The exchange will take place at noon.
The people in the basement loaded the grains and medicines bag by bag onto the counter of the convenience store: two packets of instant noodles, half a bag of rice, several cans of food, an old iron box containing three boxes of cefazolin, two rolls of suturing thread, several iodophor cotton swabs, and a small bottle of painkillers.
Old Feng counted them one by one, his voice sounding like he was reciting a list.
Lu Chen brought a plastic bucket and unscrewed the lid.
The water surface was very calm, with no impurities.
The sunlight slanted in, making the bottom of the bucket dazzlingly bright.
The people around, their breathing slowed down in unison.
“This water…
” A woman reached out her hand but then withdrew it, “How can it be so clean.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
A broad-shouldered man who had remained silent all along moved forward half a step, placing his hand on the rim of the bucket: “Brother, there’s so much.
Can we have an extra bucket?
There are about ten people in the basement.”
Before he finished speaking, a cold light had already touched his wrist.
Su Wanru had appeared close by at some point, her gun muzzle pointing downward, but she could raise it at any time.
“Didn’t you hear the rules?” she said.
“One bucket at a time.
No stealing.”
The man’s larynx rolled up, and he withdrew his hand, sheepishly smiling.
Lu Chen put down the bucket and looked around: “Who is short of medicine or food, report and exchange.
Those who don’t, don’t blame others for being hungry.
No one spoke any more.
Shen Wanqing crouched beside the wounded, unfastening the bandages, cleaning, applying medicine, and re-bandaging.
Her movements were steady, and she said very little.
The group in the basement watched her hands, and their expressions gradually softened.
A middle-aged woman moved to Shen Wanqing’s side and helped her press the bandage, her voice extremely low:
“Miss, where did this water come from?”
Shen Wanqing’s hand paused for a moment, not answering.
She raised her eyes, looking at Lu Chen through half of the room.