Edge of the Apocalypse

Chapter 70: Chapter 66: Deployment and Allocation

「The morning of the third day of the apocalypse.」

The water and power were completely out.

"Thank God for Brother Dong’s reminder. We filled up containers in every room with water yesterday... otherwise, we’d have been screwed today."

Yan Yikai used a small cup to scoop some water from a bucket and brushed his teeth.

Losing power wasn’t a big deal for a while, but no water... you’d be dead in three days.

"But with the power out, cooking is going to be a pain... The few portable cassette stoves and charcoal we found won’t last long."

Qiao Ping stood in the kitchen, looking worriedly at the induction cooker.

The natural gas in Apartment 501 had never been connected, so they’d been relying on the induction cooker for the past two days. If they hadn’t found a cassette stove and a few butane canisters yesterday, they would have had no way to cook today.

Most of their current food supply consisted of frozen goods, which were completely inedible without being heated.

"Hah, we’ll just build a fire to cook. It’s not like we can’t make a fire."

Yan Yikai, however, wasn’t worried in the least.

"Right, I forgot about that yesterday... We need to gather some combustibles today. Most of the apartments in this building have been renovated, so there are beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs. That should give us fuel for a while."

Qiao Ping jotted down the team’s needs, determined to do her best in her role as logistics manager.

She couldn’t move heavy things or kill zombies, so she had to prove her value in other ways. Otherwise... she was afraid she’d become a burden to the team and wouldn’t last long enough for her uncle to arrive.

’For my child’s sake... I have to have the best possible attitude!’

Just then, seeing Shen Xinyi open the door and come in, she immediately put on a bright smile and linked arms with her.

"Xinyi, you look so pretty today! Are you wearing makeup?"

"No, I just washed my face and splashed on a little water..."

"Wow~ your skin is amazing! I’m so jealous... I bet you had a lot of guys chasing after you before the apocalypse, huh?"

"Not really... It was nothing special."

A little embarrassed by Qiao Ping’s compliments, Shen Xinyi quickly came over to help with the cooking.

Breakfast was as luxurious as ever. Everyone had a variety of delicious things to eat and could even choose according to their personal tastes.

It was just that during breakfast, Zhao Wenjie kept glancing at Yu Dong. He only managed to suppress the unease in his heart after noticing that Yu Dong was in a very good mood today.

Beside him, Yang Yi shot him a disdainful look and curled her lip.

After breakfast, everyone went about their business.

「On the rooftop.」

Zhao Youcai watched Huang Zhiqiang pacing back and forth with his phone and said impatiently, "Huang, there’s no signal. Stop searching. If you keep dragging your feet, we won’t finish our work today."

"But there was a faint signal yesterday... How can there be nothing at all today? I was supposed to call my dad at 8:30 this morning..."

Hearing this, unnatural expressions appeared on Yan Yikai’s and Zhao Wenjie’s faces.

Yesterday, Yu Dong had lent Yan Yikai a pair of binoculars, allowing him to see his home in Building Two clearly... everyone had turned into a zombie. There wasn’t a single living person left.

His parents and grandparents had all turned.

As for Zhao Wenjie, he hadn’t been able to contact his family since the night before last, and by today, he had given up all hope.

Zhou’s parents had passed away a few years ago. He only had his beloved Mei... and he had already laid her to rest.

Among everyone present, only Huang Zhiqiang knew for certain that he still had a close relative alive.

"Huang, the power and signal aren’t coming back. If your dad doesn’t have a satellite phone... there’s no way to contact him. He’s on his own, and there’s nothing we can do to help."

Yu Dong said, based on the experience from his past life.

"I know, Brother Dong..."

Huang Zhiqiang lowered his phone and dejectedly picked up his shovel...

The mention of family cast a somber mood over the group.

Only Zhao Youcai wore a cold smirk.

’Thanks to Dongzi, otherwise their loving little family of three might not have been reunited...’

Seeing the group’s spirits were low, Yan Yikai composed himself and said:

"Hey, at least we’re all still alive! Thanks to Professor Zhou’s predictions and Brother Dong’s leadership, we have an entire safe building and no shortage of food or water. We’re already better off than most people in the world, so... let’s be partners!"

"Let’s become partners who can watch each other’s backs!"

"We’ll win! I believe it!"

After Yan Yikai’s speech, everyone cringed so hard they nearly dug their toes into the concrete.

"Cringey, but he’s not wrong," Yu Dong commented.

Everyone burst out laughing, and the mood gradually lightened. Huang even started telling some of his signature dirty jokes.

Wang Xiuying turned her back to the others, watching her "son"—the dog—frolic around them. She suddenly thought... ’The world has gone to hell, but maybe it’s not so bad after all.’

As night fell on the third day of the apocalypse, the group finished assembling the greenhouse.

"You don’t have to worry about the rest. Just come up in a month to harvest the vegetables."

"I’ll be down in a bit to grab some of those yellow cakes of yours, and then I’ll be on my way."

"From now on, we won’t come down unless we have to. We can’t live with you college kids who don’t know the first thing about hard work or real life."

In the end, Wang Xiuying chose to keep her distance from the group. She couldn’t join in on Yu Dong and the others’ conversations and didn’t care to. Having her "son" with her was enough.

"Alright. If you think this is best for you, that’s fine. But if you need anything, come find us downstairs anytime."

Yu Dong didn’t force everyone to share the same goals or mindset.

In this group, some wanted to kill zombies and change the world, while others just wanted to tend to their own little garden and live a quiet life. Some were team players, others were loners. Some were sharp-tongued, others were well-spoken... As long as no one did anything to threaten the group, he could accept them all.

As they were heading downstairs, Yu Dong remembered something and said:

"Oh, right. The women should be about done collecting daily supplies. Once everything is tallied, we’ll set aside half as a reserve for the group’s warehouse. The rest will be divided equally. Grandma Wang, you can take your share."

"Is there any dog food?"

"Yes, I remember seeing some."

In his past life, Yu Dong had personally searched every single apartment and spent three days organizing the supplies. He could remember every detail, including the box of dog food in one of the units.

"Then give all the dog food to me. You all can divide the rest however you see fit."

The old woman, who would normally haggle over every last penny at the market, didn’t give it a second thought. Because... she felt that Yu Dong could be trusted.

’I can get what I want without having to throw a tantrum.’

It wasn’t that she wanted to cause a scene most of the time. It was just that... for a childless old woman, if she didn’t act a little crazy, everyone would take advantage of her.

She’d really be bullied to death.

Making a scene was unreasonable, but it solved problems.

That was her survival strategy.

Yu Dong smiled. "Alright, I’ll portion it out for you. Once it’s ready, I’ll have Youcai help you carry it upstairs."

Zhao Youcai immediately refused.

"Dongzi, she seemed to have plenty of energy when she was cursing and throwing a fit. A few boxes won’t tire her out."

"I don’t need your help anyway. I’d be afraid you’d poison my food. And another thing, don’t take on a job you can’t handle. Making an old lady clean up your mess? You’ve got some nerve. Even my son knows to dig a hole when he takes a crap."

Wang Xiuying shot back, instantly shifting into combat mode.

Hearing Wang Xiuying mock his failure, Zhao Youcai’s face darkened, and he clenched his fists.

"Youcai, then you don’t have to help. Huang, you go."

"Huh? Me?"

Huang dreaded the thought of climbing from the 5th floor to the 32nd. With his build, he really couldn’t handle the stairs. Climbing them twice a day was already enough to kill him.

"Yes, you. A trip to the 32nd floor might leave you gasping for air... From now on, that’s your daily training exercise."

Huang Zhiqiang was stunned, but seeing the serious look in Yu Dong’s eyes, he felt helpless to refuse.

"Alright... but I really can’t make the climb today. Can I go tomorrow? I’ll definitely do it tomorrow, I promise!"

"Fine. We’ll sort and distribute the supplies tomorrow."

「Late that night.」

After a long day of work, Zhao Wenjie returned to his room that night to find that not only was the food in the cabinet untouched, but the drawers and the space under the bed were also stuffed full.

He froze, then pointed at Yang Yi and said:

"Didn’t I tell you yesterday that was the last time? And today you did it again...?"

"So what? I got all this through my own efforts. If they were capable, they could get it too. I never said they couldn’t."

"Brother Dong trusted you to collect supplies for the group. Wouldn’t it be better to pool everything and divide it fairly? That way, no one goes hungry."

"It’s the apocalypse, and you’re still talking about being fair and thinking of others... I can’t even with you!"

"But what if... What if Brother Dong finds out? What then?"

"Heh... ’Brother Dong, Brother Dong.’ You sound so chummy with him. If you had half of Yu Dong’s competence, I wouldn’t have to do this myself!"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!