It had been several days since Bai Suxiang had seen Liu Sandao, and her calls went unanswered. She felt a little disheartened.
The city of Sandong was now completely under lockdown.
Not a soul could be seen on the streets. Looking out through the window, the usually bustling thoroughfare was eerily empty, as if no one had ever lived there.
On the television screen, news about the plague played continuously.
It showed how it was first discovered, then reports of its spread; followed by news of various regions offering aid to Sandong City.
The more this was the case, the more anxious Bai Suxiang became.
Although her life wasn't immediately in danger, the lockdown, which was initially for three days, had suddenly been extended to a week.
As this week was nearing its end, no new notice had been issued.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A series of knocks on the door broke the heavy atmosphere.
"Who is it?" asked Guo Xiufang.
"Mom, put on a mask before you open the door!" Bai Suxiang hurried out of the bedroom, reminding her.
"Got it."
Guo Xiufang took a mask hanging on the wall, quickly put it on, and then walked towards the door.
The television was showing reminders to wear masks and proper standards, but there was no help for it; there were no suitable masks to be bought on the streets.
The ones they had, which were barely usable, had been bought before the lockdown.
To keep the masks clean, she had simply disinfected them with alcohol.
She didn't know if they could really prevent the virus; it was just a form of psychological comfort.
"Who is it?" Guo Xiufang asked again.
"It's me, from the fifth floor! Sister. Don't open the door yet, listen to me first."
"Okay, okay, go ahead, I'm listening!"
Guo Xiufang had been about to open the door, but upon hearing the person's request, she let go of the doorknob.
"I don't have any stored food. Can I borrow some? Anything will do, as long as it can fill my stomach."
The voice outside was timid, as if prepared for rejection.
Guo Xiufang hesitated.
Lending food was clearly putting her in a difficult position.
The official notice had said lockdown, and it had been almost a week. Her family of three had eaten, drunk, and lived their lives indoors without missing a single meal.
Seeing that the stocked supplies were almost gone, being asked by the person outside made her even more worried about the days ahead.
Having experienced famine in her childhood, the fear of not having enough to eat still lingered.
Who would have thought that in such prosperous times, they would encounter such a situation?
She had initially intended to open the door, but now she involuntarily took two steps back.
If she lent him their food, what would her family do if the lockdown didn't end?
"But our stored food isn't much either! Can you see if you can borrow from someone else!"
Guo Xiufang thought for a moment and instinctively proposed this idea.
At this moment, she didn't care about saving face.
"Sister, I don't need anything cooked, even rice or flour would be fine. I have no other choice. Since we're neighbors, please take pity on me!"
The voice outside sounded a bit mournful, and it seemed they hadn't stocked up in advance, filled with regret.
"Mom, just lend him some of that flour. We still have rice, anyway."
"Shush! What do you know? If we lend it to him, what will we eat later? You're a child, don't talk nonsense in this situation!" Guo Xiufang gestured and reprimanded Bai Suxiang in a low voice.
The person outside sighed and moved their steps back. They walked very slowly, hoping for a miracle to happen from inside the door.
But after a long while, there was no movement.
Guo Xiufang stood by the door, motionless, making no sound, and glared at Bai Suxiang, signaling her to stay quiet.
Bai Suxiang, who had not experienced famine, struggled internally, debating whether to help.
There was an ancient saying, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda," but when faced with the situation, making a choice was exceptionally difficult.
She didn't have to consider herself, but she had to consider her parents.
This was the starting point and endpoint for most people when deciding to help others.
The man outside grew disheartened and slowly turned, walking upstairs with heavy steps.
Even with the burdens of life weighing him down, a man shed tears not easily.
Facing the days ahead with no food, he didn't know how he would get through it.
After taking four or five steps, someone suddenly said, "Wait! Here's some flour. Can you cook at home?"
The man turned his head and saw Bai Suxiang standing at the door, holding a plastic bag with some flour and a small handful of green vegetable leaves.
"Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, thank you!"
The man was overjoyed and rushed down the stairs, taking the things from Bai Suxiang's hands.
"Slow down, slow down. Hold it carefully!"
"Okay, okay. Thank you, thank you!"
The man truly didn't know what to say, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.
In such a situation, there were few people willing to help others.
Seeing Bai Suxiang wearing a mask, he nodded slightly, took the items, and turned to run upstairs.
"When the lockdown ends, I'll return it to you!"
He left a sentence that echoed in the stairwell.
Bai Suxiang quickly closed the door.
"Sigh, what can I say about you? Can't you borrow from other neighbors? You had to borrow from our home?" Guo Xiufang complained.
"Alright, we've already lent it. Are you going to go and ask for it back now?" Bai Fuchi retorted, deliberately provoking her.
He knew that Guo Xiufang was just complaining and wouldn't actually go back to retrieve the items.
Although Guo Xiufang was not someone who proactively did good deeds, she was, in the end, a kind person, and she wouldn't do something like that.
"Mom, don't dwell on it. Being able to help is considered doing our small part. Could you really just watch a living person starve to death?"
"This... Sigh ~"
"Don't worry, the lockdown might not last much longer." Bai Suxiang tried to comfort her, though she herself was uncertain.
In fact, the biggest pressure now was whether the virus's spread could be controlled.
"Oh no, this is big trouble!" Bai Fuchi said abruptly, staring at the television.
"What are you talking about? What's over?" Guo Xiufang's heart leaped into her throat, and she glanced fearfully at the television.
The television screen displayed the caption: "The risk of epidemic spread is increasing. It is imperative to remain indoors."
"I thought it would be fine after a few days of lockdown. Look at this situation, it's unlikely we'll get out for at least ten to fifteen days!" Bai Fuchi muttered to himself.
"See, I told you not to lend food! Now, no one will lend anything to anyone!" Guo Xiufang said angrily, her brow furrowed tightly.
"Okay, Mom, it won't be like that, it won't be like that. Trust me, it won't!" Bai Suxiang said while comforting her, making faces to cheer Guo Xiufang up.
Guo Xiufang feigned anger and fanned the air in front of Bai Suxiang with her hand.
She would never hit her daughter, but it was just a gesture to make her understand the hardships of life.
Bai Suxiang smiled and leaned against her, rubbing her head against her mother's shoulder, appeasing Guo Xiufang's resentment.