Chapter 11: Organizing the Cleanup

The next morning at nine o’clock, the temperature had dropped even further, though the snowfall had lessened somewhat, offering a small measure of comfort to many.

Several staff from the property management stood outside, their breath visible in the cold as they stamped their feet and held shovels. The snow in front of their building had been cleared enough to allow passage, but the entrance to the community remained completely blocked. They messaged those inside and then lifted their shovels.

“Let’s go clear the snow near the entrance first.”

This snowfall was truly frightening; in just a few days, the ground floor was nearly engulfed. Fortunately, the snow had only crept just past the doorway and hadn’t flooded inside.

Once the snow was cleared, five bulky-clothed figures appeared in the stairwell, men and women alike, but their number was pitifully small.

“Is it just the few of us?”

They exchanged glances, surprised that there were fewer than ten people in total.

“Looks like it, but I promise we won’t let your efforts go unrewarded. Rest assured.”

They had been promised sufficient supplies; otherwise, no one would have bothered to come out. And if they spread the word more, perhaps more people would join later.

“With all this snow, we’re the only ones doing this thankless work while others stay inside enjoying the warmth of their air conditioners,” someone complained, reluctant to continue.

The property manager scratched his head. “But staying inside won’t bring any food. If you work hard, we’ll reward your contributions with some provisions to help you through.”

Everyone was struggling now. Even a single pack of instant noodles could sell for dozens of yuan; unscrupulous sellers might charge over a hundred. Prices had risen rapidly.

Because of the food, the five stayed put.

The cold wind howled fiercely, and despite wearing masks, their faces still stung from the biting chill.

Meng Ran pulled back a corner of the curtain to look down. Against the white expanse, the few figures in colorful clothing stood out sharply. They were shoveling snow in various spots. Meng Ran drew the curtain back. There were about eight or nine people below—more than she had expected.

The group chat showed photos of those clearing snow; many were still watching from inside.

If the property management had distributed satisfactory supplies on the first day, more people might have come out. But the bitter cold was a serious deterrent.

Meng Ran stared at the frost and fog forming on the window. If someone could endure outside for half an hour, that was already commendable; staying longer could adversely affect health, with colds and fevers being minor compared to what might come.

Nian Nian moved to the window as well. From a corner, she could see someone peeking out from behind a curtain in the opposite building.

“Enough watching. Let’s wait a bit and observe.”

Meng Ran returned to prepare breakfast. They had woken late due to the cold. In a few hours, they should know how things were downstairs.

News spread fastest through the property management group. Over an hour later, several people who had gone out to clear snow reported back briefly. To encourage more volunteers, the management posted photos of supplies: rice, flour, cooking oil, some vegetables, fruits, and meat—modest in quantity but enough to last a few days if rationed carefully.

User 23—517 commented: “They must have pocketed quite a bit themselves. They didn’t want to give us much at first.”

It was Fang Weiwen again. Before anyone else could respond, he stirred trouble as usual.

Meng Ran noticed several women in their twenties among the snow-clearing group, and she feared they might attract the attention of men like Fang Weiwen, who had already shown his true colors before. She suspected there were more such people lurking.

The property managers were furious at Fang Weiwen's remarks but didn’t want to argue at this critical moment. They simply said that anyone willing to help would receive supplies.

These supplies were leftovers from the last delivery to residents. If they weren’t trying to find a way out, they wouldn’t have called on these people for help.

The snow was too heavy everywhere; choosing to cooperate was the only sensible option.

Many were persuaded and privately messaged the management, expressing willingness to help.

Those stepping forward were mostly those lacking food. By noon, the number of people outside had clearly increased.

As soon as they went out, the cold wind made them shiver.

“So cold.”

Zhao Weijie stomped his feet, while Sun Jia pulled her hat down tighter, instantly regretting coming out.

“If I had known it would be this cold, I wouldn’t have stepped outside.”

Zhao Weijie rubbed his hands and approached the property staff. “My father’s body is still at home. What can we do?”

Their legs were soaked in snow, trembling from the cold.

Until the snow was cleared, cars couldn’t move, and they couldn’t take the body to the crematorium.

The management was also at a loss. “The temperature is low these days. Leaving it without air conditioning for a few days won’t do harm. First, let’s clear the snow.”

Zhao Weijie pointed outside. “But the roads are also blocked.”

The snow-clearing teams were nowhere to be seen; there was no sign of activity.

“The snow-clearing teams might be busy elsewhere. Maybe they’ll come here in a couple of days.”

The property managers were optimistic, as they had no other options.

The news hadn’t updated for two days, and they were unaware of the situation beyond. Water and electricity were unstable, and the taps had given trouble several times recently.

Zhao Weijie sighed. Their family’s situation was the most troublesome—not just food shortages but also the corpse.

Sun Jia pursed her lips. “I can’t sleep thinking about it. Mom feels the same. What if things don’t improve?”

Her worries were not unfounded.

Zhao Weijie wanted to discuss matters with management, but they were already assigning sections to each person.

The once quiet community became bustling. With so many volunteers and such a large area, the work would take several days.

However, the snow had lessened slightly. After they cleared the snow, the ground was coated in a thin layer of ice.

Meng Ran checked the appliances at home. The heater’s performance was worse than the previous days.

“It feels colder than before.”

Nian Nian, wearing a padded coat, stayed in the living room. Meng Ran told her to go to the bedroom, where a small heater and an electric blanket made it much warmer.

“The lower the temperature, the more likely the power will fail. The generator can’t run forever.”

The situation outside was likely no better.

Meng Ran frowned. When the power went out again, trouble would surely follow.

A sudden, thunderous crash shattered her thoughts. She went to the window, with Nian Nian clutching her clothes fearfully.

Lightning flashed across the sky, just like the night it first snowed. This time the bolt carried a faint red glow, an ominous sign.

The snow continued to fall. The property staff looked up, startled by the thunder.

“What now? Another blizzard?”

Someone grumbled, angrily throwing their shovel into the snow as if venting frustration.