Chapter 40: Yang Hong Fell Down

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Yang Hong Fell Down

That evening, Chen Momo looked across the way. The opposite building was no longer a pitch-black grid of boxes; one after another, the soft glow of flashlights and candles began to flicker through several families’ windows.

Chen Momo and Xu Xiaoka had already established an unspoken division of labor. If Chen Momo went out to gather supplies, Xu Xiaoka would stay home to cook. If Xu Xiaoka went out, Chen Momo would take care of the meals.

Today was Chen Momo’s turn on a supply run.

Before leaving the house that morning, she had wrapped herself up like a tightly bound bundle, swaddled in layers upon layers of clothing. She slapped body warmers onto her knees, thighs, and waist. She also tucked a hand warmer into each of her pockets, ensuring she could warm her hands halfway through the trip if it got too cold. Naturally, she was fully geared up in a thermal cotton-padded jacket, heavy winter boots, and fleece-lined socks and pants.

Fully insulated against the cold, Chen Momo headed down to the twelfth floor, ready to join the main group to jump out the window and head outside. The residents heading out for supplies that day were lined up, taking turns squeezing through the window frame.

Wang Jian Country stood by the window, maintaining order.

Mingling in the crowd, Chen Momo was surprised to see that the woman in line just ahead of her was Yang Hong. Bundled up in thick clothes, Yang Hong’s bulging pregnant belly was prominent as she waited.

Che Mo Mo sized up Yang Hong’s belly; she had to be at least five or six months along. She wondered if it was really safe for someone that pregnant to be jumping out of windows.

While she was still pondering this, it was already Yang Hong’s turn.

Seeing Yang Hong in line with such a massive belly, Wang Jian Country furrowed his brows. He reached out to block the broken window, stopping her. "You can’t jump! Where’s Zhang Qiang? Let Zhang Qiang do it!"

Having had plenty of supplies these past few days, Wang Jian Country’s voice was no longer hoarse; it boomed like a bell once again.

"He’s sleeping," Yang Hong clamored. "I’m going today!"

"How can you go in your condition?" Wang Jian Country argued. "Jumping from a window this high—someone’s going to get killed!"

Unconvinced, Yang Hong snapped back, "Why can’t I go? Zhang Qiang brings back way too little, and it’s never enough for us to eat. I’m going to get the supplies myself today!"

Since Yang Hong was holding up the line, the people behind her began to urge her on. "Are you going to jump or not? If you aren’t, then step aside for the next person. Don’t waste our time here."

"I’m jumping, I’m jumping!" Yang Hong immediately replied.

With that, she began tying the thick hemp rope around her waist. Because she was pregnant, her waist was far wider than average, meaning the rope could only wrap around her two times fewer than everyone else’s.

Frowning, Wang Jian Country warned her, "Yang Hong, this really isn’t safe. I’m telling you, don’t try to be a hero. Let your husband jump!"

But Yang Hong waved him off. "I’ve already tied it! My body is in great shape, I’ll be fine!" Tugging at the rope, she impatiently leaped out the window.

Every time she watched others go out for supplies while she was stuck at home, she felt incredibly anxious. Moreover, her useless husband never brought back anything she actually liked. All she could do was constantly covet everyone else’s hauls.

She was especially jealous of Chen Momo’s supplies. Chen Momo and Xu Xiaoka were incredibly adept at scavenging. Xu Xiaoka, in particular, always returned with multiple bags packed to the brim. Despite his small stature, he managed to haul back more goods than an adult man! At the thought of this, Yang Hong secretly cursed her husband for being so incompetent.

Watching Xu Xiaoka and Chen Momo take turns jumping out the window every day to scavenge the opposite building, Yang Hong finally couldn’t sit still anymore. No matter what anyone said, she was determined to follow the main group today and grab her own supplies.

Yang Hong gripped the rope tightly. One end was securely anchored to the window frame, while she held the other, slowly lowering herself down the side of the building, floor by floor.

Wang Jian Country leaned out to keep an eye on her, a faint sense of foreboding washing over him.

Then, a scene no one could have anticipated unfolded.

Due to her thick waist, the rope was tied with two fewer loops than usual. Compounded by her pregnancy, the knot around her waist hadn’t been secured tightly enough. Halfway down the descent, the rope suddenly slipped loose.

"Ah!"

Yang Hong let out a terrified shriek, her hands gripping the rope for dear life. With the loops around her waist completely undone, her entire body weight abruptly shifted onto her arms.

The snow level outside had reached the ninth floor. Dangling three stories below the twelfth-floor window, Yang Hong was now suspended mid-air. If she fell, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Wang Jian Country immediately shouted, "Yang Hong! Hold onto the rope and lower yourself slowly!"

Yang Hong had thought she was tough, but only in this perilous moment did she realize that pregnancy had completely drained the strength from her arms. She was incredibly heavy now. Just tightly gripping the rope to keep from falling was draining every last ounce of her energy!

While she desperately clutched the rope, trying to carefully slide the rest of the way down, her arms suddenly gave out. Her grip slipped. She plummeted through the air and crashed heavily into the snowbank with a resounding THUD.

Beneath the deep snow lay a layer of solid, impenetrable ice. Rising nine stories high, this ice was harder than rock. Yang Hong slammed violently against that unforgiving surface.

Wang Jian Country frantically screamed her name, but the woman below remained motionless.

The onlookers were paralyzed with shock. After a brief moment, someone finally snapped back to reality and rushed forward to look down. They instantly shrieked in horror.

The snow surrounding Yang Hong was already stained crimson. A dark red liquid seeped relentlessly from the back of her head. Pale and with her eyes tightly shut, she lay completely still on the frozen ground.

A few of the braver scavengers down below tried to help her up, but her blood had already frozen solid to the ice. Moreover, everyone knew exactly what kind of people Yang Hong and Zhang Qiang were. Nobody dared to recklessly move her, terrified the couple would try to extort them later.

"Hurry up and fetch Zhang Qiang!" Wang Jian Country barked.

A few men who hadn’t jumped yet joined Wang Jian Country. They rushed out of the twelfth-floor room and sprinted up the stairwell, their footsteps echoing STOMP STOMP STOMP all the way to the sixteenth floor. Reaching Room 1601, they pounded furiously on Zhang Qiang’s door.

"Zhang Qiang! Your wife fell from mid-air while jumping out the window!"

"Open the door! Hurry and go check on your wife!"

The group shouted anxiously outside his door.

Zhang Qiang had deadbolted the door and hidden himself inside, doing who knows what. Despite the earth-shattering knocks, it took him ages to dawdle over and finally open up.

His eyes were blurry with sleep. He stared blankly at the men at his door. "What’s going on? Has the sky fallen? I was sleeping!"

The men practically dragged Zhang Qiang down the stairs. "Your wife fell! Hurry up and see if she’s even still alive!"

Still dizzy from sleep, Zhang Qiang only sobered up halfway down the stairs. He turned to the men escorting him and asked, "What? Yang Hong fell?"