44: Division of labor

Sensing his approach, the screen lit up automatically.

There were several options on the interface:

Vehicle Status, Environmental Monitoring, Entertainment System, Network Connection... He clicked "Network Connection."

【RV Self-Generated Network Activated】

【Current Connected Devices: 3 (Qin Lin's Phone, Su Yuran's Phone, Lin Wanwan's Phone)】

Qin Lin clicked "Broadcast Reception."

A list of frequency bands popped up on the screen; most were cluttered with static noise. However, a few bands had weak but stable signals.

He selected the one with the strongest signal.

The screen flickered a few times, and then an image appeared.

It wasn't a live stream, but a pre-recorded video.

The image quality was average, with obvious signs of compression, but it was clear enough to see.

In the video was a middle-aged man in a military uniform, sitting behind a desk with the national and military flags in the background.

His face looked exhausted with deep bags under his eyes, but his gaze was firm.

The video began to play:

“This is the National Emergency Broadcast Center. This broadcast was recorded on the seventh day after the disaster broke out and is playing on a loop via a backup satellite channel.”

“First, an update on the current disaster situation nationwide: Our entire country has encountered extreme climatic mutations due to unknown causes.”

“Temperatures in the Northeast, North China, and Northwest regions have plummeted to between minus forty and minus sixty degrees, accompanied by persistent blizzards. Extreme low-temperature rain and snow have appeared in the Jiangnan and South China regions. Rare hail and freezing rain disasters have occurred in parts of the Southwest.”

“According to the intelligence we currently have, this disaster is not unique to our country.”

“Extreme climatic anomalies have appeared globally: temperatures in some regions have exceeded sixty degrees, and droughts have intensified; some areas are experiencing alternating extreme cold and extreme heat; and some regions have encountered superstorms and abnormal sea-level rises...”

“Due to the unprecedented scale of the disaster, national rescue forces are severely limited. Transportation Systems are paralyzed, communications are cut off, and energy supplies have collapsed.”

“Governments at all levels and the military are doing their best to organize self-rescue and limited relief efforts, but progress is slow due to the extreme environment.”

The man's voice paused here, his exhaustion becoming more apparent:

“We don't know how many people can receive this broadcast.”

“We don't know when the disaster will end.”

“But please, all compatriots receiving this message, remember: the country has not given up, and the military has not given up.”

“Please find a safe place to hold your ground if possible, conserve your strength, and wait for rescue.”

“If conditions permit, it is recommended to move in the following directions: First, large public buildings such as Libraries, gymnasiums, and shopping malls. These structures are sturdy and may have stockpiled supplies.”

“Second, underground facilities such as subway stations and air-raid shelters. Underground temperatures are relatively stable.”

“Finally, please maintain hope.”

“Broadcast ends. This message will play on a loop until...”

The video suddenly stuttered at this point and then turned into static noise.

Qin Lin silently turned it off.

Silence filled the living room.

Su Yuran and Lin Wanwan had come over at some point, standing behind him and watching the entire video.

Both of their faces were very pale.

“The seventh day...”

Su Yuran murmured, “That was already weeks ago. Now... I don't know what it's become now.”

Lin Wanwan bit her lip. “My parents are in the south... the video said there's extreme low temperatures in the south too...”

Qin Lin didn't respond.

He knew more than what was said in the video.

In his past life, he had lived for a year and seen with his own eyes how the disaster worsened step by step.

Three months later, most rescue forces could barely save themselves.

Six months later, the concept of a 'country' had already blurred in the hearts of many survivors.

But he couldn't say it out loud.

“At least we know now that we aren't the only ones struggling.”

Qin Lin turned around and looked at the two girls.

“The country is still trying, and the military is still acting. That's enough.”

He paused. “Besides, we have this RV. We have the ability to survive, and the ability... to find your families.”

These words made the two girls' eyes light up.

“Really?” Su Yuran asked. “Can we go find my parents?”

“Yes,” Qin Lin nodded. “But not right now. My injuries haven't healed yet, and the RV just got upgraded; we need more preparation. And...”

He looked at the static noise on the screen. “We need more information. For example, which areas are relatively safe and which routes are still passable.”

Moreover, crystal stones often appeared in special locations.

Science and Technology Parks, Weather Stations, Artificial Lakes... these places either had special equipment or special environments.

“We can plan a route.”

Qin Lin walked to the large screen and pulled up an offline map.

“First, we'll leave Su City and head south. The temperature in the south is relatively higher. Also, Yuran's home is in the neighboring city, and Wanwan's home is in a province further south, so it's on the way.”

He marked several Points on the map:

Large shopping malls, subway stations, and Suburban Farms.

“As we go, we'll look for crystal stones, collect information, and... find your families.”

This plan cheered both girls up.

They had a goal now.

It was no longer aimless struggling, but moving forward with a direction.

“So when do we leave?” Su Yuran asked.

“In three days,” Qin Lin said. “During these three days, we'll organize our supplies, plan the details, and familiarize ourselves with the new RV's functions.”

He looked at Lin Wanwan. “Senior, you're in charge of organizing the Medical Room, taking inventory of the medicine, and learning basic first aid.”

“Okay,” Lin Wanwan nodded.

“Yuran, you're in charge of food and daily necessities. Make a list and see what's still missing.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I'll be responsible for vehicle inspections and route planning.”

The division of labor was clear, and each had their own responsibilities.

For the next half day, the three of them got busy.

Lin Wanwan spent the entire morning in the Medical Room, taking everything out of the medicine cabinet and categorizing it.

Anti-inflammatories, painkillers, antibiotics, gauze, disinfectant, surgical instruments... there were more items than she had imagined, and she didn't recognize many of the medicines.

She took out her phone—she could connect to the RV network now—to look up information online.

Although most websites were inaccessible.

Some offline caches of medical encyclopedias were still usable, so she took notes while looking things up.

Su Yuran, meanwhile, ran back and forth between the supermarket storage room and the kitchen.

She took inventory of all the food and made a detailed list:

Eight bags of rice left (five kilograms each), thirty packs of Instant Noodles, twenty cans, fifteen packs of Compressed Biscuits, and about two catties of fresh vegetables could be harvested from the ecological box every day... All in all, if they ate sparingly, it would be enough for the three of them for two months.

But she still made a shopping list:

Seasonings like salt, sugar, and oil were almost gone, and daily necessities like toilet paper, toothpaste, and shampoo also needed to be replenished.

Qin Lin moved back and forth between the cockpit and the living room.

He checked every System of the vehicle:

The engine was normal, energy was sufficient, temperature control was stable, and the defense System was online.

The autopilot function required loading map data, so he spent time importing the offline map into the System and setting up several preset routes.

In the afternoon, the three gathered in the living room again to summarize their progress.

Lin Wanwan held her notebook:

“The Medical Room is well-stocked with medicines, but lacks some special equipment, such as Fracture Fixation Splints and Oxygen Tanks.”

“Also, I've looked up some information. If one of us gets sick, like with a cold or fever, the current medicine is enough. But if it's a more serious illness...”

She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear: they wouldn't be able to handle it.

Qin Lin nodded. “Understood. So we must try our best to avoid getting sick or injured.”

Su Yuran handed over the shopping list:

“The food is enough for two months, but daily necessities need to be replenished.”

Qin Lin glanced at it and said, “There are still some Points left; it should be enough.”

He paused and looked at the two girls:

“Are there any other questions?”