Mu Nan didn't want to dwell on the earlier incident too much. Once they got home, Qin Huai immediately set him to work: "Check the rice that was distributed. If it's decent, we'll keep it for ourselves; if not, put it aside. These vacuum-sealed two-pound packs might be useful for trading in the future."
Given the current situation, trading food is becoming increasingly likely. Even if they might not need to trade, it's always good to have supplies for potential trades, which can save a lot of trouble.
Mu Nan didn't need to look closely to know that the rice was just ordinary rice, mixed with some coarse grains. It was clearly prepared for distribution by the government: "It's probably pretty average. There are even some coarse grains mixed in; they're just trying to make up the quantity. Let's put the supplies aside and save them. The noodles aren't great either, they're mushroom-flavored."
Mushroom and seafood flavors are among the least popular in instant noodles. While some niche groups might like them, most people wouldn't choose these flavors if given a choice. During the food shortages before the lockdown, people didn't stock up on these flavors unless they had no other option.
It's surprising that these flavors were among the distributed goods. Government aid doesn't allow for preferences.
Some people couldn't help but complain online. Eating this stuff isn't pleasant, but they're running low on food. The government didn't consider their needs at all and couldn't have distributed more popular flavors?
Others were luckier, probably because they had large families. Those who received multiple packs ended up with flavors like spicy or braised. They bragged about their good fortune, saying they finally hit the jackpot.
Mu Nan sighed. His luck was never good. Well, not entirely true. He was always unlucky with things like daily life, games, and lotteries. Maybe he used all his luck to meet Qin Huai and get the space. Thinking about it that way, he felt like he was the universe's favorite child, with all the luck going to him.
When Qin Huai came out of the shower and saw Mu Nan lying on the bed looking at his phone with a smile, he asked, "What are you looking at? Anything interesting?"
Mu Nan turned his phone screen towards Qin Huai: "Look at other people's luck, they've got spicy and braised flavors. How lucky!"
Qin Huai said, "The mushroom-flavored ones are okay too. If you don't use the seasoning pack, you can cook the noodles with your own ingredients. Many people might not have a lot of food at home right now, but they probably still have some seasoning. Besides salt, look at the online supermarket—pepper and MSG are in higher quantities. Those seasoning packs can be used for soup later. Even though the vegetable dried ingredients aren't plentiful, they're still vegetables."
Qin Huai's suggestion made Mu Nan realize that he hadn't thought of it that way. He'd been focused on the mushroom flavor and thought it was only good for mushroom-flavored noodles.
"Let's keep it for now. Anyway, we're not eating it. What should we have for dinner? How about shrimp and cold noodles? The place we used to go often. I bought a lot of shrimp later, but it's so expensive. If it weren't for the money you've been sending me over the years, we could have bought some supplies with the savings. I even considered selling my apartment and moving to yours to get some money for supplies."
Their old apartment wasn't easy to sell. Despite its good location, the environment was poor. Even in the city center, it wouldn't fetch a good price. A significant part of Mu Nan's reluctance to sell was the hassle of the process—transferring ownership, finding a buyer. It was faster to increase their stock from high-yield food sources or take out a loan than to sell the apartment.
When Qin Huai had just returned, Mu Nan rarely brought up past events. Most of their conversations were about future stockpiling plans, discussing what items could ensure their survival in extreme situations he had dreamed about. It was rare for him to talk about past experiences, like those involving his comic editor or readers. Even though he seldom mentioned his school life, Qin Huai was happy to hear him talk about the past. Distance doesn't change overnight, nor can it be bridged in a single day.
Seeing Mu Nan carefully sneaking glances at him while taking out the shrimp, worried he might not be allowed to eat them, Qin Huai's heart softened. Still, he steeled himself and said, "Put away the oil-braised shrimp."
Mu Nan's face fell instantly.
Qin Huai smiled, "You can have two servings of steamed shrimp."
Mu Nan's disappointed expression immediately brightened.
Clearly, shrimp and cold noodles were not enough for the two of them. Mu Nan also brought out a plate of cold edamame, a plate of dry-fried lotus root slices, and a large portion of soup dumplings. Qin Huai had a chilled beer, while Mu Nan had a bottle of happy water.
They found a lively variety show on the notebook and sat on a small stool around a small round tea table, happily enjoying their shrimp. "Brother, can you turn on the fan? It's a bit hot."
They hadn't set the air conditioning too low. When they weren't moving much, the temperature was just right. But eating, especially peeling shrimp, can be physically demanding. Plus, they had just come back from outside, had a quick shower, and hadn't fully cooled down. The fan would help make the air-conditioned room more comfortable.
Qin Huai got up to turn on the small USB fan, slightly larger than a palm, placed it in front of them while they ate, blowing just the right amount of cool air.
Shrimp is best enjoyed when shared. Mu Nan didn't rush to eat the cold noodles but peeled all the steamed shrimp and placed them on a plate. That way, if Qin Huai wanted any, he could just dip it in sauce without getting his hands dirty. However, Qin Huai only had a couple of pieces. If he didn't eat any, Mu Nan would have definitely put one in his mouth.
Seeing Mu Nan even eating the shrimp heads, Qin Huai said, "There's not much roe in the heads. Don't bother with them."
Mu Nan clicked his tongue lightly, "The roe is the best part besides the shrimp meat. I'll savor each one." He loved eating them before, and now he couldn't waste any, considering each meal was a rare commodity.
Qin Huai thought that aside from the shrimp meat, the heads were just shells, but seeing how carefully Mu Nan picked through them and made sure not to eat any impurities, he let him continue.
Soon, the sound of the elevator door opening was heard in the hallway. From the footsteps, it seemed to be just one person. Mu Nan's hands were dirty from peeling shrimp, so he asked Qin Huai to check in the group chat if Xu Ming had returned and what had happened to the person earlier.
Xu Ming soon replied after coming back from Yu Zibai's house and entering his air-conditioned room: "The girl's burns were quite severe. When chasing the dog, her shoe fell off, and her foot was cut by the gravel on the road. She ran barefoot, so I could only give her basic first aid, found her a pair of shoes, and then rode her home."
Jian Chu asked in the group chat, "Was it someone from our area?"
Xu Ming replied, "Probably not. The girl is from our neighborhood. She mentioned that many cats and dogs have been killed recently, so she was worried about her own dog being targeted. She intended to take a quick walk outside and return home but didn't expect the two people on the motorcycle to steal the dog. It seems like a random crime, possibly an opportunistic act."
A large golden retriever, especially one that was well-kept, would have a lot of meat even after removing the fur and bones. With only a small girl walking the dog, it was very eye-catching. For those committing such crimes, it was a stroke of luck that they couldn't pass up.
For a bite of meat, who cares what the dog meant to the girl? That's the way things are now.
Mu Nan looked at the shrimp in his hand and felt a bit less appetizing: "We're lucky we don't have pets. Otherwise, it would be too painful to deal with such a situation."
Qin Huai picked up a piece of shrimp and offered it to his mouth: "Eat up."
They quickly put aside this small upset. There was so much misfortune these days that if they dwelled on every bit, they wouldn't be able to live. So, Mu Nan, though slightly downcast, soon dug in with renewed vigor, finishing all the food. In times like these, it was important to eat well to have the strength to face the even tougher days ahead.
They ate the takeout Mu Nan had bought earlier. After finishing, they cleaned up the containers and stored them in the space. Once accumulated, they would throw them away when no one was around. It was better to be cautious, avoiding people rummaging through the trash, even if it seemed overly careful.
By the time they finished eating, it was almost midnight. Considering that water should be arriving soon, just as they were thinking about it, they heard the sound of the faucet in the kitchen. Although they still had one hour of water supply daily, it was extremely scarce. On better days, the faucet provided a small steady stream; on worse days, it dripped drop by drop, sometimes not filling even one basin in an hour. Nonetheless, Mu Nan and Qin Huai made sure to collect water on time, keeping a basin or bucket under the faucet to catch the water automatically when it came.
Given the current water scarcity, even though Mu Nan had stockpiled a lot of water, he didn't dare to waste any. So, since the water restrictions began, he and Qin Huai had mostly stopped washing clothes. At home, a pair of shorts was enough, and clothes worn outside went directly into the space, intending to wash them in winter. For similar styles of short-sleeve shirts or vests, they had bulk-purchased tens of thousands of pieces. The factory price was less than ten yuan per piece, and simple vests could be as low as three to five yuan. When winter came, they would wash the summer clothes in batches, and the cleaned clothes would be ready for the next summer. Fortunately, the space was constant in temperature; otherwise, after a year of accumulation, the clothes might be unusable.
Even though they had the space, Mu Nan and Qin Huai still lived very frugally. They saw complaints in their community group about the limitations and high prices of online supermarkets. Despite fearing that conditions might get worse, they still managed to buy quite a bit of goods. Although purchases required ID verification and had limits on quantities, a family of three could still buy three portions. As a result, many people in their neighborhood were frequently seen carrying items from the supermarket in and out. Mu Nan and Qin Huai also bought some items, taking advantage of the large number of buyers to blend in less conspicuously.
Almost everything in the online supermarket was subject to purchase limits, including non-food items like clothing and slippers. Essential items like rice, flour, cooking oil, and salt were quickly snapped up as soon as they were restocked. The online supermarket had been operating for a few days, and everyone had figured out the schedule: the goods were updated every day at noon. When new items like grain and oil were listed, they had to be snatched up quickly, or they would be gone by the next day.
In this environment, the advantage of having young people at home became evident. If the household only had elderly members, they wouldn't stand a chance against the younger generation in grabbing these goods.
Mu Nan didn't compete for the popular items, avoiding hot-selling products since he already had them. Instead, he focused on buying snacks and items that were currently expensive and less essential for others, such as cookies, chocolates, spicy strips, potato chips, instant cereal, milk powder, and even bubble tea and eight-treasure porridge. These could fill the stomach but weren't staple foods, and since they were pricey, not many people were buying them.
Although life was tough, it was still relatively normal. There were indeed more people starting illegal activities due to the hardships, but most hadn't reached that point. Prices were high, but money was still usable. Many had lost their jobs, but some were still working. While many malls had closed, supermarkets under government control remained operational. Even though many felt like the world was ending, they still saw the government and order in place. They believed that as long as they survived this difficult period, things would get better. Even if the climate remained harsh, people would eventually find a way to adapt. Therefore, most people still focused on stockpiling staple foods like rice and flour.
After adding items to the shopping cart, Mu Nan showed them to Qin Huai: "Look through these items and delete anything you think isn't suitable. Pay for what you can buy. I used your phone for this purchase, and I'll use my phone to buy another set. We're only allowed to buy once a week, so it's better to do it together and pick them up at the same time."
Qin Huai glanced at the items. Although there weren't many, the prices were high. Even the limited quantities added up to several thousand yuan. For example, a box of chocolates that used to cost thirty or forty yuan was now nearly two hundred yuan. It was no wonder few people were buying these; they were too expensive for something that didn't fill the stomach.
Qin Huai didn't see the items as problematic. Since the supermarket was offering them, they were meant to be bought. He looked at other items and added some daily necessities, rounding the total to five thousand yuan before placing the order.
While Mu Nan was browsing the online supermarket on his phone, he saw a message in the community group tagging everyone. He quickly told Qin Huai, "The water truck has arrived. Are we starting to get water deliveries? Should we head down now?"
Qin Huai checked and then started getting dressed: "Let's go. Although others might not notice us, it's better to follow the crowd. We have two large barrels at home, so we'll take them with us."
Mu Nan was eager to get the water. Once dressed, he remarked, "We'll need to take a shower after going down."
Their showers were now quite water-efficient. They used a small scoop to rinse off and caught the water in a large basin to reuse for flushing the toilet. It was mostly just sweat from the heat, not dirty work, so they didn't need to be thorough. They also added some Six Gods Flower Dew to the water for a refreshing scent and to prevent sweat odor. Even if the water wasn't clean, it helped with rashes, which many men suffered from due to the heat.
Qin Huai carried the barrel while Mu Nan sent a message to their small group on their floor, reminding them about the water delivery. Although he wasn't sure if everyone saw the message in the larger group, it was a quick reminder.
Their neighbors hadn't seen the community group message. With so many daily updates and conversations in the group, if notifications weren't muted, the alert sounds would be constant. Messages requiring immediate action, like this one, weren't always seen in time.
By the time Yu Zibai and the others came down, Mu Nan and Qin Huai were already close to the front of the line. Even though the community had notified everyone quickly, those on lower floors or chatting downstairs had also received the message immediately. As a result, a long line had already formed when Mu Nan and Qin Huai arrived.
Fetching water also had regulations. They were still allocated one hour of water daily, though the amount was very low, which is why a water truck was arranged. Similar to food distribution, water was provided every three days, with each person allowed ten liters per visit. Once the supply was completely cut off, a new schedule would be arranged.
Water collection required ID registration. A machine scanned IDs and connected to a computer with specialized software to show the time of water collection and prevent misuse.
Now, IDs were used with various apps. For example, scanning an ID for water revealed only water-related information, while scanning for supplies showed only supply information. After the earthquake, the government began issuing new IDs. These IDs could display all past information with a scan and could also record virtual currency transactions. Physical money was no longer in use; spending and earning were both managed through ID scans. Any negative information or damage to one's reputation affected their currency usage.
Although the government had done its best to reduce criminal activities, the harsh conditions led many to take risks. Fortunately, things weren't as dire as in some foreign countries, where man-made disasters had surpassed natural ones in severity.
Ten liters of water seemed like a lot, but given the need for drinking, cooking, and other uses, it would only last three days before they could collect more. So, it didn't actually amount to much. While Mu Nan was in line, he noticed a group of people who seemed to be specifically buying and reselling water. They bought directly from households with large families or those who had stockpiled water, charging a high price of one hundred yuan per liter. For ten liters, that was one thousand yuan, paid in cash.
Mu Nan saw that within a short time, the group had already completed several transactions. They had several large barrels of water stacked on a tricycle, likely for resale. The people distributing the water paid no attention, as long as the water was given out, what happened after was up to the individuals. If someone ran out of water and suffered, it was their own problem.
Seeing another transaction, where the buyer left with a wad of cash and an empty water bucket, Mu Nan remarked, "I wonder if those selling the water will regret it in a few days."
Water reselling hadn't become widespread yet, it was still a scattered activity by opportunists, so the authorities were currently turning a blind eye. Mu Nan knew that later, the government would take action against this, seizing a lot of stored water that was hoarded for profit and expanding national resources.
Qin Huai said, "At least they feel like they've made a profit now."
Indeed, they had. Supermarkets sold 500-milliliter bottles of mineral water for twenty-five yuan, which made one liter cost fifty yuan. By reselling it, they made double the profit with water they obtained for free. With water running out, reselling from the supermarket was also profitable, so it made sense to sell it.
People in line behind them also commented, "Those with enough stored water probably don't care about these small amounts. Selling it could get them money to buy other things. In our neighborhood, the number of people short on water might not be many. There used to be a water station nearby. A large barrel of water was twelve yuan, but as the weather got hotter, the price rose to twenty yuan. It was convenient to buy, so many stocked up, fearing a day without water."
Mu Nan asked, "Is the water station still open? Do they still have water?"
He knew about the station but had only bought a few barrels every few days, fearing it might be remembered by those with bad intentions. Later, as the heat made it impossible to go outside, he tried calling a few times but found them out of stock, so he stopped buying.
The person replied, "It's closed now. I heard the owner regrets it terribly. If he had known it would get this hot, he would have stocked a warehouse full of water. Selling a barrel for over a thousand yuan would have been extremely profitable."
A large barrel usually held fifteen to eighteen liters. At the current price, selling one barrel for a thousand yuan was indeed quite profitable.
Someone else added, "If only I had bought more back then. Now, selling water could support a whole family." There was a tone of deep regret for missing out on a windfall.
In life, there's no way to know everything in advance. If there were, those who stockpiled water would never have sold it, no matter how much money they were offered.