Chapter 246: Chapter 246

How could it not win? The astragalus Jing Shu provided was high quality, but the red earthworms within it were not—they were contaminated with the zombie deer virus.

In fact, this was a method Jing Shu devised after some thought. The spread of the zombie deer virus was truly terrifying. She hoped that by presenting this sample early, people could start developing solutions. This, in turn, might help them find ways to deal with the red earthworm virus that was expected to spread rampantly in six months.

In her past life, when the virus had spread, Huaxia had just begun to search for solutions, while France, having commenced research half a year earlier, already possessed mature technology and remedies.

The red earthworm was currently Huaxia’s practically limitless and uniquely advantageous food source. Unlike the United States, which had an abundant food supply, Huaxia relied on red earthworms for survival.

Jing Shu remembered that Huaxia had once tried to purchase related vaccine technology from France. However, France made exorbitant demands, asking for a massive amount of grain in exchange. Huaxia ultimately refused and decided to conduct its own research.

However, just as they had achieved some success, the torrential rains stopped, and the red earthworms vanished. This was followed by a massive earthquake in the third year. Huaxia never got a chance to catch its breath.

Fortunately, Huaxia had started hoarding Insect Cake from the beginning; otherwise, the famine would have started in the third year.

Even with a mature vaccine, Huaxia couldn’t mass-produce it. They could only preserve some red earthworm larvae, breed them as much as possible, and store more grain to reduce the number of deaths.

Jing Shu’s own abilities were quite limited; she could only hope to bring about change through such subtle means.

Cheng Qingzi still didn’t know that what Jing Shu had given him was the greatest opportunity of his life, and whether he could seize it was up to him. As for the red earthworms infected with the zombie deer virus, Jing Shu had encountered them during her last underwater search for Blood Mushrooms; they had been infected by an unknown organism.

At that time, Jing Shu had stored the corpses in her Magic Cube Space, thinking they might be useful. She never imagined they would appear in Huaxia so soon, prompting research ahead of schedule.

Seeing that the other party didn’t seem to care much, even casually placing the astragalus in the display case on the arena, Jing Shu smiled to herself. In two days, they’ll come back crying and kneeling, begging for a cure for the zombie deer virus in those red earthworms. I truly enjoy imagining their panicked and helpless expressions.

"Well, I’ll head back first then. See you in two days." Saying this, Jing Shu waved and left the Medicinal Materials Association, leaving behind the retreating figure of someone who was ’no legend’. Of course, at that moment, to others, Jing Shu looked more like a fool.

The arena at the Medicinal Materials Association was completely sealed off. Over the next two days, designated personnel from both sides would inspect it. Although the outcome seemed self-evident, the people from Ta City still meticulously protected the scene.

This day was another sensational one for the Medicinal Materials Association, but unfortunately, Jing Shu’s attention wasn’t focused on it. When it came to medicinal plant cultivation, she was well aware that she was essentially cheating; without the Spiritual Spring or the Magic Cube Space, I’d be nothing. Her purpose in joining the Medicinal Materials Association was straightforward: to secure a vice-chair position to better ensure her survival in the apocalypse.

Jing Shu’s life began to get busy.

Over two months had passed in the second year of the apocalypse, and it was time for Jing Shu to execute all her plans.

For instance, she planned to take advantage of the year’s abundant rainfall to raise silkworms. This would also keep Grandma Jing busy, preventing her from going out to chat with Lin Yi, a man Jing Shu considered capable of brainwashing.

"Grandma, we’re running short on clothes and bedding. It looks like we’ll have to raise more silkworms. Last year, Wu You’ai’s mentor gave us some amber silkworms, and we’ve now hatched a few hundred young ones. These amber silkworms are omnivorous and can eat many types of plants, so feeding them vegetable leaves will be fine. This year, we need to raise them on a larger scale and store as much silk as possible for emergencies."

"But silkworms are seasonal. How can they survive in this season?"

"The seasons are all mixed up now, so the usual rules don’t apply. As long as there’s enough food, they’ll survive. Don’t worry, Grandma."

"Well, that’s perfect timing then, just before your brother Wei Zheng’s child is born. We can make some silk quilts and clothes. Otherwise, the poor little one won’t have anything suitable to wear," Grandma Jing agreed.

To make enough clothing and bedding for the whole family, they would need the silk from at least several thousand silkworms, requiring at least four breeding cycles, not to mention a vast amount of vegetable leaves for feed.

Therefore, Mr. Jing decided to set up racks on the villa’s sun terrace to grow the vegetable leaves needed for the silkworms. He would also install light simulators, which could produce a batch of vegetables in just over ten days.

Jing Shu kept some of the amber silkworms for herself and gave the rest to Grandma Jing. Jing Shu planned to accelerate their breeding in her Magic Cube Space as well. Otherwise, a year wouldn’t be enough time. Stocking up on silk was crucial for the increasingly cold weather ahead.

Silkworms are very delicate and can easily perish without careful attention. Jing Shu specifically used diluted No. 8 Spiritual Spring water to ensure their survival rate. Looking at the new batch of worms, which were about the size of maggots, Jing Shu suddenly found them rather cute, recalling the fine golden silk they had produced the previous year.

Since Grandma Jing and Mr. Jing had decided to raise silkworms, many preparations were naturally necessary. For keeping fewer than a hundred silkworms, any box with fresh vegetable leaves would suffice.

However, for large-scale breeding, they needed to build silkworm racks and ensure proper indoor temperatures. Consequently, Mr. Jing ultimately decided to place the racks in his own bedroom, where he could easily monitor them and the temperature was just right.

Jing Shu had it easier. She cleared out a cubic meter in her Magic Cube Space for the leaves and planned to add layers of racks as their numbers increased.

At noon on the third day, Jing Shu’s phone rang. It was Zhou Bapi.

"Ancestor, where are you?"

It was a voice mixed with excitement and helplessness. Newest update provided by novel fire.net

"Can you come to the Medicinal Materials Association quickly?"

Jing Shu knew this must be about the results of the arena contest from two days prior, so she put down her work and headed to the Medicinal Materials Association.

That day, the Medicinal Materials Association was as crowded as ever, with people packed several layers deep both inside and out.

In the center of the arena, a group of people huddled around a palm-sized potted plant, scribbling various proposals, some even arguing heatedly.

Jing Shu’s arrival initially caused no stir. But then Zhou Bapi, who was on the arena platform, flashed his Big Yellow Teeth and shouted, "Jing Shu, you’re here! Quick, quick! Come and explain the issue with this astragalus of yours!"

At this, the scene instantly became uncontrollable, erupting into chaos.

"Did you hear? That’s the person who won three points for Wu City!"

"Absolutely legendary, isn’t it? I was there that day. She just casually sprayed something and broke off a piece. She’s truly worthy of someone from a renowned medical family! I didn’t even understand the principle behind it, and she’d already treated these medicinal herbs!"

"That’s Panax notoginseng! Look how well it’s grown!"

"So now it’s 5 to 5, a tie!"