must not have gone smoothly.

She didn't know what Shi Jun had said to his wife, He Yuping, before leaving, but close to ten o'clock, He Yuping knocked on Bai Xiao's door.

"Miss Bai, before my husband left, he told me that if they hadn't returned very late tonight, I must come to you for help. If anyone comes to claim a share of yesterday's supplies, please handle it. And also..."

She seemed to think of something, her voice choking up. "The rain outside is so heavy, and he still isn't back at this hour. I'm really worried about his safety. Our daughter is only six. If he doesn't come back, how will us mother and child get by? Can you help me think of a way?"

"Sister He, don't panic just yet. Has anyone already come to demand a share of yesterday's supplies?" As she spoke, Bai Xiao had already gone back inside to get her outdoor clothes.

He Yuping nodded. "A group of people came around seven or eight. I managed to send them away for now, but if they come again, I don't know what to do."

Bai Xiao changed into the professional hard-shell waterproof suit she had bought earlier at the outdoor store. As she pulled on her wading boots, she said, "Let's not worry about those people for now. First, I'll go downstairs with you to check the situation."