Chapter 13: Clearing Courtyard No. 5, Section A (1)

Unit 6 had been cleared, but there were no tools found for prying open doors. Li Fengyi recalled that on the north side of the courtyard downstairs, there was a small utility room belonging to the property management, where tools were likely stored. However, now was not the time—rescuing the living took precedence.

Starting from Unit 7 at the far north, they soon discovered that all the doors were electromagnetic security intercoms, still powered and thus impenetrable. With no other option, they dispatched people to ring doorbells unit by unit, apartment by apartment, and managed to rescue thirty-five more people. Among them were two infants still swaddled, twenty women, and thirteen men.

In Units 1, 2, 4, and 5, there were zombies in the hallways. The people inside dared not emerge and were instructed to stay barricaded in their apartments.

Li Fengyi led a group to open the property management’s tool shed. The moment they entered, several cat cries rang out. Having all watched their share of apocalyptic films—zombies, mutant creatures, and the like—the group was instantly on edge, clutching their weapons tightly. Two cats darted out, vaulting over walls and rooftops, disappearing into the distance. Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Inside, as they rummaged for tools, they found a nest of newborn kittens, their fur still fluffy. Delighted by the sight of such fragile life, they nevertheless did not linger—time was pressing. They only took a pair of heavy-duty pliers and a crowbar before leaving.

Li Fengyi asked the tank commander, “Can you fix the tank?”

The commander shook his head. “The parts are broken. Without welding equipment or spare components, repairs are impossible. The barracks are crawling with zombies—we barely managed to cobble together a few tanks and soldiers to get out.”

Li Fengyi thought of the blacksmith’s shop on Youth Ditch Road to the north—maybe there were usable tools there, but now was not the time for that.

With the group growing, Li Fengyi organized them into teams of three, each trio forming a small squad. Every three squads would have a group leader, totaling ten people. He reasoned that two could carry a plank to restrain a zombie, while the third would kill it. Li Qiang had no better suggestions; after all, the army had never taught the "wooden plank tactic."

Five large groups were formed, with a remaining seven assembled into an auxiliary group. Two tank crewmen, Sun Xiaotian and Sun Feigang, served as group leaders. Li Fengyi took on the role of captain, assigning the tank commander as vice-captain and deputy leader of the auxiliary group, assisting in the command of all five main groups.

Each time someone was rescued, they would be reorganized. The auxiliary group became Group 1, while the main groups were numbered in order as Groups 2 through 6.

Armed with crowbars, heavy-duty pliers, and sledgehammers, they ascended to the roof of Unit 6, ready to play the part of the demolition crew—battering down doors and clearing out zombies.

Li Fengyi demanded that everyone watch and learn how to operate. Tank soldiers, used to heavy labor, found this almost relaxing compared to tank maintenance. They quickly smashed open apartment 604. Huang Shunyi and Tian Ming, designated as the expert plank handlers, braced the entrance, blocking zombies as the door was forced open.

Once the area was cleared, they dismantled several more barricades. Everyone returned to the courtyard. The tank soldiers continued as the sledgehammer crew, while the rest practiced in groups of three—even the women were required to train.

A few people trembled with fear, faces pale, refusing to participate. Without hesitation, Li Fengyi ordered them removed from the team and locked in the property shed, with the women assigned as guards. Their own household supplies were theirs to use, but they were forbidden to access apartment 607.

This restriction was severe. City dwellers were accustomed to shopping on weekends, and since yesterday had been a weekend, most homes were already empty. Soldiers felt sympathy; they believed protecting civilians was their duty.

Li Fengyi addressed them sternly. “In times like these, everyone is equal. If you refuse to share the team’s responsibilities, then the team bears no responsibility for you. Your duty is to protect those who are willing to cooperate.”

Inwardly, he thought, Damn it, it wasn’t easy for me to gather some food for my mother and child—why should you freeloaders get any?

The group watched contemptuously as the dissenters were escorted out, clutching their personal belongings. Some protested that they had no right to be detained. Li Fengyi glanced at Sun Xiaotian and the others, who, almost instinctively, let their gun barrels drift meaningfully in their direction. The troublemakers, having seen them dispatch zombies without hesitation, meekly shuffled into the shed.

“I’m just worried they’ll cause trouble and attract zombies,” Li Fengyi declared, standing before the assembled group in the courtyard. “Since I’m captain, I must keep everyone safe.”

Training continued until lunchtime. The women went to prepare the meal, the men practiced a bit longer, and children ran and played in the courtyard—though none dared make too much noise.

After lunch, they began the door-to-door sweep. On May 30th, they cleared Units 7 and 6, eliminated more than eighty zombies, and rescued fifteen people who had been trapped by zombies in the stairwells. The usual number of residents was nearly five hundred.

Since it was a workday, most hadn’t returned home. Li Fengyi calculated the survival rate; he doubted it exceeded fifteen percent. Population density was simply too high. In mega-cities, survival rates would be lower; small cities and rural areas likely fared better.

After clearing every apartment, all survivors were gathered in Unit 6. Each team was assigned a floor, and all supplies for food, clothing, shelter, and daily use were centralized there.

As night fell, they held their customary meeting to discuss current events. The internet offered no new information, nor were there any government notices via text message, though calls could still occasionally reach people.

Wang Shujuan reported, “Three of those locked in the utility shed have asked to rejoin our work teams.” She sounded rather pleased—violence and killing were not a woman’s forte, but this time, they’d proven their worth.

“Oh? And why is that?” Li Fengyi was intrigued.

It turned out that the female guards had made the men’s cowardice abundantly clear. One of the men’s wives was among the guards—her shame was unbearable. Unable to withstand the nagging of a group of women, all but two of the men begged to atone for their earlier refusal by working.

Li Fengyi and the tank commander Li Qiang conferred and decided to reorganize the teams.

There were now sixty-seven adults in total, divided—regardless of gender—into seven groups. Sun Xiaoshan, Tian Ming, Sun Feigang, Wei Yong, Liu Feng, and Wang Shujuan were appointed leaders of Groups 1 through 6, with Group 6 as the logistics team comprising the smallest women. Group 7, led by Li Fengyi with Li Qiang as deputy, was understrength and functioned as the training unit. Any newcomers had to pass through the training group before being assigned to other teams or forming new ones. Children and the elderly were cared for by Group 6.

Li Fengyi’s intention was simple: to avoid chaos, everything needed to be tightly organized.

It’s not the bad guys you have to fear, but the disciplined, organized ones—what people call the underworld.