Before the great flood arrived, Yang Mei was a well-known wealthy beauty in Meidu Garden, and naturally, everyone was familiar with her.
Yang Mei didn't expect the two to recognize her, and her expression grew awkward as she said, "It's... it's me. Don't stand outside, come on in."
She first looked around the hallway to ensure no one else was there before opening the security door.
The anticipated threat did not appear. Both Ding Yan and Cai Zhi thanked her politely.
Yang Mei breathed a sigh of relief, taking quick steps back into the living room.
Cai Zhi shut the door behind him, while Ding Yan strode into the living room.
Once inside, they saw Liang Yuan fully armed, holding a nail gun directly at them.
Ding Yan's expression changed slightly, and she said, "We mean no harm."
Liang Yuan said, "Put your weapons on the table."
Ding Yan placed a fruit knife on the coffee table and stepped back a few paces, saying, "We genuinely came here to cooperate."
Cai Zhi also placed his kitchen knife down by the wall of the entrance, not wanting to put any pressure on Liang Yuan.
Seeing this, Liang Yuan somewhat believed in their sincerity.
He withdrew the nail gun, turned to Yang Mei and said, "Sister Mei, give them some water."
Yang Mei quickly nodded, "Ah, oh okay, yes."
She rushed to the kitchen to boil some water, and only then did Liang Yuan invite them to sit, "Please, have a seat."
Ding Yan and Cai Zhi then sat opposite on the coffee table, and both parties finally began to look like they were going to talk business.
"What's your name, brother?" Ding Yan asked.
Liang Yuan gave Ding Yan a look; this woman had seemed unusual to him from the start.
When he asked Fan Meiqin where Liu Erlong lived, Fan Meiqin knew nothing, but this woman remembered every room number of Liu Erlong, indicating she was not ordinary.
"My name is Liang Yuan. And you are Ding Yan, right?"
Ding Yan nodded, "I didn't expect you to remember. I'm Ding Yan, originally the owner of an apartment on the fourth floor."
Cai Zhi spoke up, "Old Ma and I know you. We were both owners of apartments below the tenth floor, but our homes got flooded, so we had to move up."
Liang Yuan nodded and asked, "Did you really eat the fish from the flood?"
Cai Zhi smiled bitterly, "If we didn't eat the fish, we would have starved long ago."
Ding Yan added, "Actually, I also saw Liu Erlong's people eating fish. They guard the tenth floor and can catch a lot of fish. Every time Zhou Jiaqiang comes, he brings me and Fan Meiqin two fish each."
A strange light flashed in Liang Yuan's eyes as he asked, "Did you feel anything unusual after eating those fish?"
Cai Zhi and Ding Yan exchanged glances and both shook their heads.
Ding Yan said, "If anything, the fish meat is very filling. One fish can last us half a day."
Cai Zhi added, "The fish seems to be sea fish; it tastes salty."
Ding Yan said, "I've heard Liu Erlong's people say there are monsters underwater outside. People who stay on the water surface at night often go missing."
Liang Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Are those people on the water to catch fish?"
"Not exactly. Most are forced by Liu Erlong to salvage supplies and catch fish with nets."
Liang Yuan focused on the mutant creatures, thinking if ordinary people could catch fish, so could he.
No, maybe he wouldn't even need to act himself; exchanging food for mutant fish with others could quickly earn him points.
He suppressed his excitement as Yang Mei came out with tea, giving each of them a cup.
Cai Zhi curiously asked, "Yang Mei, how come you are at Brother Liang's place?"
Ding Yan also looked at Yang Mei, her eyes thoughtful.
Yang Mei's face turned red and she became flustered, "I... I..."
Seeing this, Liang Yuan put his arm around her waist and said directly, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You know Li Zhiqiang across the way, right? That guy ran out of food, thought Sister Mei was wasting food, and actually wanted to give her to Liu Erlong for food."
"Sister Mei had no choice but to come to me, so now she's staying with me."
Cai Zhi was shocked, "Li Zhiqiang... is really that kind of person?"
Ding Yan wasn't surprised, saying to Yang Mei, "Sister Mei, leaving Li Zhiqiang was the right decision. In these times, only those who dare to fight can protect their women."
Yang Mei looked embarrassed and kept silent.
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Liang Yuan asked, "What's your plan?"
Cai Zhi said, "I plan to find a few more people. We don't need many, but having ten to twenty people means we won't fear Liu Erlong anymore."
"Liu Erlong's core members are only about twenty-odd people; most others are forced and may not be truly loyal to him."
Liang Yuan nodded slightly, thinking the idea wasn't bad.
He thought for a moment and asked, "Can you find enough people?"
Cai Zhi nodded, serious, "A month ago, I wouldn't be sure, but the flood has gotten worse over the past month. People are running out of supplies and many can't survive."
"Moreover, over the past month, Liu Erlong's actions have become increasingly outrageous, especially recently when they started raiding buildings, robbing floor by floor. I believe many people are fed up, just lacking a leader."
Ding Yan said, "This past month, who knows how many single women they've harmed, but they still don't dare touch women with families. However, at this rate, they won't hold back much longer."
"I believe the other residents won't tolerate it if they have any sense."
Liang Yuan looked at the two, somewhat surprised by their determination.
In the urban jungle, even without the flood, people's moral standards weren't high.
Most people only cared about themselves, barely interacting with their neighbors.
Trying to unite people wasn't as simple as it sounded.
Liang Yuan knew he couldn't manage such a thing.
So he said, "Alright, I agree to join you. What do you need me to do?"
Cai Zhi and Ding Yan were delighted, exchanging glances.
Cai Zhi said, "I don't have any personal needs. I just worry about my family."
"Brother Liang, if possible, I hope we can settle my and Old Ma's families so we can work without worries."
Liang Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Brother Cai, what do you mean?"
Cai Zhi quickly explained, "I mean, can we find a way to take some rooms back from Liu Erlong, preferably close together, so we can look out for each other."
Hearing this, Liang Yuan's expression improved.
He initially thought they'd want their families to stay with him.
He definitely wouldn't agree, given their limited trust.
Liang Yuan pondered and asked, "Do you have any rooms in mind?"
"Twenty-eighth floor. I know there's a room of Liu Erlong's there," said Ding Yan immediately.
But Cai Zhi shook his head, "The twenty-eighth floor is a bit far from the thirty-second floor. Ideally, we should be closer, like next door or upstairs and downstairs."
Ding Yan thought and said, "Actually, I have an idea."
"Go on."
"How about 3202 across the way?"
Ding Yan's words stunned Cai Zhi and Liang Yuan.
Instinctively, they all turned to Yang Mei.
Yang Mei's heart pounded, realizing 3202 was her home.