Although they talked about preparing to go to B City, it would still take some time before they could go out and transportation returned to normal. Full clearance would require complete confirmation of the disappearance of the toxic spores; otherwise, the previous months of isolation would have been in vain.
On the third day after the sun emerged, various provinces and cities began disinfection efforts at different times, from aerial spraying to detailed coverage in various areas. Disinfection had also been conducted during the haze, but while the concentration of toxic spores had decreased temporarily, it quickly increased again. The haze seemed impossible to eradicate completely, as if the spores could not be fully eliminated.
Even though there were no traces of toxic spores found in air samples taken after the sun emerged and the haze dissipated, the authorities remained cautious and did not relax their vigilance. They invested considerable manpower and resources in nationwide disinfection efforts. Only after these disinfection procedures were completed in a city could it gradually resume work and production.
As the days of isolation were coming to an end, many people who had been confined at home began to stir with anticipation. The once-quiet neighborhood became unusually lively in recent days. The repeated broadcast announcements urged everyone to stay put and await further instructions, advising them not to rush outside. Despite this, some people couldn't wait any longer. Knowing that they might be chased back by community workers if they left their buildings, some elderly individuals, feeling they had lived long enough, took to strolling on the rooftop every day. Despite the scorching weather, with temperatures exceeding thirty-five degrees Celsius, some people still went to the rooftop to bask in the sun, claiming they needed to reconnect with the outdoors after such a long confinement.
Every day, Mu Nan could see groups of people on the rooftop of the opposite building from his own balcony. They were likely chatting, some still wearing masks while others had abandoned them. However, whether or not masks were worn had become irrelevant since the toxic spores had disappeared with the haze. The authorities were merely being extra cautious for public safety, conducting thorough investigations for several days and not issuing a relaxation order until they were certain the virus had been completely eradicated.
Mu Nan was not in a hurry to resume normal activities. After all, only a few days remained, and there were not many more peaceful days to enjoy. While waiting for the relaxation of restrictions, Mu Nan emptied the refrigerator and prepared most of the ingredients as ready-to-eat meals. After consuming a lot of his stockpile in the past few months, he used the remaining ingredients to cook for the last few days.
With the space filled with prepared food, Mu Nan felt that even if he and Qin Huai couldn't cook for the next few years, they would still have more than enough to eat.
On September 3rd, a nationwide notice declared the end of restrictions. Although there were still no effective treatments for lung disease or significant breakthroughs against the toxic spores, people could not remain indoors forever out of fear of the virus or haze reappearing. For now, the virus was no longer a threat. Internationally, restrictions were lifted faster than domestically. On the very day the haze cleared, most people went outside.
People's reluctance to go outside was driven by the threat of death rather than government restrictions. Once they felt it was safe outside, they ventured out regardless of government permissions. After going outside, the first thing they did was protest to the government. Those who were unemployed, those who had no income for months, and those who had incurred losses blamed the government for their misfortunes, seeking compensation. Thus, abroad, the lifting of restrictions also marked the beginning of new chaos.
In contrast, domestic recovery began with a bustling wave of resumption of work. Although many people were unemployed or bankrupt, the government managed to maintain overall stability, which many other countries could not achieve.
Having survived an unprecedented pandemic, the country needed to undertake some memorial and commemorative actions. The official death toll was less than a million, but many more died at home without even reaching the hospital. These deaths were not included in the statistics, and among those who died, healthcare workers were undoubtedly the most numerous.
While the initial choice of becoming a healthcare worker might not always have been driven by a desire to save lives, wearing the white coat and bearing the weight of others' lives transformed their sense of duty. As they faced countless lives in need of rescue, this responsibility became deeply ingrained in them, making them the group that sacrificed the most during the pandemic.
Seeing various reports online about the most heroic healthcare workers and touching stories from the pandemic, Mu Nan noticed that each province planned to erect a monument to commemorate the healthcare workers who sacrificed their lives. Everything seemed normal now, with people moving back into their routine lives, and everyone assumed that the future would return to how it was before. Mu Nan had thought the same in his past life at this time. Unfortunately, that monument would never have the chance to be erected.
Looking at the shops downstairs that had reopened with signs offering free services for healthcare workers, Mu Nan turned to Qin Huai, who was organizing things, and said, "As a family member, I'm really glad you didn't become a doctor."
As a child, Mu Nan wasn't particularly healthy, often catching colds and fevers several times a year. He could handle injections better as he grew up, but as a child, he used to struggle and cry a lot. He remembered Qin Huai comforting him when he was ill, saying, "When you grow up, I'll become a doctor and give you injections gently, so it won't hurt at all." Qin Huai smiled at the memory. If not for the man who forcibly took him away during high school, he had genuinely intended to study medicine in college. After going abroad, that man certainly would not allow him to pursue medicine, as he wanted a capable successor, not just a son.
Having finished organizing the house, Mu Nan set up the automatic feeder in the other room. Since they would be away for a few days, he didn't need to worry too much about the chickens. Glancing at the time and factoring in the travel time to the station, it was about time for them to leave.
Mu Nan found two hats, placing a black one on Qin Huai's head and a white one on his own. The sun outside was very strong, and without a hat, it felt almost impossible to open one's eyes. "Did you turn on the air conditioning over there? We don't want the chickens to overheat while we're gone."
Qin Huai replied, "Yes, it's on. Let's go. The earlier we leave, the earlier we'll be back."
As they prepared to go out, Mu Nan quickly grabbed a bottle of sunscreen spray from their supplies. "Wait a moment, let's apply this again." They didn't need to worry about tanning, but they did need to protect against sunburn. Although the sun wasn't as harsh as it would later become, the intense sun in the future had left a significant psychological scar on Mu Nan. Even a brief exposure could result in severe sunburn, so it was better to be prepared.
When they left the house, their neighbor from next door was waiting for the elevator. Seeing them, Yu Zibai took the initiative to greet them, "You're heading out too?"
Qin Huai replied, "Yes, we have some errands to run."
Jian Chu, standing by, couldn't help but sigh, "I thought we'd be living with protective suits forever. I never imagined such a huge epidemic would end like this. It's so dramatic."
He had initially bought a set of protective suits by borrowing money, hoping to seize some opportunities to earn money by going out early. He didn't expect the haze to clear so soon. Of course, the disappearance of the haze was a good thing, but if he had gone out a bit earlier, he might have earned more.
However, he was relieved that the borrowed money had been repaid and he had saved a few thousand yuan. Now that everything was returning to normal, he just needed to wait for the school to issue his graduation certificate and then find a job. After such a long break, he felt like he would become rusty if he didn't start working soon.
Before Qin Huai could speak, Mu Nan took the opportunity to say, "This situation shows us the importance of stocking up. In the future, we should always keep more rice and flour at home. That way, if anything happens again, we won't be caught off guard."
Seeing Qin Huai glance at him, Mu Nan grinned and leaned closer, "Right, Brother?"
Qin Huai responded with a "Hmm" and adjusted the brim of Mu Nan's hat. Mu Nan thought Qin Huai was teasing him, so he gave him a light tap and straightened his hat.
When the elevator doors opened, several people were already inside. Among them were three middle-aged women who had lived in the building for many years. They excitedly shared their experiences of being confined at home during the lockdown and spoke sorrowfully about someone who had passed away, lamenting the loss and expressing a mix of relief and smugness about having survived.
One of the women mentioned a young couple who lived on the fifteenth floor. It seemed that their family of three had not returned, and the child was definitely gone. She wondered if the couple had also perished or if they had left in sorrow. She remarked with a pained expression, "Such a young girl, still calling out 'grandma.' Oh, it's heartbreaking just to think about it."
People of their age often had grandchildren about the same age as that little girl, so such stories naturally touched their hearts.
Mu Nan couldn't help but glance over, but he was quickly nudged back by Qin Huai's hand on his shoulder. When the elevator doors opened again, everyone stepped out, and sensing the lingering anxiety about the outside world, they all put on masks as they exited the building. Mu Nan and Qin Huai followed suit, wearing masks as well. Though it was hot, Mu Nan had bought some thin masks, so they were not too suffocating.
Yu Zibai and Jian Chu were heading in the opposite direction, so they quickly waved goodbye. After they left, Qin Huai walked with Mu Nan toward the place where their train was waiting and asked, "Did you have any previous interactions with them?"
Mu Nan shook his head, "No, why?" Any interactions were from his past life, and he didn't even know they were neighbors in this life.
Qin Huai said, "I noticed you seemed quite fond of them."
Mu Nan smiled, "You said that since we're neighbors and both young, it's normal to help each other out and get along well."
Qin Huai cautioned, "Some things shouldn't be shared casually. Being neighbors means there's a chance for misunderstandings or bad intentions. If someone is so inclined, it's a close situation to take advantage of."
The reminder for today might be important if things got difficult in the future. If someone were to suspect that Mu Nan's family had stockpiled a lot of supplies, it could be problematic. Especially since they were just two people, and Mu Nan looked easy to deal with. Qin Huai always anticipated the worst possible intentions in people.
Mu Nan understood Qin Huai's concern. He wouldn't speak out of turn with others, but since those people had helped him in his past life, and he had seen a reflection of Qin Huai and himself in them, he instinctively had a good impression of them. Still, Qin Huai was right—being cautious was wise. "Alright, I promise I won't say anything out of turn again."
Qin Huai poked his forehead, "Better not. With your naivety, what else can I do but keep a closer watch on you?"