The events of the previous life are not to be discussed for now.
In this life, Tang Li had supplies and could protect herself. She could live very well on her own. Regardless, she would not participate in this so-called "Self-Help Union" again.
Of course, Tang Li also understood that with Zhang Yan's persistent personality, he would definitely not give up on her.
It wasn't just her, but everyone in the building.
Tonight, Zhang Yan would surely visit everyone who hadn't gone to his place.
Although Tang Li had decided not to join the "Self-Help Union," she didn't want to offend Zhang Yan and fall out with them for no reason.
After all, it's easier to meet the King of Hell than a petty demon.
While Zhang Yan might not hold it against her for the sake of face, those who wanted to curry favor with him might not be so understanding.
Therefore, Tang Li still decided to maintain a friendly relationship with them as much as possible.
This way, it would be difficult for her to refuse Zhang Yan at his door and reject his "kind intentions."
Tang Li had an idea after a moment's thought.
She put the ice blocks and power banks from her home back into her space.
Then, she replicated a sack of charcoal and a household charcoal grill from her space.
She took some flour, mixed it with salt, sugar, and warm water from the kitchen to form a smooth dough, let it rest for a while, then divided it into small portions, brushed them with oil, and let them rest again.
Next, she oiled the cutting board, spread and rolled out the rested dough into thin wrappers, then folded them and rolled them into spirals.
She heated the charcoal in the grill, placed a flat-bottomed pan on top, and brushed it with oil.
She then put the rolled-up pastries into the pan, fried them until golden brown on both sides, and took them out.
Thus, the oil cakes made only with flour, water, oil, salt, and sugar were ready.
Tang Li ate one. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a great texture.
Although not as good as the delicacies stored in her space, it wasn't bad either. She could eat her fill without any other side dishes.
As Tang Li had a large appetite, she took out her usual food from her space to fill her stomach, treating the oil cakes as snacks.
Just as she finished eating, Zhang Yan's voice came from outside:
"Little girl, everyone else has come to the 17th floor, why haven't you?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Li didn't open the door and replied directly:
"I don't like crowds, so I won't be going. I can take care of myself."
As expected, Zhang Yan wouldn't give up easily and continued, "You don't like crowds? That's fine. I've brought you some porridge. Why don't you open the door?"
Tang Li didn't want to delay Zhang Yan further, so she asked him to wait a moment.
She wiped her mouth with a tissue, put the bowls and chopsticks on the table back into her space, leaving only a dozen unfinished oil cakes on the coffee table, and then went to open the door to let Zhang Yan in.
As soon as Zhang Yan entered, he said warmly, "Little girl, have you had dinner?"
"This is the sweet potato porridge we cooked together using everyone's ingredients and firewood. It tastes quite good, and I brought it specifically for you to try."
Saying this, he placed the plastic food container he was holding on Tang Li's coffee table.
Seeing the porridge in the plastic food container, Tang Li didn't feel it was Zhang Yan's gesture of care towards her.
She knew that Zhang Yan was still the same Zhang Yan, who liked to generously spend other people's money.
Of everything in this bowl of porridge, perhaps only the water was collected rainwater by him; nothing else was provided by Zhang Yan.
The sweet potatoes, rice, and even the firewood were provided by other people in the building. The pot used to cook the porridge might even belong to the resident on the 17th floor.
And now, this bowl of porridge was being used by Zhang Yan to gain favor and win her over.
But Tang Li did not refuse it.
She simply took out the oil cakes she had just made, packed ten of them in a plastic bag, and handed them to Zhang Yan.
"What are you doing, child?"
Zhang Yan quickly pushed them back.
He had come this time to persuade Tang Li to join the "Self-Help Union," to win her over, not to exchange supplies.
Tang Li was well aware of his intentions, but she didn't want to accept Zhang Yan's overtures.
"It's just a token of appreciation. If you don't accept my cakes, then I won't accept your porridge either."
Hearing Tang Li say this, Zhang Yan had no choice but to accept.
He could only settle for the next best thing and say, "Then I'll just take one. This is too much."
Tang Li thought to herself, "How can one be enough? If you eat it on the way, won't others not know that I returned your favor?"
So, she quickly said, "There are so many people in your place, and just drinking porridge might be a bit monotonous."
"Since this sweet potato porridge was cooked with ingredients and firewood contributed by everyone, please take these cakes back and share them with everyone. Consider it my good intentions."
Upon hearing Tang Li's words, Zhang Yan's expression stiffened.