Perhaps due to prolonged isolation, people started to indulge in cooking as they had more free time. The increase in bulk purchases of various baking ingredients in their neighborhood indicated that people were turning to their kitchens, showing that the tension under the deathly smog was gradually easing.
Although the smog had not cleared, as more people ventured outside, the fear of the toxic fungal spores in the smog diminished. While there was still no specific cure for the virus, people had found ways to protect themselves and no longer waited passively for death. Humans always manage to find the best way to survive through adversity.
Although the death toll continued to rise slowly, the number of new infections was decreasing, and the data had remained stable for nearly half a month. This gave the public more confidence in facing the future. In the global pandemic, their country made the right decisions from the beginning. Observing other nations still struggling in death and despair, they felt fortunate and believed that the days of going outside, resuming work, and returning to normal life were not far off.
Death seemed to be slowly distancing itself, and life appeared to be returning to order. If Mu Nan had not experienced those future events, he would have found it hard to imagine that, after the smog dissipated and sunlight returned, there would be more devastating disasters waiting for them.
With more people buying flour and other supplies recently, Mu Nan also followed suit and purchased a lot. As a result, the oven at his home had been almost constantly in use, filling the house with a sweet aroma. Soft cakes were made in batch after batch. Such sugary, filling items were prepared in abundance.
Qin Huai took over some of the physically demanding tasks, like making pickles, leaving Mu Nan only to supervise. The first batch of pickles was made months ago, just as the smog began. Qin Huai had made pickles three times since then. Mu Nan had bought so much cabbage that they now had dozens of boxes of pickles stored in the space.
Qin Huai took the boxes of pickles from the freezer and re-chopped them for convenience, as it would be too troublesome to chop them when needed later. As the pickle jars were opened, the sweet aroma in the air was replaced by a sharp, spicy smell. Following Qin Huai, Mu Nan sniffed and tasted a piece of the freshly cut pickle, finding it sour, spicy, and crispy.
Mu Nan finished eating and sighed, "I feel like I could start a business. The pickles I make with this recipe are so much better than the ones you buy outside."
Qin Huai also tried a piece and agreed that it tasted good. Though the seasoning was a bit strong, pickles are meant to complement meals or serve as a base for stir-fries and soups. "If you're going to farm, grow cabbages and process them into pickles to sell."
Mu Nan laughed, "That's a path I could consider for the future."
While Qin Huai continued chopping, Mu Nan helped repackage the pickles into small boxes. He had customized many food-grade packaging boxes, both large and small, for easy future use. Small boxes were 500ml, and larger ones were 1000ml. These boxes were inexpensive, and he could order thousands for just a few hundred dollars.
After finishing, cleaning the kitchen, and setting aside a small box of pickles, Qin Huai suggested, "How about we make pickled beef today? Also, let's prepare some oyster sauce mushrooms and stir-fried lettuce. Anything else you want?"
Mu Nan rummaged through the fridge to gather the ingredients Qin Huai mentioned and said, "Three dishes should be enough, Brother. There's also a large bag of lamb chops from last month's bulk purchase. It can't be stored much longer. When will you cook it?"
Qin Huai looked at the large rack of lamb chops Mu Nan had taken from the freezer and asked, "Do you want to make hand-grabbed rice?"
Mu Nan knew about hand-grabbed rice, which includes lamb and radishes and sometimes raisins, but he had never eaten it. He asked, "Is it good?"
Qin Huai replied, "I'll make it once for you to try. If you like it, we can make more. It's convenient to have ready meals with rice and meat for times when cooking isn't possible."
Mu Nan nodded, "I'll leave this out to defrost, check what else is in the fridge, clear some stock, and buy fresh supplies."
Even though he had a space, Mu Nan wasn't one to store everything there. Despite the space not having caused problems in his previous life, he preferred to keep some items outside. Thus, he stored what he could in the fridge and kept other items in the space. Their fridge was always packed.
While Mu Nan was clearing the fridge, Qin Huai looked out the kitchen window and said, "Nan Nan, look at the sky outside. Doesn't it seem a bit brighter?"
Mu Nan turned to look and noticed that, after being gray for months, it did seem to be getting brighter. Some said that the fungal toxins couldn't withstand high temperatures, so as the weather warmed, the toxins decreased, and the smog gradually dissipated. Many people, braving the situation, began wearing protective suits outside, as the increasing brightness gave hope that the disaster was ending. The sun, unseen for months, seemed to be returning.
Mu Nan knew that the smog was indeed nearing its end. In his previous life, heavy rain started in mid-April and lasted nearly half a month. By early May, smog descended, and the virus spread globally, causing chaos abroad and lockdowns domestically. It lasted nearly three months. By early August, the situation in the country improved somewhat, and people began to venture outside in protective suits. Life gradually returned to normal, and by late August or early September, the smog cleared suddenly, as unexpectedly as it had arrived, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky once again.
At that time, people were still cautious about going outside. Only those in protective suits ventured out. However, repeated sampling by experts showed no trace of the toxic spores in the air. Despite this, after a nationwide disinfection campaign, more people began to venture out. For safety, many continued to wear masks and used disinfectants, even though the air was now free of viruses. People remained cautious.
Just when everyone thought the disaster was over and everything would return to normal, the heat became the next issue. It was September-October, a time for autumn heat, which was normal. However, the heat didn't subside even in October and rose at an alarming rate, making it unbearable to wear masks.
Car fires, surface cracks, and heatstroke deaths increased, causing another wave of panic.
Mu Nan glanced at the time. It was mid-August, meaning in another half month, the smog should clear.
Mu Nan said, "It should be over soon. I remember that during autumn heat, many people were already going about their normal lives."
Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. Qin Huai quickly set down the knife, but Mu Nan was faster: "It should be the delivery. I'll go get it. You still need to wash your hands, which is a hassle."
Mu Nan headed for the door, and Qin Huai called out, "Put on your mask and remember to disinfect."
Mu Nan nodded, put on his mask, and opened the door. It was indeed a delivery, but the delivery person looked familiar. Upon closer inspection, Mu Nan asked, "Aren't you the person living next door?"
Jian Chu, dressed in protective gear, smiled, "Yes, this is your stuff. Please check it."
Mu Nan was surprised, "Did you become a volunteer?" He remembered that the two people living next door were a tall one named Yu Zibai, who was in good health, and a shorter one who seemed less healthy. The less healthy one went to volunteer?
Jian Chu said, "No, I'm just working part-time at the supermarket at the corner. The supermarket has reopened, but with restrictions on entry and exit due to fears of overcrowding bringing in too many toxic gases. Since I live nearby, I'm doing errands in this area. Otherwise, if I stayed at home any longer, I wouldn't even be able to afford food."
Mu Nan nodded and took the items inside through the iron gate. He had noticed the supermarket had resumed online operations, so he had bought a lot of snacks and drinks. Jian Chu was strong enough to carry all these items alone. Mu Nan quickly handed him a bottle of Coke, saying, "You've done a lot of work bringing all this up. Thank you."
Jian Chu waved his hand, "No need. I get a commission for deliveries, so it's only fair that I work hard to earn it."
Mu Nan pushed the drink into his hand, "We're neighbors, so don't be polite."
Jian Chu couldn't refuse the gesture. He heard someone calling from inside, likely noticing he had been at the door for a while. The elevator had arrived, so he thanked Mu Nan and left. He had many more deliveries to make and was so busy that he barely had time to drink water at home.
After Jian Chu left, Mu Nan closed the iron gate and disinfected all the bags, then sat down to wipe each drink and snack with disinfecting wipes before putting them away. Although the toxic spores were unlikely to cling to these items, caution was never a bad thing.
After cleaning up and washing his hands, Mu Nan went back to the kitchen, "The delivery guy was from next door. He seems to be working part-time at the supermarket. After being in lockdown for so long and with prices so high, it's no wonder he was eager to find a job. It's tough for everyone."
Qin Huai smiled but said nothing. Who had it easy during this disaster? If he hadn't sold his company shares early on, he would have been facing debt by now.
When the sun reappeared, many people couldn't believe their eyes as they looked at the bright sky. They even questioned whether the haze had ever existed. The stark reality of the death toll was painful and profound, and the end of the disaster came as quietly as it had arrived. It was as if the heavens had played a cruel joke on the world, one that no one could laugh about.
Mu Nan squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window. After months without the sun, it seemed both a welcome and a bitter reminder. The sunlight illuminated not a new world but a hell on Earth still awaiting the final toll.