I Am Cultivating in the Apocalypse

Chapter 783: Preparing Supplies for Next Year’s Disaster

"Why’s that?"

"Because I’m taking all the Polypropylene, this petroleum byproduct. So, tell me, how much of your inventory does that clear out?"

Upon hearing that Jing Shu was actually planning such a grand move to clear out the remaining stock of byproducts in the warehouse, Su Malie’s eyes lit up. "Is it for making masks? Do you even know how much I have in my inventory that you’re taking it all? That’s the stockpile of several years of the apocalypse..."

Of course, the more, the better... Even if her own factory’s workers don’t use them all, won’t the entire Wu City still need them? Moreover, the natural disasters that year meant that masks and gas masks were scarce resources everywhere across the country, and everyone needed them. There was no worry about not being able to sell them!

Jing Shu chuckled inwardly, but maintained a nonchalant expression and even waved her hand.

"Hey, no matter how much, I’ll take it all. You know about the new Cigarette Factory we’ve opened, right? When extracting raw materials, it releases a lot of harmful smoke, so wearing masks prevents workers from getting sick. Otherwise, we’d have to be responsible for their medical care, which is so much trouble. And with several dozen factories and raw material sites across the country, how many masks will we need every day? How many over a year? Or over ten years?

"This time I’m going to the South Sea; I’ll start a mask factory right away to be self-sufficient. So, I’m taking all that stuff in one go. The main thing is, it’s not too expensive."

Speaking of which, before the apocalypse, the earliest batch of meltblown cloth was only 20,000 a ton. Later, due to the increase in global demand for virus masks, it went up to over 300,000 a ton. Now, these apocalyptic prices are only a ’tiny’ bit more... COUGH, COUGH... but it’s so much more worthwhile when you can trade it back for a lot of resources later on.

With today’s excuse, others would merely be green with envy, thinking Jing Shu lucked out because the Cigarette Factory needed masks. They wouldn’t suspect her of having foreknowledge of such a disaster and preparing for it well in advance...

There was nothing Jing Shu could do about it; who made her a seer? Since she knew masks would be in short supply and the materials were readily available, how could she not make use of them?

Wait for the disaster to strike before making them? There wouldn’t be enough time. After all, stockpiling so many supplies for the coming year would take at least three months.

And Su Malie, though she felt that her inventory was enough for Jing Shu’s factory for a hundred years, had to admit that Jing Shu was right; compared to her current wealth, it wasn’t that expensive after all.

The key thing was that she, Su Malie, had managed to sell the inventory relying on her own skills (and luck). She’d finally passed the test! She could go back to being a salted fish... Wait, would the deputy general manager be very busy? It felt like she’d just jumped out of one pit only to fall into an even bigger one...

"Alright! Since you’re buying so much, we can discuss the price and make it the cheapest for you. We’re practically family, right? But it has to be traded for resources—Cigarettes or your Insect Cakes!" Su Malie said, insisting the price be the absolute lowest.

Hearing this, Jing Shu felt somewhat embarrassed. That stuff is going to be worth so much more later! She coughed twice. "Who are we to each other? Enough said. For the Insect Cakes and synthetic meat patties you’re trading, I must add an extra half for you. Your father has so many people to feed!"

Wow! Jing Shu was being too generous!

Su Malie waved grandly. "Then I’ll add some extra to your family’s and factory’s Fuel shipments. There’s no natural gas down in the South Sea."

Jing Shu didn’t know what to say. This lovable fool! She felt genuinely embarrassed to accept so much from Su Malie.

Of course, she still had to go through with the purchase of the inventory. After all, even if Su Malie’s family had all those raw materials, they couldn’t possibly produce that many masks instantly!

Then, she could provide them with masks and gas masks for free or at rock-bottom prices!

"Right, do you know any other raw material merchants for making masks? Can you hook me up?"

"Oh, that’s easy. They have plenty of stock they can’t sell; it’s just sitting there waiting to go moldy."

"Alright, then I’ll leave it to you."

And just like that, the matter was perfectly resolved! Not only did both parties reach an agreement, but they also had the old steward draft a contract on the spot, detailing the resources to be exchanged.

Today, Su Malie had indeed achieved her heart’s desire and more than fulfilled her trial tasks.

Afterward, Jing Shu not only enjoyed a whole sheep feast personally cooked by the chef at Su Malie’s house but also packed away a lot of the hot food. She could store it in her ’Space’ and eat it anytime, leaving her in a very good mood.

Su Malie then asked about Jing Shu’s upcoming plans, "Are you heading to the South Sea directly, or...?"

"Hey, I still have a few more places to open Cigarette Factories, but once the contracts are signed, I’ll get someone to start preparing the rest. As soon as I arrive in the South Sea, I can get started. What about you?"

Looking discreetly at the coughing old steward, Su Malie said helplessly, "I still have a few more places to visit, but we’re already settled in the South Sea. We’ve even reserved a spot right next to ours for you. We’re just waiting for you!"

"Okay, I’ll have Green City Company’s mobile villa shipped to the South Sea and arrange for them to set it up there."

Jing Shu already had plans for the Jing family’s arrangements in the South Sea.

Although they could only stay in the South Sea for a few years, it was the apocalypse. Jing Shu had worked so hard to build such a vast enterprise; there was no way she would let herself or her family live poorly anymore.

A few years earlier, she wouldn’t have dared to make any move that stood out, striving to live like an ordinary commoner. Back then, everyone was struggling for food, and she feared having her property confiscated and nationalized.

But now, COUGH, COUGH, thanks to the Insect Cake, the people of Wu City had enough to eat and wouldn’t starve. Jing Shu had both power and backing. The crucial point was, if a major shareholder of dozens of factories and a well-known wealthy magnate in Wu City lived like an ordinary commoner... *that* would be truly unsafe.

Yes, the Cigarette Factories that had sprung up along the migration route had pushed Jing Shu right onto Wu City’s list of the wealthy. It was difficult to hide her capabilities even if she wanted to.

But she still needed to maintain a low profile where necessary, while also ensuring her displayed capabilities matched her current status.

Certain standards couldn’t be too low. So, having a larger, more luxurious place in a better location, with a stronger security force – that wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

Of course, besides the physical facilities, other amenities also needed to be up to par. Especially now, with the move, Jing Shu had a legitimate reason to openly stock the new villa with supplies like rice and white flour.

Ever since her ’Space’ had upgraded, she had been planting various grains in the newly-added fields within it. They went through food quickly at home, and aside from a few rare varieties, nothing brought back from the United States tasted as good as what she grew in her ’Space’.

So this time, HEH, HEH, when Grandma Jing and the others arrived at the new place, not only would their jaws drop in amazement at the new home, but when they saw the kitchen storeroom filled with gleaming white rice, wouldn’t they just faint from happiness?

Ah, just thinking about it made her eager to get to the South Sea as soon as possible to prepare everything.

So, after agreeing with Su Malie to meet again in the South Sea, Jing Shu immediately set off on her journey.