I Am Cultivating in the Apocalypse

Chapter 735: Once in a Lifetime

Alright, way back when Jing Shu was modifying her RV, she and Wu You’ai’s mentor had already come to an agreement. The Jing family owed their current two-story customized RV in no small part to the mentor’s personal involvement in its modification. Moreover, at that time, Mentor Chu Zhuohua had mentioned that if they needed to flee due to the apocalypse, he would tow a modified trailer behind the RV. And sure enough, he had really come.

"Huazi, have you eaten yet? Should Grandma cook you some noodles? Look how cold it is outside; why are you dressed so thinly?" Grandma Jing was very enthusiastic.

Wu You’ai whispered, a little exasperated, "Grandma, please don’t call him Huazi. Call him Zhuohua. Huazi, Huazi, it sounds so rustic."

Jing Shu shook her head. Wu You’ai’s mentor still prioritized style over warmth. His long, straight black hair cascaded like a waterfall. He wore only tight leather pants and a long fur coat, which further accentuated his long legs. He looked just like a protagonist stepping out of an anime.

Chu Zhuohua shook the snow off outside before entering the RV. He changed his boots, took off his black leather gloves, and said with a gentle smile, "Grandma, you can call me whatever you’d like."

"Exactly! Even calling you Huazi, you’re still incredibly handsome." Grandma Jing looked at the mentor affectionately, growing more satisfied the more she observed him. She examined him from head to toe and back again, then noticed what he was holding.

Mentor Chu Zhuohua then produced something from a sealed bag, saying, "Actually, I came today to contribute to the food expenses. For the upcoming migration, I’ll be depending on your cooking, Grandma, to keep me fed..."

"Look at you, child..." Actually, if he married my granddaughter, there wouldn’t be so much fuss. But these are apocalyptic times, not like a few years ago when one less mouth to feed wasn’t a big deal. Even if it truly wasn’t an issue, one couldn’t just say so.

So, in these times, no one really dared to freeload at someone else’s house. The only ones who might try without contributing to food costs were immediate family; even a close maternal aunt wouldn’t get away with it.

Chu Zhuohua then held up two palm-sized turtles. Their thin, bony claws scrabbled fiercely in protest.

He turned to Jing Shu and said, "I know you like raising these. I went out of my way to get a pair of Chinese softshell turtles from elsewhere. Once they’ve grown bigger, you can make softshell turtle soup. However, these two aren’t easy to raise; you’ll need to take great care of them. It wasn’t easy for me to get a pair."

Jing Shu was so shocked she nearly leaped up in surprise. Goodness, it had been five years since the apocalypse began! Except for that one time Aunt caught a softshell turtle and soaked it in wine, Jing Shu hadn’t encountered any such creatures again.

My goodness, that mouth-wateringly delicious softshell turtle soup! Jing Shu still remembered it fondly and deeply regretted not stewing that turtle back then to satisfy her craving, instead of pickling it in that blasted medicinal wine.

Jing Shu was sure that no soup could taste better than softshell turtle soup. And when made with various precious ingredients, it was highly nourishing, incredibly nourishing even... Then again, did her family even need nourishing back then?

Now, in this world where so much had gone extinct, two living softshell turtles had appeared! These weren’t just any two turtles; these were Seeds! With her Spiritual Spring, even if they were difficult to raise, it wouldn’t be a problem. Their line would continue and never go extinct.

The turtles could breed more turtles, one litter after another.

One batch for soup, one batch for wine—how wonderful!

Jing Shu hurriedly took the two little creatures, so delighted she couldn’t bear to part with them. "This is a very generous contribution to the food expenses! Don’t worry about food on the migration route; I’ll cover your meals for the next three years, no problem at all. Just eat to your heart’s content, eat as much as you want."

Indeed, their value couldn’t be expressed in words. To others, it might just be a pair of turtles, to be eaten and that would be the end of it—though, oh, these were still too small. But for Jing Shu, she wasn’t short of various Seeds, seafood, or food.

She had various valuable ingredients as well.

If someone gave her some rice, flour, or currently expensive vegetables, or the scarce beef and pork, honestly, although these were luxuries in the apocalypse, they wouldn’t impress her in the slightest. She wouldn’t feel a thing.

But Jing Shu didn’t have softshell turtles, especially live ones. The significance of them being able to reproduce was immense. Chu Zhuohua’s gift was exactly what she wanted.

Chu Zhuohua began explaining how to care for the softshell turtles.

"They can mate in about four or five months. At that time, have Wu You’ai help you keep an eye on them. They’ll only lay 4-6 eggs the first time, but later they can produce dozens at once. After the second breeding cycle, you’ll have a whole clutch of young ones next year. The year after that, the adult turtles will be ready for consumption. For the second-generation mating, I’ll help inject new genes to ensure they retain strong genetics and the next generation isn’t weakened."

Wu You’ai sighed from the side. "I only studied agriculture." I don’t handle mating and birthing! Not like you, Mentor, an expert in all fields of biology, truly omnipotent.

Chu Zhuohua looked at Wu You’ai and also sighed, "It’s okay when I’m here, but what about when I’m not?"

Jing Shu said, "I’m going upstairs to settle Xiao Wang and Little Eight. You guys take your time chatting."

I just want to drink turtle soup as soon as possible! I don’t want to deal with anything else!!

Xiao Wang and Little Eight were very thin; their four legs were practically just bone. Although lively, who knew if they might starve to death? Jing Shu found a glass container, placed them inside, and then put it into her space. After feeding them diluted No. 4 Spiritual Spring, she immediately started giving them small fish and shrimp. She didn’t need to worry about their feed or any illnesses.

Although it might seem unscientific, as long as she fed them Spiritual Spring and then stuffed them with food, it worked. The livestock Jing Shu raised with her Spiritual Spring were just that unscientifically robust, which saved her a lot of trouble.

Jing Shu only needed to control their intake of Spiritual Spring—not too much, to prevent them from growing too quickly and arousing suspicion. As for the second-generation mating Chu Zhuohua had mentioned, Jing Shu had an attachment to all her first-generation livestock. She planned to use Xiao Wang and Little Eight directly for breeding. They could just keep laying eggs and producing offspring. The second generation would be used for soup and wine.

This way, there would be no issue of inbreeding weakening the stock. Of course, if Chu Zhuohua ever became suspicious, Jing Shu would die before bringing Xiao Wang and Little Eight out again.

Two small tins of Lotus Root Starch for more than thirty Donkey Meat Fire Burnings. Jing Shu felt it was a great deal. At this exchange rate, the Jing family could eat Donkey Meat Fire Burnings every day without issue. Still, it was better to keep a low profile and only exchange for some occasionally, so everyone could enjoy something new and exciting.

The Donkey Meat Fire Burnings were truly a case of "eat one, have one less," as there were no reserves. After listening to Mr. Jing’s eloquent descriptions of various ways to eat them, Grandma Jing even cooked several vegetarian side dishes: spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and chives stir-fried with dried tofu. These dishes, stuffed into the Donkey Meat Fire Burnings along with the donkey meat, were simply divine.

Of course, the best part was pairing the Donkey Meat Fire Burning with a large bowl of thick egg drop soup, enhanced with starch and coriander. A bite of the fire burning with meat, followed by a sip of egg drop soup—it was truly a heavenly meal. Jing Shu alone devoured several pots of the soup.

Just after they finished eating, Mr. and Mrs. Jing barely had time to sit down before they had to leave to make arrangements for the livestock farm.

Because the handover of the entire Food Department was complete, they were finally ready to set off.