Cave Refuge

This kind of card game is a unique activity in Pengcheng for cooling off, and you don't bet any money on it. The penalties for losing usually involve sticking paper pieces on oneself or adding tiles on one's head.

Younger folks tend to get paper pieces as penalties, but for the older generation, they usually have to add tiles, meaning they have to turn over their slippers and put them on their heads. For every round lost, an extra tile would be added.

During the game, the tiles should not fall from your head. If any tile drops, you are required to leave the table once the game is over.

Usually, a group of people would gather to watch the four people playing cards. Although there are enough spectators to form a few more game sessions, they prefer not to do so. They enjoy not only watching but also experiencing the lively atmosphere when the players leave the table.

Moreover, it doesn't remain silent during the game. Most people tend to add verbal harassment to spice things up. So spectators can not only enjoy the fascinating card game but also have a good laugh.

That's why Dong Tianyu knew there was a card game going on in the room as soon as he reached the entrance. Hearing those familiar voices gave him a sense of nostalgia for the times before the virus outbreak.

As Dong Tianyu had speculated, he saw his father in the room. He wasn't sure if his father hadn't yet had a turn at the table or if he'd already finished playing. Right now, Mr. Thompson was standing among the crowd, enjoying the game.

Perhaps it was a father-son connection, but as soon as Dong Tianyu located his father, Mr. Thompson instinctively looked up and saw his son.

Mr. Thompson instantly backed away from the crowd. "Let's go home and talk," he said.

Upon hearing his father's words, Dong Tianyu immediately followed him back to their apartment.

Upon entering the room, Dong Tianyu noticed that what was once a spacious room barely had any room left. Although all the stuff was covered with ad banners, he immediately guessed they were supplies.

Seeing this situation, Dong Tianyu asked worriedly, "Did something happen in the warehouse?"

Seeing the concerned look on Dong Tianyu's face, Mr. Thompson gave a helpless smile. "Nothing happened. But it's a long story. Let me start from when you left.

After you left, we stayed on this floor and hadn't had any interaction with others.

However, after you'd been gone for some time, the officials suddenly notified us that disaster relief food was being distributed downstairs. We didn't actually need it since you'd stored a lot of food in the warehouse.

Still, after discussing with your aunt and uncle, we finally decided to go downstairs and get the food. After all, it was our first step in integrating ourselves with the community.

When we decided to blend in, we were prepared to lose the supplies you had prepared.

Initially, we had planned to distribute and take away all the supplies in the warehouse. But after discussing it further, we only took the food and drinks, leaving all the water-purifier equipment in the warehouse.

After distributing the stuff, we gradually opened up the 30th floor. Others initially began to move in. But after further discussion, aside from the rooms occupied by our families, the rest of the area was designated as a public entertainment area.

Let's not even talk about poker, chess, and Go, they even managed to get a few pool tables. But this was also good in a way, since it helped us integrate with the group.

By the way, did you see your mother while in the lobby? By this time, she should have been rehearsing.

Upon hearing his father's inquiry, Dong Tianyu nodded. Mrs. Thompson actually had two hobbies, one was playing mahjong, the other was singing.

Back in the old days before disaster struck, she not only loved to go to karaoke bars in the afternoons with her friends but also liked to wear headphones and sing along with a karaoke app on her phone.

Just like young people do, she would try to follow the on-screen notes and if she didn't get a score of above 95, she would rehearse over and over again until she got her desired score.

After moving into the office building, Mrs. Thompson had initially given up her hobbies. But to her surprise, she found many like-minded friends once 30th floor was opened up.

These people weren't intentionally arranged by the officials to get close to the Thompsons. Now that the Thompsons made the concession for the 30th floor, the officials no longer paid much attention to them.

Because Mrs. Thompson loved singing, she was the first person from the Thompsons to integrate into the collective group.

Mr. Thompson wasn't clear about the whole process, but he had a general idea.

To summarise in a sentence: Mrs. Thompson inadvertently met a family member who also liked singing and before disaster struck, they had formed a retirement singing group for women.

When they had nothing to do, these sisters would gather for lunch and go to the karaoke bar in the afternoon.

These family members' lives were similar to Mrs. Thompson's previous experiences, so she quickly integrated into the group.

Furthermore, the singing group had been worrying about finding a place to rehearse. But when Mrs. Thompson joined, she brought them directly to the 30th floor and took the best location - the lobby, as their rehearsing spot.

These middle-aged and senior women might be retired, but they really weren't to be trifled with.

There's no need to mention Mrs. Thompson. Originally, the 30th floor was occupied by three families. One was her husband's, another was her sister's, and the last was her husband's younger brother's family.

Mrs. Thompson might not have much say in those families, but her opinions would at least be heard. Therefore, once she knew what they were thinking, she didn't hesitate to bring in her singing group.

These singing women were no different. Anyone living in this building would have some relatives in the Command Headquarters.

Under the leadership of Mrs. Thompson, these women directly occupied the best location on this floor. They spent most of their time rehearsing and when not rehearsing, they chatted over tea with their daughters-in-law or grandchildren.

Although it was not expressly stated, the men gradually started to avoid entering this room, and in time this area turned into their exclusive park.

By this time, all the survivors in the building had their own homes and when the Thompsons opened up the 30th floor, the officials naturally took over all the vacant areas.

After discussing, these areas were designated as recreational areas, turning the 30th floor into something like a park.

The Thompsons living on the 30th floor were not asked to move. Their current situation was similar to people living in parks elsewhere.

With the full opening of the 30th floor, the Thompsons were truly integrated into the collective group.

As for why the supplies in the warehouse were moved to their homes, the reason was pretty simple. Because the 30th floor became a public area, it was inevitable that the warehouse would be discovered when opened.

Facing plenty of supplies in the warehouse, even the officials would inevitably eye them greedily. After all, although a lot of food had been distributed recently, those were soaked foods, unlike the fresh food in the warehouse.

Moreover...