After several days of setting up the stall, the first items to sell out were the body wash and the pest repellent spray for both pets and humans. The pure meat snacks also sold quickly. The prices were reasonable—51 yuan per bag and 130 yuan for three bags. Since the snacks contained visible meat, people were more willing to buy them, even if they were intended for pets. In the end, the remaining dog food bags were all sold to the two brothers who had purchased four bags on the first day, at 200 yuan per bag.
With all the goods sold out, Jian Chu started dividing and transferring the earnings. Because the body wash was in high demand and priced higher, they made a decent profit over these few days, with each family receiving 12,000 yuan.
Mu Nan looked at the incoming funds on his phone and couldn't help but sigh, "The money isn't all spent yet, and we've made another profit."
Qin Huai suggested, "Why don't we buy some sketchbooks and drawing pens? Food and daily necessities are expensive now, but these items are quite cheap. I remember there's a stationery store in our community. Let's ask if they have any for sale."
Mu Nan had initially prepared items for future emergencies and hadn't spent money on his hobbies, but now that he couldn't buy many things and still had some money left, he thought about it. Sketching supplies weren't too expensive, and he might even get some canvas and paint. However, he noticed that Mu Nan wasn't particularly interested in oil painting.
Mu Nan hadn't bought these supplies before. He had stockpiled some drawing tools for recipes, but when he had money and didn't know what to spend it on, he didn't think about buying these items. After all, his mind was focused on future hardships, leaving little room for leisurely activities like drawing. Now that Qin Huai brought it up, he was indeed tempted. Buying drawing supplies wasn't too costly, and it seemed like an unexpected gain: "Why not ask about the prices first?"
Seeing that Mu Nan was interested, Qin Huai searched the community group for the stationery store owner's contact information. He found the WeChat account of the store owner and added them. Since many people were likely reaching out to buy stationery, the store owner quickly accepted the friend request. With many families having children, who might not be able to attend school right now but still wanted to prepare for future learning, there was a demand for practice books and other educational supplies. Thus, there was a market for these items.
Although these items aren't essential for daily life, production has largely ceased, so even stationery items are difficult to source, leading to a small increase in prices. For example, colored pencils that used to cost just over 100 yuan per box are now priced between 150 to 200 yuan. Given that they are still available, this price isn't too bad.
Qin Huai inquired about the store's inventory and learned that there were only a few boxes of sketchbooks and colored pencils left. He decided to buy everything. Since these items are non-perishable and can't be consumed, selling them quickly would help them earn some extra money to buy more food. The store owner even gave them a discount. However, the store didn't accept online transactions or offer home delivery, probably due to numerous issues with deliveries lately. They agreed on a time for Qin Huai to pick up the items directly from the store.
While waiting outside the store with the small cart, Qin Huai and Mu Nan saw a few people fiddling with a shared bike. Mu Nan commented, "You don't see these shared bikes anymore. I wonder where these people got them."
After a few buses exploded due to the extreme heat, public transportation on the roads had stopped. When temperatures reached unbearable levels, even the subway stopped running. Only a few daring private cars were still operating at night, but with fuel being restricted to community reports, there were hardly any cars left on the roads. Energy vehicles, once not widely accepted, had become highly sought after. However, now, acquiring one wasn't as easy as it used to be. Shared bikes had become a target, and Mu Nan noticed that there were no bikes left on the streets—most had been claimed by others.
Mu Nan had a bicycle stored in his space. It was a new one, given to him when he bought an oven, and he hadn't even removed the foam wrapping.
Qin Huai said, "Maybe it's just a stroke of luck to come across them."
As he spoke, the stationery store owner arrived, sweating profusely. Mu Nan instinctively moved behind Qin Huai, despite the sweat, his brother smelled better.
The owner unlocked the store and led them inside, unafraid of any ill intentions. The items were just pens and paper, nothing consumable, and although the two were big men, one of them looked harmless.
While the owner retrieved the requested items from the shelves, he said, "You guys timed it right. In a couple of days, these will be gone."
Qin Huai asked, "You've sold out of everything already?"
The owner sighed, "It's not selling out, it's that there's no market for it. Even eating has become a problem. No matter how important education is, staying alive and having enough to eat comes first. Not many people are buying these. The city is struggling badly, so I'm planning to go back to my hometown. At least there's some land there."
Qin Huai smiled, "That's good. Rural areas are better off now. Many people want to move there but can't find a way."
The owner was unsure whether to feel proud or disheartened. After struggling and working hard for years, enduring the disdain of his wife's relatives and borrowing money from his father-in-law to open the store, he finally bought a small house for himself and his wife. He had hoped to save more, sell the house, and bring his parents from the countryside to enjoy their later years. Now, it seemed he might have to return to his roots to find a way to survive. But considering how fortunate it was to have a rural refuge, he found a bit of solace.
"I don't know when things will get back to normal. I hope there will be a day when things improve."
Qin Huai said, "It will happen. If you're leaving, we'd like to buy some more if you can offer a better price."
Although these items didn't spoil like food, they could still yellow over time or be damaged by insects if left unattended. The owner agreed to a discount, saying, "Sure, pick out what you need. I'll give you a better price."
Qin Huai thanked him and let Mu Nan choose.
Mu Nan picked out some pens, notebooks, and a few boxes of tape, ink, and erasers. He filled a cart with various scattered items, including sketchbooks, colored pencils, and watercolor pens.
In the end, the owner only charged them 3,000 yuan, considering it a bit of extra earnings for his travel expenses.
As Qin Huai pulled the cart home, Mu Nan walked alongside, saying wistfully, "If we had a rural home, I'd definitely buy a house there right away. I'd install solar panels on the roof, get a big yard, keep two large guard dogs, and electrify the gate. Anyone with bad intentions would get zapped. I'd also dig a deep well and make a heated kang, like in Northeast China. It would keep the house warm and cozy."
Qin Huai laughed, "Farming is very hard work."
Mu Nan replied, "Now that farming is mechanized, the problem is the land might be too hot to cultivate." He sighed again, "I wonder what the future will be like."
He hadn't lived long in his previous life, only surviving one winter and not making it to the next summer, so he had no idea what would come next.
Qin Huai ruffled his hair with one hand, "Why think so much? Just take it one day at a time."
On the way back from the stationery store, they passed by their old middle school. Mu Nan pointed to a corner of an alley and asked, "Brother, do you remember that place?"
Qin Huai glanced over and couldn't help but laugh, "Of course I remember."
Back then, Mu Nan had graduated from elementary school and didn't have any summer homework. He spent the entire summer playing. Qin Huai, moving up from second to third year of middle school, had to attend extra classes almost immediately, leaving him with little time to spend with Mu Nan. So Mu Nan would sneak over the wall from that corner, carrying a stack of used cardboard boxes, to bring him ice milk tea.
One time, when Mu Nan came over to get milk tea, the disciplinary director saw him. Mu Nan hadn't cut his hair all summer, so it had grown long enough to tie into pigtails. With his fair complexion, large eyes, and still-immature body, he looked like a young girl from a distance. The disciplinary director, thinking she'd caught an early romantic relationship, rushed over in a flurry. Mu Nan, frightened, tried to climb back over the wall but stumbled. Fortunately, Qin Huai was there to catch him, and Mu Nan fell directly into his arms. This sight startled the disciplinary director considerably.
As a result, they received a severe reprimand and were told that the parents would be called. After the commotion, it was discovered that Mu Nan was a boy and had merely come to deliver milk tea. The class teacher was left speechless.
Mu Nan said, "You don't know, but I was so scared to run into that director again. Sometimes, when she was taking attendance in the morning, I wished I could just disappear, afraid of making eye contact with her."
Qin Huai chuckled, "But after that incident, the director would wander around the school every day. She actually caught two pairs of students secretly dating."
Mu Nan sighed, "What a mess, really."
When they arrived at the apartment building, their clothes were already soaked with sweat. They had been out every day recently, either setting up stalls or collecting supplies, or picking up online purchases from the supermarket. They had adapted to the heat to some extent. Whether it was good or bad luck, they couldn't quite tell.
Just as they entered the building, the elevator arrived, but the Zhang family members were inside. Although the elevator could fit a small cart and the two of them, Mu Nan didn't want to go up. It wasn't that he disliked the Zhang family; he had no grudge against them. He simply found the strong odor of others in the confined space of the elevator overwhelming. Even before they got on, he could already smell the suffocating stench of sweat.
Understanding Mu Nan's discomfort, Qin Huai said, "Let's wait for the next one."
On the other side, the elevator was also about to arrive, but when they reached the fifth floor, the entire building went dark with a loud pop.
Mu Nan instinctively reached out for Qin Huai's hand, "Brother."
Qin Huai held his hand, checked the time on his phone—it was only 2 AM, not yet time for a power outage. "Let's go outside and wait. The power might come back soon." At least outside, there was some natural breeze, unlike the stifling heat inside.
Mu Nan suggested, "Should we use this darkness to put away the stuff first?" It would be more comfortable to carry things with empty hands if they had to climb stairs later.
Seeing no one around and with the power out eliminating the risk of surveillance cameras, Qin Huai agreed, "Sure, you start putting things away."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Nan had already managed to pack up the entire cart.
With the entire community in blackout and no moonlight, it was pitch black outside. Mu Nan and Qin Huai sat on a small flower bed, and seeing that there was no one around, Mu Nan pulled out two small fans and a bottle of still-cold water from his backpack. "Brother, drink this."
Qin Huai took the fan and started fanning him, "You drink first."
Mu Nan didn't argue and drank a few sips first. The cold water helped cool him down a bit. He then took the fan from Qin Huai and urged him to drink some water while he continued to fan them both.
After finishing the bottle, Mu Nan put the empty bottle back in his bag, saving it for future use as a container for cold water, which was important and should not be discarded.
As more people returned and saw the blackout, complaints grew. Everyone was tired and hot, hoping to cool off at home with air conditioning, but now that was not possible. The heat was unbearable, and climbing stairs in such conditions could be dangerous. Someone called the community, and after much discussion, it was confirmed that the power outage affected the entire area due to a failure in the power supply equipment, which couldn't handle the excessive load. It was unclear when power would be restored, and repairs seemed unlikely to be quick.
With more people returning, the number grew to about twenty, but no one was willing to climb the stairs. They all gathered and waited for the power to come back. Even at night, the heat was like an oven, and without electricity, the indoor cooling couldn't last long. Climbing stairs under these conditions could be fatal for those in poor health. Someone called the community again, stressing the urgency of using a generator to get the elevator running.
Someone asked, "Are there people stuck in the elevator? Won't they overheat?"
Qin Huai, who had been quiet, spoke up, "There are seven or eight people inside."
Even one or two people would make it stuffy, let alone seven or eight. Without frequent showers, the odor would be unbearable, and being trapped inside could indeed be suffocating.
Someone quickly called the community again, insisting they need to hurry with the generator to open the elevator doors, or they might end up dragging out several corpses.
Mu Nan, shaken, said to Qin Huai, "It's a good thing we didn't get on the elevator earlier." Otherwise, with so many people inside, he wouldn't have been able to retrieve anything from his space, and staying in such a confined, hot space could have been dangerous.
Qin Huai checked Mu Nan's face using the light from his phone, "Are you too hot? Are you feeling unwell?" He was worried that Mu Nan might not handle the heat well.
Mu Nan shook his head, "Just a bit anxious and scared."
Qin Huai pulled out a wet wipe to help him cool down and wiped away the sweat. The small fan continued to blow, providing some relief from the heat.
After a while, community workers arrived, sweating profusely. With seven buildings in the complex and four elevators per building, they first needed to identify which elevator had people inside and prioritize getting it powered. They had to act quickly to avoid further delays and potential emergencies.
Seeing that the community staff was insufficient, some people stepped forward to help. Fortunately, the community had stocked up on generators and fuel in anticipation of such situations, but the engineers who could operate them were not present. It took almost half an hour for the engineers to arrive on bicycles after the community had prepared everything.
During this half-hour, the community staff didn't just wait idly. They checked each building, some buildings were luckier than others. In some, there were people already waiting for the elevator, so they could not only confirm if the elevator was occupied but also determine which floor it was stuck on. If it was on a lower floor, they attempted to force the elevator doors open to rescue the people inside.
The community's WeChat group proved very useful at this time. People tagged everyone in their respective building groups, hoping that someone on each floor could knock on the elevator doors to check if anyone was inside or determine which floor it was stuck on. While they could check lower floors, higher floors were out of reach.
By the time the elevator in Mu Nan's building was finally powered and operational, an hour had passed. When the doors opened, the people inside almost rushed out in a panic. They were drenched in sweat, as if they had just walked through water. Not only were they soaking wet, but the elevator floor was also covered in a pool of water. Those who could still move staggered out and collapsed on the ground, gasping like stranded fish. Those who couldn't move were still lying inside the elevator, and the community staff hurriedly carried them out.
Although an ambulance had been called immediately after the power outage, it still hadn't arrived after such a long time. Fortunately, the community staff had prepared vehicles in advance. However, the vehicle meant for transporting people to the hospital had not yet returned by the time the elevator doors opened, so they had to lay the unconscious person outside while a group of people sprinkled water and fanned them.
The person who had collapsed was a woman in her forties. Her son, who looked under twenty, was panic-stricken, his face pale as he knelt beside her, calling out "Mom" while fanning and sprinkling water on her. His hoarse voice was tinged with crying, prompting someone nearby to comfort him, "Don't worry, if she can still drink water, there's hope. The community's vehicle will return soon, and she'll be sent to the hospital."
This reassurance seemed to calm the young man somewhat. Though his hand still trembled as he fed water to his mother, he was visibly more composed compared to when she was first brought out. Someone advised him to drink some water himself, as he had been in the same situation for over an hour. It was important for him not to collapse from exhaustion while worrying about his mother.
After about three or four minutes, the vehicle returned. The fire had already been extinguished, and everyone rushed to help the young man lift his mother into the vehicle.
However, no sooner had the vehicle left than there was another cry of distress—someone else had collapsed. It was an elderly man who had just come out of the elevator. Earlier, someone had mentioned that this old man was quite robust and had withstood being trapped for over an hour when younger people couldn't, but he had collapsed soon after.
When a person collapses, everyone around naturally moved away, not out of fear of trouble but to allow the air to circulate. As the crowd parted, Mu Nan saw that the person who had collapsed was Zhang's grandfather, who had had a confrontation with Jian Chu a few days ago. Zhang's family had been in the elevator as well, and Zhang's little grandson, pale and weak, was sitting on the ground. Seeing his grandfather fall, he hurried over in panic.
Since the previous vehicle had just left, and unless an ambulance arrived, going to the hospital—even at the fastest speed—would take at least twenty minutes for a round trip. Without timely hospital transport, they could only provide immediate first aid on site.
The scene downstairs was chaotic, but those who needed to go home had to do so. When Qin Huai and Mu Nan went inside, Zhang Jianwen's face had turned a grayish white.
Looking at the elevator, Mu Nan instinctively hesitated to enter. If they got stuck, they would end up like those people outside.
Qin Huai reassured him, "It's fine. The power is back on, so it won't stop again."
Once they returned home, though there was no electricity, the air conditioning hadn't completely dissipated. As soon as they entered, Mu Nan sat down on the floor, still shaken, "That was terrifying. It was so close."
Qin Huai turned on the rechargeable light, went to the bathroom for a towel, and then to the kitchen for a bottle of ice water, which he poured over the towel. He first wiped Mu Nan's forehead and then applied the cold compress to the back of his neck, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Mu Nan replied, "A bit dizzy."
Qin Huai said, "Take out the pool and soak in the water."
Although he felt a bit dizzy, Mu Nan was still able to move. He got up, took out the pool that was already filled with water, and took a quick shower. After soaking in the water for a while, he felt better.
Qin Huai, who was more tolerant of heat and had better mental resilience, did not react as strongly. Once he confirmed Mu Nan had recovered and his complexion was better, he took a shower himself and joined Mu Nan in the pool.
With the air conditioning fan blowing nearby, Mu Nan lay on the edge of the inflatable pool, feeling drowsy from either fatigue or the shock. He looked at Qin Huai and asked, "Brother, if we had taken the elevator and gotten trapped, would you have let me use the space to get things out?"
Qin Huai replied, "Yes. Nothing is more important than life."
Mu Nan asked, "What about after the secret was exposed?"
Qin Huai answered, "Naturally, I would take you away from here, hiding until the order completely collapses. After the collapse, we'd move to a different place far from here."