Lan Jin still had one lingering question. "This invitation isn't just for individuals, right? I'm bringing a child and a dog. Can both of them get in with me?"
As soon as she mentioned "child and dog," Qiao Qiao and Nana instinctively turned their heads toward Huang Jinghe. Clearly, they knew she was talking about them.
Huang Jinghe had already asked this exact question ahead of time. If not, the invitation wouldn't have been sent in the first place. "It's fine. Minors and household pets like dogs can enter the base with you. They don't need a separate invitation. Otherwise, I'd have asked for more copies."
That answer put Lan Jin at ease. If only she was allowed into the base while her child and dog were left behind, what was the point?
Now that she had the invitation and a solid stash of supplies, getting into the base when the time came shouldn't be a problem.
The Huang family had taken care of a major issue for her, and Lan Jin intended to show her appreciation—specifically to Huang Jinghe. But what would be most meaningful? At this point, what she needed most was a power supply. She had one in her space, but no matter how grateful she felt, she couldn't reveal that secret.
Luckily, the timing worked out. The supply co-op was reopening the next day, and they would definitely be selling power equipment. No matter how expensive it was, it would be worth it. Compared to the value of the invitation, it was a small price to pay.
She would just go buy it tomorrow.
The next morning, as soon as the co-op opened, Lan Jin squeezed her way inside.
Just like last time, the place was packed wall-to-wall. Everything was up for grabs, and getting anything meant fighting for it. But because there were staff stationed in every corner, even with all the chaos, nothing major broke out.
Most of the goods were the same as before, but due to the ongoing blackouts and sweltering heat, the co-op had added a variety of power generators and cooling equipment. That was exactly what Lan Jin had come for.
There was one particular solar battery panel that was especially practical. When placed by the floor-to-ceiling windows on a balcony, it could absorb sunlight throughout the day and store that energy.
It could charge and operate simultaneously or be charged for later use. Even better, the stored energy lasted a long time. One full day of charging could run her cooling fan all night without draining much power. It also ran quietly, which made it even more useful.
Of course, with that level of practicality came a steep price.
Lan Jin bought two panels. Before the apocalypse, one gold necklace would have been enough. But now, it took five to trade for just two panels.
It hurt. Of course it hurt. But the brand sold at the co-op was different from the one she had in her space. Even if she wanted to be frugal, there was no way around it.
Once she had the panels, Lan Jin left the co-op. Pricey as they were, she wasn't the only one buying them. Anyone who could afford an apartment here likely had a few gold pieces lying around. To most onlookers, what she was carrying didn't stand out too much.
She was well prepared. After stepping out of the building, she loaded the panels onto a small cart and began dragging them home.
Maybe it was because the panels were too eye-catching, but she hadn't gone far when an elderly woman suddenly approached her with a wide smile and called out, "Hey, girl, wait a sec!"
The old woman's voice was loud and sharp, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Lan Jin glanced at her briefly but didn't stop walking. There was something too eager, too forced, in that grin.
When Lan Jin ignored her, the woman quickly stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
Her face changed instantly. Gone was the kind, warm expression. In its place was a scowl full of hostility and resentment.
Lan Jin's heart skipped. Was this woman trying to scam her? She had no interest in arguing with an elder. In a crowd like this, it didn't matter who was in the right. Just a few twisted words and the blame could fall on her. Better to avoid confrontation entirely.
So, Lan Jin took a step back with a startled expression, pretending she'd been shocked. Then she faked a stumble, twisted her foot, and fell straight to the ground. While falling, she held onto her battery panels tightly, keeping them from getting even a scratch. She even let out a perfectly timed cry of pain.
"Ow!"
The fall looked convincing. Her movements were smooth and natural. Unless someone had been watching closely from the start, they wouldn't notice anything unusual.
The cry caught everyone's attention.
A fierce-looking older woman and a young woman crumpled on the ground—anyone witnessing the scene immediately assumed the worst.
Before the elderly scammer could speak, another woman about her age rushed over to help Lan Jin. She reached out, trying to pull her up.
Lan Jin pressed down on her own arms and refused to budge.
Of course she couldn't let them help her up. If she got up too quickly, how could she keep up the pitiful act?
Looking at her fragile and helpless expression, the old woman looked completely baffled. "I didn't do anything!"
The other woman wasn't buying it. "If you didn't do anything, why were you glaring at her like that?"
"I wasn't glaring. She fell on her own! It had nothing to do with me, I swear!"
But no one was convinced.
"I didn't touch her. She threw herself down. She's trying to scam me!"
The old woman started stamping her feet in frustration. But anyone with a memory would remember—she had pulled this same stunt last time the co-op opened.
Back then, it was reversed. She was the one lying on the ground, while someone else was the supposed "offender" who had ended up apologizing and giving up quite a few goods just to settle the matter.
Things had been pretty boring lately. So even the smallest drama quickly drew a crowd. It didn't take long for someone to recognize her.
"Hey, I know you. Last time the co-op opened, you were the one lying on the ground."
"That's right! Now that you mention it, I remember her too."
The group looked at Lan Jin. Whether her fall was real or not, the scammer definitely had a history. Last time must've been more fake than anyone thought. The crowd grew thicker, and the murmuring louder.
Then the last victim suddenly pushed forward through the group. He pointed at the old woman and said, "She's faking it! Don't believe her. Last time she scammed a bunch of stuff out of me. Girl, I think she saw you buying those battery panels and thought she could pull the same trick again. Guess she didn't expect to mess up and hurt you instead. You okay?"
Lan Jin kept up her delicate act, waving weakly. "I'm fine. Just need a minute to get up. Really, it's okay."
But she didn't move.
With two other women standing by her side and the crowd's judgment already turned against the old woman, the scammer realized she wasn't going to win this time. She spun around and tried to escape.
Too bad the place was packed with people.
She pushed and shoved for a while before finally breaking through by slamming into a young girl, carving a narrow path. Without looking back, she disappeared into the crowd.