According to her memories from her previous life, the so-called "construction work" was actually just recruitment for building the base. But those who went rarely came back unscathed. Losing a hand or a leg was considered lucky. Many never returned at all. There was some compensation, sure, but in the apocalypse, even that little bit of money stood out like a target on your back. It was better not to go at all.
Huang Jinghe didn't even get the chance to ask his parents. He was shot down immediately. His father and mother refused without hesitation. Once he left, who would guard the supplies they had stored up? How could anyone feel at ease leaving the house unattended?
More importantly, they knew better than anyone how brutal physical labor like that could be. Their son was still young. They truly didn't want Huang Jinghe to suffer injuries. If something happened, it would be too late to regret it.
So even before the recruitment notice officially came out, Huang Jinghe's hopes were already dashed by his parents.
[Huang Jinghe]:I'm not going. My parents won't let me.
[Lan Jin]:Good. They're right. We have so many supplies at home. If you're not around and someone breaks in, we'd lose everything. Working out there for a day might earn you a few packs of instant noodles at best. Staying home is much safer.
[Huang Jinghe]:Sister Lan, you sound just like my parents. At first, I didn't get it either. But then I thought about it. Even when I was home, people still tried to break in. If I'm not here, it'll be even worse. So yeah, I gave up on the idea.
It was a good thing he listened. No matter what his parents' original motivations were, the important thing was that Huang Jinghe stayed.
As for the base, Lan Jin remembered that in her previous life, the base in J City was completed about half a month before the end of the insect disaster. For the last two weeks, the workers had tried to convince the residents to move there, offering food in exchange.
Having a base to settle in sounded great. But in her past life, the base only finished construction after six months of poisonous fog and another month and a half of insect swarms—almost eight months in total.
This time, though, the poisonous fog period had clearly shortened. If the insect disaster wasn't extended to compensate, it meant the three-month rainy season would arrive earlier. That would make the base unsafe.
It wasn't that the base was poorly built. The problem was the flooding. During the rainy season, floodwaters rose up to the 18th floor. The base wasn't built high enough to withstand that level of flooding.
In her past life, countless residents were injured or killed. And unless something major changed, the outcome this time would likely be the same. So whether it was building or moving into the base, none of it was truly worth it.
Of course, no one else knew this. Most people were still excited about the recruitment. Lan Jin wasn't about to go around spoiling their hopes.
She didn't plan on warning anyone either.
After passing the recruitment, the selected workers were picked up by vehicle that same afternoon.
Just like in her previous life, workers were sent out in waves, then returned in waves. Over the span of a few days, people came and went.
Life wasn't easy for those workers. But truthfully, life for those who stayed behind in the residential community wasn't much better.
The insect plague spread fast. At first, everyone was just irritable. But as time dragged on, more problems followed.
The bites from the mutated insects caused red swelling, oozing sores, pus, and in the worst cases, flesh began to rot. And that was just the beginning. Fever, seizures, and worse came next.
J City was drowning in chaos. The soaring heat, the insect outbreak, and the growing number of patients created a full-blown crisis.
Treatment?
Forget about it. There was no such thing as quick treatment in times like this.
Prevention, though, was simple.
No matter how much the bugs had mutated, they were still just oversized versions of what they used to be. Spray some insecticide at home and you could avoid most of them. For bites, just dab on floral water or medicated oil to reduce swelling. Over time, the wounds might not heal completely, but at least they wouldn't get worse.
But...
There was none left.
No insecticide. No mosquito coils. Not even any dried wormwood leaves.
These weren't essentials. If anyone had any leftover from last year, it was just by chance. Even those who had stocked up with a bottle or two had long run out. After more than a month of infestation, how could anything be left?
Once everyone realized how important these things were, the supermarkets started putting them back on shelves.
But now they required contribution points to buy. And the prices? Outrageous. Most people didn't even bother trying.
Lan Jin wasn't worried, though. She had mosquito nets at home, not to mention insecticide. She had nothing to fear from the bug problem.
...
In this constant state of anxiety, a month passed in the blink of an eye. It was now November.
According to her memory, the insect disaster should have ended two weeks ago. But not only had it not stopped, it seemed to be getting worse. And the outdoor temperature had reached frightening levels.
The thermometer on Lan Jin's balcony showed 71 degrees Celsius outside. Indoors, it had risen above 40, even with the air-cooling fan running. Other homes without such devices must have been unbearable. Outdoor work was officially banned, but construction on the base never stopped.
Because of the extreme heat, many workers collapsed from heatstroke.
At least with major injuries, you could see the person come back. With heatstroke, some never did.
The nearby lake had shriveled into a pit. The river had also dropped far below its usual levels.
Just a few months ago, they had worried about floods. Now they were worrying about drought. Of course, that was more a figure of speech. Rivers didn't dry up so easily.
But with the heatwave dragging on, water and electricity restrictions were back on the table.
This time, though, it was different.
Before, electricity had no limits. Water was only supplied in the morning and evening.
Now, both were completely shut off. If you needed water, you had to bring a bucket and collect it yourself.
That's right. No running water, no power. And there was no telling when either would be restored.
The water distribution site was at the canteen entrance, where a new tap had been installed.
Guards were assigned to monitor it. Households came one by one. No matter how many people lived in your home, each household was only allowed one bucket per day. A standard 6-liter bucket. That was it. Use it however you like. It wouldn't be enough, but it was all you'd get.
People grumbled, of course. But no one dared complain openly. If they caused trouble, they'd lose even that one bucket. Then their only choice would be bottled water. And in times like these, no amount of contribution points could justify that kind of waste.
Still, some complaints had to be voiced.
People could deal with carrying water. But power cuts were another story.
It wasn't just the heat. Without electricity, the elevators stopped working.
How were residents supposed to carry heavy water buckets upstairs?
People on lower floors gritted their teeth and managed. But those on higher levels? No way.
"Seriously, can't they think about us folks living higher up? That 33rd floor is a death sentence. Add in the wait time and this heat? Someone's gonna die."