Chapter 108
Jiang Xuan's appearance was still somewhat deceptive. Although due to limited conditions, he couldn't really clean up his body and there was still some stubble on his face, but his facial features were there. With a little tidying up, he could still be far better than most people. When he asked Daniu with a polite smile, "Excuse me, I have a friend with the same name as Mu Nan you just mentioned. I don't know if it's a homonym or the same person. He has an older brother named Qin Huai." Daniu was not on guard at all. After all, who would think bad of everyone? This man didn't look like a bad person.
Daniu quickly said, "That's a coincidence, it should be the same person. The Mu Nan I know also has a brother named Qin Huai."
Jiang Xuan immediately showed a surprised expression: "It's really them, I'm glad they're okay. I'm Qin Huai's classmate, my name is Jiang Xuan, hello."
Daniu said, "I am their neighbor who they lived with for a short time. You can just call me Daniu."
Jiang Xuan asked: "Do you know where they live now? Are they also in the greenhouse?"
Daniu said, "No, they live in Area 2."
Of course Jiang Xuan knew where District No. 2 was. It was a row of townhouses with two households in one, but some people rented it with several people, with one family living on one floor. He didn't know if it was the case with Qin Huai and the others. He thought it should be the case. There were only two of them, him and Mu Nan, so there was no need to spend twenty points to rent a separate household. It would be better to stock up more food with those points. Jiang Xuan even thought that it would be nice to have a chance to rent a house there, but if there was such an opportunity, it probably wouldn't be his turn.
Although he wanted to know about Qin Huai, in his heart, Jiang Xuan didn't hope that they could live well. He even thought bitterly countless times that in this end of the world, with a bad environment, scarce resources, and even a hard-to-eat life, Qin Huai might get worse and worse with his burden. One portion of food had to be shared by two people, and one person's labor had to feed two people. It was obvious that Qin Huai must have paid for both of them. Love could satisfy one's hunger, but when there was no water to drink, what was the use of love alone?
Maybe they were suffering in such days and finally got tired of each other. He had seen too many examples of this. Wasn't that the couple just now? In peaceful times, they were probably envied by everyone, but when troubled times came, they were so tormented by each other that they wanted to kill each other.
He still remembered the year of high school, when Mu Nan had just graduated from junior high school. Their class invited them to go to the forest park for hiking and barbecue, but Qin Huai didn't want to go, saying that he was worried about his younger brother being alone at home. Thinking that his younger brother was not young either, only two or three years older than them, he asked Qin Huai to take Mu Nan with him. At that time, Mu Nan was very delicate and could not carry heavy objects at all. Qin Huai carried him on his back. He wore a sun hat and ran back and forth on the way up the mountain. Sometimes he was pulled back by Qin Huai to give him water, and sometimes he was pulled by Qin Huai to wipe his sweat. Qin Huai's eyes never left him. Mu Nan was already fourteen or fifteen years old, and was like a mama's boy who could not take care of himself.
When Qin Huai made the barbecue, he was responsible for eating it. He would complain about where it was burnt or overcooked. He would catch insects and play with dogs, chasing the pet dogs that people brought for the picnic all over the place. He was never idle for a moment. When they were tired from playing, Qin Huai would carry them down the mountain. Fortunately, the road was a mountain path specially for vehicles and not stairs. Qin Huai was so tired, but he still slept on his back with a clear conscience.
Jiang Xuan had never seen such a shameless person. If he was Qin Huai's biological brother, it would be fine, but he was just a neighbor's kid. Why?
There is a saying that goes "It is difficult to change one's nature even if it is difficult to change the country." He just doesn't believe it. For someone like Mu Nan who is incredibly lazy and likes to rely on others for everything, how well can he live in this world with his own abilities? He still has to rely on Qin Huai. No matter how much Qin Huai likes Mu Nan, he will get tired of him sooner or later.
He must live better than them and let Qin Huai see that compared to him, that parasite is nothing but a burden!
With such malice in his heart, he pretended to care on the surface and said, "Do you know how they are doing now? It's so cold, I don't know how they are going to survive at home."
Daniu thought he was really concerned, so he smiled and said, "They are doing well. They have a kang at home and it is warm, which is much more comfortable than this greenhouse. Qin Huai is a visionary. They were the first group to come here. They chose a place with a good location to settle down and accumulated a lot of supplies in advance. They will definitely have no problem getting through this winter. Don't worry about them."
Then he took out a candy from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Xuan: "This is what Mu Nan gave me last time. I'll give it to you to sweeten your mouth. If you have a chance to meet me next time, you must reminisce about the past. Nowadays, it's really lucky to meet old classmates."
Jiang Xuan thanked him and took it. He continued to chat with Daniu in agreement, but he held the candy tightly in his hand. At this time, some supplies were not well hidden, but were given to people outside. What did Qin Huai like about Mu Nan? Did he like his stupidity or his kindness?
Mu Nan, who was both a simpleton and kindhearted person, was like a lazy bug ordering his brother around: "Brother, are you ready?"
Qin Huai, who was fetching water from the stove, tested the water temperature. It was a little hot, but just right for washing hands: "Here you go, you're too lazy."
Mu Nan smiled and put his sticky hands into the basin. He wiped his mouth with his wet hands, and then took a paper towel from the table to dry them. Then he got into the quilt. Qin Huai poured the dirty water outside. They went directly to the roof to get water from the snow, and did not use the snow on the first floor, so the dirty water was usually poured outside. Anyway, they would shovel the snow and pour it out the next day, so it would not accumulate at the door.
After cleaning up the dirty water, Qin Huai also got on the kang. Mu Nan directly pressed his feet on Qin Huai's body, holding his phone and playing a single-player Candy Crush game, while saying: "Brother, let's make braised lion's head tomorrow, the kind with pears in it. I like to eat loose meat. Too firm meat is not delicious."
Qin Huai leaned on the bed and read a book, and said casually: "That's a lot of requirements."
Mu Nan was quiet for a while, then couldn't help but ask: "Brother, you said that the ID card is ready, and all the currency is converted to virtual currency. If there is no electricity or internet, won't there be nothing left?"
Qin Huai: "The ID card should have a chip record, and it can be scanned by a machine even without the Internet. It should be impossible to have no electricity. Once the current climate has found a pattern, both electricity and the Internet will definitely be restored. The greenhouse is now supplying electricity, but the current equipment conditions cannot cover a large area, so we don't have it here. Next year, the situation should be much better."
Mu Nan wiggled her feet in the quilt: "Have you ever seen an American TV series where the entire electricity disappeared from the earth overnight? I think I downloaded it. Do you want to watch it? I'll show it to you."
Qin Huai pulled him back: "What are you doing? I'll play games for a while and then go to sleep."
Mu Nan sighed, "It's not even nine o'clock yet. I go to bed at nine every day, wake up at nine in the morning, and take a two-hour nap in the afternoon. If I do the math, I sleep fourteen hours a day."
Qin Huai said: "Early to bed and early to rise is good for health."
Mu Nan laughed: "It's not that good, but it's true that my skin has gotten better." The kang is heated so hot that he can sleep warmly, but it's easy to get a sore throat and dry skin. He has to drink water every day no matter what. He didn't like drinking boiled water before, but it's impossible for him to drink all kinds of sweet things every day. He drinks milk tea and grapefruit tea during the day and can only drink boiled water at night. In the past few months, he hasn't had acne at all. As for other changes, they are not noticeable at the moment. Anyway, he has adapted to the current schedule and is very energetic when he's not sleeping.
Qin Huai stretched out his hand and pinched his face, which was soft and smooth, and praised: "It's quite good."
Mu Nan touched his face and sighed, "Yeah, I can't let it go."
Qin Huai smiled and put the book on the cabinet beside him: "How much do you love it? Let me see."
When Mu Nan heard this, he instinctively wanted to run away, but Qin Huai held him down. Mu Nan immediately resisted: "You said you wanted to rest for two days!"
Qin Huai smiled and said, "Do you believe what a man says?"
Mu Nan's eyes widened immediately. He couldn't believe how his brother could become so shameless. "Where's your face?!"
Qin Huai went straight to the point: "Face? That's for outsiders to see."
Finally, Mu Nan cursed again, but her voice was suppressed by Qin Huai, so she couldn't curse out anything. In the end, she could only cry on the kang.
Mu Nan had no guilt in ordering a man who didn't keep his word. She ordered different dishes every day. Today she wanted braised lion's head, and tomorrow she wanted Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. After ordering Chinese food, she wanted dessert. Today she wanted thousand-layer cake, and tomorrow she wanted brownie. She lay on the kang and opened her mouth. The only thing Mu Nan had to do was to take out the ingredients from the space, that was all.
Mu Nan lifted the bed curtain and saw Qin Huai sitting by the stove, adding fuel to the fire while watching the tutorial. He smiled and said, "Ask a question!"
Qin Huai said without even raising his head: "Ask."
Mu Nan: "After this winter, will my brother become a great chef?"
Qin Huai turned his head to look at him: "Hasn't your brother always been a chef? Only a chef can satisfy your little mouth? And Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."
Mu Nan lay on the kang and laughed.
I stayed in the house for almost half a month, and then I was notified that I could go to get my new ID card. However, I had to pick it up in person because I had to scan my fingerprints and could not get it on someone else's behalf. For some elderly people who could not move, their identities were recorded and separate arrangements would be made. The rest of the people had to go to Building No. 1 to pick it up in person. The ID cards of those who lived here were all delivered to them to avoid wasting vehicle fuel, which was a scarce commodity.
Considering that the last time Mu Nan had a stomach attack, she caught a cold on the road, Qin Huai was thinking about whether to rent a car first. A car doesn't cost many points. If she gets sick again, it won't be a matter of these points. But Mu Nan didn't give in. She was not that squeamish. She would rent a car for a ten-minute journey. At most, she would cover her body with hot packs. This time, she didn't have to take pictures like last time, so she didn't have to take off her clothes, so she would definitely not catch a cold.
Because they were not in the same group as Jian Chu and the others, they could not go together. Only Qin Huai and Mu Nan went together. Along the way, they could see other people who had registered together with them going to get their certificates. The wind and snow were a bit strong today, and the sky was a bit gloomy. The two of them could be said to be armed from head to toe. On top of their clothes, they also put on a layer of raincoat to block the wind and snow. Because they were wearing so many clothes, they seemed particularly cumbersome when walking. The ten-minute journey felt like it took them almost half an hour to get there.
Although there was no electricity in Building 1, there were several braziers, so people could come and go without worrying about carbon monoxide poisoning. There was also a little heat, at least not as cold as outside. The certificate was collected on the third floor, because we knew there would be many people coming, so we deliberately arranged it on the top floor, so that there would be space for people to line up.
Qin Huai and his group arrived early. Some people saw the heavy snow and wind outside and thought about waiting a little longer to see if it would stop. Since they had a whole day left, they had not come yet. But even though they arrived early, the line had already stretched to the second floor when they arrived.
Mu Nan saw someone coming out with a new ID card and took a curious look. He knew there were two types of ID cards, one was a card, just like the previous ID card, and the other was a bracelet. Both had chips in them and could be swiped directly, and could also be bound to an account on the phone, but the bracelet required additional material fees, which was not cheap. One bracelet cost fifty points, and it depended on individual conditions. The bracelet was only useful in extremely cold or hot environments, and could be swiped without a mobile phone, but ID cards could also be swiped, which was equivalent to a luxury item in the end times, not a necessity. For now, it seemed that no one chose the bracelet, but that was true. Fifty points, converted to fifty yuan, was enough for a family of three to live frugally for two months based on the current price and currency.
Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai and asked in a low voice: "Do you want a bracelet?" He felt that the bracelet had a futuristic sense of technology, but it was indeed too expensive. The function of the bracelet was just to make it convenient to carry with you. It would be easier to lose it if you carried your ID card, but Mu Nan had space, so it was impossible for him to lose it. However, he still wanted to ask, in case his brother liked it.
Qin Huai shook his head: "No, at least not for now, it's too conspicuous."
Although others may not be able to see the bracelet when it is worn on the hand and hidden under clothes, there are no clothes to hide it when the weather is hot, so what is the point of buying it and just leaving it at home without having to buy it? Therefore, there is no need for them to be the first batch of consumers before this thing becomes popular.
Mu Nan also thinks it’s not necessary. Fifty points, how much food can be exchanged for that? Anyway, for him now, nothing is more important than food. Even though life seems to be stable now and all reconstruction is proceeding step by step, he is still a little uneasy about the vague and unknown future, fearing that his stable life will be disturbed again. So he should stock up slowly, food, daily necessities, and clothes, stock up as much as possible. As for the new currency, just keep a little as a backup, there is no need to accumulate too much.
Just look at this disaster. What did those former multi-millionaires and billionaires get in return for all the money they saved? It would be better to spend the money now.
The line is not long, but the pace is very slow because the assets, that is, the existing points, need to be sorted out, counted, and then converted into electronic new currency. The converted points need to be destroyed on site, so the pace is very slow.
Mu Nan was wearing so many clothes that he couldn't help but pull down his mask. He felt a little breathless.
Qin Huai pointed to a corner nearby and said, "Go sit over there. I'll call you when we're almost there."
Mu Nan shook his head: "It's so boring to queue alone, I'll accompany you."
"You two brothers have such a good relationship."
A voice suddenly sounded behind them. Mu Nan and Qin Huai turned their heads at the same time. A man with a scarf wrapped around his face curled his eyes at them, obviously smiling at them. When they looked over, the man said with a smile: "I also have a younger brother, but he is younger, only sixteen years old. But he was abroad when the earthquake happened, and I don't know how he is now."
Mu Nan is not as good at socializing as Jian Chu. He is not very good at chatting with strangers. If there are people around him, he usually won't speak when others take the initiative to talk to him. So when he saw this person talking to them, Mu Nan leaned towards Qin Huai but didn't say anything.
Qin Huai held Mu Nan's hand and said to the person behind him: "Maybe he is fine, but he is trapped abroad and can't come back."
The man sighed, "I hope so. You live in District 2, right?"
Qin Huai nodded, and the man said, "I remember seeing you. I also live in District 2, Building 31, which should be two buildings in front of you. Your courtyard is quite famous. My name is Liang Yu, also known as Hitachi Yu. It was originally the Yu in Yu Yu Sheng Hui, but when I registered my household registration, the fire radical was dropped, so it became Hitachi Yu."
Qin Huai: "This name is a good omen. Yu means tomorrow and represents hope."
Liang Yu smiled and said, "Every time I tell people my name, I have to explain it to them. Otherwise, they would think my name is Liang Yu, the "Yu" in jade pendant, and think I'm a girl."
Others have introduced themselves, so it would be awkward for them not to introduce themselves, so Qin Huai had no choice but to say, "My name is Qin Huai, and this is my younger brother, Mu Nan."
Liang Yu tilted his head to look at Mu Nan, and waved at him with a smile: "Hello."
Mu Nan also smiled and replied, "Hello."
Liang Yu looked at Qin Huai: "Your brother is quite shy."
Qin Huai smiled when he heard this: "Yeah, I'm a little shy."
Liang Yu said, "Very good. My brother is a very social person. He wants to get to know everyone he sees. I think everyone in my family has this gene, but my brother has taken it to the extreme. He used to chatter in my ears all day long, which was annoying to death. Now he is really concerned about people who are not known to him, whether they are alive or dead. I hope that his sociable personality can help him get along better in today's world."
Qin Huai didn't seem to be perfunctory at all, and said sincerely: "I will definitely do that. People who are cheerful will have good luck."
Mu Nan couldn't help but glance at Qin Huai. If there wasn't an outsider talking to them, he would have been unable to help but complain, because people with bad luck can't be cheerful.
Liang Yu was really outgoing. After talking about his younger brother, he started talking about the new currency and supplies, from supplies to hunting, and then to some situations in the greenhouse. Mu Nan was listening nearby and began to be curious about Liang Yu's younger brother. His brother was so talkative, it felt like they would all be good brothers if they exchanged names. His younger brother, who had brought this gene to the extreme, must be even more talkative.
"Do you know about the dismemberment case that happened some time ago?"
Mu Nan was stunned. Before he could react, Qin Huai had already shook his head and asked curiously, "A dismemberment case? Did it happen here? We are locked in the room, and we have no idea what is going on outside. And there is no internet access."
Liang Yu said: "It happened in the building behind my house. It was terrible. It was said that someone pretended to be a soldier and came to patrol. When the person opened the door without warning, he stabbed his neck. Anyway, I really didn't hear any movement that night. This method was skillful, but those people seemed to have been caught. Fortunately, they were caught, otherwise it would be too scary. The main reason is that we were unlucky and couldn't find bricks. We couldn't bear to buy them. Now we can afford to do so, but the amount of work covered with snow is too large. Let alone building a wall, I'm afraid that the cement will freeze into concrete as soon as it is mixed. I don't know how long it will take for the winter to pass."
Maybe Liang Yu was too talkative, and the person standing behind him couldn't help but chat with him: "In the winter, we can burn fire to keep warm, but in the summer, if the power goes out, it will be so hot that people will die."
Liang Yu sighed: "I hope this summer won't be too hot."
The time spent chatting passed quickly. Even though the ID card collection was slow, it was their turn. Mu Nan went in first and took out some points Qin Huai gave him for inspection. Then he went to verify his fingerprints. When asked if he wanted to buy a bracelet, Mu Nan shook his head quickly: "No, no, it's too expensive."
This was probably the general answer, and the staff was not surprised. They quickly counted the points and said, "You have 300 points in total. They are all registered to your account. Now you can only buy things on some official platforms. Just swipe your ID card or bind your phone. Don't trade with others privately. Be careful not to be deceived."
Mu Nan nodded and asked, "When will the internet be available?"
Mu Nan just asked casually, and actually didn't have any hope. It was so cold outside and there was no electricity, so how could he care about the Internet?
Unexpectedly, the staff said: "The power supply is gradually being restored, and the communication base station is also trying to repair it. If it is fast, it may take a month, and if it is slow, it will be the end of winter."
Mu Nan didn't expect that electricity and the Internet could be restored even in such cold weather. This was quite unexpected, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was normal. The lowest temperature in the residential area in their country is nearly minus sixty degrees Celsius, and people still live there, and electricity and the Internet are still available there. The reason why it was so difficult at the beginning was mainly because the earthquake damaged too many things, and the manpower and material resources could not keep up. Once these catch up, it would be normal for it to be restored.
Mu Nan took out his new ID card. The photo on it was quite handsome. The points had been converted into the new currency and entered into the ID card. When he wanted to buy something, he could just swipe the card. It was much more convenient.
When Mu Nan came out, Qin Huai went in. When he came out, Liang Yu was still chatting with someone. When he saw him, he asked, "What is the process inside?"
Mu Nan then explained the process of getting the certificate. After listening, Liang Yu pulled the scarf down on his face, revealing his face. Originally, when only his eyes were exposed, Mu Nan felt that this man should not be ugly. Now that his whole face was exposed, his guess was indeed proved. Liang Yu was quite handsome, the kind of gentle and fair handsome, and even more like a caring older brother. It didn't match his... talkative and outgoing personality. He felt that he should be the kind of person who sits in the sun, wearing a white sweater and reading quietly.
Seeing Mu Nan looking at him, Liang Yu smiled at Mu Nan, then took out a piece of chocolate from his pocket and handed it to him: "Eat it, please."
Mu Nan shook his head: "No thanks."
Liang Yu was afraid that he was being polite out of embarrassment, so he grabbed his hand and put the chocolate into his hand: "It's okay, I have a lot of this stuff, and I don't like to eat it." After stuffing the chocolate into his hand, he said to Mu Nan: "My home is in Building 31. Come over with your brother when you have time. I have meat at home, and I will make meat buns for you when the time comes."
Mu Nan had no choice but to laugh. Liang Yu's enthusiasm made him, who had some social awkwardness, feel a little embarrassed.
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