"Out of all of us, Jing Shu's situation is the best. Let's see what Jing Shu gives. Is she going to hand over those two potted plants?"
"Flowers? Not bad, honestly. Su Mali doesn't lack food. Look around, everyone already gave what they could. There's not much left."
"What use are potted plants in the apocalypse? A bite to eat is worth more. If she really gives a potted plant, that's embarrassing. With water back, you can grow anything."
"Isn't that grass?"
"Giving grass is even worse."
…
Su Mali blinked expectantly at Jing Shu. "Jing Shu, I just feel like you'll give me something I really love."
Jing Shu took a small mineral water bottle from her pocket and handed it to Su Mali.
"What is it? What did Jing Shu give?"
"Can't see. Looks like a bottle of water."
"No way. Why would she give bottled water at a time like this? Her family lives in a villa."
Curious eyes turned to the bottle. Those nearest could see a dark, squirming lump inside.
Jing Shu said, "Up north, crayfish are nicknamed 'dragons,' symbolizing good fortune and warding evil at home. I'm giving you a breeding pair to bless your house. This one is about to lay eggs. May its many offspring bring you prosperity and peace."
Su Mali's eyes shone. She had smiled politely at every gift so far; this time it was real delight. "Wow, Jing Shu, you're my lucky star. I was craving spicy crayfish just a couple of days ago, and today you hand me a pair about to spawn. I love you for this!"
Su Mali jumped up and hugged her, giddy. "Perfect. From now on, and for a long time after, I'll have so many crayfish to eat. Today you give me a pair, and soon I'll harvest a whole pool of them."
Murmurs rippled through the hall. No one had expected anyone to produce a spawning pair of crayfish. That was priceless.
Before the apocalypse, many had stockpiled all kinds of food, even raised a few poultry. But no one had prepared for the end of the world. Seafood was mostly frozen goods. Few had ever thought to keep live seafood.
People figured that as long as they stored enough, everything would recover later. Species would not go extinct, right?
By the second year, seafood was whatever was left in freezers. The living had mostly died off during last year's drought. It was said half the ocean had perished, and carrion scavengers ruled the rest. Who still had the means to fish the sea?
As for crayfish, most here had never seen one alive since the floods began.
"Who is she?"
"She's Su Mali's high school classmate."
"Getting a breeding pair after last year's drought is no small feat."
Jing Shu: "???" She had just grabbed something suitable. Who knew it would steal the show.
"By the way, Jing Shu, anything special to note when raising them?" Su Mali shook the bottle, the two crayfish clumsily brandishing their claws. She had not been this excited even over the little white goose.
In Su Mali's mind: a goose can be eaten once. Crayfish can be eaten many times.
"Before the eggs hatch, use purified water. After they grow, whatever is fine." Water with red nematode eggs will strip the clutch bare.
"Got it."
"So even crayfish are delicate now."
"Better care than for us."
Sitting at the left front near Su Mali, Jing Shu had matched the seat with the gift and with her neat outfit. Quite a few in the hall quietly marked her down as one of their own.
Several others were already wondering whether they could ask Jing Shu for more crayfish later.
"Ahem, thanks for waiting. I now declare the trading meet officially open. First appetizer, please." Su Mali clapped, and the servers brought out the first course.
Many classmates had been swallowing for a while. Each person had a place setting with three cold sides already laid out: cold dressed enoki mushrooms, a chilled green salad, and sweet pickled garlic. They had been for show only, until now.
The first served course turned out to be soup, a small bowl placed before everyone.
"Cream of mushroom. Silky and rich."
A few classmates downed it like Pigsy swallowing a ginseng fruit. The thick, buttery sweetness almost set their tongues on fire. Delicious.
Even Jing Shu had to give a discreet thumbs-up. Excellent.
"The first auction lot," came the announcement, "is a unit on the third floor of Building No. 21 in Banana Community, offered by A Yu. Minimum price 1,000 virtual coins, or food and oil in trade."
Jing Shu's classmates quietly picked at their cold sides. The first lot already hit like a hammer. They could not afford it.
In truth, 1,000 was low. A Yu was clearly giving Su Mali face. The unit sold for 1,200 virtual coins.
The second course arrived right on cue, a delicate plating of pan-seared cod with a dab of sauce. Each portion was palm sized. A few classmates polished theirs in one bite, tender and fragrant, then licked the sauce clean.
"The food is amazing, just a bit too small."
"That is real French style. Small portions, many courses."
Across the tables, the others were cutting tiny bites with knife and fork. Jing Shu had already finished. A thought flashed. She had cod in her Rubik's Cube Space. She could sear some later. Frozen never beat fresh.
"The second lot," the announcer continued, "from Chen Nan: luxury cars. Pre-apocalypse custom builds with ballistic glass, tracking systems, and some hybrid systems. They are being cleared as scrap. One car for 200 virtual coins, five for a bundle price of 800, ten for 1,400, or trade for oil and food."
Jing Shu's eyes brightened. Su Mali had said Chen Nan's family had been Wu City agents for luxury cars. The cars themselves were not valuable now, but the ballistic glass, upgraded systems, retrofittable parts, and any energy vehicles were. Jing Shu needed batteries and inverters for the RV, plus bulletproof glass and other components. An RV conversion could swallow parts endlessly.
Chen Nan was the girl who had given strawberries and was close to Su Mali. She was here to give Su Mali face, and the price was low. Even if a car could not run, good parts still could. Energy vehicles were valuable too. Two hundred virtual coins was a bargain, likely cheaper than Jing Shu scavenging parts herself.
Even so, few bit. Those who could afford it already had cars. Those who needed them could not pay.
It was like holding a coupon worth one million, but the item cost three million. You still had to find two million more.
Jing Shu cleared her throat. "I will take the bundle of five at 800 first."