61: Director Ning suspects Jiang Fei?

“I’m very interested in the novel you mentioned. Can you tell me more details?”

Director Ning stared intently at Jiang Fei, observing her reaction.

Jiang Fei’s expression was as usual: “It’s been too long; I can’t remember clearly.”

She wouldn’t let him trick her into talking!

“That’s a pity. Are you going downstairs?”

Jiang Fei: “We’re going to the community to collect supplies.”

“What a coincidence, I’m also going to the community. Let’s go together.” Director Ning put on his mask, bid farewell to Old Mrs. Xu, and went downstairs with Xu Qianyao.

Jiang Fei and her three companions followed behind.

The ice in the corridors on each floor had been cleaned up, and the shattered windows were boarded up with wood, covered with thick insulation panels.

The other intact windows had sealing insulation strips glued around them and windproof cloth attached.

Only one window on each floor was left open for ventilation to prevent residents from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The doors that had been removed for burning fires were now fitted with cotton curtains.

Although not highly secure, they provided warmth and wind protection.

Residents huddled indoors to keep warm, and coughs could occasionally be heard from behind the cotton curtains.

Director Ning suddenly spoke in a low voice: “Recently, many people have developed coughs, vomiting, and fevers. We have already sent people to investigate, but we don’t know if it’s the flu or an unknown illness.”

“In less than four months, Lincheng has experienced floods, rat infestations, insect infestations, snake infestations, mosquito infestations, and now faces extreme cold and disease. What other trials do you think the heavens will send humanity next?”

Director Ning seemed to be chatting idly, but he slowed his pace and glanced at Jiang Fei behind him.

Jiang Fei remained calm and composed: “I don’t know.”

Lu Yu and the other two gave the same answer.

Director Ning smiled without speaking, didn’t continue to ask, and walked towards the community in Yulan Garden.

The original community was a single-story house at the east gate of Yulan Garden, which was mostly frozen over. So, the officials placed a rectangular mobile container house on the open ground to serve as the new community location.

The container house covered about one hundred square meters and had two windows open for residents to queue up and collect supplies.

To prevent anyone from causing trouble, there were also four armed soldiers guarding the vicinity.

The line wasn’t long, and Jiang Fei quickly used her ID card to collect a small bag of supplies.

Inside were a 250ml bottle of water, a 100g bag of bread, and two loose fruit candies.

One person, eating and drinking sparingly, could barely last a day.

It was better than always being hungry.

Some people didn’t think so, and returned to the community window with their supplies: “A few days ago, I could still get biscuits and instant noodles. Why is there less and less food?”

“Who can get full with just this much?”

“You guys come out! You have to explain yourselves today!”

The man vigorously pounded on the container, shouting loudly for an explanation.

It wasn’t until the soldiers approached with their guns that the man quieted down and scurried away.

Lu Yu and the others also queued up to collect their supplies and returned to Jiang Fei, who was standing at the back.

Director Ning looked at the items in their hands and sighed: “Do you also think that the supplies we’re distributing are too little?”

“There’s no other way. Supplies are scarce now, simply not enough for Lincheng’s population of over a million, so we can only reduce them.”

“If it weren’t for the supplies sent from above, and those confiscated from the Tiger Suppression Gang, many people would probably starve to death.”

Jiang Fei feigned ignorance: “What is the Tiger Suppression Gang?”

Director Ning vaguely said: “Just a small gang. It’s cold outside, so you should go home quickly after getting your supplies. Don’t catch a cold.”

“Goodbye, Director Ning.”

After Jiang Fei and the others left, Xu Qianyao, who had been following Director Ning the whole time, couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Director, why have you been testing Jiang Fei this whole way?”

“That girl Jiang Fei is very good. She has never done anything bad.”

At least, he hadn’t seen her do anything bad.

Director Ning countered: “Do you believe that novel Jiang Fei mentioned actually exists?”

“The disasters that happened in Lincheng are all similar to what she said.”

“Moreover, the Tiger Suppression Gang had just troubled her, and then they were attacked by a group of mysterious people.”

Xu Qianyao scratched his head: “Perhaps it’s a coincidence?”

“It’s too much of a coincidence, which makes it suspicious. You live on the 21st floor; keep an eye on Jiang Fei. Report any of her actions to me.”

“If there’s any news from the medical research institute, tell me immediately.”

Director Ning prayed in his heart.

He hoped those people just had the common flu.

If another disaster struck, Lincheng wouldn’t be able to hold on.

—

Building A.

Xiao Chuxia looked worried and whispered: “Miss, Director Ning suddenly brought up the Tiger Suppression Gang. Could he have discovered something?”

Ling Zhaorui: “I think he was testing Sister Jiang the whole time.”

“What novel did Director Ning mention?”

“A book I read before.” Jiang Fei changed the subject:

“Everyone should stay on the 22nd floor recently. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t go out.”

Without evidence, even if Director Ning suspected her, he couldn’t do anything.

Xiao Chuxia and Ling Zhaorui nodded obediently.

Lu Yu instructed: “Everyone, go back and hide your dangerous items, in case they conduct a surprise search.”

Jiang Fei agreed with Lu Yu’s words and suddenly smelled a faint scent of smoke.

The door of 1701, near the stairs, was opened, and a cloud of white smoke billowed out.

“Cough, cough, cough, you can’t seal the door curtain, or the air won’t circulate, and we’ll get poisoned.”

Jiang Zhengkang, wearing a tattered cotton jacket, hung up the cotton curtain and also saw Jiang Fei and the others at the stairwell.

Jiang Zhengkang first showed joy, then awkwardly rubbed his hands: “I’m sorry, Fei Fei, the gun you left for me that day was taken by the officials.”

“They thought I picked it up and wanted me to hand it over…”

“Beautiful girl, standing on that mountain pass~~~” The singing from inside the room interrupted Jiang Zhengkang’s words.

Recognizing Li Yanping’s voice, Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow.

Her aunt was actually still alive.

She was quite resilient.

Seeing Jiang Fei looking at 1701, Jiang Zhengkang thought she wanted to drive Li Yanping away and quickly explained: “Yanping is mad; she won’t bother you anymore.”

Jiang Fei was very surprised: “Mad?”

“Perhaps she was scared by the gunshots, and with Zixuan’s disappearance, she was stimulated and became erratic.”

“I originally wanted to take her back to the small villa to recuperate, but it was occupied, so I could only come to Yulan Garden to find an empty house to live in.”

She still wanted to see Jiang Zixuan’s current miserable state.

Jiang Fei walked upstairs in disappointment, with no intention of helping Li Yanping and Jiang Zhengkang.

The kindness from her previous life had been repaid; how Jiang Zhengkang lived now had nothing to do with her.

As for Li Yanping, even if she was mad, she still had to continue paying her debts.

—

Recently, having some free time, Jiang Fei took out the cat supplies and toys she found in the Ya’an Comprehensive Market and began to organize them.

There were scratching posts, cat tunnels, cat wands, tall ceramic bowls, pet combs, plush mice that could be hung, and silent balls of various colors.

After disinfecting them, Jiang Fei packed the items into boxes and sent them to 2203.

Xiao Chuxia and Ling Zhaorui were training with Lu Yu.

Big Yellow was comfortably sprawled on the sofa, exposing his belly, looking very much like an old man watching a show, unlike his listless state a few days ago.

“These are things I found before; Big Yellow can use them.”

As soon as Jiang Fei placed the box on the ground, Big Yellow eagerly ran down, burrowed inside.

He picked up a plush mouse toy, darted out of the box, and ran off to play.

Jiang Fei, who had tried to pet Big Yellow but failed, had dark eyes.

Big Yellow used to come to her for a hug first!

Scummy cat!

Lu Yu: “Want to spar?”

Jiang Fei was about to agree when the doorbell suddenly rang.

“I’ll get it.”

Hiding the dagger behind her back, Jiang Fei went to the stairwell and opened the electric door.

Feng Chenlu, wearing a transparent protective mask, was panting: “You all need to come downstairs with me for a check-up.”