I Am Cultivating in the Apocalypse

Chapter 696: Starting a Garment Factory

This year’s gala was still lacking in originality, but it made up for it in liveliness and was also quite sentimental. The older generation became teary-eyed. Grandma Jing, completely engrossed, used the fat chicken as a pillow while watching, while everyone else was focused on eating!

After all, this apocalypse Michelin three-star meal was truly a rarity! Although the portions were small, when else could they get to eat such delicious food?

"Jing Shu, a New Year’s Eve dinner like this must cost a lot of Virtual Coins, right?" asked Second Aunt.

"Is this something Virtual Coins can even buy? In Wu City, with Virtual Coins, you can at least get Insect Cakes. Do you know that in other cities, people with Virtual Coins can’t even get a proper meal?" Aunt clicked her tongue and shook her head.

Having worked as a small contracting forewoman at the Insect Factory, Aunt had certainly broadened her horizons. Nowadays, one couldn’t even buy ordinary grain, let alone a banquet like this with rice, dishes, and seasonings! Food was so precious now; it was basically impossible to grow anything. Apart from those at the very top of the pyramid, who ate without diluting their food with water or mixing in Insect Cakes?

While Jing Shu feigned engagement in the pointless chatter, her mind was on the clothing factory. Who should I appoint as its manager?

The breeding of long-haired balls and protection against the cold during snowy weather would become increasingly crucial. Once Jun Bao’s food research was successful and the nationwide food shortage eased, protection from the cold would definitely become a priority. Therefore, the clothing factory became even more important! Moreover, long-haired balls were cheaper to breed, requiring only rotten mermaids. Compared to Insect Cakes, which consumed a portion of the Spiritual Spring each month, Jing Shu planned to gradually shift her focus to the clothing factory.

Whatever is most lacking in the apocalypse, that’s what we’ll make!

Speaking of which, the manager of the clothing factory must be someone trustworthy and capable.

Just as Jing Shu was pondering this, Director Cai, from outside, announced that someone was looking for her.

"I’ll step out for a bit," she said.

She had wondered who it might be, never expecting it to be the big boss, Qian Duoduo. Shouldn’t he be enjoying a happy family gathering at this time?

"Mr. Qian."

"Jing Shu, I hear you’re planning to open a clothing factory and hire some people?" Qian Duoduo, smoking a cigar, said with a smile.

"How could such a small matter trouble you to come personally?" Jing Shu replied, a little surprised, but she also noticed Qian Duoduo looked as if he hadn’t rested well for the past few days. What could he be worried about?

"How could this be a small matter..." Qian Duoduo sighed and led Jing Shu to the second phase of Stone Garden.

Jing Shu often went there too. Xiao Wei’s insects were being processed nearby.

"Do you... want to hire more people?" Qian Duoduo asked.

"Huh?" Jing Shu hesitated. "Why?"

It’s hard enough to support an employee in this apocalypse. A single person requires so much food, and I’m not running a charitable foundation.

"I can’t afford to support them anymore... These past two days, since the leadership changed up top, they’ve given me two tough problems..." Qian Duoduo said worriedly.

Then he whispered, "I just feel like that person... wants to shear my fleece."

Jing Shu coughed twice. You’re not mistaken; that person up there really does want to shear your fleece.

"What... problems did he give you?" Jing Shu inquired. In this life, no one in Wu City even starved to death, so why is Jun Bao always trying to shear people’s fleece?

"Recently, they brought in so many people to dig tunnels, then they made me settle 30,000 people to excavate the Underground City... The crucial point is, they also demanded I hand over the shares I previously held, claiming that... starting this year, all of Wu City’s resources will be managed by the Township Government. There won’t even be any dividends. It’s practically direct confiscation!"

Jing Shu’s mouth fell open. She really wanted to pat Qian Duoduo on the shoulder. She felt great sympathy for him; Qian Duoduo had originally built his fortune on oil.

My friend, it’s not that bad; at least they didn’t take your life.

Jing Shu reminded him, "Have you forgotten how they used to overthrow landlords and redistribute their land in the past?"

"I know, that’s why I handed it over so readily." Qian Duoduo had lived for many years; he’d had a premonition about this long ago.

So, Qian Duoduo had truly been skinned this time. Not only were his oil resources gone, but he was also assigned to support so many people... How miserable.

"Then, if I need oil in the future, will I have to trade with the Township Government for it?" Jing Shu also sighed. Fortunately, she had stored a lot in her space. Even if she had to trade for it later, she wouldn’t need much.

This won’t do. Later, I must find Su Malie and buy more natural gas. Otherwise, if Dad gets fleeced too, it’ll be a big problem.

"So I’ll hire more people this time? I need people skilled in clothes making, relevant management talent, and also..." Jing Shu rattled on, listing requirements from her project proposal.

"No problem! Please, take more people away! Save this old man!"

"So... when your clothing factory produces clothes, can you supply a batch to West Mountain first? If too many of these people die..." Then those above will have an excuse to make trouble.

"No problem!"

Qian Duoduo left, satisfied.

That very day, Jing Shu recruited a thousand people with various skills. They would temporarily stay at West Mountain and be transferred once the factory arrangements were complete.

This time, when Jing Shu opened her factory and recruited people, she hadn’t even advertised. She didn’t even dare to post on her social media, fearing... Yet, who knew how the news had leaked out.

As a result, even during the New Year festivities, Jing Shu was constantly having people foisted upon her.

Relatives from the Niu Family, and the superiors of Mrs. Jing’s direct leader, couldn’t be refused. They had to be given positions as laborers, provided with two meals a day.

Relatives and friends of the Jing Family... Relatives of the Su Family...

Some former classmates, having heard the news from goodness knows where, came to recommend themselves, touting their abilities and claiming they had previously worked in clothing factories.

"There will be a unified assessment on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Those who pass can come to work," Jing Shu announced.

Jing Shu wasn’t allowing any backdoor entries this time. She simply arranged for Xiao Zhang and Liu from the HR department to conduct the unified assessment on the sixth.

By the third day of the Lunar New Year, Jing Shu couldn’t sit still any longer. She went to the Township Government to get the factory permit, completed the necessary procedures, and then borrowed a sum of money.

In Jing Shu’s own words: If you can borrow money, you absolutely mustn’t spend your own!

Finally, she even managed to acquire a batch of clothes-making equipment from the neighboring Xinlan City at a rock-bottom price.

"The old clothing factories have all gone bankrupt. Can we find a way to get more machinery back? Surely not all of them have been melted down for raw materials, right?" Jing Shu asked Jun Bao.

Jun Bao looked at Jing Shu. "Have you found a way to breed long-haired balls?"

For Jing Shu to make such big moves—recruiting people, opening a factory, borrowing money, finding machinery—Jun Bao couldn’t think of any other material besides long-haired balls that could be available in such large quantities so quickly.

Long-haired balls are dark creatures; they’re very likely related to that energy.

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow and nodded; she indeed had no intention of hiding it.

"You’re truly a timely rain. The research on ZS880 synthetic meat has succeeded!"