Game Day 10
The water storage tank was completed.
Measuring 2.5 meters long, 1.6 meters wide, and 1 meter deep, it could hold several tons of water once it had fully dried.
The basement underwent major renovations, so while waiting for it to dry, the two moved their living area upstairs temporarily.
Taking advantage of a shower break, Chu Yian opened the treasure chest again and used the "Create from Nothing" skill.
[A soft and fluffy bath mitt]
[Note: To be returned after this game round ends]
[Item Description: A bath mitt that can work up dense bubbles with any body wash or soap — a must-have for bath lovers. Only those who love bathing have healthy skin!]
This game round really was… no useful items ever came from the treasure chest's "Create from Nothing" skill.
After finishing her shower, Chu Yian came out but Teacher Lu (Lu Qingyuan) wasn't inside. He was outside checking the vehicle.
"Teacher Lu, are we going out again today?"
"Yeah."
Teacher Lu was inspecting various parts of the car. The accessories were fine, but after several days of use, the gasoline was running low.
"After sunset, we'll go into the city to buy some more gasoline."
"Okay."
Chu Yian turned and went back to her room, grabbed a backpack, and packed some cash, bottled water, and a few pieces of chocolate. She also took two self-defense items and placed them in the car's trunk.
In this weather, not running the air conditioner was impossible.
Otherwise, they'd definitely be cooked alive. This also meant the already scarce gasoline was being consumed even faster.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a gas station.
No cars, no people, and no gasoline.
The gas station they often used was completely empty, and even the fuel pumps were dead, black with no power.
If this station had nothing, they'd try another.
There were several gas stations in the city, so Teacher Lu drove straight toward the largest one.
Because of the blackout, the roads were pitch dark.
When they reached the second gas station, they were stunned.
There was no gas station left—only ruins.
Burnt-out vehicles piled on the road, the gas station was just fireproof cement walls.
The air smelled strongly of gasoline, plastic, and something like burnt flesh.
More people gathered on the roadside—mostly kneeling, dressed in mourning clothes, burning paper money.
"Uncle, did it catch fire here?" Chu Yian called to a middle-aged man who was about to leave.
"It started burning just after midnight yesterday."
The fire was triggered when flames spread from a fuel nozzle, engulfing the whole gas station instantly.
None of the staff or customers escaped, and many vehicles waiting nearby were destroyed too.
The air was dry and the vehicles exploded at the slightest spark.
Even when firefighters arrived later, they couldn't control the blaze and helplessly watched the station be completely consumed.
The people by the roadside were mostly relatives of the victims.
"You've got a car—why aren't you leaving quickly?"
The man glanced at their vehicle and whispered in a low voice.
With a long blackout, electric cars in the city had all become scrap. The three days of 50°C+ heat caused at least 30% of remaining cars to break down, another 30% ran out of gas, so working cars were very rare.
From this passerby, they learned some information about the city.
If cars were rare, gasoline was even harder to find.
Though prepared for this mentally, failing again still left a sting.
"Teacher Lu, the other two gas stations are probably the same."
Gas stations likely had no gasoline left.
Just when they were about to give up hope, they found a glimmer at a fourth small gas station.
This gas station was also pitch dark and out of gas.
Just as Teacher Lu and Chu Yian were about to leave, someone suddenly ran up from outside and called out, "Hey, are you buying gasoline?"
The man waved mysteriously, looking furtive and sneaky.
Teacher Lu told Chu Yian to stay in the car, "Watch the surroundings, don't open the door unless I come back."
Then he got out and walked toward the man.
"You have gasoline?"
"Yes." The man nodded. "I've got some loose gasoline I can sell."
"How much?"
"Gasoline's like gold right now." The man looked at Teacher Lu, his tone clearly trying to gouge them, "800 yuan per liter."
Normally, 10 yuan per liter of gas was almost a pain to afford.
But now, being able to buy any gasoline was lucky enough.
"Okay."
Teacher Lu nodded. "How much do you have?"
"Twenty liters."
Teacher Lu: "I'll take it all."
So generous?
The man, hearing Teacher Lu's decisiveness, felt he was losing out. "If you want it all, that'll be 20,000 yuan, plus ten bottles of water or some food."
800 yuan per liter was a ripoff already. Now 20 liters for 20,000 yuan plus food and water—it was pure greed.
Teacher Lu's face darkened. He coldly stared at the man, speaking calmly, "You're selling gasoline secretly here. You don't have any accomplices, right?"
"The gasoline's hidden nearby?"
Teacher Lu pulled out a thick stack of bright red bills.
"You want money or your life? Your choice."
The seller's expression froze, looking uncomfortable.
Not everyone was a desperado—he was a gas station employee who had secretly taken several barrels of gasoline home when the station closed due to the heatwave.
These days with extreme heat and outages, no food or money at home, he wanted to sell the gasoline.
Knowing gas was like gold now, he naturally wanted to make as much money as possible.
But he also worried about getting robbed.
He had guarded the stash all night in the woods before meeting this buyer.
"Don't rush. 20,000 yuan is a loss for me."
Teacher Lu gave him only 16,000 yuan and took the two barrels of gasoline.
After refilling the tank, the car's indicator lights returned to normal.
He got in the passenger seat and drove toward the city.
A few days ago at midnight, the night market had been lively.
Groups of people strolled the streets cooling off, some shops even powered their business with generators.
But today, the streets were eerily silent.
Every alley and road was deserted.
Where had everyone gone?
Most city residents were by the largest Yuting River—not to cool off, but to fetch water.
City water was cut off. Streams and creeks were all dried up. No tap water, and all other sources had stopped flowing—only the deep pools in the river still held water.
During the day, people hid in subway stations, underground malls, warehouses, garages, and bomb shelters, too afraid to go outside.
Only at night did they dare come out to get water.