Wu Xue brought up some common medical equipment like a stethoscope, a blood pressure monitor, and a glucometer.
"Testing basic data isn't for treatment. It doesn't require complex equipment. The key is to be consistent, measuring repeatedly and comparing in detail to get accurate results."
Zhou Lin couldn't argue with her professional knowledge, but he felt awkward in his form-fitting workout clothes, with certain features a bit too prominent. Wu Xue, on the other hand, remained calm, even when touching Zhou Lin during the tests.
"Okay, I've recorded the basic data. I'll plot them later. We'll try to do this daily to get a complete change curve quickly, and then..."
Zhou Li's intellect and knowledge couldn't keep up with Wu Xue's increasingly technical terms, and Zhou Lin understood even less. He only knew that from now on, he would have a "check-up" like this daily.
It was a bit much to handle, especially when Wu Xue's soft hands touched him.
Feeling increasingly out of control, Zhou Lin made an excuse to take a shower and quickly left.
"Sister Xue, what was your original intention?"
"Oh, right."
Reminded by Zhou Li, Wu Xue remembered her goal and asked how to proceed.
"Take your phone."
Installing a satellite communication program was easy for Zhou Li. Within minutes, it was done. Besides partially restoring the call function, Zhou Li also added Wu Xue to a forum called the "Apocalypse Human Alliance."
Currently, fewer than 100,000 people had logged into this forum. Although its interface was simple and its functions limited, it was impressive that it allowed strangers worldwide to communicate.
The first thing Wu Xue did after getting her phone back was to call her parents. As expected, the call didn't go through, unless her parents also had phones linked to satellites.
"Send a message. It might work," suggested Zhou Li.
Wu Xue nodded and did so. However, minutes passed without a reply. Wu Xue consoled herself, thinking her parents might not have seen it or had discarded their useless phones while fleeing.
The eternal night and freezing conditions had regressed human society from the technological era to near-primitive times overnight. The power outage's consequences went beyond losing lighting and communication. Without electricity, there was no water supply, heating, or industrial production.
In other words, without power, human society couldn't function except for the people themselves.
In the tool shed, Ai Bing added a shovel of smokeless coal to the furnace. She no longer had her usual immaculate makeup; her face was smudged, her nose was sooty, and her hair had white feathers tangled in it, making her look like a rural woman.
But Ai Bing's feelings were mixed. She still hated Zhou Lin, not because of the dirty and "heavy" work but because Zhou Lin no longer loved her. He should have loved her unconditionally, regardless of her feelings or whether she used him. He should have given everything for her!
Even in the apocalypse, if Zhou Lin had a piece of meat, Ai Bing should get the first bite. She might leave a tiny bit or the bone for him to suck on.
Otherwise, what was love?
Men were all hypocrites. Remembering Zhou Lin's words when he was like a dog around her, all those heartfelt promises were lies! The disaster had just begun, and his sweet words and vows had gone to the dogs?
So Ai Bing felt she was right not to invest her feelings in Zhou Lin. Her foresight was proven correct.
Ai Bing even considered destroying everything in the tool shed. That way, Zhou Lin's family couldn't survive. They would struggle and die in the freezing cold.
Thinking about it made her happy.
But it was just a thought. Ai Bing didn't have the guts. Not only had Zhou Lin warned her, but she also feared she might be the first to freeze to death.
"There will be a chance," Ai Bing told herself, like all cowardly people. She'd wait. She knew the saying "sleep on brushwood and taste gall." Although she had a warm sleeping bag, sharing the room with chickens, ducks, and geese, constantly hearing their noises and smelling the indescribable odors, what was the difference?
Suddenly, Ai Bing wondered about Tang Yili and his friend Sun Chenghao. What a lousy friend. She had seen through him at once, knowing he had indecent thoughts about her.
They must be starving by now, Ai Bing thought. If not starved, they must be freezing, or already dead.
If only Ai Bing knew Tang Yili and Sun Chenghao were enjoying hot instant noodles, she might feel differently.
"After eating, go to the garage..."
A big iron stove had appeared in the property office, with a long chimney extending out the air conditioner vent. Flames roared in the furnace, keeping the room warm.
Shao Hang sat on the couch, holding a thick notebook, sketching under the emergency lamp.
Everything seemed to be going as he planned.
The communication breakdown and temperature drop meant the wealthy, selfish owners didn't dare bother him. He had already collected the generators and fuel for emergency elevator and lighting use into an empty room under the property office.
Though there were many, Shao Hang still forbade anyone from using them.
People must have a crisis awareness. If the disaster doesn't improve quickly, who can repair the generators or get more gasoline? These are non-renewable resources that must not be wasted until absolutely necessary!
A little cold isn't a problem. Old Zhao's stove works well. There are so many plants and wooden structures in the community, all potential fuel. Even wooden furniture could be used if necessary.
Beyond conservation, resource expansion was crucial.
The external situation was unclear, but the underground garage had many cars. Cars meant gasoline. The wealthy residents weren't known for their frugality. If he didn't extract the gasoline now, what if the owners took it later?
After eating, Tang Yili, Sun Chenghao, and a few others recruited by Shao Hang grabbed tools and followed some flashlight-wielding security guards to the underground garage.
Once brightly lit, the garage was now pitch dark, utterly impenetrable.
But because it was underground, the temperature was warmer than outside.
"Let's get to work. Groups of three, try not to damage the cars. The manager says they might be useful later."