Zhang Yi and the other two pushed three carts full of supplies back to the community.
Along the way, many neighbors witnessed this scene and couldn't help but start gossiping. Zhang Yi wasn't afraid of being seen. After all, some neighbors had already seen him when he was shopping in the supermarket. Moreover, Fang Yuqing and Li Cainin would surely spread the word later. Hiding would be completely meaningless.
He had even anticipated that during the doomsday, many people would attempt to break into his house to rob him. He had actually experienced all of this. However, he wasn't afraid because in this life, he would prepare in advance. He just wanted to make those people see the supplies but not be able to get them, and finally be driven mad with frustration.
Zhang Yi, Fang Yuqing, and they lived in an apartment building. Since Zhang Yi worked as a manager in Walmart's warehouse, neighbors often asked him to help buy discounted items. So everyone knew Zhang Yi.
Seeing that Zhang Yi and the other two had bought so many things back, an old woman who was out with her grandson came over. She looked at the food in the carts, as well as the fresh beef and mutton, and was immediately tempted.
"Xiao Zhang, why did you bring back so many things? Are they from the warehouse clearance? You can't possibly use so much. Why don't you share some with the neighbors?"
This was Aunt Lin, who worked in the property owners' committee. On normal days, relying on the little power she had in the community, she often pointed fingers at the neighbors and regarded herself as a leader. In the past, she often asked Zhang Yi to buy cheap discounted goods for her. She was extremely fond of taking petty advantages. In the previous life, she also managed to get some food from Zhang Yi by making a fuss. But when all the neighbors rushed to rob Zhang Yi's house, she not only didn't stop them but was even more energetic than the young people.
Fang Yuqing and Li Cainin didn't want to get into trouble with this woman either, and quickly said, "These things were all bought by Zhang Yi. We're just helping him deliver them."
Aunt Lin's eyes immediately turned to Zhang Yi, and she said with a smile, "Xiao Zhang, it seems these are from your warehouse. How about sharing some with Aunt Lin?" While she was speaking, her grandson, Xiaohu, had already climbed onto one of the carts and reached out to grab a box of chocolates. Although he was small, he had a sharp eye. That box of imported chocolates cost more than two hundred yuan in the supermarket.
Without a word, Zhang Yi snatched the chocolates back. Then he said coldly to Aunt Lin, "Sorry, I'm keeping these for myself to eat." Anyway, the doomsday was coming soon, and he was too lazy to be polite now.
Aunt Lin's face suddenly changed. "You..." Zhang Yi's refusal to give her, the so - called community leader, face made her very angry. Especially her grandson Xiaohu, after being pushed away by Zhang Yi, started crying and shouting for chocolates.
"The child is naughty. Why don't you just give him a box of chocolates? I'll pay you. I'll give you the money later." Aunt Lin said in a deep voice.
But Zhang Yi curled his lips. Now that mobile payment was so convenient, when she said she'd pay later, it was obvious that she was trying to renege.
"I said, these are for me to eat. If you want some, go buy them at the supermarket yourself!" Zhang Yi sneered and then signaled Fang Yuqing and Li Cainin to leave.
As soon as they left, Aunt Lin's shouts of abuse came from behind. Zhang Yi ignored them.
Aunt Lin's son and daughter - in - law worked outside, and she was at home alone taking care of her grandson. On normal days, the old woman only bought enough vegetables for one day. So after the doomsday arrived, their family's supplies were the first to run out. In the previous life, Zhang Yi had been soft - hearted and helped them. But in this life, without Zhang Yi's help, it would be a miracle if this immoral old woman and her naughty grandson Xiaohu could survive for ten days. Zhang Yi didn't want to have trouble with the dead. It wasn't that he was cruel, but when that day came, it would be extremely difficult for everyone to take care of themselves. The lives of others naturally came second.
After pushing the three carts of supplies home, Zhang Yi asked the two women to leave.
"Zhang Yi, don't forget to treat us to a meal!" Fang Yuqing winked playfully at Zhang Yi. But when Zhang Yi saw this, he felt a wave of nausea in his heart. He just gave a perfunctory response.
The two women had originally planned to stay and look for clues that Zhang Yi was a hidden rich second - generation heir. But seeing that Zhang Yi seemed to have no intention of entertaining them, they had to leave first.
After they left, Zhang Yi opened his alternate space and put all the things inside. He was going to observe if there would be any changes to these supplies in the space.
After finishing this, it was already very late. Zhang Yi didn't rush to rest. Instead, he took out paper and a pen and meticulously planned the preparatory work for the next month. Although he was usually lazy, for the sake of survival, one could always unleash sufficient potential.
"If I want to live comfortably during the doomsday, first, I need to solve the food problem. This is easy to handle."
"Besides the things I buy daily, I can get the rest from the warehouse. But I can't be hasty. I need to conduct an investigation first."
"And I should collect them a few days before the doomsday to avoid attracting attention. If I get caught, I won't be able to survive in prison for a few days."
Zhang Yi wrote "Food" on the notebook and put a tick behind it.
"Then, heating."
"After the doomsday, energy supply will be extremely scarce, and air conditioners will soon become useless."
"Then, the simplest method should be used. A fireplace is the top choice!"
A fireplace is similar in principle to a heated kang, both using primitive methods for heating. In Europe, where winters are extremely cold, people get through the long, cold winters this way.
"In that case, I need to renovate the house and preferably add an insulation layer."
When it came to renovation, Zhang Yi remembered that in his previous life, his house was broken into, and his heart tightened.
"I also need to turn my house into an impregnable steel fortress."
"First, install thick steel plates all over. At least, it should be able to withstand ordinary explosions."
After the doomsday arrives, people will do anything for survival. Complete preparation is necessary. Life safety can't be taken lightly. Zhang Yi had already tasted death once and was determined not to experience it again.
The problem of the safe house is also solvable. In Tianhai City, there are security companies that specialize in providing security services for the rich and powerful. Among them, there is a service for building safe rooms. Zhang Yi remembered that in his previous life, a top - notch tycoon had built a super fortress that could even withstand attacks from small - scale nuclear weapons.
"Then, medicine. I must prevent myself from getting sick with no cure."
"There are many common medicines in Walmart's warehouse that can treat minor illnesses like colds and fevers. But these are far from enough."
"The Cambrian storm will last for at least several decades. I need to be fully prepared."
Fortunately, Zhang Yi had good connections in Tianhai City. After all, as a storage manager, he also knew some hospital storage workers. As long as he could offer enough money, he could get any medicine.
After these problems were solved, Zhang Yi tapped the notebook with the ballpoint pen in his hand.
"Next, there's one last problem to be solved."
His gaze became sharp.
"That's weapons!"
When the doomsday comes, human nature will be lost, and battles for supplies will be everywhere. Human lives will be as worthless as grass. To survive, one must have sufficient force. Zhang Yi wasn't a martial arts expert, but even the most skilled fighter is afraid of weapons. As long as he prepared strong enough weapons, he wouldn't need to worry about this problem.
"Machetes, crowbars, and axes are easy to obtain."
"Crossbows, air guns, and compound bows also have channels."
"But the most powerful one, of course, is the American - style quick - draw pistol. This thing can only be obtained through the black market."
Zhang Yi stroked his chin. This problem couldn't be solved for the moment. But he still had a month. As long as he was willing to spend money, there should be a way to get it.
He spent three hours formulating a perfect plan. Then he took a comfortable hot bath and lay down on his cozy bed and fell asleep.
...
The next morning, Zhang Yi got out of bed. He didn't sleep very well during the night and woke up several times from nightmares. When he woke up and found himself still lying on the warm and comfortable big bed at home, he let out a long sigh of relief.
The doomsday period had caused great trauma to his mind. To avoid repeating the same mistakes, Zhang Yi became even more determined to be fully prepared!
After getting up, Zhang Yi made himself breakfast. Then he opened the alternate space to check the changes in the supplies he had put in. To his delight, the meat, fruits, and vegetables that had been in there for a night hadn't changed at all. For meat, it might not be obvious in a short time, but fruits and vegetables usually become less fresh overnight. However, after being put in the alternate space, the fruits and vegetables were just as fresh as when he bought them yesterday.
"My alternate space is independent of this world, and perhaps the rules of time change are also different."
"It's possible that the time flow is slower or even stationary. This is great news!"
"With this, I can put all kinds of things in there without worry."
However, when Zhang Yi checked the several fish he had put in, he found that they were all dead. But they looked lifelike after death and hadn't deteriorated. Zhang Yi stroked his chin and understood some more rules of using the alternate space.
"Living things can't survive in there for a long time. It seems that my idea of living in there myself isn't practical."
This wasn't a big problem either. The alternate space was a vast expanse of whiteness, which couldn't compare to the comfort of Zhang Yi's own home. As long as he could store things in it, that was fine.
With this thought, many ideas emerged in Zhang Yi's mind. Since fresh meat, vegetables, and fruits could be preserved, what about cooked meals? Zhang Yi could cook by himself, but after all, there was still a big gap compared to professional chefs. He would eventually get tired of cooking by himself every day.
So Zhang Yi immediately called the largest five - star hotel in Tianhai City.
"Hello. This is Hongfu Tianxia Grand Hotel. How can I help you?"
Zhang Yi immediately said, "I'm having guests at home and will hold a continuous banquet for three days and three nights. So I need to reserve 500 tables of meals!"
The person on the other end of the phone was also shocked. 500 tables of meals would take them a long time to prepare. Moreover, they were a five - star hotel, and the cheapest banquet table cost three to four thousand yuan. For 500 tables, that would be more than a million yuan!
The waiter didn't dare to make a decision on his own and quickly said, "Please wait a moment. I'll consult our manager."
After a while, another person picked up the phone.
"Hello, sir. I'm Chen Dingfang, the manager of Hongfu Grand Hotel. May I ask your name?"