Jiang Ning was a bit slow, watching them move things and leave the 18th floor, step by step down the stairs. 

She hesitated for a moment but still couldn’t control herself and chased after Zhang Chao and the others to the stairway, calling out to them, “If things don’t go well in Huicheng, remember to come back.” 

Lu Yu nodded along with Zhang Chao, “Anning, no matter where we go, you’ll always be our friend in our hearts.” 

She didn’t accompany them any further but watched them leave the 18th floor until their faint footsteps disappeared. 

Coke whimpered in her arms, occasionally rubbing against the poop scooper. 

An hour later, Huo Yishen came back. 

Seeing Jiang Ning sitting on the sofa in a daze, he walked over and sat beside her, comforting her, “Don’t worry, they can take care of themselves, and I’ve already reminded them to be careful on the road.” 

The two cars should always maintain a distance of about 50 meters. If the car in front encounters a robbery or gets a flat tire punctured by iron nails or boards, at least there will be another car to use, which is enough to escape or resist in time. 

They had crossbows, guns in their hands, and rich experience as security patrol officers. Ordinary bandits wouldn’t stand a chance against them. 

Jiang Ning leaned lightly against Huo Yishen’s side. “I believe they’ll be fine.” 

“Anning, although Zhang Chao and Lu Yu have left, you still have me, Coke, and Doudou. We won’t be separated.” 

In the apocalypse, parting ways and death were as normal as could be. 

However, Jiang Ning still couldn’t sleep that night, tossing and turning restlessly. 

She felt down for two or three days, then returned to normal. 

But she still felt somewhat uneasy. The 18th floor was too quiet now, devoid of the laughter of those two and the rhythmic sound of Zheng Weili practicing boxing. 

In the evening, Grandma Zhong went up to the rooftop to fetch water. “Little Jiang, why haven’t I seen Lu Yu and Zhang Chao for several days?” 

Jiang Ning didn’t hide anything. “They went to Huicheng.” 

They went to the base. Grandma Zhong was surprised and a little envious at the same time. 

Going to the base was good; there were not only soldiers to protect them, but there’s also no shortage of water. 

She wanted to go too, but entering the base required each person to contribute 50 kilograms of food, and she heard that the military base didn’t accept just anyone; the screening process was very strict, and even the municipal government advocated for residents with conditions to go to Jiacheng base. 

Grandma Zhong had lived for a lifetime and vaguely felt that the two bases were different. 

The Zhong family were all educated people, and they are used to doing research in the office. If they went to the base and couldn’t find suitable work, they would only end up doing manual labor. 

She was old, and the younger generation didn’t have bodies of steel. 

After much thought, she decided to stay in Fengcheng. The father and son were dedicated to research day and night, but at least they were highly valued by the relevant departments, and the compensation they received was acceptable. 

At the same time, according to the latest news, the municipal government had sent people to take over the steel world, mechanical factory, glass factory, building materials factory, and so on. 

In short, factories without owners were directly taken over, and those with owners were forcibly requisitioned. As for the compensation for requisitioning, ordinary people had no way of knowing. 

Jiang Ning was surprised; she didn’t expect the municipal government to act so quickly. Could it be that they were preparing for a future major earthquake? 

They not only requisitioned materials and factories related to construction, but even farmland was also requisitioned. There were plans to build greenhouses for large-scale cultivation of crops, and they were recruiting farmers and workers on a large scale. 

Seeing such proactive measures from the relevant departments, survivors once again have renewed hope. Although enduring the extreme heat was difficult, they believed that their homeland could be rebuilt. 

Many people went to apply for jobs, carrying hopes for the future. With a job, at least they wouldn’t starve or die of thirst. Perhaps they wouldn’t eat well, but they could survive. 

The number of planting positions available for recruitment far exceeded expectations; it could be said that almost anyone who came was accepted, and those without experience could be trained by older employees. 

Not only were they cultivating farmland, but the vacant factory buildings could also be used for indoor farming. 

Jiang Ning had a strong premonition that the municipal government was trying every possible means to stockpile grain. 

Rumors had it that the national grain reserves were abundant, but it had been two years since the disaster, and who knew how much was left? 

Even if there’s some left, the low-lying coastal areas in the south were not originally within the scope of the national large-scale grain warehouse selection. Even if there were any, it wouldn’t be much, and any needs would likely be fulfilled through reallocation from other provinces. 

In a global catastrophe, every region is preoccupied with its own survival. Who wouldn’t tightly guard their grain warehouses to protect the local population? How could they possibly give it to other regions? 

Even if the national government issued orders, it’s estimated that priority would be given to the large bases, leaving even less for the various cities and regions. 

Ultimately, self-rescue is necessary. You can’t just sit around waiting for handouts from the government. 

Regardless, Jiang Ning believes that even if an earthquake were to come, the outcome would be better than last time. 

Days pass by like this, one after another. 

The departure of Zhang Chao and the others also has its benefits for Jiang Ning. At least she doesn’t have to hide anymore. 

She stores the rooftop water tower in the space and plans to move the rabbits to 1803 for breeding. Then she’ll take out the fertilized chicken and duck eggs and quail eggs for incubation to achieve a quick supply of chicken and duck meat. 

Huo Yishen interrupts her plan. “How much space do you have left?” 

Jiang Ning is puzzled. “Do you have a new plan?” 

Even if the space is large, it’s already running out due to the two of them stuffing it full. 

Huo Yishen nods. “I want to go to Yuecheng or Xiangshan by the seaside.” 

Jiang Ning is puzzled. “What are you going to do at the seaside?” 

Huo Yishen is cautious. While they have stored a fair amount of food and left some space for planting, they are still short of meat. They need to prepare in advance. 

“Inland cities rely on mountains for resources, but we on the coast have to rely on the sea.” 

Drought-resistant sweet potatoes have a long growth cycle, and cities can’t continuously provide food for survivors. They have to reach out to the sea for sustenance. 

After two years of natural disasters, especially one year of freezing, coastal fishermen couldn’t fish at sea. Assuming nothing unexpected happens, marine fish will be abundant. 

As he says this, Jiang Ning recalls. 

In her previous life, indeed, many low-level survivors migrated to the seaside. 

Jiang Ning didn’t go; even if she did, it wouldn’t have made a difference. 

She doesn’t know how to fish, and she doesn’t have a boat. 

Even if fishermen catch fish, who will trade with you if you have nothing to offer? 

Fishermen are not saviors. 

But this time is different. She not only has space but also has stocked up on a lot of supplies, which she can use to exchange for seafood. 

Jiang Ning loves seafood, but seafood prices are not friendly. 

She only has 200,000, enough to stock up on chicken, duck, and fish meat for a feast, but she dares not think about seafood. 

Space for fish and pork is sufficient, but other meats are scarce, so it’s still necessary to enrich them. 

Jiang Ning thinks of finding an opportunity to go. Although there’s not much space left, stocking enough for three people and a dog to eat until they die is still not a problem. 

But what Huo Yishen says next sends shivers down her spine. 

“Extreme heat disasters may cause the polar ice caps to melt, ancient viruses are highly likely to contaminate the oceans, and collisions of tectonic plates may also destroy coastal nuclear power plants, causing nuclear leaks and radiation.” 

Jiang Ning’s mind buzzes. “…” 

Things like nuclear radiation are just Huo Yishen’s speculation. By that time, he was already dead, so it’s unclear whether it happened or not. 

But at this point in the disaster, one must prepare for the worst. 

Jiang Ning shivers all over. “So, not only do we need to stockpile, but we need to stockpile a lot more?” 

If oceanic life becomes contaminated and mutated, human food will become even scarcer. 

If there’s a chance, they need to stockpile as much as possible. Besides feeding themselves, they can also use it for trading. 

Although they’re not worrying about food and drink now, just eating and drinking is not enough to survive. 

If they really survive until the day of the great collision of tectonic plates, when the sea turns into land and the land collapses and sinks, what’s the use of the stocked cars? 

So, they still need to continue to equip themselves. 

The most urgent task is to expand the space so they can embark on another crazy hoarding journey. 

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