Сhарter 15: Filling in the Gaрs
Sinсe June, Jiаng Ci had аlmоst finishеd stосkрiling all hеr suррlies.
First, shе did somе calсulаtions.
Inсluding the 200 milliоn Si Веichеn gаve hеr, shе hаd а tоtаl оf ovеr 4.2 billion.
Тhе daily purchаses frоm variоus shорs—dishеs like spiсy frog fish, grillеd fish, bаrbесue, lаmb noоdles, ricе nооdlеs, brеakfаst items, self-heаting hоt роts, сrayfish, meаt frоm slаughterhоuses, vаrious snaсks, lаrgе bаrrels of wаtеr, and morе—added uр tо аbоut 30 million.
Vеgеtables cost 20 million, and mediсine соst 50 milliоn.
Моdified vеhicles cоst 100 million, gаsolinе and diеsel cost 400 million, firearms cost 100 million, clothing and seafood cost 100 million, grains and oils cost 100 million, and beverages, tobacco, alcohol, coal, air conditioners, fans, solar panels, electric heating panels, and other items cost another 100 million.
All these miscellaneous expenses added up to only 1 billion.
She still had over 3.2 billion left.
With no other choice, Jiang Ci began assigning herself spending tasks.
Another 200 million for vegetables, another 200 million for meat, another 200 million for fruits, another 100 million for clothing, 400 million for bulletproof glass, anti-theft doors, hardware accessories, and other renovation materials, another 200 million for grains and oils, another 200 million for medicine, another 400 million for cars, planes, and yachts, 100 million for gold, another 100 million for charcoal, fire axes, protective goggles, nail guns, recurve bows, generators, and other items, and another 100 million for daily necessities.
These miscellaneous expenses added up to another 2.2 billion.
She still had 1 billion left.
Jiang Ci asked someone to help her purchase a life pod produced and developed by a high-tech company, which cost 200 million for its waterproof, fireproof, earthquake-resistant, and pressure-resistant features.
With the remaining 800 million, Jiang Ci went abroad again and spent a month there, finally exhausting the last 800 million.
Now, her infinite space was completely filled with supplies, especially the rectangular section that extended infinitely—she had no idea how far the supplies stretched.
Not only could she support herself for a lifetime, but she could even support ten more people for ten lifetimes without hesitation.
The last 20 million in her card, Jiang Ci exchanged for gold and stored it in her space.
It was now the end of July.
The weather was extremely hot, with daytime temperatures reaching 39 or even 40 degrees Celsius.
Jiang Ci was someone who feared both cold and heat, so she mostly stayed indoors during the day, enjoying the air conditioning, eating watermelon, reading novels, browsing videos, and watching TV dramas.
After sunset, she would go out for a stroll to collect the dishes she had ordered.
Sometimes on weekend evenings, she would go to Xianglan Villa for dinner.
Since the last time Si Beichen returned for her mother’s birthday, he hadn’t come back again.
Most of the communication among the family of four took place in the “Happy Family” group chat.
Apart from the occasional discordant voices of the elderly couple urging her and Si Beichen to get married, everything was harmonious and loving.
She sent a message to Si Beichen: “Bro, hurry up and find a girlfriend. It’s because you can’t find one that I’m being dragged into this.”
Si Beichen completely ignored her. He was even more responsive when she asked him for money.
Soon, August arrived.
One noon, Jiang Ci went downstairs to take out the trash.
As soon as she reached the ground floor, she felt the air was so stiflingly hot that it made it hard to breathe. There wasn’t even a hint of wind in the air, and it felt like she had stepped into a steamer.
Every breath she took was hot, and she could barely catch her breath.She stood motionless in the shade at the base of her apartment building, holding a bag of trash, already feeling sweat begin to bead on her skin. The air felt stifling, making her uncomfortable.
No wonder she had seen news reports about heatstroke cases over the past few days.
Especially among construction workers and delivery couriers working outdoors—it was said their internal organs were practically “cooked,” and quite a few had died from heatstroke.
Jiang Ci slowly tossed the trash and hurried back upstairs at a jog to resume enjoying her air conditioning.
She checked her phone for the temperature—outside, it had already reached 45 degrees Celsius.
In her social media feed, a friend had posted a photo of their foam-soled slippers; after just one walk outside, the soles had melted.
She pulled the curtain on her balcony open a crack to peek outside. Only a handful of cars were still moving on the streets, which were otherwise deserted. Hardly anyone was outside.
She opened the group chat named “Happy Family.”
Jiang Ci: 【Dad, Mom, please stay indoors and don’t go outside. It’s way too hot out there—you’ll definitely get heatstroke if you go out.】
Si Jianhua: 【Sweetie, you stay inside too. The news says many people have died from heatstroke. Your mom and I aren’t going out.】
Wen Qianyue: 【I just stepped outside for a moment—it’s unbearably hot. What’s going on with this weather? Is it even livable?】
Si Beichen: 【The meteorological bureau has issued a red high-temperature alert. I heard the temperatures will keep rising. Dad, try to stock up on more food and drinks at home when you can.】
Si Jianhua: 【I already stocked up quite a bit a couple of days ago. I’ll go out and get more these next few days. Aren’t you preparing to retire from the military? Have you submitted your application yet? When can you come back?】
Jiang Ci: 【Bro, you’re retiring?】
Si Beichen: 【I submitted it. If all goes well, I’ll be back in September.】
Si Beichen: 【Yes, planning to retire.】
Jiang Ci: 【Welcome home~】
Si Jianhua: 【Sweetie, it’s inconvenient for you to eat alone living by yourself. If it’s too much, just come back and stay with us.】
Wen Qianyue: 【Yes, come back and I’ll cook for you.】
Jiang Ci: 【No need, really. Let’s wait until my brother comes back. You guys should take advantage of the evenings after the sun sets to buy more food and stock up.】
Si Jianhua: 【Alright, got it. Don’t worry.】
…
Jiang Ci had pre-ordered groceries from various shops, with deliveries scheduled until the end of August.
Throughout August, the weather grew increasingly muggy and hot. Jiang Ci made it a habit to pick up her supplies every day after sunset.
Under the scorching 45-degree heat, the blazing sun had caused the trees lining the roads to wither and turn yellow prematurely.
The green belts in the residential complex had also turned into patches of dried, yellow grass.
On the wide main roads, only a sparse number of vehicles came and went.
The once lively fitness area in the complex was now empty—no elderly residents exercising, no children laughing and playing.
The only sounds were the hum of air conditioning units from each household.
Enduring the heat that made her sweat with the slightest movement, Jiang Ci hung sun-blocking curtains over all her windows.
She had resisted installing them earlier to avoid drawing her neighbors’ attention.
But after noticing many households in the complex putting up similar curtains over the past couple of days, she quickly followed suit.
Once the sun-blocking curtains were drawn and the regular curtains closed, the indoor light dimmed immediately.
Jiang Ci turned on the living room light, took an ice cream bar from the fridge, and flopped onto the sofa.
Finally, she felt much cooler.
After finishing the ice cream and enjoying the air conditioning a while longer, Jiang Ci decided to get up and take a shower.Who knows how much longer the water and electricity will last. While they’re still functioning normally, we must cherish them.
After washing up and changing into loungewear, Jiang Ci turned off the lights, slipped under the summer quilt, and slept soundly.
At midnight, she was awakened by a burst of noise.
Outside, the city lights had just come on, with every household brightly lit, making the night as bright as day.
The shops downstairs in the residential complex were bustling with crowds, and both sides of the street were lined with night stalls or small carts selling snacks.
Jiang Ci tidied up briefly and went downstairs.
Downstairs, there were vendors selling vegetables, fruits, snacks, daily necessities and small accessories, clothing—everything one could need.
Elderly folks, aunties, and children were all out and about.