Chapter 206: Chapter 206
Yang Yang’s grandfather is celebrating his eighty-eighth birthday with a feast? To think they can still do this during the apocalypse means the Yang family must be quite something.
Wait, I should brew some wine! Jing Shu suddenly thought. Whether it’s red wine or white spirits, it would be excellent for gifts or for personal enjoyment. Especially during this extreme cold, a little drink each day would keep one wonderfully warm.
As Jing Shu was pondering whether to replant a batch of red table grapes or use rose-scented grapes next, Yang Yang added, "You don’t need to worry about Wang Dazhao. He’s performed very well. This time, I’m sure to apply for a first-class merit for him, and he’ll be officially instated as a Lieutenant in our Armed Police First Team. As for me, I’m about to be promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel."
Yang Yang was just in his twenties. With connections in his family and his own ability, he was rising through the ranks quite quickly, almost catching up with Li Yuetian!
"Alright, I won’t see you off then." Jing Shu, excited by the prospect, carelessly revealed her strength, effortlessly slinging the mecha onto her shoulder as she returned to the villa.
The rough-looking men behind her swallowed hard. A mecha that took two of them to carry, yet such a petite woman had hoisted it with one hand?
Wang Dazhao gazed at Jing Shu’s receding figure with a complex expression. "Why do you insist on concealing from her that the machine gun and heavy weaponry weren’t seized during the raid? I think it wouldn’t be bad to hand them over to her. Only Jing Shu can bring out the full potential of the mecha."
Yang Yang turned and got into the car. "We’ll give them to her when she can use them. Otherwise, it’s too conspicuous and will only cause her trouble. Ah, our biggest oversight this time was letting Zero escape back to Huaxia and catch the scent of these weapons. What do you think will happen?"
After returning home, Jing Shu wiped the mecha until it gleamed and talked about her first day joining the Medicinal Materials Association.
Mr. Jing smacked his lips and shook his head. Although it looked cool, it seemed rather useless.
"In ancient times, armor was hung on racks. I’ll make one for you to hang your mecha!"
"Sure, thank you, Grandpa. I’ll put it up in my bedroom when it’s done."
Having a grandfather who could craft anything felt incredibly good, especially during the apocalypse when there was no mass production and everything had to be handmade. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novelFirｅ.net
Although the family didn’t understand the use of something that seemed to belong in the movies, their curiosity wasn’t dampened in the slightest. Once Jing Shu suited up, it indeed felt marvelous.
With her strength augmented, she was like a one-person tank, with explosive combat power and great protective ability, which gave Jing Shu a great sense of security.
The more satisfied Jing Shu was with the mecha, the more she struggled with what gift to give Yang Yang’s grandfather. Something too cheap wouldn’t be fair to Yang Yang, considering his part in her acquiring the mecha, but something too lavish would feel like she was showing off or overstepping.
While Jing Shu was still contemplating the appropriate gift, Mrs. Jing returned home sighing heavily that day. Jing Shu knew without asking that it was because of the red earthworm eggs.
The day after the insect egg incident came to light, everyone finally took the matter seriously. If no method could eradicate the insects, it meant no crops could be grown.
"The higher-ups urgently called to halt all farming projects. They won’t allow us to plant anything until the insect egg matter is resolved.
"Then the other Agricultural Management Departments shifted to cultivating mushrooms, which aren’t affected by red earthworm eggs. Now, it’s estimated that the insects will hatch in three to four days.
"But our Development Zone’s Management Department is in charge of the government’s vegetables, and all the half-grown vegetables are now practically dead." Even her small white apricots lost their appeal as Mrs. Jing spoke. She continued worriedly, "If the leaders’ vegetable supply is cut off, the consequences will be dire!
"The government announced rewards by noon: anyone who can find a solution will be directly promoted to a regular employee, and regular employees will be promoted one level.
"Daughter, you’re full of clever ideas. Please help your mother think of something. If this batch of vegetables can’t be supplied, even Minister Niu will be implicated!"
Jing Shu thought for a moment and said, "Mom, I’ll go with you tomorrow. I have a friend who has a method. It was tested today at the Medicinal Materials Association and seemed somewhat effective."
"Ah, my daughter always has a way."
As expected, the news broadcast also began to cover this incident. Now the whole nation was searching for a solution. It was a critical matter concerning the people’s livelihood, and even the general public was deeply concerned. After all, if they could grow food, they wouldn’t have to eat red earthworms every day—they were thoroughly sick of them after more than a week.
Eventually, the Wu City Government managed to arrange accommodations for all the masses, with every nook and cranny of Banana District filled with people. The once-quiet district was now constantly filled with noise.
Through surveillance, Jing Shu could see people occasionally passing by the villa—some out of curiosity, some sizing it up. There were even those who defecated under the shed. After all, it was more comfortable to do so under shelter from the rain than while getting drenched, and who could tell in the pitch-dark weather?
After Jing Shu mentioned this, Mr. Jing, angry, took a stick and went out to drive the people away. That day, Grandpa Jing raised the fence higher.
Ever since Jing Shu had gotten rid of the distribution director the day before yesterday, the position had remained vacant. People from all three government districts wanted to place their own candidate in the role, leading to dissatisfaction from the other two districts.
In the end, everyone compromised and decided to use elections to determine who would take the position of distribution director for Banana District, with whoever received the most votes winning.
To appear ’fair,’ any citizen could apply, but the condition was that they must have at least three civil servant endorsements. It was ridiculous, just another gimmick.
It was the old trick of underhanded manipulation, all depending on which district government had more clout. The coming days in Banana District would likely be very lively as, for the sake of rallying support, they might tempt people with various types of food.
History changed again at this moment. In her past life, Jing Shu had no power, so nothing had happened; the distribution director had remained in place. This time, however, it was Jing Shu who had fought for this benefit for the public.
It didn’t matter who took that position, as long as they didn’t bother Jing Shu; otherwise, they’d be swiftly dealt with just the same.
But unexpectedly, Wang Qiqi had her eyes on the position. She came over at night with a cutter and various professional tools she had somehow gotten her hands on from an abandoned factory.
That left Jing Shu truly at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"I know your family isn’t lacking for food, but these items won’t be produced anymore. Your grandfather, being a craftsman, could also use them in his work, so I brought them for you," Wang Qiqi said.
"You’ve thought this through, right? Even with my family’s endorsement, you’d just be eligible to apply. People from all three district governments are competing," Jing Shu said.
Wang Qiqi said earnestly, "Now’s the time to fish in troubled waters while they’re at each other’s throats. Seizing this opportunity is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Life is too tough right now. I must fight for this; otherwise, I won’t even have vegetables to eat every day.
"Moreover, for you, investing a little in me might turn into a big gain. At least, your influence in Banana District would increase."
"Alright, I can invest," Jing Shu replied.