novelraw Chapter 722: Rumors
Chapter 722: Rumors
The front line was stretched too thin, leading to significant supply issues. As a result, half of the factories had to start relocating to the supply stations at the end of the tunnels within a week, where they began setting up simplified processing and food production plants.
The remaining factories, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, had to stay behind to continue food processing and production. They would be the last to relocate, and Jing Shu’s Insect Cake Factory was assigned to move at the end.
Jing Shu understood that this was Niu taking care of her. Although the tunnel was complete, there were countless dangers on the relocation journey, with the most peril for those leading the charge. Those who moved last simply followed the group and were done with it.
In her past life, her family of three hadn’t brought much with them when they left.
But in this life, there was too much to carry, especially since she also had to relocate several factory workers and the Medicine Association. Jing Shu was responsible for all of this, and just thinking about it was enough to give her a headache. However, she had to bring everything regardless, as it all represented wealth. Upon arriving at the new location, she could reestablish the factories.
The pattern for relocation had been basically decided: starting with the Township Government’s various departments, followed by all the major factories, and eventually the residential districts.
For instance, the Niu Disciplinary Committee oversaw all food-related departments, which were divided into two batches for relocation: one leading the way and the other covering the rear.
Mrs. Jing was now responsible for leading the entire plant cultivation department in their relocation. After she promoted an assistant director and with thirteen Directors beneath her, she distributed the tasks assigned by the Niu Disciplinary Committee. This included determining the number of people under each Director, how many family members they would bring, their respective relationships, managing one level at a time, and gathering statistics at each level.
Jing Shu’s Insect Cake Factory and the clothing factory did not have such complications. The Insect Cake Factory was now run like a family business, with the entire family involved in the related industry. If they had to relocate, they would do so together, neat and tidy. Collecting statistics or assigning tasks wasn’t as troublesome as it was for official employees of the Township Government. For instance, if a father worked at the power plant and the mother at a food processing factory, they would undoubtedly choose to relocate with whichever side offered better benefits when the time came.
Of course, they could also choose to move separately.
For families like Jingshu’s that had their own transportation, the process was less rigid. As long as they could ensure their work and tasks were completed, everything was fine. Fortunately, the whole family worked in industries related to food, so they would at least be part of the same relocation batch. The Jing family still needed to discuss whether they would move with the Ministry of Agriculture or the livestock farms.
This method of relocating based on work unit, just like with official workers, was mostly to ensure the interests of various factories and departments. For example, with the relocation of livestock farms, they had to bring along precious chickens, ducks, and cows. These animals needed to be cared for on the move, and precautions had to be taken to prevent sickness, among other things.
Finally, the residents of various districts without work were to relocate in unison. If official workers were still looked after, with salaries to earn and jobs to do, at least they were protected, and privately they had their own reserves of various foods to consume. However, for the residents of various districts, there were basically no benefits and little food to store. They had to rely on the bare minimum "not starve to death" packages provided by the Township Government.
But Jing Shu estimated that this life’s relocation situation would be much better because there were still plenty of Insect Cakes and synthetic meat in storage, which should suffice for the food needs of the general population.
As the Niu Disciplinary Committee meeting began, the entire food industry and all the major factories started to get into motion. The atmosphere in Wu City grew increasingly tense. Unfortunately, just at this critical juncture, rumors spread that the higher-ups of Wu City had taken off with the food supplies, leaving Wu City colder, a place already abandoned.
The rulers of Wu City had fled by airplane to a place thousands of miles away that was suitable for living. Sadly, the nearby Chuanshu Region was preparing to merge with the million-population Xinlan City, leaving no suitable living space to accommodate the over three million people from Wu City.
As soon as these matters got tied up with food security and rumors that the elites had absconded with the food, many who heard the news became even more panicked. What fate awaited them? Those who previously did not want to relocate had now changed their tune. "Do I really want to not relocate when at least I had a choice? Now they’re not even giving us a choice, and that’s pretty alarming."
People sometimes have a rebellious mentality. They were previously worried about all the difficulties of migration, but now they were suddenly told that the higher-ups have fled with the food, which is even worse news...
"If even the higher-ups have fled, there’s no staying in Wu City anymore."
"Exactly. There were people who stubbornly refused to leave before, but now, who cares about them."
Jing Shu also heard some rumors from the group but was very skeptical about who had released the news, as the only person who could control public opinion in Wu City now was the current authority, Jun Bao. But would he release such self-detrimental statements?
However, it was true that Jun Bao was no longer in Wu City. He had indeed taken a group of high-level officials to another place, probably to investigate and confirm the final destination for migration, as well as to seek assistance. I mean, with Wu City undergoing such a dire migration, wouldn’t the country provide some assistance, make some arrangements?
Now, it was not just a question of whether a place was suitable for living but whether it could accommodate people at all. Disasters over the years have diminished the habitable areas, squeezing human living space tighter and tighter. This led to very few options for Wu City’s relocation.
To repopulate those abandoned places would be as difficult as pioneering new land.
Take Wu City, for example. If a million people from Xinlan wanted to migrate into Wu City, they would find that the livable areas are already overcrowded, with each room packed with dozens of people. There’s simply no room to integrate another million.
On May 20, 2027, heavy snow fell with ice pellets. The temperature dropped to -62°C. A thick layer of frost coated the exterior of the glass, and it was getting colder.
In such weather, no one dared to go outside anymore. The Banana District’s waste-to-energy facility was crammed with people.
For just 1 Virtual Coin, one could get a pot of hot water. A whole family, huddled around the outer perimeter of the incinerator, could feel the residual warmth of several hundred degrees released from the burning garbage. Holding the hot water and taking occasional sips to fill up on liquid warmth wasn’t too bad either.
Drinking more water and going to the toilet more often meant you could earn an extra 0.2 Virtual Coins. If you saved them up, you could buy another Insect Cake to stash for eating on the road during migration.
You wouldn’t believe it, but the easiest way to earn money now is through more excretion. I heard the authorities use it for some kind of fertilizer...
On this day, the Jing Family welcomed an old acquaintance, which surprised Grandma Jing, who was usually quite boisterous, enough to exclaim several times.
"Zijin? Is that you, Zijin? Oh my, what has happened to you, child? Come in, it’s cold outside! Warm up by stomping your feet and then drink some water!" Grandma Jing’s voice rang out, and Jing Shu came down from upstairs.
It had been about ten days since that meeting. In the intervening time, Jing Shu’s family had been quite busy. Jing Shu first went to handle the matters of the Insect Cake Factory and the clothing factory. Since they were essentially sibling facilities, Jing Shu arranged for them to relocate together during the migration, making management more convenient.