Jiang Yan had only one or two months left for stockpiling supplies, and she planned to spend the remaining time on something more thrilling.
"Sister Yan, regarding the high-rise apartment you wanted, one landlord can only deliver the keys tonight. As for the other one, I already have the keys—shall I take you to see it tomorrow?" Du Ziteng spoke with visible exhaustion on his face.
He prided himself on having good stamina, and after working as a real estate agent for so long, he considered himself quite enduring.
But after rushing around under the sun all afternoon, exhaustion was inevitable.
Yet, Jiang Yan, in contrast, was full of energy, not at all like someone who had just returned from an international flight after "rushing home for a funeral" and then walked around all afternoon.
Not only was Jiang Yan not tired, but she also felt light and brimming with strength.
She was as pumped up as if she'd been injected with adrenaline.
Recalling the change in her condition, she realized it had manifested after leaving the dimension.
At that time, she had been too busy "playing opposite" the fake journalist to notice.
Now, looking at herself, she was clearly no longer as weak as she had been when she first emerged from the dimension that morning.
Could it be because of the dimension?
She decided to test this theory when she returned home that night.
"Alright, you've worked hard today. Let's head back for now." Jiang Yan checked her watch—it was already 7:30 PM.
"Sister Yan, I'll head back first. You should rest early too. And be careful on your way home." After bidding farewell, Du Ziteng turned to leave for his SUV when Jiang Yan stopped him:
"Old Du, remember to keep the warehouse search, property sales, and purchases confidential for me."
"Of course, Sister Yan. Don't worry, I understand." Du Ziteng gave her a sincere, honest smile and waited until Jiang Yan waved him off before finally leaving.
Back home, Jiang Yan entered the dimension first.
Sure enough, the dimension had the effect of marrow cleansing and meridian opening.
And the longer she stayed inside, the more pronounced the effect became.
She could even feel the impurities in her body transforming into faint gray mist, slowly dissipating from her body.
Additionally, after an afternoon of "nourishment," the withered rose she had planted in the black soil had turned lush green, as if reborn.
The previously sprouted buds had grown significantly larger.
Meanwhile, the other potted roses, though not planted in soil, had also visibly begun to regain their green hue in their once-yellowed leaves.
Thus, it wasn't just the fertile black soil in the dimension that had miraculous effects—even the air seemed capable of nurturing all things.
Furthermore, time in the Black Area's Planting Zone clearly flowed faster than in the real world.
In the Gray Area's Storage Zone, time was completely still.
She speculated that the White Area's Living Zone likely matched the time flow of the outside world.
After confirming these conclusions, Jiang Yan lingered inside a while longer before returning to her room.
Glancing at the bank notification on her phone, she saw that today's expenses—bottled and barrel water, warehouse rental, water storage tanks, second-hand shelves, and miscellaneous purchases—had totaled nearly three million.
Not too much, considering she had secured enough water for several lifetimes.
Tonight was the seventh day after Mother Jiang's passing. After setting out the prepared offerings and having a simple meal, Jiang Yan took her laptop into the bedroom.
She planned to create a schedule for key preparations during the three months before the apocalypse and draft a rough inventory of supplies to stockpile.
Although money was the last thing she lacked right now, she couldn't afford to make impulsive purchases without planning.
Additionally, she would avoid supermarkets in the early stages.
Not only did supermarkets have surveillance cameras, but the quantity of supplies available there was far too limited for her stockpiling needs. There was also the risk of being caught on camera or having suspicious individuals post about her online, potentially causing an uproar.
She could visit them later to pick up small miscellaneous items when needed.
For someone in her precarious position, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble.
She could also research online about average lifetime consumption of staples like grains, meat, and cooking oil.
While she wasn't familiar with such statistics, the internet could provide useful references.
After all, even if one hasn't eaten pork, they've surely seen pigs run.
On another note, though Jiang Yan currently bore the title of wealthy heiress, she had experienced days where every penny had to be stretched during her childhood.
Online shopping wasn't as developed back then.
While people said Jiang's Father and Mother Jiang had started with courier services, they'd actually taken on various odd jobs initially—construction work, carrying sacks at logistics parks, while Mother Jiang worked as a restaurant server.
In those days, it was said that children of the poor matured early.
By age six, Jiang Yan was already standing on a small stool to help with cooking.
Though her first few attempts resulted in half-raw dishes, overseasoned food, and burnt rice, her parents never scolded her. Instead, they encouraged her generously.
This unexpectedly sparked her love for cooking.
Whenever she had time after school, she would help prepare meals.
Later, as the family's fortunes gradually improved and they became wealthy, household staff were hired, and Jiang Yan stopped cooking altogether.
After graduating university, she didn't pursue further studies but followed her passion to become a food and travel blogger.
However, her work as a food blogger wasn't limited to just tasting and reviewing various cuisines.
In her free time, she would experiment at home with dishes that had impressed her, even attempting to recreate ancient recipes from historical texts.
She'd even secretly apprenticed under a Michelin three-star chef and an executive chef from a five-star hotel.
If not for her family...
But all these memories belonged to her past life now.
Jiang Yan exhaled quietly, refocusing her thoughts as she continued organizing her supply list.
-
The next morning.
The used car dealers Jiang Yan had contacted arrived early.
Given how quickly vehicles depreciated and the modest prices she'd quoted, the top-tier RV and sports car were soon towed away.
While waiting for the ownership transfer procedures at the used car market, she impulsively purchased a small, unpainted box truck that a dealer had recently acquired.
It wasn't that Jiang Yan couldn't afford a new vehicle—this truck wasn't just for current use.
She planned to retrieve it from her dimension when needed after the apocalypse began.
A second-hand domestic truck would attract less attention amidst the post-apocalyptic ruins.
Moreover, at present, no one could have imagined that a billionaire heiress who once only loved luxury cars would now be tearing down the roads every day in a second-hand 130-series pickup truck.
This actually served as excellent cover for her frequent trips to stock up on supplies.
A few years earlier, she had obtained her A1 driver's license specifically to film travel vlogs while driving a motorhome.
So handling this little pickup truck was more than enough for her skills.
(End of Chapter)