Winter 2019 approached. Li Wei ordered massive stockpiles of heating fuel, winter clothing, and insulation materials for both Fortress Zero and the Fujian island site.
Spend: 210 million RMB.
[Base 106×: +22,260,000,000 RMB]
[Wealth Aura: 1.44× bonus]
[Additional +9,501,600,000 RMB]
[Total inflow: 31,761,600,000 RMB]
Construction on the island accelerated: first underground shelter completed, disguised entrance hidden behind fake rock face.
Back at base, hydroponics yielded first full harvest — fresh lettuce, tomatoes, herbs. The team celebrated with a real salad — first fresh vegetables in months.
During the meal Tang Ning asked the question everyone had avoided.
"Boss… the family. How long do you plan to watch them suffer?"
Li Wei set his fork down.
"Until they feel every day what I felt falling from that roof. Until regret is the only thing left in their hearts."
Silence around the table.
Chen Hao spoke next. "Understood. We follow your lead."
PI report that night:
Zhang Mei hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Li Na sold her last piece of jewelry to cover the deposit. Father begged on the street for money — photos showed him kneeling in snow holding a sign: "Help an old man save his wife."
Li Wei stared at the images for a long time.
Then closed the file.
The apocalypse clock: less than 1,200 days.
Winter had only just begun.