99: Tidal days are a warning of high temperatures

Jiang Fei turned on the table lamp and followed the clicking sound to the living room.

The floor tiles were covered in dense water droplets, and several patches of paint had peeled off the walls due to the dampness.

The living room window was wide open, with clear water running down the glass and dripping onto the floor.

The indoor thermometer on the wall showed 20℃.

The weather had warmed up recently, so Jiang Fei had turned off all the heaters and switched to a lighter duvet. At night, she would open the windows to air out the damp, moldy smell in the house.

She never expected the temperature to rise to 20 degrees Celsius overnight.

The extreme cold had only just ended, and the ground temperature was still relatively low. At this time, warm, humid air from outside entering indoors would encounter cold objects and produce water droplets, similar to the "return to the south" phenomenon in the south.

Jiang Fei moved all the appliances out of the living room, wiped the water off the glass, closed the window, lit a kerosene lamp, and began to clean up the water on the floor.

Soon after, the walkie-talkie on the table crackled.

Su Liuyuan: "Is your house damp from the humidity?"

"I got up to use the restroom just now and found the floor covered in water. I almost fell."

Lu Yu: "My place is being cleaned up. Don't open your windows."

Ling Zhaorui and Xiao Chuxia didn't speak, likely still asleep.

After wiping the floor, Jiang Fei went to knock on the doors of 303 and 304 to wake them, and distributed the four large bags of charcoal she had brought.

"When you go back, put the charcoal in plastic bags or boxes, but don't seal them. Place them in various corners of your home to absorb moisture. When the weather clears up, you can dry them out and reuse them."

"Things like salt, tea leaves, and laundry detergent can also remove humidity."

This was something she had learned from other survivors in her previous life.

Without dehumidifiers or air conditioners, these items could be used to make homemade dehumidifiers.

The others went home to clean up.

Jiang Fei found a shovel and scraped off the damp, peeling sections of the wall.

Once the cement surface was exposed, she retrieved two fans from the Supermarket warehouse, connected them to a generator, and aimed them at the wall.

The air conditioner she had found previously lacked the pipes to connect to the outdoor unit and a remote control, making it unusable.

Crippled Wang should have them. She would go "borrow" some tomorrow.

With the windows closed, the humid smell in the air became stronger. Jiang Fei couldn't stand it, so she went into the Supermarket and set up a tent to sleep.

Early the next morning, Jiang Fei drove her pickup truck to Xiao Cui's breakfast shop on West Street and found A Meng.

She asked him to relay her needs to Crippled Wang, then followed the Safety Shelter's map to the Planting Base.

The return of humidity was a warning of high temperatures.

High temperatures would soon arrive, followed by a virus, and she needed to prepare in advance.

In her previous life, the virus spread wildly, and it was only controlled by an antidote developed by traditional Chinese medicine. However, due to a lack of medicinal herbs, thousands of people died before their eyes.

Even if the antidote was publicly announced, hoping survivors would search for wild medicinal herbs, it was to no avail.

She had been infected but luckily managed to secure a treatment slot and survived.

The torment of the virus was something she would rather die than experience again.

The medicinal herbs on the antidote formula could all be propagated from their roots and stems.

The Supermarket's land had a ripening effect. She wanted to exchange seeds for some medicinal herbs, plant them in the Supermarket, and then find an opportunity to anonymously send them out.

After all, if the virus couldn't be controlled, she and her teammates would also be finished.

The Planting Base was located in the suburbs of Qingyang City.

To prevent theft or sabotage, the authorities had installed a high-altitude protective net over this area.

Not only were ordinary people prohibited from entering, but guards were also stationed at the sole main entrance.

As soon as Jiang Fei's car stopped, a soldier with a gun walked out of the guard post.

"Please show your ID."

"I'm here to see a friend. He works at the Planting Base. His name is Ling Zhaorui."

The soldier glanced at the back of the pickup truck: "What's in your car?"

"Seeds." Jiang Fei got out of the car and casually opened one of the boxes in the back.

Inside were bags full of seeds.

Before coming, she had taken five boxes of seeds from the Supermarket warehouse and placed them in the back of the truck.

After confirming there were no dangerous items in the boxes, the soldier said: "Please wait. I need to verify your friend's identity."

With that, the soldier contacted the Planting Base using his walkie-talkie.

More than ten minutes later.

After verifying Ling Zhaorui's identity, the soldier allowed Jiang Fei to pass.

Approaching the Planting Base, Jiang Fei saw Ling Zhaorui waiting for her.

He was wearing a gray work uniform with his ID hanging around his neck.

"Are you the head of the fruit and vegetable garden?"

Ling Zhaorui scratched his head sheepishly: "I was lucky. I cultivated a cold-resistant, high-yield crop, and they promoted me to this position."

"Sister Jiang, why did you come today?"

Jiang Fei made up a story: "My patron wants to exchange these seeds for some medicinal herbs. Do you know who to trade with?"

"If the quantity isn't too much, my teacher can make the decision. He's the Deputy Base Leader here. What medicinal herbs do you want to exchange for?"

Jiang Fei told Ling Zhaorui the names of five medicinal herbs.

There were only five crucial and scarce medicinal herbs for the antidote; she hadn't bothered to remember the others in her previous life.

"Is 100 plants of each medicinal herb considered a lot?"

Ling Zhaorui tactfully said: "The Base has relatively few medicinal herbs. The total quantity is best not to exceed three digits."

"What about 19 plants of each?"

Based on the yield of crops planted in the Supermarket, it could multiply at least ten times in a month.

"I think Teacher will agree. Let's go find him now." Ling Zhaorui carried a box and led Jiang Fei to the office building.

Arriving on the sixth floor, they knocked on one of the office doors.

"Come in."

Ling Zhaorui and Jiang Fei walked in.

The old man sitting at the desk, wearing a cotton shirt, was wiping a fountain pen in his hand. His temples were gray, but his eyes were sharp and bright.

On the desk was an ID display card—Deputy Base Leader, Kang Ansheng.

"Teacher, this is my friend Jiang Fei. She wants to make a trade with the Planting Base."

"These are the seeds she brought." Ling Zhaorui placed the box on the floor by the desk and explained Jiang Fei's request for medicinal herbs.

"The medicinal herbs at the Planting Base are very precious and cannot be exchanged for just any supplies. Even if she's your friend, I can't easily agree."

Kang Ansheng said this while taking out a bag of seeds, checking the outer packaging and date, and gradually became excited.

What the Planting Base lacked most were good seeds.

The floods and insect plagues had damaged too many resources, and coupled with the poor environment, they could only use seeds sparingly, not daring to experiment easily.

As a result, even after the extreme cold passed, they had only just cultivated cold-resistant crops.

"Are all the seeds you brought intact?"

Jiang Fei nodded: "There are four more boxes in the car downstairs, a total of 900 bags of fruit and vegetable seeds."

Thinking he had misheard, Kang Ansheng rubbed his ears: "How many did you say?"

"900 bags."

Kang Ansheng immediately kicked Ling Zhaorui: "What are you standing around for? Quickly go and help your friend get the medicinal herbs!"

"Take one extra plant of each medicinal herb to round it off, and remember to pack them carefully for her."

How much food could 900 bags plant! He couldn't even imagine!

Ling Zhaorui was stunned.

Teacher, where was your seriousness just now?!

Seeing Kang Ansheng about to kick him again, Ling Zhaorui quickly led Jiang Fei away.

The greenhouse for planting medicinal herbs was not far from the office building.

Jiang Fei followed Ling Zhaorui inside under the guise of visiting.

At this time, the staff had gone to eat, and the greenhouse was empty.

"Sister Jiang, I'll go dig the medicinal herbs you need. If you get bored, you can look around, just don't step on any herbs, or Teacher will kick me again."

"Okay." Jiang Fei strolled along the brick path laid on the ground.

Every two meters, there was a small sign indicating the name and efficacy of the medicinal herbs in that plot, to prevent newcomers from making mistakes.

Noticing two medicinal herbs had highly toxic and hallucinogenic effects, Jiang Fei quickly dug up six plants by the roots while Ling Zhaorui wasn't paying attention, and stored them in the Supermarket warehouse.

Then she filled the soil back in, pretending to tie her shoelace as if nothing had happened.

There were many medicinal herbs, so a few missing plants wouldn't be noticeable.

She would go back and ask Xiao Hua Lao how to make medicine.

If bullets couldn't kill Mo Yanan, then she would poison him!