Perhaps life and fate are like this: whenever you catch a glimpse of hope, something unexpected always happens to shatter it all. Just as people were starting to recover from the pandemic and gradually beginning a new life, the intense heat arrived. As people struggled to adapt to the sweltering temperatures, another disaster almost destroyed everything, catching all of humanity off guard.
Mu Nan remembered the date of the earthquake very clearly: February 8th. It was the first day of spring, a time when the harsh winter was supposed to be ending. Now, there wasn't even a hint of cooler weather, leading many to think that perhaps this is how it will always be from now on—without distinct seasons, only relentless heat.
That night, those who had managed to find some relief in the cold spots returned under the cover of darkness. After a scorching day, people were clinging to the cool air of their air-conditioned rooms. The WeChat group was lively; with the arrival of the new spring just three days before the Spring Festival, despite the unusual climate, the scarcity of resources, and the soaring prices that had burdened many, there were still plenty who insisted on having a decent meal for the Spring Festival. Even if they couldn't have meat and vegetables, they resolved to at least enjoy enough instant noodles to be full. Beginning the year with a full stomach was the greatest expectation for the new year.
Fortunately, the earthquake occurred during the night, so people were awake and able to escape from the buildings without fearing the scorching sun.
Mu Nan recalled that the earthquake's tremors were so intense that their building seemed on the verge of collapsing. Although the building was ultimately intact with only some cracks in the walls, the shaking terrified many. The crowded stairwell, the stampede, the panicked cries, and the struggle to get from the seventeenth floor to the ground floor made Mu Nan feel as though he had been through hell. Even as the date of the disaster drew nearer, he was still filled with dread.
Looking at the day marked on the calendar, Qin Huai put one arm around Mu Nan's shoulders and ruffled his hair with the other. "Sometimes, imagining something can make it seem much worse than it really is."
Mu Nan spoke softly, "But this isn't imagination; it's something I've actually seen."
Qin Huai smiled, "Were you afraid when your parents were called to school when you were a child?"
Mu Nan nodded. Of course, he was afraid. The scariest part of school was always the thought of having his parents called in. Just knowing that would happen felt like the sky was falling, and he would have wanted to run away to escape it.
Qin Huai said, "You've been through having your parents called before and knew what to expect. Even though you've experienced the aftermath countless times, you still felt scared when it happened. But when your dad actually went to school, met the teacher, and came home to discipline you, it didn't seem as frightening. It's the same principle; when things actually happen, they often aren't as terrifying as you imagined."
Qin Huai turned him to face himself, "Moreover, I'm here. If the sky falls, I'll help hold it up."
Mu Nan counted the days, "There are seven days left. Let's eat everything we want in these seven days." The problem wasn't that they wouldn't have the means to eat later, but whether they would still have the appetite. With decay and the stench of corpses lingering in the rubble, and pests like mosquitoes, rats, and ants swarming around, every breath of air seemed tainted with deadly germs. Even if they could sneak food in their house, they might not have the stomach for it.
Qin Huai was more than willing to grant this small wish. However, he didn't let Mu Nan indulge too much; too much spicy hotpot might make his stomach rebel.
Since some people went straight from the cooling stations to queue at the supermarket for supplies, Qin Huai and Mu Nan were delayed a bit. After all, standing in line wasn't much different from being slightly later. It wasn't laziness but the unbearable stench of sweat and the extreme heat that made it difficult to endure.
As they stepped outside, they saw Jian Chu leaning weakly against the wall. Xu Ming, who used to be relatively neat, now looked somewhat disheveled. It wasn't that he was dirty, but he appeared exhausted with several days' worth of stubble. Yu Zibai looked a bit better but still showed signs of fatigue.
Seeing Mu Nan glance at him, Xu Ming touched his chin and smiled, "I ran out of shaving foam. It's a bit painful to shave directly, so it's been a while."
He didn't like using electric razors, probably due to his professional habits. Although he was just a veterinarian, he had a natural fondness for blades. He preferred manual razors and had never bought an electric shaver. Now, without shaving foam, he realized that sometimes even things you don't like are worth having as a backup.
Mu Nan looked at Jian Chu again, "What's wrong with you? You look completely drained."
Yu Zibai, both sympathetic and amused, said, "He threw up after eating instant noodles. He really threw up."
The heat started in September and by October, it was already unseasonably hot. The fields cracked from drying out, and people couldn't venture outside during the day. There were deaths from heat, sun exposure, and illnesses due to weakened health at home—so many it was frightening. By November, the government began distributing supplies and water to appease the people. Now, three months have passed. The earlier days were manageable with some stockpiled supplies and occasional variety, but as time went on, life became increasingly difficult. With daily power outages and scarce freezer space, most of the food had been consumed. Now, only instant noodles remained, and eating them continuously was quite nauseating.
Jian Chu was quite helpless. Having experienced hardship before, he wasn't picky. His childhood was filled with hunger and scarcity, making him crave food more intensely as an adult. He hadn't anticipated becoming so disgusted by eating the same food repeatedly that it made him sick.
Jian Chu sighed. He felt worse about the wasted noodles than his own discomfort. A whole bowl was lost, he wished he had let Yu Zibai eat more.
Mu Nan had endured the worst times of his life after the earthquake, having seen too many corpses and severed limbs to be able to eat. Even when hungry, he felt nauseated by the sight of food. However, he wasn't actually worried about finding food as there were still plenty of supplies in his space, with a variety of options. Even though he hadn't experienced the monotony of eating the same thing for months, he understood how torturous it could be.
Even so, he couldn't be generous with his neighbors just because he had developed a closer relationship with them. He maintained his principle of never showing off his food. Seeing Jian Chu looking pale, Mu Nan thought for a moment, then pulled out a mint candy from his pocket and handed it to him. "I only brought one of these out. Here you go." It was the kind of mint candy often given with takeout or available at hotpot restaurants—nothing too special.
Though even cheap candy was still available for purchase online, the price wasn't cheap. Jian Chu shook his head, "You should keep it. I'm fine."
Mu Nan pressed the candy into Jian Chu's hand, "Take it quickly, it'll melt soon."
Looking at the mint candy pressed into his hand, Jian Chu couldn't help but feel grateful for their kind neighbors. He had once thought Mu Nan was aloof and unapproachable, with his expensive-looking headphones and art supplies suggesting a privileged background. He had thought Mu Nan was someone who was high and mighty, but getting to know him, he found out he was actually a soft-spoken and kind young man, completely different from his initial impression.
A mint candy in his mouth, with its cool, sweet taste slowly filling his entire mouth, made Jian Chu feel that his disoriented mind was clearing up a bit.
It was inconvenient to talk inside the elevator, so it wasn't until they were outside that Xu Ming said, "I heard the supermarket might start offering dine-in options."
Everyone looked at Xu Ming, and Jian Chu, with a hint of urgency, asked, "Really? What will they be selling? Will it be something like boxed meals? Dine-in options at this time should be very expensive, right?"
Xu Ming replied, "The prices might be okay. I heard it will mainly be rice, noodles, and steamed buns, possibly some rehydrated vegetables in soup, and canned meat. It's said that once dine-in options start, they will begin recruiting workers for indoor farms. Once those farms prove effective, they'll slowly start resuming work. However, some foreign energy sources aren't coming through, so it depends on how the country handles it. If the climate continues like this, we'll have to get used to living at night and staying indoors during the day. I've heard that there are plans to build sun-proof, solar-powered houses with centralized cooling and heating. I don't know when those new houses will be completed, but it would be better than having to cover everything with layers of material, where even a small spark could burn down an entire building."
Yu Zibai asked with curiosity, "Is this insider information?"
Xu Ming smiled, "I have a patient's family member who works in the government. A few days ago, his cat got heatstroke, and with no pet hospitals open, he asked me for first aid advice over WeChat. We chatted a bit, and he told me about some policies that might be issued soon."
Jian Chu said, "That would be great. Noodles and vegetable soup are good enough. They're all liquid, so a bowl would be filling enough to last half the day without needing to drink water."
Yu Zibai commented, "It's impressive that someone still has a cat during these times."
Xu Ming said, "The real difficulty is for those without savings. People in other countries who spend everything they earn can't afford food even if it's available outside because they've lost their jobs. It's chaotic. Our country is relatively better off."
Mu Nan, walking behind Qin Huai, stayed silent. He knew dine-in options would eventually become available, but not yet. After the earthquake, there would be communal kitchens where people over seventy and under twelve could get two meals a day. Though the portions were small, they would prevent starvation. Additionally, those with injuries could get free medical certificates, and those able to work would have to help with rescue efforts, earning points for food at communal kitchens.
But not everyone was willing to work on construction. Many stores had closed, and even scavenging didn't yield much edible food. Some preferred to search through collapsed buildings for salvage rather than join the rescue teams.
Natural disasters had eroded people's morale. In the past, even during severe disasters, most would prioritize saving lives. But now, perhaps because they were exhausted or expected future hardships, people were more inclined to hoard resources for themselves rather than help others.
Thinking about the approaching earthquake, Mu Nan didn't notice the person rushing towards him. Before the person could reach him, Qin Huai swiftly pulled Mu Nan away and kicked the attacker aside.
The person kicked was a filthy, emaciated middle-aged man, bare-chested with a hunched back and a skeletal frame. His pants were so dirty they were unrecognizable, and his greasy, tangled hair made him resemble a vagrant from beneath a bridge.
The man, after being kicked, fell to the ground and cried out hoarsely, "They hit me! They're trying to kill me! Help, I'm being beaten..."
Xu Ming and the others, who were ahead and had heard the commotion, quickly gathered around. "What happened?"
Qin Huai glanced at the man on the ground, "Just a scammer."
After checking that Mu Nan hadn't been touched, Qin Huai kept him shielded and said, "Let's go."
The man, moving quickly, tried to grab Qin Huai but was met with another forceful kick and had his hand stepped on. "Don't push your luck. If you're going to scam, make sure you choose the right targets."
Qin Huai's kicks were harsh, especially when he stepped on the man's hand, crushing it with anger. The scammer realized Qin Huai wasn't intimidated and immediately backed down, though the pain from the kicks was real. He considered making a scene, hoping that even if he wasn't killed, he could force compensation for his injuries.
Although the plan was to provoke and exploit, the look in Qin Huai's eyes made him genuinely afraid. He had hoped to exploit the young, seemingly affluent individuals, knowing they might be impulsive. He planned to call for help when they reached the food distribution point, expecting soldiers to arrive. But when confronted, he hesitated, realizing the outcome might not be in his favor.
After the group left, the man clutched his bruised chest and slowly retreated to a nearby overgrown area, waiting for another chance.
An old beggar who had witnessed the entire scene chuckled, "Why didn't you persist?"
The scammer didn't respond, lying down in a comfortable position, rubbing his sore chest. He didn't fear injury—serious or minor—but he was afraid of death. If he didn't need to survive, he wouldn't risk his life to scam people. Just now, the look and words of his intended target had convinced him that persisting might lead to worse outcomes.
Deciding to wait for another opportunity, he thought it best to target those who seemed wealthier or more knowledgeable, as they might be more willing to offer food or water to avoid trouble. As he waited in the dark, he began to scrutinize the people passing by, searching for his next target.
After walking for a while, Mu Nan's heartbeat began to calm down. He was startled when that man suddenly rushed out, but fortunately, Qin Huai reacted quickly. He looked at their group, puzzled, "Why did he choose us to scam? Isn't it easier to scam fewer people? Doesn't he fear being beaten up?"
Moreover, they were five people, all men. It was obvious that they were not easy to mess with. While they might not be very strong, they were tall and had decent physiques. Choosing to scam them seemed like asking for trouble.
Qin Huai explained, "Maybe he thought we were young and clean. If he encounters someone poorer than him, he can't really extort anything. In the past, scammers would play tricks even before getting close. Now, they need to be more careful and ensure their injuries are real, to provoke a response that might get them compensation. If they get beaten, they'll try to get something out of it."
Mu Nan looked at the people distributing supplies ahead and asked, "Then why don't they go get the food? It's free."
Jian Chu, who was in front of him, turned around and said, "They don't have identification. They're not willing to go to the shelters either. Shelters aren't just for relief anymore, they assign work. To get food, you need to put in labor. Some people are used to lying around and having others give them money. They're used to being lazy, so they'd rather take a chance and scam someone. Whether it's money or food, it's all gain for them."
Mu Nan turned to Qin Huai, "In the future, don't be too harsh. What if we really end up in trouble?"
The world hadn't descended into chaos yet, unlike later times when even if someone was killed, no one would care. There were still police around, and emergency numbers could be dialed, even though the response might be slow. For now, there were still soldiers around who could help. Getting scammed now would be very troublesome.
Qin Huai smiled, "I know how to handle it."
Mu Nan didn't say more. His brother was always considerate and handled things more thoroughly than he would.
They each received three bottles of water and a bag of noodles. This time, they were lucky to get the pepper-flavored noodles, which was better than seafood or mushroom flavors. Seeing that Jian Chu got braised-flavor noodles, Mu Nan suggested, "Do you want to swap for a different flavor?"
Jian Chu eagerly agreed, "Yes, please! I've had too many mushroom and braised flavors. I haven't had the pepper one much. Even though they're all noodles, a change in flavor helps."
The two exchanged two small packs. Mu Nan then asked Xu Ming, "What about you? Do you want to swap?"
Xu Ming shook his head, "I like the spicy pepper flavor. I'll keep mine."
As they were packing the noodles, a commotion erupted ahead, with someone shouting about a murder. Given the seriousness of the shouts, the soldiers at the supply distribution quickly sent someone to investigate.
The scene of the commotion was on their return route, so even if they were not curious, they couldn't help but glance. They saw the man who had just tried to scam them lying on the ground, unmoving, with a large pool of blood beside him. It was quite frightening. Among the crowd was a chubby young man, looking pale and sitting on the ground, trembling with sweat dripping from him.
An officer with shoulder epaulets approached, and the crowd quickly cleared a path. After inquiring, they learned that the man on the ground had suddenly grabbed a middle-aged woman, demanding water. When she refused, he became aggressive, and in the struggle, he fell and grabbed her foot. The chubby young man then ran over and kicked the man several times, venting his anger. The noise attracted many onlookers.
After the young man vented his frustration and returned to his mother, the man on the ground became still. Moments later, he started convulsing and vomiting blood, causing alarm among the crowd. The young man panicked, realizing his kicks had caused serious harm. The middle-aged woman tried to pull her son away but was stopped by passersby, leading to the arrival of the officer.
Mu Nan was terrified, especially since Qin Huai had also kicked the man earlier. He quickly pulled Qin Huai towards their home, not wanting him to get into trouble close to the earthquake.
Qin Huai patted Mu Nan's shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious." Although he wasn't professionally trained, he was confident in controlling his strength, and since the man was very thin, his first kick might have been instinctive, but he was careful with the second one. It would hurt for a few days but wasn't fatal.
Xu Ming and the others also pretended not to see and headed home. After all, the man wasn't dead because of Qin Huai, and it had been a while. Still, they couldn't help but reflect on how cheap human life had become. People seemed more interested in gossip than in the fear of death, indicating a growing numbness to life amid the daily threats of death.
Once they were in the elevator, Mu Nan was still shaken but remained silent outside. As soon as they were home, he couldn't hold back, "That was too close! Just barely!"
Qin Huai, seeing him sweating, fanned him to cool down and asked, "If I had really killed someone, would you be scared?"
Mu Nan replied, "Of course, I would! Look at the times we're in. What if you got arrested and the earthquake happened? What if you got trapped under rubble? I don't know if the police station would even survive."
Qin Huai smiled, "Is that all you're afraid of?"
Mu Nan finally understood Qin Huai's implication, "What else would there be? Killing someone doesn't change you from being my brother. Besides, it would only be considered excessive self-defense."
Qin Huai finally relaxed and smiled, pushing Mu Nan towards the bathroom.
However, after this incident, Mu Nan became extremely cautious during the next two trips to collect supplies and fetch water. He was worried about stirring up trouble and ending up in an uncontrollable situation. Fortunately, everything went smoothly after that, with no further incidents. By the 8th, Mu Nan woke up early and couldn't fall back asleep. Watching the light outside gradually fade away, the fear of the known future made him increasingly anxious.