Survival in the Ice Age: My Billion-Dollar Hoard Chapter 4: Ordering 500 Banquet Tables at a Five-Star Hotel

De Hua and the two women pushed their heavily loaded carts back to the community, attracting the attention of many curious neighbors. He didn't care about being seen stockpiling supplies anymore. The two women already knew, so the news would inevitably spread.

If his only goal was to survive, he could sell all his assets and build an impenetrable fortress in a remote location. But he wanted revenge on the neighbors who had brutally dismembered him in his previous life. De Hua 's plan involved staying in the community and exacting a more personal form of vengeance.

His scheme hinged on a security company building an impregnable safe house for him. If that wasn't possible, he would fall back on constructing an underground shelter in an isolated area.

As they walked, neighbors commented on the large amount of supplies they were carrying. De Hua could already envision these same people trying to break into his home during the apocalypse. He had experienced their betrayal firsthand and was preparing to make them pay.

Back at the apartment building, an elderly lady known as Aunt Lin approached, eyeing the carts loaded with food and fresh meat. She often leveraged her small authority in the community to boss others around, and had previously taken advantage of De Hua 's connections to get discounted goods from the Walmart warehouse.

"Xiao Zhang, why did you buy so much? Is it from the warehouse sale? You can't use all of this yourself. How about sharing some with your neighbors?" she suggested with a smile.

Her grandson, Xiaohu, already had his hands on a box of imported chocolates worth over two hundred yuan. De Hua snatched it back without hesitation.

"Sorry, Aunt Lin, these are for my own use," he replied coldly. He had no time for niceties, especially with the apocalypse so close.

Aunt Lin's face turned sour. "You..."

Her grandson began to wail, demanding the chocolate. "You're a bad man! Give me back my chocolate or I'll hit you!" he shouted.

De Hua glared at him. "Say that again, and I'll slap you."

Xiaohu burst into tears, throwing a tantrum on the ground. Aunt Lin scolded De Hua , "How can you argue with a child over a piece of chocolate? Just give it to him. I'll pay you back later."

De Hua scoffed. With mobile payments so easy, her promise to pay later was obviously a lie. "I said these are for me. If you want chocolate, go buy it yourself!"

He waved to Fang Ting and Jolin , and they moved on. Aunt Lin's angry shouts followed them, but De Hua ignored her. Her family's supplies would run out quickly once the apocalypse hit, and without his help, their survival was unlikely.

Returning to his apartment, De Hua dismissed the women, who reluctantly left after he promised to treat them to dinner another time. They had hoped to find more evidence of his wealth but were disappointed by his lack of hospitality.

Alone, De Hua stored the supplies in his spatial storage, noting with satisfaction that the fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables showed no signs of deterioration after being stored overnight. This indicated that time in the space might flow more slowly or even be static.

He spent the rest of the night planning his next steps meticulously. He needed to secure food, warmth, and safety for the apocalypse.

"Food is the easiest to handle. I can stock up from the Walmart warehouse closer to doomsday to avoid suspicion," he wrote. "Heating is next. With power outages likely, a fireplace is essential."

He also considered reinforcing his home with thick steel or alloy plates to withstand potential attacks, drawing inspiration from security companies that built impenetrable safe houses for the rich. For medical supplies, he planned to leverage his connections to acquire a comprehensive stockpile.

The final piece was weapons. He needed to be prepared for the inevitable violence of the apocalypse. While he could obtain melee weapons and bows, acquiring firearms would be trickier.

Having outlined his strategy, De Hua took a long, hot shower and went to bed, sleeping fitfully but resolutely determined to be ready.

The next morning, he checked the supplies in his spatial storage and found that while fresh produce remained unchanged, the fish had died. This confirmed that living creatures couldn't survive long in the space, but it wasn't a major issue since the storage could preserve food indefinitely.

Inspired, he decided to test the preservation of cooked meals. He called Hongfu Tianxia, the best five-star hotel in Handong , known for its exceptional cuisine.

"Hello, Hongfu Tianxia Hotel. How can I assist you today?" the receptionist answered.

"I need to order food for a banquet lasting three days and nights. I'd like to book 500 tables of meals," De Hua said.

The receptionist was taken aback. "Please hold while I consult our manager."

A moment later, the manager, Chen Dingfang, came on the line. "Good morning, sir. My name is Chen Dingfang, manager of Hongfu Tianxia. May I have your name, please?"

" De Hua ," he replied.

"Mr. Zhang, a banquet of this scale is quite an order. May I ask for more details?" Chen inquired.

De Hua detailed his requirements, ensuring the hotel could meet the demand. They agreed on a price and delivery schedule, sealing the deal for what would be the most lavish and substantial stockpile of gourmet food, ensuring De Hua 's survival in both luxury and safety.