Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 434: Chapter 424: A New Homeowners’ Group

”Yeah, um... I still have a last handful of millet. Why don’t you take it for the kids?”

”I... I have a little lotus root powder. It might be enough to make a bowl for the kids.”

”Hey, user above! Didn’t you say you were completely out of food?”

”What about it? Is it a crime to have a little left? Mind your own business!”

A flurry of chatter broke out, and the group chat seemed to be back to its liveliest, with everyone deeply concerned about the two little girls.

Xu Jinsan and his wife were also happy to share updates and videos of Pingping and An’an.

But amidst this heartwarming atmosphere, everyone seemed to have forgotten there were a few unwelcome people in the group.

[Zhang Laohu]: ”Well, well, look at you all. Still so well-off. Taking in two more mouths to feed at a time like this. Doesn’t seem like you’re starving.”

Seeing that the two children had been found and taken in, Zhang Laohu chimed in with a sarcastic comment.

It was as if seeing the residents happy made him miserable; he just had to make a few passive-aggressive remarks.

”Jinsan, you don’t think Zhang Laohu and his cronies will come after us, do you?”

Mrs. Xu, who had been quite happy just a moment ago, grew worried when she saw Zhang Laohu’s message.

”Mom, don’t worry. Our door isn’t something just anyone can break down. Besides, Zhang Laohu only has a few people with him, while our residents’ group has so many. If we all banded together, raiding them would be a piece of cake.”

Speaking of which, an idea suddenly sparked in Tang Mo’s mind.

Her original plan had been to hoard enough food and then spend the next three months living quietly and safely with Xu Jinsan and his wife.

But now, not even a third of the way through, life was indeed getting a little boring...

A bold idea formed in Tang Mo’s mind: it was time to stir things up.

[Mo]: ”We’re completely out of food in our house, it’s true. But with just four or five of you guarding all that food in the property management center, aren’t you afraid someone will break down your door in the middle of the night?”

”Yinyin, don’t provoke him!” Mrs. Xu grew even more worried when she saw what Yinyin had posted in the group chat.

’Her daughter has always been so rational and calm. Why is she being so impulsive this time?’

”Mom, relax. I know what I’m doing. There are hundreds of us in this group, and only a handful of them at the property management center. We all have the same kinds of weapons—no one has guns or ammunition. Are we really going to let him keep us under his thumb?”

”Yinyin has a point. Those few people can’t possibly eat everything in there, but it could save the lives of our entire complex.”

After hearing his daughter, Xu Jinsan immediately caught on. Yinyin was right!

And it wasn’t just Xu Jinsan. Many others in the group were catching on, too.

That’s right, why should they be afraid of Zhang Laohu? He was just a security guard. There were only four or five of them at the property management center. Why should over two hundred residents be afraid of him?

Everyone was starving to death. On what grounds did Zhang Laohu get to guard so much food that wasn’t his and live so comfortably?

People are often like that. Having lived their whole lives in a peaceful world, it’s hard to develop a rebellious mindset immediately after a sudden disaster.

But it’s a different story once time passes, or when you’re struggling in adversity and facing death.

Especially after witnessing the tragedy caused by the fight for food, many quiet changes had taken place in their hearts.

’If we don’t do something, we’ll die.’

No one wanted to die.

Tang Mo’s words were like a shot of adrenaline, striking deep into people’s hearts.

This shot in the arm worked quickly. Within about half an hour, all three members of the Xu family received a new friend request.

The name on the friend request was one they had all seen before: Tao Jiayun. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Tang Mo quickly accepted Tao Jiayun’s request. After they became friends, Tao Jiayun didn’t say anything, but immediately pulled Tang Mo and the Xu couple into a new group chat.

Most of the names in this group were familiar to one another.

The new group’s name was ”The Fight-for-Our-Lives Residents’ Group.”

Seeing the group’s name, Tang Mo was a bit speechless. ’What kind of cringey, chuunibyou name is this?’

’But perhaps it’s because our family of three has it too easy that I can’t appreciate the dire straits other families are in, which is why I find the name strange.’

There was no need for introductions. Everyone knew in their hearts that this was their real residents’ group—one without Zhang Laohu, one where they could truly unite.

Since everyone was trapped at home with their phones always on hand, the new group was formed quickly. Within an hour, almost everyone had joined.

”I’m sure most of us are running low on food by now. If this continues, we won’t last much longer. We have to get our hands on that stash of food at the property management center. It’s the only way we’ll survive, the only way we’ll truly make it through this.”

Tao Jiayun had spoken in the group. It was clear he had already thought this through and was now just waiting for everyone’s response.

”But the property management center is pretty far from our homes. How are we supposed to get there? And what about the poisonous fog outside?”

”Yeah, the distance is one thing, but Zhang Laohu’s guys are probably no pushovers. What if they have weapons?”

”We’re all so hungry we have no energy, while they’re eating and drinking their fill every day...”

Most of these people had never been in a fight; they were the types who had focused on their studies since childhood. Now, hearing talk of a group brawl, they were naturally a little scared.

”Think about it, everyone. There are only a few of them with Zhang Laohu, but how many of us are there? The property management center is only a few minutes’ walk if you’re quick. If we wear masks, hats, and scarves, and take as many protective measures as possible, it won’t be a problem! And yes, we’re weak from hunger, but we still have some strength left. Shouldn’t we use it to fight back now? If we wait until we’re too hungry to even stand, it will be too late! Even if we wanted to fight back then, we wouldn’t be able to.”

Tao Jiayun had clearly come fully prepared to persuade everyone. His logic was so sound that even Tang Mo couldn’t help but want to applaud.

He was right. A rebellion had to start early—while they still had strength, while there were no casualties yet, and while the drive to survive still burned within them.

”I heard from a professor that this fog will probably dissipate in a few months. As long as we can hold out for a few months, we’ll be able to survive.”

Tang Mo added in the group chat, backing up Tao Jiayun.

This time, she was telling the truth. It really would be just a few months.

The news Tang Mo shared was even more potent than Tao Jiayun’s pep talk. Just a few months! If they couldn’t make it through these next few months, what a terrible shame that would be...

All they had to do was hold on for a few more months, and they could return to the world they knew before. Everything would go back to normal.

For everyone who heard Tang Mo’s words, it was like a sudden beam of light in the darkness. They felt as though their lives had been filled with hope once again.