Chapter 326: Chapter 326

Mrs. Jing told Jing Shu she had a few options. She could get some sleep, as there might be another earthquake at night, and she would need energy to escape. Alternatively, she could help Grandma Jing prepare more food, assist Mr. Jing with tidying the domestic poultry room, or help him secure small items in the RV and put up shelves. Mr. Jing was even planning to tie everything down with ropes.

Jing Shu pointed to her head, saying it was throbbing violently. She claimed she was playing with the Magic Cube to distract herself from the pain, and only then did her mother relent.

Jing Shu could tell that the whole family was still extremely tense, always thinking about escaping by car. But if the whole world was experiencing earthquakes, where could they escape to? They feared that a major earthquake could strike at any time and they wouldn’t be able to get out. After the 5G network went down, communication relied on big data text status to catch up on current news.

The family would refresh the news from time to time. They found out that some areas in Wu City were severely affected by the earthquake and had completely collapsed. The death toll was still unknown, and no one was keeping count.

Frightened, Mrs. Jing immediately called Uncle’s family. She was relieved to hear they had been arranged to stay in a nearby shelter. She also advised them not to be frugal during the disaster; they should spend what was necessary to stay somewhere comfortable and ensure the children didn’t get sick.

Grandma Jing also called Elder Aunt’s and Second Aunt’s families and learned through intermittent contact that they were okay for now. However, Grandma Jing was always worried, feeling that Elder Aunt wasn’t taking good care of little Shu’en. But Grandma Jing could only worry; she couldn’t bring everyone to her younger son’s home. Her eldest daughter, Youai, and her own husband were already staying there, which was a considerable burden. She could only call from time to time to check in.

Now, the government was busy evacuating people to standard shelters. Some flat areas were also not safe. For example, the hills behind Banana District were spacious and vacant. Their only drawback was proximity to the mountains, yet fissures and tremors still occurred there. The government had no choice but to concentrate people in seismic-safe areas. However, with limited space, many had to be transferred to less optimal locations. For origınal chapters go to 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝓷𝓮𝓽

By the time the crowd in Xuanwu Lake Park was settled, it was already past six in the evening. By seven o’clock, as announced over the loudspeakers earlier, all the military rations, mixed with water, were distributed to the public. The logistics troops hurried to transport more food due to the suddenness of the disaster. Otherwise, the people who had rushed to take refuge wouldn’t have had anything to eat. In this cold weather, not eating would have surely resulted in many freezing to death.

The park was clearly divided into different zones. The VIP parking lot, only the size of a soccer field, was already filled with over a hundred vehicles. There were also rows of hastily erected makeshift houses, reportedly costing 10 Virtual Coins per person to occupy.

Jing Shu glanced around briefly. There were only about a dozen RVs; the rest were hybrid, gasoline, or gas-powered vehicles. Unfortunately, she didn’t see Su Malie, who had apparently gone to a seismic shelter with better conditions. There were only three such shelters in the entire Wu City, and this park could only be referred to as a ’temporary refuge’ site.

The ordinary area was for public servants and trial workers. While there was mud, there was no trash, and it didn’t require cleaning. The government also distributed free boards to lay on the mud, as well as disaster relief supplies. Most of these were old items collected cheaply during the apocalypse.

The trash zone was an uncleaned area. Ordinary people had to clear and move the trash themselves. Only after passing an inspection by management would boards be distributed. They would also receive straw for sleeping, plastic bags, curtains, clothes from the deceased, and anything else soft enough to serve as a blanket. After all, it was so cold at night that without these supplies, people would surely freeze to death.

Jing Shu thought the day would pass . As the first day of the earthquake, it brought some panic, but she also had a plan based on her memories from a previous life. She didn’t expect anything else to happen, certainly not a repeat of her becoming some sort of savior, as she had during last year’s floods. With an earthquake, even if she were incredibly capable, she couldn’t save people who had fallen into fissures. Such matters mostly depended on fate, unless it involved one of the small mechanisms she had created. Little did she know, a major event was still waiting for her.

Wang Dongpo said that there was a brief survey to be filled out and asked for someone in charge to accompany him to answer a few questions and then return. Jing Shu’s family pointed at her. "She’s in charge." Indeed, at Jingshu’s house, Jing Shu was in charge. It was unclear when this started, but her words and actions were naturally considered correct and feasible.

Therefore, Jing Shu was pushed forward to take the survey. In truth, her family was quite busy, each person preoccupied with their preparations. Jing Shu had gotten all her tasks ready a month earlier; when the real disaster struck, there was nothing left for her to do. Mrs. Jing had watched her eat and play all day. Worried that Jing Shu might develop problems from too much leisure, she told Jing Shu to go out for a walk.

Jing Shu casually put on an overcoat and bulky cotton pants, took a hand warmer, donned a gas mask, and went out. If possible, she wished she could take the fat chicken with her; it was so warm, comfy, and could even serve as a pillow.

Wang Dongpo, peering through the dim light of the park lamps, observed Jing Shu. She wore a gas mask, a heavy overcoat, and her hair in what should have been old-fashioned pigtails. She ought to have looked like a rustic country girl, yet why did he feel that this girl, whose face he couldn’t see clearly, appeared so delicate and pleasing?

Yes, her hands. They were soft and white, a clear indication she hadn’t done manual labor and was extremely well-cared for. Then there was her hair. It was commonly accepted that only the wealthy could afford to keep long hair. But the hair of the wealthy people he had encountered was nothing girl’s, which was black, glossy, smooth, full of nourishment, and vibrant with life.

"The girl under the mask must be very beautiful, right?" Wang Dongpo couldn’t help but ask curiously. "Does your family really let you be in charge?"

Jing Shu lifted her head, sizing up Wang Dongpo, a somewhat shy boy, and nodded. "Yes, why?"

Wang Dongpo remembered the handful of soybeans an older man had given him that day and couldn’t help but offer a reminder, "Alright then, be careful during the survey later. A child shouldn’t take adults’ hard work as a joke. In times of apocalypse, what’s most precious is the food in one’s own home."

After finishing his words, Wang Dongpo fell silent, pointed towards a simple prefab building, and said, "The meeting room is inside. Just go in and report your VIP number."

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. She sensed an undertone in Wang Dongpo’s words, making her even more suspicious of the survey’s real purpose. "Got it, thanks," she said.

This was a roughly 300-square-meter prefab building, set up temporarily in the lower parking area. Inside, it was a conference room with desks neatly arranged in a U-shape. A charcoal basin burned in the middle, keeping the room from getting too cold. By the time Jing Shu arrived, it was almost full. However, none of that was the crucial part. The real focal point was the row of armed police officers standing in formation behind the U-shaped desks—an impressive sight.

The moment Jing Shu walked in, she became the center of attention, with all eyes in the room turning to appraise her.

A term flashed through Jing Shu’s mind instantly—Were they about to "harvest the leeks"? Wasn’t this a bit too early? The pigs weren’t even fattened up yet... Hey!