The next morning, Melody Summers got some sports drinks, chocolate, and self-heating rice from her storage room. She also grabbed some canned beef, canned pork belly, and canned yellow peaches, packing a large box full.

Yesterday, Austin Hale had caused a scene at her door. Officer Tate and the property security guards had arrived promptly. In the end, Austin had only harassed Melody from outside without getting in, but he still received a formal warning—the most severe penalty they could give under the circumstances.

Officer Tate and Officer Sean Pierce had likely dealt with Austin Hale so harshly because Melody’s mother, Winnie Summers, and her uncle, Colin Summers, both worked at the supply point, and Melody herself had donated a batch of special-effect medicine to the community.

Melody felt a little indebted and wanted to prepare a thank-you gift for them.

Carrying the box, Melody headed out. Along the way, she saw many Desert Vines by the roadside, crawling all the way onto the street.

She hadn’t been out much in the past few days. ’I can’t believe the Desert Vines have spread this much.’

Melody pulled a pair of rubber gloves and a fruit knife from her storage space. After putting on the gloves, she crouched down, found a thick Desert Vine, and sliced it off with the knife. She then split it down the middle and, just as she expected, saw glistening white eggs inside.

The eggs were encased in a gelatinous substance within the vine and were still squirming slightly.

In normal times, such grubs would only be disgusting, but in this age of disaster, they were a rare source of high-quality protein.

Melody put the vine down, stowed her knife and gloves, and walked toward Crystal Mart. On the way, she saw property management staff cutting the vines in the residential area.

They too were wearing thick rubber gloves, with cloth strips wrapped around any exposed skin on their legs and arms. Holding sharp knives, they cut down the vines and carefully placed them into woven sacks.

These harvested vines were to be packed in batches and sent to state-designated processing plants to be made into food.

To conserve electricity, the community’s streetlights were not turned on at night. To avoid accidental injuries from poor visibility, everyone could only handle the vines in the morning.

Melody carried the box into the emergency office next to Crystal Mart. Only Officer Tate was on duty inside.

Officer Tate greeted Melody politely. "Comrade Summers, thank you for the special-effect medicine you donated. It’s been a huge help. Every day, people cutting the vines get accidentally pricked by the Desert Vines. If it weren’t for your medicine, everyone would be lining up at the hospital."

In truth, the hospitals were also short on medicine now, even painkillers. Doctors were helpless and could only perform simple disinfection on wounds. After that, it was all up to the patient’s willpower to endure.

Melody quickly shook her head and said, "Don’t mention it, Officer Tate. I’m a member of this community, after all."

Then, Melody opened the cardboard box she had brought and said sincerely to Officer Tate, "Someone was harassing me at my home yesterday, and I’m so grateful you all arrived in time. This is a thank-you gift for the office and the property security guards."

Officer Tate glanced inside. Sports drinks and canned meat were long gone from the market; you couldn’t get them even if you had the money. He hurriedly declined, "We can’t accept this. It’s far too valuable. Protecting the public is our job. How could we take your things? Please, take it back."

Melody replied, "Then please consider it a donation to the office and the security staff. You all are on duty here every day, unable to go home. It’s really tough work. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please help me share it with everyone."

Seeing Officer Tate was about to refuse again, Melody could only smile and say, "I carried it all the way here. Are you really going to make me carry it all the way back?"

At that, Officer Tate had no choice but to accept it. He thanked Melody, "Well then, thank you."

After dropping off the gift, Melody went next door to Crystal Mart. Only Crystal Lynch was at the checkout counter.

"Melody, what are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in days!" Crystal Lynch said happily when she saw Melody approach. "Your mom and uncle went to cut vines, and so did my dad and brother, so it’s just me in the store."

Melody saw a few people lining up at the checkout, so she went over to help Crystal.

Just as the temperature outside began to rise, Winnie Summers and Colin Summers returned. They were wearing thick plastic gloves, and their legs and arms were heavily wrapped.

"We’ve cleared the area around the supermarket, but this stuff grows so fast. We’ll have to clear it again in a few days," Winnie Summers said with a sigh.

’It’s a good thing it grows fast,’ Melody thought. ’Otherwise, it wouldn’t be enough to feed the billions of people in the world.’

Melody glanced at the shelves. Apart from some daily necessities like soap, the food section was almost completely empty.

The wide variety of snacks that used to line the shelves were all sold out, and there were no new shipments coming in.

There were still some big-brand cookies, bread, and instant noodles from warehouses with large inventories, but the prices were sky-high. A family’s weekly ration allowance might not even be enough to buy ten packs of instant noodles.

What filled most of the shelves was rice and flour.

It seemed the supplies that factories had rushed to produce had been completely consumed over the past few months.

Melody sighed at the sight. Now, her only hope was that the sand vine cakes would arrive soon.

While Melody was lost in thought, Austin Hale’s mother walked into Crystal Mart alone.

Mrs. Hale was not as impulsive as her son. She had done her homework before coming. Melody’s mother and uncle co-ran this supermarket, which had been converted into a supply point after the disaster.

Mrs. Hale was delighted to learn this. A supply point! It controlled the entire community’s provisions. The manager of the supply point in her own neighborhood was always strutting about, and everyone had to suck up to them.

If Austin married Melody, her family would have in-laws working at the supply point. They would never have to worry about food again.

Mrs. Hale made up her mind. For the sake of the supplies, she would tolerate Melody’s temper and help her son bring her home as his wife.

Mrs. Hale knew that if she went to Melody’s villa unannounced, Melody wouldn’t open the door. So, she planned to start with Melody’s mother and uncle first.

She hadn’t expected to run into Melody herself right in the supermarket.

Mrs. Hale stood still, carefully sizing Melody up. She saw that Melody’s skin was fair, her clothes were clean, and her hair was fresh and dry. ’Looks like my son was right,’ Mrs. Hale thought. ’Melody really is doing well for herself now.’

At this thought, Mrs. Hale couldn’t help but snort inwardly. ’Melody is only living well now because she sold that school district apartment to my son! That being the case, I have to move in with my son into her villa. That villa was bought with the money we mother and son scrimped and saved for years!’

Mrs. Hale straightened her clothes, put on a benevolent smile, and walked over in a few steps to grab Melody’s hand, calling out affectionately, "Daughter-in-law!"

Startled by Mrs. Hale’s action, Melody frantically shook her hand off. "You’ve got the wrong person."

Mrs. Hale wasn’t angry about being pushed away. She just kept smiling and said, "No mistake, no mistake at all. It’s you, Melody. You are my daughter-in-law!"

Melody shivered. The term "daughter-in-law" was starting to give her a stress reaction. ’How many is that now? Why do people keep trying to force me into a marriage? What crime have single girls committed these days to be targeted by a bunch of leeches for no reason?’

Melody frowned and took a closer look at Mrs. Hale’s face. It was obvious the woman hadn’t washed her face properly in a long time; it was covered in dry, flaky skin. Her collar was yellowed, from either dirt or sweat, Melody couldn’t tell.

Melody confirmed again and again that she didn’t know this woman and found it strange that the woman knew her name.

Seeing this, Winnie Summers and Colin Summers rushed over, shielding Melody protectively behind them as they watched Mrs. Hale with suspicion.

Winnie frowned and said to Mrs. Hale, "Ma’am, watch what you’re saying. My daughter is single!"

But Mrs. Hale grabbed Winnie’s arm and said affectionately, "You must be her mother, my dear in-law! My son, Austin Hale, and your daughter, Melody, have been boyfriend and girlfriend since college. I’m not making things up. If you don’t believe me, ask your daughter." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Melody was stunned. She had been worried this woman was from the Lawson or Adler families, but she never expected her to be Austin Hale’s mother.

She had seen Austin on the surveillance footage looking all dapper and thought he’d really managed to turn his life around with the help of the Adler Group. But seeing the state his mother was in, their family must still be struggling financially.

Crystal Lynch came over as well. She frowned and said, "Boyfriend and girlfriend? You’ve got some nerve. The whole school knew your son Austin Hale cheated on her! I can testify that they broke up a long time ago."

Colin Summers quickly stepped forward, pulled Mrs. Hale’s hand off Winnie, and stood in front of his sister. "So you’re that punk’s mother, huh? Get lost, get lost! Your son has nothing to do with my niece. Stop trying to force a connection."

Melody also let out a cold laugh. "Ma’am, don’t talk nonsense. Austin Hale and I were over ages ago. His next girlfriend was Joanne White. Don’t go around claiming random daughters-in-law."

Seeing the unfriendly looks from the Summers family, Mrs. Hale didn’t panic. She kept her smile and said sweetly, "Oh, Austin and that Joanne White broke up a long time ago. That Joanne White is just a gold digger. She was always throwing herself at my son, but I never approved. I kicked her right out of our house!"

Then Mrs. Hale looked back at Melody with a sincere expression. "Melody, you’ve always been the only daughter-in-law our family recognizes. And Austin has never forgotten you. You two should get back together. Don’t worry, with me watching him, he’ll never dare to do anything to wrong you again."

Hearing this, Colin’s expression changed instantly. He cursed, "What nonsense are you spewing, you old hag! Our Melody isn’t a garbage collector, so why should she take your son off your hands?!"

With that, he lunged forward, grabbed Mrs. Hale’s arm, and started trying to drag her out.

Seeing that the soft approach had failed, Mrs. Hale immediately switched tactics. She wrenched free from Colin’s grasp, threw herself on the floor, and started screaming, "Everyone, come and be the judge! This woman was with my son in college! To marry her, my son gave her four million to buy a villa! Now she’s taken the money and wants to break up with him! Is there any justice in this world?!"

The customers in the supermarket saw the commotion and crowded around to watch the show.

Seeing that she had drawn a crowd, Mrs. Hale was secretly pleased. She shouted at Melody again, "The money for your villa was all from my son! What right do you have to break up with him?! I’m telling you, you have to marry my son and let us move in with you! If you don’t, I’ll sue you!"