Although the area is in ruins, retrieving usable bricks is quite challenging. Bricks that can be reused are difficult to find, but everyone understands that this is crucial for their safety, so they must search diligently. As for cement and other materials, they plan to exchange them with the military. Since they are preparing for reconstruction, they will need these materials. They can use their points to obtain some, but for now, they need to prepare enough bricks to build the wall.
The chosen site is on the edge and adjacent to a wall, so they only need to build three sides of the wall. However, the decision of whether to enclose just their own houses or to include Wu Zheng's building as well became a point of contention. The main issue is that they don't yet know who their future neighbors will be. If Wu Zheng's future neighbors turn out to be troublesome, it could cause problems for both families. On the other hand, if they only enclose their own houses, it means they need to find twice as many bricks, as Wu Zheng and his team would help with the brick-moving, but the walls would still not be around their own homes. This would be a waste.
In the end, they decided to enclose everything together. If Wu Zheng's future neighbors are problematic, they can always demolish and rebuild the wall.
Seeing the old bricks piled up against the wall, Song Jia couldn't help but say, "I hope our future neighbors are easy to get along with. Otherwise, we'll have to take the wall down and rebuild it. What a hassle."
Mu Nan reassured him, "There are still more good people than bad in this world. Don't worry."
Although Mu Nan had died in his previous life because of bad people, he felt that his growth environment was relatively clean. There weren't many schemes or malice, and his interpersonal interactions were simple and comfortable, with everyone being polite and courteous. However, it might also be because he had always lived in his own world, not deeply connecting with others. His relationships were shallow and lacked conflict of interest, so the people he encountered seemed relatively straightforward. He felt fortunate in this regard; the floor he lived on had only two regular neighbors, both of whom were good people. Later, he met Wu Zheng and his group, who were also decent individuals. So far, he hadn't interacted with many complex-minded people.
It took over a week to transfer the supplies. This was after they had expended significant effort to clear a road. Once the road was passable, they could make three trips back and forth in one night, without traffic lights, other cars, or many people. What used to take almost two hours now only took less than an hour.
Part of the military's temporary camp was set up at the power plant. It was said that when they first arrived, the villagers had the same aggressive attitude. They even audaciously claimed that no one had helped them during the disaster, and now that they had managed to save themselves, they accused the soldiers of trying to take their supplies. They didn't believe the soldiers would really shoot innocent people.
When the villagers saw the soldiers brandishing their guns, they became even more agitated and began shouting loudly. The most unruly among them were shot dead. This wasn't the military's preference for using violence, but sometimes it was very difficult to reason with stubborn and unruly people. Moreover, based on previous warnings from Qin Huai, they knew that some villagers had already occupied the area. Before going over, they had investigated the situation and found that the deceased man was a leader among these villagers. He had some wealth before but hoarded a lot of food during the harsh climate. After the earthquake, he even used food to exchange for women, including several young girls, not just one.
To make an example and deal with such scum, it was necessary to act decisively; leaving them alive would only waste food and potentially cause more trouble.
With such a strong deterrent, the remaining villagers became anxious. The soldiers then searched the entire village, uncovering solar equipment hidden in homes and freeing women and girls who had been confined. Some villagers who were fearless and tried to argue that the women had voluntarily traded for rice were quickly silenced with a bullet. The soldiers weren't going to tolerate such behavior; if they allowed this kind of thing to continue, it would only lead to more chaos in the future.
With vehicles and equipment now available, the speed of relocating from the epidemic zone increased. They needed to quickly move all healthy individuals who had not been ill, and those who had completed their quarantine and remained healthy were gradually moved to the residential area. Soon, the houses there were nearly full, and new policies were implemented quickly. Currently, a point system was in place. Small apartments required five to twenty points per month, while townhouses ranged from fifteen to thirty points. Basic manual labor could earn two points per day.
Considering the point system, the cost was actually quite reasonable. However, for those living here, whether it was housing or food, they needed to work to earn points. This was to encourage everyone to join the reconstruction effort; the more people involved, the faster the rebuilding process would be.
Mu Nan recalled that when he arrived at the base in his previous life, the new currency policy was already in place. It was like going back to the last century. Salaries were just a few new currency units, and rents ranged from a few to dozens of units. One unit could buy a half-pound corn cake, reflecting the price level at that time. Back then, identity cards were used to link all money and personal information, unlike now, where points were still issued on government-stamped slips. He didn't know when the new currency policy would start, but it would probably be just for this winter.
After the supplies were moved over, Qin Huai bought some cement and enclosed both townhouses. They still had some leftover bricks from their previous search, though not many. The courtyard wall adjacent to the street was of average height, so for safety, they increased its height and covered it with a layer of glass shards.
As more people moved in, the rental system had been established. For their relatively small and edge-located area, the rent was twenty points per month, which wasn't too high. Even if one person in the household worked, it was affordable. However, it was rumored that utilities would incur additional charges later. As long as one was willing to work, they could support themselves. With rent being low, many began to choose the townhouses, and Wu Zheng's new neighbors also arrived.
The new arrivals didn't get to choose their houses; they could only choose between living in a townhouse or an apartment. Qin Huai had informed Xu Ge in advance to pay extra attention during the housing allocation to ensure they got along well with the new neighbors.
During their migration, Xu Ge had received many favors from them, including several jars of sauce. For such a small request, he readily agreed. When assigning housing, he paid special attention and ended up placing four university students—four girls.
Mu Nan stood on the third-floor balcony, watching the girls chattering as they moved their things into the house. He recalled Xu Ge's enigmatic smile and thought, "Well, a few girls do seem quite safe and harmless." It seemed like an extra benefit for their all-male house to get such considerate treatment.
Qin Huai stood next to him, looking down, and noticing Mu Nan's unblinking stare, said with a slightly cold tone, "Is it so interesting? Aren't you hot just staring?"
Mu Nan sighed, "Can our little courtyard ever be peaceful?" It wasn't that he disliked the girls, but in the current world, a young girl could easily attract unwanted attention. With four girls moving in, those with dirty intentions might focus on them. The very act of enclosing the courtyard had already attracted attention.
Hearing Mu Nan's sigh, Qin Huai's expression softened a little. His first reaction was to complain. Those who were clueless about their situation would find it harder to understand others. Sometimes being naive was not such a bad thing. Qin Huai pulled him inside, "Whether there's peace or not, we'll deal with it. They just arrived; we don't know their temperaments yet. Just keep your distance."
Mu Nan nodded in agreement, even reminding Qin Huai, "And you, too. I don't want to end up dividing the family just because of an additional sister-in-law."
Qin Huai smiled at this and playfully flicked Mu Nan on the forehead, "I've already said there's no sister-in-law."
Returning to the room, they were greeted by the cool air from the air conditioner. They had previously retrieved their own belongings, including the generator and even some tarpaulin. As for the food that was taken away earlier, it was a bit awkward not to take some since they had been together along the way. It would seem odd not to have any food, so they took just enough to last ten days to two weeks.
With the solar panels installed, the air conditioners could operate soon. Qin Huai had placed the panels on the roof to avoid the trouble of removing snow if it accumulated. Unlike Yu Zibai's plan to place them on the rooftop balcony, this would be too difficult to clean. Qin Huai planned to check with the military soon about getting a sunshade for the roof to prevent snow accumulation.
Currently, the solar panels were shared between the two families. Since the area exposed to sunlight was larger, and with Jian Chu and Xu Ming using wall-mounted air conditioners, it was easier to operate than floor-standing ones. Thus, all three households could use their air conditioners and even had some surplus electricity. However, Jian Chu's group wanted their own generator since sharing one meant they had to strictly manage their electricity consumption, limiting their use of other appliances. They had asked the military and confirmed that they could exchange it, but only after the local electrical system was fully operational.
According to Jian Chu, turning on the air conditioner made them feel like they had instantly gone from poor peasants to landlords.
After cooling off in the room, Mu Nan was curious about the new neighbors and asked, "Since school was canceled for so long, how come they're still together and haven't gone home?"
Qin Huai replied, "Not everyone has a home to return to. Stop worrying about them and go take a shower. You're covered in sweat."
Mu Nan acknowledged and went to the bathroom with clean clothes. Over the past few days, they had completely settled down, and they could now enjoy a clean and comfortable living without needing to go outside.
The commercial area had been thoroughly searched. They had acquired everything useful in advance and then spent a few days hauling burnable wood. Mu Nan advised keeping some in case of power outages for cooking. As the number of people increased, they stopped going to the commercial area as it was no longer safe.
Without any more places to search, Jian Chu's group joined the reconstruction team. Without sufficient food, they were restless, so they immediately started working. A hard day's work earned them a free meal and three points. The cafeteria food was bland, lacking oil and salt, but the portions were large enough to leave them full and still earn two points.
As for Mu Nan, he jokingly said he was being "kept" by Qin Huai, who was now going to work. Qin Huai wasn't moving bricks but engaging in various aspects of reconstruction. Building repairs required not only moving bricks but also people knowledgeable in construction to provide guidance and planning. Apart from housing, the network needed to be reestablished. Someone had to manage that for local networks and new electronic IDs. Qin Huai didn't mind, as it was right up his alley. Although he hadn't worked with this type of software before, coding was involved, and with some study and practice, it wasn't too difficult for him.
Qin Huai had likely anticipated this situation long ago. When preparing supplies, he had bought several books on communications and would read them at home during idle times. He also practiced by developing a couple of basic software applications.
Mu Nan admired Qin Huai for this, noting that while others might consider only a few steps ahead, his brother would plan hundreds of steps ahead. Network management was Qin Huai's expertise, and it was a field he was skilled in. Moreover, he wouldn't be doing physical labor outside but rather working in a high-skill technical job. Even though he was currently an intern, his ability would determine if he could be formally employed. After all, making software was just the beginning; ongoing updates and maintenance were required. Thus, the internship period was crucial to ensure that only those truly capable would be given permanent positions.
During the internship, he earned three points per day, which covered two meals. The cafeteria food wasn't like the large, bland meals provided to laborers outside but was served with a bit more flavor, similar to what the communications soldiers had. If he didn't want to eat in the cafeteria, he could bring snacks or drinks home. After becoming a permanent employee, he would earn five points per day for two meals, plus additional weekly or monthly benefits. Although not vastly superior to manual labor in terms of income, it was a significant improvement, especially with air conditioning and other benefits. The current resources and conditions were limited, but even for ordinary employees, the benefits were decent. For those with stronger abilities who were promoted, the benefits would be even better.
Mu Nan preferred to stay home comfortably rather than do physical labor outside. For him, ensuring his brother could focus on work without distractions and enjoy delicious meals when he came home was his greatest value. Since his brother didn't want him to work outside, he agreed without hesitation. As a homebody and artist, Mu Nan's ultimate pursuit was to be able to leisurely draw at home.
However, he didn't have the conditions to draw at the moment. They were reportedly working on water supply lines, and once the pipes were repaired and the underground water supply was cleared, Mu Nan planned to return to his old hobby of growing vegetables at home. Even if the house didn't have floor heating, they could use the air conditioning. He planned to set up some soil pots and grow vegetables. If the harvest was good, he would sell them; if not, he'd keep them for himself.
Upon hearing Mu Nan's plans, Qin Huai supported him, "Tomorrow when I go to work, you can turn on the air conditioner in the living room. Be careful when assembling the racks; don't injure yourself. In a couple of days, I'll see if I can get some wooden planks to set up some racks on the second floor for soil pots. Once the power is on, we'll run the air conditioners upstairs and downstairs. Grow whatever you can; if it doesn't work out, so be it. Remember, don't open doors recklessly. If there's any trouble, run out the back door immediately, got it?"
Although the courtyard walls had been erected and patrols had started in the area, safety was still not guaranteed. Qin Huai made sure to remind Mu Nan to develop a reflex to flee in emergencies, as there would be no one nearby to help. Mu Nan listened without showing any impatience and also reminded Qin Huai, "You should maintain good relations with the people around you. I plan to grow some tomatoes. If they succeed, you can bring some to your supervisors. With your skills, you'll surely secure a permanent position!"
Qin Huai ruffled his hair and replied, "If I don't get a permanent position, you can always support me. No need to worry."
Mu Nan nodded proudly, "Of course. Rest assured, I'll always be your strongest support!"
Qin Huai's working hours were at night, from ten in the evening to five in the morning. It was convenient to leave when it was dark and return when it was light. Before he left, Mu Nan prepared a table full of food for him. It was his first time sending his brother to work, so he wanted to make it somewhat ceremonial. Even though he wasn't driving, Mu Nan made sure not to serve alcohol but provided a hearty meal. He added, "Eat more. I've packed some mung bean cakes for you, but they're sweet, as meat might spoil quickly outside. If the cafeteria food isn't good, just eat it casually and enjoy better food when you come back."
Qin Huai accepted everything and ate as advised. He wasn't new to working outside; even big projects worth millions didn't make him as happy as earning a few points now.
When it was time for him to leave, Qin Huai reminded Mu Nan once more to be cautious at home and not to go downstairs, fearing he might sweat from the effort. Qin Huai left with his bag, which contained food, water, and a small weapon. Their home wasn't far from the workplace; it took about twenty minutes by bike from the side entrance. The office building was only four stories high, which made it easier to clean and use. They were currently working on new software for the government and communication repairs, so they needed to work in the government office building with the information engineers. Even though it was nearby, he still carried a weapon for safety.
After Qin Huai left, Mu Nan got busy setting up his soil pots. The third-floor living room, which was not visible from outside, was where he used racks bought before the apocalypse to assemble the soil pots. The pots, which had been stored from the previous house, were still warm. Using online guides and tips from seed sellers, Mu Nan prepared the soil, adding fertilizer. He planned to grow some peppers first, as they were easier and he had experience. He would also try growing tomatoes, which were more demanding in terms of temperature, soil, and water, but it was worth a try. He hoped to grow and harvest enough to either sell or consume.
Seeds needed to be prepped, so Mu Nan soaked them according to the guide—tomato seeds needed to be soaked in cold water first, then hot water. With the alarm set, he started loosening the soil and mixing it with nutrients. Peppers and tomatoes generally matured in two to three months, though they were annual plants. Still, he needed to learn to harvest seeds. Even though he had plenty in his storage space, learning to harvest seeds was important.
When there's something to be done, time passes quickly. After he had finished loosening and cleaning all the soil in the pots, several hours had already gone by. Although the air conditioning was on in the living room on the third floor, working non-stop made him sweat a lot. Mu Nan checked the seeds in the water, which still needed a few more hours to soak for the second time. So he turned off the air conditioning in the living room and went back to the bedroom to take a shower. Even though they were generating power with solar panels, it was better to save electricity to avoid overloading.
After coming out feeling refreshed, he started working on setting up the projector. Lying in bed with a laptop was a bit tiring, and since there was no TV at home, the projector came in handy. But before he could understand the instructions, he heard some noise outside. Fearing that someone might have snuck in while they were away, Mu Nan quickly ran to the balcony on the second floor and lifted a curtain to look outside. He saw that it was Jian Chu and Wu Zheng returning, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He then opened the balcony door and was immediately stunned: "What are you guys doing?"
Jian Chu waved at him, "Come down quickly! We have meat to eat!"
Next door, Niu Niu was jumping around its owner. If Mu Nan wasn't mistaken, Wu Zheng and Yu Zibai were carrying something from outside that had a tilted neck and a patch of red blood on it. Was that a llama?