78: Snowstorm

“There are too many people here. Brother Lu told Ling Zhaorui and the others to drive to the very end of the line and wait for you.”

“Miss, let's walk along the wall. Don't go down and squeeze with everyone.”

The wall was about 30 centimeters wide, and Jiang Fei and Xiao Chuxia walked forward cautiously.

Fortunately, people were crowded at the community entrance and hadn't noticed that the wall could be climbed yet.

Unexpectedly spotting Jiang Zhengkang in the crowd, Jiang Fei only glanced at him before retracting her gaze. She followed Xiao Chuxia for over twenty minutes before getting off the wall.

There were also many survivors outside, from other communities, all gathering on this road.

After nearly an hour, they finally reached the very end of the line.

There were fewer people here.

Su Liuyuan, standing outside the RV, complained aggrievedly, “Captain, Lu Yu confiscated my car keys! He won't let me drive!”

Lu Yu calmly explained, “He wanted to ram into the official truck to break through and test how sturdy the RV is.”

Jiang Fei: “...”

Su Liuyuan's ideas were always quite 'criminal'.

To prevent Su Liuyuan from causing trouble, Jiang Fei revoked his driving privileges.

Su Liuyuan, fuming, ran back to the MPV to sulk.

However, no one paid him any attention.

Jiang Fei: “Chu Xia and I will drive the RV, Lu Yu and Su Liuyuan will drive the MPV, and Ling Zhaorui, you drive the pickup truck.”

“You can sleep and shower in the RV. We'll take turns driving along the way.”

“If you feel tired or unwell, contact your teammates immediately via walkie-talkie to switch drivers. Don't push yourself.”

Lu Yu and the others had no objections.

Just then, Yin Jing walked over and gasped in surprise when she saw the heavy-duty off-road RV.

“Is this your vehicle?”

Jiang Fei nodded.

“Not bad, it's much more comfortable than military trucks. Up front, only 30 people are squeezed into one compartment.”

Yin Jing showed the instrument in her hand: “Captain Xu told me you have ID cards, but according to the rules, I still need to scan and check them.”

Jiang Fei and the others took out their respective ID cards.

Ling Zhaorui: “Su Liuyuan is my family member.”

After confirming everything was correct, Yin Jing returned their ID cards and said to Jiang Fei, “I just saw that female survivor from A Hong Inn.”

“She was with a man, calling him Chairman He. Both of them have ID cards.”

Yin Jing lowered her voice: “Do you need me to do anything?”

“No need.”

She would keep them for entertainment on the road.

“Then if you need anything, come find me. I'm in charge of the rear of the convoy, sitting in that off-road vehicle.”

After pointing out the vehicle to Jiang Fei, Yin Jing went to the front to scan the ID cards of other survivors.

Jiang Fei took Xiao Chuxia into the RV, while Lu Yu and Ling Zhaorui went to their respective vehicles.

The RV's heater was on.

Big Yellow lay on the comfortable sofa, dozing off.

Suddenly, a soldier's shout came from outside.

“We are fleeing for our lives, not moving house! Please do not bring useless items!”

Not far away.

Several survivors, whose ID cards had been scanned, were carrying large bags and bundles, trying to throw them into a truck, but were stopped by soldiers. They immediately questioned indignantly—

“This is all my worldly possessions! You won't let me bring it! How will I live in the future?!”

“The seats on the truck are all hard, why can't I bring a cushion?!”

“I spent a lot of money on this computer, I can't just leave it!”

On the other side of the truck, someone was crying and making a scene with a soldier.

“He snatched my ID card! Comrade, please help me get it back!”

“Heartless scoundrel! You actually stole it while I was sleeping! Are you trying to get a new wife?! Comrade, shoot him!”

“Let go of me! This isn't a bank card! It's an ID card! I want to get on the truck!”

The scene became chaotic, making it impossible to distinguish who had an ID card and who didn't.

Bang, bang, bang—!

Two people who tried to climb onto the truck amidst the chaos were shot dead and fell to the ground.

Everyone immediately quieted down.

Yin Jing, appearing with a handheld megaphone from who knows where, shouted, “Anyone who doesn't follow the rules will be dealt with on the spot!”

With people dead, the survivors became more obedient.

But due to the large number of people, needing to repack luggage and scan ID cards, the convoy didn't depart until close to noon, when it finally merged with other convoys.

There were a total of 8 convoys, each so long that its end was out of sight.

Out of Lin City's population of nearly ten million, only a few hundred thousand survivors were ultimately transferred.

They either died in the disaster or at the hands of their compatriots.

Jiang Fei's three vehicles closely followed behind Yin Jing's vehicle.

They drove straight through until the next morning, when Jiang Fei swapped with Xiao Chuxia to catch up on sleep in bed.

Perhaps because she frequently ate vegetables from the Supermarket, her mental state was exceptionally good; she wouldn't feel tired even after driving for 24 hours.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already afternoon.

Big Yellow jumped onto Jiang Fei, meowing softly: “Meow~ Meow meow~”

Fragrant two-legged beast, I'm hungry!

Serve the food quickly!

“Are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat.”

Jiang Fei opened a can of food for Big Yellow, quickly washed up, and prepared to use the RV's induction cooker to make dinner, which she would share with her teammates later.

There were ingredients she had put in the cupboards and refrigerator beforehand.

Taking out five servings of pasta, steak, carrots, and potatoes, Jiang Fei first washed them with the water from the vehicle's tank, and then pulled open the window curtains.

Small snowflakes were falling on the frozen road.

The extreme cold of her previous life had not brought snow.

An ominous premonition inexplicably rose in Jiang Fei's heart.

Sure enough, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and by midnight, it was thick enough to cover the tires of ordinary cars.

The convoy's speed noticeably slowed, and the official loudspeaker sounded outside.

“The road is heavily covered in snow. We are clearing it up ahead. The convoy will remain in motion, please do not get out of your vehicles casually.”

Xiao Chuxia swapped with Jiang Fei, looking out the window worriedly: “Miss, this snow doesn't seem to be letting up.”

“If it continues like this, it will turn into a snow disaster.”

Jiang Fei didn't know what would happen next, and drove in silence.

She hoped everything would go smoothly.

Things did not go as wished. Even with official personnel, braving the severe cold and enduring the pain of frostbite, shoveling snow to clear the way at the front of the convoy, they couldn't withstand the blizzard.

In just one day, the snow accumulated to the height of the military truck's door step.

The snow was falling so heavily that the outside environment was unclear.

All convoys were forced to stop in place.

The official loudspeaker sounded again: “Blizzard has blocked the road, the situation is severe. All gentlemen, please come down and help shovel snow to clear the way. If there is only one gentleman in a vehicle and no one else to drive, he may remain in the vehicle.”

The announcement played on a loop. Men got out of the trucks, almost falling into the thick snow.

Some complained irritably: “It's so cold outside, why are you calling me down to shovel snow?! You are the officials! You should protect us for free! Dedicate yourselves to us!”

“You were the ones who decided to evacuate, weren't you? So now that there's a problem, why do we have to solve it?”

“I'm not getting enough to eat, and it's so cold in the car I can't sleep. I'm not doing any work!”

The young man with the handheld megaphone, at his wit's end, shouted: “Then everyone can just die in the snow!”

“Two of my Comrades have already frozen to death! If you want to join them, go ahead!”

The young man raised his frostbitten hand, wiped away his tears, and continued walking forward, broadcasting.

The men who had just been clamoring lowered their heads and followed to work.

They weren't moved by the young man's words, but rather feared that they would be trapped here and die.

Lu Yu got out of the MPV to help at the front, with Su Liuyuan driving.

Ling Zhaorui wanted to go help shovel snow.

Jiang Fei had just swapped shifts with Xiao Chuxia, but she was in good condition, so she got out of the RV, took the keys from Ling Zhaorui, and went to drive the pickup truck.

After about an hour, the vehicles at the front slowly moved, and the convoy set off again.

In the vast snow, that reassuring military green intertwined with different colors, spreading forward.

But the snow grew heavier, and the convoy moved in fits and starts, struggling through the night, only advancing over 100 kilometers.

This weather was not suitable for travel, so the officials decided to take shelter from the snow in the nearest Longxing Town.

Longxing Town was not far from the convoy's current location; in the current conditions, it would take half an hour to reach.

As evening approached, the convoy laboriously arrived at Longxing Town.

The official loudspeaker broadcast the latest news—

“Please get out of your vehicles and follow our personnel to find empty houses to take shelter from the snow and warm up. Try not to wander far. When you reach your destination, someone will distribute hot water.”

Jiang Fei didn't rush to find an empty house. She first returned to the RV, immediately brewed ginger soup, and distributed it to Lu Yu and Ling Zhaorui to ward off the cold.

“This is frostbite cream. Apply it to your hands, and don't take off your gloves again.”

Once the two had warmed up, Jiang Fei left Big Yellow in the RV, locked the vehicle, put on her backpack, and followed the main group with Xiao Chuxia and the others.

The snow was thick, reaching an adult's thigh, making each step uncertain, with the risk of falling at any moment.

Everyone had no choice but to walk in pairs or threes, supporting each other.

The blizzard, carrying cold air, fell, and everyone shivered from the cold.

With empty stomachs and no idea how much longer they had to walk to reach their accommodation, someone finally couldn't take it anymore and broke down.

“I'm not walking anymore!”