Chapter 70

“The day before yesterday, every residential compound sent people out to the Fifth Ring Road to collect supplies. Quite a few vehicles took this route, so a considerable portion of it has already been cleared,” Jiang Cheng said.

But at the time, everyone’s destination had been the supply drop-off point on the Fifth Ring Road. Not a single vehicle had stopped along the way.

The zombies that could be run over had been killed. The others that had chased after the vehicles had eventually stopped when they could no longer keep up.

However, all that chasing had drawn out many of the zombies from the buildings on both sides of the road. So now, the road was filled with aimlessly wandering zombies.

“One group will deal with Lekang Garden, while another clears this road completely.”

This had been Jiang Cheng’s original plan for the route, and adding Lekang Garden to it would not be a problem.

“At the same time, we’ll contact the emergency command center and ask them to provide material support.”

“The real key to the rescue effort is still the army. We don’t have the ability to conjure supplies out of thin air. Right now, supplies have to be brought in from outside.”

The people from Yujing Xiangyuan were surprised. “Will the command center even listen to us if we contact them?”

Jiang Cheng looked up. “How will we know if we don’t try? I can get through to Vice Mayor Zheng’s secretary.”

“Huh?”

Jiang Cheng continued, “Why did the government mobilize the public in the first place? Because the army can’t push forward, or at least not quickly enough. We already know that at least the Fifth Ring Road is open. If we clear a route leading to the ring road, the army won’t need to advance slowly.”

As she spoke, Jiang Cheng placed a fingertip on the map at Nancheng’s Qing District, dragged it toward the Fifth Ring Road, then drew half a circle along the southern and northern sections of the Fifth Ring Road before moving her finger back to where they were now.

Zhou Wang was the first to speak. “I agree.”

The people from Yujing Xiangyuan remained doubtful. “You can really get through to the vice mayor’s secretary?”

Jiang Cheng’s voice was calm. “I can call him right now.”

“Little Jiang, go ahead and make the call,” Zhou Wang said. “Whether it works or not, we’ll do this with you.”

Jiang Cheng was a young woman, while Zhou Wang had already dealt with her before and understood what she was capable of. The people from Yujing Xiangyuan only knew that Youth Apartment was well organized. They still had doubts about this exceedingly young—and exceedingly beautiful—woman.

People, especially men, were often bound by stereotypes. How could a girl who was both so young and so beautiful possibly take charge on her own?

Sometimes, people simply needed to borrow the force of others’ influence.

With everyone watching, Jiang Cheng dialed Secretary Sun’s number.

The moment Secretary Sun answered, he called her by name. “Jiang Cheng?”

The background was filled with noise.

Not every matter had to be brought directly to the top official. Besides, a vice mayor’s secretary was not the sort of secretary who merely booked flights and arranged accommodations. A vice mayor’s secretary was a reserve candidate for the position of vice mayor.

“Hello, Secretary Sun.” Jiang Cheng went straight to the point. “I’m representing Youth Apartment, Jixiang Jiayuan, and Yujing Xiangyuan. I’d like to report our situation to you.”

Secretary Sun’s voice was slightly hoarse, as though he had spoken too much. “Go ahead.”

Jiang Cheng briefly explained the situation, then added, “At present, the area from Huawei Road in the east to Hongguang Road in the west, and from Beidaying Road in the north to Sitong Road in the south, is already a safe zone. At least the streets are.”

Secretary Sun asked, “How long do you estimate it will take to clear the route to the Fifth Ring Road? I require there to be no moving zombies left on the road, at minimum.”

The moment he said this, everyone realized that he truly had the authority to make such arrangements.

Jiang Cheng made a rough estimate and promised, “Before four this afternoon.”

Secretary Sun only took a few seconds to think before making his own promise. “If you can do it, I’ll send one or two supply trucks over.”

That would solve Lekang Garden’s supply problem.

Jiang Cheng was about to agree when Secretary Sun continued, “If you can keep this route open and clear out a suitable site, I can establish a supply line to your area and station a supply depot there.”

The moment Secretary Sun said this, everyone held their breath.

His voice was deep and heavy. “Jiang Cheng, we’re not short on supplies. What we’re short on is people.”

The country’s strategic grain reserves were enough to feed the entire population for two years.

The problem now was that the supplies could not be delivered into the hands of ordinary citizens.

The country had two million active-duty soldiers.

That sounded like a lot. In the past, whether dealing with an earthquake or a flood, it would have been enough to carry out rapid, efficient, large-scale disaster relief. Even if faced with an attack or invasion by another country, it would surely have been sufficient.

But this time, it was not.

Even soldiers with bodies of iron could not withstand the zombie virus. Zombies transformed from soldiers—especially second-generation zombies—were far stronger than ordinary second-generation zombies.

Military bases, where large numbers of people lived together, had become severely affected areas. The losses had been devastating.

Not to mention that this zombie crisis was nationwide. Apart from uninhabited regions, no place had been spared. Even if the million-strong army had suffered no casualties at all, spreading them across this vast land would have been like scattering mercury across the ground—it would disappear in an instant.

A number in the millions was still far too small when compared with the entire country.

In the end, they still had to rely on the people.

Thankfully, the people could be counted on.

And the request Jiang Cheng had made happened to align perfectly with the command center’s current strategy: open supply routes and deliver materials into the hands of ordinary citizens.

After ending the call, Secretary Sun closed his phone.

There was a table in the center of the hall, covered by an enormous map of S City. Vice Mayor Zheng was standing there, along with many staff members who were busy recording and reporting the day’s situation in various districts.

Secretary Sun squeezed through the crowd and placed a finger on a location in the technology development zone outside the northern section of the Fifth Ring Road. “Send them a supply truck tomorrow.”

The staff member immediately recorded it.

Vice Mayor Zheng was listening to a report when his gaze shifted over. “The technology development zone? Youth Apartment? How are they doing?”

“Quite well,” Secretary Sun replied. “Little Jiang called me to request assistance. They’re planning to rescue a nearby residential compound that has fallen. It hasn’t received any supplies so far, and they’re worried there won’t be anything to eat once they get the residents out.”

Vice Mayor Zheng was deeply pleased. “Those young people have compassion.”

As long as the younger generation still had a conscience, the country would have hope, no matter what kind of hardship it faced.

Vice Mayor Zheng did not know that he had praised the wrong people.

It was not that the young people from Youth Apartment had no conscience. But neither Jiang Cheng nor Song Jingshuo—or anyone else—had actually intended to rescue Lekang Garden in the first place. What they wanted was to connect the technology development zone to the Fifth Ring Road, thereby establishing a link to the government.

Young people had grown accustomed to living independently and were far more atomized than middle-aged people. Compared with saving others, they were more concerned with saving themselves.

“Brother Zhou...” On the way back, Song Jingshuo sighed. “I really see him differently now.”

Compared with young people, older people still had more of a sense of human warmth.

Who would have thought that he would still think of Lekang Garden?

After Secretary Sun said that a supply depot could be stationed there, no one objected to the plan anymore.

Youth Apartment, Zhou Wang, and Yujing Xiangyuan had reached a basic agreement. Now they needed to go back and arrange manpower for the next day.

Jixiang West Street was packed with people.

Because the east gate of Youth Apartments and the west gate of Auspicious Garden both opened onto this street, Auspicious Garden had adopted the same policy as Youth Apartments: everyone had to undergo a full-body inspection before entering the complex.

Likewise, with so many people returning at once, it was impossible for just a few people to search them one by one. Instead, they checked one another in pairs. Groups of four, six, eight, or ten entered together.

There were too many people at the east gate, so Jiang Cheng, Song Jingshuo, and Wu Jiancheng went around to the west gate. There was quite a crowd there too, but the area was more open. Auspicious West Street was too narrow, and being squeezed in there was uncomfortable.

“Jiang Cheng!” someone suddenly called.

Jiang Cheng looked over and saw Su Yu, He Tian, and two other girls approaching. Their eyes were all red.

Su Yu asked Jiang Cheng for confirmation. “Peng Ze was injured, wasn’t he?”

“He’s not coming back, is he?”

“What Jiang Jiangbing told us—is it true?”

Li Jiangbing had returned ahead of Jiang Cheng and the others to organize the main group’s return to the complex. He was the one who had told Su Yu about it.

To avoid Nie Kuizhang, He Tian had not stayed with the people from her own building. Instead, she had come with Su Yu.

The other girls were shocked when they heard the news as well.

Everyone knew that it was impossible for no one to be injured, but when the person was someone they knew, someone familiar and deeply fond of, it was still unbearably painful.

Song Jingshuo instinctively looked at Jiang Cheng again. He didn’t know why he was always unable to stop himself from watching her.

Perhaps it was because Jiang Cheng was simply too calm.

Of course, Jiang Cheng could laugh and joke like anyone else. But when things grew worse—when the situation deteriorated and everyone else became more panicked—she only grew calmer.

Only this time, after hearing the news about Peng Ze, her control over her emotions was not as flawless as usual.

Perhaps it was because Peng Ze’s presence had been too strong.

There was nothing particularly outstanding about him. But whenever Jiang Cheng had an important decision to discuss, she would call for Song Jingshuo. Whenever she needed someone to put in physical effort or use force, she would call for Li Jiangbing.

Other than that, the person she called most often was almost always Peng Ze.

It wasn’t even Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi was responsible for tasks that required him to be present every day. Peng Ze, on the other hand, was always with Jiang Cheng. Whenever something happened and his name was called, he would rush over immediately.

Jiang Cheng was silent for a moment before answering briefly, “Yes.”

The girls all burst into tears.

He Tian asked, “He’s really not coming back?”

Jiang Cheng did not answer.

No matter how hard He Tian tried to hold them back, her tears still fell. She wiped her face and turned to run.

The other girls chased after her.

Peng Ze was not the only one who had failed to return.

None of those who had been injured this time came back. They all knew what would happen if they returned, so there was no reason to come back.

The people who had been with them did not stop them from leaving either.

Go somewhere else. Mutate quietly. Be put down quietly by strangers.

That was still better than forcing people who knew them to take action.

They had all grown so familiar with one another. It was simply too difficult.

Jiang Cheng pushed those emotions aside. She still had plenty to do and arrangements to make.

Once everyone had returned to the complex, many people hurried to take showers and eat. The complex’s broadcasting system came to life again, and Jiang Cheng told everyone about Secretary Sun’s promise.

“A supply route?”

“A supply station?”

Everyone became excited. It was as if they had glimpsed the dawn after holding out in the darkness.

This whole nightmare with the zombies would eventually come to an end.

Eventually, everyone would return to a normal life.

Although they had paid a heavy price—for instance, the neighbor next door had not been able to return that day—from the perspective of humanity as a whole, such sacrifices were unavoidable.

“Tomorrow, we’ll split into three teams.”

Jiang Cheng’s voice rang out over the broadcast.

“The route-clearing team.”

“The rescue team.”

“The cleanup team.”

The supply station would need a suitable location. There would be people stationed there, and they could not be exposed in a completely unprotected space. They would have to take precautions against the zombies.

At first, Jiang Cheng’s instinct had been to set it up inside their own complex. If the station were located there, Youth Apartments would certainly enjoy some advantages.

But in reality, Youth Apartments had never lacked supplies. If the supply station were established there, a large number of non-residents would inevitably have to enter and leave the complex.

The disadvantages outweighed the advantages. The disadvantages outweighed the advantages. Forget it.

Jiang Cheng immediately thought of the perfect place—the Buy More Supermarket building.