My courtyard shelter

2023 is destined to be a year of disasters.

Just after New Year's Day, the entire northern land, bounded by the Nanling Mountains, encountered an unprecedented cold wave.

Due to global climate disorder, the specific causes of this cold wave have been controversial, and there was no final explanation until ten years later.

Xu Dong had been staying in Luyang in his previous life and also experienced this cold wave.

Anzhou's location is awkward. It is at the intersection of the north and the south, but it does not have centralized heating. This unintentional mistake eventually led to the death of millions of people.

This shows the degree of danger of this cold wave.

…

On January 3, the highest daytime temperature in Yanjing had fallen below zero, breaking the lowest record since last year.

There was a big sun in the sky, but pedestrians on the street could not feel the warmth at all.

In fact, the weather forecast issued a red warning for the cold wave early in the morning.

However, the key information such as the duration of the cold wave and the lowest temperature was not detailed, and many words such as "maybe" and "perhaps" were used instead.

In the office of the security department, the long-lost heating has been restored, but the temperature is not very high, only about ten degrees.

The good thing about the north is that the heating facilities are complete and can be used at any time.

In Xu Dong's previous life in Luyang, in order to keep warm, the whole family squeezed into one quilt, covered with several quilts, and then relied on the brazier to survive.

"It's really too cold, my hands are frozen." Xiang Xin, who had just returned from patrol, complained. There was no heating at the north gate, so she could only go back to the office to relax.

Xu Dong poured her a cup of boiled water, "Drink a sip of water, you are still good, Chen Yang and others are on the night shift, and it will probably be colder by then."

"Humph, he deserves it. He insisted on changing shifts with me every day. Now it's good, it's better to freeze his nose off, and see how he can chase his girlfriend, hehe..."

Xiang Xin gloated.

Chen Yang recently talked about a girlfriend, and basically revolved around her during the day.

So he would rather work the night shift. After all, as long as the time is arranged well, he can secretly sleep for six or seven hours, which is enough.

Xu Dong shook his head: "Okay, stop joking. In this kind of weather, someone might die."

"No way?" Xiang Xin looked unconvinced.

"Why not? I estimate that the temperature tonight will most likely exceed minus 30 degrees. As long as you fall slightly, your life may be gone."

Xiang Xin widened his eyes and said in disbelief: "Minus 30 degrees? How is it possible?"

"Xiao Xiang, this is a cold wave. It is usually minus 17 or 18 degrees. When the cold wave comes, it will at least double!" Xu Dong explained.

"This..." Xiang Xin's face turned pale.

"Don't worry, I have already talked to Uncle Li to see if we can temporarily cancel the night patrol and resume it after the cold wave is over." Xu Dong comforted.

A male colleague interrupted and asked, "What did the section chief reply?"

"Uncle Li wants to discuss it with the branch. He is on the phone and will have the result soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Dong saw Section Chief Li coming over.

"Section Chief, has Director Du agreed?"

Section Chief Li smiled and nodded: "I agree. The weather is so cold now. There are probably not many people on the street. There is no need to patrol for the time being."

"Long live!" Xiang Xin couldn't help shouting.

The others were also full of smiles. Suspending patrols meant that they didn't have to work the night shift.

When everyone quieted down, Section Chief Li continued: "This time, all of us have to thank Xiao Xu. If it weren't for his reminder, even I wouldn't have noticed this matter. Xiao Xu was thoughtful."

"Pa pa pa..." Everyone applauded.

Xu Dong waved his hands quickly: "Hey, don't thank me. In the end, this matter still depends on the section chief to solve it. The section chief is the one who cares about us wholeheartedly."

Xiang Xin secretly stuck out his tongue. The boss's flattery was not good at all, which made people laugh.

Section Chief Li still looked very pleased. He encouraged Xu Dong in public and asked everyone to learn from Xiao Xu before leaving.

Not long after the old leader left, it was time to get off work. Xu Dong picked up the car keys and prepared to go home. It was so cold, and it was more comfortable at home.

"Xiao Xu, does my elder sister want to see you for something?" Gao Yuemei suddenly said.

Xu Dong stopped: "Sister Gao, what's the matter?"

"The milk powder at home is finished again. Can you get it here?"

Gao Yuemei's grandson had actually been successfully weaned a long time ago, but the supply of materials is difficult at the moment. In order to ensure the child's nutrition, the milk powder has not been cut off.

"I'm not sure either. How about I go back and ask for you?" Xu Dong replied.

"Then trouble you."

Gao Yuemei couldn't help but smile. Every time Xiao Xu said this, it meant that the milk powder was found. The only uncertainty was the amount of milk powder.

Sometimes it was one bucket, sometimes it was two buckets.

When he got home, the two sisters Keke were doing homework in the living room. Xu Dong touched their heads one by one, and then went to the basement to check the power storage equipment.

There was no heating installed in the courtyard, and it was all air-conditioned. In case of a power outage, the only way was to start the backup power supply.

Fortunately, the backup power supply was normal, and Xu Dong breathed a sigh of relief.

For the first dinner after the cold wave began, Xu's mother made a dried chicken hot pot, mainly because it was too cold, and it was the most suitable time to eat hot pot.

Xu Dong was sweating profusely while eating, and he also drank three cans of beer. It was really a long time since he had such a good time.

After dinner, Xu Dong drained all the tap water pipes at home to prevent them from freezing and cracking.

At the same time, he moved all the doghouses and chicken coops into the living room, also just in case. The low temperature of dozens of degrees below zero is not something that most animals can withstand.

He slept restlessly all night, and it was not until three or four in the morning that Xu Dong really fell asleep.

"Son, come out quickly."

The couple was sleeping in a daze, and was suddenly awakened by Xu's mother's voice.

At the urging of his wife, Xu Dong put on a coat and went out. The yard was not as cold as he imagined, which should be related to the closed environment.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"Why is there no water at home?"

Xu Dong rubbed his hands and explained: "I closed the water tank valve last night."

"I opened it, but there is still no water." Xu's mother said depressedly.

Xu Dong walked into the gatehouse, turned the valve again, and then suddenly slapped his head and said:

"The water in the water tank must be frozen. Air can't get in, so the water below can't flow out."

"What should I do? I still have to make breakfast later?"

"It's okay. I'll move a box of mineral water from the basement and use the mineral water to deal with it first." Xu Dong suggested.

Xu Ma nodded. Apart from this, there seemed to be no other good way.