Wang Xuemei asked again: "Is anyone selling at a high price? Sell me a few bottles."
Most people said they could not help, or that they had not managed to buy any either. Many were also seeking to purchase, because in the past two days, many had already died from the sudden outbreak of viral influenza. The disease struck fast: if not controlled on the first night, if not treated in time, it would be too late. If controlled early, it could be managed later.
The problem was that the hospitals were overcrowded, and there were rumors that the supply of medicine was running low. Who would dare gamble with their family's lives?
The Chinese people were, in some ways, quite fragile. A single stir of trouble would alert them, and they would rush to buy up everything in sight. So, as soon as the news aired, people stormed into pharmacies and supermarkets to clean the shelves. Even with ration limits in place, each person could still purchase over a dozen bottles of floral water.
This led to one group stockpiling first, while another group arrived too late to find anything left. Now, with raw material supplies cut off, manufacturers had already stopped production, and those who were desperate could only turn to scalpers at exorbitant prices.
In her previous life, because of Su Lanzhi's sharp instincts, the family had managed to grab a few bottles from the pharmacy. Later, however, it was not only the black fungus beetles that appeared but also all sorts of corpse bugs. If they had had enough floral water back then, many problems could have been avoided. That was why, in this life, Jing Shu bought several crates of medicated oil. The scent was the strongest, the most long-lasting, and where there was medicated oil, bugs would always keep their distance.
Wang Qiqi from Building 13 posted: "Here's what we'll do. It will still take a few days before the government issues vaccines or eradicates the bugs. Those who bought a dozen bottles probably won't finish them all. Let's sell the extra at three times the market price. In our group, we don't welcome neighbors who take advantage of others. I'll sell two bottles of floral water at 30 yuan per bottle."
Since Wang Qiqi, the group leader, took the lead, soon enough a few others also contributed some extra floral water.
Jing Shu thought for a moment and said: "I'll sell two bottles of medicated oil at 10 yuan per bottle."
"Thank you to all the generous neighbors. I will record the names of everyone who provided floral water and post them on the notice board." Wang Qiqi took responsibility for settling the matter, gaining not only gratitude from the neighbors but also giving some people the satisfaction of doing good deeds. Her methods were a direct copy of what she had learned from national television.
As for what kind of person Wang Qiqi truly was, Jing Shu could not yet say. She decided she would need to keep observing.
Even though most households in the community had managed to get some floral water, some careless families still suffered infestations of black fungus beetles. That very night, entire families came down with viral influenza.
Meanwhile, Su Lanzhi was watering her favorite apricot tree in the villa. From time to time, she picked one, cracked it open with a crisp snap, and ate the kernel inside. Then she went to the flowerhouse to nibble on strawberries, pluck some grapes and apples to place in the living room so the family always had fruit at hand. She tended the potted fruit plants, used the milking machine to gather milk, fed the pigs and chickens, watered the vegetable plots, and scattered feed for the fish in the pond.
When she really had nothing else to do, she went into the cloakroom and reorganized the clothes. She realized her prodigal daughter had truly bought every kind of clothing imaginable. For the past few days, every time she went out, she wore a full-body suit with a zipper pulled all the way up to the top of her head, two glass panels providing her field of vision. This completely prevented any contact with bugs, and it was breathable as well.
"These clothes are ridiculously expensive, this prodigal girl," Su Lanzhi muttered, though she was secretly delighted. She knew very well how others were living these days, yet her own life was even better than before. Su Lanzhi decided she must cherish this, never allow anyone to break her happiness, and above all, never let anyone learn the truth of her family's situation.
By comparing, Su Lanzhi finally realized over these past days that her life was simply too good, so good it made her anxious about being watched.
After the change in work hours, Su Lanzhi found herself more idle, but Jing An was as busy as a dog. Every day, he not only had to unclog water pipes, sweep the glass dome, spray repellents against bugs, and clean up livestock manure, but also take care of the household waste.
After the water supply stopped, although they had a storage tank, they dared not use it recklessly. Toilets could no longer be flushed. Jing Shu had bought a large supply of disposable paper-based toilet containers and cat litter. After each use, they covered it with litter.
At first, Jing An and Su Lanzhi could not accept this, but after trying it, with no smell and only one disposal needed per day, they quickly adapted.
The only problem was their daughter's habit of buying things in bulk. Each time, it was a houseful. Su Lanzhi wondered whether this flaw could ever be cured. They now had one room filled with toilet containers and another with cat litter, enough to last into the next lifetime.
Recently, Wang Qiqi had organized people to build several squat-style public toilets, now already in use. But for urination, everyone still used chamber pots at home. Just like how it had smelled at Jing Shu's uncle's house, odors were inevitable.
Still, compared to trudging through dust, sweltering heat, or freezing cold for several minutes just to use the toilet, Jing An and Su Lanzhi much preferred using the ones at home. It was also easier to clean.
After finishing all these chores, Jing An would still drive to the supermarket every day to buy some dried goods and grains. Since the basement key was with Jing Shu, it was Jing Shu who cooked each day. Jing An and Su Lanzhi only knew she had filled the kitchen refrigerator and bought some grain for her livestream cooking. They did not know how much she had really stored.
Su Lanzhi suggested stockpiling more, since their family ate so much. Jing An dutifully queued every day to bring back more. He particularly loved cracking sunflower seeds and eating almonds, so he had bought plenty of those.
Today, Jing An came back early, fully suited in protective gear, with bad news: "Starting today, all supermarkets will close for three days. From now on, their opening hours will be changed to 19:00 to 21:00, only two hours daily, to avoid the heat and viral spread."
"This black fungus beetle spreads too easily. Several young men at my unit caught it, and although they were taken to the hospital in time, the hospitals are now refusing patients. First, there is no medicine, and second, there is no space." Su Lanzhi threw Jing An's suit into the washing machine.
Every trip outside left them covered in dust. Clothes had to be washed immediately, or else the dirt would rub off onto sofas and beds. That time they had sat at Jing Shu's uncle's house for just one afternoon, the whole family's ass were black when they got home.
"On the drive today, the windshield was battered by those bugs nonstop. There are far fewer people walking outside. Why not take a leave and stop going to work? Don't other companies already have three days off?"
"That's impossible. The higher-ups said unless we die of illness, we must hold on. We are to push through 60 more days."
…
That night, Jing Shu was half asleep when her phone kept buzzing endlessly. Her hearing had become sharper, so she could not ignore it. Finally, she woke up. It was already 2 a.m., and the group chat had over a dozen unread messages. Jing Shu scrolled through them.
A message from Young Madam I Have a Baby, Building 13: "@everyone, help! Our family of three has all caught the viral influenza. Who has a car and fuel to drive us to the hospital? The emergency hotline is fully jammed. My one-year-old child is already losing consciousness!
Please, I beg you! If no one has a car, could someone at least carry my son to see a doctor? No matter how much it costs, save my child!"