Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

If you choose to pay by the day or by the month, you're just wasting those days when you're busy running around looking for opportunities.

The hourly rate, which charges based on usage, may seem more expensive than a monthly subscription, but it offers the greatest flexibility and best suits her current expectation of "using it only when needed and leaving immediately after use."

She didn't want to create a fixed expense on any unnecessary projects, even if it was only 0.1 points per day.

Xu Xiaoyan clicked to confirm the time-based billing mode.

The system prompts that a fee needs to be paid in advance, with a minimum prepayment of 1 point for deduction. You can renew or change the mode at any time before the balance is used up.

She confirmed again that 1 point had been deducted from her account.

After the payment success message popped up, the phone's Wi-Fi connection status icon finally lit up, showing that it had connected to "Dungeon Area Network C".

Then her base app was automatically upgraded and renamed "Dungeon Integrated Services".

She couldn't wait to reopen the app, and this time, it loaded smoothly and she entered the main interface.

The interface style is similar to the one she used on the surface, but it seems simpler and the functional modules are different, clearly a version redesigned for the dungeon environment.

She quickly browsed through it and found several main sections, including "Dungeon Announcements," "Personal Information/Points Inquiry," "Regional Network Communication," "Service Application," "Regional Map," "Rules Inquiry," and "Forum Discussion."

She first clicked on "Dungeon Announcements," and the latest posts were about the resettlement of the new batch of personnel in Area C, adjustments to the usage time of public facilities, and most importantly—

Emergency announcement regarding the continued extreme surface weather, the temporary closure of all surface access points, and subsequent relocation plans pending further notice.

This confirms the accounts of those who were soaked to the bone last night after being caught in the blizzard.

Next, she tried to search in the "Service Application" section, but did not see a clear entry for "Mobile Vendor Permit Application" or similar terms. Either the entry was hidden deep or had access restrictions.

Then, she clicked on the "Forum Discussion" section. The interface redirected, and the loaded page was completely different from the bustling ground-based forum she remembered, filled with various transaction information, help requests, and gossip.

The first thing that catches the eye is the extremely low overall activity level. The number of posts displayed on the forum's homepage is not large, and the latest posts may have been published several hours or even a day ago.

The number of replies to posts is also very small, often zero or only one or two.

The posts are mostly very "practical" and "urgent": for example, "Water purifier #3 in Zone C-9 seems to be malfunctioning, has anyone reported it for repair?"

"I'd like to exchange my temporary work voucher for Zone C next month, using my two-day kitchen access in Zone C."

"A lost gray hat for a child is available in the C-5 to C-7 corridor. A reward will be given for its return."

"Warning! Suspicious individuals are loitering in area C-12 at night!"... These are all the most direct survival-related information and extremely simple barter or lost and found notices.

There are almost no casual chats, complaints, emotional exchanges, or lengthy discussion posts. The entire forum is filled with a tense atmosphere where words are used sparingly.

Each post reads like a brief survival report or a deal offer, with no redundant information, no emotional outpouring, and even very few emoticons.

The level of activity on the ground is incomparable to that of before.

Xu Xiaoyan understood. Paid internet access was like an invisible fence, reducing most people's internet usage time to the bare minimum.

Points are being consumed every minute and every second, so who has the time to chat and post nonsense on the forum?

Information here becomes a luxury that requires cost to acquire and disseminate, and communication naturally becomes more purposeful and concise.

This is not just a matter of decreased activity, but a fundamental change in the entire community's communication patterns and information ecosystem.

She closed the forum application, her feelings were somewhat complicated.

The online fee system and the resulting extremely low activity level made her realize that the difficulty and cost of obtaining information and establishing connections in the dungeon far exceeded her expectations.

She might have hoped to gather more grassroots information and experience about "mobile food trucks" through the forum, but now those hopes seem slim.

People are reluctant to even go online, so why would they easily share potentially valuable information?

"If the mountains don't move, the water will. If the waterway is blocked, there's still a land route." Xu Xiaoyan refused to believe that there would be absolutely no way to obtain specific registration information about the "mobile food truck" permit in Zone C.

Official online channels are temporarily closed, and information passed around by word of mouth is difficult to verify and points to the daunting "background" threshold, but this does not mean that all paths are blocked.

She stopped and stood in the middle of the washroom corridor, carefully observing her surroundings.

Overhead cameras, corner cameras, and intersections... these surveillance cameras, whether overt or covert, cover most of the public areas.

Their red indicator lights flashed faintly in the dim light, reminding everyone under them: you are being recorded. This is both a security measure and a form of ubiquitous surveillance.

Her gaze eventually fell on the wall on one side of the passage, where there were several small doors side by side marked with a common symbol.

Based on common sense about the setup of surveillance cameras in general public areas and the fleeting glimpse she had just seen, she judged that there was most likely no camera inside this private bathroom, which involves privacy.

There, perhaps, a very brief and relatively isolated "operation window" can be provided.

She chose a single room next door that was marked "Disabled Toilet," which was the furthest back and the least used single room.

She first pressed her ear against the door to listen, making sure there was no sound inside, before quickly turning the doorknob, slipping inside, and locking the door behind her.

In the cramped space, there was only one energy-saving light bulb overhead, and the air smelled faintly of cleaning agents mixed with a musty odor.

Most importantly, there was absolutely no trace of any cameras here.

It's safe now, at least temporarily.

Xu Xiaoyan leaned against the cold door panel, and then, with a thought, an unopened pack of brand-name cigarettes appeared in her hand.

The hard cardboard box packaging was well preserved, but the whole carton of cigarettes was too conspicuous.

Right now, a newcomer who has just arrived in Zone C pulls out a whole carton of cigarettes?

This is practically a blatant admission of "I have a problem." What she needs is "the right amount"—enough to show sincerity and "connections" without arousing excessive greed and suspicion.

She quickly tore open the plastic seal of the entire carton of cigarettes, threw six packs into her backpack, and opened the remaining four packs to "reassemble" them:

The forty cigarettes were repackaged in small plastic bags, with two cigarettes per small pack.

In this way, she received about twenty small plastic bags, each containing two cigarettes.

This looks like it was obtained piecemeal from someone with "connections," or something saved up for future exchange.

She divided the small plastic bags of cigarettes into five smaller bags and stuffed them into an easily accessible pocket on the outside of her backpack.

Then came the chocolates. She took out a box containing several individually wrapped milk chocolates, and again, the whole box was too abrupt.

She opened the large box, took out forty individually wrapped chocolates, and scattered them haphazardly into a hidden compartment in the main compartment of her backpack, mixing them with the coarse bread.

She tossed the large boxes of cigarettes and chocolates back into her storage space.

After doing all this, she checked her backpack one last time.

He then checked his expression and clothing in front of the mirror behind the bathroom door, making sure he still looked like an ordinary new resident struggling to make a living.

Then, she took a deep breath, turned the door lock, and returned to the public passageway covered by surveillance cameras.

Xu Xiaoyan recalled that yesterday, when she was looking for a rental place and a restroom, she caught a glimpse of an inconspicuous semi-open counter with a sign that read "City C Comprehensive Service Consultation" at the intersection of a relatively spacious passageway.

There are usually uniformed staff on duty there to handle residents’ daily inquiries, complaints, lost and found, and perhaps also… inquiries about certain information and the distribution of forms?

She didn't know if the "mobile food truck" permit application was processed there, but it was undoubtedly a window into the official services of Zone C and the place where she was most likely to get authoritative information and guidance.

Even if they don't handle it directly, the staff there are most likely to know where to go, who to contact, and what conditions are required.

She slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked toward the "service counter".

The passageway gradually filled up, and a new day in Zone C began in a dull rhythm.

People hurried about, their faces mostly bearing the numbness or anxiety of the pressure to survive.

Xu Xiaoyan mingled in the crowd, her eyes scanning the front and sides warily, while mentally rehearsing the possible conversations and coping strategies that might follow.

If you ask directly, "How do I apply for a mobile food truck license?"

Wouldn't that be too direct, too revealing of her intentions? She figured she'd be dismissed before she even had a chance to offer any "benefits".

Should we use a roundabout approach?

Start by asking some more general questions, such as "How to legally earn extra points in Zone C" or "What are some officially recognized small businesses or services?" and observe their reaction and attitude.

If the other party is willing to talk more, then gradually steer the conversation toward "mobile services" or "street vendors".

If the other party is clearly impatient or indicates that they don't understand, stop at the appropriate time and don't force them.

The key lies in observing people's expressions and knowing how to maintain appropriate boundaries. You need to show enough interest and sincerity, but avoid appearing too eager or ignorant of the rules. At the same time, you must always pay attention to your surroundings to avoid being targeted by people with ulterior motives.

As she walked further, the passageway gradually widened and the light became brighter. Finally, after rounding the last bend, she saw the service counter.

It was an area partially enclosed by light gray synthetic material panels, about four or five meters wide.

Behind the counter sat two or three staff members in light blue uniforms, two women and one man, who all looked quite young.