Chapter 69

Qin Huai and Mu Nan were preparing for the migration inside their room, so they didn't pay much attention to the commotion outside. However, whether it was due to the news of the move to the university town spreading or something else, the noise in the building had noticeably increased over the past couple of days. They could hear people going up and down the stairs and the sounds of items being transported while they were inside their room.

Their belongings didn't require much organizing. For food, they planned to have a few bags of vacuum-packed rice, several boxes of instant noodles, and some heat-resistant dry goods like dried potatoes and sweet potatoes dragged away. There were also some opened flour, cooking oil, and seasonings that Qin Huai had Mu Nan pack into small boxes. Since they would be eating from large pots outside, they wouldn't get much oil and salt, so having their own seasonings was helpful. Additionally, they prepared several bottles of sauce.

Mu Nan's space was stocked with a variety of sauces—hot sauce, bean paste, beef sauce, garlic sauce—basically everything you could think of for cooking and adding flavor. Later, Qin Huai had more sauces bought in City B, including many small packets of beef sauce. These could be stored for some time as long as they weren't exposed to high temperatures, which would suffice for their consumption on the road. Opening a packet as needed would prevent spoilage, though the small glass bottles were quite heavy. Mu Nan couldn't store everything in the space and only use it as a decoy, so he had to minimize the weight of their luggage while maximizing space.

Looking at the packed supplies, Mu Nan wasn't sure what else to take. It seemed that everything was either not heat-resistant or unsuitable for long-term storage. They planned to hand over some of the staple foods, and in their personal bags, it seemed there was little left to pack. They packed disinfectants, cooling items, emergency medical kits, spare protective suits, and masks into large backpacks, leaving at least half of the space free. "Is this all we're bringing for food? What else can we take?"

Qin Huai replied, "You can pack some small bread, a few packets of beef jerky, and some biscuits. Let's put these in the outer bags. We'll make do with whatever we can secretly eat along the way, and endure what we can't."

Mu Nan nodded, "It's not that I can't endure it, but I'm concerned we might not get enough to eat with the soldiers."

He wasn't too worried, as his own appetite was average, but Qin Huai had a bigger appetite and would need more food due to the physical exertion of migration. Mu Nan had prepared plenty of convenient foods for the journey, so he planned to keep feeding Qin Huai as needed.

While organizing the backpack, Mu Nan found some fan hats in the space—smaller USB rechargeable ones and larger solar-powered fisherman's hats. He put on one of the hats and asked, "Brother, can we wear these with the protective suits?"

Qin Huai looked at him, "The sun hats with fans attached are fine. They don't affect wearing the protective suits, but the fisherman's hat is too large."

Mu Nan set aside three fisherman's hats and three sun hats for Simpl and the others. He and Qin Huai would definitely need to wear protective suits, but they couldn't provide suits for everyone. Given the current epidemic, it wasn't something that would be over in a few days or weeks. Historically, global pandemics had lasted for centuries, and although their suits were reusable, if production conditions became extremely difficult, they might need to use them for a lifetime. Therefore, he wouldn't be generous with items related to life and death, but he could provide some masks since he had bought many.

The fisherman's hats were not for them, but if Simpl and the others needed them, they could use them. The fisherman's hats had small solar-powered fans inside, which could be useful if they felt too hot with the hats. If they preferred not to wear a hat, they could use the open-top sun hats, though these would need recharging.

While Mu Nan was busy with these small items, Qin Huai was focused on a notebook where he had recorded times and events. Mu Nan asked, "What are you still looking at?"

Qin Huai replied, "We need to prepare more than just food."

Mu Nan was puzzled, "What else do we need? I've packed a lot of clothes, and summer clothes are lightweight."

Qin Huai explained, "No, it's March now. If it snows in June without warning, we'll need to find our own shelter if we can't keep up with the group. We need to be prepared for cold weather and keep warm if there's no advance warning. The military might not be able to quickly transfer supplies here if temperatures drop gradually, so we need to prepare ourselves."

Mu Nan agreed, "But if we bring winter clothes and blankets, that will be too much."

Qin Huai said, "Let me think. Where is that notebook on purchased supplies? Let me check."

Mu Nan handed over the notebook he had used to record the supplies. Then he lay down on the bed in silence. They had almost finished preparing everything, and anything else needed could be secretly retrieved from the space. After all, others couldn't search their bags, so as long as the backpacks looked full, it would be fine.

After reviewing the list, Qin Huai found a possible solution. "Nan Nan, take out the camping trailer," he said, pointing to it. "I also bought a box of large mountain bike wheels. Let's see if we can modify them."

Mu Nan quickly retrieved the items. The camping trailer they had bought was the most expensive and largest model available at the outdoor goods store. The salesperson had said it could hold up to 150 kg. Mu Nan had chosen it for its carrying capacity, thinking it might be useful when navigating ruins. They had bought several, thinking replacements might be needed.

The mountain bike wheels were much larger than the trailer's original wheels. Larger wheels would make navigating obstacles easier. If there were insurmountable barriers, they could lift the trailer together. This would make the journey easier, but it depended on whether Qin Huai could modify the wheels.

Qin Huai examined the situation closely and said, "It can be modified. Bring out another trailer and call Yu Zibai and Xu Ming over. This trailer is struggling with the load from our three families. If they need it, let them modify it themselves."

Mu Nan quickly used the intercom to call Jian Chu and asked him to bring Xu Ming along. Soon, the three of them arrived through the balcony door. It was Xu Ming's first time visiting Qin Huai's home. Seeing the clean and fresh living room, he couldn't help but sigh contentedly, "Indeed, a tidy place is so much more comfortable to live in."

Jian Chu felt the remark was quite pointed and responded, "My place is tidy too, you know."

Xu Ming chuckled, probably because Jian Chu's house was in disarray with boxes and clutter everywhere. It was nothing like Qin Huai's place, where the living room had just a bed and a small dining table. All the furniture was likely packed away, and at the moment, two camping trailers were set up in the dining area. The space in the dining room was quite ample, so working on the floor wasn't cramped. The entire house was neat and refreshing, with the air conditioning making it comfortable.

Worried that their activity might get them hot despite the air conditioning, Mu Nan took out a small standing fan and directed it towards them.

Seeing that the three of them were working efficiently, Jian Chu decided not to crowd them and sat next to Mu Nan to discuss what to bring. "We still want to bring some of our own food and hand over the bulk of it. It's tiring to carry everything, so keeping some for ourselves would be better. If we're not full, we can have extra meals. I was also considering modifying your old trailer to transport some things, but it was too small and not practical for the ruins, so we dropped the idea."

Mu Nan asked, "What was your plan for the modification?"

Jian Chu explained, "We were thinking of making a fabric cover for the bottom of the trailer, cutting out space for the wheels, and covering the stuff on the trailer with it. Essentially, a kind of enclosure to prevent items from falling off, similar to the fabric-covered camping trailer you have."

Mu Nan suggested, "Why not add a top cover too? I think the trailer's four sides could use a cover on top so people can't see what's inside."

Jian Chu looked at the trailers and found the suggestion feasible. "Wait here, I'll get some tools. Do you have any fabric?"

Mu Nan nodded, "Yes."

While Jian Chu went to fetch the tools, Mu Nan went to the room, pretending to retrieve items from the closet, and got a dark, light-blocking fabric. As they worked on the wheels outside, Jian Chu and Mu Nan collaborated to add the covering, quickly finishing the modification. The two large camping trailers would make transporting items much easier.

Qin Huai said, "Previously, we found some compressed blankets in the ruins. We'll place them under the trailer to absorb shocks, so the items on top won't bounce around and damage the trailer."

Yu Zibai agreed, "That works. This way, we can carry more living supplies. Everything else can be handed over."

Xu Ming had only a few clothes and some food. Since Jian Chu and Xu Ming were also renters and had minimal items to clear out, sharing a vehicle would be sufficient. Jian Chu added, "If you have anything you can't fit, let us see. We might still have some space."

After living in a house for decades, it was natural to have many belongings that were hard to part with. Given that they might not return, they wanted to maximize the preservation of their items.

On the morning of departure, Shi Yuanfei arrived with people to help collect their things. Unlike others who had to move their belongings to the military base themselves, Qin Huai's family had a solar generator that required their help. The food was just a minor addition.

When they arrived, Qin Huai had already moved the generator out of the house. Jian Chu and Xu Ming were dismantling the solar panels while Yu Zibai was carrying items out. Seeing everything prepared, Shi Yuanfei felt it was convenient. "If the generator can be successfully set up in University City, we'll return it to you. If it were possible to rebuild on-site, your living conditions would be better than most. Unfortunately, the collapse here is too severe for that."

Jian Chu couldn't help but ask, "Can we trade supplies for the generator?"

Shi Yuanfei replied, "Not yet. The military base's supplies aren't organized, and we don't know the situation in University City. We'll have to wait until planning and construction are underway. However, it's said that the damage there isn't as severe as here. Power supply recovery should be easier since it's a newly developed area with fewer residents and newer equipment. Even if the situation is bad, it shouldn't be worse than here."

While some people were moving the generator and solar panels, others were sorting through the supplies to be handed over. These included clothing, blankets, and other items that couldn't be taken. They could be redeemed later or exchanged for credits with the military or government. Preserving resources was essential, as both food and supplies couldn't be produced under current conditions. It was better to save as much as possible.

Seeing the commotion in the corridor, Da Niu had come out to watch. Noticing the food was being sorted, Jian Chu asked Da Niu, "The environment here will get worse. Aren't you leaving?"

Da Niu shook his head, "No. My wife can't handle the hardship, so we'll stay for now. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I won't let anyone harm your home."

Jian Chu wasn't concerned and said, "That's fine. If you find trustworthy people, it's okay for them to stay. It's better not to make too many enemies alone. Form a group if you can. Anyway, we probably won't be coming back." Though they had lived there for years and felt some attachment, it was a rental, so the connection wasn't deep, and there was no strong sense of belonging.

Da Niu smiled and said, "I wish you a safe journey and everything goes well."

Once the inventory was complete, Shi Yuanfei reiterated the gathering time. With the less intense daylight, they planned to start their journey at 6 PM. Traveling would be done during the night to avoid the harsh sunlight during the day, as exposure would be unbearable outside the buildings.

With the solar panels removed and the air conditioning out of use, only a bit of residual cool air remained in the house. Mu Nan took out a battery-operated fan to cool down, and also brought out some ice from the pool. He sat on the bed, silently surveying the entire house.

This was the place where he had grown up, with countless memories in every nook and cranny. The house had given him a sense of security, making it feel like the disasters outside were far away. But now, as he was about to leave, it might be a place he would never return to, which made Mu Nan feel a pang of melancholy.

Qin Huai sat beside Mu Nan and gently rubbed his head. "Feeling reluctant to leave?"

Mu Nan nodded. This was his home. Although he felt that wherever Qin Huai was, that was home, the memories tied to this house from his childhood were not easy to let go of.

"Brother, why did the world have to turn out like this?"

If things hadn't changed, even if he still had to move away, the house would have remained, and he could always come back. Now, faced with the necessity of migration due to survival crises, it was uncertain what the place would become if they returned. If they couldn't return, this place would just be a memory.

Qin Huai held Mu Nan's hand and said nothing. He didn't know why things had turned out this way either, but what could be done? In the face of nature's power, humanity is immense yet insignificant—able to destroy nature but also vulnerable to its destruction.

"Get some sleep. I'll set an alarm. We'll wake up at three, have something to eat, and then prepare to gather. Rest up the journey ahead might be very tough, so the sadness is just temporary. Soon, you won't have the energy to dwell on it."

Mu Nan sighed and lay down on the bed. It might be a long time before he could sleep as comfortably again.

Despite his sadness, he managed to fall asleep. They had dismantled the solar panels and spent half the day sorting things out. He hadn't slept well the night before due to the anxiety of moving, so he fell asleep quickly. The departure seemed like a settled matter, and he was less troubled. He slept soundly until Qin Huai's alarm woke him.

Not knowing when they might have a good meal again, Mu Nan prepared quite a few dishes but didn't bring much meat, fearing it might spoil from the smell outside. He packed only a plate of sweet and sour ribs, along with some vegetables: braised eggplant, dry-fried cauliflower, stir-fried mushrooms with meat, and a bowl of chicken soup with cordyceps.

The two of them ate early to ensure they were full, so by the time they set out, they would have digested some of the food and wouldn't feel too full or nauseated by the external smells.

After the meal, Qin Huai dismantled the air conditioning unit. The exterior unit, when initially installed, had only a fixed iron frame. It was easy to remove the unit by disconnecting the water outlet and storing it. He then removed the interior unit's pipes and stored them as well.

This air conditioner was more heat-resistant than typical domestic units. Since Mu Nan had bought two, they planned to take both. Fortunately, they were different brands and colors, making it easier to explain later if they had to reinstall them.

They had agreed to gather at 4:30 PM, so Mu Nan cleaned up the house completely, even removing the insulation curtains and panels. Qin Huai's house had only some old furniture from decades ago, which Mu Nan also packed. The wooden furniture could be used for firewood if needed, and although they had bought plenty of coal, it would be a waste to discard it.

Since protective clothing was required outside and the weather was hot, Mu Nan wore a tank top and shorts, opting for lightweight hiking shoes. Putting on the protective suit inside made him start sweating, but the fan and leftover ice provided some relief.

Qin Huai put shoe covers on Mu Nan's shoes to keep them clean from the dirt outside. Instead of a regular mask, Mu Nan wore one with menthol to block some of the unpleasant smells. After checking everything carefully, Qin Huai finally opened the door and wheeled out the cart filled with supplies.

Mu Nan followed, glancing back at the empty house. He was born and grew up here. This was likely his second departure, and perhaps this time, there might be no chance of returning.

Qin Huai patted his head. "Let's go."

Jian Chu and the others waited at the door but didn't rush them. While they couldn't fully empathize with leaving a warm home forever, they understood and gave them ample time to say goodbye.

The two didn't linger too long. They called Da Niu to help return the wardrobe to its original state, said a brief farewell to their briefly acquainted neighbor, and then entered the elevator.

Da Niu waved goodbye from outside. "Safe travels."

Jian Chu and Mu Nan waved back. Once the elevator doors closed, they both sighed. Jian Chu said, "You look so reassured."

Mu Nan said, "I remember you bought protective suits as well."

Jian Chu glanced at Yu Zibai, shrugged, and said, "He wanted me to wear it, and I wanted him to wear it. We couldn't come to an agreement, so we decided not to wear them at all. Anyway, we brought them, and since they cost over a thousand bucks, we certainly won't just throw them away."

Mu Nan patted the small bag on his trailer. "We have some masks. If you run out, just let us know. We also have disinfectant."

In no time, the elevator reached the ground floor. Fortunately, the elevator had power; otherwise, moving all their stuff down would have been quite a challenge, especially dealing with that solar generator.

Although Xu Ming had spent some time at home, he had long adapted to some of the outside smells from his time with the medical team. Now that he was wearing a mask, it didn't block all the odors, but being cautious with his breathing helped filter out some of them.

Jian Chu and Yu Zibai, who had stayed at home most of the time and rarely went out, were hit hard by the disgusting sights and smells downstairs. Despite their efforts to hold it back, they couldn't suppress their nausea and urge to vomit. Growing up in a civilized city, they had never experienced walking through a pile of filth before.

Mu Nan, with his nose surrounded by the scent of mint and wearing protective goggles, walked calmly. Even though the suit was very hot, it was worth it