The Zhang family came up to negotiate returning to their original house. Previously, to simplify matters and for convenience in emergencies, they had exchanged homes with the Da Niu family. The Da Niu family had a three-bedroom apartment, which was a bit too large for just the couple, while the Zhang family of four felt cramped in their two-bedroom apartment. Since both parties had the same intention, the exchange went smoothly.
However, with the outbreak of the epidemic and the rising death toll outside, the lower-floor residents were almost constantly surrounded by the stench of decay, even with doors and windows tightly shut. The collapse of nearby structures had blocked off their lower floors, creating a suffocating, hot environment with rotting smells and stagnant air. This made the lower floors increasingly hazardous, so they wanted to return to their original, higher-floor apartment on the 17th floor. The open surroundings and natural wind there helped disperse the stench, making it far more bearable compared to the lower floors.
But those who had moved up were unlikely to come down easily. After all the effort of moving their belongings and climbing up, now that the elevator was operational, making it easy to access the higher floors, wanting to return was not going to be straightforward.
Da Niu stood at his door, with a dissatisfied and slightly fierce expression, and said, "There's no reason to do things like this. We agreed on the exchange and even signed a simple agreement. I traded my three-bedroom place for your two-bedroom one, and now that the elevator is working, you want to come back? That's not going to happen."
Zhang Yi was timid, having grown up under his father's pressure, which left him with little personal opinion. After his father's death, he was expected to take charge as a man, but his weak character meant he was often overshadowed by his increasingly dominant mother. His wife was also chosen by his parents and was of a gentle disposition. Thus, decisions in the Zhang family were ultimately made by Zhang's grandmother, who had the final say.
The decision to exchange houses was made by Zhang's grandmother. The trauma from the earthquake made her believe that living lower down was safer. In the event of another earthquake or fire, escaping from the 17th floor was unrealistic. She felt that living lower would increase their chances of survival, and at her age, climbing seventeen floors was nearly impossible. When Da Niu offered a larger house, Zhang's grandmother felt it was a good deal and insisted on signing an agreement to prevent any regrets from the other party.
Now that they realized living on a higher floor was better, they wanted to reverse the exchange. Zhang Yi thought this was unlikely and that Da Niu looked very intimidating. He hoped his mother would avoid causing trouble, but he was overruled, and his mother's loud argument silenced any objections he might have had.
Of course, the legal documents were absent—just two pieces of paper with their intentions written and signed as voluntary evidence, but lacking legal validity. Zhang's grandmother considered this loophole and decided to reclaim the house. She found that both staircases had been fitted with security doors, and realizing this made her wish she had never agreed to the exchange in the first place.
They tried to play the sympathy card, not wanting to offend Da Niu, who seemed fierce and could retaliate. Zhang's grandmother tearfully pleaded, "Young man, please have some consideration for us old folks. We didn't expect the lower floor to be like this. It's not just the environment but the constant fear with so many people coming and going. We're a family of the elderly, women, and children. If someone breaks in, it's a matter of life and death. You're strong and healthy. We're afraid to even knock on doors down there. Da Niu, please, let us come back. We can give you extra food."
For Da Niu, the location didn't matter as long as he was alone, but since he had his wife with him, he preferred to stay as far from danger as possible. He flatly refused to return, blocking the door with his strong arms and a fierce expression, "Not a chance! Since we've exchanged, there's no reason to reverse it. I warn you, don't make trouble, or you'll regret it!"
After slamming the door shut, he reopened it to warn them again, "Stay away from my home. If you cause any trouble at the door, I'll throw you all off the 17th floor one by one. With so many people struggling to survive, it's not impossible for a whole family to jump!"
His words frightened the Zhang family. Da Niu was large and intimidating, and his fierce demeanor made him seem like someone who wouldn't hold back. Zhang's grandmother was nearly frightened into a panic.
Zhang Yi quickly supported his mother, but Zhang's grandmother slapped him, "You useless one! The house has been taken and you can't even utter a peep! How did I end up with such a useless child? My poor grandchildren, what are we to do now? If only your father hadn't left us, we wouldn't be in this mess!"
Zhang Yi's wife wasn't very brave either. After being intimidated by Da Niu and hearing her mother-in-law's cries, she quickly pulled Zhang's grandmother aside, saying, "He just said that if we make a scene at the door, he'll throw us all down. Mother-in-law, let's stop making a fuss and go back downstairs."
Zhang's grandmother glared at her daughter-in-law, looked at her distressed grandson, and decided to try a different approach to reclaim the house. She was willing to live anywhere, but her only grandson shouldn't suffer in such poor conditions. The environment downstairs was terrible, with people throwing household trash into the stairwell. Even with doors and windows shut, they could smell a foul odor. Some people even used the first and second-floor platforms as toilets, leading to a serious mosquito infestation. It was nothing like the cleanliness of the upper floors. No matter what, she had to get the house back!
Once the Zhang family had gone downstairs, Mu Nan peeked through the peephole and saw them leave. He returned to the room and said, "I thought there would be a big commotion, but it looks like Da Niu's threats made them leave. Say, brother, can we block the elevator with something? Now that it's powered, anyone can come up."
Qin Huai replied, "There are two big cabinets over there. We can move them out to block the elevator."
Mu Nan asked, "Should I first store them in the space and then take them out?"
Qin Huai said, "No, move them out without making any noise. Even if it might not cause suspicion, it's still a bit odd. You stay here I'll call Yu Zibai over."
Mu Nan said, "I'll help too. Those two big wardrobes of yours are super heavy, all solid wood custom-made by Grandma."
The wardrobes were old-fashioned with intricate carvings, made from quality wood that now looked worn and chipped. Mu Nan had previously thought of storing Qin Huai's furniture in the space when they left. They could also dismantle their own wooden cabinets. In case resources ran out, the wood could be used for fuel.
Soon, Yu Zibai and Jian Chu arrived. With the elevator working, they felt unsafe on their floor. They didn't go out unless necessary. They had enough food for at least a month or two, but water needed to be conserved. Fortunately, they had moved several large water containers upstairs earlier and swapped some at the military base. They could last a while with their current water supply, so blocking the elevator was the best option.
The big wardrobes were indeed heavy. To avoid making a screeching sound on the floor, they had to lift and move them. All four of them worked hard to transport them.
Their noise attracted Da Niu, who came out to check on them. Seeing they intended to block the elevator, he immediately came over to help, saying, "Let me help, you all have such thin arms and legs."
Da Niu was muscular and strong. With his help, Mu Nan and Jian Chu stepped aside, preferring to let Da Niu take the lead. Once both elevators were blocked, Da Niu dusted off his hands and said, "There we go. To get out of the elevator, they'll have to move these wardrobes. No need to worry about someone sneaking up quietly. These wardrobes are solid and well-made they've been around for quite some time."
Qin Huai nodded, but didn't say much, "That's good. At least we can sleep soundly during the day. Let's head inside."
Yu Zibai smiled at Da Niu, "Thanks for your help. Otherwise, we'd have had quite a hard time moving those heavy wardrobes."
Da Niu grinned, "It's nothing. With this floor secured, we can rest easy ourselves."
Back inside, Mu Nan immediately told Qin Huai, "Da Niu seems so fierce, and his muscles are so developed. It feels like he could knock someone out with a single punch."
Qin Huai replied, "He seems like a good person."
Mu Nan wiped his sweat with a wet wipe and asked, "How do you know? What makes you say that?"
Qin Huai said, "It's his demeanor. He doesn't seem to be scheming. He appears straightforward. He might not be a perfect person, but he doesn't seem like a bad one. He's the type who won't bother you if you don't bother him."
Mu Nan said, "People like that are already considered good. Many people seem nice but are secretly malicious. They might not gain anything from it themselves but will make you suffer a lot!"
Qin Huai wiped Mu Nan's sweat with a towel, absorbing some of the remaining droplets, "Have you encountered such people?"
Mu Nan said, "Definitely. It's really disgusting. When I used to draw comics, some of the people I chatted with were like that! They'd be friendly on the surface but would report you behind your back!"
Qin Huai asked, "Report what?"
Mu Nan almost blurted out "erotic content," but felt it was inappropriate to say in front of his elder. He vaguely replied, "Like reporting content that's borderline or restricted."
Qin Huai continued, "What topics are restricted?"
Mu Nan responded, "Like age differences, minors, and household registration issues. Those are all restricted."
Although Mu Nan was vague, Qin Huai understood, and pinched his face, "You've drawn that kind of stuff? Is that considered 'advanced driving'?"
Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai with surprise, "You understand so well."
Qin Huai chuckled, "Not as well as you think."
Fortunately, with the internet down, Mu Nan used the excuse of not having saved his old comic drafts to avoid further questioning. Such works weren't suitable for family viewing. Seeing Qin Huai's meaningful gaze, Mu Nan felt he had opened a can of worms.
Realizing the topic was making him uncomfortable, Qin Huai changed the subject, "What do you want to eat?"
Mu Nan immediately jumped back onto the bed to grab the menu, "You choose, or should I just pick something at random?"
Qin Huai said, "You choose. Let's see what our blind-box lunch is."
Mu Nan closed his eyes and flipped through the menu, "Roast chicken!"
Qin Huai asked, "Roast chicken it is. Is it a small chicken or a big one?" A small chicken might not be enough for both of them.
Mu Nan took out a honey-glazed roast chicken from the space. It wasn't large but not small either. Still, it wouldn't be enough for two people, so he also grabbed a box of fruit salad and a plate of vegetables. "Brother, do you want to drink beer or eat food?"
Qin Huai glanced at his bright eyes and said, "Let's have beer. Bring out a serving of fried rice, and we'll split it."
Mu Nan retrieved beer, fried rice, a cold dish of edamame, and a box of dry-fried shredded potatoes from the space. These were all good accompaniments for beer.
This time, Mu Nan didn't play his anime. He chose a classic foreign action film instead and pointed to Dwayne Johnson in the movie. "Brother, if you had this physique, you could walk through the entire neighborhood!"
Qin Huai chuckled, "Such a physique might not look good on an Asian. Do you like this kind?"
Mu Nan looked at him with envy, "I want to be like that."
Qin Huai glanced at Mu Nan's small frame and said bluntly, "Then you'll only be able to dream about it for the rest of your life."
Mu Nan immediately channeled his frustration into his appetite and took a big bite of the roast chicken leg!
The Zhang family's determination to reclaim the house became evident the next day. When they came back up, they brought two soldiers with them. When the elevator door opened and the soldiers saw the large wardrobes blocking the way, they were momentarily stunned. However, they thought to themselves that the security on this floor was quite strong. The blockade did provide a sense of security.
The Zhang family hadn't expected that while they could come up smoothly the day before, today they were blocked. They were sure that Da Niu's family was responsible, probably to prevent them from coming up. Zhang's grandmother looked at the soldiers with red eyes and said, "We're blocked like this. We really have no home to go back to!"
The two soldiers stepped forward and moved the wardrobes to create a narrow gap. The commotion soon drew the attention of several residents. Qin Huai, peeking through the peephole, smiled. Mu Nan squeezed over to look and whispered, "What's going on? Two soldiers? Are they using soldiers to help them reclaim the house?"
Qin Huai said, "That's likely, and they might even try to shift the blame."
Mu Nan clicked his tongue, "That's too much."
When Da Niu opened the door and saw the soldiers and Zhang's grandmother with her grandson (but not her son and daughter-in-law), he immediately understood what Zhang's family was trying to do. He said, "When we first swapped houses, it was agreed by both parties. The elevator was out of order, so we carried our luggage up to the 17th floor ourselves. Now that the elevator is working, we don't need to climb anymore. They just want their house back, and they're taking all the benefits for themselves?"
The soldiers turned to Zhang's grandmother, who hurriedly shook her head. Her performance was Oscar-worthy: "He said our family is large, and living together would make us more prone to illness. They only have two people but three rooms. He suggested we swap houses, and I thought his reasoning made sense, so we agreed. But I didn't expect the conditions downstairs to be so bad. I just want to go back to my own house. I don't want a big house anymore; I just want my small house. You must help me!"
Her words implied that Da Niu had deceived the old lady. However, a woman in her seventies, who had lost her spouse and faced one disaster after another, could appear quite frail and aged. It wasn't impossible that she had been deceived.
Da Niu quickly pulled out the signed agreement: "It's written clearly. The exchange was voluntary, and you were the one who initiated the swap. Why is it now that I'm the one forcing you?"
Zhang's grandmother hid behind the soldiers with her grandson, seeming afraid Da Niu would get physical. "I signed it because you promised me security and peace of mind. I didn't understand it fully."
Mu Nan, watching from behind the security door, was amazed: "Wow, it's the first time I've seen such a live performance, and it's so vivid and natural. If Grandma Zhang didn't go into the film industry, it would be a waste of talent."
Qin Huai patted him on the shoulder: "In reality, everyone's an actor if there's something to gain."
The soldiers, unfamiliar with dealing with such disputes, thought someone was forcibly occupying the old lady's house. Usually, such situations would involve removing the occupier. But now, with the appearance of the strong, rough Da Niu and the elderly lady, it seemed like the old lady's house was being forcibly taken. It even appeared she might have been tricked into signing a house exchange agreement.
At that moment, a frail woman emerged from the house, looked at the crowd, and gently pulled her husband's arm, speaking softly, "Let's go downstairs. Don't argue anymore."
Hearing this, Zhang's grandmother's eyes lit up.
But Da Niu was not one to back down easily. He spoke softly to his wife, "You go inside first. I'll handle this."
The woman hesitated but eventually went inside as her husband urged her.
Da Niu said, "I'm not one to take advantage. The benefits aren't just for anyone to claim. The old lady came to me wanting to swap houses and even worried I might back out, so she proactively signed the agreement, which was written by her own family. She has a son and daughter-in-law; they all seem confused. If I really forced them to swap, why didn't I contact you earlier? Now that the elevator is working and climbing isn't necessary, why only now?"
The soldiers, about to suggest taking both families to the military base to sort things out, were already overwhelmed by the situation outside. They had urgent matters like clearing bodies and preventing epidemics, and didn't have time for such trivial disputes.
When the neighbor from next door opened the door, they directly said, "Yesterday, this family came up and caused a scene, saying they regretted the swap. If they had known the conditions downstairs were like this, they wouldn't have swapped. It was clearly voluntary, not forced at all. Even though the swap has already been made, and they climbed up here with difficulty, now that the elevator is working, it's not fair to just say 'no swap' now. No one would want to bear this loss."
The speaker was Jian Chu, who had witnessed the whole situation yesterday. It was clear that the house swap was a mutual decision. Given the old lady's shrewdness, she wouldn't have been tricked. If there were no benefits involved, she wouldn't have agreed in the first place. Her shrewdness only extended to immediate gains.
Zhang's grandmother didn't expect an interloper and quickly turned to the soldiers, saying, "Don't believe what he says. My old husband was still alive when they fought before. There's a deep grudge!"
Jian Chu scoffed, "I swear, if I've told a single lie, may I die horribly. If you've told even a single lie, may your grandson die horribly."
Although everyone knew oaths were usually meaningless, swearing on one's most cherished person, even if it were false, was something not lightly done. Especially since Zhang's grandson was their lifeline; they wouldn't dare utter such a curse.
Zhang's grandmother tried to pounce on Jian Chu, but Jian Chu was standing at his door and quickly retreated inside and shut it, leaving the old lady grasping at air.
After Zhang's grandmother missed, Jian Chu reopened the door and called out to the soldiers, "Don't judge by appearances. Just because someone looks strong and another is an elderly woman and child doesn't mean the weaker party is at a disadvantage!" He then slammed the door shut.
Mu Nan, eager to join in, looked at Qin Huai. Qin Huai said, "Do what you want."
Mu Nan grinned, opened the iron door, and shouted, "I'm reporting! This family caused trouble here yesterday, saying they wouldn't have swapped if they had known the conditions downstairs. They're just greedy for the three-bedroom apartment!"
Then, like Jian Chu, Mu Nan quickly shut the door, fearing Zhang's grandmother might come clawing at them.
Zhang's grandmother was shaking with anger. Jian Chu's family had a grudge, so it was normal for them to take the opportunity to add insult to injury. But Mu Nan was someone she had watched grow up, who used to come to her house for snacks when he was little. How could he be so unjust!