If not for the bright, joyful expressions on their faces, the fact that they were all middle-aged or elderly and clearly powerless, and the police standing watch a hundred meters away at the security booth, Jing Shu would already have pulled out her spiked mace.
Her first uncle, Su Yiyang, gave Jing An a bear hug. "You really brought a pig, huh? And a black pig at that?"
A group of neatly dressed older men watched Jing An eagerly, clearly different from the ragged, bowl-and-club-wielding crowd outside.
First Aunt wrapped in a black coat shivered from the cold but still praised Jing Shu energetically:
"My, you have gotten prettier after these months, and so capable too! Don't forget your first aunt, you hear?"
Indeed, a person's value shines brightest when they can prove their worth.
Jing Shu and Jing An unloaded the black pig from the box on the car roof in front of everyone. When the older men saw the healthy, sturdy pig, they stroked it as though it were their own child.
"What a rump! Bet the meat will be chewy and springy."
"Look at that head! Leave me the pig's head."
"I'll make a cold pig ear salad. I've still got two taels of liquor."
"My daughter-in-law just had a baby. I'll take the pig trotters. Anyone got soybeans to braise them with?"
They had not had meat in half a year, yet they still showed restraint. Give it a few more years, and people would just tear into raw meat without ceremony.
First Aunt's brother, Wang Gang, rubbed his hands excitedly. "No need to rush. Everyone gets their share. We'll follow the plan we discussed. Lao Wang, get over here and slaughter the pig!"
Two men carried the black pig away, and everyone turned back to Jing An, their eyes shining as if Jing An himself were the next pig to be butchered.
"Lao Jing, you really kept this from us well. Your brother-in-law says you've got several pigs. How about trading us another one? Don't worry, we won't let you suffer a loss. Whatever you want, say the word. We can get it for you. This is Chang*'s father, Ji's father-in-law..."
Wang Gang introduced one man after another. Each elderly man stepped up with excitement, shaking Jing An's hand with warmth and politeness. Even deputy bureau chiefs and below were not introduced, left to swallow their envy silently.
Faced with so many glowing stares, Jing An was at a loss for words. He knew pigs were rare, but he had not realized even Wu City's officials could not get fresh pork. The scarcity was staggering.
Jing Shu rubbed her chin. The country had reserves of meat, of course. Wu City had already seized seafood from farmers' markets and turned slaughterhouse meat into pre-cooked meals.
But none of it could be released now. Even the government's statisticians did not dare reveal that the next several years would see no harvest, fearing greater unrest.
Those in true power could still indulge, but these middle- and upper-level officials and retirees held awkward positions: influential enough to matter, yet not high enough for true privilege. Still, their connections should not be underestimated. They could make things happen across industries.
Among them were also people from the livestock breeding sector.
Wang Gang laughed heartily. "You're so nervous. This pig, I traded for with your brother-in-law. He's a smart man." Wang Gang spoke with intent, but Jing An, dense as a block of wood, failed to pick up the hint, leaving Wang Gang frustrated.
"Lao Jing, since you're good with pigs, go work at the Livestock Breeding Center. It's a good post. Meals included, and they even hand out eggs. These days, it's as sought after as the Agricultural Department. Did you know there were hundreds of thousands of pigs in Wu City? Now fewer than a thousand remain. Out of over a million live chickens, fewer than ten thousand are left. They're all kept in climate-controlled rooms with serial numbers like treasures."
Seeing Jing An still unmoved, Wang Gang brought out his trump card. "There's also a flexible distribution system. You can take a few chickens home to raise. You'll hand in eggs for rewards. The room for maneuver is huge. You can even bring your own poultry to be raised in the climate-controlled facilities, or take your pig for breeding. When it gives birth, you'll get big rewards. I hear a new salary system is coming, and it can be exchanged for gasoline and rare goods."
Now Jing An's eyes lit up.
Jing Shu's eyes lit up too. This job for her father was something she had dreamed of in her previous life. With this advantage, eggs, chickens, and pork would no longer be luxuries. They would have a legitimate channel.
"Uncle, we'll trade another black pig," Jing Shu said decisively.
…
Jing Shu had not expected that pig to bring them one ton of diesel, five tons of water, and the ticket for Jing An to enter the Livestock Breeding Center. Those old men were sly, but clearly well-off.
Of course, this was still the first six months of the apocalypse, when resources, though dwindling, remained relatively abundant, especially for those with power.
The five tons of water was not bottled water but muddy reservoir water. No one bothered to filter it; it was poured straight into troughs for livestock or used for irrigation. Even this was precious. With reservoirs tightly controlled, obtaining so much water was no small feat.
Jing Shu still had several pigs in her Cube Space. If there was more demand, she would trade again. Otherwise, she would schedule a butchering day to restock their cooked meat supply, as their earlier reserves were running low.
The very next day, Jing An began his new job. The family's work arrangements were falling into place. They might have been low-level jobs before the apocalypse, but now they were highly valued, and their importance would only grow.
Jing Shu was very satisfied. No matter how much she helped, her parents needed to stand tall on their own. Only with a foundation could they survive in this world. Without it, they would be nothing but fat sheep waiting for slaughter.
In the days that followed, Jing Shu dedicated herself to practicing with the magic Cube. After half a year, she had finally reached a bottleneck. Several days passed without progress.
Jing Shu decided to push through relentlessly. She had to break through to unlock the 6x6x6 Cube Space. The current 125 cubic meters were simply not enough.
Meanwhile, Wang Dazhao reported no updates. The Zhetian Gang's claim of targeting Wu City's richest man, Qian Duoduo, was likely a smokescreen. They seemed to have a new goal and were plotting something.
After more than ten days of moldy mushroom meals and thinning porridge, the citizens of Wu City finally protested. Criminal gangs regrouped, once again setting their sights on households with remaining stockpiles.
The brief calm shattered. Entire blocks of people started raiding homes together, especially those in upscale communities. Those places still had plenty of food stored.
This was a time when crime carried little cost. Compared to eating pig slop, stolen food tasted better.
Those unable to rob continued to line up daily for free rations at the supermarket.
Wang Qiqi announced in the chat: "@everyone, new announcement. Starting tomorrow, the government will cancel free meals. If you want to eat, bring seasonings to trade. No spices? Bring clothes or fabric instead!"