Chapter 25: The Neighbors’ Attitude

Chu Peipei lifted her head, her gaze icy. “Where were you when my husband fell into the water?”

Sun Peng was momentarily speechless. “Miss Chu, as the team leader, it’s true that I was negligent and didn’t look after him properly.”

The neighbors, hearing this, couldn’t help but feel she was being unreasonable.

“You’re really something. Your husband fell from upstairs because he wasn’t careful—what’s that got to do with Old Sun?”

“Exactly. Maybe he just couldn’t take it anymore, went crazy from hunger, and jumped into the flood on purpose to end it all.”

“Captain Sun’s been leading us to find supplies without getting paid. He’s not obliged to take care of your husband, is he?”

Seeing the neighbors all speaking up for him, a flash of smugness appeared in Sun Peng’s eyes, though he said modestly, “Everyone, let’s not be like this. Something like this happens, it’s understandable that the family is emotional. It was my negligence, and I promise I’ll take better care of everyone in the team from now on.”

“Old Sun, you’re too polite.”

“That’s right, Captain Sun, you’ve done more than enough. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have found any food at all.”

Sun Peng was feeling very pleased with himself, but still put on a humble face. “No, no, it’s everyone’s contribution.”

Chu Peipei didn’t want to listen to their mutual flattery any longer. She stepped closer to Sun Peng, her gaze sharp as a knife. “I know it was you. You think killing him means you can sleep easy now?”

Then she suddenly raised her voice to the others. “This man and his mistress murdered his own wife, made her into jerky, and hid it in his house. My husband accidentally discovered it.”

“That’s why my husband was silenced by him.”

“Now you all know the truth. Do what you will with it.”

With that, she gave Sun Peng a long, hard look, ignored the rest, and turned to go upstairs.

For a moment, the crowd was silent—then chaos erupted.

“Oh my god! Captain Sun killed his own wife?”

“And it was discovered by Crew Cut? No wonder he and his wife always stayed at the back of the group, keeping away from Captain Sun.”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Captain Sun’s wife around lately.”

“I always wondered why there was a smell of meat coming from his place…”

“I smelled it too! Thought I was just hallucinating from hunger!”

“Are you saying he really ate—”

Everyone recoiled in shock, backing away a few steps in fear.

Sun Peng’s face turned dark. “Don’t listen to Chu Peipei’s nonsense!”

He struggled to control his expression. “Crew Cut died suddenly, and Xiao Chu is just too grief-stricken—she’s not thinking straight, saying things she doesn’t mean. I can understand that.”

He looked each person in the eye, his voice low and steady. “Everyone’s had a long, hard day. Go home and get some rest.”

Everyone had their own judgment, and none of them really believed Sun Peng’s words. But after all, they’d be seeing each other every day, and there was no way to call the police now. If they offended Sun Peng, what if they ended up like Crew Cut?

Besides, none of them were close to Crew Cut. Seeking justice was the police’s job—they just wanted to survive.

Now Crew Cut’s wife was all alone, just a woman. Compared to Sun Peng, it was obvious who was stronger. It didn’t take long for everyone to decide whose side they were on.

Anyone who still had doubts was quickly pulled aside by their family.

“Captain Sun’s right. We all know what kind of person you are—how could you kill someone, ha ha.”

“Exactly, Xiao Chu is just too upset.”

“Let’s all go home and rest. We have to look for supplies again tomorrow.”

With a few half-hearted words, everyone hurriedly turned and went home.

Bai Wenbin and his sister were the last to leave, whispering to each other.

“Sun Peng is really ruthless.”

“Cousin, the world’s gone mad. Only by following ruthless people can we eat,” Qian Ying’er said, unconcerned.

“To be honest, I’m curious—what does that special jerky taste like?”

Once everyone had left, An Nan strolled in through the window, carrying her inflatable boat upstairs.

She couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony.

How ridiculous—someone who would be condemned by all in peacetime for killing his wife and eating human flesh had become the one everyone followed in the apocalypse.

Human nature’s admiration for the strong had taken on a new flavor in these end times.

People no longer sought wealth or power, but bowed to blood and violence.

The transformation had only just begun.

Back home, Chu Peipei’s eyes filled with tears, and she couldn’t help but break down sobbing.

She and her husband had originally avoided joining the group to stay away from Sun Peng.

But after being robbed several times and coming back empty-handed, they’d had no choice but to join the neighbors’ team to avoid starving. Even then, they’d been careful to stay away from that pervert Sun Peng.

But in the end, a single slip, and he’d still gotten them…

Now she was all alone, and pregnant, too. The road ahead would only be harder.

Tears streamed down Chu Peipei’s face as she clenched her fists.

Meanwhile, as soon as Sun Peng walked in the door, his lover Wang Xiaoyu came up to him.

“Brother Sun, how’d it go today?”

“Not bad. Found three packs of instant noodles and two bags of millet,” Sun Peng said smugly. “Most importantly, I took care of Crew Cut across the hall.”

“Really?!” Wang Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up.

Sun Peng pulled her into his arms. “Of course. When your man does something, nothing goes wrong.”

“We found an office building. When we split up the tasks, I sent him and Old Wang to search the top floor. Once everyone was in place, I slipped upstairs, and when he wasn’t looking, pushed him out the window.”

“Old Wang’s a coward, and he’s a chain smoker—he’s been going crazy without cigarettes these days. I gave him a pack and threatened him a bit, and he kept his mouth shut.”

Wang Xiaoyu kissed him on the cheek, delighted. “You’re amazing. Now we can finally relax!”

“But there’s still a problem,” Sun Peng’s face turned sinister. “Crew Cut’s wife is a real pain. I sent her away at the time to avoid complications, but in hindsight, I should’ve dealt with her too.”

“She knows it was you?”

“She can guess. She just told all the neighbors about it!”

“What?!” Wang Xiaoyu looked nervous. “Did they believe her?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Sun Peng said smugly. “What can they do, believe it or not? That bunch of cowards is still on my side.”

“With the world in chaos, it’s even better if they’re a little afraid of me. But that damn Chu Peipei—I’ll have to deal with her sooner or later.”

“Oh, Brother Sun, she’s just a little widow. Getting rid of her is as easy as snapping your fingers.”

“You’re right, baby.” Sun Peng’s expression turned lecherous. “Come on, let’s go inside and let me reward you.”

Wang Xiaoyu threw him a flirtatious look. “You’re so bad~”

…

Behind closed doors, every household in the building was discussing what had happened today.

But regardless of the truth, it didn’t really matter to anyone anymore.

What mattered most was survival.

There were fewer and fewer supplies to be found outside, and what little they managed to bring back each day wasn’t nearly enough to go around. Many people came back today with nothing but a few bags of snacks—not nearly enough to feed a family.

Thinking of the days ahead, every household was shrouded in gloom.

14th Floor.

An Nan shut her doors and windows tight, set up her copper hotpot, and mixed up sesame sauce and chili oil.

She’d been camping out in the mountains for days, so tonight she planned to have a hotpot with lamb to warm herself up.

The water quickly came to a boil. As she cooked the lamb, she called out to Fugui.

“An Fugui, come eat!”

Usually, the dog would come running at the first whiff of food. But today, he just lay listlessly in his bed, not moving.

An Nan noticed he seemed unwell and hurried over to check. When she picked him up, she saw bloodstains in his bed.

Her heart clenched. Fugui was hurt?!"