Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

"It seems that the news that the above-ground residences will be 'invalid' in ten days has already spread..." Xu Xiaoyan understood. The early warning of minus seventy degrees Celsius, coupled with the "heating fee" of 0.5 points per day in the underground city's E district, these two survival-driven forces are encouraging—or rather, forcing—every resident still struggling on the surface to try every means and do their best to earn points for themselves.

Thus, a silent yet massive city-wide campaign of "asset liquidation" and "lightening the load" was hastily and frantically launched, fueled by panic and despair.

People are forced to confront a series of cruel and heartbreaking choices: What can be taken with us? What must be left behind? What is "valuable"? At this critical juncture, the definition of "value" is extremely simplified—whether it can be quickly converted into points becomes the sole yardstick for measuring everything.

Those bulky furniture, old items that have been with us for years, scattered collections that may have sentimental value but no practical value, and even some large and difficult-to-move survival supplies, all have to be classified as "discarded".

Meanwhile, items deemed "worth exchanging for points" were carefully selected, cleaned, and packed. People busily dragged, carried, and hugged these last "capital" items, rushing to any place where they could potentially be converted into cash.

Everyone's face was filled with the anxiety of time running out, their eyes a mixture of desire for points and fear of uncertainty about the future. They were racing against time, trying to save up enough "life-saving money" for the first few days after entering the dungeon before the ten-day countdown ended. It might only be a few points, but it symbolized the most basic qualification to get a bed and enjoy basic heating in Zone E.

Even more so, deep in their hearts, they harbored a faint hope: perhaps, just perhaps, they could accumulate a little extra points, as a pitiful means to climb even a small step upward in that strictly hierarchical underground world.

Points have never been such a stark and unquestionable "survival currency" hanging over everyone's head. They are no longer just a tool to exchange for slightly better food or clothing, but are directly equated with "whether one can obtain a place to stay without freezing to death." The era of points being king has descended upon everyone at the Linchuan base in the most brutal and clear way, amidst the relentless countdown to the extreme cold.

Amid this panic-driven, almost blind frenzy of monetization, Xu Xiaoyan keenly noticed that the base's officials had clearly anticipated this situation and reacted swiftly and efficiently.

At several major intersections and relatively spacious open spaces along her route, some street-front shops that were originally in a semi-abandoned state or were struggling and deserted suddenly changed their appearance and put up brand-new, uniform signs overnight—or rather, within just a few hours after the underground city's announcement.

Those hastily hung wooden or tin signs, simple in style but eye-catching enough, were painted with unrefined but unusually glaring red paint or thick, heavy black lettering, bearing the words "Official Material Recycling and Points Exchange Point of Linchuan Base".

Next to the sign, there is usually a larger and more detailed notice board, with a white background and black lettering listing the categories of items that can be redeemed for points and their approximate price range.

Xu Xiaoyan paused briefly in front of a redemption point. It used to be a small, closed-down grocery store, but now the doors and windows were wide open, and the original shelves inside had been emptied, replaced by a few simple long tables and several large baskets piled in the corner.

Her gaze quickly swept over the huge notice board by the door. The list was clearly "designed" in some way, with clear categories and strong direction, aiming to make it understandable even to those with limited literacy:

[Metals]

In good working order (shovels, hammers, wrenches, pliers, saws, etc.): 0.5-2 points per kilogram, based on a comprehensive assessment of material, condition, weight, and usability.

Scrap metals (pipes, steel bars, machine parts, vehicle frames, waste hardware, etc.): sorted and recycled (iron, steel, alloys, etc.), 0.1-0.5 points per kilogram.

Specialty metals (copper wire, aluminum, lead blocks, small precision instrument parts, etc.): On-site inspection required, price negotiable.

【Fabrics and Thermal Insulation】

Unopened or brand new comforters, blankets, down sleeping bags, and thermal underwear in perfect condition: 1-3 points per item, depending on size, material, and filling amount.

Thick and durable canvas, waterproof fabric, complete tent (including frame): assessed based on area, condition, and functional integrity.

Clean old clothes (only thick coats, cotton pants, sweaters, warm hats and socks, etc. are recycled): large quantities are recycled, and the price is calculated by "bundle" or "bag". The clothes must not be obviously damaged or have serious stains.

[Energy and Chemical Engineering]

Unopened standard batteries (various models, capacity needs to be confirmed): Priced according to model, capacity, and shelf life.

Fuel, alcohol, kerosene, and lubricating oil that are properly sealed and clearly labeled: Strictly check the sealing performance and charge by the liter.

Solid fuel blocks and charcoal (dried): priced by weight.

[Lifestyle and Medical Categories]

Unexpired sealed packaged foods (staple foods, canned goods, compressed dry food, and condiments are preferred): assessed by type, remaining shelf life, and weight.

Unopened medicines (especially antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, wound care products, and medications for chronic diseases): High price for buyback, inspection required, price negotiable.

Small electrical appliances in good working order (flashlights, radios, power banks, headlamps, etc.): must be able to work normally and be tested on-site.

[Special Category]

Books, drawings, and technical manuals (especially those related to machinery, electronics, medical, agricultural, and chemical industries): Prices vary greatly depending on the scarcity, completeness, and practicality of the content.

Other items not listed but potentially valuable: ask on-site staff.

At the bottom of the sign, there are usually a few lines of smaller text as supplementary explanations and disclaimers: "The price of this exchange point fluctuates with market supply and demand and the overall needs of the base. The final interpretation right belongs to the Linchuan Base Materials Management Office. All transactions must be completed in real time through the official points system. Any form of fraud is strictly prohibited."

At the entrance of the exchange point, queues of varying lengths had already formed. People carried, shouldered, pushed, or even pulled their "valuable" belongings in homemade carts, anxiously waiting in the cold wind for their turn. The queues moved slowly, and the air was filled with a complex mix of anticipation, anxiety, reluctance, and numbness.

There are usually two or three staff members, wearing the base's uniform dark gray or navy blue, with expressionless faces, exuding a businesslike indifference.

They sat behind a long table, on which were placed tools such as a platform scale, measuring tape, hardness tester, simple circuit tester, and a recording terminal connected to the base's intranet.

They are efficient and follow a set procedure: take the item, quickly inspect it, weigh it, measure it, test it, and then quote a price with almost no room for negotiation.

"A cast iron pot with rust holes at the bottom, considered scrap metal, 0.6 points."

"This cotton-padded coat is too thin, the stains can't be washed off, we won't accept it."

"Two wrenches, one screw, totaling 0.8 points."

"Canned food? It's a year past its expiration date, I won't accept it."

If the customer agrees, the staff will operate the terminal and ask the customer to show their ID card or mobile phone. The points will be transferred instantly, and the items will be taken away by the workers behind them and thrown into the corresponding basket or carried into the back of the store, where there seems to be a passage to transport them directly. The whole process is fast and mechanical.

Those who disagreed could only mutter a few words under their breath, or blush and try to argue, but under the impatient urging of the staff and the dissatisfied gazes of the people behind them, most of them could only dejectedly drag their things away, their faces filled with disappointment and deeper worry. Perhaps they had overestimated the value of some items, or perhaps they could not accept that their cherished possessions were being measured so cheaply.

Xu Xiaoyan watched coldly from the sidelines.

She saw an old man with gray hair and a hunched back, his hands trembling, handing over an old axe that was well-maintained but still rusty. The wooden handle of the axe was blackened and shiny from the sweat of his hands, clearly indicating that it had been used for many years.

The staff member took it, casually weighed it in his hand, and then tapped the axe blade with a small hammer, producing a dull sound. He coldly announced, "One iron axe, heavily rusted, with a chipped blade and an old wooden handle. Consider it scrap metal. 1 point."

The old man's lips trembled violently, and an urgent light flashed in his cloudy eyes. He opened his mouth, as if to explain how many difficult days this axe had accompanied him, how much firewood it had chopped, and perhaps even used it for self-defense... But looking at the staff member's unmoved face, and hearing a few impatient coughs from the line behind him, he finally just slumped his shoulders, swallowed all his words, and nodded dejectedly and quickly.

He shakily raised his hand to complete the transaction, then staggered away from the group, his figure disappearing into the dim alley. The axe was casually tossed into a large tin barrel labeled "scrap metal" with a clatter.

On the other side, a young man who looked to be in his early twenties appeared cautious yet expectant. He carefully took out a small box wrapped in layers of tattered cloth from his arms, as if he were holding some fragile treasure.

Under the urging gaze of the staff, he untied the cloth bag, inside which were several well-packaged AA batteries and a multi-functional knife. Although the knife showed some signs of use, all parts were intact and the blade was still quite sharp.

The staff member picked up the batteries, checked the production date, tested the various functions of the knife, and then gave a price: "Five batteries, one knife, all in good working order, totaling 5 points."

The young man's face instantly lit up with uncontrollable joy, his eyes shining brightly. This was like a windfall for him. He nodded in agreement without hesitation, quickly completed the transaction, and, holding his phone, watched the amount deposited into his account before making a brisk exit from the crowd.

Another middle-aged man carried a large roll of thick, gray-green waterproof canvas. The edges of the canvas were worn, but the main body still looked sturdy and covered a considerable area. This may have been the roof of his shed, sheltering him from countless winds and rains.

The staff helped him unfold part of the canvas, roughly measured its length and width, and checked the aging of the fabric: "Old waterproof canvas, about 15 square meters in area, with some wear and tear, but overall acceptable, 3 points."

The man hesitated visibly upon hearing the offer. He stroked the rough canvas, his eyes filled with struggle, or perhaps a sliver of hope lingered in his heart—what if… what if he didn't go to the dungeon? But the harsh winds of reality quickly dispelled this unrealistic thought. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded heavily: "Sell!"

Xu Xiaoyan silently watched these silent tragedies unfold before her eyes. The base's official move was undeniably clever, even precise. It astutely grasped the most urgent needs of the people under immense survival pressure to "relocate lightly" and "revitalize abandoned assets," and promptly provided a seemingly legitimate and convenient official channel for monetization.

For the base, this was undoubtedly a win-win situation: it efficiently recovered a large amount of resources that were scattered among the people and might still have value at extremely low cost—metals could be smelted, intact tools could be redistributed, fabrics could be processed, and medicines and batteries were strategic materials.

At the same time, this channel also partially alleviated the chaos and dissatisfaction that the public might have caused due to panic and problems with the disposal of supplies, giving people a visible and tangible "point of hope" and "venting outlet".

However, this apparent "mutual benefit" is based on an extremely unequal power and bargaining power structure, with the base holding absolute pricing power, demand definition power, and final interpretation power.

What constitutes "valuable" and how valuable it is is entirely determined by them. The axe that carries the old man's memories of many years is only worth 1 point; while a few batteries and a knife are worth 5 points. The standard of measurement is cold and utilitarian, only related to the "utility" of the materials to the base system, and has nothing to do with the owner's emotions, history, or hard work.

For the vast majority of low-income residents who have nothing of value except scrap metal and old clothes, what they can get from this "official points redemption point" is probably just a drop in the ocean.

These meager points might be enough to tide them over and pay for the heating for the first few days, but they can hardly change their inevitable long and arduous struggle for survival in Dungeon E. It's more like a "pacifier" that the system provides to barely maintain its own stable operation while absorbing the last bit of resources from the people.

Xu Xiaoyan withdrew her gaze, turned aside to avoid the crowded and noisy crowd in front of the exchange point, which was filled with a complex atmosphere. Although the scene in front of her confirmed her judgment and revealed some of the logic of the base's operation, at this moment, the importance of this information had taken a backseat to her.

What she cares about most and urgently needs to confirm right now is that unresolved conjecture that could completely change her situation: does the underground city housing she requested really correspond to the permanent housing in Zone B, which has just been announced and is located at the highest open level of the underground city? If the conjecture is true, she can slow down her pace.