Chapter Eight: Minus Fifty Degrees, Jiang Xi Burns with Fever

They were already living on the edge of survival, so when they heard this, the residents’ online group split apart again. Some condemned the behavior of moving in without paying, while others kept begging for thick blankets, heavy coats, and fuel.

But the property manager retorted: “If you’re so capable, go out and protest to the authorities yourself.”

Jiang Huan had none of these worries.

Because she had gathered so many supplies, Jiang Huan’s apartment was equipped with battery-powered electric heaters—when one ran out, she swapped in another. While awake, she relied on charcoal braziers and hot water bottles. The indoor temperature hovered around minus ten degrees Celsius, just barely tolerable.

At minus thirty-eight degrees, the roads and outdoor facilities were frozen solid, the windows were coated with white frost. If you set a steaming bowl of noodle soup by the vent, it would freeze into a block of ice in two minutes.

Before long, Jiang Huan discovered her phone wouldn’t turn on. She simply got up and started roasting potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. Jiang Xi sniffed the air and came over to wait.

Soon, the potatoes were done. She carefully peeled them, revealing the pale yellow flesh. Their texture was delicate, slightly dry, but the rich aroma of grain filled the air.

After eating their fill and drinking hot milk for breakfast, the siblings went to exercise by climbing the stairs.

This time they reached the first floor and found a group of residents gathered there, burning charcoal for warmth and chatting. Apparently, the supplies distributed yesterday had eased everyone’s anxiety a little.

Someone mentioned they had a relative working at the water plant.

“Anyone who goes out to work comes back either frostbitten or dead from hypothermia. Same with the power station—nobody dares to go out and repair water pipes or power lines now. Until the weather warms up, forget about water or electricity.”

“My god, if I’d known, I would’ve gone back to the countryside this year. At least there’s always firewood stocked up, and my old home has a heated brick bed. These spring mattresses are useless for warmth.”

As they chatted on, their conversation suddenly caught Jiang Huan’s attention.

“Boss, I remember you still have a batch of unsent thermal blankets in your warehouse. Bring them back and help everyone get through this,” an employee-looking man suddenly pressed his boss.

“Yes, Mr. Qiu, aren’t you in the outdoor camping and adventure business? Sell us some camping stoves and solid alcohol! This isn’t the countryside; none of us have fuel stored up. We can’t even get a cup of hot water now.”

Their words drew the attention of the other people huddling for warmth, and soon everyone was pleading with him to bring the supplies.

The scholarly-looking Mr. Qiu pushed up his glasses and remained silent, but someone immediately started cursing: “Have you no conscience? We’re all freezing to death, and you just sit there—if someone dies, will you take responsibility?”

What had been a warm scene of camaraderie instantly turned into a trial—a coercion.

All eyes fixed on Mr. Qiu. He coughed a few times before finally replying.

“In a disaster, unity is the only way through. Here’s what we’ll do, Xiao Wu—I’ve caught a cold and can’t go out. I’ll give you the keys to the storage, you go get the stuff, and I’ll sell everything at cost, not a cent more.”

Seeing how generous Mr. Qiu was, everyone turned to look at Xiao Wu, the one who’d made the initial suggestion.

“That’s right, young man, you know the way—just bring the things back, and I’ll pay you for your trouble.”

“Yes, please, do us this favor. We’ll always remember your kindness.”

But the employee who spoke up first fell silent, got up, and tried to leave.

Liu Ling rushed out and said that if someone could provide a car and fuel, she and her boyfriend would make the trip, but the location had to be clearly marked. In exchange, she wanted five blankets for free.

“Deal!” Mr. Qiu agreed and spoke with Liu Ling privately for a moment.

Jiang Huan watched all of this in silence, then continued climbing the stairs with her brother.

By lunchtime, the siblings were eating when Liu Ling and her boyfriend returned, shivering so much their bodies were stiff and their faces ghostly pale.

After taking their share of blankets, they warmed up in their apartment for a long time before fearfully posting in the group chat.

“It was terrifying—absolutely terrifying! It’s freezing out there. Our car stalled on the way back and wouldn’t start for ages. We nearly froze to death!”

“Five blankets for free—what’s a little hardship compared to that?” someone grumbled, apparently annoyed that Liu Ling got something for nothing.

“Why didn’t you go then? I’m telling you, several groups tried to hitch a ride or steal our car on the way. I even saw someone with a gun—shot a man dead right in front of us! If I’d known how dangerous it was, I’d never have gone. I almost died out there!”

“Tch.” The complainer let it go.

“What, someone was shot? Where are the police?”

“In this cold, I doubt they can do much.”

“Ahhh, my battery’s dead! I’m in Building 3, unit 1802—anyone want to trade a power bank for bread?”

“I’ll trade!” someone replied, but got no answer.

Liu Ling kept repeating that she’d never go out again. The group, grateful for the help, heaped praise on Mr. Qiu and Liu Ling, perhaps hoping their flattery would convince them to help again in the future.

The temperature dropped to minus forty, and everyone thought it couldn’t get any worse. But after a night’s sleep, nature showed what “colder than cold” really meant.

Boiling water tossed outside turned to ice chips before it hit the ground.

“Minus fifty!” someone screamed in the group chat, sounding on the verge of a breakdown.

“I’ve got frostbite, I’m dizzy, my ankles have turned blue—I think I’m going to die!”

No one tried to offer reassurance or talk of rescue now. A few people tagged Liu Ling, asking her to share some of the supplies she’d gotten earlier, but she cursed them out soundly. It seemed by now, everyone understood the true value of supplies.

Jiang Huan split some of the special long-burning camping wood she’d bought, added a couple more logs, and tucked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and chestnuts into the fire. Jiang Xi, bundled in his fluffy hat, waited patiently for them to cook.

This kind of cold made survival ten times harder. People who’d grown complacent thanks to earlier supplies were now rationing themselves to one meal a day. Even the property managers had no idea when the next delivery might come.

That day, a cleaner and a manager from the building died. Every resident on the first floor froze to death—no survivors. Countless others in the complex suffered frostbite or collapsed from the cold.

Several people died in just one day. Even Xiao Xi began coughing repeatedly.

Jiang Huan was frantic, running in circles—the hot water and insulation should have been enough, so how could he still have gotten sick!

She fed him pills and cough syrup, but they had little effect.

Memories of her brother from her previous life, barely clinging to life, flooded over her. She clutched her head, desperately searching for a solution.

The box! Of course!

She still had more than ten thousand points! Forget about saving them for later—Jiang Huan immediately opened the redemption device and exchanged her points for one large trunk, five medium boxes, and a small box. In the blink of an eye, her points dropped to eighty.

She started with the large box—heaven help her—and drew out a thermal suit that automatically fit to the wearer’s size, keeping their body temperature at thirty-five degrees.

“Get up, Xiao Xi. Be good and put this on.”

Dazed and feverish, Jiang Xi let his sister dress him in the thin, temperature-regulating suit. He hadn’t even put on his thick clothes, and already he felt infinitely better, the cold finally banished.

Tears still clung to Jiang Huan’s lashes as she hurried to open the medium boxes.