"What??" Manager Tuo wiped the cold beads of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his eyes wide in disbelief. Did he hear that right? They could join the factory, but they had to pay twenty virtual coins? Was this some form of highway robbery? Had the entire world gone mad? Who would be dumb enough to pay twenty virtual coins just for the privilege to join? "Alright, fine, say someone actually wants to join, but we don't even have a single virtual coin in the account. How are we supposed to lend it out to them?"
Jing Shu thought for a brief moment, her gaze steady, then she replied, "Those who want to join but don't have coins can take a points loan. Let them work off the twenty virtual coins' worth of labor. If someone wants to join and pay directly, that is even better. Those are business-minded people. Have Director Su gather them all for a big, encouraging pep talk. You can even consider giving some of them first-tier distributor rights and drop a hint about the thirteen district distributor slots available in Wu City."
"Ah, got it!"
After another moment of thought, she added, "Starting tomorrow, we will have materials coming in. Get the repair team to fully enclose the factory grounds. I will arrange electricians and surveillance installation. But to prevent theft or any shady stuff, we will clear out everyone who is not an official worker tomorrow. We will also enforce a strict reporting system and mutual supervision. Just follow the plan."
Manager Tuo hesitated, his expression uncertain. "But what if there aren't any thieves or troublemakers?"
Jing Shu rubbed her chin, her eyes narrowing slightly. Like hell there wouldn't be. If no one acted up yet, it just meant they were still weighing the potential risks and rewards of their actions.
"If no one causes trouble, then create a little loophole and wait for someone to take the bait. If no one bites, get a few official workers to put on a show. We have to make an example, let everyone know the factory has lines they must never cross. Once that's done, managing them later will be a lot easier."
In other words, those bad seeds had to be crushed into the dirt before they ever had a chance to sprout.
"U-understood." Sweat kept trickling down Manager Tuo's temples. He had worked in government for decades, spent years locked in office politics and backroom power plays, and still, this young woman's grasp of human nature made him feel like he had lived all those years for nothing.
"Alright, that's it for now."
~Beep, beep, beep.~
Manager Tuo sighed deeply, the sound heavy in the quiet room. At first, he had worried she was just another spoiled rich kid with a passing hobby, someone whose enthusiasm would fade the moment she hit a wall. But clearly, he had underestimated her. It looked like he would need to put in real effort this time; this might just be the second spring of his career.
…
The roast lamb was finally done. When they sprinkled sesame seeds and chopped scallions over the golden, glistening surface, the fragrance filled the entire villa. The outer skin was crispy and slightly charred, while the meat inside was tender and juicy. The aroma alone made Jing Shu's mouth water uncontrollably.
The lamb wasn't particularly big, but in the apocalypse, this was a rare feast. It was especially meaningful since the lamb had been nourished by the Spirit Spring.
They placed the roasted whole lamb on the villa's large dining table. In front of everyone was a large glass of golden kvass, an empty plate, and a small knife. The table was covered with side dishes too, turning the meal into a true feast.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
It wasn't even a special occasion. Jing Shu had casually said earlier, "Roast lamb with a cold kvass just hits different," and that was enough for her father to turn it into a full celebration. After a hearty gulp of kvass, Jing An began carving thick slices of meat straight from the bone.
Jing Shu chose an entire roasted leg for herself. One hand gripped the leg, the other sliced thin strips off with her knife. The moment she bit down, the crispy skin cracked with a satisfying crunch. The outer layer was crisp and savory, while the meat inside was unbelievably tender, rich without being greasy, and bursting with flavor.
She couldn't help letting out a blissful sigh. "Oh damn, this is heaven!"
Roast lamb wasn't something you tore apart; it had to be cut along the grain. The best bite had equal parts skin, fat, and lean meat, followed by gnawing on the bone and sucking the marrow.
Of course, one whole lamb wasn't nearly enough for her big family. Thankfully, there were plenty of side dishes. Grandma Jing made spicy lamb hooves, the lamb head was boiled into a scallion soup, and the organs were braised into a rich stew. They paired everything with warm naan baked in the pit oven, making for a perfect balance of meat, soup, and carbs. Jing Shu leaned back halfway through, her eyes half-closed in bliss.
It was the most satisfying meal she had had since coming back from the States.
Only after they had eaten their fill did Jing An reveal that it was Grandpa Jing's eighty-eighth birthday. The roast lamb was meant as an offering to their ancestors. Jing Shu had just happened to say she wanted lamb, so it all came together.
She blinked in surprise, her eyes widening. So it wasn't just a random feast after all. Grandpa Jing had always followed the lunar calendar, which she never really understood anyway.
No one had celebrated birthdays in years since the apocalypse started, but now that they could, Jing Shu insisted they add cake to the mix. So, she brought out the one she had brought back from the States, cut everyone a slice, and packed the leftovers away. She was finally giving Grandpa Jing a proper birthday celebration.
"You just wanted an excuse to eat cake," Su Lanzhi teased helplessly. Thankfully, Jing Shu could eat without ever gaining weight, or her mother would have worried herself sick.
Grandpa Jing gave his wife a mock glare. "We have never made a fuss over birthdays. I only wanted to offer the lamb head, that's all. This was unnecessary…" he grumbled, but the grin on his face gave him away.
Later that night, they held a short family meeting to discuss how to survive more safely and discreetly in the apocalypse. Jing Shu also mentioned her plan to remodel the backyard and place some large stones for reinforcement.
"Won't the neighbors or the people out front complain if you fence up the yard?"
"Don't worry, Grandma, I have already cleared it with them. Worst case, we just buy the surrounding lots too. Property in the Banana Community is getting expensive anyway, so it's a good investment."
The family thought she was just putting up a small stone wall and didn't pay much attention. Jing Shu didn't explain further.
The next morning, once everyone had left for work, Qian Duoduo's trucks arrived one after another, unloading massive boulders. Her grandparents stood dumbfounded in the yard, watching the heavy rocks drop.
"What on earth is all this?"
"Goodness, these stones are huge! Are you planning to wall off the whole hill?"
Qian Duoduo really worked fast.
The first batch of stones had arrived, exactly as Jing Shu had planned. Small rocks wouldn't stand a chance against mudslides. These were only the foundation, forming the channels that would redirect water flow. They had to be anchored deep, filled with cement, waterproofed, and later reinforced by even larger stones for the core structure.
It was going to be a massive project.
Early in the morning, Xiao Li brought over more than a hundred labor reform workers, and soon the entire villa was buzzing with activity.
"Look! That villa is up to something big again! What is with all those huge stones?"
"What else could it be? Since you guys keep eyeing their place like a pack of vultures, of course they are building defenses!"