Jing Pan's family was doing well, having weathered the initial storms of the collapse with a mix of luck and hard work. Back when they had lent Jing Shu's family 100,000 yuan in the old world, a sum that felt like it belonged to a different lifetime, after the apocalypse began, Jing Shu repaid them with a heavily pregnant sow. Her family knew how to manage their resources, so they immediately joined the local Livestock Breeding Center and started raising pigs with a focus that soon paid off. Their life grew better and better as they established themselves in the new economy of survival.
Besides contributing pigs that became "state-owned piglets" for the city's broader supply, they also had the original sow Jing Shu gave them, along with four sturdy piglets they had raised themselves from her first litter.
Now, food for the animals was no longer as scarce as it once had been. Feed mixed with red nematodes could raise many pigs effectively, allowing them to gain weight even in these conditions. It was not like last year, when the situation was so dire they could not even keep people alive, let alone find enough scraps to keep pigs from starving.
Still, Jing Shu thought it was worth reminding her uncle that this year they should raise even more pigs and stockpile more red nematodes while they were available. They could have them processed into concentrated feed and stored away in a dry place. There would surely come years with no harvests at all, not even of red nematodes from the damp earth. When that time came, raising pigs would be hard again, and those with stores would be the only ones to survive.
This year, while celebrating the New Year, the family planned to slaughter a pig for a massive feast and also finally hold a proper wedding banquet. Jing Pan's daughter-in-law was pregnant, her belly showing the new life within, but she felt a lingering regret that she had never had a formal wedding ceremony before the world fell apart. Since the family now had the means and the livestock to spare, they all agreed to hold one to mark the occasion.
The wedding banquet was set for February 10, 2024, which was the first day of the Lunar New Year. New Year's Eve, the time for the traditional family gathering, would be February 9.
When Grandma Jing heard the news of the upcoming celebration, her recent ailments and fatigue seemed to vanish instantly. Her eyes curved into happy slits as she smiled, her face lighting up with joy, thrilled at the thought of welcoming a new great-grandchild into the family fold.
That night's dinner was, of course, "cooked" by Jing Shu in the villa's kitchen. She pulled out her private stash from the Rubik's Cube Space, the dishes still warm and fragrant: preserved egg and lean pork congee, spicy crayfish with their shells glistening, nang-style baked meat, shredded spicy beef, pan-fried golden tofu that was soft in the center, steamed sea bass with ginger, two plates of crisp pickled vegetables, and a tall stack of homemade flatbreads.
"My daughter's cooking has gotten even better lately," Jing An said, sighing in relief as he took a bite. With his mother safe and awake, everything on the table tasted delicious to him.
Jing Shu thought about finishing off her private stash of prepared meals soon, so she could prepare more easy-to-carry and inconspicuous rations for the road. Next year, she probably would not have much time to cook elaborate meals. She had already dried many vegetables and fruits to preserve them. For the remainder of this year, she would act like a hamster and stockpile finished goods and staples. In the future, she would spend most of her time away from the villa and its comforts, making complex cooking too troublesome to manage.
Eating dinner while watching the news on the television had become a steady family habit. Today's international news covered the grim situation one month after the islands of Japan were submerged by the rising oceans. Drones shone bright beams of light from the dark sky as they passed over the vast, empty ocean where land used to be. Once-prosperous cities were now silent underwater worlds, unlikely to reemerge for many years to come.
Reports said Japan had only 10% of its population left, a small group huddled around the high ground of Mount Fuji. They were the ones wealthy enough to own private planes or secure passage, carrying what supplies and technology they could salvage. They were the last hope of the island nation, living on the edge of the peak.
America was still torn by fierce political struggles and civil unrest, now with three competing presidents all claiming legitimacy over different territories.
In Australia, a new "zombie virus" had infected cattle, threatening the total extinction of the world's beef industry as it spread through the remaining herds. The virus had jumped from zombie deer to cows and then spread even to the red nematodes in the soil. If Jing Shu remembered right from the history she knew, this was exactly how it had started in the early stages of the apocalypse: the virus spread from Australia to the rest of the world, leading to invasive species and new, terrifying evolutionary mutations.
Domestic news within China was still harmonious and focused on recovery. Some regions had even announced their special New Year welfare packages for the citizens.
This naturally led the family to discuss their own plans for celebrating the New Year and the upcoming wedding.
"This year, why do we not spend the New Year at Jing Pan's house? After all, Wei Zheng's wedding is on the first day. If we go over there early, we can help out with all the preparations," Grandma Jing suggested. She had not seen her eldest and second daughters in over half a year. She loved them all equally and wanted to see them and be part of the celebration.
Jing An turned to Su Lanzhi, his expression questioning. "We should see what your eldest brother says about the timing." He always respected his wife's opinion and deferred to her judgment on family matters.
Su Lanzhi replied, "In past years, we only gathered on the second day of the New Year anyway. This year, let us meet with my brother on the second day then too."
"Alright, then let us head over to your sisters' early. We can help out with the work, and our whole family can have a proper reunion dinner together," Grandma Jing said, beaming with joy at the prospect.
Jing Lai worried aloud as she poked at her food. "What gift should we bring to Wei Zheng's wedding? Before the apocalypse, we would simply give 3,000 yuan red envelopes for a wedding like this. But now, what can we possibly give that has value?"
"How about virtual coins? We can each give 200 of them. When the baby's full-month celebration comes later, we will add another 66 and send over some fresh eggs and poultry from our stock," Jing An suggested, thinking of what would be most useful.
Grandma Jing nodded in agreement. "Good. You can give the money. As for us, we are broke and have no coins. They mentioned they do not have proper wedding clothes for the ceremony, so I will sew them a special set myself."
"I will make them a sturdy set of furniture and a crib for the baby," Grandpa Jing added, already planning the dimensions.
"Then I will prepare the wedding bedding and quilts too!" Third Aunt said, her worry turning into a plan.
That very evening, the whole family got busy in the villa, preparing the things they would need to spend the New Year at Aunt's house.
Su Lanzhi called her eldest brother to explain they would meet on the second day of the holiday instead. Jing Shu overheard her uncle's wife on the other end of the line, her voice sounding regretful as she spoke. Their work at their location had become increasingly difficult, as more than 100,000 people had recently flooded into Xishan to escape the rising waters. The old city was already dilapidated and crumbling, and now, with so many people crammed into every available corner, every space that was not leaking water had become someone's makeshift home.
To save space and provide some form of housing, the government had salvaged old cars and converted them into tiny, cramped shelters, which were even more claustrophobic than the basements people had used before. Daytime in the shelters was bearable, but at night the cold was brutal, like ice shards stabbing into the skin.
Her uncle and aunt were completely overwhelmed with the endless tasks of managing such a dense and desperate population.
After the call ended, Su Lanzhi began packing their belongings. "We cannot just go over there empty-handed. Even though Aunt's family is doing well for themselves, they cannot feed and house all of us for days without it causing a serious strain on their own stores."
Besides the burden on their hosts, she worried that the family might not get used to the simple food served there after the variety they had at home. So she decided it was best to bring their own supplementary supplies.
This was when Jing Shu's foresight in stockpiling showed its true value.
They packed two large tins of milk powder, the lids sealed tight to keep out the humidity. The family had grown used to drinking milk, warm milk tea, or soy milk in the mornings. Something nutritious to drink was a must in their daily routine.
They packed dried vegetables like wood ear mushrooms and plenty of soybeans. Soybeans could also be soaked in water and ground for fresh soy milk whenever they wanted it.
Jars of pickles, salted cucumbers, and sour long beans were all packed neatly into a heavy container to provide some flavor to their meals.
Homemade braised dishes like pig ears, pork head meat, and chicken feet went into the large basket. Spicy rabbit chunks and savory beef jerky were ready in sealed jars to be used as snacks or side dishes. They also brought along strings of sausages, cured meats, and smoked duck, providing enough for at least one substantial meal for everyone each day.
In no time, Su Lanzhi had organized everything neatly into portable containers. Jing Shu could not help but give her a thumbs up for her efficiency.
Jing Shu also decided to bring along their own army tents, daily necessities, fresh bedding, and warm quilts. With so many guests expected at the wedding and the New Year, she knew there might not be enough beds in the house. She refused to sleep on the floor crammed in with others in a small room.
It was better to be prepared for any living situation they might encounter.
Unfortunately, the RV had not been modified yet to be fully operational for their needs. Otherwise, they could have just driven it over and lived in comfort. With the RV, they would not need to haul so much gear back and forth. But she also realized that driving such a flashy, high-tech vehicle might draw too much unwanted attention from the desperate people in the city anyway.