Lockdown Day 20: Lunchtime PCR
Today, I had the same breakfast as yesterday. Only I put a little more water in last night, so it came out a little less dry than before.
Today’s test conveniently happened just after noon, so I was taking a break anyway. Somehow they set up the testing area in a different part of the community today.
I passed by the community chalkboard, which told us the COVID precautions to take in wintertime. I guess these chalkboards are becoming a relic of the past. A while back, I took a tour of historic neighborhoods through Historic Shanghai, and in one neighborhood the guide pointed out the chalkboard, saying how this is how people used to communicate. So many people took pictures! Well, I live in such a neighborhood I guess.
After the PCR test, I was able to relax over lunch. I had cut up a potato and put it in the Xiaomi instant pot with the liquid of my seafood chowder and cooked it under pressure. After that was done, I added in the rest of the seafood chowder and put it on the “reheat” mode. Perfect seafood chowder, with added potato!
Today was a pretty long work day. And in the evening, we were told to come down to get another delivery!
This time it was a bit random: black mu’er 黑木耳 (wood ear fungus) from Dongbei 东北 region, and sugar. I’m a bit surprised that they’d give us sugar (not really a life necessity, I’d say) before giving us salt. But that’s fine.
I was chatting with my friend who is from Dongbei, and she told me that in the past they used to eat black mu’er in the wintertime, when there wasn’t any fresh vegetables. Perfect for me! This I can store anywhere, a huge bonus given how packed my fridge is, and how I have vegetables outside already spoiling.
After the delivery, I made a little dinner for myself. I stir-fried lettuce with some mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes with some egg and garlic. I made a single serving of white rice in the Xiaomi. I do think that I’m eating very healthily with so many vegetables, thanks to the neighborhood government deliveries.
At around midnight, I did another rapid test, to send to the group in order for it to be counted in tomorrow morning’s results for the entryway.
