Using virtual coins to buy up carrion scavengers and squeeze out labor from these desperate people turned out to be way more beneficial than Jing Shu expected. Even though she had to spend a significant amount of coins from her own account, even more would eventually flow back in, creating a healthy and rotating snowball effect. And that snowball of hers just kept getting bigger and bigger with every passing day.
When she stepped out of the front door of the house, there wasn't even a crowd gathered outside anymore. That was rare for the area. Her villa used to be the most luxurious spot in the whole neighborhood, always drawing curious eyes and whispered gossip from passersby. But now, the local people couldn't care less about the luxury. They were all carrying woven baskets or plastic pails, digging through the dry dirt fields and filthy, stagnant ditches, hunting for those crawling scavenger bugs.
As she passed by the busy groups, she overheard two people chatting near the edge of the road.
"Why don't we just search around here? Why go so far into the wilderness? That is too dangerous."
"You don't get it. we're going to the pond. There is a ton of them hidden there. Remember, they have got to be alive, because live ones sell for more at the counter. It's not easy finding a factory willing to buy carrion scavengers, and they're paying one virtual coin per 130 kilograms.
Who knows how long that will last? I heard they have already bought from over ten thousand people these past few days. We had better hurry. Remember how red nematodes went wild last year? They were wiped out in no time. Now everyone knows these bugs can earn virtual coins. If we're too slow, someone else might fill the quota before we do."
"Carrion scavengers can't be eaten or used as feed for humans, so what are they buying them for? I hope they're not turning them into food for us again. I don't want to get poisoned a second time."
"What are you afraid of? Xiao Li said the bugs are just used for animal feed. It's called a Red Nematode Processing Factory. Besides, anything without an Apocalypse Operation License is illegal now. Report one of those and you get a fat reward. The factory is right between the new district and Xishan. If they don't have a license, we will report them to the authorities. If they do have one, who cares what they make, as long as it doesn't kill us, we will eat it."
"But who are we even selling to? Aren't red nematodes extinct? I thought they couldn't reproduce anymore."
"Who knows? Maybe they finally figured it out. Someone comes here every day to collect at fixed spots, but the price is lower there. If we carry it to the factory ourselves, the pay is higher. There's always a massive crowd waiting at the gate. Everyone says the factory is paying big for these bugs. No clue why. Xiao Li said the workers inside fight over them just to earn points or something. I don't really get it."
"Brother, I want to work there too."
"Keep dreaming."
Watching the two walk off into the distance, she stepped on the gas, the amphibious shark submarine roaring loudly as it surged down the road. But she couldn't help thinking, "So the net for collecting carrion scavengers has already spread this far? I wonder how long Wu City's bugs will last? A month? Three?" She clicked her tongue at the thought. "It looks like the dominant scavenger bug with no natural enemy might actually go extinct this time."
When she finally arrived at her Red Nematode Processing Factory, the massive energy-efficient lamps shone brightly over the main entrance. The whole place was crowded and incredibly noisy, feeling like a busy morning market or a flea fair. People carried all sorts of containers, shouting and bargaining over the weight.
The entire place had completely transformed since her last visit. It now looked like a massive fortress, surrounded by high, sturdy stone walls. The foundation work, essential repairs, and cementing were all finished. The slanted walls were specially built to divert heavy mudslides to either side.
It was hard to believe such a huge project was finished in just a few days of labor. The factory was now completely enclosed, with only one front and one back gate leading in or out of the complex. You really have to hand it to the Chinese people—once they decided to work hard, their physical efficiency was terrifying.
Jing Shu was pleased with the progress. At least next year, the catastrophic mudslides wouldn't bury her factory under a mountain of heavy sludge.
At the front gate stood a long, winding line of people, at least a hundred or more. In front of them were standard, heavy-duty weighing scales, and behind the counter were huge sacks wriggling faintly with the millions of bugs inside. Those wearing thick coats and hats, looking much healthier and well-fed, were clearly the factory workers.
They had earned points and exchanged them for proper supplies. Meanwhile, the ones carrying baskets and plastic bags full of carrion scavengers looked miserable—with their tattered clothes, sallow faces, and skin clinging to their bone.
"Young man, just weigh this whole bag, will you? Why are you picking through it one by one? No one else does that!"
"Auntie, our factory is very strict. Even a bit of sand, dirt, or pebbles means rework for me. I will get bad marks on my record if I accept this. You will have to sell it elsewhere."
"There is no such thing as perfectly clean bugs!"
"Then please sort them out first before coming back."
"You're too picky. I'm not selling anymore."
"Alright then, take care."
The auntie huffed off to another buyer nearby, but every stall was exactly the same. They all inspected the goods carefully, refusing anything with visible impurities. Some bad-tempered buyers even grabbed megaphones and shouted to the crowd:
"Attention, all carrion scavenger sellers! If there are any foreign objects in your goods, no one here is buying. Check your bugs first so you don't waste everyone's time. Anyone caught trying to cheat will be blacklisted, and we will never buy from you again!"
People started picking through their bags right away, flicking out bits of dirt and stones. Jing Shu couldn't help smiling as she watched the scene. That argument had been going on for days inside the factory walls. The collectors wanted leniency, but the inspectors were strict because a perfect check earned them a 10-point bonus.
If they found dirt or stones, they could mark the entire batch as unqualified. With no clear standard at first, everyone argued nonstop. In the end, Director Su had to step in and set a firm rule: 'For every 100 kilograms, impurities can't exceed 10 grams. Anything more, and the inspector gets the collector's reward.'
That one rule changed everything. Some people opposed it at first, but the diligent ones quickly started outperforming the rest. The complainers soon gave up their whining and got serious about the work. Inspections became much more thorough, and the quality improved fast. If you wanted better treatment than everyone else, you had to work harder too.
"Move aside! The shark is here!"
"What is that thing? I have never seen a car like that, even before the apocalypse started."
"Holy shit, the boss is here! That is Jing Shu, the owner of our Red Nematode Factory! She drove this same shark sub to the dorms the other day, and Manager Tuo went out to greet her himself. It makes sense she is here today; it's opening day after all."
"Hurry up and finish weighing! So many people are already inside the factory. Let's go!"
By the time she walked into the factory building, more than thirty unfamiliar people were already seated inside the meeting area. Manager Tuo stood respectfully at the side like a loyal assistant, his posture straight. Her Maternal Eldest Uncle was pacing in tight circles on the floor. When he saw her, his eyes lit up. "Jing Shu, finally! We have been waiting for you!"