Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Manager Chen looked at everyone's unyielding eyes and knew that he couldn't control them with just big principles. The staff couldn't be thrown into chaos, especially at this critical juncture.

He hesitated for a moment, a look of extreme difficulty on his face, and finally, as if he had made a great decision, he compromised and said:

"Alright, alright! I know everyone has their struggles. So, I'll take the risk and use my maximum authority: everyone can buy ten cases of bottled water and two hundred kilograms of rice and noodles at the internal price!"

This is the limit; any more is absolutely not allowed!

And it must be packed up and taken away immediately, so as not to affect normal business operations tomorrow!

This is truly the best I can do. I hope everyone can understand my difficulties!

Ten boxes of water and two hundred kilograms of rice and noodles—this amount is far from meeting the "stockpiling" expectations of every employee.

But given the current shortage of supplies and the prohibition of internal purchases, it's already quite good, at least providing a basic sense of security.

The noise gradually subsided, and everyone showed expressions of satisfaction or at least acceptance. No one made any further demands, since the manager had already given his consent, and if they continued to make a fuss, they might lose even this small benefit.

Everyone sprang into action immediately, rushing to the warehouse, skillfully finding the brands and specifications they wanted, moving out water tanks, and carrying bags of rice and flour.

The insider pricing made the atmosphere a little more relaxed, even giving it a "perk" feel.

Xu Xiaoyan mingled in the crowd and carried ten boxes of mineral water and four bags of rice weighing fifty kilograms each, just as instructed.

She found a supermarket shopping cart and transported the allocated supplies in batches. In the darkness, the group hurriedly pushed the creaking shopping cart, which was full of supplies, home.

As she entered the elevator, she happened to run into an older woman from the same building.

The older woman's eyes lit up instantly when she saw the mountain of bottled water and bags of rice piled up in Xu Xiaoyan's shopping cart. She asked, with a mixture of surprise and envy:

"You must be the girl from the 7th floor. Oh my, where did you buy this? I went to several supermarkets today, and not only is water rationed, but I couldn't even buy much rice!"

Where did you buy all this stuff in your car? Is it too late for me to go buy more right now?

Xu Xiaoyan's heart tightened, but she quickly forced a smile that was both tired and relieved, and naturally lied:

"Auntie, I was lucky. I got off work a little late today and happened to catch the last batch of restock at Zhonglian Supermarket. It was really hard to get my hands on it. I was all sweaty from the crowd. It would probably be too late to go now."

She sighed, as if it were just a stroke of good luck.

The older woman believed it and clicked her tongue in admiration, saying, "You young people are so quick and efficient," but her eyes never left the four bags of rice.

After the elevator reached the 7th floor, Xu Xiaoyan pushed the shopping cart into her apartment, put the rice and water into her storage space, and then pushed the shopping cart back to the supermarket to get the remaining bottled water.

The brief conversation just now reminded her that even the most ordinary neighborly greetings could be a subtle test. She had to be careful and not let herself become the focus of attention for others who thought she had "exceptionally abundant resources."

When Xu Xiaoyan returned to the supermarket warehouse to move the remaining bottled water, she found that the atmosphere at the warehouse entrance had become somewhat tense again.

Many employees did not rush to fetch water, but instead surrounded Manager Chen again, discussing something amongst themselves, their faces showing resentment and pleading.

"Manager, please make an exception! Ten boxes of water are too heavy, and they'll take up too much space if we carry them back. These days, even if there's a lockdown, it's unlikely that the water or electricity will be cut off, right? This water is really a bit of a waste."

"Yes, manager, could we apply to our superiors to change the water quota to rice or flour? Even a small amount would be helpful! Food is what really matters!"

"Yeah, yeah, rice and noodles are more practical, there's really no need to hoard so much water..."

After calming down, many people realized that in cities, the likelihood of drinking water shortages is indeed far lower than that of food shortages.

Ten cases of bottled water are bulky, heavy, inconvenient to move, and take up a lot of space to store. In comparison, rice and noodles, which are more durable and can be stored for longer, are obviously more popular and give people a greater sense of security.

However, this time Manager Chen was unusually resolute; he waved his hand wearily but firmly:

"No way! Absolutely not! Mineral water is mineral water, and rice and noodles are rice and noodles! The credit limit is set according to this, and it cannot be changed!"

"Take what you want, or give up what you don't! The rice and flour quota is limited, and it's already been distributed. I don't have any more, and I can't conjure them up for you!"

He knew in his heart that rice and flour were the real hard currency and the supplies that would be under the greatest pressure to ensure supply in the future. He absolutely could not easily loosen the restrictions again. Giving each person an allocation of 200 jin was already the limit.

Seeing that the manager's attitude was firm and there was no room for negotiation, everyone immediately wilted like eggplants hit by frost.

If we keep them, these ten boxes of water are like chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away.

I don't want to, but then I feel like I'm wasting the internal price discount, and it hurts to accept it.

Looking at the piles of bottled water in the warehouse, everyone's faces were filled with "heartache".

Just then, Xu Xiaoyan, who had been standing silently on the periphery of the crowd, suddenly brightened up.

What others see as useless is a treasure to her!

She has room to spare, and water is the source of life. What if the water quality becomes polluted or the water supply system really breaks down in the future? You can never have too much!

Her mind raced, and she immediately stepped forward, speaking in a soft but clear voice, as if offering merely a side solution:

"Um... Manager Chen, if everyone really doesn't want water and doesn't want to waste their quota... I can buy back everyone's bottled water quota by adding 5 cents per case of mineral water to the internal price."

As soon as she said this, everyone's eyes immediately focused on her, filled with surprise and doubt.

"Xu Xiaoyan, why do you need so much water?" A colleague with whom we usually have a good relationship asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"You'd have a hard time carrying ten boxes back by yourself, and you're accepting other people's? Could it be... some inside information we don't know?"

A hint of inquiry flickered in his eyes, and the others immediately perked up their ears, watching her nervously, afraid of missing any crucial information.

Xu Xiaoyan's heart skipped a beat, but she put on a somewhat embarrassed yet matter-of-fact smile and blurted out the words she had prepared beforehand:

"What inside information? You're overthinking it. It's just a distant relative of mine who runs a small shop in the countryside. Transportation there isn't very convenient, and it's hard to get supplies. He's just helping out because there's a shortage of goods in the city right now."

He asked me to see if I could find a way to get some goods. I thought it was fine since no one really wanted them and the internal price was cheap, so I figured I'd just do my relative a favor and save everyone from being in a difficult position.

She spoke naturally and earnestly, explaining why she needed a large amount of mineral water, and cleverly avoided the sensitive word "hoarding".