Chapter 10: Supplies, and the Wish to Become Stronger

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Bian Kuang looked her over carefully, as if making sure she was okay, then showed off his beloved motorcycle like it was a treasure: “This isn’t a Yamaha. Do I look like the type to buy something unpatriotic? I had a friend make this for me as a replica. It looks the same on the outside, but it’s been modified—much more agile. Today’s actually my first time riding it. If you want, I’ll lend it to you for a few days. How’s that? Generous, right? So, how are you going to thank me?”

Of course, Bian Changxi knew where this bike came from. In her previous life, he’d always gone on about the beloved motorcycle he had to leave behind in Jiangcheng. She’d heard about it so many times that it was the first thing she thought of now. Since she couldn’t get her hands on something as tough as a Hummer or a Land Rover for the time being, this was a pretty good alternative.

She rubbed her chin. “Is your friend available? Ask him to help reduce the noise a bit—it’s too harsh. Did you bring any money?”

Bian Kuang pouted, thinking to himself that a loud engine was what made a bike cool—people could hear you coming from a mile away.

Still, he did as she asked. In his eyes, his cousin must have gone through something big. It was one thing to give Bian Wei the cold shoulder, but now she’d even cut her hair like this. At this point, she was like a little empress—whatever she said, he’d go along with.

He called someone to drive the bike back for modifications, then pulled out his bank card and walked into the farmer’s market with Bian Changxi. “You said we can’t alert those people, so the only money I can use is what’s on this card—just over a hundred thousand.”

“You’re richer than me. That’s more than enough.”

They walked into a wholesale shop. Bian Changxi casually picked out a few things from the shelves and pointed: “Five cases of these compressed biscuits, twenty packs of these crackers, two cases of Master Kong instant noodles, thirty packs each of these canned beef, dried fish, salted duck eggs, marinated eggs, chicken legs, and sausages.”

The shop owner, seeing Bian Kuang looked like someone with money, happily started packing everything up. Bian Kuang tugged at Bian Changxi’s sleeve. “Why are you buying all this? Do you need this much food just to live at school?”

“I’m planning to move out. I’ve already rented a place. This is just short-term rations,” Bian Changxi explained lightly.

Bian Kuang frowned and pulled her aside to whisper, “You didn’t see that post too, did you?”

“What post?”

“That ‘Apocalypse is Coming’ post! It was posted just over an hour ago. Who knows which idiot wrote it, claiming the world would end at midnight tonight. The internet’s been roasting them. You suddenly want to move out—don’t tell me you actually believe it?”

Bian Changxi’s face darkened slightly. Awkward—turns out the “idiot” he mentioned was her.

“Yeah, I was just online for a bit,” she replied blandly, then paused, suddenly realizing—this actually works out.

She’d gone to the internet café to send Bai Heng an email, warning him about the apocalypse. Then, on a whim, she’d posted a warning online for everyone. She knew hardly anyone would believe it, but she just wanted a clear conscience. Now, it made for the perfect excuse.

Her eyes flashed as she got an idea. Lowering her voice, she said, “I hadn’t thought about it before, just wanted to live alone for a while. But now that you mention it, I’m getting a little nervous. There’s no smoke without fire—maybe that post isn’t made up. Look at how bad the flu is right now, everyone’s panicking, prices are skyrocketing. Stocking up on food can’t hurt. Oh, and I need to save some money to buy weapons. Got any connections?”

Bian Kuang’s jaw dropped. “You’re not serious, are you?”

Bian Changxi shot him a cool look. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Leaving Bian Kuang behind, she went on to buy two bags of rice, three large water jugs, five dozen bottles of water, several cases of high-fat milk, several cases of compressed bread, and a tray of eggs. This would be enough food for a few weeks. In fact, if she wasn’t worried about something unexpected happening, she’d have only bought a few days’ worth. In the early days of the apocalypse, as long as you had guts and skills, food was easy to come by.

But she had other plans for the early days—she couldn’t afford to waste time fighting others for food.

Next, she went to a seed shop and bought a packet of every seed she could find.

Bian Kuang was completely baffled. Bian Changxi explained innocently, “Doesn’t the protagonist in novels always have a farm or something? I need to be prepared.”

Bian Kuang was speechless. He asked, exasperated, “Then should we buy saplings and fish fry too? I hear those magical spaces always have mountains and rivers.”

Bian Changxi thought about it and nodded. “That actually makes sense.”

Bian Kuang: ……

In the end, they didn’t buy saplings or fish fry—too weird, and not really necessary for now.

Then she dragged Bian Kuang to an outdoor gear store, bought a few sets of lightweight, durable clothes, picked out some super-cool military-style fitted hiking outfits, plus hiking boots, backpacks, solar-powered flashlights, compasses, lighters, and so on.

Just like that, they spent over thirty thousand yuan.

With the money left, plus Bian Changxi’s own savings, they had eighty thousand left. Bian Kuang did have a way to get a kit-assembled handgun, but he absolutely refused to let Bian Changxi touch one. After some haggling, Bian Changxi settled for three genuine straight-edged knives.

One was a 20-inch rosewood-handled straight blade; the other two were silver, curved, thigh-strapped knives—all professionally sharpened by the seller.

Actually, Bian Changxi had considered it. She was already a decent shot, but bullets are consumables. In the later stages of the apocalypse, guns often weren’t as practical as cold weapons. In the early days, the military, government, and law enforcement still kept things tight, while the underworld was running wild. Carrying a gun would only bring trouble. Better to practice her knife skills and build up her strength. Besides, zombies weren’t that tough in the beginning—she could handle them.

The three knives used up the last of their eighty thousand. With a hundred-yuan bill she’d set aside in her wallet, Bian Changxi treated Bian Kuang to a hearty outdoor barbecue. Watching the tables of people chatting and laughing under the white lights, Bian Changxi squinted and smiled. “If the apocalypse really comes, we’ll never get to sit around eating barbecue so casually again.”

Bian Kuang took a swig of beer straight from the bottle and said cheerfully, “So what? As long as you want, no matter what happens or where, your big bro will barbecue for you.” Then, getting a little excited, he added, “You’ve got me all hyped up. Feels like the world really is ending tomorrow. But this big shopping spree, it’s kind of fun—like prepping for a getaway.”

Bian Changxi’s heart stirred. “This is nothing. A real prepper would have cars, fuel, and supplies counted by the warehouse-load, plus a detailed plan for surviving the end of the world. What we’re doing is just child’s play.” She paused. “Too bad—the post said the apocalypse is tonight at midnight. There’s no time to do more.”

Bian Kuang’s eyes lit up, and he fell silent for a moment. Suddenly, he said firmly, “If the apocalypse really comes, I’ll come pick you up and take you back to the family estate.”

Bian Changxi was startled. “Don’t! I’m better off on my own.”

Bian Kuang thought she was just being stubborn and wanted to persuade her, but then figured, how could there really be an apocalypse? He just shook his head at himself.

But Bian Changxi grew serious, looking up at him. “I mean it. If the apocalypse really comes—look at all the preparations I’ve made, I won’t die easily. But if I go back, you know those people can’t wait for me to die so they can split my father’s shares. I’d be safer alone! Even if they let me stay, I’d have no status, no freedom. What kind of life is that? Bian Kuang, if you really care about me, don’t come looking for me!” She paused, then added, “At the very least, wait until you’ve built up some strength. I don’t want to be looked down on with you.”

After the apocalypse, things like shares and companies would be worthless. No one would be scheming against her for those anymore, but people would be even more ruthless. The humiliation she’d suffered returning to the Bian family in her past life still stuck in her throat—she’d never go through that again.

She clenched her fist tightly. In the apocalypse, strength was everything. This time, she was determined to awaken her powers early—even if it was still the wood element, she’d walk the path of the strong.

And the jade bracelet farm—she had to develop it as quickly and thoroughly as possible. That would be her greatest asset in the apocalypse.

This time, no one would ever covet her treasures or threaten her life again!"