The mockery around them was no longer concealed. Some people couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, doubling over. Many found it unbelievable that even in the apocalypse, they could hear such idiotic pronouncements.
"Auntie, are you alright? What time is it? You're still dreaming. You think your son can protect us just because he's full? Wake up. Who here needs your son's protection?"
Others looked dismissively at the mother and son, their disdain evident. Setting aside whether they even needed protection from a man who looked physically weak, his pudgy body and vacant eyes clearly indicated he wasn't a fighter. Such a person would only serve as a more filling meal for the zombies.
When her request was denied, the old woman's eyes darted around, and she immediately resorted to hysterics.
"I don't care! You're bullying us! You can't just give us this little. If you only give us this much, we'll starve! No, you want my son and me to starve!"
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, the old woman's wails grew louder, as if she had no inhibitions, and she began to shout. The surrounding zombies, like dogs catching a scent, sniffed the air and began to converge on the convenience store.
Panic set in. A crucial reason for taking shelter in this convenience store was its proximity to a garbage disposal station. Due to the smell, business was poor, and the location was remote, arguably the worst spot on the street. However, upon seeing the disposal station, everyone rejoiced. The smell of garbage would disrupt the zombies' sense of smell, masking the scent of humans.
Thus, besides basic soundproofing, they endured the stench and collected all the rotting garbage from the station, spreading it evenly at the store's entrance. Fortunately, the convenience store was ownerless and had sturdy tempered glass doors, providing an additional layer of security. The piled-up garbage effectively blocked their scent from reaching the outside. As expected, after they finished their work, the approaching horde of zombies dispersed, scattering like headless flies, seemingly having lost their target. It was precisely because of this that Xu An and the others had not found Xu Yan's trace for so long.
"Shut up, you crazy fool! Do you want to attract the zombies by crying so loudly?"
A scrawny man, named Shou Hou, lunged forward and stuffed a grimy rag into the old woman's mouth. In his other hand, a gleaming dagger was pressed against her throat.
"Damn it, shut up! If you dare to cry again, I'll slit your throat."
Terror flashed in the old woman's eyes. She could tell the man was serious. If she continued to make a fuss, he might actually kill her. Meanwhile, her son, who claimed to be a man and capable of protecting everyone, his first reaction upon seeing his mother threatened was to find a place to hide. He lacked the courage to protect his own mother, let alone others. It was truly a laughable irony.
The old woman watched her son, whom she cherished, simply hide behind others when she was in danger. He even went to the people distributing supplies, kneeling and begging for his share.
"We don't need anything extra. Just give us what was originally allocated. Please, I'm really hungry. We won't cause any more trouble."
The man knelt, pleading repeatedly, his eyes never leaving the food. The others scoffed, looking at him and then at the threatened old woman. They felt a sense of disgust, unable to comprehend what good purpose such a son served. The old woman, though shrewish, acted entirely for her son. Yet, her own son was willing to abandon her for a bite to eat. It was truly lamentable.
The scrawny man loosened his grip on the dagger against the woman's neck slightly but continued to slap her face with the blunt side of the blade.
"You'd better be quiet and stop causing trouble, or next time it won't just be a scare."
With that, the man grabbed his dagger and left. As he departed, the remaining people let out a long sigh of relief. Although everyone was annoyed by the old woman, none of them intended to take her life. It was true that not all civilians in the Lighthouse went out to fight and earn contribution points. Many might not even know what zombies looked like before being sent to the Lighthouse. Such people were fortunate to live under protection, never witnessing the dark side of the world, even now. But they were also unfortunate. Once the protection was gone, they wouldn't survive a day in this cannibalistic apocalypse.
As the old woman silently returned to her son's side, the commotion finally came to an end. The convenience store quieted down again, and the zombies gathered outside gradually dispersed, though they still roamed nearby. The strong stench made them instinctively avoid the area, yet a peculiar attraction kept them lingering, unwilling to leave.
At this moment, a little girl hiding in Xu Yan's arms timidly looked up.
"Auntie, I'm so scared. When do you think Daddy will come find us?"
Xu Yan gently stroked the girl's head, softly comforting her.
"Yueyue, don't be scared. Your daddy is definitely on his way. We'll wait and see him, okay?"
Unseen by the girl, Xu Yan wiped away her tears. She recalled the unanswered call from that morning. Looking at the girl in her arms, she was suddenly reminded of her own daughter. The current situation was not unfamiliar to her. She clearly understood the meaning behind the outbreak of the zombie virus. She didn't place as much trust in the Lighthouse as others did. She hadn't seen any rescue efforts throughout the entire day. She vaguely sensed something. Perhaps rescue wouldn't come. This was not surprising to Xu Yan. After all, in the first year of the apocalypse, Xu Yan had learned that in times like these, it was better to rely on oneself than on others.