The food shortage was heartbreaking. Stored grain was dwindling, and the empty shelves in the warehouses cried out in silence. Staple foods like rice and flour were running low, and vegetables and meat were becoming a luxury. Survivors were given only a meager daily ration, the dry texture and meager portions barely enough to satisfy their needs. Hunger was a constant, and everyone's strength was steadily declining. The lack of medicine was even more alarming. Common antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and painkillers were almost gone, leaving only a few empty bottles lying lonely in corners. The injured could only endure the pain, their wounds inflamed and festering due to lack of medical treatment, and their health deteriorated. Diseases were spreading quietly among the population, but there was not enough medicine to fight them off. The scarcity of building materials was a huge obstacle to rebuilding. Basic materials like rebar, cement, and bricks were in severe shortages, making new construction impossible and repairing damaged homes difficult. The few materials available were carefully used, but they fell far short of what was needed. Without sufficient building materials, the hope of reconstruction seemed to hang in the balance. Faced with this dire situation, Xiao Yi frowned and decisively dispatched a search team. The team, shouldering a heavy mission, embarked on a journey fraught with uncertainty. They traversed the ruins of the city, searching every corner for resources. They cautiously entered abandoned supermarkets, searching among collapsed shelves and scattered debris, hoping to find forgotten canned food or medical supplies. Every useful discovery brought a flicker of hope. They delved deeper into dilapidated factories and warehouses, diligently digging beneath the piles of rubble, searching for any remaining building materials. Even a small piece of rebar or a few intact bricks would bring them ecstasy. The search team worked tirelessly, their steps firm and persistent, knowing that every usable resource they found brought a new hope for rebuilding their homes and a glimmer of hope for the future of the survivors.
However, as the search team, full of hope, headed for the surrounding areas, the scene before them sank their hearts. Every inch of the surrounding land had been ravaged by war, shattered beyond recognition, as if it had been wrought by a merciless giant. The once bustling town was now eerily silent, its streets mostly tumbled to ruins, only shattered walls teetering precariously in the wind. Shops stood empty, their doors and windows shattered, their shelves toppled, their once vibrant wares gone. Entering a nearby village, they saw barren farmland and dry wells. It should have been harvest time, but the fields were overgrown with weeds, devoid of any life. Farmhouses lay dilapidated, farm tools broken, and granaries empty. Further in the distance, once bustling factories had fallen silent. Machinery and equipment had been destroyed, parts scattered across the ground, production lines halted, and warehouses devoid of any useful raw materials. Even warehouses that might have held supplies had been ravaged by the fighting. Some warehouses were blackened by fire, while others collapsed due to bombs. The supplies inside were either burned or buried under the rubble. Even if they searched these places carefully, the supplies they could find were pitifully few. Occasionally, they found a few packages of expired food or some damaged medical supplies, which made them feel like they had found a treasure. But such a meager harvest was simply a drop in the bucket compared to the huge needs of the entire group of survivors. They searched every corner that might have hidden supplies, but in the end, they could only find very limited useful things. The cruelty of war made this land so barren and desperate, bringing unprecedented challenges to Xiao Yi and his team.
To address the pressing shortage of supplies, Xiao Yi's gaze was resolute, a clear plan in mind. He straightened his back and gathered a group of like-minded, motivated individuals, ready to take on the new challenge. On a barren expanse of land, Xiao Yi led the way, beginning the arduous task of reclaiming the land. Armed with simple farm tools like hoes and shovels, they diligently tore at weeds and turned over the hardened earth. Each swing of the hoe was accompanied by heavy breathing and pouring sweat. The soil was so compacted that they had to exert all their strength, digging again and again until it was gradually softened and suitable for planting. The reclamation process presented numerous challenges. Sometimes they encountered stubborn rocks, requiring the combined efforts of several people to remove them. Other times, the soil was so poor and lacked nutrients that they searched far and wide for organic fertilizers to improve it. But Xiao Yi constantly encouraged everyone, not letting anyone back down. Meanwhile, construction of the livestock farm was proceeding at full speed elsewhere. Using available materials, they built simple sheds. From finding a suitable site to building fences and preparing feed and water for the livestock, every step was fraught with difficulty. Xiao Yi personally participated in the planning, ensuring the layout of the farm was rational and maximized the use of space and resources. They scavenged usable materials such as wood and wire from the ruins, piecing together fences to demarcate the breeding area. In search of feed, they scoured the surrounding wilderness, gathering weeds and digging up roots, doing everything they could to provide enough food for the incoming livestock. Under Xiao Yi's leadership, everyone worked together tirelessly. They knew that this wasteland and the newly built farm held everyone's hope for the future. Every drop of sweat, every exhausting struggle, was dedicated to ensuring a stable food supply, allowing everyone to survive in this difficult environment and rebuild a beautiful home.
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