116: Blood is also a source of water

“The water flow is already small, and now they’re reducing it by one supply. How are we supposed to wash clothes, cook, and bathe?”

“It’s as hot as a steamer, and we work ourselves to death every day. When we get home, all we want is a shower and a clean bed. Why are they reducing the water supply?”

“This has seriously affected our lives. Let’s go, we’ll find the community to demand an explanation.”

Several people walked towards the community, complaining.

Jiang Fei stopped downstairs at Building 2 and got out of the car with Zhou Wanqing and Su Liuyuan.

A community announcement was also posted on the unit entrance.

“Daily water supply time changed to 20:00—21:30. All residents, please prepare to store water.”

Su Liuyuan: “This sudden notice to reduce the water supply, could it be because the temperature has risen again these past few days?”

Zhou Wanqing: “Possibly. Rising temperatures can lead to a decrease in groundwater. It would be better if it rained, but since the high temperatures started, the sky hasn’t even been cloudy.”

Jiang Fei: “You all should store more water recently, and the Supermarket should also stock up.”

In her previous life, the extreme high temperature reached a maximum of 60℃, with a ground temperature of 80℃.

Plants withered, and groundwater dried up.

It was no exaggeration to say that going outside would result in sunburn.

Even with sun protection, one couldn’t stay outside for more than a few minutes before experiencing dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, mental disorientation, and other reactions.

Shoe soles would melt, and any skin contact with the ground would result in immediate burns.

People could only hide in dark houses, enduring the torment of the high temperatures.

Due to extreme dehydration, many became disoriented and began to frantically hunt their own kind.

Blood was also a water source.

With the Safety Shelter in this life, it shouldn't come to the point of people killing each other.

But outside, that couldn't be guaranteed.

Without official protection, lacking water and food, one's own kind became the best “supplies.”

After sending Zhou Wanqing back to 202, Jiang Fei and Su Liuyuan went upstairs to 305 to move the gold.

The Supermarket’s lounge was too small, so Su Liuyuan simply brought the gold he earned back to 305 every day.

There were 30 briefcases in total.

Before Su Liuyuan left, Jiang Fei took 6 black bags from the bedroom.

“Inside are items for cooling down and preventing heatstroke, as well as fruit and the heat-relief medicine Chu Xia left for us.”

“I’ve already delivered theirs. This one is yours.”

“Thank you, Captain Xu.” Su Liuyuan left, carrying the bags.

Jiang Fei put the gold into the Supermarket.

System: “Ding—detected gold: 290,000 grams.”

“Ding—congratulations to the host for successfully unlocking the second area on the third floor of the Supermarket [Dry Goods Category—Dried Vegetables and Mushrooms Area], gold required to unlock the next area: 2,048,000 grams.”

“Currently owned gold: 266,007 grams.”

“Bonus reward: one Lucky Turntable spin. Would the host like to use it?”

“Yes.”

“Ding—Host is the reincarnation of a European Emperor! You have received ‘Thank you for your patronage’!”

Jiang Fei: “…”

Let you thank me, one day I'll tear you to pieces.

Taking out a cold noodle dish for dinner, Jiang Fei ate while mentally checking the second area on the third floor.

The white mist dissipated, replaced by 10 extra-long, extra-large double-sided shelves.

Five shelves displayed dried beans, dried eggplant, dried radish, dried potato slices, dried pumpkin, dried cabbage, dried bamboo shoots, dried toona sinensis, and other dried vegetables.

The other shelves held shiitake mushrooms, tea tree mushrooms, lion's mane mushrooms, cordyceps flowers, wood ear mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, silver needle mushrooms, abalone mushrooms, nameko mushrooms, chicken drumstick mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and other edible fungi.

There was even jianshouqing.

If this thing wasn't prepared properly, eating it would cause hallucinations and other poisoning symptoms.

If she had known the Supermarket would unlock jianshouqing, why would she have gone to the Planting Base to steal poisonous herbs?

She could have just made a jianshouqing feast for Mo Yanan; even if he didn't die, he'd go crazy.

The dried vegetables and mushrooms were all packaged in 200g bags.

Once the batch of vegetables from Ping An Supermarket was sold out, she could sell dried vegetables, which were inconspicuous and had a long storage time.

As Jiang Fei was thinking, the walkie-talkie buzzed with Xu Qianyao's voice.

“All Rescue Team members in Mingshang Apartment Complex, immediately go downstairs and gather at the main entrance.”

After quickly finishing her meal, Jiang Fei went to the main entrance of the apartment complex.

Xu Qianyao stood next to a military truck, holding a handheld loudspeaker.

The truck's cargo compartment was open, revealing over twenty boxes inside.

As the apartment complex members arrived one after another, Xu Qianyao raised the loudspeaker:

“We’ve received notice from above. Tonight, we will go on a mission with the Patrol Team to catch White Poison Scorpions in the Safety Shelter.”

“Once a White Poison Scorpion is caught, it must be sealed in a special barrel. Do not get bitten, or you will die on the spot.”

“Areas where White Poison Scorpions have appeared must be sprayed with the special pesticide provided by the officials, marked with warning signs. Once a barrel is full, exchange it with the Person in charge for a new one. The officials will burn them all together.”

White Poison Scorpions are most active at night, so catching them at this time ensures thorough eradication.

The Rescue Team was like a brick, moved wherever it was needed.

Jiang Fei grumbled inwardly as she lined up to receive the scorpion-catching tools.

A transparent cylindrical barrel that could be hung on the waist, long and thin, made of an unknown, very hard material, with a press-button lid.

The barrel was specially designed for White Scorpions; the narrow space would restrict their movement and prevent them from climbing out.

One barrel could hold about seven or eight of them.

There was also a backpack sprayer full of pesticide, a pair of special protective gloves, a pack of red stickers printed with the word “Danger,” one heat-relief pill, a flashlight, a pack of compressed biscuits, a 1-meter-long stainless steel trash grabber, and two bottles of electrolyte water.

Judging by this, it was going to be an all-nighter.

Each person randomly drew the area they were responsible for.

Jiang Fei drew the Common sleeping area, and there were 4 other team members with her.

Xu Qianyao: “Each area has its corresponding Person in charge and Patrol Team members. When you arrive, find them and begin your work.”

“Those without transportation, get in the car, I’ll take you.”

“I have a car, you can come with me.” Jiang Fei drove her pickup truck from the back gate of the apartment complex and picked up the 4 team members.

The air conditioning in the car temporarily relieved the team members from the stifling heat.

“Jiang Fei, you are much more generous than Captain Xu. He never turns on the air conditioning to save fuel.”

“Captain Xu is also trying to save resources. By the way, who among you has been to the Common sleeping area?”

“I’ve been in the Safety Shelter for a few months and haven’t seen it yet. I heard it’s very chaotic there.”

A team member who had been there said, “It’s not just chaotic. Eighty percent of the murders, robberies, thefts, and insults against women in the Safety Shelter come from the Common sleeping area.”

“The place is remote, and there are many lazy people who don’t want to find work. They just rob those who have jobs but no resettlement housing. Even men get harassed.”

“In short, avoid it if you can.”

One team member suggested, “Jiang Fei, why don’t you talk to Captain Xu and ask to switch places?”

“You’re too pretty, it’s not safe.”

“I have this.” Jiang Fei pulled out her gun with one hand.

The team members were no longer worried.

What was there to fear with a gun?

About an hour later, Jiang Fei drove to the street entrance of the Common sleeping area.

The Rescue Team and Patrol Team were already there.

The Person in charge was Yin Jing.

Seeing Jiang Fei get out of the car, Yin Jing frowned, but then relaxed when she remembered the other party’s strength.

This girl killed cleanly and efficiently; she should be worried about the people in the Common sleeping area.

“The Patrol Team and Rescue Team will each send two members to form a group and enter the Common sleeping area to catch White Poison Scorpions.”

“Each group can only have one female. If you encounter danger, you can open fire.”

Too many females in a group would increase the likelihood of harassment.

Yin Jing grouped them this way to protect the safety of the female team members.

Jiang Fei had originally intended to join a random group but then spotted a familiar face.

Lu Yu also walked over.

“Group one?”

“Okay.” Jiang Fei then found a Patrol Team member and a Rescue Team member.

Three men and one woman formed a group.

With their sprayers on their backs, gloves on, and barrels, Jiang Fei and the other three walked into the Common sleeping area with their trash grabbers.

There were no residential buildings here, only large, single-story factory buildings.

Hundreds of people crammed into one large factory building, sharing the same restroom. One could imagine how pungent the smell would be.

As Jiang Fei and her group members entered one of the large factory buildings, they immediately smelled an indescribable stench. She couldn't help but put on a mask and didn't forget to give one to each of her group members.

Several kerosene lamps lit the factory building, barely providing illumination.

Some slept on the floor, while others made single beds out of wooden boards and used torn cloth as curtains to cover their spaces.

Fearing robbery, everyone wrapped their belongings in cloth or put them in black bags, holding them close as they slept.

Water was scarcer in the Common sleeping area than in the resettlement housing, and the restrooms were hard to get to, so people generally didn't wash or bathe.

Their exposed skin was covered in grimy dirt.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, some sat up to look, immediately noticing the clean Jiang Fei, and simultaneously conceived filthy thoughts.

She was so tender, as if she could be squeezed for water; it would surely feel good to have her!

An old man sleeping on the ground, closest to them, secretly reached out and touched Jiang Fei’s ankle.

Let him take advantage first!