Due to Old Zhu's strong resistance, the residents of his building temporarily quieted down. The group chat saw no more talk of expelling those who had been infected. With Old Zhu's example set, those who had not been infected became even more fearful of the infected, dreading any retaliation or retribution.
While their building had become quieter, other areas were not necessarily the same. It seemed people were increasingly divided into two groups: the "healthy" and the "infected." Even though those who had been infected were temporarily recovered, experts and medical professionals continued to stress that fungal spores spread through polluted air, with very low person-to-person transmission. Proper mask-wearing could nearly eliminate the risk of person-to-person spread. Nonetheless, healthy people remained fearful and turned that fear into ostracism and hostility towards the infected.
Mu Nan had seen online reports of entire neighborhoods or villages turning against the infected—eggs thrown at doors, seals put on doors, garbage piled up at doorsteps, and even violent groups expelling the infected from their homes. The government, apart from urging people to approach the disease rationally and not to act impulsively, had no effective solutions to improve the situation, except for developing a cure. Yet, creating such a remedy was far from easy. It wasn't until the smog cleared and all the infected had succumbed to death that such prejudice was buried with them.
Despite the coldness of human nature, there was also warmth. The healthcare workers in white coats truly became angels, embodying unity and selfless sacrifice, bringing warmth and hope to those in despair. It was these acts of compassion that allowed those who were once in despair to feel the warmth of love again.
Society is a mixture of harsh realities and the love and hope that keep people moving forward. The blend of love and hate is a common theme.
These events were happening around Mu Nan, yet they felt somewhat distant from his own life. During the first outbreak of the disease, there was widespread panic and anxiety, as everyone feared the unknown that brought death. The second outbreak, however, was marked by the despair of the infected. Some had already started new lives, while others struggled with the impending loss after finally getting a new chance.
Old Zhu died a little over a week later. His wife contacted the community, saying that Old Zhu was nearing the end and asking them to prepare a vehicle to transport him. This departure was not to the hospital, as they knew that with the disease recurring, there was no hope for recovery, and the hospital conditions were akin to hell on earth. They had no intention of going there.
On the day Old Zhu was taken away, the smog seemed to have cleared slightly. It was midday; although the sky remained gloomy and visibility was low, vehicles could still be seen entering and exiting the community. A photo was posted in the group chat with a comment that seemed to express mixed feelings: "Another one has left."
A resident from Old Zhu's floor mentioned in the chat that Old Zhu's departure was quiet, and his wife did not cry excessively. Besides the sound of the staff moving him, there were no other noises in the corridor.
After his death, some old neighbors reminisced about the good old days. Old Zhu used to run a food business and often shared delicious food with the neighbors. His wife was also known for her family recipes, making exceptional beef sauce and fermented tofu. Many of the older neighbors had enjoyed Old Zhu's food, and Mu Nan remembered eating it as well. Aunt Zhu knew he liked beef, so she always packed his beef sauce with generous portions.
As a child, Mu Nan had complained about his own mother not having such a unique recipe, only to be told off by her: "You should be grateful you even get to eat it, don't complain."
While some people remembered the good times, others held grudges. One person who had previously been kicked out by Old Zhu's security was reported to have said in a private group chat that Old Zhu's death was deserved and that it was his just punishment.
Mu Nan had joined several other WeChat groups, as group buying had become a part of daily life. Many businesses and vendors had seized the opportunity, leading to a variety of group-buying offers beyond just meat and vegetables. Some of these groups had pleasant atmospheres, occasionally chatting and sharing information. It was through these conversations that Mu Nan learned about the situation.
The person who spoke critically was from Apartment 9-5, which had no direct connection to Old Zhu, who lived on the 13th floor. Had it not been for his harsh words in the group, Old Zhu wouldn't have targeted his home to set an example. Now that Old Zhu was gone, the person still sought to express their disdain. If they were truly capable, they wouldn't have been hiding at home when Old Zhu was kicking their door. Such people are typical—talk big but are the first to back down when confronted.
Mu Nan complained to Qin Huai while holding his phone: "I really want to throw eggs at his door. What a disgusting person." Even though he had only a little connection with Old Zhu's family, having enjoyed Aunt Zhu's beef sauce and snacks as a child, it was infuriating to him as an outsider.
Qin Huai responded, "Food is so precious; throwing eggs at his door would be a waste. People like him who lack decency will eventually face their retribution."
After that, Qin Huai pulled out the notebook where Mu Nan had recorded his purchased items and pointed to a line: "Why have you bought so much cat litter? If you're planning to keep cats, I wouldn't recommend it. If future conditions are as difficult as you dream them to be, keeping pets would be impractical." Unless it was a pet kept from childhood, which one would never want to part with, getting a pet when future conditions are tough would only add to one's troubles.
Recently, Qin Huai had been reviewing the items Mu Nan bought, checking for any missing essentials or things that could be stockpiled further. Although he couldn't convert all of Mu Nan's capital into supplies, he bought as much as he could. To avoid duplication, he had created a list of Mu Nan's existing items and discovered a significant amount of cat litter among them.
Mu Nan explained, "Cat litter has a big use. Don't underestimate it—it can be used for more than just cleaning up after cats; it can even be used for humans." He raised an eyebrow at Qin Huai, hinting at the extended uses of cat litter.
In his previous life, Mu Nan didn't lack water because he had stockpiled plenty once he realized the situation was going awry. Still, not knowing how bad things might get, he was cautious about wasting resources. After handling daily necessities, he would fret over the water, wishing he could conserve it. His strong desire to avoid waste led him to prioritize buying cat litter over food in his new life. The utility of cat litter was immense, especially in an apartment where there's no place to bury waste as in rural areas.
Qin Huai was surprised by Mu Nan's unconventional use of cat litter. After some thought, he agreed: "If that's the case, should we stock up more? Food supplies are likely to be tightly controlled now, making it hard to buy in bulk. But with cat litter, you can get as much as you need."
Mu Nan said, "Go ahead and buy it. I'm running low on money. Buy whatever you can from my list. The more, the better. Who knows how long it will take to restore normal social order." It might never return to normal, so it's wise to stock up.
Inspired by Mu Nan's idea, Qin Huai suggested, "How about pet food? Is there anyone who can eat it?"
Mu Nan shook his head, "It can be eaten, but it's not very tasty. Oh, and milk—I forgot about milk. Is it easier to buy liquid milk or powdered milk? Can we still get it now?"
Qin Huai made a note to buy both bottled and powdered milk: "We can still get them. Get some of both. It could be for drinking or for bartering in the future. Think if there's anything else missing."
Mu Nan replied, "I've bought everything I could think of. See if you can think of anything I might have missed."
Hearing the steam pot in the kitchen making a beeping sound, Mu Nan quickly got out of bed. He had been boiling corn for the past few days, storing it in his space once cooked to make future meals convenient. When he opened the lid, the sweet aroma of the corn wafted out. Even though he had smelled it for days, the scent still made him happy.
Before Mu Nan could take the corn out of the pot, Qin Huai, who had entered the kitchen, gently pushed him aside. He used chopsticks to remove the corn from the pot and placed it in a food-grade sealed container on the stove. After cleaning the corn water and removing the corn silk, he poured everything out.
They had been collecting corn water over the past few days. Some was cooled and stored in the fridge, while the rest was kept warm in Mu Nan's space. Since they had added a bit of sugar while cooking the corn, the water was slightly sweet and could be used to replenish sugar.
Smelling the sweet corn aroma, Mu Nan suggested, "Let's make some more rock candy pear soup, adding some lily bulbs and Chuanbei. We can store it too. When the weather gets cold, we'll have it ready to drink—it's good for warmth and lung health."
Qin Huai agreed, "Let's make it. It's quick. We'll make two pots today. After that, let the stove rest. Tonight, we'll use the big pot to simmer the pork bones on low heat overnight for soup tomorrow."
Mu Nan nodded repeatedly. He wasn't skilled in cooking and could only follow online recipes to make soup quickly in a pressure cooker, but that wouldn't compare to the flavor of slow-simmered soup. Fortunately, Qin Huai was a much better cook.
While the two of them happily planned their soup preparations, their neighbor next door was having a tough time.
A young man, about the same age as Mu Nan, with hair that looked like it had been chewed by a dog, was sniffing the corn aroma in the air, unable to resist swallowing. He made the other, slightly older-looking boy laugh and teased, "How about I go ask if they're selling corn next door so you don't drool all over the floor?"
The teased boy, Jian Chu, didn't feel insulted at all. Instead, he looked at him with hopeful eyes, wishing he would act on his words.
Seeing Jian Chu's puppy-like hopeful expression, Yu Zibai couldn't help but look away.
Jian Chu seemed to hear his hopes shattering with Yu Zibai's movement. He loved corn; while not to the point of starving without it, being confined at home for nearly two months made the inability to eat it feel torturous. The torment was akin to someone who loves shrimp, smelling the delicious stir-fried shrimp next door but unable to eat it.
Taking another deep breath of the sweet aroma in the air, Jian Chu leaned despondently against the balcony door, staring out at the empty street and said with a sigh, "When will this life ever end?"
The hardest part wasn't being stuck at home—it was the financial strain. With rent, utility bills, and the ever-increasing cost of groceries, not being able to go out meant no part-time work. Without part-time work, there was no income for living expenses. As July was approaching, he still hadn't received his diploma and couldn't find a job. The stress wasn't just from the haze outside but also from an empty wallet.
Yu Zibai, understanding Jian Chu's distress, lowered his gaze slightly and then gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about the rent, it's all paid for this year, so you won't be homeless this year. In such a tough environment, you're not alone. If this disaster passes, the country will likely have some support policies. Worrying won't help; the biggest blessing is that you're still safe and healthy."
Jian Chu grumbled, clearly still troubled and not comforted.
Then, as a notification sound dinged from his phone, Yu Zibai smiled, and his clear, gentle expression softened even more. "Daodao, do you want to eat corn?"
Jian Chu, whose nickname was Daodao, turned to Yu Zibai with a face full of hopeful curiosity.
Yu Zibai, still smiling, held up his phone and said, "I added the neighbor's WeChat."