Just when people thought the fifty-degree heat was the extreme, temperatures soared even higher. In just three days, the temperature jumped from around forty-eight or forty-nine degrees to fifty-three or fifty-four degrees, giving no time for adjustment. In some areas, temperatures reached as high as fifty-five or fifty-six degrees due to regional conditions.
Amidst these dire circumstances, there was one small relief: the cockroach infestation that had plagued homes finally subsided. It seemed the extreme heat drove them away, causing them to retreat to cooler underground areas. People were finally spared from worrying about swarms of cockroaches.
With the sudden rise in temperature, older air conditioners in many homes completely broke down. Even with external shading, the extreme heat was too much for them to handle. Some newer air conditioners could still function somewhat, but with so many reports of explosions, even within their own community, the sounds of exploding air conditioners were heard daily.
Those fortunate enough only experienced the explosion without additional damage, while others faced life-threatening fires. During the day, it was a dire situation; staying was a death sentence, and escaping wasn't much better. The sun could cause skin damage in just two to three minutes, so many avoided using air conditioners during the day, relying on the cooler temperatures at night to get by.
Even with the residual cooling, indoor temperatures still reached over thirty or even forty degrees. For those on the top floors, it was like being in a sauna. However, with the heat so intense, stepping outside was unbearable, opening the door only let in even hotter air. In such extreme heat, water consumption increased rapidly. Many cases of dehydration and death due to the heat were reported, making it essential to drink as much water as possible, even if it meant eating less.
In just a few days, the residents of Mu Nan's neighborhood underwent a dramatic transformation. Previously, people sat outside during the day, chatting and using fans, and some air-conditioned Mahjong rooms operated normally. With the staggered distribution of supplies, many people went in and out, chatting and exchanging information with neighbors.
But now, everyone appeared exhausted, with cracked lips, vacant eyes, and sweat-soaked hair sticking to their scalps. Some women fared better, but many men had strong body odors detectable from a distance. The necessity to queue for supplies made it impossible to avoid this situation. Even with fans, the suffocating smell combined with the oppressive heat was unbearable.
Fortunately, the amount of supplies distributed was limited. The notice stated the specific day for collection, and there would definitely be supplies available. As people waited in line at the supermarket, everyone instinctively maintained some distance from each other. Even though everyone was in a similar predicament and no one could afford to be picky, the unpleasant smells couldn't be ignored. Keeping some distance made the situation somewhat more bearable.
Knowing the outside conditions were harsh, Mu Nan decided not to bring a spray fan, which might be seen as a luxury by others. Instead, he carried cooling wet wipes. Even though it was night and there was no sun, the risk of heatstroke still existed. Having the wipes was a precautionary measure.
While they were in line, a woman in front of them suddenly collapsed. It appeared she was alone and had come to collect supplies by herself. After she fell, no one she knew stepped forward; in fact, people around her quickly stepped back. The soldier maintaining order at the supermarket rushed over to move the unconscious woman to the side for emergency cooling. With the emergency number 120 mostly unreachable, it was a matter of luck to even get an ambulance. In a single neighborhood, ten or so people could faint from the heat in a day. In a district or city, the numbers could be staggering. If you were fortunate enough to get an ambulance, you had a chance, otherwise, it was either find a nearby clinic or wait to die.
The woman who had collapsed was clearly suffering from heatstroke, showing typical symptoms like profuse sweating, convulsions, and spasms. If she could get medical help in time, she might survive; otherwise, she could die from organ failure due to the heat. Since the heatwave began, many had died from heatstroke, surpassing the number who had succumbed to fungal infections earlier. Some people even saw multiple bodies on the ground at night, so most had become numb to such sudden collapses.
Eventually, when the phone lines didn't connect, a soldier put the woman in a military vehicle and took her directly to the hospital.
The distribution of supplies continued as normal. There was some murmuring in the crowd, but it soon fell silent. Xu Ming, standing behind Qin Huai and the others, couldn't help but comment, "That person probably won't survive."
Mu Nan turned to him, and Xu Ming sighed, "In the past, with less strain on medical resources, there might have been a chance to save someone showing clear signs of convulsions from heatstroke. But now, hospitals can't cope. Even if she's taken there, it's just waiting for death."
Although he wasn't a doctor, Xu Ming understood the signs. The woman's symptoms were indicative of severe organ overheating, likely having felt unwell for at least a day or two. Some people might hope to endure or improve with rest and more water, but worsening symptoms were a clear signal that the body could no longer cope. With current tight medical resources, survival was nearly impossible.
Typically, heatstroke has early signs, like dizziness, nausea, and even abdominal discomfort. These should prompt immediate action—either go to a hospital or stay in an air-conditioned room. Many people, however, misinterpret mild symptoms as just being overheated and don't take them seriously, continuing their daily activities. Mild symptoms often indicate heatstroke.
After giving this brief medical insight, Xu Ming emphasized, "So if you notice any early signs, stay in an air-conditioned room, drink plenty of water, and take cooling medications. If you wait until you're severely incapacitated, survival chances are slim. Don't ignore minor issues."
Jian Chu sighed deeply, feeling anxious about both the woman and the uncertain future.
Among their group, Xu Ming knew only that Jian Chu worked outside. He didn't know the specifics of Qin Huai and his brother's jobs, but they also could avoid going out. Yu Zibai worked from home, so he asked Jian Chu, "You, working outside, need to be especially cautious."
Jian Chu sighed again, "There's no work now; we were dismissed yesterday. I'm staying home too."
Mu Nan, seeing Jian Chu's dejected state, offered comfort, "It's safer to stay home right now. With the government distributing supplies, you won't starve."
Jian Chu smiled faintly, "At least there are supplies now. Five packs of noodles will last three days, so I can have a full meal every day."
In truth, he envied Mu Nan. It was natural to feel this way. During the lockdown, he could see that Mu Nan's family was well-off and didn't worry about money. They could afford anything available for sale, and Mu Nan's brother seemed capable and protective. Now, despite the heat, their sweat was masked by a faint floral scent. Facing such disparity, feeling envy was understandable.
But it was just envy. He envied the close bond between Mu Nan and his brother, while he wondered if he'd ever have the chance to express his own feelings.
Hearing Jian Chu's sigh, Yu Zibai handed him a tissue to wipe his sweat. "Relying on the government now, just stay at home. If the government has given up on people due to the harsh conditions, there's nothing more to worry about; we'd all be in the same boat."
Jian Chu took the tissue, and Yu Zibai asked the others, "Anyone else need a tissue?"
Xu Ming smiled, "I brought some, no need."
Qin Huai also shook his head, "We have some." Even tissues were now expensive, so they didn't need to use others' supplies.
Jian Chu turned his gaze to the desolate streets, devoid of vehicles due to the lack of fuel, and sighed silently. The indiscriminate heat and the resulting scarcity of supplies made everything feel unbearable and sorrowful.
The line ahead was briefly delayed because a man tried to collect supplies using his father's ID, claiming his father was too old to go out in the heat. However, regulations prohibited personal proxy collection. The man's frustration boiled over, and after a heated argument, he physically intervened.
Of course, the end result was that the troublemaker was subdued. It was quick work for the soldiers to handle an untrained ordinary person. Perhaps that's why, from the beginning, the distribution of supplies was controlled by the military, with no consideration given to recruiting ordinary people.
When the line in front of them stalled, Qin Huai tore open a pack of single-use wet wipes and handed one to Mu Nan to wipe his sweat. Noticing Mu Nan couldn't reach the back of his neck, he personally wiped it and his back, while also fanning him by holding his collar. "Hang in there a bit longer."
Mu Nan was about to tear open another pack to offer Qin Huai, but Qin Huai stopped him, saying, "I'm fine." While fanning him, he asked, "Feeling dizzy?"
Mu Nan shook his head, but the heat had drained his energy. He had lost the enthusiasm he had when he first went out. It was no wonder people looked exhausted; even though he was better off, the heat still took a toll. For those who might not even have enough to eat at home, they would be even more drained. Despite having endured it once, experiencing it again felt just as difficult.
Qin Huai bit his lip, his eyes showing concern, but he said nothing more. They didn't need to suffer for a few bottles of water and packs of noodles, but if they couldn't endure from the start, how would they manage later? As long as Mu Nan could endure, Qin Huai wouldn't stop him from getting used to the environment.
The distribution of supplies and the water truck happened on the same day. As they arrived in the neighborhood, they saw the water truck coming. Jian Chu pulled Mu Nan to line up, and asked Yu Zibai, Xu Ming, and Qin Huai to go upstairs to drop off their things and fetch buckets, which would save time.
By the time Qin Huai and the others came back down with the buckets, the scene downstairs was chaotic. The commotion was near the water truck. Qin Huai's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly ran over. Seeing Mu Nan calmly standing next to Jian Chu, waiting in line and observing the scene, he finally relaxed. "Is everything okay?"
Mu Nan shook his head. Seeing Qin Huai's unstable breathing, he quickly handed him a tissue to wipe his sweat. "It's fine. It's just a few steps, and you ran all the way over? We're not even close; there's a long line ahead."
Qin Huai glanced at the ongoing argument and was surprised to find that the Zhang family was involved. He asked, "What's the trouble?"
Mu Nan explained, "Their family is large—five people. Each person is supposed to get ten liters of water. When the people buying water saw them, they went up to ask if they were selling any. The young man was questioned, and his grandfather immediately came over to protect his grandson, pushing away the people asking about the water. That led to a scuffle, and they even knocked over a bucket of water from the Zhang family, causing the current chaos."
Seeing that the disturbance didn't concern them, Qin Huai decided not to interfere further. He joined the line and replaced Mu Nan, giving him a bit of space. Getting water wasn't guaranteed for everyone; once the truck ran out, that was it. People feared not getting their share, so the line naturally tightened, making it even hotter. Since Mu Nan was standing nearby with a bucket, it indicated that he was in line for his family.
This was common. When getting water, families often had one person in line while others waited nearby. As long as there was no severe queue-jumping or one person letting all their acquaintances cut in, people usually didn't mind.
The dispute was eventually quelled by community workers. The spilled water couldn't be compensated; it wasn't feasible to give more just because of the disturbance. The extra bucket taken meant someone else wouldn't get water. Zhang Jianwen was dissatisfied but couldn't outmatch the community workers. The community's role was to maintain order, not to provide services. If people caused trouble, they were the ones who suffered.
As for the water sellers who caused the trouble, the community gave them a warning. If they continued to create disturbances, they would be banned from the neighborhood, and no outsiders would be allowed in.
Due to the high number of people fetching water, there was also a queue for the elevators. As Mu Nan and the others waited in line to go upstairs with their buckets, the Zhang family arrived, loudly criticizing the community for not acting, accusing them of accepting bribes from the water sellers, and colluding with them. They claimed that the community disregarded the homeowners after gaining a bit of power.
Mu Nan didn't turn to look at them but couldn't help rolling his eyes inwardly. The community workers were part of the neighborhood committee, not the property management. They were funded by the government, not by homeowners' fees. Furthermore, the neighborhood didn't have property management, they only paid a small amount for trash collection, and the community hired cleaners to handle the garbage. Why should they cater to the homeowners?
Unexpectedly, Zhang Jianwen, while cursing, seemed to recognize Jian Chu, who had previously had a dispute with him. He pointedly criticized them, saying, "At a time like this, we should be united instead of letting others take advantage of us! Some people are so sharp-tongued and don't understand the importance of neighbors over distant relatives. Young people today are truly cold and selfish; this generation is doomed!"
Jian Chu knew Zhang Jianwen was indirectly targeting him. He was on the verge of losing his temper but was restrained by Yu Zibai. It was better to endure the insults than to get into a confrontation with an old man who might just lie down on the ground.
Mu Nan noticed Jian Chu was fuming, and Yu Zibai seemed to be holding him back. He looked at them in confusion. "What's going on?"
Yu Zibai glanced at the still-ranting old man from the Zhang family and shrugged in resignation.
Mu Nan was slow to realize that Zhang Jianwen's comments about neighbors vs. distant relatives were aimed at them. He turned to Qin Huai and asked quietly, "What does he mean? Is he blaming us for not helping him?"
If that was the case, Zhang Jianwen's logic was flawed. They weren't close, hadn't even exchanged a greeting, so why should they help? They weren't idealistic heroes, and besides, this irate old man wasn't necessarily in the right.
Even after they got into the elevator, the old man from the Zhang family continued to complain incessantly. The other Zhang family members wore expressions of restrained discomfort, clearly unable to tolerate the constant cursing. In a confined space like the elevator, the old man's behavior became even more pronounced, and when they exited, he deliberately bumped into Jian Chu, almost knocking the water he was carrying out of his hands. Water was crucial; it was their supply for three days since the faucets were barely dripping.
After enduring this all the way, Jian Chu could no longer hold back. He placed the water carefully to the side and said, "Old man, are you asking for it?"
Zhang Jianwen was immediately enraged. It was the first time in his life he had been called an old man, so he turned around in fury, even attempting to grab Jian Chu's clothes. "You disrespectful kid, dont you have any manners?"
Jian Chu grabbed the old man's hand, and despite him being in his sixties or seventies and appearing robust, Jian Chu, who had a rough upbringing with a stepmother and a drunken, gambling father, was no stranger to self-defense. He pushed Zhang Jianwen forcefully and then kicked over a bucket of water that a middle-aged woman, presumably his daughter-in-law, was holding.
The Zhang family members were infuriated. Zhang Jianwen lunged to hit Jian Chu, but Jian Chu, though slender like Mu Nan, was no stranger to rough situations. He quickly engaged with the Zhang family members. Zhang's wife, unable to handle the chaos, tried to mediate but was overwhelmed by the anger of Zhang Jianwen's two sons. The Zhang family's young grandson also tried to help but was held back by his mother. "Don't make things worse, little darling!"
Despite being sixteen or seventeen, Zhang Zicong, the grandson, couldn't stand seeing his grandfather and father being attacked. He pushed past his mother and rushed forward but was immediately slapped by Jian Chu.
Yu Zibai, who was also trying to intervene, found himself pushed aside by Zhang Jianwen's son, Zhang Yi. The fight continued, and Xu Ming couldn't get involved, shouting from the side, "Stop fighting! Injuries now could land you in trouble at the hospital. Calm down!" Unfortunately, his attempts were in vain.
Meanwhile, Qin Huai, remarkably composed, opened his iron gate, pushed the stunned Mu Nan inside, and watched as Mu Nan hurriedly put down the water buckets and then moved the water buckets away from the scene. Qin Huai found it amusing but stayed by the gate, neither helping nor entering the fray.
The fight ended with Jian Chu kicking Zhang Zicong to the ground. Jian Chu couldn't afford to seriously hurt the old man, as it would backfire on him, but he was merciless with the younger people.
Zhang Zicong was the Zhang family's pride, and his family quickly rushed to help him.
Jian Chu touched his sore mouth and looked at the Zhang family with fierce determination. "I don't cause trouble because I'm afraid of you, but because I don't want unnecessary trouble. This kid probably wasn't even born when I was out in the world. I'm warning you, old man—if you don't shut your mouth, I have plenty of ways to deal with you. Don't think you're not scared. Ask your grandson if he's afraid. A single slap could take care of a little punk like him! Try me if you don't believe it!"
Zhang Jianwen had taken several hits and was now in pain everywhere. He was usually arrogant because people feared him, but facing someone who didn't, he was on the verge of a heart attack, unable to say a complete sentence.
Jian Chu sneered, "Next time you want to curse and make indirect insults, think about whether your grandson can handle a couple of punches from me before you speak. Oh, and if you want to call the police, go ahead. They're serving food inside, so when I come out..."
Jian Chu didn't finish his sentence, but his gaze swept over Zhang Zicong. Dealing with an old man like Zhang Jianwen wouldn't be effective with just physical blows; targeting his vulnerabilities would make him truly fear.