Chapter 242: Chapter 242

Upon hearing a howl, Chu Zhuohua opened the door to his RV. Jing Shu then saw him with a disheveled beehive hairstyle and dark circles under his eyes, a stark contrast to his former handsome appearance. "Morning, Jing Shu! Come check out my masterpiece!"

Jing Shu saw two wheels nearly as tall as a house and finally understood what Chen Nan meant by "the most expensive and largest antique AT all-terrain tires."

The front of this vehicle was streamlined for easier towing, its body structured like a rectangular house complete with windows and a chimney. Bizarrely, it even had wheels on both sides of the "house"—it was an utterly strange sight.

"Look, cool tires, right? They’re modeled after the Maybach suspension system. No matter how bumpy it is outside, you won’t feel a thing inside... Come on, let me show you around."

Jing Shu asked, "...So you’re seriously telling me you want to attach this dilapidated house to the back of my RV, like some kind of trailer?"

Previously, when I didn’t know Chu Zhuohua well, I always thought of him as a cold, immensely knowledgeable, and eccentric wealthy man, Jing Shu mused. But after getting to know him, I realize that might not be the case at all.

"No, how can you call it a dilapidated house? It has a power system too, albeit electric, and its top speed is only about 40 mph. Hmm... I do indeed plan to attach it behind your vehicle. But how about this: I cover half the fuel costs every time we go on our refuge trips?"

"Every time? What if..." Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. This guy probably doesn’t realize I remodeled my RV mainly for the migration five years from now.

"Definitely every time! How could I take advantage of you all?" Chu Zhuohua’s glasses glinted strangely. It would be best if we could keep driving the RV to find safety, never stopping. They say ’those in a favorable position get things first’—I wonder if it’s true.

Jing Shu squinted. It feels a bit much to take advantage of Chu Zhuohua . After all, the RV’s modifications are entirely up to him. And he, possibly a Virgo, pursues perfection in everything and can’t tolerate flaws. If the RV were left in his hands, his obsessive nature would compel him to make it perfect.

While Jing Shu hesitated, Chu Zhuohua stretched out his hand, holding a packet of seeds. "Wu You’ai told me you’re collecting all sorts of odd seeds, that you’ll take anything."

"What kind of seeds are these?" Jing Shu asked. Right after I was reborn, I went to the wholesale market and bought seeds for almost all kinds of grains, fruits, and some medicinal herbs. My grain seed collection was the most comprehensive; I didn’t miss out on over a hundred varieties for each type. I can proudly say I have seeds for over a hundred varieties of corn alone. My seeds fill an entire cubic meter. So, unless the seeds have some particular use, I’m not interested. However, seeds for useful plants or flowers might be worth collecting.

Jing Shu’s eyes lit up. Tobacco? That’s exactly what I’m missing! I was just thinking about planting new species in the Magic Cube Space once it upgrades. According to the current division of its field functions, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants each occupy their own section, which is just right for now. If it upgrades, I can plant other types of crops. I can wait a couple more years to plant grains; I still have plenty of rice and flour at home. Next year, I can grow soybeans and peanuts to press for oil.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Jing Shu’s mind was already racing. After the Magic Cube Space upgrades and I get more fields, I’ll plant a batch of tobacco and cotton.

At the same time, Jing Shu also decided that tobacco would be the sixth medicinal plant she’d cultivate for her promotion to vice-chairman of the Medicinal Materials Association—just in case those pesky leeches weren’t considered actual plants for cultivation purposes. Indeed, I plan to grow tobacco at home, in my Magic Cube Space, and at the Medicinal Materials Association. This isn’t just to provide my grandfather, Mr. Jing, and my father, Mr. Jing, with tobacco (and hopefully keep them from fighting), but also because tobacco itself is a type of medicinal herb.

Tobacco is warm in nature and sweet in taste, yet toxic. It has anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and insecticidal properties. It is significantly effective against the "four pests"—snails, mosquitoes, flies, and mice—as well as other insects.

What’s plentiful in the apocalypse? Insects—especially the biting kind. I’ve already used up almost half of my two boxes of Wind Oil Essence, and I don’t know how long they’ll last. It would be great if I could make some insecticide using a recipe. Over the next couple of months, as various insects become more abundant and red earthworms scarcer, the medicinal value of tobacco will truly shine.

Jing Shu found herself looking at Chu Zhuohua with increasing approval. What exactly does his family do? How do they have so many strange and wonderful things?

"So, shall I take you on a tour now?..."

When a man talks about his proud creations, there’s always a sense of him reclaiming his vigor,

The only downside was the low ceiling. The first floor had a ceiling height of 1.8 meters, while the bedroom on the second floor was only 1.3 meters high. It featured a large waterbed that undulated when sat upon, which seemed amusing. I wonder if it would jostle me awake when I’m sleeping, Jing Shu mused. It felt a bit oppressive, though.

"I like compact, independent spaces. They make me feel safe," Chu Zhuohua said. Check latest chapters at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Jing Shu blinked. Wu You’ai said the same thing when he wanted that space capsule.

After touring Chu Zhuohua’s motorhome, I think it’s quite good, Jing Shu concluded. The materials used were all top-grade. Just as Chu Zhuohua had claimed, no matter what happened outside, it wouldn’t shake inside. His other design and decoration skills were also impressive; it was as if he had built an entire vehicle from scratch in just those few days.

As for Jing Shu’s motorhome, it was pretty much the same as before the New Year, since Chu Zhuohua had spent all his time modifying his own vehicle.

"Don’t worry, I’ll finish your modifications as quickly as possible," Chu Zhuohua said, his motivation to work on Jing Shu’s motorhome rekindled, and he even had many new ideas. "After all, if anything else happens, I’ll still need to rely on you."

After leaving the modification shop, Jing Shu arranged for a load of charcoal to be delivered to the factory Wang Gang had found and handed the Virtual Coins to her uncle. The factory was located near West Mountain, a bit of a distance from the old city district.

Her uncle and aunt hadn’t given up their primary jobs. Being residential administrators involved a lot of work but offered flexibility, allowing them to manage the factory in alternating shifts.

Wang Gang had somehow convinced Jing Shu’s aunt to get involved. Instantly revitalized, she was even more committed than her husband. By only the second day, she had already hired all the necessary personnel, and the factory was ready to begin official operations the next day.

This management role was much easier than the one Jing Shu’s elder aunt handled; they just needed to count the daily intake of red earthworms and process them directly.

After finishing these tasks, it was already afternoon. Jing Shu immediately rushed to the Medicinal Materials Association to plant her tobacco. The assessment for her promotion was based on the medicinal quality of the cultivated herbs, so the sooner they were planted, the sooner they would mature.

Astragalus, Honeysuckle, gastrodia, Bodhi, leeches, and now tobacco! Among them, the Honeysuckle and gastrodia have already reached the required medicinal quality. The leeches can be processed into medicine at any time. However, the astragalus and tobacco will need another two to three months, and the Bodhi, four months.

"Jing Shu, why did you have to come today of all days?" Wang Danai said gloomily. "You unlucky child!"

Jing Shu could only manage a confused, "Huh?"