Chapter 3: Stockpiling
After settling things with the wholesalers, Moira Lynch had them deliver the goods to the warehouse she had rented in advance. A portion was sent to her home to keep up appearances.
After all, even though everyone was hoarding supplies right now, no one was hoarding too much. Most people were just doing it for peace of mind.
Making another round, Moira Lynch bought several hundred ten-liter water jugs. She had originally planned to buy more, but unfortunately, that was all the owner had in stock.
’Even though I have water in my space, I can’t just live off my reserves without replenishing them. It’s still better to prepare some myself.’
Beyond that, Moira Lynch started buying all sorts of emergency food, like crackers, compressed biscuits, instant ramen noodles, chocolate, canned goods, and vitamin-enriched milk powder.
Even though she had already bought a lot of medicine, Moira Lynch could never have too much of it. She bought all kinds of common medications, surgical masks, protective suits, goggles, and so on.
As for energy sources, Moira Lynch didn’t dare buy too much. She only purchased some canisters of natural gas, petroleum, diesel, and coal.
She also got white sugar, table salt, and tea leaves. ’These are all strategic resources. If even the country values them, they have to be a good choice.’
Next, Moira Lynch noticed the cigarettes and alcohol. After a moment of thought, she decisively bought them. She didn’t smoke or drink herself, but they could be used to trade for other necessary resources in the future.
She remained busy like this for the entire day. When night fell, she went to the warehouse she’d rented, where the wholesalers had already delivered all the goods.
The warehouse was stuffed to the brim. Seeing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Moira Lynch’s face.
A sense of satisfaction, one she identified as security, welled up within her.
Only when she was gathering supplies did the fear of the impending disaster begin to subside.
Back home, Moira Lynch piled the items the vendors had delivered into her rooms.
That night, Moira Lynch lay in bed and started shopping online. Snacks, drinks, cups, plates, some home appliances, lighting equipment, candles, lighters, matches—whatever she saw or thought of, she ordered without hesitation. If she ordered today, it would arrive tomorrow.
’Will someone get suspicious about all these deliveries? No, I just moved in. It’s normal to get a lot of packages.’
Besides, once her quality of life was secured, her spiritual and mental needs couldn’t be neglected either.
So, Moira Lynch started buying physical copies of novels and manga online, and also began downloading various anime and TV shows. Seeing her storage space running low, she decided she would first make a trip to a phone store the next day to buy several more tablets and external hard drives.
The next day, Moira Lynch slung her backpack on and, taking advantage of the morning before it got too hot, headed straight for a place that sold phones and computers.
After listening to the salesperson’s explanation, Moira Lynch decisively bought the most expensive tablet with the best performance and the largest storage capacity.
Worried that one wouldn’t be enough, she bought several more. She also bought several extra computers and phones.
’In extremely hot environments, both computers and phones break easily, so it’s better to have a few spares, just in case.’
Moira Lynch knew her behavior was strange—after all, who buys multiple phones and computers at once? So she deliberately acted very willful, making herself look like a spoiled child.
While placing the order huffily, she muttered under her breath, "If they won’t let me use the computer, I’ll just buy my own. Hmph."
The salesperson nearby overheard her muttering and got a look of understanding in their eyes. ’So it’s just a bratty kid fighting with her family.’
Before she left, the salesperson made a point of reminding her that electronic products like phones and computers could not be returned unless there was an inherent defect.
They were clearly afraid that after a young girl like Moira Lynch took the items home, her parents would show up to cause a scene.
Moira Lynch nodded to show she understood, then took her things and left without a backward glance.
She found a random mall and slipped into the restroom. ’These days, the restroom is probably the only place you can go to avoid surveillance cameras.’
She stored the newly purchased phones and computers in her space, and her backpack instantly felt much lighter.
After leaving the restroom, Moira Lynch didn’t exit the mall. Instead, she started browsing, looking to see what else she needed and to fill in any gaps in her supplies.
She shopped and bought as she went, unhesitatingly purchasing anything she saw that she wanted or thought she needed.
Now she finally understood why the unhappy heroines in TV dramas always loved to go on shopping sprees. Buying things really did make you feel happy.
Especially when something you really liked became yours, a sense of satisfaction would well up inside you.
In addition to summer clothes, Moira Lynch also bought plenty of winter items like down jackets, down comforters, military-style greatcoats, shoes, and other cold-weather gear.
Because it was summer, all these things were especially cheap.
She gave the vendors her address for home delivery, and then she continued to browse.
She had left home at eight o’clock. Two hours had passed since then, and the temperature outside had already climbed to forty degrees Celsius. The streets were nearly empty of pedestrians, aside from passing vehicles.
The moment she stepped out of the mall, Moira Lynch felt a wave of heat wash over her. It felt like she was in an oven, and for a moment, she wanted to retreat right back inside.
’But no, I can’t. The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and I have to use my limited time to fill in the gaps in my supplies as quickly as possible.’
When she passed a pharmacy, Moira Lynch went in without hesitation and bought some medicine, cooling oil, and some herbal heatstroke remedy.
Passing by a car dealership, Moira Lynch hesitated. This body was only eighteen and didn’t have a driver’s license, and she hadn’t learned to drive in her previous life either.
’But wait a minute... I don’t have to know how to drive it. It could also serve as a temporary shelter.’
With that thought, Moira Lynch felt as if a whole new world of possibilities had opened up to her.
As she approached the dealership, she saw an RV exhibition being held on the first floor.
Moira Lynch gazed at the massive vehicles and thought it was no wonder so many people dreamed of owning their own RV.
However, to get a closer look at the vehicles, you had to pay a twenty-thousand-yuan deposit. No wonder that while the dealership was crowded, there were very few people around the exhibition itself.
Amid the envious gazes of the onlookers, Moira Lynch paid the twenty-thousand-yuan deposit without hesitation and was enthusiastically led to the RV exhibition area by a salesperson.
As she got closer, Moira Lynch realized her initial assessment had been an understatement. The RV was even bigger than she had imagined.
The top of the wheels nearly reached her chin, and the vehicle looked incredibly sturdy. ’Living in something like this would feel so secure.’
As the salesperson entered a code, a hidden ladder descended from the vehicle and the door slowly opened. Moira Lynch took the shoe covers from the salesperson, put them on, and then stepped inside the RV.
"This off-road RV is our company’s latest model. It’s fifteen meters long, two and a half meters wide, and four meters high. It has two floors, upper and lower, and comes fully equipped."