Chapter 4: Beginning to Stockpile Supplies

Chapter 4: Beginning to Stockpile Supplies

The wind outside was still howling fiercely, and the weather was colder than usual. Fortunately, they were in an underground parking garage, so it didn’t feel as biting. Soon, they got into the car.

The two of them first rented a vehicle, provided the address, and arranged for it to be delivered outside their residential complex at seven in the morning.

Afterward, they headed to the mall and went to several restaurants they liked. At each place, they ordered over a hundred packed meals, arranging to pick them up the next afternoon. Since Gu Pan had stored some noodles in her spatial pocket at noon, which were still warm when she checked earlier, it proved that the safety of this space was even more miraculous than she had imagined.

Next, they went to the electronics floor and bought ten each of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. More than that would be unnecessary. Once home, they planned to download different sets of information onto each device—topics like farming, animal husbandry, infrastructure, and so forth. After all, in a post-apocalyptic world, one couldn’t be sure which skills would prove vital. They also downloaded some entertainment content; otherwise, the loneliness of the end times would be unbearable.

After finishing their purchases there, they moved on to the home appliance section. They bought two of every usable appliance, which was sufficient. Delivery was scheduled for five in the afternoon at Gu Pan’s grandmother’s old house.

They had wanted to browse further, but due to the weather, the mall closed early today. The staff had been discussing how the temperature outside had dropped further.

Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng could only take their purchases home.

Once inside the car, Gu Pan placed the items into her spatial pocket. Although the car could hold them, it lacked the security of her space.

Lu Ruisheng mentioned that they had recently acquired a batch of shelves discarded by the mall, which they had stored in their spatial pocket. This would help organize their supplies neatly. The shelves were kept in an old warehouse they owned, where they also had steel bars and iron doors, so they planned to pick those up tomorrow.

Arriving at their apartment’s entrance, Zhuang Jie approached with a hungry look on his face. “Brother Lu, sister-in-law, you’re finally back! I’ve been waiting here for over an hour; it’s freezing out.” His small eyes gleamed as he occasionally glanced at Gu Pan’s neck.

Having her husband nearby eased Gu Pan’s nerves. She looked at Zhuang Jie and asked, “What exactly do you mean? Are you trying to force us to divorce?”

Zhuang Jie quickly waved his hands. “No, sister-in-law, it’s not about that. I just want to borrow your pendant for a bit.”

Lu Ruisheng, aware of how Gu Pan had misled Zhuang Jie earlier, played along and asked, “Not about that? Then what is it? Do you know something about your sister-in-law?”

Zhuang Jie was exasperated. Why did so many messy things keep happening around them? In the previous life, due to bad weather, they had been working from home and hardly met, so he genuinely didn’t know what had transpired.

He could only say, “Nothing, Brother Lu, really nothing. It’s just that my wife likes your pendant, and I thought I could borrow it to have one made. Could you please talk to sister-in-law and help a brother out?”

Lu Ruisheng clenched his fist inside his sleeve but knew he couldn’t resort to violence or risk going to jail.

So, like Gu Pan, he shifted the topic. “Nothing? Who are you trying to fool? Don’t think I don’t know. I never expected that I’d treat you like a brother, and you’d just stand by while your brother wears a green hat.”

Gu Pan feigned greater anger as she opened the door. “Are you accusing me of having someone else? Fine, let’s get a divorce. Don’t come home anymore.” With that, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Lu Ruisheng was even more furious. “You’ve made a fool of yourself. Family matters like this, I have to handle.” He opened the door and followed her in, closing it behind him.

Gu Pan pretended to start smashing things, and the two of them acted as if they were arguing.

What else could Zhuang Jie do? He couldn’t get in. With a heavy heart, he left, thinking that at worst, he’d get the spatial pocket at the same time as before. For now, he’d better start stockpiling supplies.

After Zhuang Jie left, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng exchanged knowing smiles. They hadn’t told him the pendant was broken because they still needed to use him. At this moment, Zhuang Jie would be preparing supplies. Once he had the pendant and filled his spatial pocket, why not wait until his stockpile was ready and then take over Zhuang Jie’s hideout? If there was something they hadn’t thought of but Zhuang Jie did, it might even work to their advantage.

Once things quieted down, Lu Ruisheng called a friend and ordered a batch of extreme survival gear—rubber boats, fire and earthquake first aid kits, tents, fireproof clothing, isolation suits, radiation suits, explosion-proof suits, and so forth, to be picked up in three days. He had direct channels to these; Gu Pan didn’t need to ask.

As for weapons, Lu Ruisheng also had contacts. They could get some knives and machetes but not firearms yet. After all, their country remained peaceful. Surprisingly, they could even acquire bulletproof vests.

But Lu Ruisheng wasn’t an ordinary soldier. He had an idea—to buy some parts so he could assemble shotguns and the like himself.

He then contacted several friends and found a place that could provide a quick pawn loan. They needed the money immediately; the bank would take several business days, which they couldn’t afford. Even if it meant pawning less, it was best to get the cash right away.

Since they were businessmen, such connections were not lacking. They quickly made contact and arranged to meet the next morning.

After finishing all this, it was nearly midnight before they remembered they hadn’t eaten. They cooked some frozen dumplings simply, lacking the appetite or energy for anything elaborate. Then they lay down, continuing to ponder their next steps until they eventually fell asleep.

Early the next morning, the two of them woke up, ate breakfast, dressed warmly and thoroughly armed, bringing all the necessary items. They left the house before seven.

It was even colder than yesterday, with fewer people on the streets. Today, kindergartens and elementary schools were closed.

Once outside their residential area, they called the rental company, picked up the truck, and drove to the pawnshop their friend had recommended.

The pawnshop was quite sizable. Since the referral made it clear they needed urgent funds, the negotiations proceeded swiftly. After verifying the authenticity of their property deed, they began discussing the price.

Normally, these properties could be collateralized for about three million, but here they could only get two hundred and twenty thousand, though the money would be available immediately.

Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng didn’t hesitate and finalized the deal at two hundred and twenty thousand, as long as the funds were transferred instantly.

The other party was experienced, swiftly signing the contract, holding onto the property deed, and transferring the money. The transaction was complete.

They hadn’t brought their business license for loan collateral. Partly because it wouldn’t secure as much money, and partly to avoid alerting anyone. The pawned money was definitely more efficient for stocking supplies than relying on Zhuang Jie.

Without delay, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng drove the truck straight to the clothing wholesale market. Clothing, shoes, hats, and bags were the least scarce items in their region, as the suburbs were full of such factories—an industry supported by the local government.

Once at the market, they started shopping from scratch, ignoring brands since none of that mattered in the apocalypse. As long as the quality was good, durable, sturdy, and comfortable, it was fine.

They bought mostly sportswear, as it was the most practical for the end times. They purchased enough underwear, thermal wear, warm inner layers, down jackets, down vests, raincoats, socks, gloves, hats, and scarves to last thirty years.

They planned to buy a few good-quality outdoor coats and sun-protective clothing from an outdoor gear store in the mall.

(End of chapter)