Unfortunately, luck didn't last forever. Although Qin Huai and the others didn't come back empty-handed, they didn't bring back any solar panels.
Yu Zibai sighed, "That place has already been taken over by some villagers. They've occupied it and collected all the solar equipment. We were driven away before we could even get close. There were too many people there, so we had to give up. We thought we could take a detour through the commercial district, so we went around again, moved a few jars of pickled vegetables, and found a shoe store. We didn't check the sizes in detail, but we'll sort them out later."
Jian Chu frowned, "Taken over? What are they doing with those things? They can't eat or drink them."
Qin Huai replied, "They're from a nearby village. Those villages usually have some farmland or stored grain, and they probably have well water too, so they're not worrying about food and water. They're occupying the equipment to generate power for themselves. Don't worry, this issue will be dealt with. We mentioned it when we passed by on our way back."
Mu Nan asked, "Can the soldiers make them leave?"
Xu Ming laughed, "Even if they don't want to, they'll have to. This is not the time to let people use the solar equipment to generate power and then sell electricity or barter for water and food. The authorities won't compromise or give in, even if it means dealing with a few troublemakers. If they let this one instance slide, it'll be difficult to manage order afterward. Luckily, our country tends to have a unified voice during disasters, and people are used to the government handling such crises. Think about abroad—some states might even be tempted to declare independence or form local power structures, and there are likely warlords hoarding resources. Assuming they haven't died in the earthquake, it's impossible to openly take national resources like that and not expect consequences."
Mu Nan sighed, "I thought we might find a few more panels. Anyway, let's focus on the commercial district tomorrow. We should leave early so we can make two trips. Are you guys going to work on rebuilding in three days?"
Jian Chu was a bit unsure, "We probably should. It's a chance to earn some points. We can't cook now, and with no water and electricity, if we don't join in on communal meals, what can we do?"
Qin Huai said, "We should have enough food for a few days. Let's get the house in order first. Even if we end up with stuff we don't need, we can bring it back and exchange it for points. When the main forces arrive, we can slowly transfer the supplies over and get our stuff back. Some points might even be used for other things. Rebuilding isn't a short-term job; there's no need to rush. If we really can't find supplies later, we can still earn points and get food."
Yu Zibai nodded, "That's reasonable. We won't starve, and we might even get a head start on building up our resources."
Yu Zibai then looked at Wu Zheng and his brother, "What about you two? Are you going to earn points or stick with us?"
Wu Zheng said, "We'll stick with you. There might be more food to find in the ruins. Food seems to be worth more in points than these supplies. Although we don't know the exact exchange rate yet, it seems they prefer to take food."
Mu Nan patted Niu Niu, "Niu Niu, you've done well again. Next time, I'll give you a treat, okay?"
Niu Niu wagged her tail, seemingly understanding the word "treat."
Once the items were sorted, everyone went back to their own homes. They agreed to leave early the next day, though the exact time was not fixed, depending on how hot it got. It was expected to be around seven or eight in the morning.
When Mu Nan got home, he immediately took off his protective suit, which was drenched with sweat. However, since the suit had kept out the dust, his body was not too dirty, just his face and hands. Seeing the dripping suit, Mu Nan sighed heavily, "I really want a shower. I think I've gotten even whiter."
Qin Huai said, "You've probably gotten whiter because you've been sweating in the suit. If you want to shower, go ahead. Put the ice blocks in the storage room to cool it down. We'll shower and then have dinner."
They had slept in the storage room the night before, which had no windows, so the sunlight couldn't come in. The coolness from the ice blocks helped dissipate the heat in the room. With the door slightly ajar for ventilation, they managed to fit a mattress on the floor. They slept under a thin blanket, and it was neither too hot nor too cold. It was the most comfortable night they'd had since leaving home.
Mu Nan rummaged through the space and found a bottle of mildly scented body wash. He thoroughly cleaned himself from head to toe, even scrubbing behind his ears. After a refreshing shower, he felt like he had washed away several pounds of grime. He lay down on the mattress, not wanting to move. When Qin Huai came back from his shower, Mu Nan looked at him and smiled, "You look even more handsome now that you're clean."
Qin Huai sat down next to Mu Nan and squeezed his legs, which had developed some muscle from all the biking, "Are you tired?"
Mu Nan stretched and then got up to get a small table, "Not really. The beginning was the toughest; I've gotten used to it now. What do you want to eat today?"
Qin Huai, drying his hair, said, "Just get whatever you want."
Mu Nan thought for a moment, "How about grilled fish? It's been a while since I had fish. And let's have yellow wine-braised pork knuckle and stir-fried green beans. Do you want some beer with your meal?"
Qin Huai replied, "Let's start with some beer to cool down."
Mu Nan took the items out of the space, and thinking of Jian Chu's nose, he couldn't help but laugh, "From now on, we'll eat here and close the door tightly so Jian Chu won't smell anything."
Qin Huai chuckled, "Although they're still next door, having more space means more distance. Unless you're eating hotpot in the small garden outside, they probably won't smell it."
Mu Nan shook his head, "We still need to be careful. And the other neighbor has a dog. It feels like we're surrounded by noses, eating secretly."
As they ate, they discussed how to set up the upstairs. The upstairs had two rooms: the master bedroom with a bathroom, which was quite large, and a big bay window. If they decided to live upstairs, it was crucial to protect the windows. In winter, sunlight coming through was beneficial, but in summer, they would need good shading and insulation. This wasn't urgent; they could exchange some resources with the military later when they arrived. For now, they could make do with sleeping in the storage room.
In addition, they needed to get the air conditioning sorted out. They hoped to find a few more units. They definitely needed one for the room upstairs and one for downstairs, especially if they had guests. They considered the layout and, after eating a good portion of yellow wine-braised pork knuckle, they soon fell asleep.
Qin Huai reached his hand under Mu Nan's neck, and Mu Nan naturally rolled into his embrace. After a long period of traveling, feeling tired and hot, it was nice to be in a cooler spot. It would probably be even better in winter.
The group, racing against time, wanted to get their home organized before the situation in the commercial district was discovered. They had previously seen home appliances in a row of shops and thought there might be more nearby. The next day, they searched in front and finally found a mall selling major appliances.
The mall had collapsed partially, and the appliances were in a corner on the first floor. They couldn't get in through the collapsed area, so they had to break through two stores and smash down two walls to get inside. Most of the items had fallen to the ground due to the intense shaking from the earthquake. A few looked like they might still work, as they were still standing and appeared undamaged, but whether they actually worked could only be confirmed once power was restored.
It was fortunate that the men had some strength. The three of them managed to lift a refrigerator together. The road was difficult, filled with rubble, and it was secondary if the items fell; the main concern was if they dropped and hurt someone. Even though one person could carry it, three people working together was more stable.
After four trips over two days, they finally moved back the necessary items: the refrigerator, freezer, and air conditioner. Because their activities were quite noisy, and moving large appliances couldn't be done quietly, even though they entered through a side door, they were seen by others. People came forward to ask, and since they weren't secretive, they explained what they were doing.
By the time they returned, there were more people searching through the area. However, it didn't matter much since they had already moved the major appliances. They were left with some small items; whatever they found useful was a gain, and whatever they didn't find was not a big deal.
It was as if good deeds were rewarded. They found a bunch of pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils. Just as they were about to continue searching, they saw a man riding a bicycle with a roll of fabric. Jian Chu recognized him as the man who had asked about where to find appliances and waved to him, "Hey, where did you find that fabric?"
The man stopped upon seeing them and pointed behind him, "Behind that cinema, there's a fried chicken shop. You should go around and check. The fabric is buried underneath, so hurry up before more people notice."
Jian Chu thanked him and asked Yu Zibai and Xu Ming to take their tricycle over slowly. The rest of them went ahead to search. The fabric was still a complete roll, and if they could get it, making several layers of coverings would be very useful.
When they arrived, people were already rummaging through the area, mostly food stores. They weren't just looking for food; these stores often had some appliances like microwaves or gas stoves. Since they had moved from the city center, they needed to set up everything themselves, so they didn't miss any opportunity to search through shops.
They quickly found the fried chicken shop. Next to it was a pile of debris. They climbed up and began sifting through it. They soon found bundles of fabric. One roll of fabric was quite heavy and needed at least two people to carry. To avoid wasting effort, they used a light to inspect and found the thickest and most opaque fabric. After a while, someone saw them and came over. Mu Nan said, "Let's take a few rolls back first. These seem quite thick. If one layer isn't enough, we can cover with three layers."
Jian Chu agreed that this plan was feasible. They pulled the fabric from below, with Xu Ming and Wu Zheng carrying it down, while others stayed by the tricycle to guard the small items they had. If left unattended, items would likely be stolen.
In the end, they placed more than ten bundles of fabric on the tricycle and took one roll on their bicycles. They could only carry one roll per bike; more would be too heavy to ride.
Exhausted from the work, they returned home, rested a bit, and started sorting the items. The pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils were divided according to need, with no need for precise division. The fabric was examined for color and type. The fabric was indeed thick, likely due to increased demand for sturdy materials. It was much thicker than the usual curtains they had bought before. There were many colors, including blue, white, pink, and purple.
Mu Nan particularly liked the blue fabric with irregular patterns and took that. He also took another roll of blue fabric with a different pattern for color consistency.
There was plenty of fabric, so each household took two rolls, with the extra stored in Jian Chu's garage for later use.
With the fabric in hand, they quickly set up coverings. The hallway was quite cramped, and although Jian Chu's home had curtain rods that could be extended, Mu Nan wasn't sure how they planned to make the curtains. The fabric was still in a single piece, without any finishing, so Mu Nan had to cut holes and thread it through the rods.
"Brother, I think these holes will tear eventually, since the fabric is heavy and doesn't have any eyelets to reinforce it. Eventually, it will rip."
Qin Huai, installing the side brackets, said, "It's fine. By the time it tears, there might be curtains available for sale outside."
Mu Nan cut the fabric according to the measured dimensions, trying to avoid cutting it unevenly. Fortunately, it fit perfectly when hung, with just a few extra centimeters touching the floor, but that was fine. He finished the interior setup, and Qin Huai took the fabric to the rooftop, covering it around the edges to block out the sun. With the exterior covered, Mu Nan quickly applied a layer of sun-blocking film to the windows inside to prevent light from spilling out. This way, even with lights on inside, no one outside would be able to see in.
Having blocked out the view from outside, Mu Nan began mopping the floor. The house had been slightly renovated, with brick-covered walls, making it easy to clean. He wiped down everything inside and out with disinfectant, and cleaned the bathroom as well. Although no one had lived in the house before, it had been cleaned previously. Even though dust had accumulated from being closed for so long, it was just dust and easy to clean. Qin Huai, having dealt with the external coverings, came in to help with the cleaning, and together they spent about an hour getting the bedroom cleaned.
Mu Nan hurriedly took out the bed, placing it away from the window since it was the sleeping area. With plenty of space still available, he also set up a sofa, arranging it just right. The bedroom had a built-in closet, so Mu Nan took out their clothes—both light and heavy—and bedding, placing them outside to ensure Qin Huai could find them easily when needed.
The once-empty bedroom was soon filled with furniture. Mu Nan remarked, "Every time this happens, I appreciate the convenience of space. It's so easy to organize everything."
Qin Huai responded, "We'll install the air conditioner tomorrow. For now, let's leave it as it is. Move the ice blocks further away, we shouldn't overindulge in the cold. Excessive cold isn't good for the body. If it gets too hot, we can use the air cooler to circulate air."
Mu Nan took out things one by one. Compared to the cramped storage room where they couldn't fit anything more, living in a spacious bedroom was indeed better. Plus, the bed was the same one he used at home, giving him a familiar feeling. Although they had moved houses, all their belongings were familiar to him, which provided a lot of security.
As their new home slowly took shape, Shi Yuanfei had driven back to the city overnight. The base hadn't collapsed too severely, but there weren't enough personnel. Most of the 713 base staff had been dispatched to maintain order and distribute supplies, leaving only two shifts at the base to receive new instructions.
During the earthquake, the team on duty sacrificed seven people and injured five while protecting important military equipment. Less than ten people remained to guard the large base. The communications equipment had been damaged as the control room was underground and collapsed during the quake. Since it was still buried and irretrievable, they had no equipment to communicate with the outside world. They sent out two people in a car to survey the area and provide aid, but they couldn't go too far from the base because the base contained crucial items, including large-scale weapons. They could only passively wait for their surviving comrades to return.
Fortunately, they did eventually return. The sight of Shi Yuanfei and several soldiers moved those who had been waiting; the soldiers who hadn't shed tears before now cried like children seeing their relatives for the first time. They knew how difficult it was outside. If this level of difficulty was seen in the outer rings, they couldn't even imagine how it was in the city center. However, they couldn't leave; the villagers they had already rescued depended on them. They couldn't save all the people in the surrounding area—just about ten people, including the injured, who couldn't be evacuated.
The situation at the base was relatively better. Shi Yuanfei rested during the day and, as soon as the sun set, drove back to the camp. At that moment, the city center was shrouded in gray smoke, with the sun unable to pierce through the thick, black smoke. Beneath the smoke were piles of burning corpses.
When military trucks arrived at the camp, many people thought it was the arrival of external aid. Even now, some refused to believe that this was a disaster of such a scale that no aid could reach them. As they waited, hoped, and suffered, seeing the trucks arrive made many people break down and cry, rushing towards them. They wanted to leave and return to the civilization they once knew.
Seven military trucks were sent: two carried people, and the rest were for transporting supplies. The people being transferred were those with normal body temperatures over the past few days. Since there had been ongoing communication, they knew the trucks were returning, so the camp had made preparations. They first moved healthy, able-bodied workers and children to the other side, where they needed manpower for rebuilding. Children had poor resistance, so the risk of infection was high if they stayed. Elderly and vulnerable people were also arranged for transportation but would be isolated in a school. Those who were already ill couldn't be taken; if possible, the epidemic should be contained here.
On the day Shi Yuanfei returned, those who were on foot had only just reached their destination. The sick were taken directly to the school for isolation, at least for seven days, until they were confirmed healthy with no fever before being allowed back. The first batch of arrivals had their temperatures checked daily, and fortunately, no one was ill so far.
After taking the daily temperature, Mu Nan told Qin Huai, "People really do grow in adversity."
Qin Huai, wiping sweat from Mu Nan's face, smiled. They had just been installing the air conditioner in the room, so they were both sweaty. "How so?"
Mu Nan replied, "Look at people in the past. Climbing two flights of stairs would leave them gasping, walking ten minutes would have them looking for a place to sit, and a slight breeze would give them a cold or fever with no resistance. Now, after walking for half a month in such harsh conditions, people are still holding on without breaking down. They are so resilient that they dare not even fall ill. Human willpower is truly strong, strong enough to influence even uncontrollable situations."
Qin Huai smiled and said, "As the ancients said, 'Born in adversity, perishing in ease.' Alright, it's almost dawn. Let's take a shower and get some sleep."
As Mu Nan walked upstairs, he asked, "Since the sick people are being moved to the school, should we still go look for things? With more people arriving, the environment will get worse. When there were fewer people, we didn't have to interact with too many people while searching for things, but now it's not as safe with more people around."
Qin Huai said, "We'll discuss it with them tomorrow. We've pretty much found everything we need. We're just waiting for the water and electricity to be restored here. Next, we should look for bricks to build a wall, at least to have it done before it snows."
Mu Nan sighed, "I wonder if the underfloor heating will be sufficient when it snows. Our house does have underfloor heating, right?"
Qin Huai said, "Yes, it does have underfloor heating. If it's insufficient, we can use the air conditioner and heater. Brother Xu mentioned that the military supplies will gradually arrive in the next few days. We can go retrieve the solar panels then, and we'll have electricity." This is also why we need to quickly build the wall once the solar panels are installed, the house will become quite noticeable.