I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 143 - 141 Mo Qingyan’s Malicious Intentions (Extra Update)

Chen Xin, who had put on his protective gear again, and Qin Lan together carried away the carton that two SWAT team members had delivered just now, leaving Qin Lan’s room, ready to find Mo Qingyan for a booze exchange.

But Qin Lan didn’t lead Chen Xin out the way they came in before. Instead, she took him through the hall, went around through a passage to another elevator room, and then took the elevator to the first basement level.

"The entrance we came in through before is specially for vehicle traffic; this one is the personnel entrance and exit." Carrying the box and walking out of the elevator with Chen Xin, Qin Lan introduced the situation: "Previously, you could take the elevator directly to the ground, but now, after cooling, you can only go to the first basement level and then walk out via stairs."

Chen Xin nodded in understanding, but he curiously pointed to a deep-looking passage aside, asking Qin Lan: "Is this the underground passage you mentioned earlier? Where does this lead to?"

"That’s the way to the city hall. From here, even walking can get you there quickly. As for over there, it’s the route to the shopping center, but it’s not finished yet, so it’s unusable. Otherwise, going that way to Qingyan’s house would be faster," Qin Lan explained, pointing to another passage.

"Is there another passage leading to the surface over there?" Chen Xin was intrigued. Even if that route led closer to Mo Qingyan’s house, it wouldn’t warrant a special path; you’d still need to go from the surface.

However, Qin Lan shook her head: "Not really. It’s just that if you go through that way and reach the shopping center’s shelter, then out from there toward Qingyan’s house, it’s closer. You forgot how before you’d take the bus to the shopping center then walk over to Qingyan’s."

Qin Lan’s words made Chen Xin knock his head, lamenting: "It’s just been a few months, and I’ve already forgotten that Long’s house is closer to the shopping center."

Upon hearing Chen Xin say that, Qin Lan couldn’t help but sigh: "Things before the disaster are probably something many people are unwilling to recall, right?"

Regarding Qin Lan’s sigh, Chen Xin didn’t know how to respond. He could only carry the box together with her, leaving the underground using the stairs leading to the surface.

Once the two reached the surface, they felt the impact of strong winds sweeping past, even as they carried a box. The wind caused them to sway before stabilizing, and the box they were holding quickly gathered a layer of snow.

Chen Xin pressed his protective mask, turned on the headlamp he was wearing specifically for this, wiped away the snow and ice on the surface, and looked at Qin Lan, gesturing for her to move forward.

Qin Lan nodded, didn’t speak, just raised her hand to make an OK sign, and gestured for Chen Xin to advance.

The two walked forward, stepping through the thick snow, sinking deeply with each step.

Due to the strong wind and Chen Xin not having a radio with him, neither of them talked. They solely communicated through gestures.

However, with Chen Xin’s headlamp illuminating their surroundings, there was no risk of getting lost.

Mo Qingyan’s house wasn’t far from the city bureau’s shelter. Despite the difficulty of walking in the snow, they managed to arrive at Mo Qingyan’s home with the box in half an hour.

"Ah Lan? Ah Xin? Why on earth did you both suddenly pop over?" Upon entering Mo Qingyan’s shelter and Chen Xin and Qin Lan removing their masks, Mo Qingyan was greatly surprised.

"I came to help the SWAT team install a geothermal pump. Ah Lan’s colleagues asked her to swap alcohol, so I tagged along," Chen Xin explained to Mo Qingyan why he was there, then pushed the box he and Qin Lan had brought toward Mo Qingyan.

Qin Lan took out a tactical knife, cutting open the box, and said to Mo Qingyan: "The team wants to drink, so they pooled together these things. I’m not sure what they gathered; Qingyan, you decide. Just grab a couple of bottles of booze for me to take back to them."

Only then did Mo Qingyan understand the situation and squatted down to see what was inside the box Qin Lan opened.

"Energy bars, standard rations... basically, it’s these. They must’ve brought over any rations they had left over," Qin Lan glanced inside the box and quickly concluded.

Even SWAT team members didn’t have much to barter with in this post-apocalyptic world; these rations were likely what they saved from their own mouths.

The abundance of energy bars made that clear enough—they probably took out all their own energy bars, added additional standard rations scrapped together, and cobbled together this box.

Seeing the box full of items, Mo Qingyan found it a bit laughable, yet after counting them, she told Qin Lan: "These things are okay. Ah Lan, what kind of booze does your team enjoy? I have foreign liquor, stronger ones like vodka and whiskey. Shall I give you one... No, two bottles of Red Label."

Upon Mo Qingyan changing her mind, Qin Lan shook her head directly, saying: "One bottle is enough; after all, you mix whiskey with water. One bottle of liquor is enough for them to mess around with. No need to think you owe me face and give as extra."

Seeing Qin Lan say so, Mo Qingyan didn’t argue, merely nodded and asked Mo Qingxin to fetch the liquor.

The three sat in the living room of Mo Qingyan’s house, and Chen Xin asked Mo Qingyan: "Long, about last time we talked about the geothermal pump, how’s your consideration?"

"Hmm, I’ve thought it through. Better to install one. Wait for the weather to get a bit better, and Xiaoxin and I will dismantle the AC’s outdoor unit and bring it over to you," Mo Qingyan had indeed given the idea serious thought after Chen Xin mentioned it last time, finally deciding to install a geothermal pump.

Upon hearing her say so, Chen Xin happily nodded: "Alright, when the farmer fulfills his promise of two sets of aquaponics systems, I’ll assemble everything and send it over."

"Thanks for the food in advance." Mo Qingyan nodded, smiling, but looking at Qin Lan sitting beside Chen Xin, she deliberately joked: "Since the deal is settled, I’ll send Xiaoxin over to you afterward."

Upon hearing this, Qin Lan felt a bit strange and quickly asked Mo Qingyan: "Qingyan, why are you sending Qingxin to Ah Xin’s place?"

"Eh? Didn’t Ah Xin tell you? Besides materials, there’s Xiaoxin in the exchange deal I made with him!" Mo Qingyan mischievously looked at Chen Xin and Qin Lan, sighed purposefully: "Sigh, wanting to swap with Ah Xin, you need something good, right? I can only add my sister to the count."

Hearing Mo Qingyan say that, Chen Xin’s face turned green all of a sudden.