With only 9 days left until the end of the world, a tense atmosphere hung over the entire family like a heavy gloom. Everyone knew that time was of the essence and that there was no room for complacency, so they continued to devote themselves to stockpiling supplies.

Su Yao embarked on her gasoline-collecting journey once again. She mentally listed every possible location in the city where gasoline might be stored, devising the most efficient route. This time, she arrived at an abandoned auto repair shop. The shop was a mess, but Su Yao's keen eyes spotted several rusty gasoline cans in a corner. She carefully approached, first using tools to pry open the can lids to check; some gasoline remained inside, emitting a pungent odor. Su Yao was overjoyed. She quickly found a gasoline extractor and siphoned the gasoline into a clean container she had brought. Every drop of gasoline was like a precious spring of life, the dripping sound particularly clear in the quiet repair shop.

Next, she found some large plastic containers used for storing gasoline in the repair shop's warehouse. Although some were damaged, several were intact upon inspection. Su Yao painstakingly carried them to her car, intending to take them back to the safe house for future gasoline reserves. On her way out of the repair shop, Su Yao kept an eye on abandoned vehicles along the roadside, knowing that some might still have gasoline in their tanks. She used tools to open the fuel tanks of each car, using a siphon to extract the gasoline. Although this process was tedious and time-consuming, every drop of gasoline could be a beacon of hope in the apocalypse.

Dad, however, focused on stockpiling weapons. He went to an underground market, a chaotic place but one of the ways to acquire special weapons. In the dim light, Dad found a familiar seller who brought out several Tang swords. Dad picked up a Tang sword and examined it carefully. The blade was long and slender, the edge as white as autumn frost, gleaming with a chilling light in the dim light. He swung it lightly, the Tang sword cutting through the air with a crisp whistling sound, feeling excellent in his hand. Dad knew the advantages of the Tang sword in close combat; its sharpness and agility could be very useful against zombies. He bought the Tang swords without hesitation and carefully wrapped them in oilcloth to prevent damage to the blades.

Then, Dad took a fancy to several machetes. These machetes were thicker and heavier than Tang swords, with wide blades and powerful chopping capabilities. Against hordes of zombies, the wide-area attacks of the machetes could effectively clear a path. Dad checked the quality of the machetes, lightly tapping the blades with his fingers, listening to the crisp echo to judge the quality of the steel. After haggling with the seller, he bought the machetes. Before leaving the market, Dad didn't forget to collect some whetstones and knife maintenance tools. He knew that in the apocalypse, weapon maintenance was crucial; only by keeping weapons in good condition could he protect his family's safety in critical moments.

Back at the safe house, Dad didn't rest; instead, he began organizing and hiding the weapons. He created a new secret room in the basement, sealing it with heavy steel plates. Inside, he built a special weapon rack, neatly displaying the Tang sword, machetes, and the previously prepared firearms and ammunition. Each weapon had its designated spot for quick access when needed. Dad also installed a ventilation system and dehumidifier in the secret room to ensure the weapons wouldn't rust due to moisture.

Even in the safe house, Mom wasn't idle. She busied herself in the kitchen preparing more easily preserved cooked food. She took out a large amount of flour she had stored and began making various kinds of flatbread. Mom skillfully added water to the flour to form dough, then rolled it into thin flatbreads, sprinkled them with salt, sesame seeds, and other seasonings, and baked them in the oven. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of flatbread. These flatbreads could be stored for a long time and were easy to eat; a simple reheat was all it took to make a meal.

Meanwhile, Mom also cured some meats. She cut beef and pork into strips, marinated them with salt, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, and other seasonings, and then hung them in a well-ventilated place to dry. The cured meats not only tasted delicious but could also be preserved for a longer time without refrigeration. As Mom busied herself, she prayed that these preparations would help her family get through the difficult times of the apocalypse; every action was filled with her deep love for her family and her desire to survive.

In these tense and busy nine days before the apocalypse, the family's stockpiling efforts proceeded in an orderly manner, with each item being a cornerstone of their hope for survival in the post-apocalyptic world.