173: Is it a cold or a virus?

Jiang Fei asked Xiao Ma, "What are your symptoms now?"

Xiao Ma: "My throat hurts, but that's all."

In the previous life, the symptoms of viral infection were first a cough, then a fever, accompanied by a sore throat, severe fatigue, and other issues.

Perhaps she was overthinking it; Xiao Ma just had a common cold.

To be safe, Jiang Fei still kept her distance from Xiao Ma and said to Xu Qianyao:

"I need to drop off the gold. Can I borrow your car for a day? I'll return it to you tomorrow."

Xu Qianyao: "Do you need my help moving it?"

"No need. I'll put it in the designated spot, and my boss's people will come to transport it."

Watching Xu Qianyao and Xiao Ma leave through the main entrance, Jiang Fei took out her protective gear, put on a mask, and disinfected the truck's cab and cargo compartment with alcohol.

She drove to the back gate of the residential area and moved the gold from the cargo compartment into the Supermarket.

System: [Ding—Gold detected: 5,000,000 grams]

[Current unlock progress: 21%]

Huaiyuan Village still had some value.

Taking advantage of no one being around, Jiang Fei put away the truck, swapped it for a commercial vehicle, filled it with gas, and drove towards the Safety Shelter's prison.

Mr. Shang had committed so many evil deeds, harming countless innocent people.

In her previous life, she had also suffered the torment of the village.

Why should Mr. Shang have a chance to live?

Such a beast, devoid of conscience, deserved to go to hell.

—

The prison was located on the outskirts of the Safety Shelter.

It was converted from Qingyang City's original prison, with the outermost electric fence replaced by high walls, and prison guards stationed at the main gate.

Jiang Fei drove nearby, then put the car into the Supermarket warehouse, affixed an Invisibility Talisman, and walked in through the gate openly.

She found the cell block where the prisoners were held and began searching for Mr. Shang cell by cell.

There was a ventilation window on the iron door of each cell, allowing one to see inside.

The iron doors were fitted with bolt locks that could be opened from the outside without a key.

Every three cells, there was a gun-wielding prison guard.

As luck would have it, a prison guard was standing right outside the cell where Mr. Shang was.

Sorry, Comrade.

Jiang Fei carefully walked up to the prison guard and took out a fart talisman, sticking it on him.

The moment the talisman disappeared, *poof*—

A foul odor wafted out, and Jiang Fei quickly held her breath.

*Poof—poof—*

A prison guard not far away couldn't stand it: "Brother, why don't you go to the restroom?"

"I'm afraid you'll soil your pants."

The prison guard with the fart talisman embarrassedly left.

The prison guards on both sides also went out for some fresh air.

Jiang Fei immediately opened Mr. Shang's cell door.

Mr. Shang, who had been sitting on the ground, saw the cell door open eerily and hadn't even understood what was happening when a dagger floating in mid-air suddenly plunged into his chest.

Mr. Shang wanted to scream for help in terror, but his mouth seemed sealed, unable to utter a sound.

He watched helplessly as the dagger, with a small piece of flesh scraped from his chest, was then shoved, blade and flesh together, into his mouth.

"Mmm—!" Mr. Shang let out a muffled sound, feeling the excruciating pain of his tongue being shredded by the blade.

Blood mixed with minced flesh slid down his throat.

Jiang Fei pulled out the dagger and forcefully plunged it into Mr. Shang's main artery, definitively ending his life.

The debt of the cannibal village was settled.

Taking off the blood-stained raincoat and putting the dagger into the Supermarket warehouse, Jiang Fei affixed another Invisibility Talisman, relocked the cell door, and left.

Unbeknownst to her, just a few minutes after she left, Zhou Wanqing, dressed in a prison guard uniform, along with two subordinates similarly dressed and wearing hats, walked in.

Ignoring where the prison guards in the corridor had gone, Zhou Wanqing and her two subordinates quickly found Mr. Shang's cell.

However, through the window on the iron door, they only saw Mr. Shang's tragically dead body.

The subordinate was stunned: "He... how did he die?"

"Didn't they say the higher-ups hadn't executed Mr. Shang yet?"

Zhou Wanqing was also dumbfounded.

She and Mr. Shang were just like that, even?

"Retreat."

—

The next day.

Jiang Fei contacted Xu Qianyao via walkie-talkie, returned the truck keys to him, and then returned to the downstairs of Building 2.

Crippled Wang's people had repaired the pickup truck long ago, but because she hadn't been home recently, it had been left on West Street.

Su Liuyuan only helped her drive it back last night.

Taking out 6 boxes of protective gear and placing them in the back of the pickup truck, covering them with a plastic sheet for rain protection, Jiang Fei drove to Ping An Supermarket.

There were customers buying things, so Jiang Fei only called Yao Jin out to help move.

After Su Liuyuan finished checking out, and the customers left, Jiang Fei pointed to the boxes on the ground and said:

"Here are protective masks, alcohol, goggles, protective suits, and face shields. Three boxes for each store. Su Liuyuan, you'll distribute them later."

"Starting today, the store must be disinfected daily, and you must also wear masks and goggles."

Whether it was a cold or a real virus, it was always right to take precautions.

Su Liuyuan worked quickly and efficiently, soon separating the supplies for the branch store.

After sending Yao Jin to deliver them, Su Liuyuan walked up to Jiang Fei and whispered, "I forgot to tell you something."

"The day you dealt with Chen Fengping, he tried to find someone to save him, but he crawled to the middle of the road, and his body was run over by a car, dying on the spot."

"I heard that Chen Wenwen and Chen Wenhao starved to death in their old villa."

"Neighbors smelled a foul odor and went to investigate, only to discover their bodies."

A disabled fool and a pure fool, without Chen Fengping's care, they could only wait for death.

It was just a few pieces of trash dying, Jiang Fei didn't care about it at all, and even had the mood to ask Su Liuyuan.

"What is Niu Er cooking tonight?"

Su Liuyuan: "Bamboo shoot and cured meat, braised noodles with green beans, and sweet and sour pork ribs."

The food was good, so Jiang Fei decided to stay for dinner.

It was still early before closing time, and Jiang Fei was about to make a note of the items the store needed when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Miss!"

Xiao Chuxia, with her buzz cut, hugged Jiang Fei tightly: "I thought you and Lu Yu went out to pick up your boss's goods, but after Su Liuyuan told me, I realized you were on a mission."

"I was so worried about you."

Jiang Fei gave Su Liuyuan a meaningful glance.

Didn't he say he wouldn't tell Xiao Hua Lao?

Understanding Jiang Fei's meaning, Su Liuyuan guiltily touched his nose: "I couldn't help it, so I shared the gossip with Chu Xia."

"Captain, don't worry, I only told her!"

Yao Jin walked over curiously: "Tell what?"

"Go, go, go, get some alcohol to disinfect."

Su Liuyuan chased away Yao Jin, as well as Jiang Xiaoshi, who had also come to watch the commotion.

"I'm fine, you see I don't have a single scratch on me." Jiang Fei reassured Xiao Chuxia, changing the subject:

"Are you off work?"

"No, I came out during my afternoon break." Xiao Chuxia then remembered the main purpose, placing the plastic bag in her hand on the table.

Inside were 3 boxes of anti-inflammatory medicine, 3 boxes of heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine, and 5 boxes of cold medicine.

"Many people have colds these days, and even two patients have entered the intensive care unit. The Hospital is now undergoing a comprehensive disinfection; they're not saying what the cause is, only telling us to take precautions and distributing a lot of medicine."

"I'm worried something big will happen, so I packed half the medicine to bring to you all."

Jiang Fei's heart sank.

She didn't overthink it; the virus must have already appeared.

"We're not short on medicine. You keep it for use at the Hospital. Do you still have the protective gear I sent last time?"

Xiao Chuxia: "Yes, the Hospital has always given us protective gear. I haven't even used the set you sent."

Under the cover of her pocket, Jiang Fei took out a special medicine tablet and brought a bottle of drinking water to Xiao Chuxia: "This is good for your health, take it."

Xiao Chuxia took the special medicine without any doubt.

Jiang Fei: "After dinner, I'll drive you back to the Hospital."

"No, I came with a Comrade's car, and I need to go back to work."

Before leaving, Jiang Fei packed 4 large bags of snacks and drinks for Xiao Chuxia, including the medicine she had brought. Just as she was about to return to the store, the walkie-talkie on her waist crackled.

It was Lu Yu.

"Jiang Fei, where are you?"