Chapter 26: 2 Days to the Apocalypse

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: 2 Days to the Apocalypse Chu Miao and her brother came back at 4.00 pm with the trunk of their cars and back seats full of supplies. Other neighbors were the same so they did not appear inconspicuous. It took them three trips to move all the supplies to the 20th floor. On their last trip down, a buff-looking man entered the elevator on the eighteenth floor. It was easy to tell he was a soldier from his posture. "Hello." The soldier greeted them upon entering the elevator. "Hello." "Hello." The siblings answered in unison. Then the elevator fell silent. The soldier kept looking at the two through the metal walls discreetly, but since they were cultivators, they knew but pretended not to. Once the elevator arrived at the ground floor they all walked out. The soldier went to the parking lot to get his car while the siblings headed to the front of the building where their cars were parked. As they walked, Chu Miao asked with a puzzled gaze, "Why was he looking at us like that?" Chu Hao answered as he arrived at his car and opened the trunk to take the remaining supplies. "He is a soldier. It is their nature to investigate everything they come into contact with. He meant no offense." "I know he didn’t mean to offend us, but is this building filled with soldiers? When Mom and I came to check the renovation, we saw three others moving boxes." "Maybe they have some insider information too and chose to live here. But it’s better to have them as neighbors than having troublesome civilians." "Mom said the same thing." By now they were already making their way back to the elevator and headed upstairs. Inside the apartment, the two siblings, together with the butler and their grandfather, started to sort out the supplies they bought and arrange them in the store room or the kitchen. It took the four an hour to finish everything. While packing vegetables into vacuum bags, Chu Miao suggested going out again the following day, "We can do some last-minute shopping tomorrow. Even though we bought a lot today, we are a family of six and will use many things and eat more food. So to avoid other people’s scrutiny when they see us living comfortably, it’s better to show them that we bought a lot." Grandpa Chu felt that the suggestion made sense. "Bunny is right, we are not afraid of others causing trouble, but it’s better to avoid it when possible." Even though Chu Hao felt that they were being too cautious, he still supported whatever his sister said. "Then we can buy more food, snacks, and water tomorrow. By the way, did mom buy charcoal burners when she went to the village?" The butler, who had been quiet all this time, answered, "She bought ten charcoal burners, and while I was on my way to buy sawdust, I found a metal works shop and bought ten more. Their quality is better since they are handmade and used copper instead of steel." "That’s good. We can buy two more LPGs, just for show, but they can be used without touching our stock." Once Chu Hao said that, Chu Miao also thought it was a good idea. "Why don’t we let Daddy buy the LPG? He can buy them early and move them upstairs. Many people were still moving around at that time and would see him. For those who had not bought any, they might get inspired and go buy their own. Doing it earlier gives others the time to go out and get their own. It might even give the idea of buying other types of fuel before evening." "Mmm.. I’ll tell your father to do that. Those with working brains will go buy their own if they see him." Grandpa Chu said as he placed the last broccoli in a vacuum bag. "Grandpa, did you warn Grandpa Li and the other grandpas to stockpile supplies and move to high-rise buildings?" "Yes, I did. Your grandpa Li already moved this afternoon. He’s in the same community as us." "That’s good, at least they took it seriously." The following day, Chu Miao and Chu Hao went shopping again, and like the previous day, they returned home with a full harvest in the evening. Now they were ready for the apocalypse. Even though it would not be easy, the family believed that they would live well and support the survival of humanity. In the lower apartments in the same building, by 6.00 pm Ye Xuan called a meeting with his brothers to confirm if there were other people they needed to protect so they could bring them over. However, most of them were orphans recruited into the army and those who had families thought it was better for their family members to stay together as there were powerful people to protect them. Even though Ye Xuan had not said anything but just instructed them to buy as many supplies as possible over the last few days, something serious was about to happen. Their major was not an alarmist, and for him to emphasize the importance of the supplies bought and secrecy couldn’t be a good thing. Especially because they had gone as far as to smuggle weapons. Something that went against their principles as protectors of the country. "It’s good that everyone is here. We will all stay here to await whatever is coming. It would be better if no one leaves the building for the time being." Ye Xuan started to address his brothers. "Yes major, but do you know what is happening? Even though the government has been urging people to stockpile supplies and stay indoors, they haven’t really said what is going on." One of the more serious soldiers, Jing Xian posed the question in everyone’s mind. "That’s right, I have come across a few posts on the internet claiming that the apocalypse was coming, but the idea sounds absurd. It seems there are many people with overactive imagination in this country." Another soldier, Li Kun added. "If you were more observant you would realize that those posts are not just in our country, but it is a global opinion." Ye Xuan quietened everyone. "So, it’s possible that the apocalypse is coming. But do we know what will really happen?" Jing Xian asked again "We don’t, which is why making some preparations and staying indoors is the safest choice. You all know that we have made preparations following the Chu family’s guidance. Thus, we will do whatever they do for now until we figure out what is happening." Ye Xuan finally provided a sensible explanation of why they were locked inside. That’s true; they followed the Chu family’s example, and if its members did not leave their house, then something was up.