32: Not dead, but worse than dead

Two men and one woman revealed the items they brought, shamelessly saying:

“Although this wooden board is a bit damp, it can still be used.”

“This colorful curtain fabric is so pretty, you can keep it to make clothes.”

“My thermos is a big brand collaboration, I bought it for several thousand before, you just need to exchange it for a box of medicine.”

It was no secret that the monkey had been bitten by a snake.

They knew Zhu Zi had borrowed the medicine made on the 22nd floor, so they observed for two days, and after confirming the monkey was fine, they started thinking about exchanging for the medicine.

However, they didn't have anything good on hand, so they picked up some discarded trash in the corridor.

Anyway, the medicine was an unregulated product, how could the 22nd floor have the nerve to extort them?

Jiang Fei was direct: “No exchange, get out.”

The three were displeased.

“Why can Zhu Zi and the monkey exchange, but we can’t? This is differential treatment!”

“Please, we’re begging you, there are too many snakes downstairs now, without medicine, if we get bitten, we can only wait to die, you can’t be so heartless.”

Xiao Chuxia laughed in anger: “Are we heartless, or are you shameless? Picking up some trash to fool who?”

“No exchange means no exchange! If you keep babbling, I’ll chop you to death!”

Xiao Chuxia angrily drew the short knife she carried with her.

Zhu Zi, who was beside her, said: “Chu Xia, you don’t need to do anything, the monkey and I will handle them.”

After all, he was the one who attracted these people.

He blamed himself for being too anxious two days ago and applying the medicine to the monkey without hiding it from others.

Zhu Zi knew some martial arts, easily knocking the two men to the ground, grabbing one in each hand, and throwing them downstairs.

The monkey wasn't as strong as him, so he dragged the lone woman down.

The 22nd floor returned to peace.

Lu Yu was also attracted by the noise just now and understood the general situation from their fragmented words: “These people won’t give up.”

“They can’t smash the electric door, I’ll remove the doorbell later, and if anyone knocks, we’ll just pretend not to hear it.”

Jiang Fei agreed: “Old Mrs. Xu's grandson downstairs is from the official side, so we shouldn't use firearms recently, to avoid trouble.”

Lu Yu: “Okay.”

“Lu Yu, don’t leave yet, I have something for you.”

Xiao Chuxia returned to her room to retrieve a storage box, taking out 6 small boxes for Lu Yu: “This is the medicine I made. The round boxes are for external use, they can sterilize and reduce inflammation, relieve swelling and detoxify, and are very effective for snake and insect bites.”

“The square boxes are for internal use, they can relieve pain and alleviate stomach discomfort.”

She had collected a lot of centipedes and cockroaches, but Xiao Chuxia failed many times, only making 40 small boxes of medicine.

After Lu Yu thanked her and left, Jiang Fei and Xiao Chuxia went to the 21st floor again, giving Ling Zhaorui and Old Mrs. Xu 6 boxes each, three of each type.

Adding the two boxes previously given to Zhu Zi for testing, Xiao Chuxia only had 22 boxes left.

“Miss, it’s not safe for you to go out often, these 20 boxes are for you, two boxes are enough for me.”

Jiang Fei didn’t refuse and accepted the 20 boxes of medicine.

She could put them in the Supermarket warehouse for Xiao Hua Lao.

—

As Lu Yu expected, there were still people running upstairs, wanting to exchange for medicine.

Even though Zhu Zi and the monkey, with their brothers, guarded the 21st floor, fighting one by one, there were still persistent people shouting from the stairs below.

When they couldn't see Jiang Fei, they started cursing.

Zhu Zi wanted to act to shut them up, but these people were very cunning, turning around and fleeing immediately.

When Zhu Zi got tired and returned to his original position, they would run back and continue to curse, determined to curse Jiang Fei out.

For three consecutive days, more than a dozen people were noisy, making it impossible for people on both floors to rest.

Zhu Zi and his brothers were even more exhausted.

Upstairs.

Xiao Chuxia, unable to bear it any longer, grabbed a cleaver: “These shameless bastards! I’m going to send them to feed the snakes right now!”

“I’ll go with you.” Jiang Fei took out the flamethrower she hadn’t used for a long time and went downstairs with Xiao Chuxia.

As soon as they saw Jiang Fei appear, everyone chattered incessantly—

“Our demands aren’t high, we just want a box of medicine to treat snake bites. As long as you give us one box each, we’ll leave immediately.”

“You caught so many centipedes and cockroaches before, who knows how much medicine you could make, what’s wrong with sharing some with us?”

“Being so stingy, aren’t you afraid you’ll take the medicine to your grave in the end?”

“What the hell are you saying?!” Zhu Zi rolled up his sleeves to punch the other person, but then heard a “Move aside”

Zhu Zi instinctively complied.

Roar—

Like a beast’s roar, high-temperature flames shot out, instantly engulfing the two people standing at the very front.

Even the people next to them were burned.

“Ah, my arm! It hurts so much!”

“Jiang Fei, you actually dare to kill people!”

“Now the officials have started rescue operations! I’m going to tell them all your crimes!”

Jiang Fei calmly said: “Did anyone die?”

The few people looked at the ground.

Jiang Fei controlled it very well; the flames didn’t kill the two people, but they were lying on the ground with severe burns all over their bodies.

They weren’t dead, but they might as well be.

“The medicine on the 22nd floor can also treat burns, do you want to try it?” Jiang Fei calmly raised the sprayer.

Everyone fled in a panic.

How could they forget, Jiang Fei was a lunatic!

Zhu Zi was very perceptive; once the matter was resolved, he left with his brothers, not forgetting to throw the two people, who were burned all over, downstairs.

Xiao Chuxia was still angry and snorted: “They won’t behave unless they get hurt. What’s the difference between these people and cheap scoundrels?”

“When the disaster stabilizes, Miss, let’s move to another place!”

Jiang Fei remained silent, not telling Xiao Chuxia the truth.

Firstly, the matter of rebirth could not be disclosed, and secondly, she was not sure when the apocalypse would end.

If you can’t give hope, don’t let the other party overdraw on future anxieties, otherwise, psychological problems will arise.

Most importantly, Xiao Hua Lao would talk non-stop, which was too noisy.

Looking at Xiao Chuxia, who was still cursing, Jiang Fei decided to shut her up with food: “Hotpot?”

“Consider it our belated celebration for forming a team.”

Xiao Chuxia’s attention was immediately diverted: “Great! I almost forgot what hotpot tastes like!”

“You go call Ling Zhaorui and Lu Yu, tell them to come to 2202 in half an hour.”

After speaking, Jiang Fei went home to prepare.

When she collected kitchen utensils before, she found several gas stoves and many gas canisters, which were perfect for hotpot.

To avoid the smell being too strong and attracting attention, Jiang Fei chose a clear broth hotpot base and took out the grown bok choy, udon noodles, wide vermicelli, packaged dipping sauces, and luncheon meat.

Every packaging bag was crumpled by Jiang Fei to make it look old.

Chilled meats were inconvenient to explain, so Jiang Fei didn’t take them, instead opening several vegetable and meat packets from self-heating hotpots.

Half an hour later, Lu Yu and the others arrived together.

“Wow! Miss, are you a magician?! You even have packaged hotpot dipping sauces!”

Xiao Chuxia joyfully placed the three bottles of fruit wine and a large bag of dried rat meat she brought on the table.

Lu Yu and Ling Zhaorui also brought things.

Lu Yu brought three cans of luncheon meat.

Ling Zhaorui brought the lettuce he grew, a packet of dried noodles, and two bags of potato chips.

Jiang Fei calmly explained: “They were all found when I was scavenging for supplies before.”

“The water is boiling, sit down and eat.”

The three sat down in order.

Xiao Chuxia found glasses and poured a glass of fruit wine for everyone, except for Ling Zhaorui:

“Your injury hasn’t healed yet, you can’t drink alcohol, just drink water.”

Ling Zhaorui obediently went to the water bucket and filled half a glass of water.

Xiao Chuxia raised her glass: “To the establishment of our team! Cheers!”

It was a rare opportunity to eat hotpot, with both vegetables and meat, so everyone was too busy eating to talk, burying their heads in their food. Only Ling Zhaorui slowly ate the noodles in his bowl, barely picking up a chopstick for a long time.

Noticing his actions, Jiang Fei picked up a few slices of luncheon meat for him, simply and directly: “Eat.”

Compared to the indifferent Jiang Fei, Xiao Chuxia was much more enthusiastic, putting a lot of vegetables in Ling Zhaorui’s bowl: “Eat what you should eat, drink what you should drink, don’t think so much.”

“Since Miss invited you over, it means you are also a part of our team.”

Lu Yu picked up his glass and clinked it with Ling Zhaorui’s: “Come find me after your injury heals, I’ll train you, and then you can protect the team.”

Understanding that everyone was telling him to relax, Ling Zhaorui’s nose tingled, and he hummed, eating the vegetables in large bites.

How could he be so fortunate to meet these friends?

When his injury healed, he absolutely had to treat everyone to another hotpot meal!

After eating and drinking their fill, Xiao Chuxia leaned back in her chair and expressed her idea: “Miss, are you free tomorrow? I want to go downstairs to catch snakes.”

“Water snakes can be used in medicine to clear heat and detoxify, dispel wind and dampness, and promote blood circulation.”

“With the experience from last time, I will definitely do even better this time!”

She was brimming with confidence now!

Jiang Fei: “You clean up the dining table, I’ll go catch snakes.”

Xiao Hua Lao was no longer afraid of bugs and snakes, so there was no need to take him out for desensitization.

Water snakes were easy to catch; if she went alone, she could return quickly.

Jiang Fei, with her strong initiative, finished her last sip of wine and went downstairs with an empty bucket with a lid.

Xiao Chuxia, meanwhile, cleaned up the remnants on the table.

Lu Yu and Ling Zhaorui also got up to help.

After eating a meal, Ling Zhaorui, who had become much more cheerful, quietly chatted with Lu Yu: “Don’t you think Sister Jiang spoils Chu Xia a lot?”

Lu Yu agreed.

The last one to receive such treatment was his dog, Dah Huang.

—

As soon as Jiang Fei arrived on the 21st floor, she found the door to 2102 ajar, and faintly heard a man’s low threat—

“Don’t force me to kill you!”