Water Outage Turmoil

Alexander, catching his breath while coming down for the second round, heard this and said, "Little sister's strength is enough to knock out a pig. Remember the wild boar from a few days ago? She dragged it to the pond by herself."

Blanche glared at him. "Alice used to be a quiet girl. Now, she's turning herself into a powerhouse. If you can't help, don't stand here grinning."

Alice smiled helplessly. "Your stamina is still too weak. Starting tomorrow, exercise with me."

Blanche weakly agreed.

No one could guarantee that the water trucks would arrive on time, so every drop of water had to be used judiciously.

 Alexander pinched his trembling legs. "Maybe we shouldn't go for water today. The water tank at home is still sufficient."

"We can't calculate it that way, or both water trucks won't be enough.

"That's right, it's not like anyone here doesn't have children. Being selfish is not the way to go."

"... "

The person was scolded into silence, quietly carrying their own bucket of water away. Now, unlike before, every drop of water was like taking someone's life. Arguments erupted easily, even involving family members, and sometimes resulting in physical fights that blocked the stairwell.

"It was your fault for bumping into us. You owe us two buckets of water; otherwise, we won't let it go."

"I didn't do it on purpose. Besides, who asked him to be standing right behind me? If he wasn't blocking the way, I wouldn't have had to step back with no space."

Both sides argued and quarreled, refusing to give in, and chaos ensued.

Alexander happened to stop and rest, leisurely watching the fight. Just as he was about to pull Alice to join the spectacle, he heard Alice coldly say, "If you continue fighting, I'll use the gun."

 They all turned their gaze towards Alice, then, as if collectively startled, retreated, clearing a path.

Alexander: "..."

"Is my little sister this intimidating?" Alexander was astonished. He had been away for a while, and he wondered what had happened.

"Indeed." Arnold had a proud expression.

Next, they began the routine of fetching two buckets of water every other day, supplemented by the water tank. The days passed more or less smoothly.

Every time they went out, they could find a good amount of supplies, and occasionally they encountered people from the same building who were also out for work. 

Initially, Alice didn't know what they were doing until she overheard their family members chatting with others and learned that they were helping to build the safe house.

The safe house not only provided supplies as "wages," but those who participated in the construction could also prioritize their families to move into the safe house.

As a result, the construction of the safe house became a sought-after job, and labor from every household in the community joined in. The Allen family continued their daily lives, and since Alexander's return, the cooking duties shifted to him, while Arnold sipped tea and chatted with Alice.

"My green onions have grown." Blanche looked at the flowerpot inside the house, where fresh and tall green onions had sprouted. The pot of ginger was still in the sprouting stage, and the garlic was ready to be eaten.

"If it weren't so hot, having a rooftop garden with some vegetables would be nice."

Atticus was feeding the fish, which he had specially brought back from the river with aquatic plants. "These fish adapt well. They haven't slimmed down; they've actually gained weight. Tomorrow, let's catch one and make hot and sour fish soup."

There were plenty of seasonings in the house, and the aroma of every stir-fry filled the entire room. Even with doors and windows tightly closed, the fragrance still wafted outside.

Almost every day, someone would shout, "Whose house smells so good? Can you share some with me?" Others followed the scent, only to discover it was coming from the Allen family. They dared only to sniff outside the iron gate and didn't dare to knock on the door. Everyone in the building knew that the Allen family was not to be messed with, and they had guns. Stirring trouble at their doorsteps was a sure way to invite trouble.

Alice listened to the commotion outside the iron gate, but as long as they didn't cause trouble, she couldn't be bothered.

The next morning, Alice woke up on time. Arnold and Alexander were also accustomed to waking up early, each grabbing two meat buns before heading out.

It was Arnold's turn to drive, and Alice and Alexander sat in the back, leisurely starting their breakfast. Soon after leaving the Maple Forest community, Alice noticed someone following them.

Many cars became unusable after being soaked in the rain, and those that could still function often couldn't start due to a lack of gasoline. Alice had previously taken out a gasoline can and placed it in a concealed location, known to both Alexander and Arnold.

On the streets with very few cars, and even fewer following them, Alice easily spotted the vehicle tailing them. Arnold glanced at the rearview mirror, "Here they come again. Should we shake them off?"

"No need, let them follow." Alice wasn't afraid. Finding supplies was everyone's own business, but if they dared to come and rob, they were welcome to try.

These areas had long been visited by others, and Alice was only searching to see if there were any overlooked opportunities. Each time they went out, their harvest was significant. 

For instance, a few days ago, they went to a car factory where eight cars and a truck were left because they ran out of gas

Yesterday, they went to a mall, and on one floor, there were unsold beds piled up. Alice didn't hesitate to take them all.

At 4 a.m., the entire industrial city was brightly lit, with dozens of people loading things onto trucks.

The leader said, "The industrial city is relocating to the safe house. There's nothing to eat here. Leave."

They were busy with their work and didn't have time to pay attention to Alice and the others. After speaking, they continued their work.