Chapter 9: Insufficient Supplies

Meng Ran listened to their conversation, never letting down her guard.

After they had walked far enough away, she finally left the doorway. She had already moved all the household items into her space for easy access, just in case.

Meng Ran glanced at the vegetables in the bag—they still carried a chill. A few green peppers, some potatoes, tomatoes, and eggs, with a separate bag holding a piece of pork. If all the residents in the community had received these, the quantity would be considerable. Yet, this small amount was certainly insufficient for their current consumption.

She took the meat to wash and cut it into pieces, then put it into the blender to make minced meat. The delivered food needed to be used up quickly, especially the meat. Mixing in flour and chopped scallions, she fried the meat into small meatballs.

Before frying this batch, Meng Ran had securely blocked the doorway. The aroma of the meatballs wafted from the kitchen to the living room, making Nian Nian’s nose twitch.

“It smells so good.”

She stood at the kitchen door, looking eagerly.

“Just wait a little longer, I haven’t fried many yet.”

With only that small piece of meat, there was definitely less than before—just enough for a bowlful.

“Let’s have hot pot tonight.”

The temperature had dropped below minus forty degrees; such easy days wouldn’t last long. On such a cold night, a steaming hot pot was needed to warm them up.

Meng Ran found the hot pot base and began preparing some side dishes. The potatoes delivered today were just right to slice and add in. She had previously planted some sprouted potatoes in the space’s ground, hoping to have more food later. The space also had an alcohol stove for cooking, which would help them get by for some time.

While thinking about what might happen next, Meng Ran put the meat into the pot to cook. Nian Nian was already sitting in a chair. Meng Ran took out noodles and dumplings from the fridge, ready to add them later. The broth was not too spicy, so Nian Nian could enjoy it.

Steam rose from the hot pot. Her phone kept buzzing with messages from the property management group.

Some residents complained about the small amount of food delivered, others felt it was unfair, and some even requested fever medicine and other supplies.

The group chat was in an uproar, mostly from those who hadn’t had time to buy supplies on the first snowy day. The property management repeated over and over that the food was distributed based on the number of people per household, with no unfair treatment.

But it seemed no one was listening. The property management fell silent, letting the residents argue among themselves.

After being trapped indoors for three days, with the freezing cold outside discouraging any outings, everyone’s mood was understandably irritable.

Meng Ran kept a close eye on the messages, monitoring the emotional shifts.

Turning off her phone, she fished out a meatball from the pot. One bite released a burst of fragrant, spicy flavor. She exhaled, a look of contentment spreading across her face.

Nian Nian chose some dipping sauce and swirled a slice of fatty beef roll in it.

Meng Ran boiled some dumplings. “Do you want dumplings or noodles?”

“Dumplings!” Nian Nian squinted her eyes, her face full of happiness.

The pot bubbled with steam when a call came in. Meng Ran checked the caller ID—it was Xiang Yajing.

She was about to answer but the call was cut off. When Meng Ran called back, Xiang Yajing didn’t pick up. Something must be wrong.

“What’s wrong?” Nian Nian asked.

“Nothing, just eat,” Meng Ran said, standing and moving to the curtains to try a few more calls. Still no answer.

Her mood grew uneasy. She sent a few messages to Xiang Yajing, then returned to the table to continue eating.

“You haven’t been able to reach Aunt Xiang; I wonder what’s happened.”

When delivering medicine, Meng Ran had reminded her to stock up on supplies and had mentioned this on the first snowy day as well. If Xiang Yajing had listened, there shouldn’t be any problems now.

But they were far apart, and contact was difficult under these circumstances.

Nian Nian hadn’t heard from Xiang Yajing for quite some time, and in her vague dreams, Xiang Yajing never appeared, so she couldn’t offer any help.

After finishing the hot pot, Meng Ran was sweating heavily.

Perhaps because of the extreme cold outside, the heater’s warming effect was much weaker than before. Meng Ran had to turn on a small heater in the bedroom.

The two took a shower and lay in the warm bed. Meng Ran flipped through messages, but Xiang Yajing still hadn’t replied.

She exited the chat and searched for the city where Xiang Yajing was located.

The situation there was even worse. The snow was thicker and had severely restricted travel.

Hospitals were overcrowded with patients who had been admitted earlier for the flu and had not yet been discharged.

After reading the news, Meng Ran turned over, her worry deepening.

A day and a half had passed since the community’s first supply delivery, but the snow hadn’t stopped. Meng Ran used a hot water bag and a small heater, turning the temperature up to the highest setting.

The air conditioner emitted a low whirring sound, making her feel it might not hold out much longer.

The outside temperature had dropped to minus sixty-seven degrees. Even stepping outside, fully dressed, would be unbearable.

Apartment 7-304: [When will more supplies be delivered? Our rice and flour are almost gone, and the snow here feels like it’s blocking the entire first floor.]

The resident of 304 observed the snow’s thickness daily. The snow wasn’t hardened or compacted, but relatively fluffy.

No one in the community had come to clear it, and with such heavy snow, no one wanted to go outside.

The vegetable market was surely deserted. No deliveries came anymore, as if they were trapped inside the community.

Every morning they awoke to a blinding white world, stirring frustration and increasing the tension.

Once 304 spoke, many others agreed. The supplies purchased on the first snowy day were nearly consumed, and things were indeed becoming tight.

During the earlier flu outbreak, the property management had come door to door with supplies, but this time only once.

There was no response from the property management. They had no words to express their hardship; where else could supplies come from now?

They had already sent out a lot. For now, the other side only said they would try to get supplies into the community but gave no specific time.

Without a timeframe, the property management didn’t answer the residents.

Meng Ran watched as the group chat exploded with frantic tags to the property management and desperate attempts to trade for food.

She went out and barricaded the door with cabinets, placed sharper tools in the bedroom, and threw several more into the space.

Taking a deep breath, Meng Ran felt grateful that Nian Nian was obedient and wouldn’t cry or make a fuss, saving her much trouble.

With no reply from the property management, it was likely that no more supplies would arrive.

Meng Ran pulled back the curtain slightly to look outside. The resident of 304 hadn’t exaggerated—the snow was indeed blocking the entire first floor.

The fluffy white snow surged inside, the glass door buckling under the weight, shattering into pieces buried in the snow.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The security door was being knocked loudly.