Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Snobbish Relatives

"Grandma, Aunt Grace, what’s wrong?" Melody Summers asked, puzzled.

"Your second uncle just called. He said he wants to come over for a visit," Grandma replied with a sigh.

Even though it was her son coming to see her, there wasn’t a trace of happiness on Grandma’s face.

Melody Summers’s heart sank. She didn’t like this second uncle either.

Grandma had five children in total—three sons and two daughters—but only her eldest son, Colin Summers, and eldest daughter, Winnie Summers, lived with her. The other three children rarely visited after getting married, so Melody Summers didn’t feel much of a connection to her other uncles and aunts.

In her past life, after the mudslide on Mount Anworth and the accidental deaths of Grandma and the others, these three uncles and aunts hadn’t even come to the funeral. When Melody Summers called them, they all made excuses, saying they were too busy and had no time to return to Anworth Village.

This particular second uncle had married the daughter of a deputy bureau chief in the city. He was the most well-off of the five siblings, but when he learned of Grandma’s death, he had only transferred five hundred yuan to Melody Summers. He left a message telling her and her cousin, Ian Summers, to arrange the funeral, and said nothing more.

"Let them come, then," Melody Summers said flatly. "It’s just one meal."

No matter what, her second uncle was still Grandma’s son. Melody was afraid her grandma would feel bad if she turned them away. If they wanted to come, Melody could provide them with a meal, but that was all.

Grandma thought for a moment, sighed, and nodded. "Alright, I’ll call him back."

*

Around nine in the morning, Caleb Summers arrived at The Metropolis Residences with his wife, Mindy Walsh, and their daughter, Nina Walsh.

They came by car. In these times, with gas and diesel prices soaring, ordinary people could no longer afford to drive. But Caleb Summers worked within the "system." His department had a government-allocated gasoline quota for public vehicles, and he would always secretly siphon off a little to use for his own private car.

"This must be the suburbs," Nina Walsh said, sticking her head out the window and curiously sizing up the surroundings.

"Of course it is. All the way out in the sticks. Hmph. Buying a villa in the suburbs... they’re just pretending to be rich when they’re not," Mindy Walsh said scornfully.

Just as the car was about to enter The Metropolis Residences, a security guard at the gate stopped them. "You’re not residents," the guard told the three of them. "This vehicle isn’t registered in the community’s database, so you can’t drive in."

In the past few days, numerous robberies had occurred in the surrounding neighborhoods. There were even criminal gangs who would drive straight into a complex, slam on the gas, and ram their way into supermarkets to rob them.

After hearing the news, residents of The Metropolis Residences were on edge. The property management security was on high alert, strictly prohibiting all outside vehicles from entering.

With no other choice, Caleb Summers had to park the car on the side of the road. The three of them then walked into The Metropolis Residences.

Caleb Summers carried a gift: some crackers, two bags of dried noodles, a box of mung bean cakes, and the complimentary fruit from his work unit—two apples.

Before the apocalypse, this wouldn’t have been considered much of a gift. It might even have seemed a bit shabby. But in these apocalyptic times, with rations limiting every purchase, this was practically a lavish present. Besides, what ordinary person could even get their hands on apples anymore?

If he didn’t have a favor to ask this time, Caleb Summers never would have parted with this food.

The villa area was a considerable distance from the main gate. Residents of the villas usually used the complex’s back entrance, but Caleb Summers’s family didn’t know this. They had entered through the main gate, which meant they had to walk past the apartment blocks in the front to reach the villas.

The three of them complained about the heat the entire way. Even at nine in the morning, the sun was already scorching. Caleb Summers’s back was completely soaked with sweat, and Mindy Walsh’s makeup was running. She and Nina Walsh held up parasols, but the sun beating down on their calves still made them ache.

As the three of them were passing an apartment block, a figure suddenly darted out from the entrance, snatched the bag from Caleb Summers’s hand, and took off running!

In his panicked escape, he wasn’t watching where he was going and knocked Mindy Walsh over.

"AH!" Mindy Walsh shrieked in surprise. The ground, baked hot by the sun, was scorching, and she scrambled desperately to get back on her feet.

While clumsily helping his wife up, Caleb Summers shouted, "Thief! Catch the thief!"

The patrolling property security guards heard the commotion and immediately reported it to the complex’s emergency response office.

A few moments later, Hollis from property management and Officer Tristan Tanner arrived with several other guards.

"What happened here?" Officer Tristan Tanner asked.

"Someone snatched our things! You have to get them back for me!" Caleb Summers yelled frantically. That food was saved by taking it out of his own family’s mouths, and it included two precious apples!

Officer Tristan Tanner immediately checked the surveillance footage from the apartment block’s entrance and saw that the thief had run into Building 6.

After a brief investigation, the police identified the robber as Zachary Lawson, the resident of Building 6, Apartment 701.

The police and security guards ran to 701 and knocked on the door, but no matter how hard they knocked, the person inside refused to open it.

Left with no choice, Officer Tristan Tanner broke down the door.

Zachary Lawson was sitting in the living room, eating. When he saw the police burst in, he didn’t panic. Instead, he sped up, relentlessly stuffing crackers into his mouth until his cheeks were bulging.

Hollis from property management, however, recognized Zachary Lawson. "So it’s you! You spent your entire ration allowance for the past few weeks on cigarettes and alcohol, and now that you’ve got no food, you’ve resorted to robbery, is that it?!"

Zachary Lawson was the man who had used his entire supply quota on cigarettes and alcohol. When his wife found out, she had taken their child and gone back to her parents’ house.

He was a heavy smoker and drinker and could never stop himself from using his quota on cigarettes and alcohol. Two days ago, his food stores had finally run out. He was so hungry he couldn’t stand it anymore, which was when he decided to target other people’s food.

He didn’t have the guts for a home invasion, nor did he have the skills to pick locks, so he could only lie in wait at the entrance of the apartment block, hoping to rob someone passing by with food. Caleb Summers and his family were his first unlucky victims.

Property management quickly moved forward to restrain Zachary Lawson, who didn’t resist at all and surrendered without a fight.

’He knew he couldn’t fight back. He was already satisfied just to have gotten something to eat. What’s more, he’d eaten two apples—real apples! Even if he got caught, it was totally worth it!’

Officer Tristan Tanner spoke sternly to Zachary Lawson. "This is the first time, so we’re giving you a warning. If there’s a next time, we will directly revoke your purchasing rights at this community’s supply point."

In the world today, losing your purchasing rights was a death sentence.

Zachary Lawson lowered his head, apologized profusely, and repeatedly promised he would never dare do it again.

Officer Tristan Tanner returned the bag of food to Caleb Summers and the others, saying helplessly, "This is all that’s left. He ate the rest."

Caleb Summers rummaged through the bag, which had been turned into a mess by Zachary Lawson. The apples were gone, the mung bean cakes were gone, and only some crackers and dried noodles were left.

Caleb Summers felt like his heart was bleeding.

Though furious inside, Caleb Summers had always prided himself on being a dignified man of status. He knew the food was gone and couldn’t be recovered, so he could only swallow his anger and say, "Getting this much back is better than losing it all. Thank you for your trouble, Officer."

Internally, he cursed his bad luck as he continued toward the villa area with his wife and daughter. This time, he clutched the bag tightly, terrified that someone else would snatch it away.

*

Caleb Summers’s family finally found Building B16 and arrived at the gate of Melody Summers’s home.

"Why is the yard all fenced off? Do they think this is some self-built house back in the countryside? You can live in a villa, but you can’t take the country out of the person," Mindy Walsh muttered under her breath. "It might be a villa, but it’s in the suburbs. When you do the math, it’s not much more expensive than our place in the city."

"Alright, that’s enough. We’re at the gate, so keep your voice down," Caleb Summers interrupted her in a hushed tone.

Although Mindy Walsh was displeased, she kept her mouth shut. She knew her family was here on a mission today.

Caleb Summers smoothed his hair, stepped forward, and rang the doorbell.

A moment later, the gate opened.

Grace Sutton emerged to greet them. Forcing a smile, she said to the three of them, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Nina, you’re here. Please, come in and sit down."