I Am Cultivating in the Apocalypse

Chapter 731: The Local Tyrant Family

The snow on the road was exceptionally thick. Several Hulks cleared a path, using their massive bodies to flatten the snow. The flattened snow was slippery, so the RV moved slowly, followed by more than twenty Hulks. These Hulks were carrying essential supplies from Jing Shu’s home: several large refrigerators, water storage tanks, transplanted crops, domestic poultry (chickens, ducks, cattle, and pigs), and even fish and seafood that required regular attention. Only a few were empty, serving as bodyguards and backups.

Fortunately, nothing looked out of place from the outside. This was thanks to the specially constructed boxes and the Hulks’ double-layered soundproofing. Otherwise, the sight of these items alone would have made most people’s jaws drop. However, there were ventilation holes, so some odors were inevitable...

A large portion of non-essential supplies, such as surplus clothing, bedding, and various pieces of furniture, had already been sent ahead by Jing Shu. She had her Hulks transport these items early, along with the large Hulk rental convoy.

Indeed, quite a few companies had rented Jing Shu’s Hulks to transport their supplies.

Among them, the Township Government was her biggest client. Jing Shu had rented half of her Hulks to them, as they currently possessed the strongest armed forces. After all, these Hulks would be transporting supplies alongside the military. Although Jing Shu charged the Township Government only 30% of the usual rental price, it was still profitable for her. The Township Government took responsibility for the Hulks’ food and safety. They also had advanced detection equipment, security checkpoints to identify threats in advance, and an arsenal of top-secret weapons.

Consequently, other companies renting Hulks—including Natural Company, Jing Shu’s own Insect Cake Factory, and those transporting goods like salt—also departed with the Township Government’s convoy.

This arrangement ensured the safety of Jing Shu’s supplies. Moreover, splitting the transport reduced unwanted attention; if all those Hulk-carried goods were known to be hers alone, it would have undoubtedly attracted a great deal of jealousy.

Of course, their current procession was still quite a spectacle. When the RV and dozens of green, slime-like Hulks appeared at the crowded train station, they inevitably caused a stir.

"Look, so many Hulks have come this time. It’s quite a spectacle."

"Wow, does all this belong to one family? I’ve only heard of wealthy tycoons renting Hulks for relocation."

"What’s the big deal? Our minister rented a Hulk. You can put all your luggage in it and even sleep inside. It costs upwards of a hundred Virtual Coins a day."

"The head of the neighboring Breeding Department rented three Hulks at once! Who is this family? So impressive. I counted more than twenty of them!"

"The key is, even if you have money, you might not be able to rent one. My eldest maternal uncle’s neighbor has a son. That son’s maternal aunt, by marriage, has a daughter—and even she couldn’t rent one! It’s all because she didn’t have the right connections!"

"Damn, you’re all missing the point! Look at that RV—it’s freaking cool! It’s a double-decker, and get this, there’s a damn cannon on top! If someone pisses you off, you can just blast them. That’s too badass!"

"If you hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have noticed! The RV is surrounded by spikes too. Who would dare get close? These people are not to be messed with, definitely not."

"Look, the RV is heading towards the Ministry of Agriculture’s area. Does it belong to someone from the Ministry of Agriculture? Could it be the Minister of Agriculture herself? Who else in the Ministry could pull off such a display?"

"Is it the newly appointed Minister, Su Lanzi? Very likely. I heard her personal ability is average, and she only got the position because her family has connections. Looking at this, it’s more than just connections—she must have a powerful background and a ton of money!"

"You don’t know anything! Su Lanzi’s daughter owns the Insect Cake Factory. How many people does the Ministry of Agriculture support? And how many does the Insect Cake Factory support? It’s because of the Insect Cake Factory that no one in our Wu City starved, and we were even named a National Advanced City. You tell me, isn’t that real influence?"

"No wonder they’re so rich and can afford to rent so many Hulks! Ah, the world of the wealthy."

"I heard that all our departments rented a few Hulks for employees to use on a rotating basis. Maybe we’ll get a turn to ride in comfort too!"

"Exactly! And I heard it was Minister Su Lanzi who pulled the strings to make it happen."

..

Jing Shu was oblivious to the buzzing gossip outside. She carefully navigated the RV through the crowd. Four Hulks flanked the front, four were at the rear, and ten more formed a protective wall on each side, as they slowly inched towards the Ministry of Agriculture’s designated area.

The roughly repaired train station lobby was noisy. People were animatedly discussing various topics. Their faces showed no signs of the numbness often associated with impending doom, merely some worry and irritation.

This was nothing like the utterly lifeless relocations she remembered.

And it made sense.

This relocation involved employees from the Ministry of Agriculture and other Food Departments, a stark contrast to the previous scenes of district refugees who had no jobs or food reserves and relied entirely on the Township Government.

The people at the train station now all had jobs and food reserves; they belonged to the middle and upper echelons of this apocalyptic society.

Even within the train station, Jing Shu saw Hulks rented by other clients, obediently queuing in designated areas for registration.

Most people in the train station lobby were far from emaciated. About half of them wore company-issued coats adorned with long-haired balls and sturdy shoes. They carried various bags or pushed carts laden with luggage. Employees were accompanied by their entire families, all burdened with bags large and small. These possessions represented years of hard work and were too precious to abandon.

Consequently, the station was crowded and bustling, lacking any sense of a deathly atmosphere. For these people with their ’iron rice bowls’—secure jobs—as long as the Township Government didn’t collapse and they kept their positions, they would have food and could survive. Besides, with food reserves on hand, their hearts were at ease. Whether from the Black Market or regular markets, these people had hoarded significant amounts of food. A glance at the tightly packed bundles on their carts confirmed they were well-stocked with provisions.

In these times, having a secure ’iron rice bowl’ meant living in a completely different reality compared to those without one.

Just as she was entering the Ministry of Agriculture’s designated zone, a young man with a scruffy appearance, wearing a thick coat and a red armband, stopped their vehicle.

"You must be Minister Su’s family, right? Please come this way. Your designated spot is Number 4. I’m Guo Lin, head of the Coordination Department. I’m responsible for all matters concerning the Ministry of Agriculture’s relocation this time. If you encounter any issues during the journey, you can find me. Oh, and please join these groups first."

Jing Shu was a bit bewildered upon arrival. In her past life, they’d never experienced anything like this.

Guo Lin then took out a phone with a cracked screen and displayed a QR code. Jing Shu scanned it and joined several groups. She discovered her mother was an administrator in all of them. That discovery suddenly made her quite proud.

Their names were: ’Ministry of Agriculture First Batch Relocation Group (500 members)’; ’Our Loving Ministry of Agriculture Family - Announcements (2,000 members, all muted)’; ’Management Communications (200 members)’; and ’Supplies & Meals Group (500 members)’...

"If there’s a signal, we’ll primarily use group notifications. I’m also in the First Batch group; I’m your group leader. Please pay attention to group announcements, but refrain from unnecessary chatting. Um, if there’s no signal, we’ll have couriers relay messages individually according to your assigned numbers. Remember, your family’s number is 4."