Chapter 87

With Qin Huai not needing to go to work, Mu Nan also enjoyed the luxury of sleeping in. In the morning, he sprawled on Qin Huai like an octopus, one side of his face pressed against Qin Huai's chest, nearly drooling from the comfort. His legs were completely draped over Qin Huai's, making Qin Huai into a human pillow, unable to move as he served as Mu Nan's sleeping companion.

The warmth in the room was sufficient, and since Mu Nan didn't like anything pressing down on him while he slept, often claiming that the weight of the blankets made it hard for him to breathe, he had opted for a loose, fluffy pajama top. The blanket covering him was a lightweight yet warm goose down comforter. At that moment, he was cozy and warm under the covers, but the weight on him felt heavy. The rhythmic breathing brushing against Qin Huai's chest made him gently stroke Mu Nan's soft hair. If it weren't for the fact that skipping breakfast was bad for his health, he would have been reluctant to wake Mu Nan on such a leisurely and comfortable morning.

However, as much as he didn't want to, it was time to get up. He gently pinched the back of Mu Nan's neck, and even in his sleep, Mu Nan instinctively shrank away—a habit he had maintained since childhood, which made Qin Huai chuckle. "Time to get up."

Mu Nan mumbled a couple of times, trying to turn over and escape Qin Huai's hold, but as soon as Qin Huai sat up, he pulled Mu Nan up with him. "Get up, it's breakfast time. After eating, we still need to water the tomatoes and peppers, and the blankets need to be taken down and washed. If you don't get enough sleep, you can take a nap later in the afternoon. Be good and get up quickly."

Mu Nan frowned in annoyance, "Ugh..."

Qin Huai said, "Stop with the mumbling. Wake up properly, or I'll use a cold towel to wipe your face."

Mu Nan rolled over in the blankets and kicked his legs in frustration. "We don't have to go to work, so why get up so early?"

Qin Huai said, "To develop good habits, it's already nine o'clock, which isn't that early. Besides, we still need to steam the mung bean noodles today we made so much yesterday."

After reluctantly getting out of bed, it took Mu Nan half an hour to wash his face and finally feel awake. However, he still felt groggy because he hadn't naturally woken up, and he yawned all the way from the bathroom.

Qin Huai said, "If I let you wake up naturally, you'd probably sleep until evening. Get a bowl of noodles out we can share one. Let's also grab a boiled egg and some milk. It's almost ten o'clock, so just eat a little to fill your stomach. If you eat too much now, you won't be able to eat lunch."

Mu Nan moved like a robot programmed by Qin Huai, following each command. After completing his tasks, he looked at Qin Huai blankly. Qin Huai couldn't help but laugh as he divided the noodles in half, peeled an egg, and placed it in Mu Nan's bowl. He then handed Mu Nan a pair of chopsticks. "Eat up."

Mu Nan took a couple of bites before Qin Huai tossed a few slices of beef into his bowl. Mu Nan picked up the beef with his chopsticks but then put it back into Qin Huai's bowl, tossing over a few slices from his own bowl as well. "I don't want this beef it doesn't taste good."

Qin Huai chuckled lightly, "You're so picky."

The half bowl of noodles wasn't much, and the two of them finished it in just a few bites. After breakfast, Mu Nan finally felt fully awake and went to water his peppers and tomatoes, while Qin Huai set up a small table to start cutting the mung bean noodles that Mu Nan had made yesterday. The method for making these noodles was quite simple: soak mung beans and rice in water, then blend them into juice. After applying a bit of oil to the pan, pour in the blended mixture to steam it into shape. Once formed, it's rolled up and cut into strips. They could be eaten immediately or dried to make dehydrated mung bean noodles, which could be stored for a long time. When it was time to eat, they could simply boil or stir-fry the dried noodles as a staple meal.

After placing the cut noodles in the dehydrator, which they had salvaged from the mall previously, Qin Huai started making red bean filling. This weather was perfect for making sticky rice dumplings. Once prepared, they could be left out to freeze. If it weren't for the rarity of fruits at this time, he would have wanted to get Mu Nan some frozen pears. As southerners, they had never tasted pears that froze in the ice and snow; the ones frozen in refrigerators just didn't have the same flavor.

With the robot vacuum set to automatically mop the floors and the outside plants watered, Mu Nan, having nothing to do, lay on the sofa playing on his phone. Qin Huai worked beside him, preparing the red bean filling while the dough had been kneaded and was left to rise. This afternoon, they wouldn't do anything else but make sticky rice dumplings.

As Mu Nan scrolled through the resource section, looking at people selling various odd items online, he received a notification about the cold wave. The forecast indicated that the cold wave would hit around six in the evening, and Mu Nan turned to Qin Huai. "The temperature is expected to drop to minus thirty degrees. It's around minus twenty degrees now, so this cold wave will drop it by ten degrees."

This was an official notification, at least giving people a heads-up. In his previous life, he never knew how low the temperature actually dropped; it just got colder day by day. If one day a sudden strong wind and heavy snow hit, the temperature would plummet, and many people would freeze to death in their sleep. The private base would patrol daily, but their ultimate goal was to clear out the dead and take their supplies.

Qin Huai responded, "That's probably a conservative estimate the temperature might drop even lower."

Mu Nan asked, "Does this mean the onset of a mini ice age?"

Qin Huai rubbed the red beans in his hands. "It shouldn't be if it were a mini ice age, summer wouldn't get that hot. It's probably due to some unknown reasons leading to extreme climate changes on Earth."

Mu Nan replied, "If it's this cold here, those in colder regions might have to migrate to survive. We were just talking about how hot it was in summer, causing glaciers to melt. Now that it's so cold, can't the melted glaciers freeze again?"

Qin Huai chuckled, "Melting and freezing don't work that way. This kind of back-and-forth is even more deadly. By summer, the accumulated snow will melt again, and who knows how many countries will be flooded."

After reading the official notification, Mu Nan sent a message to Xu Ming. He didn't know what time Xu Ming returned home yesterday; they hadn't heard any noise from the yard. Recently, with all the fractures and frostbite cases, Xu Ming, as a veterinarian, was also busy, barely having time to even drink water. So Mu Nan asked if he had prepared any winter supplies, knowing that if he went late, he might not find anything available.

Not sure if Xu Ming was just resting or happened to see the message, he quickly replied, "I've got everything. You all need to be careful at home too. The test results are out: the man-eater isn't the tiger that was shot last time; there wasn't much food in the tiger's stomach based on the autopsy. The one likely responsible for the attacks is a black bear."

Mu Nan quickly took a screenshot of Xu Ming's message and sent it to their group chat. Today, Jian Chu and the others were still working outside, so they would need to be cautious on their way back. He then looked at Qin Huai. "Good thing you're on leave otherwise, you'd be commuting even further. I'd be worried and might try to pick you up after work."

Qin Huai asked, "And you think that would keep the bear away?"

Mu Nan replied, "I have an electric snowmobile! It could save my life in a pinch. Aren't bears hibernating animals? Why are they still out and about in this cold?"

Qin Huai explained, "Bears need to store enough food to hibernate, and not all bears hibernate. Even when they do, they remain highly alert. They're not the type to sleep deeply. If they're hungry, they'll come out looking for food."

As Qin Huai spoke, he glanced out the window. Without the wind, the snow outside was more visible. "Or that bear might be preparing for its hibernation." If it were going to get cold to a new extreme, it might be the time for hunting, animals are always more sensitive than humans.

Mu Nan sighed, "Then let's just have a proper lunch. I'm afraid the smell will attract the bear."

Qin Huai said, "Let's eat fish—your favorite spicy fish. We'll add some fatty beef and lamb, and let's throw in some vegetables too; let's have some baby cabbage and spinach."

Mu Nan slowly got up, took a pot from his space, set up the induction cooker, and placed the already cooked fish inside. The fish was a type with very few bones, a three-pound clear river fish, which was more than enough for two people when paired with some side dishes. He quickly grabbed the fatty beef and lamb, but when it came time for the spinach, he hesitated.

Qin Huai urged, "Just eat two pieces—be good."

With a sigh, Mu Nan complied and took out the spinach. Compared to others who had nothing to eat, he felt grateful, so even if he didn't like it, he couldn't complain.

Mu Nan buried the spinach at the bottom of the pot, hoping it would become soft and mushy so he could swallow it without tasting the earthy flavor. As he enjoyed the fish, he suddenly remembered, "Don't bears love to eat fish? This is even more enticing than hot pot."

Qin Huai reassured him, "Don't worry about it. If a black bear really comes, we'll be indoors, and it'll be outside. We have weapons what's there to fear? Who knows, we might even get a chance to take it down from a distance and earn some points."

Mu Nan quickly spat, "Bad things don't work out, good things do. I don't want points like that."

As it turned out, they were not the chosen ones, and nothing of that sort happened. The black bear was shot down, and Mu Nan didn't even see a single hair from it.

The cold wave arrived even earlier than the government had notified. By around five o'clock, the sky had completely darkened, and the wind and snow intensified. The windows howled with the gusts. Mu Nan closed the insulation panels he had installed indoors, which helped a bit. As the storm raged, their neighbors hadn't returned yet, but it wasn't quite time for them to finish work.

The sticky rice dumplings were ready, having been left outside for a couple of hours, and they were now frozen solid. Mu Nan divided the dumplings into ten for the family, all packed up. He then sat on the window seat, slightly pulling back the curtains to watch for any movement outside, unable to help but exclaim, "They're working so hard! The weather has changed, and they still haven't been sent back early. With this wind and snow, it feels like people are going to be blown away."

Qin Huai replied, "There's no way around it. Their situation is different from ours. In our unit, the software systems are set up, and we only need to monitor backend maintenance and ensure the hardware is functioning properly. They're working overtime to let more people move into warm housing as soon as possible. There are still many people at the school who haven't been relocated yet, and we don't know how many people outside still need rescue. The whole city can't just be the ten thousand or so people here."

After sitting at the window for a while, Mu Nan saw someone approaching with a flashlight in the distance. However, due to the heavy snowfall, their movement was slow. Once they got closer, he recognized Jian Chu and Yu Zibai, but only the two of them were present he didn't see Wu Zheng. Nevertheless, Mu Nan grabbed the prepared sticky rice dumplings and went downstairs.

Qin Huai glanced at him and reminded him to put on his coat. Even just standing at the door to talk would be quite cold.

Mu Nan ran downstairs just as Yu Zibai and Jian Chu entered the yard. As soon as they turned, they spotted Mu Nan peeking out from the house.

Jian Chu was bundled up so thickly that even raising his hand seemed to take effort as he greeted Mu Nan. Mu Nan waved at them, "My brother made sticky rice dumplings for you to take to Xu Ming. Where's Wu Zheng? Didn't he come back with you?"

Jian Chu shook his head, but his face was wrapped up so tightly, or perhaps it was just too cold, that his teeth were chattering and his lips were numb. He couldn't speak and had to gesture to communicate, indicating he would explain once they got home. Mu Nan handed Jian Chu the dumplings meant for Wu Zheng. "Can you take these to him?" He didn't want to venture out into the wind and snow again.

Yu Zibai reached out to take them, nodded in acknowledgment, then waved for Mu Nan to head back upstairs before turning and heading towards Wu Zheng's home.

Once Mu Nan closed the door and went back upstairs, he sat down on the carpet next to Qin Huai. The floor was warm, and while it wasn't as soft as a sofa, it felt cozy. "Wu Zheng didn't return. Jian Chu said they were so cold they couldn't even speak. They'll tell me when they get home. I had them take the sticky rice dumplings for Wu Zheng's family."

After a while, they probably managed to warm up. Jian Chu sent a voice message to Mu Nan "Today was quite dramatic we ran into Wu Zheng's dad."

Mu Nan recalled that Wu Zheng and his brother were half-siblings and quickly asked, "What happened? Did he go home with his dad?"

Jian Chu replied, "He just said he was going to check in on him. His dad looked like he wasn't doing well. Today's encounter was because his dad was looking for work, but he seemed really out of sorts, wearing a mismatched outfit. His outer cotton coat was all tattered, and he hunched over, looking like he had no strength to walk. Someone like that wouldn't be hired anywhere. He was told to leave a contact address, and if he really couldn't find work, the authorities would make arrangements for elderly people like him."

Mu Nan said, "That works too. So Wu Zheng was worried and sent his dad home?"

Jian Chu explained, "It's not just worry; Wu Zheng recognized his dad first but didn't plan to approach him. When his dad saw him, he ran over and grabbed him, crying."

Mu Nan gasped, "And then what?" Someone who could take care of a dog like that wouldn't just abandon their biological father without reason. At least the Wu Zheng he knew didn't seem like that kind of person.

Jian Chu continued, "Wu Zheng didn't want to make a scene, especially with so many colleagues watching. He told his dad to wait a moment until he finished work and received his pay for the day. It seems that after hearing about the pay, his dad calmed down a bit, but he kept staring at Wu Zheng as if afraid he would run away. After finishing work, he followed him closely. Wu Zheng might not want his dad to know where they currently live, so he didn't go home. He asked me to tell Song Jia, but he didn't even mention Song Jia's name, as if he was deliberately avoiding it. I don't know what the situation is, but I hope his dad isn't the kind who drains him dry. Life is tough enough; encountering a leech of a relative would be unbearable."

Mu Nan felt a bit wistful at this, remembering that his parents left early, but in his memory, they loved him dearly, just like many parents who want to give everything good to their children. However, he also knew that not all parents loved their children, such as his brother's biological father. Thankfully, his brother grew up surrounded by love; otherwise, as others said, an unfortunate childhood might take a lifetime to heal.

For dinner, the two had a simple meal of two dishes and a soup. Mu Nan saved some space in his stomach because he wanted to eat barbecue. Unfortunately, plans often change. By nearly nine o'clock, Song Jia still hadn't heard back from his brother and was getting anxious at home. With the cold wave coming, the temperatures had dropped significantly. Eventually, unable to wait any longer, Song Jia decided to head out to look for his brother, dressed warmly and taking his dog with him.

However, the snow had piled up a bit thick on the ground, and he was worried that Niu Niu wouldn't be able to walk properly. Plus, the dog didn't have any clothes, and its paws would be directly on the snow, risking frostbite. So he thought about borrowing a vehicle from Qin Huai, but since their tricycle was at Jian Chu's place, everyone soon learned that Wu Zheng still hadn't returned.

Jian Chu looked at the already bundled-up Song Jia, ready to head out. "But you don't even know where your brother is. We know the direction he went, but that's all we have. He might have stayed with his dad for the night since the weather changed."

Song Jia shook his head. "That's impossible. If he was staying the night, he wouldn't have left me hanging. Even if the world returns to normal tomorrow, it's still more likely that he wouldn't spend the night at his dad's place."

Jian Chu glanced back at Yu Zibai, while Song Jia insisted, "I'll just go out and look for him. I know the direction you mentioned, and I have Niu Niu with me. Niu Niu can track people now. I'll also bring my walkie-talkie, though I'm not sure if it will work in this cold. I'll give it a try. You all stay inside."

Qin Huai and Mu Nan came over, having passed through the garage. They had previously knocked through a door between their two garages for easier access in extreme weather. Seeing Song Jia's determination to go out alone, Mu Nan glanced at Qin Huai and hesitated, "Why don't we go together? If something happens, you might not be able to handle it alone."

Jian Chu nodded. "Wait a moment we'll change into warmer clothes. That little flashlight you have isn't enough we need a bigger light."

Xu Ming asked, "Does your family's bathroom have a bathtub, Song Jia?"

Song Jia shook his head. These houses weren't particularly well-furnished. Although they had found a bathtub in the ruins before, it seemed unnecessary who would go through the trouble of installing one?

Xu Ming suggested, "Here's what we'll do, Mu Nan and Jian Chu will stay at home. Song Jia, you open your door and find some containers to prepare hot water the more, the better—better safe than sorry. Also, grab an extra blanket to put in the car. Qin Huai, Yu Zibai, and I will go out with you to look for people."

If they were going to search for someone, they needed to dress warmly. As Qin Huai put on his clothes, Mu Nan stuck heating pads all over him, ensuring he was covered from head to toe, even placing them in his shoes. The shoes were electric heated ones, but Mu Nan still worried about Qin Huai getting frostbite, so he placed pads on the soles of his feet and inside his gloves.

Qin Huai said, "You and Jian Chu need to be careful at home. If anything happens, try to use the walkie-talkie to contact us."

Mu Nan nodded. "You all take care too. If you can't find anyone right away, come back first. Don't make us wait here for too long."

Once the group headed out, Jian Chu and Mu Nan went to Song Jia's home. They lived on the second floor, with the third floor being empty. The second floor had some basic supplies, and while there was a way to heat water, they didn't have anything to hold it. Just as Mu Nan was about to suggest going home to grab a slightly smaller inflatable pool from his space, Jian Chu found a pet inflatable bathing pool in Song Jia's house. It wasn't too big but not too small either; while an adult couldn't lie down in it, they could curl up inside.

They had found it in the ruins before, but it was too small for human use. Song Jia had said they could take it for Niu Niu's baths, but now it was useful for their purpose.

Jian Chu took the pool out and blew it up himself, while Mu Nan began boiling water. Song Jia only had one kettle, so Mu Nan ran back home to grab two more. With three kettles boiling at once, they poured the hot water into the pool, hoping their preparations were unnecessary and that everyone would return soon.

Eventually, they did find Wu Zheng, thanks to Niu Niu. The dog jumped out of the car and dug through a snowbank. Qin Huai and the others hurried over, and the snowbank turned out to be Wu Zheng, who was completely frozen like a popsicle. However, his palms were still warm, a sign that he was still alive. The group had enough strength to lift Wu Zheng's curled body and placed him in the car, covering him with the prepared blankets, half under and half wrapped.

Song Jia tightly hugged Wu Zheng, tears freezing on his face.

They found Wu Zheng not on the usual path home but rather close to Building One. His outer cotton coat was missing, and they had no idea what had happened. Clearly, he had been freezing when he returned and realized he might not make it home, so he attempted to reach Building One, but he didn't even make it that far before succumbing to the cold.

The distance to the medical station that had been built later was a bit far from where they were, even farther than returning home. This was also why Xu Ming had asked Jian Chu and the others to prepare hot water at home. If they encountered an animal attack with injuries, they could take him directly to the medical station. If it was hypothermia or frostbite, they could return home to warm up and restore his body heat before deciding whether to go to the medical station.

Seeing that Wu Zheng was being carried back, Mu Nan felt a pang of anxiety and rushed over to help, while Song Jia was already so frightened that his legs had gone weak. He had almost missed a step twice on the stairs, and if Jian Chu hadn't pulled him back, he might have rolled down.

Mu Nan quickly supported Song Jia. "It's okay, don't be afraid. We've prepared hot water, and Xu Ming is here too. Just stay calm if you panic, what will your brother do? He's counting on you."

Song Jia wiped his tears haphazardly, but he was too forceful, and the ice crystals that had formed on his face cut into his skin, causing drops of blood to mix with the melting snow to trickle down. It looked frightening, and Mu Nan quickly grabbed some tissues to help clean him up. He noticed that Qin Huai and the others were starting to help Wu Zheng take off his clothes, but Wu Zheng's clothing was frozen stiff, and since he was curled up and unconscious, it made it even more difficult to remove. Mu Nan felt the urge to step in and assist.

However, Jian Chu quickly pulled Mu Nan back. "Don't go over there."

Mu Nan turned back in confusion. "Why not?"

Jian Chu replied, "They have enough help as it is. If you squeeze in to assist, you'll just get in the way. We need to go boil water we'll probably need to keep boiling hot water continuously. Even though it's warm inside the house, the water will cool down quickly. Come on, let's go."

Not thinking much of it, Mu Nan agreed and told Qin Huai before following Jian Chu to help boil water.