In the end, Master Fan couldn't resist the persistent pleas and probably thought that the sun at six or seven in the evening wasn't as intense as at noon. Given the proximity of the hospital, driving there quickly and finding a shady place to wait until evening seemed manageable, so he agreed to help. After taking the woman and her husband to the hospital, Master Fan left the group, likely frustrated.
Some people, either out of curiosity or other motives, tried to privately message Master Fan to inquire about the situation but were all refused. One person even posted the screenshots of the refusals in the group, complaining, "People are so cold-hearted nowadays, afraid of being taken advantage of."
If it weren't for the presence of people from other buildings or communities in the group, from whom Mu Nan occasionally learned some information, he would have left the group. Seeing people complain about the coldness of humanity and the group leader making a few token comments, Mu Nan rolled his eyes and said, "This person is so hypocritical. He only said a couple of things, while Master Fan actually took the risk of driving someone to the hospital. And yet, all the credit goes to this group leader, as if he was the real hero. Master Fan did the work but didn't benefit, and the group is full of sycophants who might end up with nothing!"
Qin Huai placed the steamed buns into a bag and prepared the next batch. He brought the steaming bag of buns from the kitchen and asked Mu Nan to store them in the space: "Let's just avoid dealing with them."
Fortunately, they had stored the RV in the space earlier. Although it wasn't a particularly luxurious or expensive vehicle, in the current situation, it would have been a prime target in this neighborhood. If people needed gasoline, the owner of the RV would undoubtedly be their first thought. After all, someone who could afford an RV was seen as wealthy, and people with money were often seen as troublesome.
After dark, those who had gone to the cooling stations returned, bringing a lively atmosphere to the otherwise quiet neighborhood. Although the cooling stations were expensive, they provided a sense of government presence, maintaining some level of social order. This brought a sense of stability to many.
Humans are inherently social creatures. Being cooped up at home for days made people overthink things. Now, with many gathered together, even if they had previously been strangers, proximity led to conversation, and familiarity grew. Seeing that others were in similar situations eased their own worries and relaxed their mindsets.
Mu Nan remarked, "Brother, doesn't this remind you of my parents' generation, when people would leave the factory together after work, sleep in large communal rooms, and eat from big communal pots?"
Qin Huai smiled and said, "It does remind me of that. People always find new ways to adapt in various adversities."
The scorching sun made it seem like people had become nocturnal, with work and studies largely halted, creating an apocalyptic atmosphere. However, this was merely the initial chaos caused by the disruption of familiar routines. Any change in lifestyle brings turbulence, but after the upheaval, calm will eventually return.
Their current life was in a state of transition between turbulence and calm.
The extreme heat caused the land to crack, making it impossible to grow crops. Not only in cities but even in rural areas, crops couldn't be harvested. The climate's impact was temporarily insurmountable. It was said that rural areas were better than cities because land provided a sense of security. This instinct to trust land for sustenance had been ingrained in them for thousands of years. Unlike cities, where people buy food as needed, rural areas often had substantial food reserves from past harvests. Even without fresh vegetables, as long as there was grain, people wouldn't starve.
However, rural areas were sparsely populated compared to cities, making resource distribution and management more challenging. If power was cut off, repairs could be delayed, and in more remote areas, even emergency medical services could be difficult to access. Ambulances in the city were already stretched thin, leaving little to no resources for rural areas. Thus, both cities and rural areas had their pros and cons. Currently, no one had starved to death; most deaths were due to heat or lack of timely medical care, which was unavoidable.
As people gradually adapted to the new environment, whether in cities or rural areas, they slowly found new ways to survive. The gradual stabilization of social order also gave the government some buffer time. It was reported that the government was constructing indoor farms. Although this would increase planting costs, it would prevent total crop failure under such intense sun.
Some factories were resuming operations with government support, and schools were starting to offer online classes. Unlike during the pandemic, current online classes were held at night. No matter what, this generation's education had to continue as long as there were learning conditions.
Although life couldn't instantly return to normal, the opening of cooling stations, the gradual resumption of factory operations, and the restart of online schooling indicated that even if the climate never fully recovered, life would slowly improve. As long as the country remained, the home would endure.
Therefore, despite the inability to go outside during the day, skyrocketing prices due to failed crops, and many people losing their jobs due to halted production, these issues slowly stabilized with the government's distribution of resources and gradual improvement in living conditions. Recent news reported that the next step would involve a nationwide survey of residents' information and the gradual allocation of jobs.
The country wasn't new to the practice of labor allocation; it was quite experienced. Despite feeling like a step backward, possibly leading to communal kitchens again, overcoming the current difficulties would lead to improvement. Before that, to provide citizens with a normal working environment, the government began a major crackdown on theft, robbery, incitement, and other illegal activities, with the first measure being live-streamed executions.
The province with the worst offenders was the first to face this measure. Of course, there were some inhumane and excessively cruel criticisms online, but the government hadn't yet responded, and the controversy almost led to the internet being shut down.
Debates continued online about the use of severe punishment, leading up to the live-streaming day. Mu Nan had his computer open but didn't click the live stream link. He looked at Qin Huai and asked, "Do you want to watch it?" He had seen similar events before but didn't feel much impact, almost as if watching a documentary. As long as it wasn't happening directly to him, it didn't seem to affect him much.
Qin Huai replied, "If you want to watch, then watch. If not, don't. The footage won't be too graphic." Even if the country used severe punishments, it wouldn't be excessively bloody on screen.
Mu Nan opened the live stream and said to Qin Huai, "You can watch it." He had seen similar content before, but Qin Huai hadn't, so it was worth watching.
Seeing Mu Nan leaning against him, browsing on his phone, Qin Huai assumed he wasn't interested and didn't press him. He lowered the computer's volume and adjusted the screen towards himself. It was more about reading the comments than watching the stream. The comments were flooded with either vicious curses or jubilant celebration, making it seem like watching executions was something to be joyous about.
After the first execution, there was a brief pause in the comments before they flooded with messages of support and prayers. Qin Huai felt little impact, even though the individuals were arrested due to his report. After the second execution, Qin Huai exited and switched to a cheerful variety show.
Mu Nan tilted his head and asked, "Is it over?"
Qin Huai said, "No, they executed two people, but the process is similar afterward. No need to watch the whole thing. What are you watching?"
Mu Nan handed his phone to Qin Huai and said, "Check out the pictures people are posting. The farmland looks like this after the sun."
The phone displayed photos of cracked, barren fields with no hint of green, contrasted with images of lush, golden rice fields from past harvests. The soft-sell bloggers were using these images to depict the desolation and dryness of the abandoned land, along with the confusion and panic about the future. Mu Nan rarely read the text, usually just skimming through the images to see the current situation outside.
In addition to these images, there were also some variety shows being recorded indoors, which updated in real time and included some outdoor footage. The outdoor shots were taken by drones, carefully planned for early morning or late evening to avoid the peak heat. Although some damage was inevitable due to the high temperatures, they managed to capture a significant amount of footage with minimal losses.
Whenever these programs aired drone footage, showing the scorched, deserted city streets in contrast to their former vibrancy, it often moved people to tears. Many viewers in the comments hoped for a return to the past.
But no matter how one looked at it, things couldn't return to how they were. Given the current state of their country, their lives were still relatively good. Despite the internet ban, some people still managed to get foreign news. The situation abroad was chaotic, with internal disorder, broken order, and some places experiencing direct fragmentation of power.
In some nearby border areas, numerous people who could be called refugees attempted to cross into their country seeking asylum, leading to several conflicts. Considering that they could still stay safely at home with government-provided supplies and only needed to worry about a bit of food and water, it was clear that many unseen areas were being maintained by the sacrifice and effort of those with stars on their shoulders, ensuring their stability.
Reflecting on what he had seen online about the situation abroad, Mu Nan expressed curiosity, "I wonder what Tokyo TV is airing right now."
Qin Huai, who wasn't into anime or tracking TV channels, asked in confusion, "Which channel?"
Mu Nan explained, "Tokyo TV. It's the most prominent TV station in their country. Regardless of major news events, whether domestic or international, all other channels immediately follow up with coverage. But Tokyo TV steadfastly airs anime. It's said that if Tokyo TV ever stops showing anime, it would mean the apocalypse. I'm curious if they're still airing anime."
Mu Nan continued, "Do you know why Tokyo TV is so renowned?"
Qin Huai shook his head, "Why?"
Mu Nan smiled and said, "The fundamental reason is just one word: poverty. They don't have the budget for extra programs. Even their news broadcasts only have a banner at the bottom of the screen. This has led to their unique reputation and became their legendary status."
Qin Huai suddenly asked, "Since you like anime and drawing so much, is Japan the country you most want to visit?"
Mu Nan shrugged, "Not really. I've thought about it before and might visit if the opportunity arises, especially since it's the home of anime. But if I don't go, it's not a big deal."
Qin Huai gently ruffled Mu Nan's hair but said nothing further. People often think there's plenty of time, so they try to experience all the hardships in advance and save the rest for enjoyment. But they never consider that perhaps a person's lifetime isn't as long as they think.
After scrolling through the news, Mu Nan went back to the WeChat group and told Qin Huai, "The man who vomited blood a couple of days ago couldn't be saved."
Qin Huai asked, "Do they say what caused it?"
Mu Nan scrolled back through WeChat and said, "It seems he had been in pain at home for two days, thinking it would pass if he just endured it, so he didn't go to the hospital. When the pain became unbearable, he was taken to the hospital too late. It seems his intestines had perforated, causing severe inflammation and infection. In the end, he couldn't be saved. Brother, doesn't this mean he died from pain?"
Qin Huai said, "Yes, if you're feeling unwell, you mustn't hide it from me. Small issues can become big problems if ignored."
Mu Nan turned his head, "They're criticizing Master Fan in the group, blaming him for not helping because he has an energy vehicle. They say if he had helped in the morning when the woman sought assistance in the group, the man might have survived. What logic is that? Why didn't they say he should have gone to the hospital two days ago? The energy vehicle wouldn't have even been needed."
Qin Huai said, "It's probably jealousy. Now that energy vehicles are available, with careful driving and letting the vehicle cool down between trips, you can still make several deliveries in a night. People see it and feel envious."
Mu Nan said, "Jealousy makes people irrational. Master Fan has had a tough time. If he knew that risking his safety to take someone to the hospital would result in being blamed for the person's death, it must be very disheartening."
Qin Huai placed his hand over Mu Nan's phone and said, "Alright, stop looking at it. What do you want to eat? If you want stir-fried dishes, we need to start preparing now."
Mu Nan thought for a moment and said, "I want to eat barbecue."
Barbecue is typically something enjoyed with two or three friends at a restaurant. Mu Nan didn't have such friends. Though he could invite classmates, they mostly attended out of obligation, and eating with acquaintances felt like a chore. Despite liking barbecue, he rarely went out for it alone, except during occasional gatherings.
Seeing Mu Nan's hopeful expression, Qin Huai couldn't refuse, "Then let's have barbecue. Do you want fresh-cut meat or pre-marinated meat from the barbecue shop?"
Before the weather got hot, Qin Huai had bought freshly slaughtered pork, beef, and lamb from a slaughterhouse. If you want fresh-cut meat, you can choose the cuts you like, and he'll slice and plate them for grilling. If you prefer pre-marinated meat from a barbecue shop, it's even simpler—just take it out and grill it.
Mu Nan said, "Let's go with the barbecue shop's pre-marinated meat. We can save the fresh meat for other dishes. Will the barbecue smell be very strong?"
Qin Huai replied, "No, the barbecue smell isn't as strong as hot pot. It shouldn't be noticeable."
Upon hearing this, Mu Nan quickly set up the barbecue grill and induction cooker. Since the small coffee table could only fit one induction cooker and grill, the barbecue equipment was placed directly on the floor. Mu Nan had prepared his homemade kimchi, washed lettuce stored in the pantry earlier, and cut up some of the braised kelp that Qin Huai had made before. Even before starting to cook, Mu Nan was already salivating, saying, "Everything's so well-prepared. I want to post this on social media."
Qin Huai smiled and said, "Go ahead and post it. Just set it to be visible only to me."
Mu Nan took out his phone, turned on the beauty camera, and had Qin Huai pose with the barbecue. He took several pictures from different angles and chose the best one to post on his social media with the caption visible only to Qin Huai: "My brother is so handsome!"
As soon as Mu Nan posted it, Qin Huai received a notification and, upon seeing it, couldn't help but smile. Noticing that Mu Nan was now fiddling with the photo printer, Qin Huai asked, "Do you really need to print it out?"
Mu Nan replied without looking up, "Of course. Phones and computers can break down eventually. If I print it and put it in an album, it'll be preserved in physical form and won't be lost like digital files."
Qin Huai prepared the dipping sauce and saw Mu Nan getting ready to print, so he urged, "You have plenty of time to deal with that later. Let's eat first. Do you want pork belly or the special beef?"
Mu Nan set his things on the bed and quickly sat down at the coffee table, saying, "Let's start with the beef. It cooks quickly, and while we cook the beef, we can grill the pork belly. The pork belly should be a bit crispy; it tastes better that way."
With the dipping sauce and kimchi ready and lettuce for wrapping, Mu Nan fed the first piece of meat to Qin Huai's mouth, saying, "Good job on the barbecue, here's a reward. Ah!"
Qin Huai took a bite and Mu Nan quickly asked, "How is it? Does it taste good?"
Qin Huai replied with his mouth full, "Are you asking about the meat or the kimchi?"
Mu Nan prepared some for himself and said, "Of course both. Mmm, it's delicious. This dipping sauce is the best I've tried after many experiments. I bought several boxes, not sure if it's enough." Each box had twenty packs, and each pack was a pound. Since this chili powder dipping sauce isn't eaten every day, he bought seven boxes to reach the maximum discount at the store.
Qin Huai said, "If it's not enough, I'll make more for you. I bought plenty of dried peppers. I can grind and roast them myself, it's quite simple."
Mu Nan picked up the long chopsticks to turn the meat and asked, "If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three essential items, what would you bring?"
Qin Huai smiled and replied, "I'd bring my Nan Nan."
Mu Nan responded, "Then ask me."
Qin Huai asked, "If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three essential items, what would you bring?"
Mu Nan smiled and said, "I'd bring the all-powerful Qin Huai!"
Seeing Mu Nan enjoying his meal, Qin Huai refrained from saying anything that might spoil the mood. He simply reminded Mu Nan, "Remember to eat something to aid digestion later. I specifically bought some traditional Chinese herbal digestion pills made from hawthorn, they're tangy and sweet and not unpleasant."
Mu Nan agreed, knowing that eating too much meat would indeed require some digestive aid.
Meanwhile, Jian Chu, who had been browsing his phone while lying on the bed, suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. Yu Zibai, who was organizing things at home, looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jian Chu said, "Do you smell that? A barbecue smell."
Yu Zibai sniffed a couple of times and frowned, "I don't smell anything."
Jian Chu sniffed again and sighed, "Maybe it's just my imagination. It seemed to go away when I sniffed more carefully."
Yu Zibai laughed, "Craving some meat? We still have the buns from the neighbor that we haven't eaten. Let's steam a couple."
Last time, when the power went out, they had frozen a lot of ice and covered the freezer with blankets. Though some of the ice melted, the meat didn't spoil and was still good to eat after refreezing.
Jian Chu considered whether to eat the buns now or wait until he couldn't stand any more instant noodles. He was still debating when Yu Zibai made the decision for him, "Let's eat now, but don't steam them. We don't have much water. Let's pan-fry them instead."
In the end, Jian Chu enjoyed the delicious-smelling pan-fried buns and clinked them with Yu Zibai's, saying, "Thanks to our lovely neighbors."
Yu Zibai smiled and replied, "Yes, thanks to our lovely neighbors."