A few people in the group, who were introduced by Jing Shu, imdiately agreed. Others who had to hand over insects to Su Malie also agreed.
Jing Shu raised her eyebrows. She planned to et Qian Duoduo tomorrow to get so benefits, discuss so matters, and recruit more people, so she agreed as well.
But what should one give as a gift in this apocalypse for a classmate’s wedding?
"What gift did you give for Xie Zihao’s wedding?" Jing Shu asked Su Malie, who was still enjoying her ti in the shelter.
"I’m giving a pound of black pork. I just slaughtered half of our black pigs recently. They eat too much, and it’s hard to buy the red earthworms for their feed. If you feed them less, they lose weight, and a few even died during the recent earthquakes. It’s better to slaughter them and turn them into cured at." Even a tycoon like Su Malie was feeling the pressure of food scarcity, which said a lot about everyone else.
Last year, the country stored red worm cakes for a whole year. Due to frequent earthquakes this year leading to harvest failures, it had to consu these stored supplies. Next year, food control will be even tougher; even the at saved as a last resort has been brought out. It was truly a situation of extre scarcity.
Luckily, Jing Shu had told Uncle to slaughter all the black pigs, leaving only a few for breeding. Now, they sell piglets every six months and, relying on previously stored red earthworms, are managing quite well.
Then I’ll bring a pound of cured at, Jing Shu thought. She had various air-dried and cured ats at ho. Beef was worth much more than pork, but since she was on the sa page as Su Malie, it was fine if their gifts were similar.
「The next day」
Wearing a warm cotton coat and a modified leather hat, Jing Shu carried cured sausages tied with a festive "Happiness" knot in one hand and a briefcase in the other. She sat in the Maybach sent by Qian Duoduo, headed for Stone Garden.
It was the sa experienced driver, who familiarly opened the car door for Jing Shu. "Miss Jing, are you carrying cured sausages to attend a wedding?"
"Yes, I’m going to a classmate’s wedding feast. Since it’s the apocalypse, giving 200 coins as a gift would get beaten up, so I switched to cured sausages instead."
"Then this is really considered a hefty gift nowadays. Giving a bag of old rice is usually considered quite generous. But recently, Stone Garden has ventured into external expansions and opened a banquet hotel. Anyone who can hold a wedding in Stone Garden must be soone significant," the driver flattered Jing Shu a little.
"Is that so?" Jing Shu smiled. In the second half of the third year of the apocalypse, indeed only those with ans could afford to host weddings.
Xie Zihao’s wedding was at 12:00, so Jing Shu and Qian Duoduo had set their eting for 1:00, thinking she could attend the wedding and then discuss matters right after.
The wedding was held in Stone Garden’s large dining hall, where more than a dozen round stone tables and stone chairs were set up. Because there was magma underground, the stones weren’t cold but rather comfortably warm.
A stone stage had also been set up. Interestingly, a large red curtain was erected, and red lanterns hung everywhere. This level of decor was equivalent to a luxurious pre-apocalypse wedding.
At the entrance hung a photo of Xie Zihao and a woman in wedding attire. Two people were collecting gifts. A QR code was displayed, and there was a stand for various gift items, mostly bags of old rice or small bags of flour.
The most precious items were various condints, like vinegar and soy sauce, displayed prominently. Each bottle cost at least a few hundred Virtual Coins.
There were also so uncommon vegetables and unopened daily necessities, making the collection look like a small store. These gifts were high-standard for the apocalypse, though still less than what truly wealthy people could afford. Even the parties Su Malie casually held were of a higher standard; this wedding could only be considered middle-class.
When Jing Shu arrived, the two people collecting gift money were arguing with a group at the entrance. Upon approaching, Jing Shu realized, Oh, these are just a bunch of my high school classmates. Why are they arguing with people?
Soone with sharp eyes saw Jing Shu arrive and imdiately called out, "Jing Shu’s here! Quick, let Jing Shu settle this for us!"
Jing Shu was completely bewildered. "What’s wrong? Stop, stop, stop! Mu Xiaoxuan, you tell ."
The surroundings quieted down.
Mu Xiaoxuan then lowered his head, pointed at the two won collecting gift money, and said, "A few of us classmates discussed it. Considering the economically challenged among us, we decided we’d all give an economical and practical festive red earthworm gift package—a whole string is worth 3 Virtual Coins.
"That’s the standard for weddings these days.
"Moreover, we also said that those who are close friends with Xie Zihao could add other gifts... But who knew? When we brought the gifts, these two wouldn’t let us in. They said our gifts weren’t presentable enough, not even worthy of a seat at the feast. Plus, since we’re friends of the groom, they said we couldn’t just co to eat for free."
Jing Shu then saw that each person was holding a long string of red earthworms woven into the ’Happiness’ character. It could be eaten and was also decorative. Given the living conditions of these high school classmates, this gift was quite acceptable.
The two won collecting the gifts pointed to the platform behind them. "I’m not trying to be an, but look at what you’ve brought! Is anyone else giving insects as gifts? Who are you trying to offend? You can go in, sure. Look, there’s a table in the adjacent cafeteria. You can watch the proceedings from there, but there won’t be any food for you."
"Hey! If you thought our gifts weren’t good enough, you shouldn’t have invited us yesterday! We scrimped and saved, spending everything we had to get these, and you still look down on them? So people can’t even afford insects!" one of them retorted.
"Exactly! Doesn’t Xie Zihao know our families are struggling financially and we couldn’t prepare much?" another added.
Jing Shu gestured for everyone to quiet down and asked, "Where’s Xie Zihao? Why are the groom’s friends not allowed to freeload, but the bride’s friends are?"
One of the won eyed Jing Shu’s clean and appropriate clothes. Most importantly, Jing Shu had a healthy, rosy complexion and was even holding a piece of at. The woman explained, "The bride’s friends can, of course, because the bride is paying for the wedding. Didn’t Xie Zihao tell you? He’s marrying into her family. From now on, everything will belong to the bride’s side, so naturally, his friends can’t just freeload."
For a mont, all the high school classmates were stunned.
Even Jing Shu was taken aback for a mont. It was true that Xie Zihao ca from a wealthy background, but he hadn’t achieved much since the apocalypse began, gradually depleting all his food reserves. She’d heard that he recently sold his Banana District property for thousands of Virtual Coins, for so unknown reason.
"Who said that after I marry into the family, my friends can’t co for a free al?" a sowhat angry voice rang out. Xie Zihao, the groom, appeared. He was clad in red wedding attire and still had a relatively healthy complexion.
Trailing behind him was the bride, wearing sowhat worn Suhe Clothing, an embarrassed look on her face. The most striking thing about her was her weight; she had to be around a hundred kilograms, an extrely rare sight in the apocalypse.
So, Xie Zihao really was being kept by a rich woman, the classmates suddenly realized.
"Who said that?" Xie Zihao asked angrily again, turning his head to the bride. "Was it you?"
The bride shook her head awkwardly. "Zihao, please listen to my explanation... Food is so scarce now, and there are always people looking to freeload. But as long as it’s confird they’re your friends coming to congratulate us, then there’s no issue," she said, then gestured to the two won at the gift table.
"It’s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" one of the won quickly said. "Please, put your gifts here, write down your nas, and I’ll take you to your seats."
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