Chapter 301: Am I Really Disappointed?

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. Could things really be such a coincidence? Unfortunately, she had left the high school group chat early in her previous life and lost contact, so she didn’t know what happened later. Could this be the big money-making plan that Su Mary mentioned last time at the Xishan base, the one involving some old classmates?

Judging by the timing, it matched perfectly—the red worms were rapidly declining toward extinction then.

“By the way, what was the first thing you asked me just now?”

“Jing Shu, where are you?”

“At the Herbal Medicine Association. Why?”

Su Mary replied, “...My father got a batch of pigeon meat. Tomorrow I’ll treat you to roast pigeon and pigeon soup. How about that?”

Jing Shu’s mouth watered as she listened. Damn, what could she say? She had been through ten years of apocalypse and still lacked worldly experience. After rebirth, she busied herself thinking of all kinds of chickens, ducks, and fish, but she still missed many delicacies from China!

This was the most painful realization. As her space grew larger, she could raise more animals and had more time, but sadly, many species were nearly extinct. She couldn’t find new ones to raise.

Speaking of pigeon soup, Jing Shu calculated—it had been at least thirteen years since she last had it. Add gastrodia and goji berries, and it would be a nourishing, lung-benefiting delicacy!

“I have gastrodia and goji berries here. Let’s stew a pot!”

“Definitely! So, what about the old classmates’ thing?”

“I’ll go check it out. But I promise, I’m just going to see that they don’t get killed. The rest is not my business.”

Jing Shu ate a few more roujiamos, suddenly feeling that even the crucian carp soup she drank every few days wasn’t as tasty as pigeon soup. She wondered if she could raise some pigeons again. Even if she couldn’t bring them through the apocalypse, secretly roasting pigeon in her space would be wonderful.

Night had fully fallen, and the heavy rain poured down. Jing Shu wore a comfortable wool sweater and put on a raincoat. The wool sweater was made from wool combed off sheep by Zijin and Granny Jing recently—very warm.

She walked unhurriedly to the second squad’s station and ran into Zhao Shupi, who was on lookout duty near the canteen.

Jing Shu knew this guy well. They had clashed secretly several times—whether it was paying a high price to buy the neighborhood’s distribution director or later transferring him to manage the Patriotic Canteen, it showed he was wealthy and influential. Later, there was conflict over Zijin’s hair being infested with red worms, but then silence.

It was late, and the canteen was closed. What was he sneaking around for?

Seeing Jing Shu, Zhao Shupi gave an awkward smile and turned into the Patriotic Canteen.

“Definitely up to no good,” Jing Shu thought, raising an eyebrow. She went upstairs to complete Su Mary’s assigned task.

The second squad’s office was noisy. Jing Shu followed the sound to the big warehouse. Since it wasn’t an official station, there were no cells or prisoner guards, nor conditions to build any.

After the apocalypse, prisons weren’t needed. There were only two types of people: those executed on the spot and those sent for labor reform, grouped in tens with shackles, eating and sleeping together.

So suddenly arresting two or three hundred people made this former mall somewhat inadequate.

“No execution for us!”

“We will expose your slaughter of ordinary citizens!”

“Yes, we didn’t break the law. Let us go!”

The warehouse echoed with shouting. Jing Shu found a line of people at the door and saw a familiar face—Xiao Lizi reporting at the entrance.

Li Bailong was also an old acquaintance, nephew of Li Yutian. They had known each other since the first year of the apocalypse. Later, when Li Yutian received supplies, Li Bailong would bring some wood ear mushrooms and such.

“What are you doing here?” Li Bailong forced a smile despite his worried face. He was happy to see the “God of Wealth” arrive.

“Friend asked me to come check. What’s the situation? Here’s a list. Can you find these people for me? I want to ask inside.” Jing Shu handed over the list Su Mary gave her.

Li Bailong showed his teeth in a grin. “Okay, let me see. Zhang Lingling, Wang Chao, Shi Lei, Liang Xin, Nima, right? I’ll have Xia Liu take you to them.”

Jing Shu nodded. Li Bailong continued, “Wucheng now has over ten thousand zombie disease cases, all caused by these people selling stinky red worm cakes. Today we rounded them all up but haven’t caught the boss yet. We’re waiting for orders. Some leaders want them executed and assets confiscated; others say their intentions were good and they did boost the economy somewhat—‘ignorance is no crime.’”

“So no decision yet. My uncle says these people probably won’t have a good end. They won’t be locked up long—no food means they’ll be out soon. If you want to save them, it’ll be tough.”

Jing Shu nodded. “Okay, I’ll go see.”

A young man named Xia Liu opened the warehouse door and shone a strong flashlight inside. “They should be in area C.”

A foul stench spread. Xia Liu covered his nose. “They’ve been here a day with nowhere to relieve themselves, so they did it on the spot.”

Jing Shu was glad she wore high rain boots; otherwise, she might have stepped in it.

“We’re here. The numbers of the people you want are here.” Xia Liu shone the light. “Hey, wake up! Someone’s here to see you.”

The prisoners were still grouped in tens, each shackled hand and foot, confined to an area.

“Who, who’s here to save us? I told you that call was useful!” Zhang Lingling’s face was smeared with unknown filth.

“Is it Su Mary? Is it Su Mary?”

“She’s here to save us? I told you, she’s the most powerful!”

Jing Shu curled her lips in disdain. “Su Mary hasn’t come yet. I’m here to see what’s going on.”

“Who? Not Su Mary?”

“That voice—is it Jing Shu?” Nima said fearfully.

They all recognized Jing Shu’s voice.

“So, are you disappointed it’s me?” Jing Shu’s lips curled into a smile.

“Ah, no, no, how could that be? Jing Shu, we’re so glad you came.” Wang Chao stepped forward to shake her hand.

Jing Shu coughed, then heard a loud wail: “We—we’re so wronged!”