Natural Disasters Arrive: Hoarding Supplies, Crushing Scumbags, and Eating Hotpot CH9
Chapter 9: Hoarding 06
She had tested it before: in that gray expanse outside the courtyard, time stood frozen. It couldn't sustain living things, but food placed there would remain exactly as it was—perfectly preserved.
The courtyard, the house, and the black soil were different.
The black soil actually accelerated the flow of time. Food left on the surface would rot instantly, but anything planted in it would harvest in record time. Furthermore, the house, yard, and black soil could all support living creatures. Nan Xi "looked" into the space at the fish tank she’d placed earlier; the tiny fry were happily swishing their tails.
However, she herself still couldn't enter the space physically, which meant she lacked a perfect hiding spot. But Nan Xi wasn't worried. She felt that as the space upgraded, she would soon be able to step inside, giving her a true escape route in the apocalypse.
For now, she could only "farm" the black soil with her consciousness. With a simple thought, a pit appeared in the dirt, and an apple sapling landed firmly inside, the soil tucking itself around the roots. She planted apple trees in the four corners of one plot.
The black soil was still too small. Upgrading was a necessity.
She pulled out a bag of bok choy seeds and didn't even bother digging holes. She scattered them casually. She could almost sense the tiny seeds snuggling into the dirt, happily taking root... and sprouting.
Nan Xi was stunned. Holy crap, they’re actually sprouting! It had barely been a few minutes.
With the black soil being this overpowered, Nan Xi felt she wouldn't just survive fifty years in the apocalypse—she’d make it seventy! She sowed the remaining three plots, dedicating one entire section to the watermelon seedlings she’d just bought. She loved watermelon—especially ice-cold watermelon.
Then she tried organizing the supplies on the empty lot. Half a football field was large, but most of her bulk orders wouldn't arrive at the warehouse until tomorrow. For now, the space was mostly filled with the random items she’d grabbed while shopping, piled up near the fence.
Even though the space was likely clean, seeing the food sitting on the bare ground bothered her. It felt like she was mistreating them. Note to self: storage containers, bins, and industrial shelving were now top priority on the shopping list!
Exhaustion eventually took over. After roughly mapping out zones for the space, she fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, the plane had landed. A beautiful flight attendant nudged her gently to disembark. The sudden proximity of a stranger made Nan Xi instinctively tense up, her survival instincts flaring until she saw the woman’s kind smile.
She had no luggage, only a backpack as cover for her documents.
She took a quick mental peek at her space. The green sprouts from yesterday were already a few inches tall—the pure joy of an imminent harvest! The apple saplings were lush, their brown branches unfurling tender green leaves.
Perfect.
Checking her phone, she saw that the money from Jiang Mingrui and the Tang Patriarch had cleared. Even the payout from the second-hand shop—13 million—was in. It was a bit low, but that was the price of a quick sale. As for the properties from Jiang Mingrui, she had listed everything except the three units in the East Lake Complex.
The giveaway on Big Eye had ended too. In just one day, it had over eight million reposts. She was officially "internet famous." She sent the winner list to Han Yingxi. Ten thousand prizes were nothing to the young Master Han, he could delegate it to a few assistants and have it handled by lunch.
At the arrivals gate, a man with multi-colored yellow hair held a massive sign. His bright blue eyes scanned the crowd for a familiar face. Nan Xi really wanted to pretend she didn't know him and take a different exit.
But he spotted her first. In hilariously broken, accented Mandarin, he started shouting, "Nan Xi! Nan Xi! Over here! I am here! Your beloved William is here!"
Nan Xi: "..."
Even after five years in the apocalypse, she found this "social death" moment incredibly dramatic.
"William, shut up."
If she wasn't in such a rush and didn't need so much from him, she wouldn't have bothered with William so soon. It wasn't that he was a bad person; he was just too enthusiastic—the kind of guy who wanted to drag her to a chapel to exchange vows five minutes after saying hello.
In her past life, once the world ended and international communication died, William had simply vanished from her world.
William lunged for an enthusiastic hug, which Nan Xi deftly dodged.
"Oh, Nan Xi, you are still so cold and heartless. I missed you so much! Are you here to accept my proposal? You know, my family’s tulip manor is in full bloom. Don't you think it'd be wonderful if we had the wedding in a sea of tulips?"
Nan Xi: I think absolutely not.
"William, did you get the things I asked for?" Nan Xi effortlessly changed the topic.
"Working on it, working on it! But Nan Xi, why do you need all that stuff?"
"Well, I feel like the end of the world is coming. I’m preparing because I’m afraid of dying."
William: "..."
He didn't know if he should take that seriously or not. "You’re interested in the apocalypse too? I recently met a friend who’s obsessed with it. He built his own manor into a literal Doomsday Bunker. He has so much cool gear. I consulted him for more than half the things on your list."
William hadn't expected it, but looking at her list, he’d instinctively called that friend. It turned out Nan Xi was genuinely into survivalism.
"Since you were in such a rush for all these items, I couldn't wait around for a custom order. It would've taken forever so I just went through him. Most of this is coming straight from his own stash."
Nan Xi nodded. "That’s fine. As long as we get them, I don't mind paying a premium."
William opened the car door like a gentleman. Before he could ask where she wanted to go, she spoke.
"William, please take me to the Rose Manor."
The drive to the Rose Manor won't be short, but William didn't argue. He wasn't about to spend ten hours behind the wheel, anyway; instead, he drove straight to his family’s private airfield, where a helicopter sat fueled and ready.
Seeing the fleet of helicopters, Nan Xi’s eyes lit up. She turned to William. "Can you sell me one of these?"
When the apocalypse hit and the ground became a scarred mess, traditional runways would be useless. A helicopter was the ultimate transport.
"You want one? I can just give it to you! But these are used. Let me order you a brand new one!"
"A new one will take too long. Just give me one of these. And I’m not taking it for free, I’m paying!"
"Fine, pick the one you like later."
"Okay. Have it sent to the Rose Manor. I’ll arrange for someone to ship it back to China. You don't have to worry about the logistics."
"Understood. It is my honor to serve a beautiful lady."
Nan Xi didn't doubt his ability. William’s family were the local big shot. He was the typical rich heir, always traveling the world, which is how he ended up in China. He and Han Yingxi became fast friends, but everything changed when he saw Nan Xi—whom he’d fallen for the moment he laid eyes on her.
She needed a local "fixer" to connect her with suppliers, especially since being a foreigner makes it tough to buy high-end survival gear. William made the whole thing easy and kept her name out of the official records.
Two hours later, the helicopter touched down at the Rose Manor’s helipad.
Simultaneously, William had started the delivery of the heavy equipment she’d requested.
The list included two modified bulletproof Hummers and a George Patton tactical vehicle William had "snatched" from his friend. He’d tried to get the guy’s Paramount Marauder too but failed. However, the friend had introduced him to a custom-modified Ripsaw Tank, which William had snapped up for her as a consolation prize.
Additionally, there were two of the most advanced deep-water rescue submersibles—one two-seater and one four-seater. They were egg-shaped, bulletproof, high-pressure resistant, and coated with acid-rain and anti-corrosion layers.
He also found two doomsday-themed life pods—one single and one double—plus two "capsule pods" made of top-tier materials.
The friend’s professionalism was undeniable. When Nan Xi asked for a motorhome, she’d just said "give me the best" but William delivered an Armadillo Conqueror.
Nan Xi found it hilarious. From a certain perspective, this ultra-high-end expedition vehicle was actually Chinese-made! She hadn't expected to buy one from a foreigner in the States.
Looking at the photos William sent, she laughed. "How did you manage to get this?"
"Well, I told him he had to give me either the Marauder or the Conqueror. He couldn't help it, he painfully parted with the Armadillo."
Nan Xi was overjoyed. With the Armadillo Conqueror, the other two motorhomes looked ordinary, though even they were modified with heat-resistant, anti-corrosive coatings and bulletproof bodies.
"Based on his recommendation, I also arranged for a fleet of rubber dinghies, assault boats, jet skis, and snowmobiles. Per your request: 50 of each, with 500 sets of replacement parts for each type."
Nan Xi looked at William with genuine appreciation. She knew her requests sounded insane, but he had fulfilled them perfectly—better, even.
"The delivery is a bit slow, but the rest should arrive by tomorrow."
Nan Xi gave William a brief, light hug. "Thank you, William."
William beamed instantly. "Nan Xi, in your country’s tradition, isn't this the part where you say you have no way to repay me except with your hand in marriage?"
"Piss off!" Nan Xi laughed.
Chapter Notes:
She had tested it before: in that gray expanse outside the courtyard, time stood frozen. It couldn't sustain living things, but food placed there would remain exactly as it was—perfectly preserved.
The courtyard, the house, and the black soil were different.
The black soil actually accelerated the flow of time. Food left on the surface would rot instantly, but anything planted in it would harvest in record time. Furthermore, the house, yard, and black soil could all support living creatures. Nan Xi "looked" into the space at the fish tank she’d placed earlier; the tiny fry were happily swishing their tails.
However, she herself still couldn't enter the space physically, which meant she lacked a perfect hiding spot. But Nan Xi wasn't worried. She felt that as the space upgraded, she would soon be able to step inside, giving her a true escape route in the apocalypse.
For now, she could only "farm" the black soil with her consciousness. With a simple thought, a pit appeared in the dirt, and an apple sapling landed firmly inside, the soil tucking itself around the roots. She planted apple trees in the four corners of one plot.
The black soil was still too small. Upgrading was a necessity.
She pulled out a bag of bok choy seeds and didn't even bother digging holes. She scattered them casually. She could almost sense the tiny seeds snuggling into the dirt, happily taking root... and sprouting.
Nan Xi was stunned. Holy crap, they’re actually sprouting! It had barely been a few minutes.
With the black soil being this overpowered, Nan Xi felt she wouldn't just survive fifty years in the apocalypse—she’d make it seventy! She sowed the remaining three plots, dedicating one entire section to the watermelon seedlings she’d just bought. She loved watermelon—especially ice-cold watermelon.
Then she tried organizing the supplies on the empty lot. Half a football field was large, but most of her bulk orders wouldn't arrive at the warehouse until tomorrow. For now, the space was mostly filled with the random items she’d grabbed while shopping, piled up near the fence.
Even though the space was likely clean, seeing the food sitting on the bare ground bothered her. It felt like she was mistreating them. Note to self: storage containers, bins, and industrial shelving were now top priority on the shopping list!
Exhaustion eventually took over. After roughly mapping out zones for the space, she fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, the plane had landed. A beautiful flight attendant nudged her gently to disembark. The sudden proximity of a stranger made Nan Xi instinctively tense up, her survival instincts flaring until she saw the woman’s kind smile.
She had no luggage, only a backpack as cover for her documents.
She took a quick mental peek at her space. The green sprouts from yesterday were already a few inches tall—the pure joy of an imminent harvest! The apple saplings were lush, their brown branches unfurling tender green leaves.
Perfect.
Checking her phone, she saw that the money from Jiang Mingrui and the Tang Patriarch had cleared. Even the payout from the second-hand shop—13 million—was in. It was a bit low, but that was the price of a quick sale. As for the properties from Jiang Mingrui, she had listed everything except the three units in the East Lake Complex.
The giveaway on Big Eye had ended too. In just one day, it had over eight million reposts. She was officially "internet famous." She sent the winner list to Han Yingxi. Ten thousand prizes were nothing to the young Master Han, he could delegate it to a few assistants and have it handled by lunch.
At the arrivals gate, a man with multi-colored yellow hair held a massive sign. His bright blue eyes scanned the crowd for a familiar face. Nan Xi really wanted to pretend she didn't know him and take a different exit.
But he spotted her first. In hilariously broken, accented Mandarin, he started shouting, "Nan Xi! Nan Xi! Over here! I am here! Your beloved William is here!"
Nan Xi: "..."
Even after five years in the apocalypse, she found this "social death" moment incredibly dramatic.
"William, shut up."
If she wasn't in such a rush and didn't need so much from him, she wouldn't have bothered with William so soon. It wasn't that he was a bad person; he was just too enthusiastic—the kind of guy who wanted to drag her to a chapel to exchange vows five minutes after saying hello.
In her past life, once the world ended and international communication died, William had simply vanished from her world.
William lunged for an enthusiastic hug, which Nan Xi deftly dodged.
"Oh, Nan Xi, you are still so cold and heartless. I missed you so much! Are you here to accept my proposal? You know, my family’s tulip manor is in full bloom. Don't you think it'd be wonderful if we had the wedding in a sea of tulips?"
Nan Xi: I think absolutely not.
"William, did you get the things I asked for?" Nan Xi effortlessly changed the topic.
"Working on it, working on it! But Nan Xi, why do you need all that stuff?"
"Well, I feel like the end of the world is coming. I’m preparing because I’m afraid of dying."
William: "..."
He didn't know if he should take that seriously or not. "You’re interested in the apocalypse too? I recently met a friend who’s obsessed with it. He built his own manor into a literal Doomsday Bunker. He has so much cool gear. I consulted him for more than half the things on your list."
William hadn't expected it, but looking at her list, he’d instinctively called that friend. It turned out Nan Xi was genuinely into survivalism.
"Since you were in such a rush for all these items, I couldn't wait around for a custom order. It would've taken forever so I just went through him. Most of this is coming straight from his own stash."
Nan Xi nodded. "That’s fine. As long as we get them, I don't mind paying a premium."
William opened the car door like a gentleman. Before he could ask where she wanted to go, she spoke.
"William, please take me to the Rose Manor."
The drive to the Rose Manor won't be short, but William didn't argue. He wasn't about to spend ten hours behind the wheel, anyway; instead, he drove straight to his family’s private airfield, where a helicopter sat fueled and ready.
Seeing the fleet of helicopters, Nan Xi’s eyes lit up. She turned to William. "Can you sell me one of these?"
When the apocalypse hit and the ground became a scarred mess, traditional runways would be useless. A helicopter was the ultimate transport.
"You want one? I can just give it to you! But these are used. Let me order you a brand new one!"
"A new one will take too long. Just give me one of these. And I’m not taking it for free, I’m paying!"
"Fine, pick the one you like later."
"Okay. Have it sent to the Rose Manor. I’ll arrange for someone to ship it back to China. You don't have to worry about the logistics."
"Understood. It is my honor to serve a beautiful lady."
Nan Xi didn't doubt his ability. William’s family were the local big shot. He was the typical rich heir, always traveling the world, which is how he ended up in China. He and Han Yingxi became fast friends, but everything changed when he saw Nan Xi—whom he’d fallen for the moment he laid eyes on her.
She needed a local "fixer" to connect her with suppliers, especially since being a foreigner makes it tough to buy high-end survival gear. William made the whole thing easy and kept her name out of the official records.
Two hours later, the helicopter touched down at the Rose Manor’s helipad.
Simultaneously, William had started the delivery of the heavy equipment she’d requested.
The list included two modified bulletproof Hummers and a George Patton tactical vehicle William had "snatched" from his friend. He’d tried to get the guy’s Paramount Marauder too but failed. However, the friend had introduced him to a custom-modified Ripsaw Tank, which William had snapped up for her as a consolation prize.
Additionally, there were two of the most advanced deep-water rescue submersibles—one two-seater and one four-seater. They were egg-shaped, bulletproof, high-pressure resistant, and coated with acid-rain and anti-corrosion layers.
He also found two doomsday-themed life pods—one single and one double—plus two "capsule pods" made of top-tier materials.
The friend’s professionalism was undeniable. When Nan Xi asked for a motorhome, she’d just said "give me the best" but William delivered an Armadillo Conqueror.
Nan Xi found it hilarious. From a certain perspective, this ultra-high-end expedition vehicle was actually Chinese-made! She hadn't expected to buy one from a foreigner in the States.
Looking at the photos William sent, she laughed. "How did you manage to get this?"
"Well, I told him he had to give me either the Marauder or the Conqueror. He couldn't help it, he painfully parted with the Armadillo."
Nan Xi was overjoyed. With the Armadillo Conqueror, the other two motorhomes looked ordinary, though even they were modified with heat-resistant, anti-corrosive coatings and bulletproof bodies.
"Based on his recommendation, I also arranged for a fleet of rubber dinghies, assault boats, jet skis, and snowmobiles. Per your request: 50 of each, with 500 sets of replacement parts for each type."
Nan Xi looked at William with genuine appreciation. She knew her requests sounded insane, but he had fulfilled them perfectly—better, even.
"The delivery is a bit slow, but the rest should arrive by tomorrow."
Nan Xi gave William a brief, light hug. "Thank you, William."
William beamed instantly. "Nan Xi, in your country’s tradition, isn't this the part where you say you have no way to repay me except with your hand in marriage?"
"Piss off!" Nan Xi laughed.
Chapter Notes:
- Big Eye (大眼): Internet slang for Weibo, China’s version of X/Twitter.
- George Patton (乔治·巴顿): A massive, luxury armored SUV based on a Ford F-Series chassis.
- Armadillo Conqueror (阿莫迪罗·征服者): A legendary Chinese expedition vehicle (RV) built on a MAN truck chassis, designed for extreme off-road survival.
- Ripsaw Tank (雷尼瓦兹坦克): Likely referring to the Howe & Howe Ripsaw, a high-speed tracked vehicle.
Previous Chapter TOC Next Chapter
(Cubbie: That's it for the mass update, see ya next week! If you enjoyed this series, feel free to checkout our other projects. Thanks for reading!)
Comments
Post a Comment