After that sandstorm passed, life did not experience any major turmoil. Except for the drought, people's lives are trying to move towards the end of the world, although it may not be possible to return to the past in a decade or two. The standard of living is low, but it has adapted to the current alternation of cold and heat. Under the government's methodical reconstruction, this residential area is becoming more and more perfect like a city.

After the winter without snow that year, the subway officially opened. It is said that there are plans to build underground bullet trains, trying to connect to other cities from the ground. Once public transportation resumes, it will be of great importance to the reconstruction and economic recovery of the entire country. Progress, but this project is too large, especially the geological requirements are very high, site selection and so on are very difficult things.

However, according to the news brought back by some commercial convoys, the country has not been completely closed in the past few years. In the chaotic natural disasters and civil strife in other countries, many national treasure-level leaders in scientific research in our country or other countries have been rescued. At this moment, all the treasures are secretly gathered together, as if they are building a city of refuge built with the strength of the whole country.

As for where this refuge city is, there are many opinions. Most people think that this refuge city should be in the capital.

After all, the core power of the country is in the capital. When supplies are scarce and food is not enough these years, the capital has brought food to survive the most difficult period. The highest command and order that every city obeys is still issued from the capital. , so everyone took it for granted that the city of refuge should be built in the most important place in the country.

But some people think that the city of refuge may be built deep in the ground somewhere. The climate on the ground is too harsh. Because of the geological environment in their country, there are not many volcanoes, so they have experienced more hardships after the earthquake. In addition to the natural climate, there are some landslides and tsunamis caused by earthquakes.

Some other countries were swallowed by volcanic magma almost in the blink of an eye, or became submarine civilizations, which were perishing without even a chance to escape.

No one knows whether this kind of thing will happen again in the future, or what is more difficult for human beings because of the eruption of those volcanoes. It is better to avoid the land and build the refuge city directly underground, at least underground. Drive to extreme heat and cold.

Some people even fancifully think that maybe the refuge city is built on the bottom of the sea, just like the scenes in those science fiction movies, there is a huge technology city on the bottom of the sea, with a high-tech protective cover, so that even if the glaciers melt and the sea water pours back, they themselves It's on the bottom of the sea, so there's nothing to worry about.

Before there is no official announcement of the exact news, all kinds of speculation can only be speculation.

But maybe there are too many specious news like this, and these rumors have a central point, that is, the country is devoting everything to building shelters, and I probably know in my heart that no matter how difficult the environment is, no matter how difficult the future is for all kinds of terrorist speeches. Many, the power of the country is still there, so people have not given up hope of survival.

Because the government has been conveying this kind of cognition to the people, no matter how difficult life is, those who can survive will not give up easily.

The winter without snow that year was the beginning of the extreme drought. At first, people were still expecting snow, but when the temperature dropped to 50 or 60 degrees and there was still no snow, many people gave up their expectations and turned to the The target is placed on the ice outside. Ice on the ground, on the wall, on the wires, as long as it is ice, it will not be missed if it can accumulate.

The frozen water cannot be eaten or drunk, but at least it can be used for bathing and washing clothes.

The winter of that year was survived in this way, but in summer, there was no low temperature freezing, and the water was even more difficult. They even built public toilets in each community, so that many people would not have domestic water at home, which is also convenient. The secondary utilization of turning waste into treasure means that when people go to the bathroom, they are very tormented.

Moreover, there are many mosquitoes in summer, which increases the infection rate even more. Fortunately, the production of insect repellents has increased. Those who have jobs will be distributed regularly by their work units. Those who do not have jobs can buy according to the quota with their ID cards.

But even so, many people infected with parasites still die every year. Some people think that they are lucky or don’t go out, so they sell their quota for buying medicine, and when it’s their turn to need it, they can’t buy it. Can only wait to die.

In the past three years, people's life has become more and more difficult because of the lack of water. Because of the lack of water, many sanitary conditions cannot meet the standards, and more and more people are sick.

Many people couldn't stand such an environment, and believed all kinds of comments on the Internet, so they fled to the capital, thinking that if they went to the capital, they would have hope of survival.

Some left, and naturally some came. Those original coastal cities were submerged one after another, and people had to migrate upwards. Some chose to pass by here, and some chose to stay temporarily.

In fact, compared with many provinces and cities, their living conditions here are very suitable for living. They are not too far north, so the water supply can barely survive, and they are not too far south.

The water they use now is not all groundwater, but also seawater transported from coastal cities in winter.

The sea water freezes in winter, and the ice cubes formed are fresh water that can be used directly. Coupled with the low temperature climate, the cost of luck is not too high, so people are busy storing water throughout the winter. It is getting shorter and shorter, and the storage capacity of a few months cannot supply a whole year of heat, so water is still in short supply. The wells built by Qinhuai and others at a high price also played a strong role in this difficult drought period. Although the groundwater was getting less and less due to the extraction of government machines, how could they accumulate a few barrels of water every day to ensure the food and drink at home? Washing is barely enough, at least during the three years of drought, they did not suffer too much from water.

Jianchu's noodle shop has been unable to sell noodles since last year, because of the water problem, even the water that can be pumped from their own well is not enough, so there is no way to sell soup noodles, so Jane At the beginning, I changed from a noodle shop to a steamed bun shop, selling steamed buns and kang cakes, but the business was not too good, and I could barely make ends meet.

His family is not the only one who sells food here, the only advantage is the price, because Mu Nan has always grown vegetables at home, raised rabbits and chickens, batches of rabbits have grown up, chicks have matured, and the accumulated eggs , as well as chicken and rabbit meat, which are basically sold to them at the cost price, so the price of this takeaway cannot be compared with other stores.

But now these businesses are going to stop slowly, Qin Huai told them that they are going to leave.

But when they were planning to leave, something happened that everyone knew that there would be a day, but they didn't want this day to come, that is, Niuniu was getting old and it was time.

In fact, Song Jia already had a hunch these days that Niu Niu was very old, almost thirteen years old.

Life is not good these years, and Niuniu is also suffering. There is no nutritious dog food, no supplements to supplement bone hair, calcium tablets, and health products that protect the heart and joints. Eating rice and steamed buns, and because of the bad environment, I can only stay at home often, and it is not bad to run in the yard occasionally.

It is really not easy to live to the age of thirteen without any serious illness.

Seeing Niu Niu, who suddenly lost her appetite and was lying on the ground with no strength to move, Song Jia hurriedly called Xu Ming. As Xu Ming shook her head gently, she had to accept such a fact that people didn't want to face .

Niuniu, who understands humanity, may also know that her time is up. Although she is reluctant, she still licks Song Jia's palm with her tongue to comfort her silently, and stares at her master without blinking, as if she is taking advantage of her strength. When you go to see it, well, take a second look at the person you love the most.

Mu Nan made a small cake out of chicken, beat it into a meat paste, and put a small candle with the words thirteen years old on it. Although it was two months before Niuniu's thirteenth birthday, they wanted to give it to Niuniu in advance.

Niu Niu has been unable to eat for the past two days. Xu Ming said that because of her age, the dog's heart can no longer bear the load, and every breath is painful, let alone eating.

But seeing this birthday cake and listening to the birthday song sung by the owner while crying, Niuniu got up tremblingly, rolled her tongue out and ate two mouthfuls of chicken paste.

Mu Nan couldn't bear this kind of scene, he was afraid of seeing Niu Niu close her eyes, so she watched Niu Niu lying on the ground again after eating two bites of chicken cake, and hid on the balcony.

Qin Huai gently pinched the back of his neck, and sighed softly: "Their lifespan is only so long, there is no way around it, Niu Niu is already very happy, in this world, she can still be with her master for so many years, never Having experienced abandonment, it has no regrets."

Mu Nan hugged Qin Huai and couldn't help crying: "I can't bear it, woo..."

Qin Huai patted him on the back: "Okay, okay, stop crying, if you cry again, your eyes will be swollen."

However, Qin Huai's consolation didn't help, because Song Jia's burst of crying came from inside the room, causing Mu Nan to hold Qin Huai and cry miserably. For so many years, this was the first time Mu Nan cried until he choked.

Although Niuniu is not his dog, since Niuniu was put in his house for the first time, she followed him step by step, and then she threw herself on him when she saw him and got close to him. It is also very emotional to make chicken cakes and get along with each other for so many years.

How can I bear the sudden loss of a little life by my side?

Because Niu Niu's situation was not right two days ago, they were more or less mentally prepared. Wu Zheng also asked about the burning in advance. It was impossible for them to bury Niu Niu anywhere. Niu Niu's ashes are sealed in a pendant to accompany her forever.

Xiao Zhu, who has already started school this year, only found out that Niu Niu was gone after school. He cried so hard holding Niu Niu's body that was no longer warm.

Xiaozhu hugged his uncle's neck and cried out of breath: "Woo... from now on, I will call Niu Niu, and Niu Niu will never, ever run towards me again..."

Niu Niu was cremated, and Song Jia took away Niu Niu's ashes in a small bottle the size of a palm. The atmosphere in the small courtyard was depressed for several days, but there was not much time for them to be depressed, because they were about to start preparing to leave .