After finishing her steamed buns, Jian Ning went downstairs to take a look. The streets were packed with people.

The Chinese people's habit of storing supplies is a fine tradition passed down from ancient times. We don't usually see it unless we go out. Only today did we realize that even earthquakes and tsunamis haven't made them give up hope.

The people who came out to collect fish were almost all families; they brought out anything they could use to hold things, even bathtubs for bathing children.

Some even took out the inner pot of their rice cooker.

Some more cunning individuals would simply take out the bed sheets and duvet covers, put the fish they found on them, tie the four corners together, and carry them away.

They didn't even consider whether their freezer could hold so many fish. In this hot weather, they'd go bad very quickly.

"Hey, young lady, it's you! Why aren't you picking up the fish? What are you just standing there for?" A young man walked over and looked Jian Ning up and down. He asked with a smile.

Jian Ning looked up and immediately recognized him as the young man who had delivered the message to the troops. She was surprised that he had such a good memory.

"I don't eat fish, so you'd better not eat it either. Haven't you heard that insects have mutated recently?"

"I know that. But can insects and fish be the same?"

"These are sea creatures! Hey, you know what, how come this fish has two heads?" The young man asked in surprise, looking at a small fish not far away.

"Where?" Jian Ning looked in the direction he was pointing, and sure enough, the fish was only about the size of a palm, but strangely it had two heads and four eyes.

It wasn't dead yet; it poked its head out of a low-lying ditch and kept moving its lips, as if it wanted to speak.

"This kind of fish is definitely not safe to eat. I'll keep it and have it tested."

As Jian Ning spoke, she took a plastic bag out of her pocket, walked over, and put the two-headed fish inside.

"Hey girl, my name is Gu Yan. I've been here for the past few days. If you have any results regarding this fish, could you let me know? We're really running low on food at home."

There are so many fish outside; even if they've mutated, they're still meat. They can help us live a few more days. If possible, we should eat this.

Hearing his words, Jian Ning nodded. Yes, this was a real problem. Even if it was poisonous, they had to die well-fed. The feeling of hunger was just too unbearable.

She didn't say much more to Gu Yan. Holding the fish in the bag, she went back to the sixteenth floor. She knocked on the door of apartment 1603, and Xiao Lingfeng came out shortly after.

"Why are you up so early today? Didn't you sleep last night?" He asked with concern when he saw Jian Ning.

"I haven't slept. I've been fine without sleeping for the past few days. Look at this fish, I just picked it up down there."

It's grown two heads! Take this to the commander and discuss it. I reckon there will be more and more of these mutated creatures in the future.”

“Okay, I understand. Actually, the commander told me a few days ago that he wanted to establish a base. He plans to abandon this city, but the specific location has not yet been decided.”

"I think Linyang next door is quite nice. It has a good geographical location, convenient transportation, a sparse population, and an arms factory. It's backed by mountains..."

There's also a water source, some distance from the sea, but not too far from here, less than 500 kilometers. This is just a suggestion; you can take a look.

Actually, the base in my previous life was located in Linyang County, a place with vast land, sparse population, and water sources. It wasn't in an earthquake zone either. There was also plenty of timber and game in the mountains.

The soil conditions are also good, suitable for planting. As long as a sturdy fence and house are built, there shouldn't be any major problems for at least a few years.

"Okay, I'll mention it to the commander. I'll take this fish and deliver it right now. By the way, do you mean that fish that haven't mutated can't be eaten either?" Xiao Lingfeng, who was about to walk back, suddenly stopped and asked.

"It's best not to eat it. If you do eat it, it must be fully cooked."

As for what changes will occur after eating it, I can't say for sure. In the original owner's memories, there was no animal mutation in her previous life.

Could it be that her arrival triggered this series of butterfly effects? Jian Ning didn't know either.

"Okay, I'll be back as soon as possible."

Xiao Lingfeng went back inside, gathered his documents, grabbed the fish, and hurried downstairs. Jian Ning was just about to go home when Huang Fugui ran out of the house and jumped into her arms.

"How could you bear to come back? I think you've been having too much fun!" Jian Ning patted its head.

"I'm just hungry, I feel bad eating too much of their food, hurry up. I want to eat roast duck, give me two." Huang Fugui pawed at Jian Ning's arm.

"You're such a glutton. Look, there are so many fish outside, catch some and eat them yourself." Jian Ning carried it to the window and let it look down.

"These fish are covered in black smoke. What polluted them? I'm fine eating them, but you shouldn't be tempted, Master."

“Fugui, what kind of black aura can you see? Tell me quickly.” Jian Ning was stunned for a moment when she heard this, and then quickly asked.

"It's the gas on the fish's body. Some are dark in color, like jet black, some are lighter, like gray, and some are colorless," Huang Fugui looked down more carefully and then looked up to answer.

"Sweetie, you're amazing. Here are two roast ducks and a pork knuckle, they're all yours. Eat up, we'll go downstairs and take a look in a bit."

Jian Ning felt that since Huang Fugui could distinguish the black aura on the fish, it meant that he could tell that the fish meat was not mutated or contaminated and was edible. Just for this point, he had made a great contribution.

Huang Fugui had no idea what Jian Ning was planning. Seeing the food, he took a big bite. He wanted to eat his fill first.

Jian Ning waited quietly on the side. Huang Fugui ate very quickly, and in less than five minutes, the roast duck and pork knuckle were gone.

"Let's go downstairs and take a look." Jian Ning picked it up and walked down the stairs. Just as they reached the fifteenth floor, Cao Xue suddenly opened the door and came out. Her eyes were swollen, clearly she had been crying.

"What's wrong?" Jian Ning stopped and asked.

"Zhang Xiaoqiang ran into Miao Xin and her group a few days ago. He heard that they had formed their own small group. They had food, guns, and had taken over a villa area."

The tsunami didn't affect their area much, so he wanted to move there, but I disagreed. We had a fight yesterday, and he left with his things.

"Why aren't you going?" Jian Ning asked, somewhat puzzled. They were classmates, and Miao Xin hadn't done anything particularly offensive to her, so Cao Xue's insistence on staying was rather strange.

"I think in this world, relying on Miao Xin and the others is not as good as following you, Jian Ning. Can I be with you from now on? I won't cause you any trouble."

I can find food on my own. If you're moving or anything, just let me know. I don't want anything else, I just want to live closer to you. I feel especially safe around you.