By the time it got dark again, the power still hadn't come back on. However, after nightfall, the community provided power for the elevators. Many people who had been cooped up in their homes all day couldn't wait to go outside. At this point, there was hardly any difference in temperature between the inside and outside, but at least outside, there was some natural breeze. With windows and doors shut at home, it felt even more stifling. Many people were worried that if the power didn't come back on tonight, they'd have to find somewhere to endure the daytime heat, or else risk staying home and overheating to death.
The ice in Mu Nan's house had already been replaced once. He didn't waste the melted ice water, transferring it to another inflatable pool filled with water. This still-cool water would be perfect for a soak the next time it got unbearably hot.
Since two air coolers were running simultaneously, the power consumption was higher. After just seven or eight hours, the battery was nearly drained, so Mu Nan had to bring out a new one. Fortunately, these batteries weren't too expensive. He had prepared two or three of them himself, and later, Qin Huai bought quite a few more in City B, all fully charged. Even with this kind of heavy usage, they could last for half a month. If the power didn't come back by then, they'd have to resort to using a generator.
Mu Nan didn't have a clear memory of this particular power outage, likely because outages were so frequent in the previous life around this time. Sometimes, the power would be out for a day or two, and he couldn't remember every detail. So, he had no idea how long this outage would last. For now, they were still relatively comfortable at home, thanks to Qin Huai's efforts in making ice.
Once winter came, he planned to freeze large blocks of ice pool by pool. With the winter temperatures, a pool of water in a well-ventilated room could freeze solid in a day or two. If he froze two or three pools of ice each day throughout the winter, he could accumulate a lot, enough to last through the next year.
While Mu Nan was sitting on the floor drawing up a recipe, Qin Huai was wiping down the bamboo mat with a towel dampened with diluted floral water. Even though it wasn't that hot inside, lying in one position for too long could still cause some sweating, so the mat needed to be cleaned daily. Seeing Mu Nan sitting on the floor to cool off, Qin Huai said, "You should take another shower later, or maybe use some talcum powder. I noticed you bought some."
Talcum powder used to be available in pharmacies. Since it was now impossible to be exposed to the sun, Mu Nan had bought a lot of vitamins and used up his health insurance card. When he saw talcum powder on the shelves, he picked up a few boxes, although he hadn't really needed it yet. He didn't usually get heat rash, so he hadn't prepared much.
Hearing Qin Huai's suggestion, Mu Nan touched his neck and said, "I haven't gotten any heat rash."
Qin Huai replied, "It's just for prevention."
Mu Nan shrugged, "Alright then."
Just then, the alarm Mu Nan had set went off. He turned it off and pulled out two palm-sized sealed bags from his storage space. Each bag contained various vitamins in capsule form—yellow, white, red. "Come on, brother, it's time to take your vitamins."
Living without sunlight for an extended period could cause health issues, but with the sun being so harsh, direct exposure was out of the question. So, Mu Nan had prepared plenty of vitamins and calcium tablets, even some supplements specifically for adults, with nutrients tailored to different age groups. Each small packet contained vitamins, liver support, calcium supplements, and cardiovascular protection—all in one daily dose. He added a few more vitamins to each packet. After all, these were just supplements; you couldn't overdose on them.
Qin Huai washed his hands, took the packet, and swallowed everything in two gulps. Then Mu Nan handed him a small packet of ginseng liquid. After drinking it, he watched as Mu Nan swallowed one pill after another, taking a sip of water with each one, and chuckled, "By the time you finish that packet, you'll be full just from drinking water."
Mu Nan glanced at Qin Huai and said, "What else can I do? I can't swallow them all at once."
Qin Huai remarked, "You never used to take all this stuff before." It seemed a bit early to be so focused on health at just over twenty.
Mu Nan sipped his ginseng liquid and mused, "Brother, do you think that if humans had to live in a sunless environment for a long time, our eyes might evolve to have super-clear night vision?"
Qin Huai replied, "They probably would. The most fascinating thing about biological genes is their ability to gradually adapt to the environment, although it could be a very long process."
As Mu Nan rubbed his now-full stomach and got up to take a shower, he thought about washing his hair too. Even though his hair was still fairly short, it hadn't been washed in a few days and was starting to feel greasy. When he came out of the shower, he was enveloped in the scent of body wash and shampoo. Wiping his hair, he headed for the air cooler and said, "I feel like a new person again."
Qin Huai shifted the air cooler so it wasn't blowing directly on him, then wrapped a towel around his head to dry his hair. "I keep telling you to dry off more before coming out to cool down. Every time you come out with wet hair, you end up with a runny nose the next day."
Mu Nan tilted his head back as Qin Huai dried his hair and said, "It's so hot that even a cold shower feels warm." The so-called cold shower water had been sitting in a tub, so by the time it hit his skin, it was practically hot.
Short hair dries quickly, and after a few wipes, it was almost dry. Qin Huai had Mu Nan bring out the talcum powder and applied a layer around his neck and back. The powder had a minty scent and a cooling effect, making Mu Nan shiver with a refreshing chill. "This scent takes me back to childhood."
Qin Huai laughed, "You haven't used talcum powder since you were five. Can you even remember things from before then?"
Mu Nan shook his head, "Not really, but the smell just feels familiar."
After the talcum powder was applied, Mu Nan climbed onto the bed, grabbed his laptop, and started searching for a variety show to watch. While doing so, he urged Qin Huai to take a shower as well. Since he used the powder, Qin Huai should too. As he was searching for a show, he noticed a message in their small group chat. It was Jian Chu asking if they wanted to go downstairs.
Mu Nan replied in the group chat: "Not going down, I've developed a fear of elevators."
Jian Chu: "???"
Mu Nan: "Yesterday, my brother and I almost got stuck in the elevator. It scared us to death."
Jian Chu: "That's really lucky. I heard there's a stall downstairs selling dried vegetables. We're planning to go check it out."
Mu Nan: "What kind of dried vegetables? Mei Gan Cai?"
Jian Chu: "Dehydrated vegetables. We probably can't afford them, but we'll join in the excitement anyway. It's just as hot at home."
Xu Ming: "I'm coming down too. Wait for me."
Mu Nan: "If you buy any, let us know in the group and pick some up for us too."
Jian Chu: "Sure."
Qin Huai had just finished taking a shower, feeling much more comfortable. Mu Nan quickly grabbed the prickly heat powder and dusted him with it. "Jian Chu and the others went downstairs. They said someone's selling dehydrated vegetables. I told them if they buy some, to grab a bit for us too."
Qin Huai said, "Dehydrated vegetables must be ridiculously expensive right now."
They had plenty of dehydrated vegetables stored away. Although fresh ones could be preserved in space, they had also prepared a good amount of dehydrated vegetables, as these were essential for survival in extreme conditions.
When Jian Chu and the other two reached downstairs, the area around the stall selling dehydrated vegetables was already crowded. To prevent any trouble, the vendor didn't allow people to get too close to the stall. Several burly men with tattoos were standing in front of it with clubs, and there was a sign on the stall. Those wanting to buy had to come up one by one, no crowding allowed.
Jian Chu stood on a flower bed and took a look inside. After reading the sign, he clicked his tongue and said to Yu Zibai and Xu Ming, "A thousand bucks for one package, and it's only 300 grams—not even a pound."
Yu Zibai said, "Once rehydrated, 300 grams should make a few pounds of vegetables."
Xu Ming shook his head, "If you can get two pounds, that's pretty good. And it's a mixed pack, only suitable for making soup after soaking. This one pack could last for a few meals. Considering the current price of vegetables, a thousand bucks for a pack is actually cheap. The problem is, you need water to eat this stuff, and water is more valuable than anything now. A thousand is probably the minimum most people would pay."
The most important thing was that the government was still distributing supplies. Rice, flour, and cooking oil could still be bought if you were quick, although they were expensive. At least they were available. Even the instant noodles came with vegetable packets. If these were fresh vegetables, they'd be snapped up even at high prices, but since they were dehydrated, many people were reluctant. They felt that the nutrients were lost in the dehydration process, just like the vegetables in instant noodle packets, which barely qualified as vegetables.
Jian Chu looked at Yu Zibai: "Should we buy some?" With some extra income, it felt safer to convert money into food and drink. Cash wasn't as reliable anymore.
Yu Zibai thought for a moment, then nodded: "Let's buy some. Ask Qin Huai how much they want since they asked for some."
Jian Chu took a picture of the stall and sent it to Mu Nan. A while later, Mu Nan replied and transferred 5,000 yuan. Jian Chu: "They want five packs. What about us?"
Yu Zibai: "We'll take three packs."
Xu Ming said, "I'll take two since I'm alone. That makes ten packs in total."
Yu Zibai told Jian Chu to stay on the flower bed to avoid getting jostled by the crowd, while he and Xu Ming squeezed through. Thanks to the burly men guarding the stall, the price deterred some people, and most were just watching without daring to buy. Before anyone else made a purchase, the majority were hesitant.
Yu Zibai and Xu Ming easily bought the ten packs, paying directly by scanning a QR code without bargaining. The whole process was quick and straightforward.
Once they made their purchase, others couldn't help but follow. Since the scorching sun had appeared, people couldn't remember the last time they'd eaten vegetables. They'd heard that crops couldn't be grown anymore; those not yet harvested had either been scorched or prematurely picked. The government didn't dare report the full extent of the agricultural losses, fearing it would spark panic and riots.
People said the current situation was far worse than any natural disaster in history. Back then, despite droughts and poor harvests, at least the climate was relatively normal, and people could still forage for wild vegetables in the mountains. Now, the sun was so fierce it seemed determined to dry out the land, leaving no chance for survival. Even if the country's granaries were full, the inability to grow crops meant that soon, even with money, food might be unobtainable.
As more people joined in, the stall sold out quickly, and the vendor packed up. Jian Chu and the others sat in the small park downstairs for a while. It was too stuffy indoors, so many residents had come down. The small park was full, with children running around despite the heat. The adults, too tired to care, simply handed their kids water every now and then.
The owner of the mahjong parlor downstairs, who either had one or got one from somewhere, had set up a large battery-powered fan at the door, blowing air outside. The fan oscillated, dispersing the heat among the crowd. At this point, people were content with just a little breeze. Some even regretted not getting a battery at home, realizing that while an air conditioner might be out of the question, a fan could still work.
Several clever folks had already started trying to remove the batteries from their electric scooters. However, connecting the wires required some skill, and those unfamiliar with circuits couldn't figure it out even with online tutorials. But there was no shortage of talent among the people; some could actually do it. Those who couldn't were offering food and drink in exchange for help. Even if the power came back on later, these makeshift solutions might still be useful.
In the short time Jian Chu and the others sat downstairs, they saw at least three people with batteries and power strips seeking help from the parlor owner. Later, others even pushed their scooters over to join the queue.
Jian Chu remarked, "These days, having a skill really pays off anywhere." In just a short while, he had earned three bottles of water.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw several people with dejected and haggard faces making their way through the crowd. Jian Chu quickly messaged Mu Nan: "The Zhang family is back."
Mu Nan was lounging and eating a popsicle when he saw the message and immediately told Qin Huai, "Jian Chu says the Zhang family is back."
Qin Huai didn't seem to care much: "So what if they're back? It doesn't concern us."
Mu Nan nodded, "True enough."
Qin Huai glanced at him, then turned his attention back to the computer screen. "This celebrity looks familiar. What's his name?"
Mu Nan leaned over to take a look at the computer screen, and in the next second, he found his half-eaten popsicle snatched away by Qin Huai. "..."
Mu Nan: "What are you doing? If you wanted some, you could've just said so. I have plenty more in my space."
Qin Huai replied, "Half for each of us is just right."
Qin Huai quickly finished the half popsicle in just a few bites. However, instead of throwing away the popsicle stick, he rinsed it with water and handed it to Mu Nan to keep. These could be reused, especially in winter, when it would be perfect for making homemade popsicles.
When Qin Huai got back to the bed, they suddenly heard loud crying coming from the hallway. It was clearly Grandma Zhang's voice, loud and full of energy. To be honest, the two elderly members of the Zhang family were in really good health. Even with the unbearable heat during the day, which many young people couldn't handle, Grandma Zhang seemed unaffected.
Mu Nan sighed, "Do you think they brought the ashes back?"
Qin Huai replied, "Probably not that quickly. Too many people are dying. Hundreds, even thousands, of people are dying in just one district every day. Imagine how many in a city. The crematoriums can't keep up."
He added, "Apparently, it's no longer possible to collect ashes. Too many people have died, and it's impractical to cremate them one by one. Corpses can't be left for long without enough refrigeration, and if they're left out, they'll decay even faster. Everyone knows that if corpses aren't dealt with quickly, diseases and viruses will spread rapidly, which could lead to another massive epidemic. Even though people can't accept not being able to collect their loved ones' ashes, the government can't allow another avoidable crisis to occur in this already dire situation."
This information was something Qin Huai had read in the comments section of some news articles online. It wasn't officially confirmed or denied, but in their neighborhood, it seemed that none of the bodies taken away had been returned with ashes.
Grandma Zhang couldn't accept the death of her husband. After all, he had only gone to pick up some supplies. How did he end up trapped in an elevator due to a power outage, and how did he die in just a short time? The shock almost caused Grandma Zhang to faint. Hugging her tearful grandson, she wailed, "With Grandpa gone, what will we do now? My poor grandson doesn't have his grandpa anymore—how will we manage?"
Zhang Jianwen was the pillar of the Zhang family, both financially and emotionally. His son, Zhang Yi, had grown up under his father's strong influence, and as a result, he was indecisive and meek. The grandson, spoiled by his grandparents, wasn't as quiet and submissive as his father, but he was only a sixteen-year-old boy who couldn't bear much responsibility. With Zhang Jianwen gone, the Zhang family had lost its backbone, leaving them uncertain about their future.
Zhang Yi became even more panicked when his mother mentioned that someone had knocked on their door earlier in the day. He wondered if it was because they knew the household was now only left with a lonely elderly woman. This fear made Zhang Yi feel dizzy. He couldn't imagine how he would take care of the family or support them if the situation didn't improve and the world couldn't return to its former state. The thought of the future made Zhang Yi's vision go dark; it felt like the sky was falling.
When Jian Chu and the others returned, the Zhang family was still huddled together, crying. Xu Ming, having learned his lesson earlier, didn't try to be overly kind and completely ignored the grieving family as he quickly went back inside. After all, with a big family like theirs, they didn't need someone who was alone like him to care for them.
Jian Chu had messaged Mu Nan in advance, so when they got to the door, Qin Huai came out to open it. Jian Chu handed them the five packs of dried vegetables. "Good thing we went early; if we were half an hour later, they would've been sold out."
Qin Huai thanked him, "Thanks. What's the situation outside? Any news about the power coming back?"
Jian Chu shook his head, "No news. A lot of people are sitting downstairs, trying to figure out how to rig their batteries to power strips. The owner of the mahjong parlor had a fan outside, and it got so crowded that there wasn't enough room. The more people there were, the hotter it got, so we came back up."
Qin Huai said, "If you have a battery, I can help you rig it up."
Jian Chu was surprised at first, then sighed, "But we'd need an electric scooter first. Oh well, praying for the power to come back on seems more realistic."
The Zhang family's crying continued for quite a while. Qin Huai's side wasn't too bad; with a corridor between them, they just closed the iron door and their own door, turned up the computer volume a bit, and the noise was muffled. But it was tough for the two households next to the Zhangs, especially for Jian Chu and Yu Zibai, who lived in the living room. However, as annoying as the crying was, there was nothing they could do. Someone in their family had just died, and they were grieving. It would be too much to go over and complain, so they just had to endure it.
Fortunately, they didn't have to endure it for long—the power came back on.
They could hear the cheers from downstairs even from the seventeenth floor. Those who had been outside quickly rushed back home to turn on the air conditioning. Jian Chu and the others hurried to turn on the air conditioner, charge their phones, and open their laptops, playing anything to drown out the crying next door.
Hearing the beep of the power returning, Mu Nan couldn't help but sigh, "The power's back. Life without electricity is just too hard."
Qin Huai chuckled, "You haven't even been affected. That big block of ice you have hasn't even melted yet."
Mu Nan said, "But it's still not as comfortable as having the air conditioning on. Once the house cools down and the temperature drops, we can eat. Now that the power is back, my appetite is coming back too."
Qin Huai asked, "What do you want to eat? Something ready-made or something I cook?"
Mu Nan thought for a moment, "Let's go with something ready-made. It's too hot, and cooking would make it even hotter."
Qin Huai, lying on the bed and flipping through the recipe book that Mu Nan had drawn, replied, "It's not too bad. We don't have any chicken left, so we can leave the kitchen door open. Once it cools down in there, it won't be much trouble to stir-fry a couple of dishes. What do you want to eat?"
Mu Nan mentally went through the ingredients in his storage space, "I want to eat stir-fried beef with green chili peppers and sour and spicy shredded potatoes. For vegetables, do you prefer cabbage or stir-fried lettuce? Let's just take them from the storage space."
Qin Huai nodded, "Let's go with lettuce. You take out the vegetables, and I'll wash and chop the green chili peppers."
After Mu Nan took the vegetables out of his storage space, he also put away the inflatable pool with ice blocks. Qin Huai took the vegetables into the kitchen, where there was a bucket of clean water ready for washing them. Seeing that Qin Huai had started cooking, Mu Nan didn't stay idle. He first charged several drained batteries, thinking they'd need to take a shower later, and then went next door to gather up the soil pots.
Although both the chickens and the vegetable garden had failed midway, Mu Nan had mentally prepared himself for this outcome from the start. He'd never raised chickens or grown vegetables before, and even in normal conditions, he might not have succeeded. After all, he was someone who could manage to kill a cactus. So, he didn't expect everything to work out perfectly on the first try. Anyway, he had soil and seeds stored in his space, so he could keep experimenting slowly. At least for the next few years, they wouldn't have to worry about food and survival.