Observing the iron gate swing open, Ye Fan and his entourage swiftly entered the yard. The outer gate was secured, but the room door was ajar. Taking the lead, Xu Haoran pushed it wide open.
On the first floor, much like the second, floor bunks and tables were scattered about. A group of young men sat around a table, their attention immediately grabbed by Xu Haoran's entrance. Weapons were drawn as they eyed the newcomers warily.
Jiang Shilong, armed with pistols from the unmanned police station, had several subordinates downstairs similarly armed. The others wielded machetes, spears, and even had explosion-proof shields. Their initial cheer upon seeing Xu Haoran's arrival was short-lived, as a dozen soldiers poured in, rendering them speechless.
In unison, the soldiers raised their steel guns, bayonets glinting ominously. Xu Haoran, moving with confidence, approached two young men with guns pointed at their necks. Swift blows to their heads left them bleeding and disarmed.
"Squat down, heads in hands, against the wall!" Xu Haoran commanded, his stern demeanor leaving no room for defiance. One dissenter, about to raise his head, received a forceful kick to the abdomen, silencing him.
Witnessing this, the others, fearing the approaching soldiers, dropped their weapons and obediently lined up against the wall. Their only thought: it's over; the army is here, restoring order.
Even the survivors, though hopeful for the army's arrival, found it challenging to adapt to the soldiers' iron-clad approach. Fear gripped the common people, a shared sentiment in the face of the military's stern control.
With the first floor secured, Xu Haoran reported, "Sir, it's under control." Only then did Ye Fan step inside, his gaze fixed on his parents.
Seeing the weary faces of his parents, Ye Fan's heart ached. Yet, his parents, silhouetted against the light, failed to recognize him, his hat concealing his identity.
Not intending to delay, a group from the second floor rushed down, led by Jiang Shilong and his two subordinates. Armed and tough, they took stock of the situation on the first floor.
Jiang Shilong, alarmed by the military presence, shielded himself behind Lan Lili and others. "Who are you?" he demanded.
Ye Fan, hat removed, confronted Jiang Shilong, "Do you still know me?" Jiang Shilong, perplexed, squinted, "Why do you look so familiar?" Lan Lili, recognizing Ye Fan, exclaimed, "You are Ye Fan!"
Dismissing Jiang Shilong's opinion, Ye Fan ordered, "Take off all their guns and talk about it later." Xu Haoran and the mobilization soldiers swiftly disarmed the group.
Ye Fan, attending to his parents, felt a mix of emotions. His father, Ye Jianguo, puzzled by Ye Fan's transformation into an officer, inquired, "How come you, boy, have become an officer?" Ye Fan evaded specifics, citing military confidentiality, and urged, "Dad, I came here specifically to find you this time. You and my mother should pack your things and follow me now."
Inquisitive, Ye Jianguo questioned the destination, to which Ye Fan replied, "I plan to go find my sister next, and we can be reunited as a family." Emotions surged as Xu Lizhen, Ye Fan's mother, embraced him tearfully.
Expressing curiosity, Ye Jianguo wondered, "Are you going to take us to find your sister?" Ye Fan clarified, "No, I will take you to another place, and then I will find my sister myself."
Concerned for the neighbors, Ye Jianguo hesitated, "You're just going to pick us up? What about our neighbors?" Ye Fan, contemplating the dilemma, implored, "Dad, can't you come with me first?"
Ye Jianguo, adamant about staying, declared, "No, there are only a few people in this world, and one less person dies. Since you have become a soldier, you have to rescue the common people. Before your sister is found, you will not take me and your mother away. We're not leaving."
Jiang Shilong, seizing the opportunity, proposed an alliance, suggesting that they stay together for survival. Although Ye Fan sensed his ulterior motives, his father's stubbornness left him in a predicament.
Attempting to persuade Ye Jianguo, Jiang Shilong was interrupted by Xu Haoran, who warned him not to advance further. Undeterred, Jiang Shilong appealed to Ye Jianguo's sense of unity, emphasizing the importance of sticking together in the post-apocalyptic world.
As tensions rose, Ye Jianguo surprised everyone by standing up and siding with Jiang Shilong. Confounding expectations, Ye Jianguo, holding Xu Lizhen's hand, retreated among the soldiers, declaring, "Xiao Fan, you can do whatever you want now. Your mother and I will pretend we didn't see you."