"Okay, okay... I get it," Jing Shu said, a headache forming. This kid is so foolish. Why bother reasoning at a ti like this? Can argunts even solve anything? And who knows when those procedures would finally be completed?
Moreover, as Jing Shu had walked along, she hadn’t seen anyone who looked well-off waiting in line. Even if the small surrounding cities definitely had so people with cars or other ans of transport, what did that imply? It ant they must have gotten in through connections. Wu City wasn’t refusing people; it prioritized those who could support themselves, only gradually settling those who couldn’t. After all, every mouth was another al to provide. How could Wu City possibly take in so many refugees at once if there wasn’t enough food?
Jing Shu then pulled out two large handfuls of fragrant fried rice, stuffing one into each man’s hand. Just as their awareness slackened slightly, she employed the Magic Cube Space’s hypnosis. "Gentlen, please be flexible. We’ll complete the procedures later. Just let us pass for now, alright?"
For people with strong willpower, distracting them first increased the success rate of hypnosis. Besides, there were other people behind them. Jing Shu couldn’t just march up and declare, "Hey you, let this old lady pass!" could she?
The two n’s expressions went a bit vacant. Under Xiao Zhao’s stunned gaze, one of them said, "Alright, just rember to complete the procedures afterward."
The other one said, "Co with ; let’s take a different path."
Xiao Zhao was incredulous. Was it really that simple? It wasn’t until Jing Shu called him that he snapped out of it and hurried to follow and start the minibus.
This was just a small episode, but Jing Shu realized the severity of the problem. Wu City was about to face a critical shortage of food and essential supplies. During the New Year, they could still eat Insect Cakes, but now, with so many people flooding into Wu City, where would the grain co from? If the governnt ran out of food, what would happen then? Back in the third year, Jing Shu had experienced a grain levy; each district had to contribute supplies worth one million Virtual Coins. If it hadn’t been for Li Yuetian’s backing and her joining Stone Garden, which donated supplies, she might have had to contribute as well. Now that the situation was becoming critical, the governnt would surely resort to "harvesting leeks" again.
Moreover, the current wave of migrants was still from the smaller cities. Many days had passed. Before leaving, Jing Shu had been monitoring the situation in Ningshan City, a city with a million people. Qingshui Town and Candle Fire Town in that area were also at low elevations and almost completely subrged. That would be another major problem soon. It seed the severe food shortage had actually begun in the fourth year.
The minibus crawled along the muddy road, its progress exceptionally sluggish. The mudslides of the fourth year had destroyed nearly all ans of transportation. So low-lying areas in the city were completely subrged in mire. The forr city center of Wu City, once a basin, had vanished without a trace. Everyone in Wu City was migrating towards the suburban outskirts, forming a vast circular encampnt.
The previously remote and uninhabited suburbs, including Banana District, had now officially beco one of Wu City’s three major residential zones.
Jing Shu took out a pen and began sketching out new plans. With the situation so tense, she had to make preparations in advance. With her mind in a whirl of such thoughts, Jing Shu finally arrived ho.
It had only been a month since she was last ho, but Banana District had undergone drastic changes. Landslides continuously cascaded down the back mountain, and the entire district was now blanketed in mud and debris up to thigh height. The community had implented ergency asures, sealing all entrances and exits to the underground garage. This action saved the tens of thousands of residents living there. However, the first floors of buildings on lower ground were inundated with mud, rendering them uninhabitable. Furthermore, as ti went on, mud continued to flow down from the mountain.
Thankfully, Jing Shu had brought a one-piece raincoat. Otherwise, she would have had to trudge ho step by step through the mud pit, her cotton-padded jacket caked in gri that would never wash out. It would have been beyond frustrating. The worst part was that you could barely move in the mire; stepping in was easy, but pulling your foot out was a struggle, each ti yanking out a heavy load of mud.
The mudslides had brought imnse hardship to everyone’s lives. Navigating the mud daily also consud a great deal of physical energy.
However, the district was still bustling with people. Many were digging in the mud, filtering out fine silt through ragged cloths. Once inspected and approved, a basketful of this fine earth could be exchanged for 2 Virtual Coins, enough for 2 Earth Worm Cakes.
It had to be said, Huaxia people were industrious. Give them a glimr of hope, and these people would work themselves to the bone. Digging a few baskets of this refined earth each day could earn them enough dry rations for several days. In this apocalypse, having Virtual Coins and dry rations provided a sense of security.
Jing Shu, with her strength, carried a large box and led the way. The fat chicken, however, was suffering. It flapped its wings, struggling through the muddy water, and quickly beca caked in filth. By the ti they reached the villa, it resembled a mud ball. As the mud caked on, growing heavier, the fat chicken found it increasingly difficult to keep up. Finally, it managed to stumble ho, shedding tears of hardship. The outside world was no fun at all! I almost didn’t get to see my dear Grandma!
Jing Shu stamped her feet to shake off the mud and removed her raincoat, arriving at the dry entrance. She looked at the fat chicken, propping her chin on her hand. "I hear beggar’s chicken is delicious when roasted, especially wrapped in fresh lotus leaves... Tsk, tsk. This even saves the step of coating it in mud."
The fat chicken squawked in terror. There are always nefarious people who want to eat , the great Emperor Chicken! It scrambled into the villa. Hearing the commotion, Grandma Jing hurried out. Her heart ached at the sight of her fat chicken, which looked like a lump of coal. Unafraid of the dirt, she rushed to coddle her "precious fat chicken" for a mont before preparing a hot bath for it. Such preferential treatnt, Jing Shu thought with an inward chuckle.
Jing Shu was speechless. The family hierarchy was crystal clear.
Despite his casual words, Mr. Jing quickly went to heat up a al for Jing Shu.
Back in the warm villa, Jing Shu took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and comfortably sipped her homade caral macchiato while enjoying the al Mr. Jing had heated up. Finally, she felt alive again!
As usual, only Grandma Jing and Mr. Jing were at ho; the others were too busy to return.
Mr. Jing was uncharacteristically reclining in his massage chair, listening to opera and smoking his traditional long-stemd pipe, his brow furrowed with worry. Even Grandma Jing hadn’t scolded Grandpa for smoking in the house!
"Grandpa, you’re actually willing to smoke? Ha! Did sothing unpleasant happen?" Jing Shu teased.
Mr. Jing exhaled smoke rings, then frowned. "Ningshan City struggled for a month, but it’s about to be completely subrged. Rember the great flood two years ago? Half the city was inundated, yet everyone managed to live there without relocating. But now, I hear that the people from Ningshan City will be transferred to Wu City in a few days, but Wu City has already taken in several nearby small cities... Although I heard that their supplies and food will also be transported here, how many people can that really support?"
Jing Shu nodded. She had gotten a rough idea of the situation when she passed the checkpoint earlier; many people were still stranded there. "So what? It doesn’t directly concern us that much right now. What are you so worried about?"
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