live in this post-apocalyptic

To live in this post-apocalyptic environment, the residents in the neighborhood had no option but to grow vegetables under ten meters of stubborn snow. While this was going on, the guys shamelessly lazed around at home with their girlfriends, never minding the harsh conditions outside. I had just recently successfully defused a negotiation crisis with the expertise of solving it, but inwardly, I was aware that it was a weak tactic to solely count on Wang Chang and Hang Tian Fang, so-called teammates of mine. Both Lin and Qin Yuling were intelligent in that they must have understood the true motive for me agreeing to the terms of the negotiation. It was merely a threat of my firepower which made them give in. They would most certainly wait until the opportune time to offer resistance once again.

Standing at my side, Uncle Yu was chuckling. "You're making them work in the cold weather planting corn, Johnny? You're monkeying with them?"

I only smiled. "I'm simply wasting their strength. Most are hungry these days, just managing to survive. Even if they tried to put up resistance at a later date, they couldn't muster enough strength to resist."

I then became serious, looking Uncle Yu in the eye. "No third party should hear what we discuss today. We go on as agreed. It's not only outsiders we have to watch out for; even those within these walls may betray us."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Yu nodded gravely. "Don't worry, Johanne. I'll do whatever you tell me to do. My family and I depend on you, after all."

That evening, I went back to my safe house, where Zokir was stretching in the bedroom. Upon seeing me, her face lit up. "Is everything alright? How were the negotiations?"

I swept her up wordlessly and grinned. "Nothing to worry about. A handful of bullets and a grenade, and they surrendered. The rest of the world may be a bit unsafe for a while, so stay indoors. Give it some time, and these pesky people will be out of here for good."

She rested against me, her tone gentle. "You take care too, okay?"

The following morning, many of the homeowners turned up in front of Unit 25, their desperation obvious as they strained the last vestige of strength remaining to them in order to begin cultivating. My two supposed teammates oversaw their work, though their attentions were manifestly elsewhere. When I emerged from the building entrance, Wang Chang and Hang Tian Fang's faces lightened.

"Brother Johanne, are you going out to scrounge for supplies? Take us with you—those of us sitting here are wasting away."

I grinned. "My snowmachine can't fit that many riders. Less bulk for more supplies. Just sit tight for my return."

Eying the sweating crowd, I added, "You people better get your work done right. I'll be inspecting your progress upon my return. If it isn't up to standard, no one gets any grub."

The workers immediately doubled their efforts, brandishing their tools with renewed determination. As I turned to depart, I heard Wang Chang quietly confide in Hang Tian Fang, "We must devise a means of obtaining his vehicle."

My initial destination was not a grocery store but the Tainai City Pet Hospital. I scoured the pharmacy, and in a matter of minutes, I discovered what I was seeking—an entire box of WR-A poison. Tasteless and colorless when diluted, it was generally used to kill suffering animals. Today, it was going to be used for something else. If I did not fear that these people would tear the building down, I would not even go out of my way to feed them. In this world, survival depended on one's skills. I had no use for playing the saint.

After a mock search for living supplies, I came back to the neighborhood, bags of food in hand. The neighbors' eyes widened at the sight of my bounty.

"Johanne, where did you find all those supplies?" one of them asked.

I shrugged. "The snow's piling up, and supplies are running low. I just happened to get lucky this time—it may not happen next time."

I then withdrew my phone and informed the owners from the other units to go pick up their food. They had become wiser than that, surprisingly, each unit producing a single representative, clearly afraid of being slaughtered all at once.

With an overdone smile, I tossed the first bag of food at a representative's feet. "We're all part of the same community—there is no need to be so distant. From today on, let's collaborate in creating a better future."

The crowd responded in heartfelt cheers. "Johanne is right! Together, we can get through this!"

I clapped my hands, shattering their euphoria. "Now that food has been served, go home, eat well, and get ready to work hard tomorrow."

The neighbors departed, optimistic and unaware. I observed their receding forms, a cold smile on my lips. Soon, these agitators would be out of my life forever.

That night, as each representative returned to their buildings, Wang Chang greedily searched through the food haul. His eyes gleamed when he found an unopened pack of cigarettes.

"Johanne truly keeps his word," he muttered.

Behind him, younger gang members grew restless. "Brother Chang, give us one! We're dying for a smoke!"

Wang Chang sighed but gave out cigarettes, knowing that withholding them would jeopardize his livelihood. Then, with renewed relish, he summoned his gang. "Let's eat."

The homeowners, meanwhile, had spent the day laboring, convinced that their sweat would be followed by sustenance. But when dinnertime came, they went hungry. Anger replaced frustration.

"Didn't they promise if we worked, we'd get food? Where's our share?"

The unit leaders just laughed. "You hang around all day and get fed? What world does that exist in?"

The community broke into arguments, and I, snug in my safe house, grinned. This was exactly the mayhem I desired.

The following morning, I went out with Uncle Yu and some trusted men. Even though I had prepared myself for what I would see, the sight still left me gasping. Bodies filled the streets—hundreds of them. The riot had unfolded exactly as I had devised.