Ike and his family's appearance drew the scrutinizing gaze of the cashier, who followed their every move while holding a candle.
This level of vigilance was understandable given the circumstances. All three of them were clad in rain-soaked clothing, making them stand out. They followed Ike's shopping list, which included rice and candles. However, candles were in high demand, with each family limited to purchasing five.
In addition to candles, Ike also bought paper towels and water purification disinfectants, preparing for a situation where their water storage tank ran dry and water supplies were cut off. They would have to rely on rainwater or lake water.
They refrained from purchasing other items, employing a bit of cunning. Unaware bystanders might have immediately rushed to the instant noodle section, but as they passed by, they observed that the shelves were nearly empty. Consequently, they didn't buy instant noodles at all and instead opted for regular noodles.
Two 50-pound bags of rice would suffice for two months, making the remaining instant noodles in the entire mall inadequate to sustain them for that long. Ike also purchased many pickled vegetables, and the shelves had been nearly cleared.
The cashier, a younger woman, lacked access to a cash register system or a calculator. She struggled to calculate their total on rough paper. The mall's most significant drawback was that the cashier had no knowledge of the prices of items. While some larger items had price tags, those without relied on her estimation, leading to higher prices. Although Ike had withdrawn 20,000 in cash in advance, he still haggled with her over the total, leaving her with a few yuan in change.
With their purchases completed, they proceeded to pack up their items. Anna and Yingli handled the smaller items, packing them into Ike's backpack, while Anna carried a shopping bag. Ike had a bag of rice slung over his shoulder, while Yingli held another.
As they exited the mall, they encountered a corridor. Formerly, this area had displayed various goods, but it now stood empty, with bare shelves remaining. As Ike traversed this 2-meter-long corridor, he noticed a woman seated near the exit, watching them closely.
Ike cautiously guided Anna toward the center of the corridor, passing close to the woman. The woman's attempt to engage them failed, and she hesitated briefly before nudging her child to her feet.
Approaching Ike's family, she encouraged the young boy, around five or six years old, to address them. However, the child appeared timid and reluctant to speak.
The woman attempted to coax him, saying, "Come on, call her Auntie."
But the child remained fearful and didn't utter a word.
The woman, flustered and embarrassed, explained her situation, "I'm sorry, there's truly no other option. We were traveling from another place and got separated from the child's father. We have nowhere to stay now. I noticed you all buying so many things earlier, and I didn't mean anything else by it. Could you please lend me a few hundred yuan for the sake of the child? I can give you my ID card and phone as collateral. Please, I'm begging you to help us. The child hasn't eaten in days."
As she spoke, others seated near the entrance began to cast hopeful glances in her direction. Ike noticed that most of these individuals were also without money, not necessarily poor, but simply lacking cash on hand. Thus, when someone mentioned borrowing money, others regarded her with anticipation.
Could there be a wealthy person among them, harboring millions of dollars in this city, now in a state of desperation due to hunger?
Ike responded, "I'm sorry, but we've already used all our cash to purchase these items."
The woman's expression soured.
Ike persisted, "It's not possible for us to help right now. Why don't you try asking the store owner for credit? I believe they might be willing to assist you. I'm sorry."
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
He then gently tugged at Anna and Yingli, urging them to move away. However, the woman began to sob, and she even grasped the child's arm, imploring him to hug Ike's thigh.
The woman cried out in desperation, "Please, we're out of options. My phone is completely broken, and I can't access my bank account. I'm truly at a loss here. The child has caught a cold, and we can't afford medicine."
Anna looked at the distressed woman, her eyes also moistening.
Ike stated, "I wish I could help you, but it's impossible right now. Please understand. We can't do anything about it. Don't you worry, someone will come to your aid soon since the rain will stop in a few days."
The woman gazed downcast, and her tears continued to flow, "This is truly tough. My phone is entirely unusable, and I can't withdraw any money. We're really stuck... The child hasn't eaten in several days." Yingli felt sympathy for the destitute woman.
Ike voiced his concern, "I really do want to help, but we're limited right now. Just give it some time, and I believe help will arrive soon. I'm sorry."
As they departed, the woman's tears flowed unabated.
As Ike, Anna, and Yingli ventured out into the stormy weather, they came across a woman and her child who were struggling against the elements. The woman seemed to be desperately holding onto her child as they braved the rain and wind.
Seeing the woman's plight, Anna couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy. Ike, however, took a different approach. He pulled out a sharp paring knife he had recently purchased and held it up, telling the woman to let go of her hand.
The sight of the knife immediately made the woman change her expression. She released her grip on the child and pulled them back. Within seconds, her tears, like a switch, were turned off, and she watched as Ike led Anna and Yingli away.
Anna looked back, her tears falling, not out of sympathy for the woman and child, but because the scene had triggered a burst of empathy within her. She felt a profound sadness, and this feeling seemed to clutch at her chest like a cruel hand.
Ike noticed Anna's tears and questioned why she was crying. Anna, feeling a mix of emotions, responded that Ike could have also helped them. Ike, aware of the situation's complexities, explained that it wasn't as simple as it seemed.
While Anna understood Ike's concerns and reasoning, she also grappled with the distinction between morality and rationality. She pondered how a person's moral compass could be tormented by the consequences of their actions, even when dealing with strangers.
She couldn't help but wonder what fate awaited the woman and child they left behind.
As Ike walked away along the wall, he heard the middle-aged woman cursing them loudly, accusing them of having no heart for abandoning a small child. Anna, still feeling the weight of her emotions, grabbed a stone and hurled it toward the woman, venting her frustration.
Later, Yingli shared stories of deceptive people in society who used their apparent misery to manipulate others for their gain. She emphasized that appearances could be deceiving, and people who appeared the most pitiful might be the most cunning.
Ike smiled and teasingly began to educate Yingli about the harsh realities of the world. He pointed out that society wasn't always what it seemed, and sometimes helping others could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Back at home, Anna continued to reflect on her mother's stories and the nature of society. She found comfort in the safety of their current environment and the familiarity of their neighbors, despite occasional unpleasant incidents.
Ike, on the other hand, took off his wet clothes, thinking about their limited resources and the need to avoid going out unnecessarily. He changed into dry clothes and glanced out of his window, noticing a faint light in Regus's house across the way.
While watching the rain beat against the windowsill, Ike's thoughts
wandered, and he played with his paring knife. He considered finding something to wrap around it, as it was missing its scabbard.
As the day progressed, Ike and his family took measures to stay warm and dry. They consumed ginger soup and cold powder, used hot water for warmth, and decided to eat instant noodles for dinner, opting to stay indoors due to the relentless rain.
After dinner, the Ike family repackaged the rice and other food. The rice packaging was not completely closed, allowing a certain amount of moisture to seep in. To prevent this, they decided to use garbage bags for packaging. They had bought enough supplies this time, with two bags of rice to last the three of them for more than two months. However, Ike had a nagging feeling that it might not be sufficient.
So Ike planned to venture out again in a few days. He needed to buy two more tanks of gas as a backup. He also realized they needed more candles, as they burned quickly in this prolonged blackout.
The rain showed no signs of stopping. It had been pouring for days, and the downpour continued relentlessly. The stairwell resembled a curtain, and the entire street had transformed into a turbulent river, flooding the pond near the village chief's house. Rumor had it that yesterday morning, a fish had leaped out of the water and was caught by a family living downstream. That night, they made fish head soup.