198 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

In March, the weather should have been cool, yet the area around the first district was unusually hot. The temperature had risen to about 28 degrees Celsius. Chen Wan and Jiang Yan Xin took the little one out for some sunbathing. Cai Cai was so cozy in the sunlight that he nearly fell asleep in Chen Wan's arms. Looking at Cai Cai's small face, Chen Wan chuckled softly, "My little treasure, I brought you out to play, how come you're already ready to sleep?" "The sun is just too comfortable." Cai Cai squinted and snuggled against Chen Wan, preparing to take a nap in her arms with his tiny belly sticking out. With no other choice, Chen Wan continued to stroll with the little one in her arms. Jiang Yan Xin was starting to sweat after a short walk. She gazed at the blazing sun, growing somewhat concerned, "Chen Wan, do you think this weather's a bit unusual? It's March, and this hot weather in the north isn't normal. Usually, around this time, it's still below freezing in the north." While holding Cai Cai, Chen Wan replied, "It is unusual. My fear is that it might become like in Beijing, where we were snowed in. This time we might get dehydrated from the heat instead." "But there should be meteorologists at the base. Cao Wei and they will figure something out," Jiang Yan Xin mused. "Yeah," Chen Wan nodded in agreement, looking at the little one sleeping belly-up, his short legs swaying contentedly. Chen Wan shook her head with a laugh. "He has it easy, carefree and worry-free, just eating and sleeping." "Indeed. I hope Yangyang can stay this lively and adorable. Hopefully, by the time she grows up a bit more, the apocalypse will be over," Jiang Yan Xin said with gentle eyes fixed on the little one, speaking wistfully. "It will. Our baby is the most blessed," Chen Wan said, looking at the child in her arms, shaking her head with a chuckle. Meanwhile, Cao Wei was having the meteorology experts at the base conduct a series of tests on the unusual weather. Their conclusion was that the temperatures around the first district and nearby cities would continue to rise, potentially reaching 50 degrees Celsius. Clearly, such extreme temperatures were beyond what humans could survive. Shang Nuan asked nearby, "Commander, should we relocate to another place or start planning to build underground storages?" Cao Wei nodded and, after pondering for a moment, said, "Relocating is an option, but moving to another city brings its own dangers. It's better to expand the largest underground garage here to accommodate all our people and resources. Shan Nuan, this concerns the survival of the entire first district, so you'll oversee it personally." "Yes," Shang Nuan received the order, then found a few people in the base to discuss the expansion of the underground garage. She then turned to Chai Guan Feng, saying, "Commissar Chai, take a team to gather supplies these days and stockpile as much as possible." "Certainly. I'll try my best to bring back all the food from the nearby villages and towns," Chai Guan Feng replied. In the following days, the first district began the expansion of the underground garage in earnest. Located two levels below ground, it was barely affected by the sun and served as a great shelter from the heat. Chen Wan and others continuously assisted Commissar Chai in searching for supplies. The weather grew hotter by the day, and within a week, the ground temperature had reached 32 degrees Celsius. The underground garage’s expansion continued, with Cao Wei personally working with residents to dig soil, carry bricks, and build a massive reservoir inside the garage. After a week of searching for supplies, Chen Wan, and Chai Guan Feng joined the effort to dig the underground garage. It took another two weeks, but finally, the garage was almost complete by the time the ground temperature surged to 40 degrees. Everyone moved their supplies and makeshift beds into the garage. Chen Wan and Cao Wei even requested to bring their RVs down since they couldn't withstand the prolonged high temperatures above ground. Chen Wan and her group's beds were placed together, making it easier to look after each other. With the scorching weather outside, everyone in the first district felt a little anxious, unsure of how long it would stay this hot. The only one unfazed was the little one in Chen Wan's arms, happily playing as always, even getting a few of the aunties to play train with him. Compared to the unbearable heat above ground, the underground temperature remained a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius, neither hot nor cold. After moving into the garage, meal arrangements were centrally managed by the first district, essentially communal dining. Each day, about fifty people took turns preparing meals for the entire base population. When it was mealtime, area leaders notified everyone to line up with their mess kits. Cai Cai had developed a keen sense for the call to dine. Whenever their area leader came knocking, Cai Cai was the first to find his little mess kit and tug Chen Wan and Jiang Yan Xin, "Mama, Mommy, it's time to eat~" Chen Wan shook with laughter at the eager little one, grabbed her mess kit, and took Cai Cai to line up for food. In the whole base, Cai Cai was the only little one, instantly adored by everyone, who couldn't resist engaging with him. A young Alpha woman in front of Chen Wan asked teasingly, "Sweetie, how old are you this year? Why are you coming to get food all by yourself?" With one hand tightly gripping his mess kit, Cai Cai used his chubby fingers to indicate four, while his tiny mouth was still: "I'm four. Mommy says I'm a big kid now and should take care of my own things." "So cute. Would you like to come with Auntie? You won't need your mommy," the woman continued teasing. Cai Cai immediately shook his little head and wrapped himself around Chen Wan’s leg, "No, I like Mommy." "You little rascal, you do have a conscience. Didn't dote on you for nothing," Chen Wan laughed, patting Cai Cai’s head. Everyone in line found Cai Cai adorable and let Chen Wan and him go ahead to get food. Chen Wan shook her head and smiled, "It's alright, everyone is lining up. We’ll wait our turn. The little one actually enjoys waiting in line." Cai Cai nodded in agreement, clutching his mess kit. After about a fifteen-minute wait, it was finally the little one's turn. Chen Wan lifted Cai Cai and said with a smile, "Quick, give your mess kit to Auntie and tell her what you’d like. Remember, just enough to eat is fine, we shouldn't waste anything, okay?" Cai Cai nodded, obediently replying, "Okay~" "Auntie, I want some meat and rice," Cai Cai said, eyeing the mutated animal meat in the pot, with his stomach growling in response. Finding the little one adorable, the staff gave Cai Cai two extra pieces of meat and a scoop of rice, "Is that enough, little friend?" "Yes," Cai Cai replied obediently. After lining up and getting their food, Chen Wan and the little one returned to their spot to eat. Mixing the rice with the meat sauce, the little one dug in with relish. The garage had been hooked up with electricity, thanks to a solar charging panel on the surface, so power supply was sufficient. After meals, everyone took turns washing dishes by the water pool, followed by their free time. At this time, Cai Cai loved napping in Chen Wan's arms. Hugging the little one often meant Chen Wan could sleep peacefully until 4 in the afternoon. As the days went by underground, people began to feel stifled and sought entertainment. Chess and card games sprung up, and some even worked out with exercise equipment, transforming the garage into a kind of underground castle. Meanwhile, the temperature above ground kept climbing. An expedition to check the surface had Chen Wan and Cao Wei driven back by the scorching heat. In April, the ground temperature had soared to 50 degrees, making it unbearable for anyone outdoors without severe sunburn and dehydration. Furrowing her brow slightly, Cao Wei said, "Who knows when the temperature will finally drop. At these levels, going outside means certain death." Chen Wan contemplated and said, "When we were in Beijing, the odd climate meant constant snow for three months until it gradually melted. This extreme heat should be temporary too. I'm glad we built this garage well. Even in case of extreme cold or heavy snow, we have shelter. Commander, what do the experts say?" "The experts can't provide any definitive answers for now. These abnormal weather patterns are unpredictable. Let's hope our food supplies last until the weather stabilizes," Cao Wei explained. "Right, we also need to guard against disease. This kind of heat is perfect for outbreaks. I still have some disinfectants in my RV. Let's dilute some with water and sprinkle it daily," Chen Wan suggested. "Good idea. We should definitely pay attention to those areas." Chen Wan and Qin Ke fetched two crates of disinfectant from the RV and handed them to the military personnel, instructing them to regularly disinfect the surfaces to prevent any outbreaks. Meanwhile, outside the first district, the heat was as intense as a living hell. Cao Wei feared that survivors might come seeking refuge and posted notices outside several gates. The notices informed that the residents of the first district had moved underground and directed those arriving to the garage or advised them to leave the high-temperature zone quickly. However, many people barely made it to the first district before collapsing from dehydration and fainting, with many dying from the extreme heat. Fortunately, the garage had a reservoir built, as the surface water sources had long since dried up from the relentless sun. In the ensuing period, Cao Wei not only managed the other affairs of the first district but also arranged efforts to keep everyone's spirits stable. Staying underground for months could understandably lead to emotional instability. The little ones adapted well to life here, eating regularly and following the daily routine. At night, the lights were turned off uniformly, leaving only the hallway and main area lights on. Soldiers patrolled the corridors at night, ensuring the underground garage remained secure.