Qi Meiying's shout was so loud that it waked up all the residents in the 15th floor, upstairs and downstairs.
Qi Meiying's husband, Cang Jun who was still sleeping in the room also ran to the utility room where his wife's scream came from and asked her what had happened.
"You are asking me what happened, you sloth! Look! The supplies are gone! All you know is sleep! Why didn't you guard it while I was sleeping?" Qi Meiying glared at her useless husband and kicked his waist.
Cang Jun hissed, rubbed his waist, and looked at the utility room. This was converted into a temporary storage last night and it was full of supplies but now it was gone and what remained were the empty shelves and empty boxes.
"Where did they go?" Can Jun was stunned.
"You think I know?" Qi Meiying was beyond angry. She knew this husband of her was hen-pecked, afraid of her and so he would not dare to steal the supplies which mean she was robbed!
Her supplies were robbed!
Who was it?! Who has the guts!
"Auntie Qi, what was it?"
"Qi Meiying, I heard you shouting so early in the morning! Did something happen? Is it about the government?"
"Hey, look Auntie Qi's door lock is left open." One of the residents who responded to the shout noticed the door was open and pushed it.
The residents thought something happened inside. Auntie Qi is the one managing the supplies. If something had happened to her then they will be affected as well.
They decided to rush in.
"Dear, what do we do now? We won't have anything to eat." Cang Jun was happy last night that he had a full meal and clean water to drink but now their life had to revert back to when he could barely eat.
It made him very unhappy.
Suddenly, his eyes were shocked as it fell on the entrance of the living room. Cang Jun grabbed his wife's wrist trying to stop her from saying anything, "Dear...dear…"
Qi Meiying gritted her teeth at her husband's priority. "All you care about is eating and sleeping. Are you a pig? We have an even bigger problem now. If those residents will find out that the supplies will be gone, then you and I will be in big trouble!"
"What are you saying Auntie Qi? The supplies are gone?"
Auntie Qi was startled by the third voice. She turned around and only found out there were other people in her house.
When did these people come in?
"No! You heard it wrong!"
"Then, if it was just our ears playing tricks, then take out the supplies for us to see!"
How could Auntie Qi do that when the thief didn't even leave a single thing!
Furious, the residents turned Auntie Qi's house upside down and couldn't find a single packet of noodle.
Their blood boiled and Qi Meiying's screams echoed in the unit.
News flies fast and in less than an hour, almost all the building residents knew about the supplies being missing.
It also reached Sun He, the other HOA's members, and Zhou Gui.
Sun He and the other HOA's members were also agitated and hurried towards Auntie Qi's unit and what they saw was Auntie Qi's face swelling and filled with bruises. Her husband was in the same situation.
They asked Auntie Qi of what happened or where she hid the supplies but the latter only said she was robbed.
"I was robbed!"
"The supplies were gone the moment I wake up! I did not hide them!"
With the other HOA members present, they were immediately surrounded by the residents demanding an answer.
Sun He tried to calm the residents down and let them hear what Auntie Qi wanted to say but he was shut down by the residents who were against the centralized distribution policy in the beginning.
"I knew it! I shouldn't have listened to your nonsense in the beginning!"
What government assistance? Now with the supplies gone, could still live that day to receive that assistance!
Humans can only live 3 days without water and five days without food!
Their fear towards Auntie Qi's threat before had greatly diminished and people only wanted to save themselves.
Anyway, Auntie Qi was the one at fault first, the government would likely forgive them!
The residents then eyed all the HOAs and people involved and protested.
"You better compensate us!"
"Hand over your supplies!"
Because they were outnumbered the HOA couldn't retaliate.
In the end, the residents forced their way in the HOA's units.
Sun He was only saved by his background but his situation was not any better. Now, with the HOA's credibility gone, he won't be able to use them and the news about the government assistance was entirely fabricated.
He only joined the boat because Auntie Qi wanted to curry favor with his father.
He doesn't know how long this disaster will last and the supplies he had will only suffice for another 3 days.
Suddenly, Sun He remembered Zhou Gui and he decided to seek his help.
In the 20th floor, Nanzhi listened to Auntie Yang narrating the events that unfolded in the 15th floor.
That was fast. Nanzhi didn't expect Qi Meiying's downfall to be this quick.
She had regrets not witnessing the scene of her getting beaten up personally.
"Good thing, my husband didn't give them all the supplies yesterday or we might be among those victims. But I'm worried about the others especially those with children." Auntie Yang said with a sigh.
Remembering something, Nanzhi's eyes darted to 2105.
Through Auntie Yang, she came to know that Xiao Lizi was living there.
Just then, Auntie Yang and Nanzhi heard footsteps coming from the stairs and saw Sun He approached the 2105's door.
Sun He also saw them. He stopped in his tracks and wanted to greet Nanzhi.
"Dan Dan might be searching for me, now. I'll visit you later." Auntie Yang bid Nanzhi goodbye before entering her unit.
"Little beauty!" Sun He fixed his clothes.
Bang—
But Nanzhi only shut the door, never wanting to exchange a single word with him.
Sun He's face became twisted. As someone who was pampered his whole life, he can tolerate her cold attitude but not the disrespect! He just gave her a little bit attention, now playing hard to get!
A few minutes later inside 2105, after listening to Sun He, Zhou Gui said to him, "I remember you made a list of residents when you were gathering supplies, if you could bring it to me then I will solve the problem."