The biggest change in the city was the noticeable decrease in people and cars on the streets.
Many shops were closed, and only at the entrances of a few large supermarkets could one see crowded people.
Ai Bing was a bit surprised. She had been preoccupied with the house these past few days and didn't understand why people were frantically stocking up, so she asked Zhou Lin.
"Maybe they've gone mad," Zhou Lin chuckled. With Cheng Yali handling things, he didn't need to fight for supplies in the supermarket.
Cheng Yali had been busy all day yesterday, either transferring goods or receiving them. Following Zhou Lin's advice, she cleared out a warehouse in the logistics park to store supplies. This morning, she messaged Zhou Lin to clear out the warehouse, indicating that she and Zhou Caijun had discussed it last night.
"Why aren't we staying in Lanshan?" Ai Bing was unhappy when she saw Zhou Lin driving out of the city. After all, her name was on the property deed for that house. Why should they go to the countryside?
"It's being renovated," Zhou Lin replied.
"Wasn't it already finished?"
"Not yet," Zhou Lin replied indifferently and fell silent. Ai Bing had no choice but to play on her phone.
Seeing her chatting, Zhou Lin sneered inwardly. He kept Ai Bing around not only because he didn't want her to die too easily but also to lure out Tang Yili. In a way, both were Ai Bing's sycophants, though Zhou Lin didn't know about Tang Yili before the apocalypse.
Ai Bing had a knack for managing people and was very manipulative. Despite her flaws, she packaged herself attractively.
Tang Yili was a fitness coach, and a woman like Ai Bing would invest in her appearance. It's safer and cheaper than plastic surgery. Whether the coach or the student made the first move didn't matter; the result was Tang Yili turning from a big dog to a small sycophant.
Without the apocalypse, Zhou Lin and Tang Yili might have become close friends. But after the disaster, Tang Yili became Ai Bing's fiercest wolf, attacking anyone in sight.
Perhaps years of fitness training made Tang Yili strong but simple-minded. In the apocalypse's maddening environment, he lost his ability to think. Most of Zhou Lin's suffering in his past life came from Tang Yili, and those humiliations were unforgettable.
Now that Ai Bing wasn't in Shenzhen, if she died, Zhou Lin wouldn't know where to find Tang Yili!
Tang Yili must die!
Thinking of the harm that mad dog caused him, Zhou Lin couldn't suppress his anger.
"Zhou Lin, when are we going back to Shenzhen?" Ai Bing suddenly asked.
"No rush, why?"
"A friend asked me. I haven't seen them in a while. You know I'm sentimental."
Sentimental?
Zhou Lin almost laughed.
"The air quality in Shenzhen is terrible. Long-term exposure can cause lung cancer. If your friends are free, invite them over for a while. We can go back when the environment improves."
"Lung cancer? Is it that serious?" Ai Bing was surprised.
"Haven't you seen the recent reports? Mount Shifu has been erupting continuously, and no one knows when it will stop. Property prices in Shenzhen have dropped by 30%!"
Indeed, only money-related topics could interest Ai Bing and make her think.
Back at the farm, Zhou Lin saw a few electric cars leaving from a distance. Those were the last workers, and now the entire farm was empty.
"It's all empty," Zhou Caijun sighed. He had truly bet everything this time. If the apocalypse didn't come, it would be hard to restore the farm.
"Dad, I hope the so-called apocalypse is just a nightmare. But look at the sky..."
Zhou Caijun nodded dejectedly, grateful that his son was reborn and had a space.
However, neither Zhou Caijun nor Cheng Yali ever asked Zhou Lin about the details of his space.
"Oh no, I forgot something important," Zhou Lin slapped his forehead. "Mom told me to go to the warehouse to collect things. It's almost full."
"You dare forget your mom's words? Hurry up!"
Fortunately, the logistics park wasn't far, and this road was never congested, especially now. Zhou Lin drove into the logistics park in just over ten minutes and found their warehouse.
"I thought you forgot. Get in, I'll lock the door!"
Seeing Cheng Yali still guarding the place, probably not having had lunch, Zhou Lin felt a pang of guilt. "Mom, are you hungry?"
"Hungry... already past that. Hurry up, another truckload is coming soon."
In front of Cheng Yali, Zhou Lin had no room to argue and obediently entered the warehouse.
Cheng Yali didn't follow him in but immediately locked the door.
"What is all this..." Zhou Lin's eyes scanned the mountain of supplies: at least thirty bags of 200-pound sugar;
100-pound bags of additive-free salt filled a corner of the warehouse;
Various peppers, essential for Sichuan cuisine, packed in burlap bags, fifty bags;
Different types of Doubanjiang, fifty jars;
Traditional rapeseed oil, fifty large iron barrels;
Countless seasonings like MSG, chicken essence, oyster sauce, corn oil, sesame oil, and pepper oil...
After clearing half the warehouse, Zhou Lin suddenly felt dizzy, his lips numb, head heavy, limbs weak, and cold sweat on his forehead.
"Oh no..." The thought barely formed before Zhou Lin collapsed, unconscious.
Busy outside, Cheng Yali didn't hear a thing. It wasn't until the next batch of goods was almost there that she remembered her son was still inside.
"Why isn't he out yet?"
Cheng Yali tried calling Zhou Lin, but no one answered.
"Something must have happened." Worried, she quickly unlocked the door and saw Zhou Lin lying on the ground.
"What happened! What's wrong!"
Rushing to Zhou Lin's side, Cheng Yali checked his pulse and heart rate. Feeling his heartbeat was normal, she sighed in relief and increased the pressure on his philtrum, waking Zhou Lin.
"Ouch, ouch... I'm so hungry, Mom, I'm starving!" Zhou Lin's head was spinning, and he couldn't focus his eyes.
"Eat this!" Cheng Yali shoved a chocolate bar into Zhou Lin's mouth, then pulled out a handful more from a box in the warehouse.
"You must have low blood sugar like your dad."
Zhou Lin didn't respond, taking the second bar. After eating ten bars, Cheng Yali didn't dare give him more. Zhou Lin finally stopped eating and exhaled deeply.
"Always carry some sugar with you. If I hadn't come in, you'd be done for."
Zhou Lin smiled and stood up with Cheng Yali's help. He knew it wasn't low blood sugar but related to frequent use of his powers.
Symbiosis:
[Primary 121/1000]
Currently Symbiotic Vehicles: Lifebuoy (large surface vehicle)
Available Vehicle Slots: 0
Storage Space: 1/1
...
Sure enough, in that short time, his experience points increased by 10!
"It's just that my body can't handle it."
Smacking his lips, Zhou Lin said, "Mom, I want hotpot for dinner!"