August 26

The rain outside hasn't stopped; in fact, it's getting heavier. Xu Lin hasn't gone out for the past two days, spending her mornings exercising and her afternoons cooking various delicious meals.

While there was still water and electricity, and everyone still had some food stored away, Xu Lin prepared some strongly flavored dishes and stored them in her spatial dimension for later consumption. Once everyone's stored food was used up and the power and internet were cut off, it would be time for the survival of the fittest.

"I heard that the first floor of Xingfu Community is flooded, and the government is evacuating residents." - Unit 1, Room 302, Building 5.

“Yes, my colleague lives in Xingfu Community. When she was evacuated yesterday, the water in her house was up to her knees.” Unit 2, Building 5, Apartment 401.

"Xingfu Community is located on a lower elevation, but our community is on a higher elevation, so there's no problem." (Building 6, Unit 1, Apartment 602)

"Rainy days and hot pot go perfectly together!" (Photo attached: Hot pot meal) Unit 1, Building 16, Room 402

"The upstairs neighbors are going too far! I've been eating instant noodles for two days straight!" (Unit 2, Room 301, Building 1)

"Does anyone have rice? I'm willing to pay above market price. We're out of rice at home." (Building 3, Unit 1, Apartment 401)

"Come and get them, we still have quite a few." Unit 1, 402, Building 3.

"Thank you so much, I'll be right there." Unit 1, Room 401, Building 3.

Xu Lin looked at the peaceful atmosphere in the group chat and thought that things would probably be less optimistic in a few days.

Although the community is located on higher ground, it is now flooded. Major media platforms are repeatedly broadcasting messages urging residents not to go out, and businesses and institutions have not yet resumed work.

At this rate of rainfall, the water and power will likely be cut off soon. Xu Lin plans to make Maoxuewang (a spicy Sichuan dish), boiled sliced ​​pork, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall this afternoon to eat during the extremely cold weather.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the power went out right after I finished making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. The tap water was all murky. Luckily, Xu Lin had bought several water purifiers beforehand, and the solar panels she had stockpiled also came in handy.

I had spicy blood curd for dinner. The temperature had dropped to 8℃, and it felt especially good to sweat it out while eating spicy blood curd at this temperature.

"Why is the power out?! We haven't cooked yet!"

My phone is almost out of battery, does anyone have a power bank?

Xu Lin glanced at the messages in the neighborhood group chat, then turned off her phone. The peaceful atmosphere in the group was about to end.

August 28

"Help! My house is flooded!"

"My phone is almost out of battery, and the emergency line is constantly busy!"

At 7:30 a.m., Xu Lin got up and turned on her phone. The most recent message in the group chat was sent at 1:00 a.m. from Unit 1, 101, Building 6.

No one responded in the group. The power has been out for two days, and everyone's phones should be out of battery.

Xu Lin went to the window and saw people going in and out of several apartment building entrances; it seemed the first-floor residents were being evacuated. The water was already knee-deep, and the rain kept falling.

The two households on the first floor of Building 3 where Xu Lin lives are both elderly people, and they had already been taken away by their children before the flood. In the lower-lying areas outside, the floodwaters may have already reached the second floor.

Xu Lin decided to go out and take a look today. Perhaps it's a side effect of her rebirth, but she keeps thinking about stockpiling goods. She only feels safe when she has enough supplies.

After clearing out the garage in the Happiness Community, the space expanded considerably, and Xu Lin wanted to fill it up.

Xu Lin had soy milk and an egg pancake for breakfast. After finishing, she did a few simple stretching exercises, then changed into thermal underwear, a windbreaker, and a one-piece raincoat before heading out. The power went out, the elevator was out of service, so she had to take the stairs.

201 was at home disciplining her child. Her voice was very penetrating. Xu Lin remembered that the couple on the second floor had very good tempers. They were always smiling and gentle with their child. Perhaps the recent torrential rains had made them irritable.

Hitting a child on a rainy day—since you're idle anyway.