"As for the price, how about calculating it based on the market prices from seven months ago?"
"A geothermal generator capable of producing 300 kWh had a factory price of around 2.5 million back then."
"Considering that your generator is more advanced and difficult to install, we're willing to offer you 3.5 million per unit."
"You can use this 3.5 million as credit to exchange for materials at the same market rates from seven months ago—cement, gasoline, diesel, medicine, food, and so on."
Ye Luoshuanghua sent a flurry of messages in one go.
From his wording, it was clear that he had an established trading system tailored for post-apocalyptic conditions.
"Seven months ago?"
Su Wu immediately focused on that specific time frame.
He thought back carefully but couldn't recall anything particularly significant happening then.
However, since Ye Luoshuanghua emphasized that date, it had to be an important turning point.
After a moment of contemplation, Su Wu asked directly.
"Did you know the apocalypse was coming seven months ago?"
"You didn't?"
Ye Luoshuanghua seemed genuinely surprised.
There was a brief pause before he continued typing.
"It wasn't exactly a secret."
"The Federal Academy of Sciences confirmed seven months ago that two extreme weather events—heat waves and cold waves—were imminent."
"But for the sake of social stability, the information wasn't disclosed to the general public."
He stated it matter-of-factly, as if it were just another bureaucratic decision.
But behind those calm, indifferent words lay the suffering of millions—families torn apart, homes lost, and countless people forced to flee as the coastal regions of multiple continents became uninhabitable.
If they had known earlier—even if they couldn't afford a private shelter—they could have at least moved inland before the crisis hit.
Instead, when the disasters struck, they were caught off guard, forced to flee in desperation, losing everything in the process.
Many never even made it out, their lifelong savings reduced to ashes, their bodies swallowed by the freezing sea.
Su Wu parted his lips slightly, but in the end, he only let out a quiet sigh.
Strictly speaking, he was no different from the people who had withheld that information.
Sure, his sources were different, but in the end, he benefited from the secrecy just the same.
The start-up funds for his shelter?
They came from selling his coastal city properties before the panic set in.
He wasn't in a position to judge anyone.
"Send me a price list from seven months ago."
"If everything checks out, we'll go with those prices."
He had suddenly lost the urge to negotiate.
Of course, part of it was because Ye Luoshuanghua's offer was already fair.
In the apocalypse, everything was a scarce resource.
While it was impossible to trade at pre-apocalypse prices, it was still better to have a standardized reference than to waste time haggling and hoarding.
"Understood."
"If you have any questions, ask me directly. It's best to finalize everything before tomorrow morning."
"Many of our locations are suffering from severe power shortages. Your generators could literally save lives."
A moment later, two documents appeared in Su Wu's inbox.
He clicked them open.
One was a detailed price list.
The other contained purchase limits and pricing adjustments.
This was normal.
Although the overall exchange was based on market prices from seven months ago, some items—such as live poultry, pigs, cattle, and sheep—were significantly more expensive to maintain in a shelter than in normal times. It wouldn't be reasonable to price them the same way as before.
At the same time, supplies in any shelter were limited. It was impossible to put everything up for trade. The so-called restrictions on quantity and types of purchases were essentially just a reflection of what was available. In essence, it was still barter at its core.
Despite these seemingly cumbersome conditions and restrictions, the actual prices listed in the document were surprisingly fair.
Live poultry was only about three times more expensive than before. Medicine prices weren't much different from those in regular pharmacies. Cement was listed at 20 yuan per bag, nearly the same as its pre-apocalypse factory price.
Sugar, salt, alcohol, oil—everything was available in large quantities, and the prices remained relatively low.
"Is this from official stockpiles?"
"...Incredible."
Su Wu's eyes scanned through the prices and inventory list, and a wave of jealousy hit him. For a moment, he didn't even know how to describe what he was feeling.
Just a while ago, when he had tried to buy a few dozen kilograms of sugar, he had been warned about stockpiling. Yet here, sugar was being sold by the ton, as if there was an endless supply.
He carefully reviewed the price list several times over the next half hour.
Eventually, he reached a conclusion.
Ye Luoshuanghua wasn't trying to scam him. The transaction was completely legitimate—and in fact, far more profitable than selling the excavator he had considered before.
This was a rare opportunity.
"Let's finalize this deal tomorrow."
"Two geothermal generators, a total of 7 million in supplies. Once I exchange everything, my shelter should rank among the richest small shelters in Jianghe City."
With that thought, Su Wu assigned a new task to the engineering robot in the mechanical manufacturing center.
He temporarily halted the ongoing construction work on the third underground floor and ordered the robot to prioritize manufacturing two geothermal generator units instead.
Upgrading both generators required 26 survival points—a hefty cost, but still manageable for him at this stage.
And in return, the supplies he would gain would allow him to expand his shelter exponentially.
At the very least, he could properly build the mechanical manufacturing center—which currently had only one engineering robot—and finally set up the breeding factory on the third underground floor.
After confirming a time and location for the delivery with Ye Luoshuanghua, Su Wu stretched, feeling a bit tired.
It was getting late.
He got up, walked to the living area, took a shower, and then went to bed early, making sure he would be well-rested for the next day's tasks.
The night passed peacefully.
The next morning.
Su Wu woke up to the simulated morning light emitted from the bedroom ceiling.
He sat up, feeling groggy, and remained in a daze for a moment.
As the last remnants of sleepiness faded, he reached for the tablet on his bedside table and checked the shelter logs.
The log showed that it would take three more hours to complete the second geothermal generator unit.
"Got up a little early..."
He yawned, debated going back to sleep, but ultimately decided against it.
Instead, he used the tablet to issue a remote command to the shelter's artificial intelligence.
He ordered a construction robot to drive the medium-sized truck—which was parked above ground—to Heavy Knight's shelter.
With all the chaos yesterday, he had almost forgotten about the electricity trade with Heavy Knight.
Now that he had time, he might as well take care of that first.