Stockpiling Supplies&Raising a Child in a Post-Apocalyptic World by DrawingCards

Chapter 6

Lin Ran then knocked on the door of 1104, where a woman answered.

Lin Ran explained her purpose directly. The woman frowned and said, "We have dinner soon, and my son needs to study afterward. How can you renovate like this? It affects my son's studies, you know?"

"Yes, I'm really sorry about that. Here's a small token of my apology. We only need two more days to finish. Can you please bear with us for a little while longer? We wouldn't trouble you if it weren't urgent," Lin Ran said, handing over the snacks.

Seeing the expensive snacks and Lin Ran's sincere attitude, the woman, Wang Wen, who had seen the snacks in the supermarket for over a hundred yuan, thought it was a fair trade. "Alright, I'll accept this. But make sure you finish quickly. A day or two is fine, but not longer."

"Don't worry. I've signed a contract with the renovation company. They'll be done by the day after tomorrow afternoon. It won't take long," Lin Ran assured her with a smile.

"Alright, I'll take it then."

"Please do. I'll be going now," Lin Ran said a few more polite words before heading downstairs.

When she got home, Lin Zhongsheng had also returned and was angry to see the workers still there. "Lin Ran, it's so late, and you're still renovating? Tell them to leave. If they disturb anyone, they'll come complaining."

"Don't worry. I've already talked to the neighbours, and they'll allow us to work until 7:30," Lin Ran said tiredly, sitting on the sofa.

"Why not continue tomorrow? You're so stubborn," Lin Zhongsheng, who hadn't eaten yet, got even angrier seeing Lin Ran not making dinner.

"Why haven't you started cooking?" Lin Zhongsheng asked.

"I'm a bit tired. I'll eat out later," Lin Ran replied calmly, feeling increasingly impatient with Lin Zhongsheng.

"What about me? And what's this stuff you've bought? Have you been going to work with all this going on?" Lin Zhongsheng asked, feeling his daughter was becoming more rebellious.

"I have, but this is more important than work. You'll understand in a few days," Lin Ran said, scrolling through her phone to find a place selling winter clothes.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhongsheng kept complaining, but Lin Ran ignored him, thinking about where to get winter clothes. Finally, she opened WeChat and contacted the person who sold her the bow.

Lin Ran: Hi, I bought a bow from you this afternoon. Do you have any winter clothes?

Outdoor Goods Seller: No, we don't have those. But if you're into wilderness survival, you already have plenty of gear.

Lin Ran: Alright, thanks.

She wanted to ask if the seller could get her a gun but decided against it to avoid trouble. Most people wouldn't dare sell such things anyway.

Lin Zhongsheng kept muttering, but seeing Lin Ran ignoring him and feeling hungry, he went to the kitchen to cook.

Lin Ran glanced at her bedroom, where the workers were welding a steel plate on the balcony and installing bulletproof glass.

She waited for over an hour, fortunately without any complaints, though some asked about it in the group chat.

At 7:30, the workers finished on time, and Lin Ran planned to stay out again. Lin Zhongsheng, angry, asked, "Where are you going again? Do you think money falls from the sky? You can't spend it like this..."

Lin Ran ignored him, grabbed her phone, and left. Even with the security door closed, she could faintly hear Lin Zhongsheng's angry shouting.

Lin Ran didn't care and took a cab back to the hotel. She planned to have a good meal and rest early. Once the apocalypse arrived, there wouldn't be much time for rest. Her wisdom tooth had improved slightly but still hurt, so she needed to get another IV drip in the morning. If her symptoms persisted into the apocalypse, it would be a major problem.

Over the next two days, Lin Ran went for her IV drip, oversaw the renovation work, and searched all over Jiangbei for winter clothes. The best she could find were slightly thicker down jackets, so she bought a few. It was better than nothing.

On the fifth day, Lin Ran went for her last IV drip in the morning, had the private hospital doctor do a final checkup, got some anti-inflammatory medicine, and then returned home.

By now, her bedroom looked brand new. Because she had paid extra, the renovation company sent more workers. The six walls of her room were securely welded to the building structure. Even the balcony glass was replaced with blast-proof glass. The room was also refloored, replastered, and repainted, with her custom wardrobe and bed restored to their original state.

The foreman explained with a smile, "Miss Lin, your room is fully renovated as per your request. The six walls are securely welded to the building. The balcony sides are replaced with blast-proof steel plates, and the windows and glass are now blast-proof as well. The solar panels occupy the sides of the windows, but you still have a clear front view. The circulating water system is also reinstalled. Let me show you how to use everything."

The foreman courteously explained how to switch between the municipal power grid and the solar panel circuit, as well as how to use the bathroom's circulating water system.

Lin Ran inspected the bathroom and saw that a large water tank had been added next to the water heater, increasing storage without taking up much space.

Next, a specialist explained how to use the blast-proof door. "Miss Lin, this door has a three-step security system. First, infrared scans your eyes. Second, it requires your fingerprint. Additionally, you need a key. Only when all three are verified will the door open. The door is blast-proof and can't be breached even with explosives."

"Alright, how do I reset the administrator settings?" Lin Ran wanted to reset the administrator access once everyone left to ensure her safety.

"I'll teach you. Let's go through it twice to make sure you understand."

The specialist patiently guided Lin Ran through the resetting process, and she recorded it on her phone.

Outside, workers were finishing up. The only task left was completing the main door. Several workers were rushing to finish.

Lin Ran felt relieved seeing her room. Although she didn't fortify the entire apartment, at least her room was secure.

Thinking about surveillance, Lin Ran recalled that in the original book, there was electricity and internet for a month after the apocalypse started. If she installed surveillance now, it should work for at least a month.

"Can your company install surveillance cameras?" Lin Ran asked the foreman.

"Of course, we're professionals in home installations," the foreman replied with a smile.

"I mean for the whole building, with a connected system where if one camera fails, the others still work," Lin Ran said calmly.

The foreman was taken aback by how much Lin Ran was willing to invest. "Miss Lin, installing cameras throughout the building might not be allowed by your property management."

"Just install two cameras at each elevator exit on each floor and one in the fire escape. I'll handle property management. I need this done by this afternoon, including cameras outside the building entrance. All cameras must have night vision," Lin Ran instructed calmly.

The foreman, who saw Lin Ran as a generous client, smiled and said, "Let me call the company and check the price."

After communicating with the company, the foreman returned. "The cost for labor and each camera is 300 yuan. For 21 floors, three cameras per floor, and additional cameras outside, plus all wiring and linking the system to your computer, the total cost is 50,000 yuan. Since you need it urgently, we need to add more workers, bringing the total to 100,000 yuan. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes," Lin Ran agreed without hesitation.

"We need the payment first before proceeding. Is that okay? If not, I can negotiate with the company."

"No need to waste time. The same account as before, right? I'll transfer the money now," Lin Ran said, using her phone to make the transfer.

"Yes, once you make the payment, we'll deliver the materials and start installation this afternoon."

"I've made the payment. Please work quickly and finish by this afternoon."

"Don't worry, Miss Lin, we'll make sure you're satisfied," the foreman said, pleased to have secured another lucrative deal.