The military families, who had grown up in coastal cities, were all on edge.
As soon as they heard the broadcast, they immediately dropped what they were doing and began preparing for what was to come.
Meanwhile, the majority of the military families from inland areas had mixed opinions.
Their understanding of the term "typhoon" was limited to just eight words: thunder, lightning, water outages, and power cuts.
So when the broadcast came on, these wives didn’t react much and carried on with their usual routines.
After finishing their chores, they gathered together and even joked about the situation.
"Hey, did you hear the broadcast this morning?"
"Of course we did—it was blaring so early!"
One of the wives yawned and said, "It’s already unbearably hot, and that broadcast ruined what little sleep I managed to get."
"Don’t worry, you can always take a nap later," another wife chuckled beside her. "But honestly, the weather’s been getting better these past few days. Doesn’t look like a super typhoon’s coming at all."
"Exactly! There’s not even a breeze—what kind of typhoon is this supposed to be?"
"Well, you all don’t get it," an elderly woman, Aunt Xiang, chimed in. "This is just like that saying, ‘Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one slip away!’"
Whether there was a typhoon or not, and no matter how strong it might be, the military had to notify everyone immediately. Otherwise, if something really happened, who would take responsibility when the higher-ups came asking?
"That makes sense," the others nodded, agreeing with Aunt Xiang’s reasoning.
Pleased with their approval, Aunt Xiang became even more animated.
"Last year, back in my hometown, it was the same. The commune leaders went door to door telling everyone to dig earthquake shelters, saying a major quake was likely!"
"Did you dig them?" the others asked curiously.
Aunt Xiang slapped her thigh. "Of course we did! Every household dug one!"
"We even lived in those shelters for over a month, and in the end—nothing happened! Just fed the mosquitoes!"
The moment she said this, the group burst into laughter.
The laughter was so loud that Jiang Si could hear it from several alleys away.
The elderly woman’s voice sounded familiar, but before Jiang Si could recall who it was, Hu Meili frowned.
"What’s wrong with Old Lady Xiang? The broadcast just explained everything clearly, and she’s still here laughing and joking. What’s she thinking?"
Xu Mingjuan looked surprised. "You know her too?"
Hu Meili immediately caught on. "I’ve heard of her, but we’re not close."
She then recounted an incident from a few days earlier.
"Aunt Xiang came to the commissary to buy canned goods, and I told her they wouldn’t be in stock until the next morning. She wailed about it for ages."
Xu Mingjuan wasn’t surprised. "She’s caused a scene at our logistics office several times too. I’ve explained to her that she doesn’t qualify for the military family benefits, so she has to buy grain at market price in town. But she wouldn’t listen and just kept arguing nonsense in the office."
Jiang Si finally remembered—it was her.
No wonder the voice sounded familiar.
It was the same old woman she’d met at the hospital before.
Suddenly, Jiang Si turned to Hu Meili. "Sis, isn’t your due date coming up soon?"
At the mention of her child, Hu Meili’s expression softened. "Yes, just a couple of days now."
Jiang Si nodded thoughtfully.
"Let’s hurry to the commissary. If we’re late, everything will be sold out."
Having worked at the commissary for years, Hu Meili knew better than anyone.
At the latest, the military would issue another detailed notice by tomorrow.
"Mm." Jiang Si wasn’t about to play the overbearing do-gooder either.
As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink."
The broadcast had already warned everyone. If they chose not to listen, then so be it.
Jiang Si wasn’t going to waste her breath.
Xu Mingjuan felt the same, especially after dealing with Aunt Xiang’s unreasonable stubbornness before.
She had waited so long for this child—she wasn’t about to risk any conflicts over this.
Just as the three of them headed to the commissary to stock up, another group arrived.
Seeing Aunt Xiang and the others still chatting away, someone immediately shouted,
"What are you all still doing here? Don’t you realize what’s happening?"
"What’s the matter?"
"What’s the matter? Haven’t you noticed the engineering company’s already cutting down all the trees in the residential area?"
The moment these words were spoken, the previously relaxed group suddenly tensed up.
Someone stood on a bench to look and gasped—the coconut grove on the east side of the compound was completely gone.
"It’s true—all the coconut trees have been cut down!"
Old Lady Xiang clicked her tongue in dismay. "Such fine trees! How could they just chop them all down?"
Now she wouldn’t be able to gather fallen coconuts anymore.
Those sweet, creamy coconuts were even better than the syrup in canned fruit.
The thought of having to buy them from now on made her scowl.
Meanwhile, the others were starting to look uneasy.
Especially when the woman who had called out earlier added that not only the engineering company but also the housing unit, guard company, transport company, and infantry company were all mobilized—digging drainage ditches and stacking sandbags outside the base.
Only then did the group realize the severity of the situation.
"Wait… so there really is a super typhoon coming?"
Old Lady Xiang was about to scoff when the broadcast suddenly blared again—this time, the announcer’s voice was far more urgent.
[Attention all military families! An emergency announcement follows!]
[According to the Fourth Division’s meteorological radar, a super typhoon is currently approaching Qiongzhou Island!]
[Estimated maximum winds exceeding Category 15!]
[Expected to make landfall in approximately three days!]
[All families must immediately reinforce doors and windows, stock up on drinking water and supplies!]
[Remain tuned to the broadcast for further instructions. If necessary, evacuation to the division headquarters auditorium will be required!]
The announcement repeated three times, and the residential area erupted into chaos.
Realizing the urgency, the wives rushed toward the military commissary.
By then, the commissary was already packed, with crowds swarming inside and out.
Jiang Si had arrived relatively early, so she only waited about ten minutes before getting in.
Supplies were still fairly well-stocked, and since she had brought enough money and ration coupons, she managed to buy almost everything she needed.
Not that it mattered much—she had plenty stored in her space anyway.
This trip was mostly for appearances.
Aunt Xiang and her group, however, weren’t so lucky.
By the time they arrived, the commissary shelves were completely empty.
Everything was sold out.
And there would be no restocking for days.
Old Lady Xiang was now filled with regret.
When she got home, she took out her frustration on her three granddaughters, snapping at them over every little thing.
Li Mei didn’t fare much better either. The moment she stepped into the yard, her mother-in-law, Old Lady Xiang, started berating her.
"Where the hell have you been? You vanished first thing in the morning."
"The compound’s broadcast has been blaring all morning, and you couldn’t even bother to check the supply store."
"Now look what’s happened—all the good stuff’s been snatched up by those women."
According to the gossip among the neighborhood wives, the typhoon would likely cut off water and electricity for at least half a month.
With the family’s food supplies already running low, only half a candle left, and barely any kerosene, what were they supposed to do?
The more Old Lady Xiang thought about it, the angrier she got, and she launched into another tirade.
"All you do is either laze around at home or disappear who-knows-where."
"Chunsheng must’ve been cursed for eight lifetimes to end up with a wife like you."
At that, Li Mei pursed her lips, her expression full of resentment.
It was this wretched old woman who’d told her to rest up and not worry about a thing lately.
Now that they’d missed out on supplies, how was it suddenly her fault?
She seethed inwardly but had no choice but to submit outwardly.
"Mom, I wasn’t feeling well earlier, so I went to the hospital to get checked."
There was no denying it—carrying this golden child in her belly had its perks.
Ever since she’d claimed this pregnancy was a boy, the old woman’s attitude toward her had noticeably improved.
Even her husband had started acting more considerate.
Not long ago, he’d even—unthinkably—brought her a basin of foot-washing water.
In the past, Li Mei wouldn’t have dared to dream of such treatment.
Back in her hometown, even laundry had to be done men’s clothes first, then women’s.
Especially women’s undergarments—those were absolutely forbidden from being placed on top of men’s clothes.
Not only was it considered bad luck, but the in-laws would assume you were trying to dominate your husband.
So the fact that she had it this good now was all thanks to the baby in her belly.
Sure enough, the moment Old Lady Xiang heard she wasn’t feeling well, the scolding stopped.
"What’s wrong? Weren’t you fine just the other day?"
