Although the sales assistant exaggerated, Shen Yanming knew that this was a normal phenomenon.
During periods of planetary instability, most people are focused on food and drink. Household appliances are unlikely to be replaced unless they break down.
After all, even if you buy a new one, the functions will still be the same as before. Even the manufacturers probably don't have the inclination to upgrade.
Shen Yanming, however, felt that a new research path could be created to make electrical appliances adaptable to the apocalypse.
However, the frequent natural disasters and ever-decreasing food yields are impacting people's already fragile nerves. Many engineers may have abandoned scientific research and become farmers in order to survive.
Shen Yanming is really overthinking things. With so many big shots in the alliance, how could technology possibly decline?
Leading researchers, senior engineers, and various scholars were successively brought to the secret laboratory. The Alliance had them conduct research within the most fortified strongholds, hoping to invent high-tech products that could change the status quo.
Shen Yanming chatted with the two sales assistants for a long time, selected a small electric oven and a juicer, and then paid and left.
The two sales assistants watched the family of four walk away, still somewhat reluctant to leave. After all, the daily wait was incredibly tedious. This little bit of fun was a welcome relief.
The couple returned to the underground parking garage, put their belongings in the trunk, and then said to the listless An'an and Nuannuan, "Honey, shall we go home?"
An'an and Nuannuan yawned and nodded with teary eyes.
Shen Yanming said with a smile, "My darling is exhausted today. Go to sleep, we'll be home soon."
After saying that, I put the two babies into the car seats so they could lie down and rest.
Bi Qiaoan yawned as well, "Even I, an adult, am feeling a bit tired, let alone the two little ones. It's good that we've managed to hold on this long."
Shen Yanming nodded, "Yes, it was all because of their curiosity. But curiosity ultimately couldn't overcome their physiology."
"Alright, let's go home, I want to sleep." Bi Qiaoan leaned back in the car seat, closed her eyes, and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking about appliances?"
"I was thinking of buying two more sets to keep for later use, since there's no purchase limit anyway. I didn't make a purchase today because the target is too big, and we couldn't find a suitable reason or opportunity to acquire the space."
"So what do you plan to do?"
"Weren't we planning to travel this year? Let's buy things separately while we're out and about."
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
After that, neither of them spoke. While waiting for the green light at the intersection, Shen Yanming turned his head and glanced back, only to find that Qiao An and the two babies were asleep.
He was fast asleep, snoring and nodding his head.
Shen Yanming smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness and doting affection.
Half an hour later, the family of four returned to the guard team.
As dusk settled, Shen Yanming woke Bi Qiaoan, and the two of them, one carrying a safety basket and the other a shopping bag, prepared to go upstairs.
The neighbors, curious, asked the couple, "Where did you go? Why did you buy so much stuff?"
Shen Yanming smiled and said, "I went back to the city and went to the supermarket. I bought a lot of clothes for the two kids. It's too remote here, so it's not easy to go there. I bought a few more pieces, which they can wear for several years."
The onlookers smiled kindly, "That's how parents are, they always think of the younger ones when they have something good. You went to all this trouble to come all this way, didn't you even buy your wife a new dress?"
Shen Yanming feigned embarrassment: "We used to have a lot of clothes that we can still wear, so we don't need to buy new ones. But my two kids are too small, and we don't have any children at home, so we have to buy them new ones."
These words were like opening a floodgate, and everyone started talking about their experiences of picking up and wearing other people's old clothes over the years.
"Sigh, we've been chatting for too long. Xiao Shen, hurry upstairs, it's getting late. Hurry up and cook, don't let the two kids go hungry."
Shen Yanming nodded, "Okay, then you two chat, I'll head back now."
To avoid gossip, Old Shen didn't even dare to move the appliances from the car and hurriedly went upstairs. Only after closing the door did the couple breathe a sigh of relief.
Bi Qiaoan said with a smile, "There's just so much warmth and human touch in this building that it feels like there are no secrets between us."
Shen Yanming sighed helplessly, “They’re probably all just bored!” He wasn’t wrong; most of the family members didn’t have jobs. They just farmed, grew vegetables, did housework, and chatted.
"That's good, no one will ask what clothes to dress the two kids in anymore." It just means we have to dress them in clothes several sizes too big when we go out.
Shen Yanming nodded, "Go take a shower, and we'll prepare dinner after you've fallen asleep."
Bi Qiaoan had no objection. "Okay, I'll go into the space. You go out, and hurry up."
Shen Yanming grabbed her arm. "No need for all that trouble. Just go outside; it'll be quick."
Bi Qiaoan chuckled and poked his chest with her finger. "Fast?"
Shen Yanming smiled meaningfully, "It can be quick too!"
In the days that followed, the couple followed the guard team's lead, balancing work and training every day.
Just as Shen Yanming had predicted, the temperature in Shanghai rose to the twenties in a short period of time.
People couldn't stand being bundled up for more than a few days and switched to lighter jackets. The young people, full of energy, went straight for short sleeves.
At the end of March, Shen Yanming noticed that everyone at work seemed very tense. After inquiring, he learned that they were still shaken by last year's earthquake and feared that some uncontrollable disaster might occur again this year.
As a result, things calmed down, and by April...
At first, everyone was worried that the disaster might be delayed. But as the month drew to a close and everything remained normal, they gradually relaxed.
In early March, Shen Yanming took some time to visit the agricultural area. He told Ye Wengui about changing the baby formula, and the man's expression changed immediately.
"Yanming, it's not that I don't want to help you, but the restrictions are strict this year, and they really won't let us go out."
"Captain Ye, can't we try something different? Or could you suggest something in exchange?"
Ye Wengui shook his head. "There are many things I can't say. I can only tell you that most of this year's output will be used to fill the supply depot."
Shen Yanming didn't press the matter further and nodded, saying, "Alright then, I'll tell my friend."
Ye Wengui sighed, "It's not that I don't want to help you, but we have rules."
Shen Yanming smiled, "I know, I understand, otherwise you wouldn't have helped me before."
"Well, I'm glad you understand. I was just worried you'd think I was deliberately making excuses. Actually, I really didn't mean it that way."
Shen Yanming patted the other person on the shoulder, "There are some things we both know, there's no need to explain them too clearly." Although a major disaster didn't happen, the stockpiling of supplies continued.
"Yes, that's right. Go back and talk to your friend properly, tell him to prepare in advance and not focus on baby formula."
"Okay, I understand."
After receiving Captain Ye's reply, on the last weekend of April, Shen Yanming brought five catties of millet, two catties of dried red dates, one catty of walnuts, and two cans of milk powder to visit Chen Shunwei.
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