The frenzy of stockpiling began as soon as temperatures started rising. By October, the heat was still relentless, and in several regions, it hadn't rained for months. This renewed vigilance among people who had just emerged from the pandemic.
The situation was somewhat better in their country. The government worked hard to shift the public's focus to getting back to work and even implemented various measures to facilitate this. The intense focus on resuming work distracted people from the heat, so while other countries faced turmoil, things remained relatively calm here.
However, as the extreme heat led to numerous cases of heatstroke and deaths, and with the proliferation of social media, it became impossible to hide all the information. Despite the government's rapid efforts to clean up online content, people began to realize that this might be another life-threatening crisis. As a result, there was no need for further reminders; people rushed to buy essentials like rice, flour, and oil. The sudden lockdown during the previous pandemic had caught them off guard, and with the experience of being unable to go out, they quickly bought long-lasting foods such as frozen items, ready meals, instant noodles, and canned goods, which almost immediately sold out as soon as they hit the shelves.
During this period of extreme temperatures, many people were stockpiling goods. Older individuals rushed to supermarkets, while younger people placed orders online. Even with significant price increases, items were selling out so quickly that purchase limits were being imposed.
At this point, some people still believed that the temperature couldn't get much worse, dismissing online warnings and crisis reports as mere sensationalism. Some even suspected that it was a government ploy to boost consumer spending. The rapid spike in consumption data across provinces and cities in just a few days was evident, but some people chose to ignore the need to stock up, believing themselves to be more rational and clear-headed.
Since the introduction of entry limits at supermarkets, Qin Huai and Mu Nan had reduced their shopping trips. They continued to buy what they could online and ignored what they couldn't find. Each evening, they would take a walk around their neighborhood after dinner to help digest and adjust to the outdoor temperature. They were careful to carry a small fan and cooling spray to avoid heatstroke while trying to adapt to the heat.
Mu Nan noticed that his health had improved significantly, possibly due to regular exercise and learning kickboxing from Qin Huai. He could now walk outside for hours without getting excessively overheated, unlike before when even short outings would make him feel dizzy and faint.
While walking along the river, they saw a crowd gathered across the street. Nearby shopkeepers were sprinkling water on a person lying on the ground, and an ambulance had just arrived. Mu Nan and Qin Huai stopped at a distance to observe until the ambulance took the person away.
"It looks like a white-collar worker who just got off work. What's the temperature today?" Mu Nan asked.
Qin Huai checked his phone. "Forty-four degrees."
Mu Nan grimaced. "I think it's at least fifty degrees. Look at the air; the heat waves are relentless, and it's still evening. In the past, you'd only see heat waves like this under the scorching sun. The ground temperature must be extremely high."
Qin Huai smiled. "If it were really that high, they probably wouldn't dare report it accurately. They have to downplay it a bit, or there would be even more panic buying."
Mu Nan took out his cooling spray and sprayed Qin Huai, handing him the small fan. "Cool down a bit. Let's go home; there are hardly any shops open in this heat."
On the way back, Mu Nan saw a message from Dr. Xu, whom he had added earlier. He showed it to Qin Huai. "Dr. Xu asked if we need sunshade fabric. He knows someone who sells it—thick, heat-insulating fabric with a special UV-blocking coating. It's a bit expensive, over two hundred yuan per meter, but if we want it, we can buy it together."
Such heat-insulating materials were in high demand due to the intense sun. Ordinary curtains couldn't block out the sun and high temperatures. Even with air conditioning, it was difficult to cool down the house, so many people were buying thick fabrics to cover their windows. The heat was so intense that air conditioning alone was not enough.
Qin Huai looked at the fabric samples Dr. Xu sent. It was indeed much thicker than the usual sunshade fabric. "Reply to him that we want some. We can start installing it now. Many people have already covered their windows, so we should do the same."
Mu Nan replied to Dr. Xu, who quickly set up a group chat and added Yu Zibai. Dr. Xu had also asked Yu Zibai, as they lived nearby, making it convenient to buy together.
Initially, Yu Zibai intended to buy outdoor sunshade fabric but felt it was unnecessary due to high prices. The fabrics that could block heat were priced over a thousand yuan per meter, so he decided to buy thicker sunblock fabric instead. However, that type only blocked light but not heat. Since their rented apartment had an old air conditioner that couldn't handle the high temperatures, they needed proper insulation.
Recently, Jian Chu had bought a new air conditioner for the living room and moved the bed there, deciding to sleep in the living room together. The living room had better insulation than the room directly facing the window. So, when Dr. Xu asked, Yu Zibai decided to purchase the fabric. They only needed to cover the balcony window, so they didn't need much.
Dr. Xu moved quickly, likely because his home was unbearably hot despite being away during the day. The residual heat from the sun made it feel like a sauna. He contacted the dog owner to arrange for the fabric purchase. Qin Huai and Mu Nan ordered thirty meters, including for another property they had. Yu Zibai only needed five meters for the balcony. Dr. Xu bought twenty meters for his house. They shared the shipping costs, not wanting Yu Zibai to pay extra for his small order.
Yu Zibai, feeling guilty about their generosity, agreed to help with the heavy lifting, even though there was an elevator. In this heat, it was still strenuous. While carrying the fabric up, several people inquired where it was purchased, as similar items were sold out everywhere.
Dr. Xu had prepared in advance and handed out the business cards of the pet owner's shop to those who inquired. As for the prices charged to others, that was beyond his control.
After finally moving all the fabric upstairs, everyone was exhausted. Mu Nan had been waiting at the elevator, quickly spraying cooling mist on them as soon as they arrived, worried about them suffering from the heat.
Dr. Xu smiled at him. "This is quite useful for emergency cooling."
Mu Nan sighed regretfully. "I bought too little initially. By the time I wanted to buy more, they were already sold out." Of course, this wasn't entirely true. After experiencing the extreme heat, he had stocked up on cooling products as much as he could. He would have enough to last him for years. Nevertheless, he said it that way.
Dr. Xu replied, "I hadn't thought of this before. I'll ask my classmates if they have any channels to get more. If they do, I'll let you know, and you can buy some as well if needed."
Mu Nan agreed. After all, Qin Huai still had money left; it would be a waste not to spend it.
Yu Zibai helped move the fabric into both homes. Qin Huai's place was easy; they only needed to move it inside the security door. Dr. Xu's place required the fabric to be moved into the house. After everything was settled, Dr. Xu said, "Let me know if you need any help with the installation. I'm available at home anytime."
Qin Huai smiled. "Okay, we'll call you if we need help. Thanks for your hard work today."
Yu Zibai's home was easier to handle. Their balcony was open, so they just needed to stand on the balcony and staple the fabric to the wall of the balcony door. Qin Huai's house was fully enclosed, so installing the fabric on the outside of the windows required hiring workers to install it on the building's outer walls.
Qin Huai had already arranged things with the two families upstairs. They were very accommodating, and Qin Huai mentioned that any leftover fabric would be evenly divided among the two families. He had bought extra fabric on purpose, anticipating that there would be some left over. Since sunshade materials were hard to come by, it was worth helping others out.
Qin Huai acted quickly, hiring two workers the next day for installation. Because it was done from the outside of the building, they only needed to hammer a few nails into the outer wall to hang the fabric, avoiding the need to enter the house. This saved a lot of trouble. After working for most of the night, they managed to cover both sides of the windows. There were still about four or five meters of fabric left, which Qin Huai left upstairs for the two families to divide.
Finally, with the outside windows covered, Mu Nan lay comfortably on the bed, admiring their work. Their home was relatively well-prepared. They had previously installed thermal insulation film and an additional layer of thermal curtains. Additionally, Mu Nan had specifically chosen thick, sun-blocking curtains during a window replacement. With these three layers of insulation, at least half of the outside temperature was blocked. Now, with the added thick fabric, even without air conditioning, the indoor temperature was about ten degrees lower than outside.
The high-priced air conditioner Mu Nan had bought previously was also proving its worth. As long as there was enough power, it had plenty of cooling power. However, they set the temperature to around 24 or 25 degrees. Though a temperature of 18 or 19 degrees would be very pleasant in this heat, a significant indoor-outdoor temperature difference is not ideal for health.
Even though the indoor temperature wasn't set too low, the difference from the outside was still noticeable. Therefore, Qin Huai and Mu Nan would open the door a little before going out each day to help their bodies adjust.
The air conditioner in Qin Huai's house was replaced a few years ago, and although it was somewhat old, it still worked well. Since they had vegetables and chickens, the air conditioner was kept at its lowest setting. Recently, a few of the chickens had seemed lethargic, possibly due to the high temperatures, and had been eating less. However, once the sunshade fabric was installed, the chickens perked up again. Qin Huai had mentioned that they only needed one rooster, so they planned to slaughter another chicken soon.
However, their plans were interrupted by an unexpected event.
With the ongoing high temperatures, people had started to adjust their schedules without needing government encouragement. Many malls and shops changed their operating hours, closing during the day and opening at night. Except for a few who couldn't shift their schedules due to work, most people had gradually adapted to a nighttime routine.
During their evening walks, Qin Huai and Mu Nan noticed more and more shops open, and street vendors setting up. Even a well-known beef brisket shop that hadn't reopened since the pandemic was now open. This shop was a favorite of Qin Huai and Mu Nan from childhood. Qin Huai hadn't eaten there since going abroad, but Mu Nan would occasionally stop by for a portion of beef brisket when he didn't feel like ordering takeout.
Seeing the shop open, Mu Nan dragged Qin Huai in to try it. "See if it still tastes the same."
Qin Huai took a bite and considered it carefully. "It seems a bit different."
Mu Nan laughed. "Your taste buds are sharp. The owner has changed; it's now run by the previous owner's son. But the seasoning and chili are still prepared by the old owner, so the taste is slightly different but not too far off. I was hoping to ask if I could buy some of their chili oil. I really like it."
Qin Huai said, "Let's ask if they're selling it."
Mu Nan shook his head. "I asked. They said they'd give a bowl for free if I liked it since I'm a regular, but they won't sell it. They were very firm about it, no matter the price. I gave up on that."
Mu Nan took a sip of the soup and then picked up a piece of beef brisket, but after a bite, he frowned slightly. "Does this beef taste a bit off? It's a little sour?"
Qin Huai took a bite from his own bowl and didn't notice any sour taste. He also tried a bite from Mu Nan's bowl and found it fine, with no strange flavors. "Maybe we should skip it. It's so hot right now, and some food does go bad easily."
Mu Nan considered this and decided it was better to be cautious. "Let's just head home and get some rib noodles instead. You remember the place at the alley's entrance, right? We used to go there often when we were kids."
Qin Huai did remember but noted that the shop seemed closed lately. He asked, "Did you buy some in advance?"
Mu Nan nodded, somewhat smug. "I did. I was worried that if you came back and the shop was gone, you wouldn't be able to get any. So I stocked up."
The rib noodles were Qin Huai's favorite. When he needed to stay late for evening study sessions in high school, Mu Nan would often buy rib noodles from that shop and bring them to him. Qin Huai liked them so much that Mu Nan developed a taste for them too. In his previous life, he often wished he could go back to those days of sharing rib noodles with Qin Huai. While he couldn't turn back time, he could at least stock up on Qin Huai's favorites.
Leaving the shop, Mu Nan and Qin Huai took a detour on their way home to buy some bulk water. There was a place downstairs that sold bottled water in bulk. Given the current high demand, buying in bulk wasn't unusual. They were just stocking up, after all.
However, halfway there, Mu Nan suddenly clutched his stomach and said to Qin Huai, "Brother, I'm feeling unwell. My stomach hurts and I feel nauseous."
Qin Huai's heart tightened immediately. He quickly helped him to a nearby flower bed, sprayed cooling mist on him several times, wiped his forehead with a cold wet wipe, and placed it on the back of his neck. He then asked anxiously, "Besides nausea and stomach discomfort, are you experiencing anything else? Dizziness? Chest tightness? Abdominal pain?"
Mu Nan felt his heart racing. The heat was suffocating, making him dizzy. His stomach didn't hurt, just the constant nausea. Before he could answer, his stomach churned violently, and he vomited. The little food he had eaten was expelled.
Qin Huai tightly held him and shakily called for emergency services. It took a while to get through, and after finally providing their location calmly, he was drenched in cold sweat.
After vomiting once, Mu Nan's nausea didn't ease. Leaning against Qin Huai, everything felt like it was spinning. He suspected it was the noodles, particularly the sour meat. He could feel Qin Huai's hand trembling as he held him, wanting to offer comfort but feeling too dizzy to speak.
Qin Huai suspected the problem was with the noodles but continued to cool Mu Nan down. During the wait for the ambulance, he wasn't sure if his own heart was racing or if it was Mu Nan's.
When Mu Nan vomited a second time, the sound of the ambulance finally arrived. It was Mu Nan's first time in an ambulance. Though he had experienced heatstroke in his previous life, that time the bus went straight to the hospital. This was the first time in both lives he had been in an ambulance. Once inside, he felt the medical staff attaching various devices to him and heard the beeping of instruments. The staff were asking Qin Huai for details.
Qin Huai spoke calmly, "He ate some possibly contaminated food earlier, has been feeling dizzy and nauseous, and has vomited twice. His stomach is uncomfortable but there are no spasms, and he has no history of drug allergies."
Despite sounding calm, Qin Huai's palm was sweaty from holding Mu Nan's hand.
The paramedics, seeing Qin Huai's face paler than the patient's, offered reassurance. "It's okay. His blood pressure is slightly low, and his temperature is a bit high, but it's still within normal range. As long as it's not heatstroke, it shouldn't be too serious."
Despite their words, Qin Huai couldn't help but worry about Mu Nan lying on the stretcher.
Once Mu Nan was wheeled into the emergency room, Qin Huai felt utterly drained and collapsed on the floor. There was nowhere else to sit; the hospital was packed. If not for the need to leave space for stretchers and emergency beds, even the corridors might be filled.
After a long wait, Mu Nan was finally brought out. Qin Huai rushed over, and a nurse said, "There's no major issue, just food poisoning. After finishing these IV fluids, you'll need to get some medication, and then you can go home to rest. Avoid going out for the next few days to prevent heatstroke, and keep your diet light. Here's the payment and medication slip; the family needs to pay and get the medicine."
Qin Huai took the slips, thanked the nurse, and, after wheeling Mu Nan to a corner of the observation room, gently touched his pale face.
Mu Nan opened his eyes and, feeling a bit hoarse from not drinking water after vomiting, said, "Brother..."
Qin Huai looked at him with concern. "Are you still feeling unwell?"
Mu Nan replied, "I'm feeling much better now."
Qin Huai said, "Then close your eyes and rest a bit. I'll go pay and get the medicine. I'll be back soon."
Hearing Mu Nan's agreement, Qin Huai checked the IV drip to ensure it wasn't finished and went to handle the payment and medication. Both processes involved long lines. While waiting, a loud cry came from the emergency room. A disheveled woman in her thirties was kneeling on the floor, desperately pleading with the doctors, "Please, don't give up. My baby is only seven years old. He's supposed to start school this year. Please, do everything you can to save him. I'll pay anything. Please save my child!"
Nearby people expressed their sympathy, noting that the child had arrived pale and looked like a lost cause. They lamented that such young children should avoid going out, as heatstroke could be fatal.
While the woman was still crying and pleading, in another observation room, a middle-aged man suddenly started vomiting blood. Several doctors rushed in to begin emergency treatment.
More ambulances arrived at the main entrance. They hurriedly wheeled patients into the emergency room while shouting for people to clear the way. After quickly transferring the patients, the stretchers were pushed back to the ambulances, which soon left to attend to the next emergency.
Everyone was busy; the hospital was filled with the sounds of crying. Some people were shouting the names of unconscious patients, while others were urgently calling for doctors and nurses to save lives. The doctors and nurses, whether older or younger, were rushing between patients, barely finding a moment to catch their breath.
Some people were crying anxiously at the emergency room doors, while others were exhaustedly leaning against the walls in the observation room, trying to sleep. Those without beds were lying on thin sheets on the floor to receive injections, and many with heatstroke were quickly moved to the emergency room upstairs after simple first aid.
The direct elevators in the hospital had been restricted for use by patients' families, with all elevators reserved for transporting patients in need of emergency care up and down.
During the ten minutes Qin Huai spent in line to pay, there were new emergency cases arriving almost every minute. Patients were either wheeled in, carried in, or brought in by a few people together, clearly suffering from heatstroke. Doctors and nurses had developed a streamlined process: first, perform emergency cooling for heatstroke patients; those in stable condition were sent to the infusion room, while those in worse condition were moved to the emergency room upstairs. The emergency room was quickly filled with patients needing urgent care, as new cases were continuously brought in.