Plan Ahead

This haul from 101 could be called a bountiful harvest.

There was too much stuff for Wang Tao to carry alone, so he called Ding Yuqin over to help.

"Chives!"

After arriving at 101, Ding Yuqin looked at the lush green chives, her face immediately filling with envy.

There were not that many chives, but there was definitely enough to eat some from time to time.

She wanted to ask Wang Tao for two pots of chives. There were twelve pots in total, so losing two would not matter. Even one pot would do...

Just as Ding Yuqin was thinking of how to bring it up, she suddenly noticed the two corpses in the corner.

"!"

She instinctively hid behind Wang Tao and clamped a hand tightly over her mouth.

Ding Yuqin had not actually seen many zombies. Back when the internet was still working, she had only come across them while browsing online. There were zombies downstairs in real life, but she had not dared to look. The zombies in the building had all been cleared out by Wang Tao.

Now, suddenly seeing corpses with their brains splattered everywhere and smelling that nauseating stench, her legs nearly gave out...

Wang Tao turned around, saw Ding Yuqin's terrified expression, and explained:

"They're dead. Don't worry."

The first-floor apartments had security bars on their windows, and zombies were outside, so there was naturally no way to throw these two corpses out. For the moment, they could only be left here.

"Mm..."

She quickly turned her head away, not daring to look any longer.

As for her earlier thought of asking for two pots of chives, she instantly gave it up.

She did not think Wang Tao would give her the spoils he had obtained at the risk of his life for free. If she asked, she might only make Wang Tao dislike her. That would be more trouble than it was worth...

After packing up the spoils, Wang Tao and Ding Yuqin made three trips before finally bringing everything back to Room 501.

On the way, the Balding Uncle heard the noise and came out to take a look, his eyes full of envy.

Wang Tao gave him some food. After all, the number of people in 101 had been provided by the uncle, and the information had not been false. It was only natural to give him something in return.

The door to 401 also opened a crack, but before Wang Tao could see what was inside, the other person shut it again. He only vaguely saw a young man wearing glasses and the 50/100 Health Bar above his head.

Wang Tao had originally considered talking to him. After all, he was one of the only four survivors in the building. But since the man had no interest in communicating, Wang Tao was not going to force the issue.

It was already noon. Ding Yuqin began making lunch for Wang Tao, while Wang Tao stared at the twelve pots of chives in frustration.

There was no room in his home, and chives needed plenty of sunlight. His balcony was too small. If he filled it all with chives, he himself would not be able to get any sun.

"No, I still need to move. There are plenty of empty apartments in this building anyway..."

After thinking it over, Wang Tao felt that Room 602 upstairs was a good choice.

Room 602 had three bedrooms and two living rooms. It was much larger than his own two-bedroom apartment, and it was clean inside, making it suitable for living in.

Apartment 402 downstairs would work too, but Wang Tao felt safer living higher up. Besides, perhaps he could move the chives to the rooftop to grow them...

The rooftop was accessible. It was where residents hung their quilts out to dry, and it was usually locked. When needed, residents could get the key from Property Management, though Wang Tao did not know who had the key now. But he knew how to pick locks and duplicate keys, so whether there was a key or not did not matter much.

"Wang Tao, lunch is ready!"

By then, Ding Yuqin had finished cooking.

"Okay."

Lunch was not particularly lavish. After all, many of the vegetables had been used up, but there was quite a bit of meat.

After serving Wang Tao a small bowl of rice, Ding Yuqin sat down and said:

"Wang Tao, when I opened the refrigerator just now, I saw that the Outdoor Power Supply was almost out of power..."

"It's almost out... I understand."

Wang Tao frowned.

The meat at home needed to be preserved in the refrigerator. After the power went out, he used the fully charged Outdoor Power Supply to power it.

Though it was an energy-efficient refrigerator and used less than one kilowatt-hour a day, the Outdoor Power Supply had limited power after all. After several days of use, it was nearly depleted.

Unless he ate all the food that could not be stored at room temperature over the next few days, he would have to find diesel and use the Diesel Generator.

Wang Tao had originally planned to clear out the zombies in 102 tomorrow. They were the last zombies in the building. The day after that, he would see if he could move, and the day after that, he would figure out a way to go out and find diesel.

But now he had to move up the schedule—he would clear out 102 this afternoon! Move that evening, and go out to find diesel tomorrow! In truth, killing zombies did not consume much of Wang Tao's stamina. The reason he only went out once a day was not because he was afraid, but because he wanted to be cautious. If some sudden crisis occurred later, he would be able to respond in time.

And given the current situation, losing power was a crisis event—it threatened the safety of his food.

So, he had to take a little risk...

After lunch, Ding Yuqin took the initiative to wash the dishes. Once she was done, she helped Wang Tao wash his clothes. Wang Tao had previously said she did not need to do his laundry, but now the washing machine could not be used. Since Ding Yuqin was willing to help, he did not say anything more.

As for water, though it was precious now as well, stagnant water would spoil if stored for too long... So they should use it when needed and figure something out once they ran out.

After Ding Yuqin finished washing the clothes, Wang Tao had rested enough as well.

"Wang Tao, are you going out again?"

Ding Yuqin was somewhat surprised. She knew Wang Tao had previously only gone out once a day.

"Mm. I'm going to clear out the zombies in Room 102 too."

It was the last room in the building that still had zombies. Only after 102 was cleared could Building 4 be considered completely safe.

"Then you have to be careful!"

Ding Yuqin's face was full of worry.

The only time she had seen Wang Tao fight zombies was his first battle, and because of the peephole's limited view, she had not been able to see the whole thing.

So Ding Yuqin was not very clear on exactly how strong Wang Tao was.

But judging by how Wang Tao had previously gone out only once a day, she felt that his battles with zombies must have been difficult... Now that Wang Tao was going out twice, she was even more worried.

"I will."

Wang Tao nodded.

With Ding Yuqin's help, Wang Tao was soon fully armed again. After telling Ding Yuqin to return home, he came to the door of 102 alone.

According to the Balding Uncle, there had been a family of three in Room 102: a couple in their thirties and a child in elementary school.

Wang Tao did not yet know exactly how many zombies were inside, but he prepared as if there were three.

Click~ After fiddling with it for a while, Wang Tao opened the lock on 102's door.

The moment he opened the door a crack, he smelled an intense reek of blood and decay.

In an instant, Wang Tao determined that a fight had taken place inside! He gripped the long-handled Claw Hammer in his hand tightly, then abruptly pulled the door open!