A deposit of 2.6 million. It was still far too little.
Four complete sets of outdoor gear, even with the club's internal discount, would cost over three million, and that didn't even include the expensive wingsuits, jet skis, or mountain bikes.
Even if her family chipped in, they could only come up with another million or so at most.
Jiang Si sighed. She suddenly found herself envying President Zhang's financial superpower.
As Jiang Si racked her brain for a way to get more money, her eyes suddenly lit up. She had a plan!
Jiang Si left the club and rushed to the stock exchange. She invested the entire 2.6 million into shares of Shanglin Pharmaceutical Research and Development Company.
Today was the third. Tomorrow, Shanglin Pharmaceutical Research and Development Company would hold a global press conference.
Immediately after, the stock price would skyrocket fivefold.
And then, she would have money.
After buying the stock, Jiang Si raced to the warehouse.
The assembly of the vertical farming systems was on its third unit.
Jiang Si felt the nutrient soil that had just been added and asked the foreman, "Can you finish assembling all of them today?"
The foreman shook his head. "We still have to run tests. It'll take at least two more days."
Jiang Si frowned. "I'll double your pay. Can you finish by tomorrow?"
'Only when the grains, fruits, and vegetables were planted would she be able to rest easy.'
Same amount of work for double the pay? Of course, they'd do it.
The foreman replied happily, "Deal. We'll have everything assembled for you by tomorrow afternoon."
Jiang Si then went to another warehouse.
Trucks were constantly unloading cargo. The massive warehouse was already half-full.
The manager overseeing the unloading saw her and ran over, his forehead beaded with sweat. "Miss Jiang, can you handle this all by yourself?"
Jiang Si had only hired him for the day. Seeing her show up alone, he was hoping to earn a little extra cash.
Jiang Si's expression didn't change. "My employees will be here shortly. Thank you for your hard work today. I've already transferred the money to your account."
The manager's face fell with a hint of disappointment, but when he saw the two thousand yuan Jiang Si had transferred, he broke into a grin. "Thanks, boss! I'll be leaving now. Give me a call if you need anything else."
"Alright."
The moment the manager left, Jiang Si shut off all the surrounding security cameras and moved all the delivered goods into her space.
'Thank goodness I can control things with my mind,' she thought. 'Otherwise, just organizing all this would have been enough to kill me.'
More deliveries continued to arrive at the warehouse throughout the day. By the time evening fell, Jiang Si finally had a moment to eat.
The night market was a lively, bustling scene: shirtless men devouring skewers, pet dogs drooling at their owners' feet, affectionate couples, and steaming hot delicacies... all weaving together the beautiful tapestry of everyday life.
It was just a shame that all of it would soon be gone.
The owner came over. "Miss, what can I get for you?"
Having learned to treasure food, Jiang Si only ordered a bowl of seafood clay pot congee.
After eating her fill, Jiang Si headed home. The packages of medicine she had ordered were already piling up in the building's security office.
The security guard, a kind older man, helped her carry them upstairs. When he saw the labels were all for medicine, he couldn't help but ask, "Young lady, what are you planning to do with all these meds?"
Jiang Si smiled. "I'm getting ready to go back to my hometown. I have a big family, and these are all just common medications. The weather has been so unpredictable these past couple of years, so stocking up a little extra can't hurt."
Stockpiling medicine at home had become common practice in recent years, so the guard laughed and said, "The weather sure is strange. It's not even June, and it's already almost forty degrees. I should probably buy some heatstroke medicine to send to my son, too."
"Yes, your son is lucky to have a father like you."
"Heh heh, having a daughter like you, now that's the real blessing!"
The guard kept talking, eventually trying to set her up with his son. Jiang Si politely declined and went into her apartment, rubbing her stiff face.
'It's been years since I've talked to someone this much,' she thought. 'It feels so unnatural.'
She stripped the packaging off the medicine boxes, tossed them into her space, and crammed them into the nooks and crannies between other items to save every last bit of room.
'In the apocalypse, as resources dwindle, those who can't protect themselves are always the first to become cannon fodder.'
Jiang Si opened Taobao and filled her shopping cart: batons, helmets, high-pressure flamethrowers, bows and arrows, bulletproof vests, pepper spray, gunpowder, sulfur, saltpeter, fuses, machetes, nail guns, hunting traps, Beast Cages, handcuffs, trackers, infrared monitors, drones, and sonar alarms. She changed the delivery address to the warehouse.
With the weapons sorted, Jiang Si continued to fill in the gaps in her supply list.
Outdoor shower kits, portable toilets, all sorts of stationery, a printing press, a telegraph machine, calendars, tape measures, duct tape, hair ties... all the little things she suddenly remembered needing.
Disposing of everyday trash could create unnecessary risks, so she added a garbage processor to her cart.
Some of the mutated creatures in the apocalypse could be tamed as mounts, so Jiang Si also picked out various sizes of saddles and long-lasting fodder.
For lighting, Jiang Si added some fluorescent lamps and glow powder. The powder could also be used for tracking enemies or prey.
If they ever found a safe haven, a true paradise, they would definitely need to build shelters.
She then ordered some basic construction materials: cement, tiles, electrical wires, a welder, an electric drill, rebar, concrete blocks, folding beds, a hardware toolbox, electrical plugs, lubricant, hand trucks, safety nets, a transformer, and storage batteries.
She had almost forgotten daily necessities like the most common items: plastic bags, food storage containers, and a vacuum sealer.
Jiang Si browsed Taobao until three in the morning, adding everything to her cart. She could pay for it all tomorrow after selling her stock.
Her eyelids felt heavy and her stomach was starting to rumble. Jiang Si went to the kitchen, boiled a packet of instant ramen, and fried two eggs to go with it.
Just as she was about to dig in, she was scrolling through videos when another idea struck her. She quickly opened Taobao again, bought a dozen high-capacity USB drives, signed up for memberships on all the major entertainment and cultural websites, and began to mass-download human civilization.
By the time she was done, her ramen was completely cold.
Jiang Si ate it anyway, her spirits high.
'Sell the stock tomorrow afternoon, wait for the supplies to be delivered, and then I can fly home.'
On May fourth, as expected, the stock for Shanglin Pharmaceutical Research and Development Co., Ltd. skyrocketed. Jiang Si wasn't surprised in the least.
Her stockbroker called, his voice filled with excitement. The 2.6 million she had invested had already multiplied by five and was still climbing.
Jiang Si replied, "Please sell all of it for me right now."
The broker's shocked voice came over the line. "But it's still on the rise! Even if you want to sell, it would be much better to wait a couple of days!"
Jiang Si couldn't afford to wait. Besides, she knew that Shanglin Pharmaceutical Research and Development Company would soon face public scrutiny, causing the stock to crash.
"I need the cash urgently. Sell it."
The broker thought it was a shame, but his commission would still be substantial. "Alright, then. I'll take care of it right away!"
Having a professional handle it was fast; the money was in her account by that afternoon.
Over the next three days, Jiang Si exchanged ten million for gold bars, rented a helicopter, and then spent her time either at the warehouse receiving supplies or in her space, soaking seeds and preparing seedlings.
On May seventh, she checked out of her apartment with the landlord, eager to get home.
Just as she settled into her seat on the plane, a strange man sat down next to her.
The weather was hot enough to steam, yet he was bundled up tightly, leaving no skin exposed. He had on gloves, a face mask, and sunglasses, the whole ensemble.
His tall, lean frame and the sharp contours of his face gave the immediate impression that he was handsome.
The two young women behind Jiang Si were whispering, wondering if he was some big celebrity.
Jiang Si couldn't help but glance over. As she did, he lifted his head, and in that instant, she felt as if she'd been targeted by a predator.