Chapter 32

The problem of high temperature is a natural climate problem, which cannot be solved by human power at present. We can only try to ensure the smooth operation of electricity in every city. Not long ago, a community in another province suddenly lost power in the middle of the night. It was also an old community, and it was the kind of seven-story building without an elevator. After the power supply was restored with great difficulty the next day, the bodies of two lonely elderly people were smelly. The community hurried to check on several other families with elderly people. Some of them had money and were willing to spend on themselves. They had already done insulation early, so even if the power was cut off, the house did not heat up so quickly, so it was okay. When the community came to the door of one family, the person was almost dying. By the time they broke into the house and sent the person to the hospital, the old man had almost died.

The power went out overnight and three people died. This is just a microcosm of a community. Across the country, people die from heatstroke every day. The higher-ups don’t dare report those statistics. All they can do now is to try to ensure power supply. But people can’t go out during the day because of the heat. Even if they work day and night, many jobs are not so smooth. Moreover, in such hot weather, the air conditioners in every household cannot be turned off, and the power consumption has increased exponentially. If the higher-ups were not under pressure to prioritize power supply, the power supply would have collapsed long ago.

However, if this continues, it will only be a matter of time before the market collapses. So, in order to ease the pressure on electricity consumption, Mu Nan and his city began to cut off power in stages. Of course, it is impossible to cut off power during the day. It is too hot during the day, and the temperature is about to break through 50 degrees. In the past, people could not stand the high temperature of 40 degrees. Now it is nearly 50 degrees. I am afraid that more people will die if the power is cut off. So the community began to collect data on which time period they are willing to cut off power at night. Of course, this data cannot be used as the final conclusion. The community just came forward to report the wishes of the residents, and it depends on how the power outage area is divided.

In the last life, the power outage in Mu Nan's neighborhood lasted from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., and it was estimated that the power outage would continue at this time in this life. In the last life, Mu Nan's house was closed because he had not prepared anything in advance. By the time he consciously prepared things to escape the heat, the prices were high and the things might not be available. Fortunately, the power outage occurred in the second half of the night. Although it was a bit hot near dawn, as long as the doors and windows were closed, the temperature in the house would not be too outrageous. In the last life, Mu Nan survived the power outage by relying on a USB fan and a power bank.

This time they were well prepared and the generator was not needed yet. They only needed to fully charge the prepared batteries. One battery could at least sustain the power consumption of an air conditioner for about ten hours. Combined with the insulation in the house and the residual heat of the air conditioner, this power outage had almost no effect on Mu Nan.

In addition to the power outage, the air conditioner problem is also very serious. Some families may have bought new air conditioners this year, and the equipment is the latest, so they can still withstand the high temperature. Putting a sunshade on the air conditioner outside to avoid direct exposure to the hot sun is somewhat useful. However, many air conditioners that have been used for several years cannot withstand such high temperatures. It is good to shut down or strike. Some old air conditioners cannot withstand such high temperatures and explode directly.

Explosions on flat ground or low floors are easy to deal with, but some explosions and fires on high floors were not put out in time and directly burned down half of the building.

Since the high temperatures began, explosions, spontaneous combustions, and building fires have occurred several times almost every day. Not to mention far away, in Mu Nan's area, there was a residential complex where the air-conditioning outdoor unit of a household living on the middle floor exploded in the middle of the day and directly burned down the entire building.

Nowadays, many people will put a layer of cover outside their windows, originally to prevent the sun's exposure. Some people pay more attention to safety and choose fire-proof cloth, but some people just tear off a piece of light-blocking cloth. That kind of cloth can burn a large area with a little spark.

As a result, the air conditioner exploded, sparks flew, and directly ignited the sunshades upstairs and downstairs.

With the day and night reversed, most people sleep during the day, and even if they are awakened by the explosion, they will not immediately think that there is a fire in their building. Only the residents who are closer to the air conditioner explosion got up to check because the noise is too loud. When they saw the fire outside their window, they tried to put it out, but it was not easy to put out the fire since the whole building was burning. So they immediately packed up their finances and hurriedly fled with their families.

Some people who have a stronger sense of responsibility would run outside their homes and knock on the door of the residents on the same floor to notify them to run away quickly, but there was no way to remind every household on each floor. After all, their own lives were more important. So in the end, nearly half of the people in the entire building were unable to run out in the first time. By the time they realized there was a fire, they could still struggle to run downstairs, after all, the fire was moving upwards, but it was difficult upstairs. Apart from running to the roof, they had been cut off by the fire in the middle and could not go down at all.

Those who ran outside were so nervous about the fire, and because of the shock of their own homes being burned, and the scorching heat, several of them collapsed at once.

Some were busy putting out fires, some were busy rescuing people, some were busy giving first aid and cooling down people who had fainted from the heat, and some were busy looking for people to help. The hottest sun at noon restricted many people's movements, and in the chaos there was no one who could take charge and coordinate. The most terrifying thing was that some people left their homes in a hurry and naturally did not have time to turn off the power. Once the fire started, several outdoor units exploded. By the time the ambulance, fire truck, community leader, and street leader arrived after hearing the news, the situation had already become uncontrollable.

When the fire broke out, from Mu Nan's balcony, one could see fireworks in the distance. Because the distance seemed very close, Mu Nan was a little nervous: "Will it burn over here?"

Qin Huai patted his shoulder and told him not to lift the curtains to look. Even through the curtains and glass, the midday sun would cause a lot of sunburns. "No, there are several buildings in the middle, so it will definitely not burn all the way. If a fire breaks out during this time, it will greatly affect rescue efforts."

Mu Nan only remembered this incident after it happened. Such a big thing had naturally happened in his previous life, but he didn't remember the specific time. Many people died that time. For a long time, the community paid close attention to safety protection. Even though the temperature was high and life was not easy for every household, they still fully cooperated with the community in safety protection. After all, the lessons of the past were not far away from them.

There were also well-informed people in the group who started live broadcasts of the situation. Several minutes long videos were sent to the group, which made many people terrified. Those who were trapped on the upper floors, where the height exceeded the upper limit of the fire ladder, could only wait for firefighters to rush into the fire to rescue people. However, various incidents requiring rescue by firefighters occurred one after another every day. Even if all the rescue forces that could be dispatched from the surrounding areas were urgently dispatched, there were still not enough people.

The fire burned for a whole day and night, and one firefighter was killed, 57 residents died, and 40 to 50 people were seriously injured and hospitalized. Most of the dead died of heatstroke and smoke choking, and only a few were burned to death. There were also several elderly people with mobility problems who couldn't even get out of their own doors.

In the past, such a tragic fire would have been reported nationwide, and might even have made international news. But now, such a serious fire is only reported in local news, and the focus of the news is not on the lives lost, but on the safety hazards caused by the high temperature, air conditioner outdoor units, and outdoor shelters.

Because natural disasters and man-made disasters like this happen several times almost every day, and at first they still cause people to feel sad and grief, but later, people have become numb. Apart from carefully checking the shielding and protection outside the house every day, praying that their air conditioners can perform better, and looking at their wallets that are not making ends meet and the rising prices, most people no longer have the energy to sympathize with other people's tragedies. After all, no one knows if they will be the next one.

No one is discussing the end of the world anymore. If their current life cannot be considered the end of the world, then what kind of life can be considered the end of the world? During the epidemic a few months ago, they still had hope for the future, thinking that with the power of unity, they would definitely defeat the virus.

But facing the current natural disaster, they really feel like they can't see the future. Many people prayed that such terrible high temperatures might soon disappear like the previous smog, but unfortunately, no matter how many people prayed, the high temperatures still existed.

It is rare to see foreign news in China nowadays, as all news has been wiped off the Internet. Only some niche forums will post some news sent back by relatives and friends far away abroad, but it will not be circulated for long and will be deleted soon.

Mu Nan had seen a picture someone else had posted in the group. It was a small country that was originally a tourist capital on the coast. Now the entire area was deserted, the sea level was constantly receding, and a lot of garbage was exposed on the sand, which looked extremely desolate. In some foreign cities, those roadside pools that were once drinkable could no longer squeeze out a drop of water. There were also several huge riots and conflicts, all caused by a few boxes of water.

Similarly, whenever life becomes difficult abroad, those who are studying far away, or those who go to the polar glaciers to escape the summer heat when the temperature in the country rises inexplicably and transportation is still normal, and even those who have lost their nationality but have not enjoyed life abroad for a few years and are now forced to return to China due to various unrest and difficulties, begin to speak out together online, hoping that the motherland can take them home.

This time, no one who was suffering from the high temperature sympathized with those who were far away abroad for whatever reason. Almost everyone on the Internet refused to go abroad for rescue. A lot of resources had been used to evacuate overseas Chinese during the epidemic. At that time, no one thought that such a toxic fog disaster would happen. So whether you are studying or traveling, if you are trapped abroad, we don’t blame you. This is understandable.

But this time, the epidemic has only been over for a short time, and just because it was a little hot in China, you rushed to various parts of the world to escape the heat. Now the temperature continues to rise, the environment outside is unbearable, and you want to return to China. Many people think that if you have the money to go abroad, you should come back by yourself now. If you can't come back, it's your fault.

Of course, although many people have expressed their opinions online, they still instinctively think that the country should take action to pick up the people. Just look at the past every time, the country has always sat back and watched, and the speed of evacuating overseas Chinese is always the first. However, unexpectedly, this time there was no action at all. No matter how loud the overseas Chinese joint statement was on the Internet, the domestic Internet was clear, and no one could see or hear it, and no action was taken.

Rational people began to analyze that it was not that they did not want to rescue and evacuate the Chinese, but that they really did not have the conditions. Since the continuous high temperature, not only the world, but also their country has completely stopped flying after three planes were blown up. Ships were also blocked on the sea route. A ship also had an accident due to the high temperature. Now the sea area is still polluted by heavy oil, and even the bodies of those who were in the shipwreck have not been salvaged. Today's natural disasters cannot be resisted by the country's efforts. Knowing that there is a crisis, it is an unwise decision to take risks.

However, Mu Nan felt that the country really did not have the time to spare for rescue operations, stockpiling supplies, building future shelters, and integrating financial resources while order was still maintained. There might be many other actions and measures behind this that ordinary people like him could not think of. As for those who had gone abroad after the epidemic for whatever reason, they really could not take care of them at the moment.

For matters like these that concern national decision-making, they can only look at them on the Internet. Although they are not far from their lives, they are not close either. The days ahead are the most important.

Last time, Qin Huai was planning to kill a rooster, but was interrupted by Mu Nan's accidental food poisoning. Although chicken soup is good for the body, it is not suitable for Mu Nan, who is sick due to gastrointestinal problems. Chicken soup is too oily. If you really want to nourish him, it may be counterproductive. But this rooster can't be raised any more. The more it is raised, the older it will be. Because it has not been castrated, it eats a lot but doesn't grow much. When the weather gets hot, the fat on its body will be visibly thinner, so Qin Huai still plans to kill the chicken as soon as possible.

Once is new, twice is familiar. This time, Qin Huai did not ask Mu Nan to help chop off the chicken head. He just twisted the chicken head, pulled the hair on the chicken neck, cut it with a knife, made an incision to let the blood out first, and then scalded the chicken feathers with boiling water. Mu Nan was not idle either. Most of the chicken feathers fell off after being scalded with boiling water, but a small part, such as the chicken feathers on the chicken wings, had to be clipped one by one with tweezers. Anyway, he had nothing to do, so when Qin Huai had almost finished processing the chicken, he moved a small stool and sat there to finish it bit by bit.

"How about we make this chicken into beer-roasted chicken? Can you give us two more peppers? We can cook it and put it in the space and eat it in winter."

Qin Huai handled the chicken's internal organs without even looking up and said, "Don't even think about it. Winter is not a reason for you to be greedy and eat chili peppers."

Mu Nan let out a disdainful sound, it was not in vain that she called him Qin Ma.

After Qin Huai finished dealing with the chicken entrails in his hand, he found that there was no sound behind him. He turned around and saw Mu Nan sitting at the kitchen door, holding the chicken, and carefully plucking the difficult-to-handle chicken feather roots in the chicken skin. His serious and competitive look gradually overlapped with the way he did handicrafts when he was a child, sticking bird nests bit by bit. He couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth when he saw it.

After the chicken was finally cleaned, Mu Nan took a breath and stretched his legs: "My long legs have nowhere to go."

Qin Duidui is worthy of being Qin Duidui: "A 1.75-meter-tall person has long legs?"

Height is not something that can be taken lightly. Mu Nan immediately retorted: "It's obviously 1.78 meters! Did you take up those three centimeters?" He can still look 1.8 meters tall with a pair of shoes. His height is not short, okay? This is also a top-notch existence among southerners.

Qin Huai didn't bother with a dwarf who could see the top of his head when he lowered his head. He turned around and took out the almost thawed chicken gizzards from the refrigerator, and prepared to stir-fry them with the fresh offal that had just been processed.

Mu Nan has liked eating some internal organs since he was a child, but he always felt that the ones outside were not clean. After all, cleaning the internal organs is a delicate job, and businessmen don’t have the time to clean them with you bit by bit, so Qin Huai seldom let him eat. Thinking that Mu Nan rarely eats it, he simply gave him a little more chili, saying that he was not allowed to eat it and should take good care of his stomach. But seeing that he always wanted to eat it, he still felt a little reluctant. People are so contradictory. They always want to do good for him, but can't help indulging him.

Six or seven o'clock in the afternoon used to be dinner time, but now it can only be considered the first meal time after waking up. While cooking, Mu Nan heard a noisy sound coming from the corridor, so he ran out to take a look. He did not open the iron door directly, but looked out through the cat's eye of the security door.

The corridor was already filled with daily necessities. A boy who looked young was sitting on a chair, fanning himself with a fan while playing with his phone. When the elevator door opened, a couple took out the things piled in the elevator with large and small bags. An elderly couple who should be their parents were also helping. The boy was about to come over to help, but was pushed aside by his grandmother: "Go over and fan yourself. If you are hungry, take some food from the bag and eat it yourself."

This was probably the lifestyle they were accustomed to. The boy did not insist on helping. After being pushed aside by his grandmother, he sat down and continued to play with his mobile phone.

Mu Nan took a look and turned back to the house. Even though the door was open and the air-conditioning was blowing towards him, it was still a bit hot standing at the door for a while.

Mu Nan ran to the kitchen door and saw Qin Huai was serving a dish of green spinach that he had just fried. His expression was a little hard to describe. He had accumulated a lot of vegetables in his space. As some people say, adults are not picky eaters because they choose to buy what they like. Therefore, most of the vegetables he accumulated were for himself, and some of the ones he didn't like were prepared for Qin Huai. But this spinach was obviously not on his menu. Even so, Qin Huai could buy a lot of spinach from many expensive vegetable group purchases, and force him to eat half a plate every time.

Hearing the sigh, Qin Huai knew what Mu Nan's expression was without turning around, and said with a smile: "There are only so many on a plate, half of it is only three or five, and I swallowed it all at once with my eyes closed."

Mu Nan: "Your eating is harder for me than swallowing medicine." In a person's life, there are always one or two dishes that are difficult to swallow even with eyes closed and nose pinched. Although he can still eat it now if he tries, after all, he is a man who has experienced the end of the world. But even if he has suffered the devastation of the end of the world, it does not prevent him from liking it.

Qin Huai didn't bother with him about the food. After all, Mu Nan would definitely eat it in the end. Maybe he had realized the future food crisis and now cherished food very much. But the struggle before eating was inevitable, so he simply diverted his attention and said, "What's going on outside? Why do I hear someone moving things?"

Mu Nan said, "It seems that the old family has returned. I haven't seen them for many years. I thought they sold their house. They are the family that always quarrels and even fights during the Chinese New Year every year."

In their community, a building is divided into two sides with a patio in the middle. There are five households on each floor, which means there are ten households on both sides in total. The only difference is that the two sides cannot communicate with each other. Because his family and Qin Huai's family have a patio, they are two households facing each other. There are three households on the other side. Two of the three households are tenants, Yu Zibai and Dr. Xu, and the other one is at the innermost one, who is an old neighbor of their parents' generation. They seemed to have moved away when he was in elementary school, and he didn't notice anyone else moving in there after that.

As soon as Mu Nan mentioned Qin Huai, he knew which family he was talking about. They were still young at that time, and Mu Nan's father even called the male owner of that family "uncle". He still remembered that the family seemed to have the surname Zhang, but he didn't like that family.

He is two years older than Mu Nan and has been able to remember things since childhood. When Mu Nan was three years old, the son of Grandpa Zhang's family just got married. They have a custom in this area that a smart and cute boy should sleep on the wedding bed so that the newlyweds can have a child in the coming year. It seems that all the babies born in the Zhang family are girls, and the age of the boys is not right as they are too old. Mu Nan has been good-looking and sweet-mouthed since he was a child, which makes him very likable. Probably because they are neighbors and live nearby, they found the Mu family and wanted Mu Nan to sleep on the bed, that is, to sleep on the new bed for one night.

Mu Nan was young and ignorant at that time. People could coax him to play, but when it was time to go to bed, he would look for him instead of his father or mother. He had been used to sleeping with him since he was a child. He was only five years old at that time, and his age was appropriate. However, the Zhang family probably thought that he had no parents and a bad fate, so they were not willing to let him accompany them. So when Mu Nan cried, they directly sent him home and closed the door to prevent Mu Nan from seeing him.

Actually, Uncle Mu was a little reluctant at that time. He only had such a precious son and he always obeyed him. He was not comfortable with being forced to sleep on the bed like this. But after all, he had promised the other party, and the other party was having a wedding, so it would not be good for him to change his mind at the last minute. Between having his son cry for a whole night and ruining a happy wedding, of course the latter was more important, so he endured it.

As a result, the next day, Mu Nan's eyes were swollen from crying and she hugged him tightly as soon as she saw him. While other people's weddings were held with great fanfare to welcome the newlyweds, his Mu Nan had a fever at night because she cried so hard.

Mu Nan said that their family would quarrel and even fight every New Year, and there was a reason for that. The Zhang family probably always wanted to have a grandson and a son, but Zhang's wife didn't make any movement in the first year, and the same was true in the second year. From the second year onwards, the elders probably started urging her, but she didn't get pregnant for several years in a row, and because of this, the quarrels got worse every year.

At that time, Grandma Zhang often used snacks to coax Mu Nan to go to her house to play. It was probably a kind of superstition to attract children. She used snacks to tempt Mu Nan to stay at her house. When Mu Nan was a child, the Mu family was very strict about snacks and rarely gave him sweets. Therefore, he ate less candy and chocolate, so he naturally rare them. When he was a child, he often had toothaches because he ate too much sweets at the Zhang family. He cried when it hurt, and got a fever if he cried too much.

Once or twice, Uncle Mu was a little embarrassed at first to save face for the neighbors, so he said it euphemistically a few times. After all, they would see each other every day. But it didn't work. Before Uncle Mu was ready to refuse with a cold face, he couldn't help it. Mu Nan stuck to him and listened to him. If he said she was not allowed to go, Mu Nan would obediently not go. Sometimes when he saw Mu Nan playing in the community and wanted to coax Mu Nan to go to her house, he would rush over, grab Mu Nan's hand and take him home, not giving the Zhang family any chance.

So he hates the Zhang family, and I guess the Zhang family hates him too.