Chapter 28: A Single Pack of Instant Noodles Costs 2,000!

Granny Lin’s home supplies had been looted by Chen Zhenghao, and both she and her grandson, Xiaohu, had been brutally beaten. The old woman was barely holding on, though she could still move. Her grandson, however, had been kicked hard in the stomach by one of Chen Zhenghao’s lackeys. For a six-year-old child, such a blow was unbearable, resulting in internal injuries.

In her desperation, she turned to the residents' group chat to plead for help, hoping someone would save her grandson. However, due to her past behavior of swindling people out of their supplies, the residents felt deep resentment toward her, and no one was willing to assist.

"Wuwuwu, I know what I did before was wrong. But my grandson is innocent!"

"He’s just a child, please, save him!"

Granny Lin wailed in the group, her voice filled with despair. Yet, none of the residents felt any sympathy. Instead, some began to mock her.

"Who knows if this is true or fake this time?"

"Exactly! Besides, we aren't doctors; we don't have the ability to help you."

"If you hadn't swindled everyone for supplies first, would Brother Hao have beaten your grandson? At the end of the day, you brought this on yourself."

Granny Lin cried hysterically, "I was wrong, it was all my fault! As long as you save my grandson, I’ll kneel to you!"

Just then, a woman named Zhou Ke'er sent a message.

"Let me take a look at the child! But I can’t guarantee I can save him."

Seeing Zhou Ke'er’s message, Zhang Yi immediately pictured an elegant, tall woman with a long ponytail. Zhou Ke'er was a doctor at the Tianhai City First People’s Hospital. In his previous life, she had used her medical knowledge to save many people and was one of the few good-hearted neighbors. She was usually aloof and rarely spoke in the group, but seeing Xiaohu’s life in danger, she had finally stepped up.

Granny Lin, remembering that there was a doctor in the complex, hurriedly thanked her profusely and brought the child over.

Half an hour later, Granny Lin’s anxious voice rang out in the group again.

"Does anyone have hemostatics, anti-shock medication, or antibiotics? My Xiaohu needs surgery, please help! I’ll kneel to you!"

Lin Xiaohu was critically injured; the kick had ruptured his liver. Although Zhou Ke'er was a doctor, she did not have enough medicine at home. When the residents heard the plea, they just chuckled and stayed silent. It was a joke; no one kept such supplies at home! Chen Zhenghao even chimed in with sarcastic remarks.

"How are you going to kneel? In the group chat?"

A wave of "hahaha" laughter followed. Granny Lin’s voice was choked with sobs. "As long as you help, I’ll kneel right now!"

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Truth be told, he had all those medications in his dimensional space. However, he would never take them out to save Lin Xiaohu. For one, in the apocalypse, medicine was as vital as food, and he didn't want to expose his resources. Secondly, he truly loathed Granny Lin and that spoiled brat. Besides, even if the boy were barely saved, he wouldn't survive the long, harsh winter. It was better to keep the supplies for himself.

No matter how much Granny Lin begged in the chat, no one stood up to help.

A long while later, Dr. Zhou Ke'er sent a message saying she had temporarily stopped the bleeding, but it was only an emergency measure and wouldn't last. The boy needed surgery at a hospital to survive. She also added that if anyone faced a medical emergency, she could help.

The chat was soon flooded with flattery. Even Chen Zhenghao and the wealthy second-generation heir Xu Hao chimed in, obsequiously praising Zhou Ke'er’s benevolence. Usually, they didn't care much for this cold doctor, but now, everyone feared for their lives and scrambled to curry favor with her.

Zhang Yi remained silent, quietly observing the situation. For the past few days, Fang Yuqing hadn't contacted him. Zhang Yi was content with the peace, but he knew this "white lotus" would soon come begging. She hadn't reached out yet only to preserve her fragile vanity; she had always seen herself as a superior woman who wouldn't lower herself to a man. Unless, of course, that man was rich.

But what about later? The snow kept falling, and the entire first floor was completely submerged. Forget leaving the complex; even reaching the main gate meant facing four or five meters of accumulated snow. The depletion of supplies was inevitable. When that time came, given her nature, she would certainly come to Zhang Yi for help.

One week had passed since the apocalypse began. Seven days might not sound like much, but for those trapped in the freezing cold, huddled in their homes, it felt longer than seven years.

From the beginning, they had been full of hope. Now, almost everyone realized the reality: the chance of waiting for rescue was slim to none. They had learned through the internet that the entire world was facing a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-year mega-blizzard. The globe was buried in snow; in some northern cities, temperatures had plummeted to minus one hundred degrees, and the snow was even deeper, burying entire cities.

Although the authorities continued to use the few remaining channels to encourage unity and survival, as everyone looked at the frozen city outside, their hearts sank completely.

With the scarcity of resources, problems became increasingly acute. Granny Lin’s food had been completely looted by Chen Zhenghao, and her grandson lay dying in bed, driving her to madness. She spent all day screaming in the group, claiming she was a committee leader and demanding everyone hand over their supplies. But now, the residents had grown wise and ignored her entirely.

In the group, Xie Limei, a mother living on the 12th floor, suddenly sent a message.

"Does anyone have food? My child and I haven't eaten in two days. I... I can buy some at a high price!"

This message caused a subtle shift in the group. In the past, everyone thought the disaster would pass quickly and the city would reopen, so trade prices were only a few times higher than usual. But now, as more families ran out of supplies, food became life itself—the only hope for survival.

Soon after, someone said, "I have a few packs of instant noodles left. I can sell them to you, but I want 1,000 yuan per pack!"

1,000 yuan for a pack of instant noodles! In the past, this was unimaginable. They perhaps didn't realize how much this single transaction would impact the entire building.

Zhang Yi stroked his chin, watching his phone, and said softly, "The interesting part is about to begin."

Xie Limei didn't reply; she was clearly hesitant. At least for now, people still held onto a shred of hope that the blizzard would end, and that life would return to normal, where they would still need to earn money.

Just then, the wealthy heir Xu Hao, who hadn't spoken in a long time, suddenly popped up.

"I’ll pay 2,000 yuan a pack! How many do you have? I’ll take them all!"