Chapter 7: If You Want It, Just Buy It with Money
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In the group chat, user 517 was quite agitated. He tagged several times, but the property management never responded, and judging by his demeanor, it seemed he hadn’t even gone out to look for them. Outside, it was freezing cold with heavy snowfall. If it were really Weiwen Fang, he definitely wouldn’t venture out in such weather.
Someone replied below.
57—1107: “If there’s no water, just buy some. The snow can’t last forever. Just buy some from neighbors to get through a few days.”
This person meant well; everyone believed the snow wouldn’t keep falling endlessly, and that they could manage for a few days.
But 517 clearly didn’t appreciate the advice and directed his frustration toward the suggestion.
23—517: “Then why don’t you come deliver some to me?”
Meng Ran shook her head. Earlier in the elevator, Weiwen Fang had mocked those who had bought supplies. Now, with his water pipes broken, he refused to ask others to buy water for him.
She stopped reading the messages and exited the chat to scroll through the news. After two days of snowfall, the snow accumulation was rising rapidly. Upon realizing this, many regions had dispatched snow removal teams.
There was little activity in their residential area. Since last night, the property management had not responded to any messages. After the first day, everything had gone quiet.
Still, Weiwen Fang was a bit of a risk.
Meng Ran narrowed her eyes. They lived in the same building, only two floors apart. Who knew what might happen next.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
Nian Nian came over, hugging Meng Ran’s neck.
“Nothing. I just saw someone dangerous.”
Meng Ran didn’t hide it from Nian Nian and briefly explained the situation with Weiwen Fang.
“If this drags on, there won’t be anyone you can trust. Don’t even trust those who used to get along well with you in the neighborhood.”
She emphasized this repeatedly, and Nian Nian took it to heart.
But Meng Ran hadn’t expected that by the afternoon of the second day, tensions were already rising.
A rapid knocking came at the door—thump, thump, thump.
“Is anyone home?”
Outside came Weiwen Fang’s voice, knocking on her door.
Meng Ran, wearing slippers, tiptoed over and pressed her ear against the door to listen.
She connected her phone to the small surveillance camera installed at the door and saw Weiwen Fang’s face.
It really was him.
After confirming his identity, Meng Ran returned to the living room and watched the footage.
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“Hey! Is anyone there?”
Weiwen Fang’s voice was loud as he banged on the security door.
When no one answered, he muttered, “They say only a mother and daughter live here? Maybe they’re not home?”
Hearing this, Meng Ran frowned. Weiwen Fang knew quite a bit about their side.
He stood at the door for a while, but seeing no one come out and with Meng Ran’s two doors between them, he had no way in. He cursed a bit and left.
Meng Ran watched on the monitor as he headed in a direction. Soon after, the door to Grandma Liu’s apartment was knocked on.
Her phone chimed—a message popped up in the property management group chat.
23—421: “Don’t open the door for that Weiwen Fang. Shameless guy. He doesn’t want to spend money on water but shamelessly bothers people. I’ve reported him to the police. Be careful, everyone.”
No one had been harmed, but Weiwen Fang’s behavior was disgusting—targeting the helpless.
After 421’s message, many others chimed in, accusing Weiwen Fang of his actions. Because of the heavy snow, everyone was holed up at home, and with the property management’s silence, the atmosphere was quietly shifting.
Meng Ran read their comments and heard the argument between Weiwen Fang and Grandma Liu through the monitor.
“Why is Grandma Liu arguing with someone?”
Nian Nian came out of the bedroom holding a piece of bread; she had heard the noise.
Meng Ran had only heard the words through the monitor but couldn’t see inside.
Weiwen Fang leaned against the door. “We live in the same building, neighbors. Grandma, just do a good deed and build some merit for yourself—give me a bucket of bottled water.”
Grandma Liu spat, pushing the mop away with her hand.
“Get lost! You dare act all high and mighty in front of me? Who doesn’t know your kind, Weiwen Fang? You barely make any money all year. If it weren’t for your wife supporting you, where would you be?”
Grandma Liu stood with her hands on her hips, getting more animated.
“If you want free water from me, fine. Like Old Zhang said, why don’t you get down on your knees and beg? Maybe then I’ll give you some.”
Such confrontations had happened before the extreme cold set in. Meng Ran listened to the coarse words through the screen.
Weiwen Fang had a bad temper and wanted to fight, but the hallway was freezing. Leaving the heated room meant facing nearly -30 degrees Celsius.
His face flushed with embarrassment. He had assumed Grandma Liu lived there alone with her grandson, never expecting the old lady to be so stubborn.
He clenched his fists again and again.
Then, someone wearing a heavy cotton coat hurried over.
“Weiwen, stop it, okay? Grandma Liu, I can pay for it.”
It was Weiwen Fang’s wife, Yun Chen. She pulled some cash from her pocket, but Weiwen Fang snatched it and stuffed it into his own pocket.
“You wasteful brat. What’s the point of buying anything?”
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He wanted to save the money to buy alcohol later, not spend it now.
Yun Chen knew his usual ways and didn’t argue, instead looking at Grandma Liu.
Grandma Liu’s eyes were disdainful. Her ire was directed solely at Weiwen Fang; she bore no ill will toward Yun Chen.
“Grandma Liu, I’ll pay for a bucket of water.”
Seeing Yun Chen take out cash again, Grandma Liu set down her mop with a grunt and accepted the money.
The noise outside gradually quieted. Meng Ran watched several shadows leave through the doorway. Apparently, a deal had been reached.
Suddenly, the corridor light flickered and went out.
With a beep, the air conditioner inside the apartment shut off.
The power had gone out.
Meng Ran stood up. “Let’s go inside and put on some clothes.”
They usually wore loungewear at home, but with the blackout, the room temperature would drop; they needed to dress warmly.
She put on sweaters and thermal pants and dressed Nian Nian in a down jacket before feeling reassured.
Night was falling fast. Instead of using a generator, Meng Ran brought out several battery-powered lamps for lighting.
The faucet no longer dripped water. This sudden water and power outage had come much earlier than Meng Ran had anticipated.
“Nian Nian, did the power go out at this time in your dream?”
Nian Nian shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
She didn’t know the exact day, but it seemed it hadn’t been this early.
Meng Ran didn’t press further, deciding to wait and see.
She took out a power bank to charge her phone and checked the news.
Updates were still coming in. Their area had issued a power outage notice, stating that electricity and water were expected to be restored by tomorrow.
So it wasn’t permanent. Meng Ran breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, the property management popped up in the group chat, informing them that electricity and water would be back to normal by noon the next day. Then, they went silent again.