How could Cheng Qingzi possibly win the match? The specimen of astragalus Jing Shu had provided was genuine, but the writhing red nematodes clinging to the roots were anything but ordinary. The small, crimson creatures carried the zombie deer virus, a lethal strain that would soon redefine the struggle for survival.
She had spent some time thinking before coming up with this specific method. The spread of the zombie deer virus would be terrifying in the coming months. If she could bring this sample out into the light of day early, maybe the experts would think of ways to deal with the threat before it was too late. She hoped they would develop a functional solution before the red nematode virus rampaged through the population half a year later.
In her previous life, China only began looking for medical solutions after the virus had already spread through every city. France, on the other hand, had started research six months earlier and had already developed mature laboratory techniques.
For now, red nematodes were China's only unlimited, naturally abundant food source in the rain. Compared to the vast food reserves of developed countries like America, China's survival hinged almost entirely on these bugs.
She remembered how China once sought to purchase vaccine technology from the French, but France opened its lion's mouth, demanding huge amounts of grain in exchange for the secret. China refused the deal and chose to research the vaccine on its own.
By the time the researchers finally succeeded, the torrential rains had ended, the red nematodes were gone, and the massive earthquake in the third year gave the nation no chance to catch its breath.
Fortunately, China had begun stockpiling bug cakes from the start of the disaster, or famine would have struck in the third year.
Even with mature vaccines available later, large-scale production would be impossible under the circumstances. The best the authorities could do was preserve some healthy larvae, breed as many as possible, and stockpile enough grain to reduce the casualties.
Jing Shu's personal ability was limited. Perhaps this faint effort of providing a sample was all she could do to change the course of the future.
Cheng Qingzi did not know the truth yet, but what Jing Shu gave him was the greatest fortune of his life. Whether he could grasp the scientific opportunity was up to him. As for those red nematodes infected with the zombie deer virus, they came from a cold corpse she had once hauled into her Cube Space when she discovered the blood mushrooms underwater. She had a feeling the sample might be useful one day, never expecting it would let the virus appear early in China for research.
When the other side showed little concern for the tiny pot, casually tossing the astragalus into the glass exhibition cabinet on the arena stage, she simply smiled and said nothing. She knew that in two days, the experts would be on their knees, crying and begging for a solution to the virus. She couldn't deny she enjoyed watching those helpless, panicked little expressions on the faces of the arrogant.
"Well then, I will head back to the villa. See you in two days," Jing Shu said. Waving her hand, she left the Medicinal Herb Association, leaving behind a figure that seemed to say, "I'm no legend." Of course, in the eyes of the onlookers, she looked more like a fool.
The arena stage was sealed off with heavy tape for the next two days. Both sides would send people to inspect the pots, though the results were already obvious to Jing Shu. Still, the people of Ta City preserved the scene with the utmost formality, keeping the lights on.
That day was another sensation at the Medicinal Herb Association as rumors spread. But Jing Shu's focus was not on the gossip. She knew very well that her talent for medicinal plants was nothing but cheating with external tools. Without the Spirit Spring and the Cube Space, she was nothing but a survivor. Her only goal in joining the association was to secure the position of vice president, which would make survival in the apocalypse easier for her family.
Her days soon grew busier as she returned home.
Over two months had passed since the second year of the apocalypse began, and it was time to fully carry out her long-term plans.
For example, with the abundant rainfall this year, she had to raise silkworms. It would also give Grandma Jing something productive to do with her hands, keeping her from wandering out to the apartment to chat with Lin Yi, that manipulative man.
"Grandma, we don't have enough clothes and quilts for the coming freeze. We'll have to raise more silkworms for padding. Luckily, Wu You'ai's mentor gave us some amber silkworms last year. Hundreds of tiny larvae have hatched now. These amber silkworms are omnivorous; they will eat most plants, and the vegetable leaves from our terrace will do just fine. This year, we must raise them in full force and stockpile the silk for emergencies."
"Silkworms are seasonal creatures, Jing Shu. How can they survive in this constant damp weather?" Grandma Jing asked, looking at the small boxes.
"Seasons are all scrambled now, Grandma. As long as they have enough food and warmth, they will live. Don't worry about the weather."
"Good. Then let's hurry. Before your brother Wei Zheng's baby is born, we'll make some silk quilts and warm clothes. Otherwise, the child will have nothing warm to wear in the winter."
To clothe the whole family, they would need the silk from thousands of silkworms, bred over at least four generations. The volume of vegetable leaves required would also be tremendous.
So Grandpa Jing decided to build wooden racks on the villa's sun terrace and plant more leafy greens for feed. With the light simulator humming, a new crop would be ready for harvest in just over ten days.
Jing Shu kept some amber silkworms for herself in the Cube Space and gave the rest to her grandmother. Inside her Cube Space, she accelerated their breeding cycle. Otherwise, a single year would not be enough to gather the materials. Stockpiling silk would prove invaluable in the coming cold of the third year.
Silkworms were fragile creatures. One careless moment and they would die from the cold or disease. To ensure their survival, she diluted the Spirit Spring water from the No. 8 bottle and used it to nourish the leaves they ate. Looking at the new batch of hatchlings, no bigger than maggots, she suddenly found them rather cute as they wriggled. Last year's golden threads had been quite good for sewing, too.
Since her grandparents were determined to raise the silkworms, the preparations had to be thorough. For a hundred or fewer, a cardboard box and some fresh leaves were enough for a hobby.
But for large-scale breeding, sturdy racks were needed, as well as stable indoor temperatures. Grandpa Jing ultimately decided to place the wooden racks in their bedroom, where the conditions were just right for easy monitoring throughout the night.
As for Jing Shu, she simply cleared out a cubic meter (about 35 cubic feet) of space in her dimension, tossed in some fresh leaves, and that was enough to start. Later, when there were more larvae, she would add layers of racks.
On the third day at noon, her phone rang with a sharp trill. It was Zhou Bapi calling.
"Ancestor, where are you?"
His voice was a jumble of excitement and exasperation that crackled over the line.
"I'm at home," Jing Shu replied, holding the phone away from her ear.
"Can you come to the Medicinal Herb Association right away? You have to see this!"
"Oh."
Jing Shu knew it must be the result of the arena test, so she set aside her chores and went to the garage.
The association was packed again when she arrived, the crowd three layers deep with people pushing to get a better view.
In the center of the arena, a group of experts clustered around a palm-sized potted plant, scribbling down plans on pads and even breaking into fierce arguments.
Jing Shu's arrival caused no stir among the distracted crowd, but Zhou Bapi, flashing his big yellow teeth in a wide grin, suddenly shouted from the stage, "Jing Shu, you're here! Quick, come up and explain the problem with this astragalus to them!"
The scene instantly spiraled out of control as the crowd turned, the atmosphere exploding into chaos.
"Did you know? That's the one who won three points for Wu City in the challenge."
"Unbelievable! I was there that day. She really just sprayed the leaves and snapped a few stalks. No wonder; she comes from a family of medicine. I couldn't even understand the principle of the treatment, but she had already solved it."
"That was the Sanqi pot, you know. Look at how well it is growing now compared to before."
"Now it's tied, 5 to 5, and everything depends on this last plant."