Chapter 45: A Pot of Millet Porridge

Early the next morning, Director Liu knocked on the door of Lin Qingqing and her companions.

"You must have something to say?" Lin Qingqing said, leaning against the door frame and narrowing her eyes, with no intention of letting them in.

Looking at the bustling crowd gathered at the door, it was still yesterday's group, not a single person missing. Led by Director Liu and Granny Liu, everyone stared at her with glowing eyes, looking like hungry wolves eyeing a piece of meat.

Behind her, Lei Min and Wen Ling were also curiously whispering to each other. After a night of chatting, the two had quickly grown close.

Seeing that there was no intention of letting them in, a flash of displeasure crossed Granny Liu's eyes, and her initial warm attitude instantly cooled down considerably.

However, she endured it all, switched to a gentle tone, and said, "Oh my, you're already up! It's so good and diligent for young girls to wake up this early!"

Granny Liu laughed warmly, compliments rolling off her tongue: "Haven't had breakfast yet, right? Granny just boiled some millet porridge, which is the best thing to drink in the morning. Come on in and eat."

"That's right, that's right, Granny Liu's porridge is the most delicious, you must drink more," Director Liu added from the side.

Why, did inviting them to breakfast require bringing such a large crowd? Lin Qingqing smiled playfully.

"Then thank you all in advance, we'll just tidy up and come over," she said, then turned and closed the door.

Back inside the room, Lin Qingqing asked Lei Min and Wen Ling, "Granny Liu invited us for breakfast. Should we go?"

"This must be a feast at Hong Gate!" Lei Min curled her lips.

"Definitely. I just wonder what they are planning to get from us," Lin Qingqing said casually, crossing her arms.

"So it looks like we can't avoid going? By the way, are they still outside?" Lei Min turned to ask Wen Ling.

"Yes, not a single one is missing!" Wen Ling replied.

"Are they afraid we'll run away?" Lei Min let out a disdainful snort; she truly despised this group of people.

"No matter what, we can't escape this trip. If we decline this time, there will be a next time. We have to find out what they really want."

Lin Qingqing had already seen through them; this was a group of people who would not stop until they achieved their goal, and each one of them was selfish and calculating. With such a massive show of force today, they were definitely plotting something concerning her and Lei Min.

"Since we can't hide from it, let's go together. I want to see what kind of game they are playing," Lei Min was not one to back down.

Wen Ling looked at them with worry: "What if they don't let us leave?"

"Don't worry, we'll find a way," Lei Min comforted her.

"Then let's get ready and go, Wen Ling can come along too," Lin Qingqing returned to her room to wash up and tidy herself.

A few minutes later, the door opened again. Sure enough, the people from earlier were still waiting outside, every single one of them.

Faced with their anxious expressions, the three of them pretended not to notice, greeted them with smiles, and followed them to Granny Liu's place.

Granny Liu lived in another unit. This unit consisted of large apartments of over a hundred square meters, and as everyone stepped inside, their eyes lit up.

Facing them was a hollow carved wooden screen featuring blooming wealth and flowers, and the furniture inside was entirely made of solid wood, with antique decorations full of traditional charm.

However, the taste of the room did not match Granny Liu herself. One could tell the apartment was not her original home simply by looking at the mismatched red and green cushions on the sofa.

Granny Liu didn't live alone in such a large place; she also had a husband, a submissive, thin old man. Seeing so many people enter, he didn't greet them, but instead deftly served a pot of millet porridge, a plate of mixed-flour steamed buns, and three dishes of small pickles, before retreating back into the kitchen.

Granny Liu cast a disdainful glance at her husband, seated herself at the head of the table, and familiarly greeted everyone: "Don't be polite, everyone, just eat whatever..."

Before she could even finish her sentence, the crowd impatiently stepped forward, grabbing bowls and scooping up the food.

Ever since the apocalypse arrived, such piping-hot rice porridge was a luxury—one meal less for every one they ate. Living on biscuits and instant noodles every day had tortured these old folks miserably.

Watching the porridge in the pot dwindle until it hit the bottom, while her own bowl was still empty, Granny Liu's face instantly turned as dark as the bottom of the porridge pot.

*These old bastards! I thought they were being so enthusiastic to help me build momentum, but they're all just here for a free meal!* Granny Liu clenched her chopsticks in anger, wishing she could smash the bowl in her hand over their heads.

At that moment, someone noticed she was sitting motionless and kindly advised her, "Huifen, why aren't you eating? This porridge won't taste good once it gets cold." With that, the person continued to slurp porridge and eat vegetables without even raising their head.

Seeing this, she was so angry she was full already; eat my foot! But these people were all called by her—unlike her husband, she couldn't yell at them or curse them, so she could only glare fiercely to express her dissatisfaction.

The others were eating too heartily; a moment's hesitation meant less food, so no one had the time to care about her mood.

Watching the group eating with relish, Lin Qingqing also picked up a bowl, ladled some hot porridge, and handed it to Wen Ling. She and Lei Min, however, didn't touch the food; they simply crossed their arms and watched coldly as the group engaged in infighting.

After a flurry of clinking bowls and dishes, the food on the table was swept completely clean. Only then did the crowd successively put down their bowls and chopsticks, rubbing their bellies with a sense of lingering satisfaction.

Sensing the time was right, Lin Qingqing took the lead and asked, "You didn't just invite us here for breakfast, did you? Spit it out, what else do you want?"

Seeing that Lin Qingqing and the other two's bowls were as clean as new, the crowd finally came to their senses. Remembering their own behavior moments before, they suddenly found it hard to speak up.

Granny Liu let out a cold snort, slammed her bowl heavily onto the table, and then stared silently at Director Liu without speaking.

For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkwardly strange. Everyone kept their heads down, except for Wen Ling, who sat holding her bowl and slurping her porridge, oblivious to the world.

Seeing that he could no longer keep up the pretense, Director Liu had to give a light cough to state his purpose.

"Ahem~ Actually, it's like this. Seeing two young girls wandering outside without a fixed place to live isn't easy, we discussed it with everyone, and after getting everyone's consent, we decided to let you stay here. It can be considered a home for you."

"In the future, we can look out for each other. As for us old folks, we can help manage the logistics for you, doing chores like cooking and sewing. Although times are a bit tough right now, as long as we work together with one heart, I believe life will only get better and better in the future!"

*Clap, clap, clap, clap~*

As soon as Director Liu finished his speech, someone in the crowd subconsciously started applauding.

The awkward applause broke the quiet atmosphere, and Director Liu habitually pressed his hands downward in a calming gesture, then looked at Lin Qingqing and the others with fatherly affection, as if saying: *It's your turn to make a statement, comrade!*

This high-sounding speech almost made Lin Qingqing burst out laughing. They managed to claim every righteous reason for themselves; if her side disagreed, would they be considered ungrateful?

Looking at this group of people, all of whom were around half a century old, a sudden thought occurred to her.

"Dazhuang and Chuanzi, who died earlier, were probably subjected to your moral kidnapping just like this, right? Looks like we're going to be the next Dazhuang and Chuanzi?"

By deliberately bringing up these two people whom everyone most wanted to forget, it felt like a blatant slap to the faces of Director Liu and the others, instantly choking them so badly that none of them could say a word.

This incident was a moral stain on their faces that they could never wash away.

"As for that matter, after our group discussion, we all agreed it was just an accident. I guarantee this kind of thing will never happen a second time, you can rest assured!" Director Liu quickly chimed in, attempting to gloss over the matter.

However, Lin Qingqing wasn't buying it: "I wouldn't dare trust those words. You want us to stay, but what's in it for us?"