Chapter 124: Hitting the Young, Here Comes the Old

At that moment, it was the time when everyone had just finished their communal meal and was dressed in thick clothing, outside digging for five-grain insects.

Previously, the supermarkets used to open at 6 AM daily, but because people had started actively digging for insects and exchanging them for work points, it created a positive cycle. As a result, the supermarket extended its hours, opening again at 6 PM to avoid the peak midday heat. This allowed most people to adjust their schedules, minimizing outdoor activities during the hottest times.

In other words, what was once a luxury—eating one meal a day—had now transformed into the indulgence of two meals daily.

Additionally, as people had already traded in their blankets and clothing, the supermarket had introduced new items for recycling in exchange for work points: beds, wooden planks, wooden products, and waste paper.

The first round of recycling involved collecting iron and steel for an artificial sun project. The second round involved collecting cloth, cotton, and linen for strategic storage. The purpose of the third round, which involved collecting wood, was still unclear to Jing Shu, but the waste paper was being used for papermaking.

With many industries shut down, consumables were running low. Hygiene was a luxury of the past—people used to wipe their hands after eating, but now they just licked them clean.

Previously, toilet paper was readily available for bathroom use, but now cloths had been recycled, paper had run out, and even water was scarce. Leaves and grass were a thing of the past.

After using the toilet a few times without wiping, things could start to get sticky.

So, people resorted to scraping with small wooden sticks.

Jing Shu had vivid memories of this, which was why she had stocked up on 20 years' worth of toiletries and an abundance of toilet paper after her rebirth.

Round sticks didn’t clean well, so you had to carve them into flat shapes using a knife. Jing Shu spent her previous life both going to the bathroom and whittling sticks simultaneously—by the time she was done, she had a freshly carved scraper.

But if you weren’t careful, you could jab yourself, especially if you had diarrhea from eating too many five-grain insects. Better not dwell on it—those were painful memories.

This was the time when neighbors were most active, either catching maggots or searching for new resources. Some, spurred by Su Mei Mei’s earlier remarks, were even tempted to check out the villa.

But then the group chat exploded with grisly photos, followed by Jing Shu’s commanding message, immediately halting their plans. Fearful and hesitant, they stopped in their tracks, and Jing Shu's reputation as a fearsome figure was cemented.

- Shi Zi: "Isn’t this Zhou Pan Cheng? You—did you really kill them?" He shuddered at the thought. Could it be that those five people had indeed been tortured by her?

- Jing Shu: "According to the latest law, anyone caught carrying a weapon to rob a home can be killed on the spot and reported afterward. Each robber is worth 10 work points. If no one claims these, I’ll report them now."

No one dared say another word after that. Today, they had seen firsthand what the family in the villa was capable of. Even armed men had met a gruesome end—what chance did they, weaponless and defenseless, have?

The family in the villa was now officially on the neighborhood's list of people no one dared to provoke.

After resolving the situation, Jing Shu called for a family meeting.

Jing Shu’s mother had finally learned her lesson. "Su Mei Mei won’t let this go after what happened. We have to be prepared."

Jing Shu nodded. "If I were Su Mei Mei, I’d definitely go to her father for help. And what would her father do? He’d pull some strings. I’ve heard he’s connected to Niu Mou’s superior."

The family turned to Jing Shu in alarm. Her father asked, "What should we do?"

Jing Shu sneered. "You think they’re the only ones with connections? Money talks. We can pull some strings too."

But Jing Shu usually didn’t like to play by the rules.

...

Jing Shu had predicted correctly. After dealing with the small fry, the big fish came knocking. The next day, a fuel-powered Audi rolled up to the villa.

These days, the only people driving fuel-powered cars were those with real government authority.

Stepping out of the car was Su Mei Mei’s biological father, Su Guosheng, once again dressed in his Zhongshan suit. He was accompanied by an oily, obese middle-aged man.

Even six months into the apocalypse, anyone who was still that fat definitely had access to wealth.

The middle-aged man pulled out a phone, panting as he spoke into it. "Hello, Niu Mou? Yes, I’m right in front of your subordinate Su Lanzhi’s villa. Yes, yes, I’ll wait here."

After hanging up, the middle-aged man handed Su Guosheng a cigarette. "Don’t worry. Our old classmate Niu will take care of this. We’ll get it sorted out for you. As for the resources..."

Su Guosheng took the cigarette, carefully rolling it between his bony fingers. Squinting, he replied, "Once we’re done here, I’ll take care of the resources."

So, the old fox was planning to leave soon, huh?

Jing Shu opened the front door, letting in a blast of heat. With a loud thud, she placed a chair outside, closed the door, and crossed her legs, staring at the two men. They thought they could pull this off by playing by the rules? Did they really think she would play along?

"Look, I’ve been growing some strychnine just for you," Jing Shu said as she activated the second form of her cube space. She gently caressed the plants she had been cultivating as part of her research on venomous bees. She had been experimenting with the idea of soaking the bees' stingers in poison to see if it would make their attacks more lethal. Without a ready supply of toxins, Jing Shu had done her own research and discovered that strychnine was one of the 28 most toxic medicinal herbs. It was a key ingredient in making arsenic and mercury-based poisons.

As it happened, the plants were now fully matured—perfect timing.

Su Guosheng, ever the seasoned veteran, didn’t even glance in Jing Shu’s direction. He and the oily man simply got back in the car and waited in the air conditioning.

Before long, Niu Mou arrived, driving Jing Shu’s mother to the scene in a hurry. Sweating profusely, Niu Mou stepped out of the car, with Jing Shu’s mother following behind him.

"Secretary Zhang!" Niu Mou greeted enthusiastically.

The overweight man, Secretary Zhang, barely acknowledged him with a grunt. "Remove Su Lanzhi from her position as director of the Agricultural Management Bureau. She’s been reported for hoarding large amounts of vegetables and abusing her power. All of this inside the villa is evidence. Under the new regulations, it will all be confiscated. Xiao Zhang will be here shortly to verify everything."

Su Guosheng stood to the side, wearing a smug smile. The first time, he had underestimated them. The second time, he had miscalculated. But the third time? No more tricks—there was no way out for them now.

"Sweetheart, I’ve done all I can. Now, it’s up to you," Su Guosheng thought to himself as he prepared for his impending departure.

Niu Mou’s once-friendly expression darkened. "Secretary Zhang, Su Lanzhi is one of my best subordinates. I can’t let her go."

Secretary Zhang, clearly taken aback by the sudden resistance from someone who had always shown him deference, felt his face flush with anger. "Niu Mou, as your superior, I have the authority to replace directors and even ministers. Do you want to be replaced as well?"

Niu Mou’s expression turned cold. "Secretary Zhang, don’t forget whose man I am."

Secretary Zhang hadn’t expected such bold defiance. His face twisted with anger as he jabbed his finger in Niu Mou’s direction. "If I can’t touch you, do you think I can’t touch a mere director?" His finger trembled with rage, his eyes bulging, and then suddenly, foam began to froth at his mouth.