Zeng's mother naturally didn't believe it, but seeing Zeng Yiming tugging at her clothes so hard, she had no choice but to give up.
Then, with a hint of bitterness, he said, "Yangyang's mother must be so happy now. Not only did he come back safe and sound, but he also brought back a lot of food."
Zeng Yiming smiled, naturally knowing his mother's dissatisfaction. He comforted her, "Mom, every cloud has a silver lining. Like this time, although I didn't get as many benefits as Yangyang, I developed a great physique in the Kunmeng Mountains. Let me tell you, I can take on three people at once now without any problem."
Moreover, the alliance has privately promised to grant them the right to stay in the shelters. It's just that the laborers living inland are not needed for the time being.
When Zeng's mother heard what her son said, she finally smiled.
Father Zeng patted his wife's arm and advised, "Don't think too much about it. This year's harvest is good. Give our son a good boost."
"Yes, this year not only are the crops growing well in the fields, but there are also many more fruits and vegetables on the market."
Zeng's mother spoke with great enthusiasm, but Zeng Yiming knew that what could be released for trade was basically impossible to keep. Items like rice, flour, and oil were likely still controlled by the alliance and the citizens.
But he didn't say it out loud, nodding and saying, "Yes, Mom, you have to make sure I get some good nutrition. Although we had plenty to eat in the Kunmeng Mountains, the chef's cooking skills were really not good. I miss Mom's cooking every day."
Zeng's mother was so pleased with her that she forgot the sadness she felt when she first met Zeng Yiming. She smiled and said, "Okay, I'll make it for you right away. We didn't prepare anything today, so let's just have some stir-fried potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant. Tomorrow, I'll have your dad catch a chicken, and we'll have a big plate of chicken."
Zeng Yiming smiled and agreed. He knew that his parents must have had a hard time during the year he was away, otherwise they wouldn't have aged so much.
Not to mention the daily anxieties they face, just the three acres of land they own require a lot of labor to yield a good harvest. Moreover, the elderly couple also raises chickens and pigs; one can imagine how much work they have to do every day.
Seeing his parents' increasingly unsteady steps, Zeng Yiming felt extremely guilty. He was grateful that he had returned and could still be filial to his parents. He hoped that for the rest of his life, he could work hard to give his parents a better life.
Zeng Yiming thought for a moment, then called a few of his buddies. He figured that since supplies were relatively plentiful this year, those with surplus grain would probably want to improve their living standards. With so many resources at his disposal, it was the perfect time to make some money.
However, things didn't go as smoothly as he had imagined. Because the alliance had warned that the next disaster would be related to water, most people were holding onto their food tightly and refusing to release it, causing Zeng Yiming to be stuck in a stalemate for a while, and the business couldn't get off the ground for half a day.
He just couldn't understand it. There had been disasters before, yet those people still ate and drank as usual. Little did he know that the Alliance's repeated large-scale actions had terrified people. Even those whose homes were far from the sea were afraid of being caught in the crossfire and going hungry.
Left with no other choice, Zeng Yiming called Shen Yanming to tell him that he was back and also to let him know that he planned to return to his old ways.
Shen Yanming smiled and congratulated him, then offered no further comments.
Zeng Yiming, somewhat helplessly, said with a smile, "Dude, give me some feedback!"
"Didn't I already congratulate you?" Shen Yanming smiled and shook his head. "I think your idea is great, but it might be difficult to implement. However, with the laborer status as a safety net, it doesn't matter if it doesn't work out. Just give it a try."
"Yeah, I feel better now that you say that. I don't know why, but when you didn't say anything, I felt uneasy."
"But I'm just pouring cold water on you."
"That was also to keep me awake!" Zeng Yiming said sincerely. "To be honest, Lao Shen, I've almost come to regard you as my pillar of support along the way."
Shen Yanming was slightly startled, but he remained calm and said, "I'm just an ordinary person, just a bit cautious sometimes. If you're talking about a pillar of support, you have to look to the Alliance. I think we've got a really strong backer. With this status, as long as we don't do anything reckless, the Alliance will protect us."
Upon hearing this, Zeng Yiming chuckled and nodded, saying, "Yes, yes, I hadn't experienced it before, but after a year of training in the Kunmeng Mountains, I've had many insights. The Alliance is really powerful, hehe, and the laborer's job is quite lucrative. I don't know if I was blinded by greed before, but I didn't see the benefits. I regret not joining a few years earlier."
"No one can see back in time; who can know these things? Fortunately, it's not too late. Now that you've been assigned work, you need to do your best."
"I know, it will."
"Yes, strengthen your training, practice your martial arts with the instructors, and learn some wilderness survival skills along the way."
Zeng Yiming's eyes darted around, and he said, "Old Shen, why do I feel like you're hinting at something?"
Shen Yanming neither admitted nor denied it, saying, "Aren't the guard teams and laborers all strengthening these two training programs now?"
"Oh, I see." Zeng Yiming nodded. "I called you this time just to let you know. If you want any rare items, you can ask me, and I'll try my best to get them for you. If any of your friends need anything, you can also call me."
"Yes, if anyone asks, I'll recommend you to them."
"Okay, okay!" Zeng Yiming smiled happily.
The two chatted for a while longer before hanging up. Shen Yanming called his wife over, and the two thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out what they were missing.
Shen Yanming said, "It's alright. Take a look around these next couple of days. If there's anything you want, just let me know. I'll also organize the supplies to see if I've forgotten anything."
Bi Qiaoan disagreed somewhat. She bit her lip and said, "Actually, life is all about food and drink. Our family has no shortage of food and drink; our standard is far above the average person. As for other things, to be honest, even if we could get them, we might not be able to use them."
Shen Yanming knew that, just like when his family of four went on a trip, they were extremely careful and dared not take anything out of their space except for food. Even though they had stocked up on better off-road vehicles and RVs, they still made do in their cramped cars.
But he just wanted to hoard goods; it was an instinctive, physiological, craving.
Bi Qiaoan grasped his hand and advised, "That's enough. We've already attracted enough attention. Let's leave it at that."
Shen Yanming sighed, "Alright, I'll stop. But if any of them want to trade something, I can offer to help."
Bi Qiaoan frowned and said, "You absolutely mustn't take the initiative. Otherwise, people will think you're taking a kickback. Also, knowing that a major disaster might break out in the future, I think most people will hoard food and not move."
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