She found people
willing to keep watch, people capable of basic repairs, and people who
could help maintain common areas. She made sure the schedule did not
place too much work on any one person, especially residents who were
caring for children or injured relatives. A few people complained, but
most accepted that their chances of survival improved when the building
worked together.
The small indoor garden also became part of the household routine. Lili
took responsibility for checking the soil and reporting which leaves
looked dry. Yan explained how to water the plants without flooding the
trays. Bai improved the shelf lights so the seedlings would receive
enough light without wasting power. Mother Yan reorganized the growing
containers so that the herbs could be harvested without disturbing the
younger plants. The result was modest, but seeing a fresh green leaf
appear each morning gave Lili something to look forward to.
