The municipal party committee was in session.
The zombie disaster was, of course, a national calamity—a sorrow that many could not bear to recall.
But for those who had displayed courage, calmness, decisiveness, and fortitude during the crisis, it was also a turning point in their fates.
Secretary Sun had never expected to become deputy mayor at this age—it was years ahead of the career trajectory he had planned for himself.
Today’s meeting had covered several agenda items. The current topic was whether to follow past practice and commend the outstanding citizens who had distinguished themselves.
In the past, after a disaster had passed, there was always this step.
Commendations, news coverage, big red flowers, certificates, bonuses, and so on.
Good role models helped foster a healthy social atmosphere. It was all part of building a spiritually civilized society.
But this time was uniquely complex and delicate.
Because in past earthquakes, floods, and fires, those who shone usually did so through “rescuing.”
Only this time was different. They had privately communicated with some of the civilian organizers and leaders, and many had said, “No thanks, no need.”
Everyone’s attitude was somewhat evasive.
Because this time, it wasn’t just about “rescuing”—it was also about “killing.”
Along with it came looting and coercive violence.
Sometimes, violence had to be met with violence.
Those whom everyone regarded as heroes and leaders might very well have living human blood on their hands.
If one couldn’t verify that a person was “pure white,” and something later came to light after the government had held them up as a model, it would be very troublesome.
It might even have a negative impact on society.
So the discussion was quite heated.
The relatively young Deputy Mayor Sun was frowning at his phone.
Just then, a tea break was called. The meeting paused, and everyone got up to use the restroom or make phone calls.
Mayor Zheng called out to him.
Deputy Mayor Sun looked up.
Mayor Zheng asked, “What’s wrong? You’ve been frowning nonstop.”
Deputy Mayor Sun leaned over and handed his phone to Mayor Zheng: “Do you remember Jiang Cheng from Youth Apartments in the Tech New District? She just sent out a mass text.”
Mayor Zheng put on his reading glasses, took the phone, and held it at arm’s length to read.
After reading the text clearly, Mayor Zheng also frowned.
“Nonsense,” he said. “We haven’t received any such news. Where would she get it?”
Hearing this, Deputy Mayor Sun felt relieved.
They were the government. They represented the state.
If such a situation existed, the state would discover and notify them first. It was impossible for the central government not to know while an ordinary citizen knew first.
“So it’s still not viable. See, we’ve always thought highly of this girl. But look—suddenly she’s unreliable.” Mayor Zheng sighed.
Whenever the topic of “outstanding citizens” came up, both he and Deputy Mayor Sun immediately thought of that girl from the Tech New District.
Deputy Mayor Sun, having dealt directly with Jiang Cheng, defended her: “We can’t really blame her. She’s still so young, just a girl. Even many middle-aged people are having mental health issues—let alone a young woman like her.”
In the month since the outbreak, psychological consultations at major hospitals had surged.
The number of newly admitted psychiatric patients at mental hospitals had also skyrocketed.
Too many people were suffering from psychological problems.
These psychological issues often had a delayed onset.
They might not show up at the time.
At the time, you might think a person was calm and rational, but in reality, they might already have been losing their mind.
Deputy Mayor Sun sighed and agreed with Mayor Zheng’s view: “Let’s skip the commendation step this time.”
The agenda item was settled.
To be safe, they would not single out any role models this time. They would only offer general commendations without naming any specific individuals.
Everyone had used the restroom and had their tea, and they returned to their seats one by one.
The meeting continued.
The government building was tall and symmetrical.
The floor heights were generous, the corridors wide, and every office spacious and airy, not cramped at all.
Except for a few leaders’ private offices, nearly all the office doors were open, with connected spaces.
People came and went.
Jiang Cheng stood on Jixiang West Street, sent out her mass text, and immediately dragged her suitcase toward the neighborhood’s east gate.
The security guard at the east gate saw her and greeted her: “Welcome back, Miss Jiang.”
Without warning, Jiang Cheng pointed a finger at him, first at him, then at the guard booth: “The zombie virus is coming. Stay inside the booth later, don’t come out, and lock the door from the inside!”
The guard froze.
Jiang Cheng barked, “Understood?”
Her eyes locked onto his, putting immense psychological pressure on him. He quickly nodded: “Understood.”
Jiang Cheng strode toward Building 2 without looking back.
The guard stared at her retreating figure for a moment, looked around, then hurried into the booth and locked the door from the inside.
The booth wasn’t big, but the door locked and the windows had metal bars.
Inside there was a U-shaped fork, steel pipes, and a full set of armor.
Also a box of instant noodles and ham sausages—after the outbreak, everyone had developed a hoarding habit. Even the stingy property manager had stocked the property office and guard booths with instant noodles and sausages.
“Although it’s impossible for zombies to come back,” he said. “But what if there’s an earthquake or something? Better to be prepared.”
So although the guard booth was small, it had everything you needed, and it was indeed a good place to take shelter.
The guard locked the door, sat down, and surveyed the supplies in the booth, feeling a sense of security.
It was still two hours before most people got off work, so there were very few people in the neighborhood.
Jiang Cheng hurried along, the wheels of her suitcase rattling, when Master Luo approached from the other direction.
“Miss Jiang!” Master Luo was also walking fast, heading straight for her. “That text of yours…”
Jiang Cheng didn’t slow down: “Get back inside right away. If there are two people, one stays in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. Lock the doors.”
Master Luo kept pace with her: “Is it true?”
Jiang Cheng didn’t slow down, the suitcase wheels scraping against the ground: “I’ve notified everyone I can. Whether you believe it or not is your choice.”
She was back. She was back.
Master Luo felt that the “Miss Jiang” from during the disaster had returned.
By the tail end of the zombie crisis, the temporary committee had basically had nothing left to do and existed in name only.
Back then, Miss Jiang had seemed to revert to being just an ordinary girl again.
But now, that decisive, iron-fisted Miss Jiang from the temporary committee was back.
Master Luo stopped and changed direction: “I’ll go to the property office and tell them!”
The property office was in the basement of Building 1. He ran toward it.
But the property manager didn’t believe a word of Jiang Cheng’s claim.
The property manager glared: “Bullshit! You’re listening to her? Who does she think she is? The prime minister? How would she know something like that? Why isn’t it on TV? If there really was such a situation, wouldn’t the state notify us in advance so we could take cover? Do you believe her or the state?”
Master Luo wasn’t an assertive person by nature, but this time he was unusually firm: “I believe both.”
The manager was furious: “You!”
Master Luo knew that someone who hadn’t gone through life-and-death with Miss Jiang couldn’t understand the trust a comrade placed in her.
There was no point explaining to the manager.
He directly used the walkie-talkie to call his colleagues: “Miss Jiang has notified us that the zombie virus is coming again today. Everyone find a room to hide in. If two people are in one room, one stays in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. Or find another empty room if you can.”
“Hey, hey, hey!” The manager protested. “Are you the manager or am I?”
Master Luo said, “I’m heading back. You find a place to hide too. Xinyan, go back now!”
Yang Xinyan had been shrinking her neck, listening to Master Luo and the manager argue. When she heard him call her name, she perked up: “Okay!”
She trotted after Master Luo as they went upstairs, pretending not to see the manager’s sour face.
The accountant shuffled over hesitantly: “Manager, they’ve all left. So should I…”
The manager was furious: “Go, go, all of you go!”
The accountant happily grabbed her bag: “Bye, Manager.”
As for the zombies making a comeback—the accountant didn’t believe it. The state had said they were all wiped out.
But getting off work early was fine.
The property management was having trouble hiring, and they were still shorthanded. Fortunately, Guo Jun and a few others from Duomai were doing part-time evening shifts, so they could still manage.
Once those people left, the property center would be empty.
The manager stood there with his hands on his hips, fuming.
After a moment’s thought, he called his wife: “I’m not coming home today. Something came up. I’ll stay at the dorm. Don’t worry about me.”
He wasn’t going back. He was going to see how this “Miss Jiang” would clean up her mess when the zombie virus didn’t show up.
When Jiang Cheng reached the bottom of her building, she felt the telepathic connection.
She raised her right hand, and a pitch-black kitten leaped down from a branch onto her arm, then scrambled over her arm and shoulder to settle on her left shoulder.
And then it started:
“Meow—”
“Meow—”
“Meow————”
“Stop cursing, stop cursing.” Jiang Cheng’s head was already hurting. “I’m back, aren’t I?”
Even without telepathy, it was obvious the kitten was using some very foul language.
Indeed, she’d been gone a whole month. It was a long time—no wonder the kitten was cursing.
But during that time, Li Jiangbing had periodically reported on the kitten’s activities.
Saw your cat at the pavilion today.
Saw your cat at the fountain tomorrow.
Your cat got into a fight with He Tian’s dog.
Gao Yuxuan teased your cat and got his butt scratched.
And so on.
“Home,” Jiang Cheng said to the kitten. “The zombies are coming again.”
The telepathic message transmitted, and the kitten’s cursing stopped abruptly.
Its tiny mouth tightened, and its dark green eyes turned serious.
The person who arrived at the neighborhood right after Jiang Cheng was Li Jiangbing. He got there in ten minutes on his bike.
The security guard opened the window, peering through the metal bars to greet him: “Miss Jiang just got back. She said the zombies are coming again!”
“I know.” Li Jiangbing craned his neck to look. “You’re staying in there, right? Got food and water?”
“Yeah, I’ve got everything, there’s a water cooler here too.”
“Good. Just stay in there and keep the door locked.”
He was already biking away as he spoke.
The guard gripped the bars, pressing his nose and mouth against them, and yelled: “Are zombies really coming?”
Li Jiangbing shouted back from a distance: “I don’t know—I’m just following Jiang Cheng!”
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