Chapter 23: A Burglary in the Neighborhood

Someone in the apartment complex had passed away, and the homeowners' association had designated a vacant lot by the roadside outside the complex as the cremation site. With the procedures in place, the process was straightforward. Due to the special circumstances, everything was kept simple, and the cremation took place that evening.

Life is difficult for everyone right now, and the passing of an elderly person did not garner much attention. Everyone was busy discussing how to keep warm. Experienced elders shared tips on using charcoal braziers for heating and boiling water, how to prevent smoke, and how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Gu Pan listened intently whenever she heard these discussions; after all, there is no harm in learning more practical survival skills.

That night, looking out the window was quite eerie. Since everyone was burning fires inside their homes, the glow reflected against the windows, creating a somewhat ghostly atmosphere. Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng were no different; they lit a charcoal brazier in the living room. They didn't dare grill skewers because the aroma would have been a magnet for trouble, so they only toasted some steamed buns. However, they had hot skewers in their inventory that they could take out to eat, so the atmosphere remained festive regardless.

Early the next morning, Gu Pan had just woken up when she heard heart-wrenching wailing echoing through the hallway. This crying was far more tragic than that of the building manager’s mother-in-law the day before. Because it was so distressing, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng opened their door to see what was happening. The neighbors across the hall opened their door at the same time. The two families exchanged nods and began to listen.

They heard the old lady from 501 wailing in agony: "Which soul-snatcher stole my food? They didn't leave me a single thing! How am I supposed to live?" Beside her, a child was crying: "I'm hungry, I want to eat meat, I want grapes and blueberries." Suddenly, shouting also erupted from the 11th floor: "Stealing food at a time like this? Which heartless monster did this? If I find you, I'll stab you! My whole family is here, you even stole our meager rations—aren't you afraid of choking to death?"

Gu Pan remembered that the residents on the 11th floor had boasted about their food supply early on. Perhaps some had forgotten, but they had clearly been targeted. It seemed they had just woken up and discovered the theft, and since calling the police was useless, they had resorted to shouting in the hallway. Because it was so cold, families were mostly huddled together sleeping in one room to stay warm, which made it easier for thieves to break in undetected.

These two households were the first to be robbed, which was not surprising. The airdrops from two days ago could have lasted a few days, but they lacked fresh fruits and vegetables. Since these two families had those items, the thieves were likely targeting them specifically. Furthermore, some people had already received news from the military, and many were beginning to plot their own survival.

Gu Pan realized what was going on and looked at Lu Ruisheng. "We should install the iron gate." Things must be done at the right time to avoid raising suspicion. Lu Ruisheng nodded. "Agreed."

The two looked toward Chen Shaonan and Duan Shumei. Lu Ruisheng said to Chen Shaonan, "Teacher Chen, before the blizzard, I was supposed to return some iron gates from a construction site to the factory, but things got delayed and I kept them at home. I see there’s a lot of theft going on now, so I want to add an iron gate to our doorway. If you don't mind, I'd also like to install another iron gate at the entrance to our stairwell. We have extra, and it would be safer."

By having both families install iron gates together, it signaled they were allies, making those with ulterior motives think twice before acting. More importantly, installing a gate at the stairwell entrance provided more time to prepare if there was any disturbance. They weren't just installing one gate; they were adding one at the stairs and one inside and outside their own doors, effectively tripling their security. They would also add extra locks to the original stairwell door for further protection.

Chen Shaonan immediately agreed: "Excellent! That is wonderful. We couldn't ask for more security right now. Once I have the time, I’ll use some things at home to rig up a solar-powered electric fence on the door. With that extra layer of protection, we'll be able to sleep much sounder."

Gu Pan quickly added, "That would be perfect! Teacher Chen, my Ruisheng works in renovation, so we have all kinds of tools at home. If you're missing anything, just let us know; we can usually find whatever is needed."

Chen Shaonan replied, "Great, let's install them now. To be honest, I've been uneasy about our door; it still has the original lock from when the developer handed it over, and we never changed it." Lu Ruisheng said, "Alright, Teacher Chen, give me a moment. I'll go inside and get them from the storage room."

After Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng returned to their apartment, they entered their inventory space to retrieve a set of iron grille gates that were of similar dimensions, along with a toolbox, and carried them out. They chose grille gates because they allowed them to see clearly outside, which was advantageous for defense. Once they arrived at the hallway, Chen Shaonan came over to help. Lu Ruisheng and Chen Shaonan moved the iron gates to the stairwell entrance, reinforced the existing door with several locks, and then installed the new gate.

The electric drill was rechargeable, so it didn't matter that the power was out. Before they had even finished, many residents from upstairs and downstairs came to watch. Gu Pan openly told them that her family worked in renovation and happened to have these items, so they decided to install them. Since thefts were already occurring and police resources were limited, they had to protect themselves. Others envied them for having these supplies, and seeing the gate at the stairwell, they realized the two families on the seventh floor were united, which made them wary of causing trouble.

After the crowd dispersed, Lu Ruisheng and Gu Pan finished securing their own doors and helped their neighbors add two more locks inside their apartment, which gave them much peace of mind. Later, they gave the neighbors two bundles of escape rope and three gas masks, teaching them how to use them. With so many people burning fires indoors and so much debris in the hallways, if a fire broke out, going out the window would be safer than using the stairs.

Over the past few days, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng had also assembled several firearms. While their range and power were limited, they were sufficient for their needs. Gu Pan had previously downloaded instructions on making and using crossbows, and since their inventory was well-stocked with tools, they had managed to build some. Gu Pan was also researching hand-held crossbows; if they had those, it would provide an extra layer of security.

In the evening, a knock came from the outer iron gate. Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng stepped out, and their neighbors, Chen Shaonan and Duan Shumei, emerged as well. The two men walked over and opened the gate. Standing outside was the building manager from 401. She was bundled up in a down jacket, but her imposing demeanor made it clear to everyone in the building who she was.

Looking at the iron gate, the manager said to Lu Ruisheng, "The quality of your gate is quite good, but I don't think it's appropriate to install it here. You should install it at the unit entrance instead. That would ensure the safety of the entire building. See when you have time to move this gate to the unit entrance."

Lu Ruisheng gave a simple, clear refusal: "This is our private property. It is our freedom to decide where to install it. We cannot guarantee that everyone in the building is trustworthy, so we must prioritize our own safety first."