Chapter 148: Poverty Has Limited My Imagination

After a long recovery period, with plenty of nourishing care like raising pigs, Jing Shu even brought Wu Youai some nutritious meat soups regularly. The holes in Wu Youai’s legs had mostly healed. Maybe due to the spiritual spring water, the scars were not very visible, but the indentations remained, and it was unclear if they would ever fully heal.

As for the Zhengtian gang members, Shangguan Jun and Codename Zero, there had been no news, leaving Jing Shu waiting for updates from Officer Yang Yang.

However, Wu Youai had clearly gained some weight, looking healthier and more robust than before.

To avoid wasting time while distributing water and allowing the water truck to move quickly to the next location, each household had sent a representative with a large container to report the number of people and the corresponding amount of water they were due. Wu Youai, holding her phone, cross-checked and registered the data:

“Jing Shu’s family: 29 liters, Wang Qiqi’s family: 10 liters, Wang Cuihua’s family: 12 liters, Wang Xuemei: 3 liters, Zhang Bing Bing, pregnant—double ration, 12 liters for her family...”

Jing Shu, carrying a large bucket, stood at the front of the line. She had a special privilege: in the future, she wouldn’t need to queue for any distributions.

“Did you hear that? Jing Shu’s family gets 29 liters!”

“Why do they get so much? Isn’t the visiting official playing favorites?”

“Her whole family works as civil servants, plus she’s got two elderly people in her house. Of course, they get more water.”

“Look at her—so clean even during a water shortage. I heard they even keep frogs at home. Clearly, she’s not suffering like the rest of us. No wonder they live in a villa; even in the apocalypse, they’ve got their ways.”

Jing Shu listened to the gossip with a calm smile.

The water truck arrived, carrying the precious life-giving water. Armed police moved quickly, distributing the water as the residents cheered. Then the truck rushed off to the next distribution point. Neighbors, having received their water, couldn’t wait to gulp it down.

“This water is so refreshing!”

“So sweet, it tastes like spring water!”

“Feels amazing!”

After months of deprivation, they finally had a full, satisfying drink of water! Some people started crying tears of joy, remembering how they once complained about the muddy water they were given. They’d even complained when they were given a single bucket of water per family. They felt ashamed for taking those times for granted. Even Old Wang next door hadn’t survived the drought, yet here they were, alive. It hadn’t been easy—sob, sob!

As the sobs and cries filled the neighborhood, people sat down, drinking and chatting, most of them overwhelmed with emotion.

Jing Shu, carrying her bucket, sighed as she headed home. The government had poured immense manpower and resources into providing this water. While it seemed like only a few days of effort, the resources required to operate the artificial sun were astronomical. Each second burned through tens of thousands in resources, and the cost over these few days was staggering.

This activation of the artificial sun had essentially drained the country’s resources, making these already scarce non-renewable resources even rarer. Without sunlight, the situation felt more and more like the world’s end.

But as Jing Shu had said, if they hadn’t used these resources, and with no rain in sight, countless people would have died of thirst. The Chinese government couldn’t risk waiting for rain.

At least the investment had paid off. Not only had they produced sweet water, but the government had also used the artificial sun to cultivate vegetables and generate the purest form of energy.

The government planned to use this new energy for further research.

As for the vegetables, they would be supplied to Wucheng’s residents once a week. Wu Youai shared the news in the group chat: “@everyone, starting tomorrow, all major supermarkets will provide vegetables once a week. One portion per person for 1 virtual coin. Ice pops will also be available for 0.1 virtual coins each, limit one per person.”

The mention of ice pops sent the neighborhood into a frenzy. In this extreme heat, the chance to eat something cold was an unimaginable luxury!

Jing Shu didn’t know if the others were happy, but she knew that the landlord’s foolish son was definitely happy. He was still trading diesel for ice cream every day.

However, starting today, diesel would probably no longer be traded by the ton. This time, oil tycoon Qian Duo Duo had likely lost half of his wealth, even reducing the number of bodyguards he employed.

Luckily, Jing Shu had already prepared spicy-flavored ice cream for the foolish son, trading enough diesel to meet her needs.

It was worth mentioning that Jing Shu had finally met the landlord’s foolish son. Although the meeting didn’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped, thinking about the high price his father had paid, Jing Shu managed to hold back her anger, although a beating couldn’t be avoided.

After all, as they say, the customer is always right...

Jing Shu had racked her brain, analyzing why the foolish son seemed to enjoy spicy food. She eventually extracted the flavor from spicy strips and infused it into the ice cream… In simple terms, she soaked spicy strips in water, mixed the juice into the ice cream, and used the soggy spicy strips in the mix.

Jing Shu tasted the result, and… well, it was both sweet and spicy with a bit of saltiness...

With a nervous heart, Jing Shu delivered the test batch to the foolish son. The next day, she was summoned and asked to bring her tools along. Jing Shu packed the ice cream in a cooler and was escorted by luxury car to the Xishan Villa district.

Though the day was dim, Jing Shu’s night vision let her see clearly. They passed her uncle’s house and gradually left the bustling city behind. The road became increasingly remote, winding up the mountainside in loops. Jing Shu could even see the clouds at the mountain peaks.

Before the apocalypse, this mountain wilderness would have been quite beautiful, but now the trees had been chopped down, stacked in piles.

Jing Shu suddenly recalled the Xishan dismemberment case... Ahem.

They drove for another seven or eight minutes, circling one mountain and crossing a bridge, before continuing along another winding road. Jing Shu even spotted a cable car. In her combined 30-plus years of life across two timelines, she had never visited this part of Wucheng.

“Are we there yet?” Jing Shu couldn’t help but ask.

The driver replied, “We’ve arrived.”

Jing Shu: “???”

Are you kidding me? There’s a house in this wilderness?

The driver, seeing her expression, smirked knowingly. It was the same reaction everyone had the first time. Recognizing her as an important guest, he explained:

“The moment we started the mountain road, we entered private property. All these mountains belong to Mr. Qian. The area we just passed used to be a sightseeing resort, with spots for watching the sunrise, riding the cable car, and skiing in the winter. The area we passed just now is Mr. Qian’s golf course. Ahead is the staff base, and further on is the orchard—though most of the trees have died. There’s also a farm with the young master’s favorite animals, including a leopard. We’re now entering the guest villa area. We’re almost there.”

Jing Shu’s jaw dropped. Poverty really has limited my imagination!

Side Note:

Thanks to zw7774, Liuli AMY, and Wevo Ka for the support!