9: I am a resident of room 2203

“Hey! I’m going to the department store! You guys take me there! I’ll give you 30 yuan! That’s three times the usual taxi fare!”

The man outside the car shouted loudly, full of arrogance, as if the price he offered was three million.

Jiang Fei completely ignored him, stepped on the accelerator, and drove the truck away, but in the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of the man’s reflection.

Around thirty years old, with a buzz cut, and a conspicuous, ugly scar extending from his brow to his jaw.

Zhou Lang!

Jiang Fei had a deep impression of this person.

In her previous life, she ran away from Li Yanping’s home and went to a small private base.

She thought she would finally settle down, but it turned out to be a scam.

Those people used promises of “food and warmth” to trick survivors into the base, only taking women, young and attractive teenagers, and children.

Then they used force to compel them to service every “customer” who came to the base, in exchange for supplies.

It was essentially like the brothels of old.

If she hadn’t escaped in time, she would have lost her innocence for a bag of expired bread.

And Zhou Lang was the second-in-command of that base.

He regarded human lives as grass, wantonly played with and humiliated women, and his crimes were unforgivable.

This kind of scum, she could find an opportunity to deal with him.

A murderous glint flashed in Jiang Fei’s eyes.

—

Due to severe road flooding and many obstacles hidden underwater, Jiang Fei didn't drive too fast.

Even though the truck's chassis was as high as 1 meter, she couldn't afford to be reckless.

This was her only mode of transportation!

Alas, the plight of the poor.

On the road, people noticed the slowly moving truck and shouted out—

“Sir! Can you stop and give me a ride?”

“Pick me up first! I’ll give you money!”

“How is it a female driver? Forget it! You stop quickly! Let me get in the car!”

Jiang Fei remained oblivious, driving forward.

It was Xiao Chuxia, sitting in the passenger seat, who felt a little uneasy: “Miss, if someone offers a reasonable price, why don’t we take them along?”

“Then you get out?”

Xiao Chuxia immediately shut her mouth.

Seeing that the truck had no intention of stopping, the people around revealed their true colors—

“If you won’t give a ride, then don’t. What’s with acting so high and mighty in a broken truck? I have several Cullinans parked in my garage!”

“I told you female drivers are unreliable!”

“No conscience at all, watch out for a flat tire that crashes and kills you!”

The curses and insults of the people came from afar, and Xiao Chuxia, inside the car, looked bewildered: “Helping is kindness, not helping is duty, why do they talk about us like that?”

Jiang Fei calmly said: “Some people think it’s unreasonable if the Earth doesn’t revolve around them.”

“Even if we let them get in the car for free, they wouldn’t be grateful. Instead, they’d complain about the environment here, and might even try to steal the car.”

“It’s in adverse conditions that one’s true nature is revealed.”

Xiao Chuxia fell into thought.

About ten minutes later.

Jiang Fei avoided people and parked the truck in an alley, then got out with Xiao Chuxia.

The Four Seasons Fresh Supermarket was located on high ground, and with staff clearing the accumulated water, the situation was much better than outside, with water only reaching ankle height.

Most of the nearby residents had come here to shop, and the Fresh Supermarket was packed with people, like a can of sardines.

A salesperson, holding a loudspeaker, stood on the counter maintaining order: “The price is marked on every item! Please queue up to check out in an orderly manner! No pushing!”

Xiao Chuxia, standing at the entrance, was dumbfounded by this scene: “It can’t be….”

“It’s only been raining heavily for a few days, why are people acting like they’re crazy?”

Jiang Fei didn't respond, quickly grabbed two shopping baskets, handed one to Xiao Chuxia, and then pulled her into the crowded Fresh Supermarket.

“Holy crap! A bag of bok choy costs a hundred yuan?! Nobody wanted it for three yuan before! Has the price gone mad?!”

“If you don’t want it, I do! Give it here!”

“What? Mineral water is fifty yuan a bottle? Damn boss!”

“Wuwu, Mommy, where are you, I’m scared—”

People’s complaints and children’s cries rose and fell, exceptionally grating.

Jiang Fei moved nimbly, snatching a crate of instant noodles and quickly retreating.

Turning her head, she saw Xiao Chuxia pulling an old lady’s arm: “This is the dried noodles I got first! Give them back to me!”

“Let go! Don’t you know how to respect the old and cherish the young! Oh my, my heart hurts so much!”

The old lady feigned clutching her chest, acting like a rogue.

Xiao Chuxia’s face instantly turned red with anger: “You! You’re disrespecting your age!”

Jiang Fei, protecting the instant noodles in her shopping basket, walked over: “If you don’t want to go hungry, snatch it back.”

With that, Jiang Fei went to the next area.

She was only responsible for bringing Xiao Chuxia, not for helping her.

And Xiao Chuxia, still in her spot, looked at the domineering old lady, gritted her teeth, grabbed the shopping basket, and took back the dried noodles.

The old lady was furious: “Give it back to me! This is mine!”

“Whoever snatches it, it’s theirs!”

Xiao Chuxia finished speaking and went to chase Jiang Fei, not forgetting to snatch a bag of vermicelli from the old lady’s basket.

When Jiang Fei and Xiao Chuxia finally managed to check out and emerged, they were each carrying two large bags of goods, a bountiful harvest.

Xiao Chuxia complained as she walked: “Four Seasons Fresh is practically robbing people, making a fortune from disaster.”

“Normally, these things would only cost a few hundred yuan, but now the price has multiplied several times.”

Jiang Fei calculated the balance in her card, which was about five hundred, and was hesitating whether to go again and spend it all, when she suddenly saw several men walking towards them.

They were all carrying iron rods, and one of them even had a knife.

Jiang Fei’s eyes turned cold, she shoved both large bags of items to Xiao Chuxia, and gripped the short knife in her backpack.

“Miss, why did you give me everything?”

Xiao Chuxia was confused, then found herself surrounded by the men.

The tattooed man leading them revealed his knife: “Hand over everything you bought, and all your valuables!”

“If you don’t want to die, hurry up!”

Xiao Chuxia’s face turned pale, and unfortunately, the place they were in was secluded, with no one to help.

Suppressing her fear, Xiao Chuxia stood in front of Jiang Fei and whispered: “I’ve studied Taekwondo, you run first and find someone to help, I’ll hold them off.”

She hoped she still remembered those moves!

Just as Xiao Chuxia was about to hand everything to Jiang Fei, a black shadow flashed past.

Jiang Fei suddenly rushed out, delivering a heavy punch to the tattooed man’s cheekbone.

Taking advantage of the tattooed man’s stumble, Jiang Fei swiftly drew her short knife and slashed at his shoulder.

Blood splattered.

“Ah!”

“Big Brother!” The surrounding henchmen immediately rushed forward, swinging their iron rods at Jiang Fei.

Jiang Fei quickly dodged, delivering a beautiful roundhouse kick that sent a henchman flying.

In a flash, Jiang Fei swiftly dealt with everyone, then held the knife to the tattooed man’s neck, simple and brutal:

“You’ve snatched quite a few good things, haven’t you?”

“Hand them all over.”

The tattooed man: “...”

Where did this bandit come from?!!!

He chose women because they were easy targets, not to be robbed!!!

But with his life in her hands, the tattooed man had no choice but to be honest: “I, I, I’ll go get them right away.”

Just then, a surprised voice interrupted the tattooed man—

“Boss!”

Crippled Wang came over with a group of people.

The tattooed man wept with joy, not even noticing Crippled Wang’s address.

It was the boss!

The boss came to save him!

The tattooed man straightened his back, no longer afraid of the knife: “You little bitch, you’re finished! My boss is here!”

“I advise you to be sensible and apologize to me quickly, or you might end up without a corpse!”

Jiang Fei’s eyes held a subtle expression.

She and Crippled Wang really had a connection.

Both times, it was him in a case of double-crossing.

Thinking Jiang Fei withdrew her knife out of fear, the tattooed man became even more smug: “Boss! This little bitch wants to...”

Slap!

Crippled Wang slapped the tattooed man’s face: “Who are you calling a little bitch?!”

“This is my boss!”

The tattooed man: ???

The tattooed man suddenly remembered a piece of gossip his brother had mentioned some time ago—

“Do you know, Boss recognized a young girl as his boss, named Jiang Fei. If you hear this name, don’t be curious, just act like a lapdog.”

Oh.

Now he was finished.

The tattooed man had a strong will to survive, and immediately started slapping himself: “I’m sorry, Miss Jiang! I was blind and didn't recognize a great person! I caused a misunderstanding! Please forgive me! Don’t bother with someone like me!”

Crippled Wang had a bad feeling: “What did you do?”

The tattooed man: “Robbery...”

Jiang Fei added: “I snatched it back, and everything he snatched before belongs to me.”

Crippled Wang: “...”

Boss, always digging into his pockets.

“You guys, go move all today’s haul to Boss’s car.”

“And those in my car, move them too, as an apology to Boss.”

Crippled Wang directed the tattooed man and others to work.

While they went to move things, Crippled Wang fawned over Jiang Fei: “Boss, don’t mind, my subordinates are ignorant.”

“Thanks to you this time, I was able to survive! And I made a huge profit!”

Jiang Fei was bewildered, but her expression remained calm.

Crippled Wang explained: “That day we parted ways, I went home and didn’t go to the store. Unexpectedly, a typhoon hit that night, destroying the wholesale market and killing many people. I luckily escaped.”

“Coincidentally, I had some leftover medicine from when I helped you with the drugs before, and because of this heavy rain, I sold them all at high prices. So, Boss, you are my Benefactor! I can fulfill whatever you want!”

Jiang Fei understood.

The sheep could be slaughtered again.

“Do you have gold?”

“Preferably starting from a ton.”

Crippled Wang: “...Boss, you really don’t stand on ceremony.”

“I don’t have a habit of hoarding gold, but I can find people to collect it.”

“It’s troublesome to go out now, hard to collect. I can send you a maximum of 10 kilograms, which will take about a week, after all, I also need to live.”

If gold wasn't cheap now, he wouldn't dare to give it.

It was all to repay the life-saving kindness.

Jiang Fei was content: “You have my WeChat. Message me when you get it. If you can’t reach me, then let’s meet here next Friday at 12 PM.”

Today until next Friday, exactly one week.

Crippled Wang agreed with tears in his eyes.

Sure enough, every time he saw the Boss, he had to shed some blood.

The tattooed man: “Boss, Miss Jiang, everything’s loaded.”

Before leaving, Jiang Fei gave a piece of advice: “Stock up on insect repellents and pesticides when you have time.”

“The environment is humid, so it’s easy for insects to breed.”

This was 10 kilograms of gold.

He couldn't die!

Crippled Wang paused, pondering Jiang Fei’s words.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fei took Xiao Chuxia back to the car and drove towards Yulan Garden.

Xiao Chuxia was still in a daze.

She had prepared to be beaten… how was it resolved so quickly???

“Miss, that person called you Boss, are you involved in the underworld?”

Seeing Xiao Chuxia about to start chattering again, Jiang Fei was ruthless and cold: “Say one more word and you get out.”

Xiao Chuxia instantly pursed her lips, her eyes sparkling.

Although Miss was fierce, Miss was so cool!

—

Upon reaching Yulan Garden, Jiang Fei found a new place to hide the truck: “You go up first, I need to organize some things.”

Because of the Gold Swallowing Supermarket, it couldn't be exposed to others.

Suddenly, a large shopping bag caught Jiang Fei’s eye.

“You saved me today, these are for you.”

“I’m leaving, Miss!”

Before Jiang Fei could speak, Xiao Chuxia quickly got out of the car with a bag of items, afraid she would refuse.

Jiang Fei looked at the supplies left on the car seat, momentarily lost in thought.

Two lifetimes of experiences made it difficult for her to build trust with people.

She wasn't used to Xiao Chuxia’s enthusiasm.

Similarly, she didn’t believe anyone was truly simple.

Xiao Chuxia probably didn’t realize how important these things would become.

Jiang Fei collected her thoughts, put all three bags of supplies into the Supermarket warehouse, then went down to check the items in the car compartment.

10 boxes of mineral water, 10 boxes of instant noodles, 7 boxes of pickled vegetables, 5 boxes of fruit, 5 cartons of good cigarettes costing over a hundred per box, and 3 boxes of moutai and beer.

Not bad.

Today’s outing wasn't in vain.

Jiang Fei put all the items into the Supermarket warehouse and went upstairs.

As soon as she reached the 22nd floor, she saw someone standing at her door.

Jiang Fei instinctively gripped the short knife in her backpack, and the other person turned around at that moment.

The warm light from the hallway slanted across his profile, making his delicate eyebrows and eyes appear hazy and ethereal.

“Hello, I’m the resident of 2203, Lu Yu.”