I Hoard Supplies and Raise a Child in the Wasteland World by Drawing Cards (GL) - Chapter 2

Since the original owner was just an insignificant simp in the book, it never mentioned that she lived next door to the female lead. Lin Ran had no idea that the woman she’d just seen was the female lead. After returning home, she took a bottle of milk from the fridge and drank it, feeling a bit more comfortable.

Soon, the workers transporting construction materials arrived downstairs, and someone called Lin Ran.

After receiving the call, Lin Ran opened her door upstairs and waited for the workers to bring in all the construction materials. Originally, she had wanted to reinforce her entire home, but firstly, time was too pressing; secondly, she didn’t have that much money left; and thirdly, the book later mentioned that Q2 Planet’s military hadn’t completely disappeared after the zombie outbreak and later established shelters in Jiangbei City. So, Lin Ran only considered her current home a temporary transition, and she might move to a shelter later.

The workers transporting construction materials entered one after another, piling all the materials in the living room.

The foreman surveyed Lin Ran’s home and discussed with her, “Miss Lin, there are a lot of things in your bedroom. Would you like us to help pack them up and move them to the living room first? Because all six sides of your bedroom need to be reinforced. After that, we’ll need to weld the steel plate framework to your house’s original rebar to ensure stability. So, we’ll need to dismantle all your custom wardrobes in the bedroom, and half of the walls and floor will need to be removed. Once all the steel plates are fixed, we’ll help restore your room to its original state. Does that work for you?”

Lin Ran nodded. “Yes, but when welding the steel plates to the rebar, don’t just weld at specific points. My requirement is full welding. Even if explosives are used, this room and the building’s original rebar cannot be separated. Can you meet this requirement?”

The foreman awkwardly smiled at Lin Ran: “Yes, you are our high-end service client, of course we can.”

The foreman, however, thought to himself that these young people were truly ill, wanting to turn their houses into impenetrable fortresses. Yet, his expression became even more amiable. If it weren’t for such “crazy” clients, how else would their company make money? After all, renovating a house like this was far more profitable than ordinary renovations.

“Then start as soon as possible. I have to go out now. I’m leaving the house to you. Remember, it must be fully welded, otherwise it won’t meet the requirements, and I won’t pay the remaining money.” Lin Ran looked at the foreman and emphasized again.

“Don’t worry, I’ll send you a WeChat video when the welding is being done, guaranteed to satisfy you. Is this your WeChat mobile number? I’ll add you and send you videos later.” Their company’s prices were high, but their service was impeccable.

Lin Ran accepted the friend request, added the foreman on WeChat, and hurried downstairs. Soon, a large truck from a supermarket drove into the residential complex.

The security guard at the complex, unsure of the situation, stopped the truck and questioned the driver, “Where are you going? Unfamiliar vehicles aren’t allowed in our complex.”

“We’re just here to deliver goods. We’ll leave as soon as we’re done. We’ll only be here for half a day at most.”

“No, that won’t do. You’re blocking the road for others,” the security guard insisted.

Lin Ran, not far away, happened to see this scene. It was indeed a case of “it’s easier to meet the king than to deal with the petty officials.”

Lin Ran secretly grumbled, then immediately received a call from the supermarket driver, “Ms. Lin, your complex’s security guard isn’t letting us in. What should we do?”

Lin Ran smiled reassuringly, “It’s fine, just wait for me there for a bit. I’ll be right over.”

“Alright, Miss Lin, please hurry,” the supermarket driver urged.

Lin Ran turned and went into a nearby convenience store. “Get me four cartons of cigarettes, these fine ones, ‘Fine Lotus,’ two packs per bag, quick!”

“Okay, coming right up!”

Lin Ran quickly scanned the code and paid. With two bags in hand, she walked towards the security booth at the entrance. Although she hadn’t lived in this world before, men, generally, loved flattery and were quite authoritarian. With the apocalypse coming soon, Lin Ran decided to endure it for now. Getting the supplies sorted out was more important than anything else.

Lin Ran walked to the barrier at the complex entrance and asked, “Hello, Uncle. I’m an owner in this complex. I just asked them to help deliver something. Can’t they come in?”

The fifty-something security guard immediately put on airs, “Of course not. Such a large vehicle driving in would affect the complex’s traffic. Tell them to drive away quickly.”

“Oh, come on, Uncle. I know you’re in a difficult position, but I really have an urgent matter at home. You’re such a good person, please be accommodating. I promise they’ll leave as soon as they’ve moved the supplies. It won’t delay anyone.” As Lin Ran spoke, she handed the black plastic bag in her hand to the security guard, deliberately revealing the two cartons of cigarettes inside.

Security guards usually earn a meager fixed salary of two thousand yuan a month and rarely get any extra benefits. Lin Ran’s two cartons of “Fine Lotus” added up to nearly nine hundred yuan. How could the security guard not be tempted?

However, because there were onlookers, he still feigned refusal: “Indeed, we’re all neighbors, and it’s right for me to help. But I really can’t accept this gift from you.”

Lin Ran smiled and tucked the items onto the security guard’s stool, “Uncle, you’re being too formal. Those are local specialties I brought from home. If you don’t accept them, it means you’re looking down on them.”

“Alright, then. It wouldn’t be good to decline your kindness, so I’ll accept them. This truck is quite large; I’ll help keep an eye on it so it doesn’t scratch anyone else’s car.”

Security guard Wang Zhichao’s tough attitude instantly reversed. He shoved the two cartons of cigarettes into the security room’s cabinet and locked it, then cheerfully helped watch the truck. There was no longer any mention of not allowing entry.

“Backup, right, a little further back…” Wang Zhichao, having received his bribe, was incredibly enthusiastic, directing the driver to back up towards Lin Ran’s building.

Lin Ran shook her head with a cold smile. Was this what they called, “money makes the world go round?”

Soon, the truck was parked, and Wang Zhichao came over with a cheerful smile to chat with Lin Ran, “Miss Lin, I have to watch over there. If you need anything, just call me.”

“Alright, thanks.” Lin Ran exchanged a few pleasantries, then handed the remaining two cartons of cigarettes in her hand to the moving workers, “Everyone’s worked hard. Share these cigarettes and help me move all the stuff into the bedroom.”

The several moving workers earned commissions, so they were naturally happy to get extra cigarettes, and their attitude towards moving the goods improved significantly.

Soon, the six workers moved the food, supplies, and other items into the side bedroom as per Lin Ran’s request, and piled all the bottled water in the study. The house was still undergoing renovation, but the two groups of people didn’t conflict; those who were supposed to move goods moved goods, and those who were supposed to dig up the floor dug up the floor.

Lin Ran stayed downstairs, watching the workers move the goods. During this time, many people came to watch the commotion.

“Lin Ran, what’s wrong? You’ve bought so much stuff at once. Are you not going to live next month?”

“Yeah, that’s too much. Can you and your dad finish it all?”

“Oh, no hurry, just store it at home and eat it slowly,” Lin Ran replied unhurriedly. As the apocalypse drew nearer, Lin Ran no longer cared if her actions seemed ostentatious. Stockpiling supplies was the priority.

When Mo Shuyu got off work, she saw Lin Ran by the entrance of the apartment building, watching movers unload things from a truck. She looked at Lin Ran curiously, and their eyes met. Lin Ran merely nodded at her, then quickly looked away, continuing to watch the truck.

Mo Shuyu looked at Lin Ran, puzzled. Was Lin Ran really no longer interested in her? That would be great. She had already blocked several “backup” partners, including Lin Ran, and deleted their WeChat contacts. Today, while working at the hospital, she received calls from those “backup” partners using different phone numbers, so Mo Shuyu simply changed her phone number as well. The world instantly became much quieter.

She only glanced at Lin Ran a few times before walking towards the building entrance. After all, what Lin Ran bought had nothing to do with her. Their current arrangement was just fine—ordinary neighbors who nodded when they met, and neither spoke much to the other.

When Mo Shuyu returned home, a pink, chubby little ball rushed to the door and hugged Mo Shuyu’s calves. “Mommy, why are you back so late?”

“Mommy went to work. Has Ruanruan been good and listened to Grandma at home?” Mo Shuyu put down her backpack and picked up the little ball.

The little ball was wearing pink kitty pajamas and a hat with pink ears, truly looking like an adorable, clingy little kitten.

Seeing her mother hug her, Mo Ruanruan obediently rubbed her little head against Mo Shuyu, cuddling, “Mommy, Ruanruan was very obedient. Did you bring me candy?”

Mo Shuyu reached out and poked the little pink ball’s forehead, laughing, “Didn’t I tell you? You can’t eat too much candy every day, or your little teeth will turn black.”

“Woo~” The little one, a bit scared, snuggled into Mo Shuyu’s arms. She still wanted candy but was worried about her teeth turning black. This really distressed the little pink ball.

Mo Shuyu found the little one adorable. She took a strawberry candy from her bag, peeled off the wrapper for Mo Ruanruan, and handed it to the little one. “You can only have one a day at most, otherwise your little teeth won’t be able to handle it.”

“Ah! Thank you, Mommy!” The little one immediately reached out with her chubby hand to take the strawberry candy, then popped it into her mouth, her eyes crinkling with happiness.

Looking at the cute little one in her arms, Mo Shuyu’s mood also brightened. The little one wasn’t her child; she was the child of her older sister and her sister’s wife. However, two and a half years ago, in a car accident, her sister and her wife both passed away, leaving only the baby.

Mo Shuyu was afraid that Ruanruan would be sad growing up without a mother or mommy, so she simply took full custody of the little one, treating her as her own daughter.

Mo Ruanruan was only three years old. Mo Shuyu didn’t plan to let such a young Ruanruan know these details, thinking it wouldn’t be too late to tell her when she grew up.

“Mom, I’m back.” Mo Shuyu called out immediately, and a woman nearing fifty came out from inside.

“Ay, Ruanruan, come to Grandma. Tell your mommy to quickly change her shoes and clothes, we’re about to eat.”

“Yay!” The little one reached out for Cheng Yanhong, obediently letting Mo Shuyu go change.