The scorching sun hung high in the sky—this was the last day to see the sun before the apocalypse.
For the 17th consecutive day, Jing Shu’s family arrived at the Aijia Supermarket. Since the day before yesterday, S-shaped queue barriers had been set up at the entrance, and the lines stretched all the way to the parking area, filled with people waiting. As a few people exited, a few were allowed in, maintaining order inside the supermarket to prevent chaos.
Jing Shu’s family had been in line for over half an hour and still hadn’t passed the security checkpoint.
“Mom, let’s skip collecting the rice and go home. It’s winter, but it’s 30 degrees Celsius. The sun is harsh, and with so many people, the air isn’t circulating. Look, several elderly people have already suffered heatstroke,” Jing Shu’s father said, wiping his sweat. They were surrounded by people in line. Fortunately, his daughter had the foresight to bring two high stools for the grandparents, drawing envious and jealous glances from those around them.
“It’s the last day to collect free rice. Hang in there a bit longer; once we’re inside the supermarket, there will be air conditioning,” Grandma Jing said. Aside from feeling hot, she was in good spirits. She found it strange; she could feel her body getting better and better.
As for Grandpa Jing, he was happily chatting with a young man in his twenties.
Grandpa Jing: “I can chat up a storm with anyone, just not with my son.”
Jing Shu closed her eyes and was juicing pomegranates in her space. In her hand, she held a large cup of chilled watermelon juice, sipping continuously through a straw. Jing Shu’s father remarked that she’d been drinking for half an hour and hadn’t finished yet, making him envious. Jing Shu stuck out her tongue and then handed it over for her father to finish.
Another ten minutes passed before the family finally passed the security check and entered the supermarket. Inside, it was crowded with people; since it was Saturday, entire families had come out. There were people inquiring about prices, chatting idly, children crying for snacks, and when they ran into acquaintances, they’d stop to chat. The supermarket loudspeaker was playing a recording urging people to leave quickly after shopping.
At this moment, people’s faces still carried relaxed smiles. They planned to buy a bit more grain on the last day to stock up. After collecting their free rice, most would carry another five or six bags of rice.
With the 500-yuan purchase limit on grain, they could buy six or seven 10 kg bags of regular rice. For an average family with vegetables and snacks, occasionally eating out or ordering takeout, a 10 kg bag of rice could last several months.
Buying six or seven bags seemed sufficient for a year in most people’s eyes. But without side dishes, vegetables, fruits, and snacks, grain would be consumed very quickly.
The supermarket had signs saying: “All items are available without quantity limits!” They were confident, but the prices weren’t low.
Long queues lined up in the pork, beef, and mutton sections. Prices had been rising daily, and people feared that if they waited a few more days, they wouldn’t be able to afford it, so they wanted to buy several kilograms more.
Prices in the seafood section have also risen significantly. After all, buying live ones to keep at home meant they could have fresh seafood anytime over the next half-month.
Logically speaking, the disappearance of sunlight for a month would have little impact on meat and seafood. But as vegetables decreased and prices soared, demand naturally shifted to meat, seafood, and even side dishes and snacks. With increased demand, prices naturally rose accordingly.
Snack foods had increased by about 10%; even instant noodles were a few cents more expensive.
There were even more people in the vegetable section; everyone was buying baskets full. But no matter how much was taken, it would be replenished instantly. The state had prepared several months in advance, cracking down on corruption for months, to prevent shortages when people hoarded grain, and to stop merchants from price gouging and causing market chaos, which could lead to panic and collapse.
“It’s better to channel than to block. Every time we Chinese face a disaster, we like to hoard grain, right? Then let them hoard and hoard, until they feel secure. When they see that, no matter how much they buy, supplies remain abundant as usual, people will naturally feel at ease.”
There was an entire warehouse just for Chinese cabbage; people were buying it by the sacksful. Cabbage is filling, lasts a long time, and is nutritious, so naturally, many people buy it.
“These heartless profiteers! A single Chinese cabbage costs 12 yuan now; it was only 2 yuan before,” Grandma Jing exclaimed. She couldn’t read, but at least recognized the numbers.
“Didn’t they say price gouging was prohibited?” Grandpa Jing watched the news daily, which said such things should be reported.
Jing Shu’s father shook his head. “Vegetable prices have been rising over the past ten days. The daily price increase is within the normal range—going up a few cents or a yuan each day, and it adds up. Just watch; prices will be even higher in a few days.”
Twelve yuan is really cheap; in a few months, even a thousand yuan might not buy one.
After collecting the rice, they wandered around the supermarket. Firstly, there were too many people, and checking out would take a long time. Secondly, they found there wasn’t much worth buying. So Jing Shu’s family went home to help Grandma and Grandpa Jing pack up; the elderly couple was going to stay at Third Aunt Jing Lai’s home for a few days.
In reality, it was to separate Jing Shu’s father and grandfather for a while…
The elders lived through times of famine. A few days earlier, they had called the three aunts, urging them to store more grain, grow more vegetables, and be prepared. If it didn’t snow in winter, next year’s harvest wouldn’t be good, and grain prices would rise.
Eldest Aunt Jing Pan said she lived in a town, had vegetables growing at home, and recently exchanged apples for a batch of grain. She asked when Grandma Jing would return home so she could bring some grain over.
Second, Aunt Jing Zhao said she also wanted to stock up more but lacked money.
With the speakerphone on, Grandma and Grandpa Jing felt very awkward; Jing Shu’s whole family was listening. After hanging up, Jing Shu’s father had Jing Shu transfer 100,000 yuan. There was no other way; the money Jing Shu’s father got from withdrawing his shares had been borrowed by Jing Shu to buy gasoline and other supplies.
Third, Aunt Jing Lai was temporarily staying in a two-bedroom apartment in Wucheng with her daughter. She had been going on big shopping trips every day, saying she bought enough for Grandma and Grandpa Jing too, inviting them to stay.
“Grandma, Grandpa, after staying a few days, please come back home.”
“Alright, alright. After the Dark Days are over, we still have to help you with your live-streaming. We’ve been staying here for so long; we should go see your third Aunt and your cousin Wu Youai,” the elderly couple said. They packed simple luggage, brought along a few jars of pickled vegetables and canned food, and Jing Shu’s father sent over the spicy beef jerky.
Jing Shu also packed some herbal jelly mixed with diluted spiritual spring water for the elders to eat a little each day. In this life, they lived nearby, and with the spiritual spring water improving their bodies, they wouldn’t pass away due to hunger or illness.
In the now-empty villa, only Jing Shu was left, rocking on a lounge chair by the fishpond. Jing Shu’s father had set up a sunshade umbrella. Jing Shu drank shaved ice yogurt while basking in the sun, occasionally tossing fish food and watching the fierce fish scramble for it… truly enjoyable.
Perhaps this was really the last time in her life to see the sun.
Jing Shu felt a bit melancholic. She lay there until the sun set, then completely closed the tempered glass cover to prevent dust that night. After taking many photos as mementos, she went to cook dinner. The meal was chicken stewed with shiitake mushrooms, braised kelp with black pork ribs, and stir-fried romaine lettuce—a generous amount that the family finished completely.
Jing Shu’s mother had been in a low mood these days and went to bed early. Jing Shu thought it must be that Yu Cainai was giving her trouble at work again.
Jing Shu’s father freed his hands by putting the pots and bowls into the automatic dishwasher. He praised Jing Shu’s thoughtfulness daily; otherwise, it would have been his chore.
After one last check of the water source, food, and poultry, Jing Shu began an all-night practice with her Rubik’s Cube space. She couldn’t sleep; in this life, she wanted to witness the arrival of the apocalypse.
Later, people designated January 1, 2223—the day when the sun disappeared—as the first day of the apocalypse.
—
Author’s Note:
Reached 9th place, adding 4 extra chapters! If we reach 8th place, we’ll add 5 chapters~ Let’s charge ahead with recommendation votes!
Translator thought: Thank you so much for visiting the site and reading the story. If you would like to support my translation you can buy me a cup-ontea. You can also help by shopping in our store or watch the youtube video to get more traction to the website. If you can’t wait to read the next chapter why not subscribe to our monthly plan, you will get 15 chapter every month for $35.
