At the wholesale market, the couple discovered a type of biomass pellet gas stove they had never paid attention to before.
The stove looked much like the small heating boiler used in houses back in their hometown, except that it didn’t burn diesel but a pelletized fuel instead.
Thinking of the severe cold that might come, and of the unsolved problems with oil, gas, and other fuels, both of them became very interested in the stove.
Seeing that they genuinely intended to buy, the seller did a live demonstration and lit one of the stoves on the spot for them to see.
The stove heated up quickly, and when it burned there was no flying ash. Even used indoors, it wouldn’t make the room dirty.
Most importantly, the fuel for this stove was not subject to purchase restrictions.
As long as you paid, you could buy as much as you wanted, and if the fuel ever ran out, you could still keep it going by burning dry grass or firewood.
This point in particular greatly satisfied Shen Cong.
After doing the math, they finally decided to buy a total of fourteen stoves, four large ones and ten small ones.
The four large stoves could be connected to radiators, with a heating coverage said to reach up to two hundred square meters.
The ten small stoves couldn’t be connected to radiators, but they were easy to move. One could provide heating for an area of about sixty to eighty square meters.
Used together, they could basically ensure heating for both homes, as well as insulation for plants when the severe cold arrived.
Because they were buying in large quantities, the owner gave them the lowest price.
Even so, the fourteen stoves still cost 54,000 yuan in total, not including fuel.
“Boss, do you have fuel in stock here? We need it urgently. If you do, we’ll just buy it directly from you.”
Since they had already confirmed the shop’s credentials and knew the brand had a good reputation in the industry, Shen Cong wanted to get everything done in one go to save time.
“Yes, yes, yes, we have it in stock. It’s in the warehouse. If you want it, I can deliver it right away!”
In the middle of summer, landing such a big deal made the owner ecstatic, and he replied eagerly.
“Okay—” Shen Cong hadn’t finished speaking when Gu Kai suddenly grabbed her.
He pulled her a few steps outside and pointed across the road. “Once you leave the market, the bank is right across the street. Why don’t you go to the bank first? I’ll handle things here. Don’t let the bank close on you.”
They hadn’t even eaten lunch yet, how could the bank be closing already?
Shen Cong rolled her eyes, finally realizing a beat too late that someone was unhappy with the fact that she didn’t know how to bargain.
To be honest, over a very long stretch of time before this, she had been living by bartering goods for goods. She had almost lost any real sense of what money even meant.
Shen Cong knew they didn’t have much cash right now, but she cared far more about time.
After all, before long, money would be little different from scrap paper anyway.
Still, since Gu Kai wanted to negotiate, she wouldn’t stop him. Saving even a bit meant they could buy more of other things, she wasn’t stupid.
“Alright, I’ll go to the bank first. Are you hungry? I think I saw food being sold at the entrance.”
Seeing that his wife had gotten the hint, Gu Kai smiled and reached out to gently pat her head. “There’s a fast-food place next to the bank. Just bring me back a burger.”
Since she was only exchanging foreign currency and not withdrawing cash, the process was especially quick. The whole thing took barely over ten minutes.
After leaving the bank, Shen Cong headed straight for the fast-food restaurant.
After all, having just been reborn, even if she looked calm on the surface, in reality, not just Gu Kai but Shen Cong herself still hadn’t fully adjusted.
She felt slightly dazed, as if she were dreaming.
Although she had acted extremely composed all morning, in truth she’d been holding herself taut, running on sheer adrenaline, her entire body in a state of heightened alert.
Now that she was finally starting to relax, she at last accepted that this wasn’t a dream.
And only then did Shen Cong realize just how hungry she was.
She couldn’t tell whether it was physical hunger or psychological hunger, either way, the feeling suddenly became unbearable, so intense that even her fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.
It was just like the sensation of being so starved in the past that she’d nearly fainted.
Shen Cong hurried toward the fast-food place, and after just a few steps, she broke into a run.
Fortunately, it was already close to one o’clock, and this area was near the outskirts of the city, so there weren’t many people inside.
She didn’t even look at the menu, ordering in one breath two Big Macs, two large cups of fruit juice, two large portions of fried chicken nuggets, plus two apple pies and two chicken wraps.
When the server handed her the huge bag of food, the rich aroma rushed toward her—
An overwhelming sense of satisfaction flooded her entire being.
She couldn’t wait and immediately grabbed a piece of fried chicken and stuffed it into her mouth.
The long-missed taste made Shen Cong nearly stop breathing in that instant.
She didn’t even dare chew, afraid that with one careless movement she’d swallow the chicken nugget too quickly and not have time to savor it.
Holding the nugget in her mouth, she gently closed her eyes, immersing herself completely in this sweetness, so precious it had nearly faded even from her memories.
Unfortunately, the enjoyment didn’t last long before her phone rang.
She let out a small, regretful sigh, opened her eyes, and took out her phone.
When she saw the caller ID read “Mom”, Shen Cong was instantly overwhelmed again, her nose stinging with emotion.
She quickly swiped to answer, even forgetting about the chicken nugget in her mouth, and shouted indistinctly into the receiver, “Mom!”
As soon as the word left her lips, tears spilled uncontrollably down her face.
“Shen Cong, are you out of your mind?! What on earth did you buy? Why is there so much of it?! They even sent it over in a freight truck!
You’re about to leave, so why are you buying all this stuff? And you had it delivered to my place! Do you have any idea the yard is half full now?! Where are you? Get back here immediately, if you don’t come back, I’m rejecting all of it!”
On the other end of the line, Shen Cong’s mother, Cheng Ru, had no idea what her daughter was feeling at that moment. The furious elderly woman launched into a full-blown tirade, scaring all of Shen Cong’s tears right back in.
She quickly pulled the phone away from her ear and couldn’t help rubbing it.
It had been so long since she’d heard her mother scolding her like this. Judging by her voice, she was still strong and healthy.
So good. Really good.
Even while being scolded, Shen Cong’s face bloomed with a smile, as bright as a flower in full bloom.
Once she sensed that her mother had mostly finished venting, she finally began to explain, “Mom, Mom, don’t get upset, listen to me first…
I’ll come back in a bit, I promise. Don’t reject the delivery! Those things are all useful. Just help me accept them for now, and I’ll explain everything when I get home.
Hey, don’t be angry, you can scold me again when I’m back…
Oh, right. You and Dad go buy some groceries. Tonight I’m bringing Gu Kai, and my father-in-law, back for dinner.
Mom, I miss you. I miss Dad too. I want to eat your braised pork ribs.”
Hearing her daughter say she was bringing her son-in-law and the in-laws over for dinner, Cheng Ru could hardly believe her ears.
She didn’t even have the energy to scold her anymore and instead asked again to confirm, “Who did you just say you’re bringing back for dinner?”
“Gu Kai, and his dad. Mom, we’ve talked it over and decided not to get divorced. Tell Dad too, and let him stop being upset.
I’ll tell you about the rest when I get home tonight.
I’m with Gu Kai right now, we still have a few things to take care of. Later we’ll pick up my father-in-law and head over together. Tell my dad not to go fishing this afternoon and to wait at home.”
Afraid her mother would keep questioning her over the phone, Shen Cong decisively hung up as soon as she finished speaking.
After hanging up, she quickly opened the shopping app and checked her orders.
When she placed the order that morning, she had deliberately chosen out-of-town sellers. She was worried that buying so many emergency and disaster-relief supplies all at once before the earthquake might attract attention.
Who would’ve thought the goods would arrive so quickly?
She hadn’t even had time to tell her parents yet.
She found the order and opened the logistics details, only to notice a line of small text at the bottom that read: Shipped from Beining Warehouse.
Going back to the store page, Shen Cong finally realized that the shop she’d chosen was a nationwide chain, and multi-warehouse shipping was one of its selling points.
She hadn’t noticed that earlier.
Since her mom was already blowing up at home, Shen Cong had no mood to keep browsing around.
She called Gu Kai, agreed to meet at the car dealership, and headed over first.
When she arrived, Gu Kai hadn’t gotten there yet, and the solar panels still needed some time before installation was finished.
Seeing that she was free, the young salesman led her to the far back of the showroom.
Pointing at a pile of bicycles being unpacked, he said, “Miss, our store has a promotion where you get a bicycle with a car purchase. It was originally scheduled to start on Monday, but I just asked the boss, and he agreed to make an exception for you.
Our promotion is: spend 50,000 yuan and get a standard bicycle; spend 80,000 yuan and get a folding bicycle; spend over 100,000 yuan and get an electric bicycle.
Your car was purchased in full for a total of 163,500 yuan, so you can choose one electric bicycle plus one standard bicycle.”
There was actually such a good deal?
Talk about a pillow arriving right when you need one.
Shen Cong had just been thinking about buying two bicycles herself.
She thought for a moment and said, “I don’t want the electric one. Swap it for two standard bicycles plus one folding bicycle instead.”
As she spoke, she pointed at an old-fashioned 28-inch crossbar bicycle that had just been assembled in front and said, “I want this kind.”
The salesman looked at her in disbelief and asked, “Ma’am, that’s a men’s bicycle. Hardly anyone rides this kind in the city anymore. We’ve got women’s models too, and the styles are pretty nice. How about I have them assemble one for you to take a look?”
“No need. I want this kind.”
Shen Cong had originally intended to buy this old-fashioned bicycle with a rear rack.
It might look bulky by today’s standards, but in actual use it was far more practical than those lightweight flashy bikes. It could carry heavy loads, take a passenger, and wasn’t easy to break.
In the days to come, this kind of bicycle would be extremely hard to come by.
Although the car they bought cost less than 180,000 yuan, there were also the solar panels added on top.
Naturally, the dealership had no reason to refuse Shen Cong’s request.
So when Gu Kai arrived, he saw his wife standing at the entrance of the dealership. On her left was the newly purchased car; on her right was a row of three brand-new bicycles. She was looking at him with a distinctly smug expression.
Gu Kai quickened his steps. Just as he was about to reach Shen Cong, a girl’s sharp scream suddenly came from inside the dealership:
“Ah! Why are there so many ants?!”