Chapter 4: Turbulence in Calm Daily Life

A drop of rain fell from the sky onto Su Wu's face, bringing with it a cold chill. He raised his head, noticing the dim sky that had darkened without warning, and frowned. He realized he had overlooked something important.

"I need to build a rain shelter for the generator," he muttered. "And the cement bags—I should raise the storage area and prepare for drainage."

While the geothermal generator had some waterproofing, its failure rate in heavy rain was higher than in normal conditions. A rain shelter was essential. As for the cement, that was a simpler task. With a single command, the engineering robot began selecting materials from the scrap pile. Using its sharp cutting knife and a laser emitter capable of melting metal, it started constructing the frame for the rain shelter.

By late night, the clouds that had been gathering all day finally unleashed a downpour. Su Wu watched from the second-floor bedroom window as the rain poured into the yard. Under the temporary shelter, the geothermal generator hummed steadily, its dark green indicator lights glowing reassuringly. Beside it, the engineering robot continued its tireless work.

According to Su Wu's plan, the robot would next build a mini excavator and a mini transport vehicle, forming a small construction team to dig out an underground space large enough for a shelter.

"The progress is faster than I expected," Su Wu thought. "Once it's done, if the survival points required for upgrades aren't too high, I might consider selling a few units."

As he watched the robot assemble the tracks and chassis of the excavator, his mind began to wander. It wasn't greed driving him—it was the sheer potential profit. A mini excavator, which used to cost around 30,000 yuan, now sold for fifty times that amount, with prices soaring to at least 2 million yuan. Selling just two units could multiply his current material reserves several times over, making him a wealthy man even in the apocalypse.

Of course, selling was just an idea for now. The shadow of the impending disaster loomed large, and the shelter was his top priority. Any transactions would have to wait until the shelter's construction was well underway. Su Wu knew which was more important.

After watching the robot work for a while, Su Wu turned away, realizing there was little he could do to help. He opened his laptop and began browsing the news. Mainstream media outlets continued to report trivial matters, but some independent sources hinted at the increasing severity of market controls. However, the prices of everyday essentials like food, rice, and oil remained stable, so most people didn't notice the changes. The related videos had low view counts, reflecting the general lack of concern.

One piece of news caught Su Wu's attention: "All toy factories in Dongzhou suspected to have halted production; workers recruited by the Dongzhou government for construction teams." He clicked the link, only to find the original article had been removed.

"Again," Su Wu sighed. The federal government's tight control over the internet meant that anything it didn't want publicized would vanish without a trace. Even major events affecting millions could be erased, leaving only whispers in private chat groups. But those groups were filled with outrageous rumors, making it impossible for ordinary people to separate fact from fiction.

If not for the Apocalypse Survival System, Su Wu might have been just as oblivious, living in the illusion of normalcy while disaster approached. The deleted article, though, suggested some truth to the rumors. Su Wu recalled the headline, his mood growing heavier. The shutdown of toy factories might seem insignificant, but it signaled deeper societal issues. The economy could no longer support non-essential industries, diverting resources and manpower to more critical areas.

In other words, the government was likely preparing to announce comprehensive controls soon.

"If this continues, bartering might become the only way to get supplies," Su Wu thought, feeling the weight of the future pressing down on him. Fortunately, he had already spent most of his money. While his stockpile wasn't vast, it was sufficient for his personal use for three to five years. By then, with the help of survival points—a near-miraculous resource—he hoped to achieve self-sufficiency.

Early the next morning, as a new day began, the system panel updated with the previous day's rewards:

[Daily Survival Point Settlement]

[Survived one day: +1 survival point]

[Successfully manufactured a geothermal generator: +3 survival points]

[Obtained the first personal power station, entering the industrial era: +25 survival points]

[Current survival points: 34]

"More and more survival points," Su Wu murmured, feeling a sense of stability and satisfaction. These points were his lifeline, his guarantee for survival in the coming days.

The next morning, sunlight broke through the clouds and streamed into the bedroom. Su Wu got up, washed, and went outside to check on the robot's progress. He found that the mini excavator was complete, and the mini transport truck was halfway done. Focusing on the excavator, an upgrade panel appeared:

[Mini Excavator (Lacks Power)]

[Fitness: 90%]

[Evaluation: Except for minor flaws in power and materials, its craftsmanship is impeccable.]

[Upgrade options: Diesel version (2 survival points), Battery version (5 survival points), Unmanned version (7 survival points)]

(End of Chapter)