Lu Qingqing didn't immediately start packing her things. Instead, she slipped over the backyard wall to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some dry rations before hurrying home.
Once home, she began packing. Quilts were definitely necessary, but they had all been slashed by the Red Committee members, the cotton inside torn to shreds.
She searched several rooms but couldn't find a single intact quilt. With no other choice, Lu Qingqing picked up needle and thread to mend them.
In her previous life, she had never done needlework; it was during the Apocalypse that she learned how to patch things up.
Lu Qingqing didn't dare sew too neatly—just stitching them together crookedly enough to keep the cotton from leaking out would do.
Winter jackets and trousers also needed mending. Lu Qingqing was so busy that she worked until dusk.
Her stomach growled, and only then did Lu Qingqing stop what she was doing. She went to the kitchen and cooked a pot of porridge for herself.
Her appetite wasn't big now; she was full after one bowl. The rest she stored in her Spatial Dimension, where she could take it out and eat whenever she wanted.
Her Infinite Space was not only vast but also preserved freshness—whatever went in would come out exactly as it was.
This was something Lu Qingqing had tested with hot water.
After eating and drinking her fill, Lu Qingqing packed clothes, quilts, and other items into two large bundles and waited for Wei Guangming to arrive.
A little after seven in the evening, Wei Guangming arrived furtively. Taking the bundles from Lu Qingqing's hands, the two cautiously made their way to the back door of the Red Committee.
Wei Guangming whispered, "I called in quite a few favors to get you five minutes of meeting time. Remember to focus on the important points."
Lu Qingqing nodded heavily to show she understood.
Wei Guangming gave a few more reminders before knocking on the back door of the Red Committee. The one who opened it was Huang Ergou.
This man had a sharp, weasel-like face, his eyes darting around rapidly—he didn't look like a good person at all.
Upon seeing Wei Guangming, the two exchanged a subtle glance. Huang Ergou put on a show of disdain, grumbling a few complaints before leading Lu Qingqing into the Red Committee.
Along the way, Huang Ergou threatened her in a harsh voice, "Speak quickly if you have something to say, and don't waste my time, or I'll make you regret it."
As he spoke, his lecherous gaze swept over Lu Qingqing, disgusting her so much she wanted to smash his head in.
Suppressing her rising anger, Lu Qingqing forced out a breathy sound and kept her head down as she followed behind.
The entire Lu Family was locked in one large room, and their situation was dire. Except for the three young children, everyone had been tortured.
Before Lu Qingqing even approached the room, she could hear the cries of her nephews and nieces, along with the comforting voices of the adults.
Huang Ergou suddenly stopped and said coldly, "Open the bundles. I need to inspect them."
Once again, Lu Qingqing suppressed her anger, gritting her teeth as she opened the bundles.
Watching Huang Ergou tear apart the clothes and quilts and take most of the dry rations, Lu Qingqing nearly ground her teeth to dust.
That dog of a man—he really was a dog!
Under Huang Ergou's hostile gaze, Lu Qingqing entered the room where the Lu Family was being held.
Men, women, old, and young were all crammed together. In the dim light, the first thing Lu Qingqing noticed were the injuries on their faces.
Even her five-year-old niece had scratches on her face.
A bunch of heartless beasts—they all deserved to die!
"Qingqing, why are you here?"
Mother Lu's voice interrupted Lu Qingqing's mounting rage, reminding her that her family was the most important thing now.
Confronting those beasts head-on would do the Lu Family no good.
"Qingqing, you… you haven't been captured by them too, have you?"
Grandfather Lu hurried forward to check on Lu Qingqing's condition, but neglected his own injuries and fell heavily to the ground.
The Lu family instantly split into two groups: some were concerned about Lu Qingqing's condition, others helped the old man up, and the three little ones cried even louder.
Lu Qingqing quickly explained that she was fine and had come to visit them and deliver supplies.
Lu Qingqing gave everyone a meaningful look, signaling that someone was watching outside. Only then did she push the bundle in her hands to Mother Lu before rushing to her grandfather's side.
"Grandfather, you—" Lu Qingqing's nose stung, and tears streamed down her face in large drops.
"Grandfather is fine. How did you get here? Who let you come?" Grandfather Lu grasped Lu Qingqing's hands, his eyes scanning her up and down.
Only after confirming that Lu Qingqing was unharmed did he let out a sigh of relief.
"Grandfather." Lu Qingqing burst into loud sobs, the longing of two lifetimes turning into streams of hot tears.
Her crying moved the entire Lu family, their eyes growing warm as tears silently fell. They all stepped forward to comfort her.
After crying for a while, Lu Qingqing gradually calmed down, but she didn't stop her sobs. She raised her head and made a gesture for silence before taking Grandfather Lu's hand and quickly writing on his palm.
After writing one sentence, she stared intently into her grandfather's eyes. Seeing him nod slightly, she continued writing.
Their interaction didn't escape the notice of the others. The rest of the Lu family immediately played along—some crying, others consoling—making the room a chaotic and noisy scene.
Huang Ergou and Wei Guangming, eavesdropping outside the door, frowned deeply. With all this crying, was there even a chance for communication?
If Lu Qingqing didn't manage to ask about the hidden treasure, wouldn't their efforts tonight be in vain?
Huang Ergou glanced at Wei Guangming, thinking that this young, inexperienced fellow was unreliable. What kind of plan was this anyway?
Inside the room, Lu Qingqing briefly and clearly conveyed the current situation of the Lu family while also pointing out the relationship between Zhang Shan and Wei Guangming's family.
She warned her grandfather not to be deceived by the Wei family under any circumstances. They must protect themselves here, and she would handle matters outside.
Lu Qingqing promised to find a way to rescue them. Even if she couldn't, she would try to secure a better environment for their relocation.
Above all, they must not give up. The future was long, and as long as they held onto hope, the day would come when their family's name would be cleared.
Grandfather Lu understood how perilous the situation was. It seemed some people had set their sights on the Lu family's wealth.
Sigh. Even though he had donated most of his assets, it still couldn't quell the greed of those people.
Not to mention others—even Grandfather Lu himself found it hard to believe that he had donated everything he owned, let alone outsiders.
The crying inside the room left Huang Ergou deeply dissatisfied. They had been crying for nearly ten minutes—wasn't that a bit excessive?
At this rate, even if they gave Lu Qingqing another hour, she still wouldn't be able to ask about the hidden treasure.
Women—always long on hair and short on sense. They couldn't even tell what was important, just crying and crying.
Huang Ergou knocked heavily on the door and shouted, "Lu Qingqing, hurry up! Time's almost up."
Lu Qingqing rolled her eyes dramatically. Almost ten minutes had passed—was that "almost up"? That was already overtime.
Lu Qingqing sniffled, stopped crying, and took out the things she had brought. She urged her family to remember to eat and not to skimp.
She would find another opportunity to bring more food later.
He also quietly slipped oral medicine for injuries to Grandfather Lu, fearing that family members might suffer internal injuries or that wounds could lead to inflammation.
"Qingqing, the severance document is buried under the roots of the big tree behind the house. Remember to dig it out.
With the severance document, you won't be implicated by us. Remember to retrieve it, understand?"