Chapter 218: Chapter 218

The auctions that followed proceeded swiftly. In line with the prevailing trends of the apocalypse’s second year, grain was hard currency, while processed foods and discontinued snacks were gold-level treasures.

A bottle of Xiao Laotou liquor sold for 600 Virtual Coins, a case of Wang Zai milk for 500, and even ten boxes of chocolate fetched 1,000 Virtual Coins. This makes me feel like I’m rich enough to rival a country! Jing Shu thought. I could become a tycoon just by pulling out a few snacks.

But the apocalypse is so long, and I always feel like I don’t have enough snacks, she mused.

Various increasingly scarce seasonings also slowly made their way onto the rarity list. This time, someone offered a Tai Tai Le Gift Pack for auction. It included chicken essence, soy sauce, vinegar, oyster sauce, and dark soy sauce, and sold for 600 Virtual Coins.

Two 5-liter barrels of peanut oil went for 1,000 Virtual Coins, more expensive than the lard Jing Shu sold.

These supplies were all experiencing inflated prices, as rarity dictates value. With production ceased and no sunlight, everyone knew these items couldn’t be produced for years to come.

Moreover, producing just one type of seasoning required dozens of steps. Take the simplest example: vinegar. Its raw materials, such as rice or japonica rice, must first be steamed, gelatinized, liquefied, and saccharified to convert starch into sugar. Then, yeast fermentation is used to produce ethanol...

It wasn’t that they couldn’t be made, but rather that the cost was too high. Given the extreme grain shortage, the government had outright banned wasting grain, so production of these seasonings ceased. The wealthy, if they had the means, could try making them themselves. However, even among them, those capable of concocting their own seasonings were rare in the apocalypse.

Just imagine, four or five years from now, everyone else will only be eating bland food, seasoned with a bit of salt at most. Only my family will be quietly enjoying braised pork and Coca-Cola chicken wings... Living by pre-apocalypse standards will be an incredible blessing!

That’s why the first thing I did after my rebirth was to buy enough seasonings for ten years. Such foresight! Jing Shu thought. And even if they run out, I can still grow them in my Magic Cube Space. If worst comes to worst, I can just secretly make a little.

When it came to food, Jing Shu—no, all Huaxia people—were never afraid of a little trouble.

Excluding Jing Shu’s table of items, which weren’t part of the auction, everything else was sold off completely, netting a total of 100,000 Virtual Coins. She immediately contacted government officials to use all the proceeds to buy rice, which was then cooked into white rice and distributed for free.

At that moment, Jing Shu truly understood the meaning of ’a drop in the bucket.’

100,000 Virtual Coins sounded like a lot, and I even managed to buy the rice at a low price. But the grain obtained was only enough to feed seventy to eighty thousand people a single meal.

In Wu City alone, over a million people hadn’t eaten rice in ten days.

So, in this apocalypse, I just need to look after myself, Jing Shu concluded. Helping others within my capabilities is fine. If I try to overextend myself, even if I contribute everything I have, I won’t save many people. And if, by some chance, I end up getting blamed for it, it just wouldn’t be worth it.

Overall, this gathering didn’t disappoint Jing Shu. During the auction, Wang Dazhao shared many things with her about the United States, with Yang Yang occasionally adding his comments.

The guy whose hand was blown off had been sitting in the passenger seat; Jing Shu finally understood how a large hole had been blasted right through the RV’s passenger side.

Furthermore, Jing Shu learned that many others had cooperated in this incident to perfectly utilize the "Diversionary Tactics" to pull off a big heist.

Jing Shu listened, itching to know more.

Yang Yang nodded. "I might go again next year."

Jing Shu’s eyes lit up. "When?"

"It depends on the higher-ups, but they’re definitely well-prepared over there, so next time we’re planning to get something different," Yang Yang said, taking a syringe and meticulously poking holes in tea leaves, crafting his artistic masterpiece.

"Then you can take me with you, right?"

Yang Yang nodded. "We might actually need you. We need a human steamroller, and I feel you’d fit the bill. The special-class operative sent by the Imperial Capital last time wasn’t as good as you. They were arrogant and acted high and mighty all day; I couldn’t stand them."

"Alright then. I’ll bring my War Armor; with that, where can’t I go? Just let me know in advance. It won’t take another half a year next time, will it?"

If it’s next year, that would coincide with the major earthquake, Jing Shu calculated. If the villa is running smoothly and on track by then, and if Mom, Dad, and the others have achieved a certain level of authority, I wouldn’t need to guard them constantly.

Besides, my family members aren’t weak. They’ve been drinking Spiritual Spring water for so long, their strength is considerable. Mr. Jing even practices with the crossbow daily. And with my position as vice-president of the Pharmacist Association, my Combat Power and authority aren’t low either.

In terms of connections, my current reliable allies are Li Yuetian, Niu Mou, and Yang Yang. Zhou Bapi is a potential contact to cultivate. Qian Duoduo is a potential major backer, though that depends on whether his foolish son proves useful.

The person I least want to involve is Su Malie. But if there’s absolutely no other way, I could ask her for help. After all, she’s truly formidable.

As for external factors, the villa area should be relatively safe during the earthquake; it didn’t collapse in my previous life. Oh, right! It was Uncle’s family who died under the rubble in my past life. This time, I absolutely cannot let that happen again!

In just a moment, I’ve already planned my trip and ensured my family’s safety. Jing Shu was thrilled at the prospect. I’ve never been abroad in my life—not because I’m particularly patriotic, but because I was poor.

Even though the apocalypse hit the United States years ago, there should still be plenty of good stuff left. I need to scavenge thoroughly! Jing Shu thought, feeling even more motivated to upgrade her Magic Cube. The higher the level, the more ’junk’ I can bring back.

"Don’t worry, next time we’ll move quickly. We’ve already got a good grasp of the situation in the United States. If possible, we’ll take a tour of the neighboring areas too," said Yang Yang. He had been frowning all day, but now, at the mention of going out, the corners of his mouth turned up. Like Jing Shu, the mere thought made his fingers itch with excitement.

There were still many places over there waiting for him to explore.

Mr. Yang Yang’s birthday banquet was over. That very day, Wu City News broadcast the old military man’s great deed of donating grain, which also sparked a wave of Virtual Coin donations, undeniably proving that the old man’s actions were inspiring a positive movement.

The old man didn’t have to kneel on the washboard that day. Word was that he made a Carp Blood Mushroom soup that night, which thoroughly delighted his wife. After eating it, the soup clearly had its intended effect, and the couple seemed to have re-entered their honeymoon phase.

Meanwhile, Jing Shu once again drove the Shark Submarine to the salvage site in the city center, catching the last available run. This time, Jing Shu had a clear goal: find the missing people, rescue them, and then... hehe.

Moreover, this time, Jing Shu changed her strategy. Read full story at N0veI.Fiɾe.net