It was right around the time everyone had finished the communal meal from the big pot and, bundled in cotton coats, went outside to dig for maggots.
In the past, the supermarket opened at 6 a.m. Recently, because everyone had been diligently collecting bugs to trade for work points, a healthy cycle had formed. The supermarket added a second opening period after 6 p.m., perfectly avoiding the hours of extreme midday heat. Most people adjusted their routines accordingly and tried not to go out when the temperature spiked.
In other words, from one meal a day, life had become extravagantly two meals a day.
Besides that, since everyone had already traded in their quilts and clothing, the supermarket began accepting other daily-use items for work points: beds, planks, wooden goods, and waste paper.
The first batch of recycling, iron and steel, went toward the artificial sun. The second batch, cloth and cotton and linen, became strategic reserves. As for the third batch, wood, Jing Shu did not know what they planned to do with it yet. Waste paper would be used to make paper.
With many products out of production, consumables were dwindling. Forget toiletries. After meals, people used to wipe with napkins. Now they licked their plates clean.
They had used paper in the toilet before. Now cloth had been reclaimed, paper was gone, water was gone, and there were no leaves or grass.
You could get away with not wiping once or twice after using the toilet, but after more times, things stuck together and that was no good.
So everyone scraped with small wooden sticks.
Jing Shu had a deep impression of this, which was why, after being reborn, Jing Shu bought twenty years' worth of daily necessities and a mountain of toilet paper.
Since a round stick did not scrape cleanly, they had to take a small knife that would not be reclaimed and shave the stick flat. In her previous life, Jing Shu would shave while using the toilet. By the time she finished, the stick was ready.
If your technique was poor, it was easy to poke yourself. Dry stools were one thing. Eat too many maggots and diarrhea followed. Tsk. Better not go on. Too many tears.
This time of day was the community's most active period. People were catching larvae, scouting for new supplies, and some, itching with greed after hearing Su Meimei's words, even suggested checking out the villa.
But then grisly photos appeared in the group chat, followed by Jing Shu's imperious line. People immediately backed off. Hearts pounded, hair stood on end, and for a moment Jing Shu became a devil in their minds.
[Shi Zi]:"Isn't that Zhou Pancheng? You, you actually killed people?" He shivered. Could it be that the five who died really were tortured by her?
[Jing Shu]:"According to the latest regulations, anyone who comes armed to rob a home can be killed on the spot, then reported. Each robber is worth ten work points. If no one claims them, I will file the report."
The rest fell silent, not daring to say another word. They had seen the villa family's methods and hard edge today. If even armed men ended up dead, what chance did unarmed ones have?
From that moment, the villa household officially entered the community's do-not-provoke list.
After wrapping up the matter, Jing Shu held a family meeting.
Su Lanzhi finally grew cautious. "Su Meimei took a loss. She will not give up easily. We have to be on guard."
Jing Shu said, "If I were Su Meimei, I would go to my biological father. A father's move would be to use connections. I heard he knows Niu Mou's boss."
The family turned anxious eyes toward Jing Shu. Jing An asked, "Then what do we do?"
Jing Shu smiled coldly. "They are not the only ones with connections. Money makes the ghosts grind the mill. We can find connections too."
Still, Jing Shu did not like playing by the rules.
…
Jing Shu's prediction was accurate. Beat the small, and the big ones came. The next day, an oil-burning Audi pulled up at the villa's gate.
In these times, only those with real government power drove fuel cars.
The man who got out was Su Meimei's cheap biological father, Su Guosheng, still dressed in that same Zhongshan suit. He got out alongside a paunchy, greasy middle-aged man.
Half a year into the apocalypse, anyone this fat had mines at home.
The middle-aged man took out his phone, panting. "Hello, Niu Mou? Yes, I am right in front of your subordinate Su Lanzhi's villa gate. Right, okay, I will wait here."
Hanging up, the middle-aged man passed over a cigarette. "Relax. My old classmate will settle this for you and let you walk away easy. About those resources…"
Su Guosheng accepted the cigarette. His dry fingers stroked it thoughtfully. He narrowed his eyes. "When we get back, I will secure the resources for you."
So the old fox was leaving soon.
Jing Shu opened the gate. A wave of heat hit. With a bang she set a chair down, closed the door, crossed one leg over the other, and stared at the pair. So, they wanted to play this game. Did they really think Jing Shu played by the rulebook?
"Look, the nux-vomica I planted specially for you is ripe." Jing Shu activated the Cube Space's second form and gently stroked the plants she had cultivated days ago while researching poison bees. Back then she had wondered whether soaking bee stingers in poison would work. Poison sources were scarce, so Jing Shu had done her own research.
She discovered that the medicinal plant nux-vomica was counted among the twenty-eight toxic medicinals, alongside heavy poisons like arsenic and mercury.
Early birds got worms, but good timing beat an early start. The nux-vomica was ready now. Jing Shu sat in the doorway and began compounding.
Su Guosheng was an old ginger indeed. He ignored Jing Shu entirely. He and the greasy middle-aged man got back into the car to wait in the air conditioning.
Before long, Niu Mou drove up with Su Lanzhi in tow, rushing all the way. Niu Mou climbed out drenched in sweat, with Su Lanzhi right behind him.
"Secretary Zhang," Niu Mou called warmly.
The fat man addressed as Secretary Zhang gave a faint grunt. "Replace Director Su Lanzhi of the Development Zone Management Department." He pointed at the villa. "Someone reported that she appropriated large amounts of vegetables for personal gain. The evidence is inside. According to the new rules, all of it must be turned in. In a while, Xiao Zhang will bring people to confirm it on the spot."
Su Guosheng stood by with a victorious smile. First time, he had underestimated them. Second time, he had misjudged them. Third time, what tricks could they possibly have left?
"Daughter, I have done all I can for you. The rest is up to you," Su Guosheng thought, already worrying about how to face the tigress at home when he returned.
The warmth on Niu Mou's face gradually faded, turning frosty. "Secretary Zhang, Director Su Lanzhi is my capable subordinate. She cannot be replaced."
Secretary Zhang had not expected the usually deferential Niu Mou to push back. His face tightened. "Niu Mou, as your superior, I have the authority to reassign a director, even a minister. Do you want to be replaced?"
"Secretary Zhang, do not forget whose man I am." Niu Mou's voice went cold. He owed Su Lanzhi a huge favor and had to repay it. If it came down to a battle of connections, he would pay the price.
"If I cannot move you, can I still not move a director?" Secretary Zhang jabbed a trembling finger at Niu Mou. His eyes bulged with excitement. Then, suddenly, foam frothed from his mouth.