Although Wu City only had a population of four million, the available manpower was more than sufficient. This was why the goods from Wu City's large wholesale markets and major chain supermarkets had vanished without a sound.
As for how they disappeared, well, use your imagination.
For the vendors, those willing to cooperate could still work happily with the authorities, gaining both fame and fortune afterward. Those unwilling to cooperate were invited into a little room to drink tea and wait. Food and drink would be provided, and they could slowly sit there until Earth's Dark Days ended, when their "compensation" would be calculated.
Jing Shu only learned much later in the apocalypse that everything had been arranged long before. This was why, even in the fifth year of the apocalypse, expired food could still be distributed—it was closely tied to the stockpiling that had begun during this period.
Of course, not everyone obeyed.
So these days, Jing Shu saw daily announcements: such-and-such company had violated food safety laws and their goods were all recalled; such-and-such product contained illegal additives and was now recalled; such-and-such cannery used moldy fruit to make canned goods and had all their stock confiscated.
On the other hand, there were also praises. One enterprise, although it had long since stopped production, had donated 150 million packs of instant noodles it had accumulated, followed later by ham sausages and other accompaniments. The contrast with the punished factories was striking.
Wu City wiped out all disobedient food factories, consolidated the rest into larger entities, and began processing chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep.
The extreme heat was expected to last for a long time. The remaining poultry and freshwater fish were unlikely to survive much longer. It was better to keep a portion for breeding and turn the rest into cooked food early. After all, in the next two years there would be no feed to raise livestock.
In group chat, Wang Qiqi posted on the 13th: "@Everyone, workers are being recruited in the west of the city to handle poultry and turn it into cooked food. Both men and women accepted. One meal provided per shift. Wages are in the form of cooked food, settled weekly. Work hours are 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., with transport arranged. Anyone interested, come register with me."
The chat quickly filled with people signing up. Better to work than to sit idle.
Jing Shu sighed. It had come to this. This wave of processing meant that for many years after the apocalypse, poultry and livestock would almost vanish. A single egg or a glass of milk would be worth its weight in gold.
And just as things outside worsened, Jing Shu's household finally welcomed Su Lanzhi's first opportunity to rise in rank.
Just like in her previous life, Su Lanzhi sat sadly cradling her stamp collection of over twenty years, unwilling to part with it. Jing An sat nearby, muttering that he wanted no part in the decision.
"Our eldest loves collecting stamps. These are limited edition ones from the 1980s. Should we really give them away?" Su Lanzhi gnawed on an apple, torn with indecision.
Jing Shu slapped her forehead. In her earlier plans she had meant to sell the stamps for a decent sum, but she had been too busy and forgotten. Now that the apocalypse had come, what value did they even hold? It seemed they were only good for Su Lanzhi's own enjoyment.
"Maybe don't give them," Jing An suggested carefully.
"If not these, then what? What else can we offer? Do you think those people lack anything? All three other candidates have connections. Only I do not. I've been stuck in the same position for more than ten years!" Su Lanzhi glared at Jing An.
"Then… maybe we should give them," Jing An said again, cautiously.
"But these are my favorite. I heard Yu Caini gifted three sets of special edition stamps. Compared to that, mine look pathetic." Su Lanzhi sighed heavily.
"Then maybe… don't give them?" Jing An muttered again.
Jing Shu came over with five packs of mushroom spawn, two trays of fresh garlic shoots, one box of sprouted soybeans, and another of chives.
"Mom, take these to your superior and let him try the taste," Jing Shu said.
"Vegetables? Prices are high now and supply is scarce, but they can get them through their own channels. Once Earth's Dark Days end, these won't be worth much."
Jing Shu sighed. "Aren't you all working on crop research for Earth's Dark Days? What does he need most right now? Results. What you're giving is results. Even if he can obtain vegetables, they won't taste as good as ours."
No wonder Su Lanzhi had been stuck for over a decade. She never realized the treasure was right under her nose. Everyone was still dreaming of light returning someday, unable to see clearly.
At last, Su Lanzhi's eyes lit up. Jing An quietly gave Jing Shu a thumbs-up, relieved to be saved.
So her parents quickly packed everything up, loaded the energy car, and went to deliver the gift. Su Lanzhi might lack connections, but she had Jing Shu. Jing Shu was the strongest backing of all.
This lifetime, her family had to secure power. It wasn't about luxurious treatment, but about strengthening self-protection, gaining priority in crises, and having a voice. These made life and safety in the apocalypse far better. Otherwise, fat sheep were destined only for slaughter—especially fat sheep like Jing Shu.
Rules always existed to restrain the weak.
Jing Shu had not yet told Grandma Jing about the new house. She wanted to wait until Wu You'ai was free and they all came over together in a week, to surprise them. After Jing Shu's parents left, she finally brought out the marinated quail she had prepared, ready to roast them in the stove room behind the boiler.
She could only roast a dozen at a time. Every five minutes she pulled them out, brushed them with oil, and before long the aroma filled the air. When they were golden and dripping with fat, she sprinkled salt and cumin. The fragrant roasted quail were ready to eat.
Jing Shu roasted and ate as she went, finishing over a dozen. Then she saw a message in the group.
Fat Girl, Building 25: "Who's grilling meat? Can you shut the windows? The smell is drifting into my place. Don't you know I'm dieting? Smells amazing though! So annoying!"
Building 25 was only a hundred meters opposite their villa. Clearly, making delicious food in the apocalypse was a problem. Jing Shu could only speed up and turn all the food she could into cooked dishes, then store them in the Cube Space.