Chapter 23: Meng Ci, Why Are You Here?

Chapter 23: Meng Ci, Why Are You Here?

"Why aren't you giving me food? Do you think you're so great just because you have guns?"

"Let me remind you again, you already collected your food at seven thirty-five and forty-one seconds."

"Everyone can only collect once. Please leave."

"Do you think I collected it just because you say so? You're clearly bullying an old woman who has no one to rely on, deliberately not giving me food."

Meng Ci and Shen Que had just reached the second-floor stairwell when they heard the commotion near the food distribution area.

Although they had arrived late, many people who had collected their food were still hanging around, not leaving.

The two joined the queue at the end, waiting in line while watching the drama unfold.

"Your information is already registered with us," the soldier responsible for distributing food explained patiently.

"The records show that you collected food at seven thirty-five and forty-one seconds."

"I said I didn't collect it, so I didn't. Someone must have used my ID to claim it."

The soldier pulled up the tablet showing the record of the woman collecting her food, which included a photo of the clothes she was wearing today, her ID picture, and a clear image of her face.

Despite the irrefutable evidence, the old woman refused to back down.

"This must be fake; it can't be me!"

The residents standing behind her in the queue did not urge her to move either, hoping that if she succeeded in getting more food, they might also benefit.

Seeing that reasoning wasn't working, the soldier stopped wasting words. If she wanted to drag this out, he would let her.

"Since you claim someone else claimed your food, go find them."

"If you can't find them, leave quickly."

"We won't be responsible for delaying others from collecting their food."

No one moved to force her away. The three soldiers on the lift remained silent, and the soldier handing out food paused his actions.

"Residents who haven't collected their food, please pay attention. Residents who haven't collected their food, please pay attention."

"Food distribution will end in thirty minutes. Food distribution will end in thirty minutes."

"After that time, those who haven't collected their food should come back tomorrow."

A drone flew in from a distance, relaying the message.

Upon hearing this, the residents became agitated, blaming the old woman for wasting everyone's time.

Even the woman behind her rudely pushed her aside and presented her own ID to the soldier.

The old woman was shoved aside, but no one paid any attention to her protests.

When it was Meng Ci's turn to collect food, the soldier took his ID, registered his number, and took a photo of him before handing over the food.

The food consisted of two handfuls of rice that looked waterlogged, two potatoes, a quarter of a cabbage, and two green peppers.

Meng Ci stared at the food in his hand, wondering why it differed so much from what was described in the book.

After Shen Que collected his food, the two headed upstairs.

"It's you!"

"Meng Ci, why are you here!"

Just as they reached the second-floor stairwell, four people came down from above.

"Why can't I be here?" Meng Ci rolled his eyes upon seeing them.

The group was none other than Li Shanyang and his companions.

Zhang Lu noticed the food in Meng Ci's hand and thought that since he hadn't died, they could take control of the Meng family's assets after the storm ended.

No, they needed to find a way to make him die accidentally.

"Xiao Ci, you're here too. Why didn't you come find us?"

"Living together, we could help each other."

"Help each other?"

Meng Ci glanced at Liu Jie, who was being supported by Li Xiaoya, and sneered, "Help each other like that?"

Zhang Lu gave an awkward smile, "Xiaojie is sick."

Li Shanyang stepped forward and raised his hand to slap Meng Ci.

Meng Ci could have dodged, but Shen Que blocked Li Shanyang's hand.

"Let go!" Li Shanyang demanded.

"What business is it of yours to interfere with how I handle my son?"

Shen Que's face remained cold as he pushed Li Shanyang back.

Li Shanyang, weakened from days without food, stumbled backward and almost knocked into someone.

The person, clearly irritated, avoided him and kicked him before walking away, muttering curses.

Zhang Lu hurried over to help Li Shanyang up, accusing Meng Ci.

"Xiao Ci, what are you doing?"

"He's your father. How could you let someone hit him?"

Li Xiaoya supported Liu Jie as they walked down the stairs and also began to criticize Meng Ci.

"Brother, Father's health is already poor. How could you treat him like this?"

Meng Ci stood there, his face expressionless as he listened to their accusations.

"Are you done?" Meng Ci raised an eyebrow.

"Once you're done, I'll leave." With that, Meng Ci started walking upstairs.

Li Shanyang couldn't let it go and tried to confront Meng Ci again after getting up.

Shen Que immediately stepped in front of Li Shanyang.

"I'll say it again. I discipline my son; it's none of your business." Li Shanyang didn't dare to make a move against Shen Que this time and could only be verbally defiant.

"Parents who hit their children at every turn?"

Shen Que looked Li Shanyang up and down with disdain. "I see why he doesn't recognize you."

Thinking about the half-sister Meng Ci mentioned earlier and seeing that Li Xiaoya is around the same age as Meng Ci, one could tell what a despicable person Li Shanyang was.

Cheating on his wife and still being so arrogant now—he deserved a beating.

"You..."

The argument continued, but there was trouble with the food distribution elsewhere.

"I haven't gotten my food yet! Where are you going!"

"Come back! Come back quickly!"

"Wah wah wah, my food!"

As the thirty minutes ended with a whistle, the soldiers stopped distributing food and began packing up to leave.

There were still a dozen people who hadn't received their food, and they rushed to the windows, shouting for the soldiers to return.

But it was futile. As the engines roared, all the boats left in an orderly manner.

Some residents, confident in their swimming skills, jumped into the water and swam frantically towards the direction the soldiers were leaving.

However, human speed couldn't match the boats', and one person eventually drowned from exhaustion.

Hearing the commotion, Li Shanyang and the others stopped bothering Meng Ci and ran to the window, only to see the boats leaving in the distance.

They cursed and blamed each other.

"I told you to come early, to come early! You couldn't wake up, it's all your fault!" Zhang Lu broke down, pounding her fists on Li Shanyang.

After finally having a chance at food, missing it made them furious.

Even though Li Shanyang was hungry, he was stronger than Zhang Lu.

And being a chauvinist, he couldn't let Zhang Lu hit him, so he hit back.

In the scuffle, Li Shanyang pushed her against the wall, causing Zhang Lu's head to hit it.

"It's my fault? If I didn't get up, couldn't you have come yourself? What good are you if you can't even get food?"

"And you."

Li Shanyang didn't think he had done anything wrong and turned his blame on Li Xiaoya.

"I told you not to bring him, not to bring him. He's just a burden. Why did you bring him along?"

"How much time we wasted on the way."

"Women are such a hassle!"