Chapter 23: Deadly Infection 8
The other two direct messages also asked the same question, all asking for medicine.
There was indeed medicine.
But if she gave it to them, would it attract more inquiries?
Would it expose her wealth?
What if everyone came to her to buy and sell, used moral blackmail, or even did things that endangered her safety?
Chu Yian’s principle was that she could help people, but only if it didn’t endanger herself. She pondered for a moment, then refused them.
“Sorry, I didn’t manage to buy any medicine either. Do you have any disinfectant at home? My disinfectant is running low, and the drone can’t fly out many more times.”
She sent the message again. Two messages sank like stones with no reply, while one person’s response was no longer polite like before. He vented his emotions at her, a stranger he hadn’t even met, and cursed very harshly.
This further solidified her belief that her previous choice was correct.
Just as she was about to put down her phone, she suddenly saw another person apply to be a friend.
Chu Yian had initially decided not to accept, but then she suddenly saw the words “Across, Lu” written in the application content.
Lu Qingyuan?
Chu Yian reflexively glanced at her tightly shut door, then clicked accept.
The other side quickly sent a message, “Don’t let the drone fly out; it will make you conspicuous.”
Chu Yian was stunned when she saw this message. Was he warning her?
However, what he said was true; three people had already asked for medicine. She was just a girl, and while she wasn’t completely defenseless, she wasn’t stronger than an adult man. Moreover, she had hoarded a large amount of supplies. If it were exposed, how many people would be envious?
When people’s lives are at stake, they no longer follow rules. A person who was humbly begging for help one second might lash out the next.
Thinking of this, she was glad she hadn’t said she had medicine at home earlier.
“Thank you.”
She replied to him.
“Mm.”
He was still very aloof, but… it seemed their relationship had broken the ice.
The meals these past few days weren’t for nothing.
In the afternoon,
Chu Yian suddenly heard a wail from the opposite building, followed by a heartbreaking cry.
Someone had died.
A family in the building across the street.
This made the already oppressive atmosphere in the residential area even more so. The air was filled with sadness, despair, and also the virus.
But this was just the beginning.
Just like the video she saw yesterday, infected people, without medication, could only last five days at most. Many families in the residential area were infected in the past few days, and three or four people died overnight.
However, they couldn’t even call a vehicle to collect the bodies.
More precisely, since the small car that crashed into a tree yesterday, there had been no more body collection vehicles.
The bodies had to be left in their homes.
The summer temperatures were very high, and coupled with the body’s natural fluids, decomposition was rapid. The foul smell of decay permeated the entire house, and the family members living with the deceased, despite their grief, were more filled with despair.
Because they too were infected.
None of the families who had previously broken out returned. The information obtained from phones was conflicting and difficult to verify. People in the residential area had fallen into extreme panic, especially those with sick family members or who were infected themselves. They could no longer sit still; rather than wait to die here, it was better to take a chance outside.
Like a group of long-suppressed trapped beasts, they drove their vehicles, roaring out of the residential area in the night. The key was that last time, there were people blocking the gate when they forced their way out, but this time, after the gate was rammed open, no one came out at all.
The rammed-open gate swayed in the wind all night.
Day 8 of the game
More people went out again.
However, these people left in the morning and returned at noon.
Chu Yian watched from upstairs as they returned, carrying large bags of things upstairs, presumably having bought things outside. The WeChat group also exploded, with many people asking questions.
“What’s the situation outside?”
“Neighbors who went out, quickly tell us.”
… The group was full of inquiries.
“There aren’t many people on the road; everyone is staying in supermarkets, Shopping Malls, and pharmacies.”
“No medicine can be bought, and food is also very difficult to buy. We went for a long time and only brought back a little, and the price is extremely expensive, ten to twenty times what it used to be…”
“It’s very chaotic outside. If you really want to go, I suggest not going alone or in pairs.”
The news that things could be bought spread in the group, giving a glimmer of hope to the anxious crowd.
In the afternoon, more people went out together, returning only in the evening. This time, many people brought back things, and the group was discussing plans for going out tomorrow.
Day 9 of the game
More people went out in the residential area again.
This time, the scale of the convoy was larger than last time, indicating that more people were going out to buy things. Just when everyone, including Chu Yian, thought that more and more people in the residential area would go out later, the number of people going out in the afternoon suddenly decreased.
Because the people who went out yesterday contracted the infectious disease.
Yesterday was joy, today was sorrow.
Food could be bought outside, but no medicine was seen at all. Some families could last half a month just eating rice, but once they got this disease, they wouldn’t live more than five days without medicine.
People who were discussing going out for groceries yesterday were already asking door-to-door in the group today if anyone had fever reducers. Chu Yian was once again asked via WeChat if she had fever reducers, and at such a time, she could only say she was sorry.
Getting infected with the virus after just one trip out showed how powerful this virus was.
She had to save her medicine in case she accidentally got infected.
Feeling more and more the preciousness of these medicines, Chu Yian simply put all the fever reducers into her treasure box.
At the same time, looking at the dwindling supplies, she carefully re-calculated her food.
20 catties of rice, half remaining, estimated to be about 12 catties;
5 catties of noodles, two large packs remaining;
Fruits: 5 apples, 3 pears, 6 oranges;
Vegetables: 4 catties of potatoes (8 pieces), 1 catty of peas, 1 winter melon (2 catties), 1 pack of dried wood ear (200g), 1 pack of dried shiitake mushrooms (half a catty), 4 bell peppers;
Meat: 1 catty of beef, 4 catties of pork, 3 catties of chicken legs (three pieces), 0.5 catty of shrimp;
Preserved vegetables: 4 bottles;
Snacks:… Eaten all up!
Chu Yian carefully planned these items. Even if she sent a portion to the opposite side at noon, these things would be enough for about ten days. Especially the staple foods, noodles and rice were very filling.
In addition, she also hoarded instant noodles, instant rice, canned goods, chocolate, Snickers, and compressed biscuits.
These items were for eating when she looked for special medicine later.
After checking her supplies again, she was very sure she wouldn’t starve.
Not only would she not starve, but she also found a large bag of frozen tripe, yellow throat, fatty beef, and ham sausage in the corner of the refrigerator. These seemed to be things she bought earlier when she wanted to eat hot pot, but then she was disgusted by seeing an infected person vomit at the hot pot restaurant, so she threw them in the corner of the refrigerator.
