Chapter 124

Eight little rabbits, red and hairless, looked like newborn mice. They instinctively began to look for milk before their eyes even opened.

Mu Nan was afraid that the mother rabbit would be too weak after giving birth to so many rabbits at once, so he generously gave them a bunch of fresh alfalfa to nourish them. As for breastfeeding, he still needed to observe. There were too many little rabbits, and if there was not enough milk, the mother rabbit would abandon the weakest one.

Each of them is meat. If the mother rabbit refuses to feed the weakest one, Mu Nan will have to resort to artificial feeding.

Fortunately, after two days of observation, every little rabbit was full and opened its eyes. As long as they could eat and drink, they would not have to worry about not growing up. There were eight of them, so he had to keep two to eat the rabbit meat this time! He didn't eat any of the last batch.

Qin Huai, who passed by Mu Nan, glanced at him and said, "Wipe your saliva." There was never a shortage of meat at home, and look at his green eyes.

Mu Nan subconsciously touched the corner of his mouth, which was dry and refreshing. He couldn't help but glared at Qin Huai from behind: "Where is the saliva? You are lying!"

But even though I have meat at home, I can't forget my good friends. Mu Nan sent the photo of the little rabbits to the small group: "Eight of them, but they are still small. They were born only two days ago and have not yet been divided into male and female. Do you want to raise any? I can reserve some for you."

Song Jia wanted to raise one, but then he thought about his own environment, where he had so much grass and a dog, so he gave up and said in the group: "I'll plant more grass, and you feed them fatter. When they grow up, I'll buy meat from you. I won't raise them anymore."

Yu Zibai: "Song Jia, can the grass you grow be enough to feed both families? I would like to try to grow some."

Yu Zibai had applied for a job at the farm before, but his major was not suitable, and even though he was young and had a master's degree, he still didn't pass. Not long after that, Jian Chu got into trouble, and now he needs someone to take care of him.

After being tormented by parasites, his body has suffered great damage, especially to some of his internal organs. Now abdominal pain and diarrhea have become a daily occurrence. It may be that he does not absorb enough nutrients. He feels dizzy and cannot stand steadily when he moves a little. He is too weak. Even though Yu Zibai's job application for other positions was approved later, he did not go for it, so he thought about doing something to make money at home.

Song Jia: "I don't know. The grass hasn't grown yet, so I don't know how much we can harvest. But my brother said that in a few days, we will do the same as Qin Huai's family, repair the roof and expand the planting. If you also want to raise rabbits, you can also grow some grass at home. I have some grass seeds here, so you don't need to buy seeds, just buy some soil."

Thinking about Jian Chu's family's situation, Mu Nan said in the group: "I have some seeds here. If you want to build the roof, you only need to buy bricks. I have extra cement at home, so you don't need to buy more."

Of course, there wasn't much more, but he had some in his space. Anyway, no one knew how much his family bought last time, so he just had to take out some. Now everything costs money, and Yu Zibai and Jian Chu may not have much money left.

After the official mall was opened, Yu Zibai bought the most in their courtyard, mainly food. He also bought a lot of nutritional supplements that were very expensive but in small quantities. He would tell them in advance when the products would be put on the shelves so that they could help grab them. These products were definitely bought for Jian Chu. Jian Chu's body was so badly injured that it would take more than a day or two to recover, so Yu Zibai would help them save as much as possible.

Yu Zibai was considering the feasibility of this matter, and at the same time he had to plan the little money he had left. After all, buying bricks or soil was not cheap. However, if he could make it happen, the subsequent income would be able to balance the expenses, so he asked Mu Nan to help him keep a male and a female first.

Mu Nan said, "Okay, I'll keep them for you. When your rabbits are well-raised, I'll exchange them with you. After several generations, it shouldn't be considered inbreeding."

He could only focus on breeding the first male and female because he was afraid of inbreeding. Although inbreeding was not a big problem for rabbits, Mu Nan felt that it was not good. Anyway, he had no intention of raising rabbits bigger and stronger. It was enough to have enough meat for his own family, so he avoided it if possible. If Yu Zibai raised two rabbits at home, after breeding for a few generations, he would replace the female rabbit with another one and focus on one to give birth. It always felt a bit unfair because who would focus on plucking the fur of one?

On the day when Yang Jing and his friends went to get Hu Xuan's ashes, another serious incident broke out.

The people living here were all moved out from the city center later. Some of the earliest survivors from the outer ring areas moved with the government to Ansan City, which is a mountainous area with a vast area and sparse population. The people who first went there were trying to avoid the plague, and because they moved shortly after the earthquake, they took a large amount of supplies with them. When people in the city center were still worrying about food and medicine, the people who moved to Ansan City had already begun rebuilding, including housing, animal husbandry, planting, medical care, and so on.

By the time they moved out of the city center and began to rebuild, the lives of the survivors in Ansan City had gradually returned to normal, so during the previous cold winter, meat supplies could still be transported there to alleviate the food pressure here.

But now, as the frozen land thaws again and the temperature rises again, many new problems have also emerged, one of which is the rampant mosquitoes. These mosquitoes bite and parasitize not only humans, but also animals. What is most unexpected is that even the soil has insects.

It is common for insects to grow in the soil. In order to prevent insects from growing in the soil, people often use pesticides that do not harm soil nutrients and plants. However, those pesticides are now ineffective. When people discover the planted potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and upland rice, the roots have been eaten by the unusually large white grubs.

Seeing that the harvest was about to begin, the indoor planting areas that had been built with so much effort and carefully guarded for a whole winter were waiting for this batch of food to ease the pressure of survival and boost people's morale. In the end, the roots were eaten by those disgusting fat bugs, and only one in ten of the things that could be harvested survived. This blow was no less than the collapse of an earthquake in people's hearts.

The situation of plants was despairing, and the situation of livestock was not much better. The mosquitoes were driven away, the water was purified, and the feeding was more meticulous than that of humans. But the animals still got sick. If one of them got sick, the whole farm would be infected. Seeing the dead pigs and cows, the sick chickens and ducks, several farm workers even committed suicide.

No matter how difficult life is, as long as there is food, it's enough. But now, seeing the widespread death and harvest failure, and the shock happening before their eyes, those who really can't bear the despair and pressure of doomsday choose to free themselves before more suffering comes.

Even though the two settlements did not have internet access, this incident caused a huge stir. Knowing that they had also started growing food and raising animals, the higher-ups informed each other of the situation. After this information was received, the farm immediately organized people to turn over the soil.

As a result, the situation was not much better than that in Anshan City. The same rampant insects had gnawed the roots and seedlings. However, since their crops had not yet grown up, they could clear a batch and then replant them, so they did not suffer heavy losses. But the problem was that if effective pesticides were not developed, the white grubs in the soil would never be killed.

Qin Huai is not working in the Communications Department now, so his channels for obtaining information are limited. They raise rabbits and farm at home every day, so although they are not completely unaware of major events outside, they just don't know much. These things were all told to them by Xu Ming when he came back.

Xu Ming is also working on the farm now, but he is a veterinarian. When mosquitoes were rampant some time ago, these veterinarians became busy in order to prevent the animals on the farm from getting sick from mosquito bites. Now that the animal husbandry over there has been hit hard, they naturally have to pay more attention. After finally getting a day off from their shift, they hurriedly told their friends in the yard to stock up on food.

The meeting was held in the living room of Jian Chu's house, because Jian Chu was not well yet and could not walk too far. It was too hot outside and they were afraid that he could not stand it, so they decided to hold the meeting in the living room. Wu Zheng went to work. When he could go out during the day, he worked the night shift. At that time, Song Jia was still at work, and he was afraid that no one would be at home, so he specially arranged the night shift. Now it is too hot outside during the day to walk, so everyone works at night.

Song Jia came here alone without bringing Niu Niu. The mosquitoes outside are too scary now, and there is a patient in the room. He was a little worried that Niu Niu might be carrying some insects and infecting others. After all, Niu Niu hasn't done internal and external deworming for almost two years, so it's better to be careful.

Xu Ming analyzed the current situation for them: "Because of the lack of network connectivity, not many people here know about this, but Anshan City is in chaos over food. It is said that this is not just happening here. All the new cities of survivors across the country have suffered varying degrees of losses. It's just that the pests in the south are slightly more numerous than those in the north due to the terrain and environment."

Mu Nan looked at Xu Ming: "There are still foods for sale on the official mall, but the purchase is also limited and you have to snatch them up. If this batch can't be grown, can our country's inventory still hold up?"

Xu Ming sighed and said, "How long can we hold out? We have already lost so much in the earthquake. Anyway, you should try to buy more food now. Nothing else matters. Food and drink are the most important."

Song Jia said with a bitter face: "The water is full of bugs. I am very careful when drinking water now. I boil it twice before I feel relieved."

Mu Nan was a little curious: "What kind of insect is that grub?"

Xu Ming described it to him: "You know what silkworms are like, they are fatter and bigger, that's how they are."

Mu Nan said "oh" and asked again: "Can I eat it?"

When he asked this question, Song Jia, who had suffered from insect infestation, and Jian Chu, who was leaning on the sofa, instinctively retched twice. Mu Nan quickly covered his mouth in embarrassment: "Sorry, sorry, I won't ask anymore."

Xu Ming: "You can eat it. As long as you don't die from eating it, you can eat anything. You can eat tree bark, tree roots, and even soil. But the timing is wrong, so it may not be easy to promote it."

Song Jia said: "I won't eat it anyway. It's too disgusting and I can't stand it." The abscess on his back before has left him with a traumatic impression of all insects. He can't accept the mere thought of it.

Xu Ming smiled and said, "It's just that this is the wrong time. The parasite outbreak is very serious right now. There is no medicine. Those infected have died in batches. Everyone is terrified of the mention of worms. Even if a food crisis breaks out, how many people would be willing to eat it?"

Qin Huai asked, "Is the situation in the planting area over at the farm not good either?"

Xu Ming shook his head: "Not good, everyone is worried about their hair turning white, but no matter how bad it is, we can't stop planting." Xu Ming said, looking at Yu Zibai: "Didn't your application fail last time? If you submit it now, it will be passed. We need people now, a lot of people." Yu Zibai said: "No, I won't consider going out to work for the time being. I have already discussed it with Mu Nan. When his rabbits grow up a little, I will raise rabbits."

Jian Chu knew that Yu Zibai did this for his own sake, but with the current situation outside, it would be better for him not to go out. He would feel uneasy without the person around.

After telling them about some recent developments, we sat and chatted for a while before we dispersed and went home.

Mu Nan sighed as he walked. Qin Huai put his arm around his shoulders and said, "We won't have to worry about food, so why are you sighing?"

Mu Nan: "I'm afraid that by then no one will have anything to eat. If it really comes to that, what should I do?"

Qin Huai: "If it really comes to that, we will leave here secretly. We have a car and oil in our space. We can drive to a deserted place, find a secluded place in the mountains, and come out after ten or twenty years."

Mu Nan imagined that scene: "Then the two of us would really become savages."

Qin Huai smiled and said, "They are savages, but with the food, clothing and supplies we have, they are not that savage."

Knowing that the harvest was poor, Mu Nan began to stockpile food in a panic, but his family had a lot of money, so he stockpiled things that looked not filling but were expensive and high in calories. He would also occasionally grab some long-lasting rice and flour products. He couldn't afford not to buy anything. Everyone lived so close, and although he didn't know every detail of what was bought, he could see it roughly.

However, soon, staple foods and other items were no longer available in the mall. It was not that they were unavailable, but that a new purchasing method was adopted. Purchases were made based on the number of households, one area at a time, just like the previous online supermarkets. Purchases could only be made once a week, and the quantities purchased were limited.

Originally, they didn't know much about what was happening in Anshan City, but the sudden purchase limit on food made some sensitive people realize that something was wrong. Of course, some people felt that this way of purchasing was better, because if they couldn't compete with speed, they would always miss out. Now that it's limited, everyone has a purchase quota, so there's no need to worry about not being able to grab the food.

Mu Nan and his family were not short of food, so they did not feel a sense of crisis. They were just worried about the currency plummeting after the food harvest was almost completely lost. So they stockpiled some seeds, recharged their electricity bills, prepaid half a year's rent, and bought some things that were not restricted online. In the end, Qin Huai only had a few hundred yuan left in his account, and he felt a little more at ease.

"When the rabbits grow up in two months, we can sell a few. If food is scarce by then, the price of this kind of live meat should be more expensive." Mu Nan was counting the family assets with Qin Huai while feeding the rabbits.

Qin Huai picked a batch of ripe peppers and said, "After planting this batch of tomatoes, we will switch to other varieties, some that grow fast and are easy to harvest. Let's plant cabbage. I will also exchange some seasonings with them. It just so happens that the jars of pickled cabbage that I found in the ruins before are now empty. When the cabbage grows up, I can make spicy cabbage to sell. It can be stored for a long time and will not spoil easily."

Mu Nan said, "Okay, I still have a lot in my space. We haven't eaten for a long time. Let's make beef and kimchi hotpot today?"

Qin Huai looked up at him and asked, "Is it hot?"

Mu Nan: "Isn't it just right to eat hot pot in the hot summer? What else do you want to eat?"

Qin Huai said: "I can make kimchi pancakes for you."

Mu Nan refused: "I don't want it, it's dry, I want to eat fatty beef."

Qin Huai saw through his little thoughts at a glance. If the hot pot is so hot, you must drink an ice drink. If it tastes so cold and spicy, it would be strange if he doesn't run back and forth to the bathroom.

Seeing Qin Huai didn't say anything, Mu Nan quickly went over and said, "Brother~~"

Qin Huai: "You said it yourself. You are so grown up, why are you still acting like a spoiled brat?"

While the two were bargaining, Xu Ming sent a message in the small group. Mu Nan exclaimed: "Xu Ming is so amazing. He can still get food at this time!"

Qin Huai took a look and saw Xu Ming asking in the group whether they wanted a batch of high-priced grain at five yuan a catty. The rice that could be grabbed online now was one yuan a catty. Not long ago, the price of rice was one yuan for two catties, and then the price increased to one yuan a catty.

But the rice you buy online is a mixture of coarse grains. The rice is not the good, snow-white rice, but a little yellowish. But it is a staple food and can fill you up. If you buy rice at a high price through private channels, five yuan a catty is expensive, but after the food problem broke out, I'm afraid you may not be able to buy it even at ten yuan a catty.

Qin Huai asked, "What do others say?"

Mu Nan said, "Song Jia said in the group that they want it, but they have to wait for his brother to come back to discuss how much they want."

Qin Huai glanced at the less than 600 yuan balance on his phone and said, "We'll buy some too. When the time comes, we'll see how much they buy and we'll just buy about the same as them."

Mu Nan quickly replied in the group, and soon Yu Zibai also replied that he wanted some. It would make people feel uneasy if they didn't stock up on food now. They couldn't wait until there was a food shortage to eat insects.

After Xu Ming came back from get off work, everyone discussed how much to buy. Wu Zheng said, "Otherwise, buy as much as you have. If you need money later, you can exchange it with food." Anyway, in addition to money, food can also be used as a universal currency now. Many people don't even want money, they just want food.

Xu Ming shook his head: "It's better to keep a little money on you, at least for rent, utilities, etc. People like you and me who have salaries can spend all the money we have. Zibai's family can keep some, but Munan's family doesn't care. If they run out of money, they can exchange peppers, which are more valuable than food."

Song Jia asked curiously, "Did someone from above secretly smuggle this rice? If they sell it at a high price now, when there is a food shortage and famine in the future, will they think that we bought so much and try to attract our attention?"

Xu Ming said: "Not really. Although that guy doesn't seem very reliable, he shouldn't do such a thing."

Jian Chu was originally listening quietly. He was very weak now, so he was not in a good mood and seemed to have no strength to speak, so he listened a lot and did not express any opinions. Anyway, Yu Zibai could make the decisions on all the big and small matters at home. But when he heard Xu Ming's words, his focus instantly changed: "That guy?"

Xu Ming said: "You don't know him, but Qin Huai and the others should know him, it's Yu Feng."

Hearing this name, Mu Nan was surprised. Yu Feng was the one who rushed into their yard and rescued him from the upstairs together with Wu Zheng. It was said that the house where Jian Chu and his family lived was bought by Yu Feng's sister for their wedding, so after Yu Feng came back, he came here directly to look for him. As a result, he didn't find him and happened to save him when the explosion happened.

Later, after Qin Huai settled Mu Nan, he met with Yu Feng through Shi Yuanfei. After thanking him very solemnly, he also asked Shi Yuanfei to buy some household items for Yu Feng. At that time, Yu Feng had just come from the neighboring province and didn't even have a place to live. When his sister bought this house, this area was still under construction, and Yu Feng had come here several times. They had originally agreed that after the house was delivered, Yu Feng would help with the decoration, so Yu Feng was quite familiar with the roads in this area and came directly here.

In the end, the sister was not found. Yu Feng himself was also a soldier. Although he had retired, he was very clear about some of the current government policies. He was not a unreasonable person and did not think that this was the house bought by his family and that the house should be returned to him now. So he directly submitted the rental application and followed the above process.

Because the residence had not been finalized at that time, Qin Huai directly gave Shi Yuanfei a sum of money and asked Shi Yuanfei to help buy some things when the time comes. It would be better to have a middleman for this matter. The middleman can just put the things there and say that he is doing something for someone, leaving no chance for people to refuse. Otherwise, Yu Feng would not accept Qin Huai's thank-you gift at all.

For Feng, it was just a casual encounter, a piece of cake, and there was not even any danger. He just went up and carried someone down, and the fire didn't even burn over. That was all. It was not worth such a costly thank you.

But for Qin Huai, this saved his life. He thanked Yu Feng and, of course, Wu Zheng. However, there was no need to be so particular about his friends in his own courtyard. Qin Huai sent a few pounds of meat over and forced them to accept it, and the matter was over.

Unexpectedly, they didn't have any further contact with Yu Feng, but did have contact with Xu Ming. It seems that they have a good relationship. They even got the rice through private channels. Under the current conditions, even if you have money and want to buy it, you can't find a place to buy it.

Mu Nan asked curiously, "How did you become so familiar with each other? Have you been in touch since that day?"

Xu Ming smiled and said, "He works on the farm, in the planting area, but it's quite close to me in the animal husbandry area, so I've come into contact with him a few times."

As for the process of this contact, there is no need to say anything. He has seen what kind of soldiers and scoundrels they are.