Chapter 36 New Members
Chu Qiang quickly locked Pan Xiaoquan in an empty room in the activity center. To prevent him from disturbing Jiang Rong's work, he tied him up and gagged him with a rag. After leaving the empty room, he checked the time.
It's 4:50 PM now, forty minutes before the market starts as he told everyone. It's too hot during the day, so many people choose to go out in the early morning or evening to escape the heat. According to his observations, the peak times for activity for nearby villagers are from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM and from 4:30 AM to 7:30 AM.
It's unclear how many people will come to their market to exchange wolf meat today, but Xiao Jiang said that once the market opens, it will continue to operate. People from all directions will know about their fishing village, and their names will spread among the people.
The thought of his name being frequently mentioned by the villagers made Chu Qiang grin silently twice. Before he could relax for long, he heard Jiang Rong's voice: "Qiangzi, could you please help me carry these things away?"
Chu Qiang responded and strode forward: "Coming, coming!"
Jiang Rong was diligently registering information. After typing the data into the computer, he looked up at the man in front of him. The man's name was Zhang Zhou, of medium height and muscular build. He was a villager from Fishery Village No. 2 and had sold meat at the vegetable market in the south of D City before the major crisis.
After a moment's consideration, Jiang Rong asked, "Boss Zhang, would you be willing to help us cut some wolf meat? Of course, we won't let you work for free. For every wolf you cut, we'll give you half a pound of meat as payment."
Zhang Zhou was stunned for a moment, the huge surprise leaving him somewhat bewildered. Half a pound of meat from butchering a wolf? There were at least a dozen wolves here, that meant seven or eight pounds of meat for free! After a brief hesitation, he nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay! But can I bring another person to help?"
Jiang Rong calmly said, "Okay, but I need to make this clear first: no matter how many people you bring, you'll only get half a pound of meat for each wolf you divide. Can you accept that?"
If Zhang Zhou brings seventeen or eighteen people to help, and each person gets half a pound of meat, wouldn't he be losing out big time?
Zhang Zhou hadn't expected this at all. After regaining his senses, he quickly said, "Don't worry, I'll only bring one person. Please wait a moment while I go home to get my tools and then call for more people. I'll be right there."
Jiang Rong nodded slightly: "Okay, go ahead."
Guan Shaowei, who had been keeping an eye on Jiang Rong's activities, turned her head slightly. Jiang Rong smiled and explained, "You're too tired to be alone."
The chilled wolves were not as stiff as fresh ones, making skinning them more difficult. Guan Shao had been working for almost half an hour, and the first wolf's skin was still not completely removed.
Guan Shao understood Jiang Rong's meaning and nodded slightly: "One person is indeed too slow." As he spoke, his gaze swept across the crowd and fixed on a tall man. "Do you know how to skin a wolf?"
The man raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "Me? Are you talking to me?"
Guan Shao nodded: "Yes, do you know how to skin wolves? If you do, I'll give you half a pound of meat as a reward for each wolf skinned."
The man hesitated before stepping forward: "I've never skinned a wolf, but I've skinned sheep, many, many sheep. I'd like to try, is that alright?"
Jiang Rong waved to the man: "Come and register first."
This man's name was Hu Hechu. Although he was tall, he was actually a recent graduate. His hometown was in X province in Northwest China. He had never even seen a live wolf, let alone skinned one. However, his hometown had many sheep, and over the years he and his family had skinned many sheep.
Hu Hechu was a little reserved at first, but after taking the dagger from Guan Shao, he threw himself into his work. The boy had a foundation and learned quickly; soon he was able to work independently. With him around, Guan Shao's pressure was greatly reduced.
Under Guan Shao's casual questioning, Hu Hechu revealed all his secrets. He had been studying at a university in the neighboring province of Z, but after the major crisis, he lost contact with his family. Seeing the drastic changes in his surroundings, he rushed home without hesitation.
The distance from Province Z to Province X is over 3,000 kilometers, and most people would choose to drive. However, this child didn't take the usual route. He found a bicycle and started pedaling from school. With a poor sense of direction, he successfully got lost after a month of pedaling.
Two days ago, Hu Hechu suffered from heatstroke because he was trying to travel. If it weren't for the fishery brigade rescuing him, he would have become a corpse by the roadside.
During his stay at the fishing brigade, he came to terms with reality. Leaving aside whether he could even travel over 3,000 kilometers to get home, the very existence of his parents was uncertain. Rather than risk his life by rushing on, he decided it was better to find a place to settle down first and return home once the situation had eased.
Hu Hechu found an empty house in the fishing team and settled down. This morning, he heard that meat could be exchanged here, so he brought a few things he had found on the way.
After Hu Hechu finished speaking, everyone fell silent, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
After Hu Hechu skinned a wolf, Zhang Zhou ran through the crowd carrying a dirty, flat bamboo basket: "Boss Jiang, we're here!"
Zhang Zhou was going to bring his older brother, Zhang Jiang. The two brothers had been running a stall together since they were adults, and they had developed a very good working relationship over the years. Without Zhang Jiang, Zhang Zhou's efficiency would be greatly reduced.
The two Zhang brothers placed the dirty bamboo basket next to the square table, the knives inside clattering together. Each of them chose a knife, then one dragged the wolf carcass by its front legs, while the other pulled on its hind legs. With a simultaneous exertion of force, the wolf was sliced into several pieces by the large cleaver.
The people lined up at the square table looked at the dark red wolf meat, their eyes growing brighter and brighter: "Quickly! Start dividing the meat!"
Zhang Zhou called out, "Don't rush, the meat will be distributed soon!" Zhang Jiang chimed in, "Hey~ folks, line up! There's plenty of meat, fatty or lean!"
The rhythmic shouts filled the crowd with anticipation, and soon the first person to register successfully received his share. It was a piece of pork belly from the ribs, with both fat and lean meat. Zhang Zhou poked a hole in the pork belly, tied a straw rope to it, and the first person, head held high, swaggered away, basking in the envious gazes of the crowd.
The crowd's enthusiasm was completely ignited by the perfectly marbled wolf brisket; their eyes lingered on the wolf's body, searching for the part they wanted most.
Although a wolf's body looks large, after removing its fur, internal organs, head, and bones, the remaining meat is not as good as pork of the same volume.
With the first wolf almost gone, everyone's attention turned to the second wolf. Seeing Guan Shao swiftly cut off the wolf's head and gut it, someone in the crowd felt a pang of regret: "So much offal and the wolf's head are just gone?" "Yes, it's such a waste."
The wolf's offal looked more abundant than the pig's, especially the intestines, which were thick and long. Interspersed among the coiled intestines were clumps of white fat, making everyone present incredibly envious.
Jiang Rong slowed his typing. He had actually considered the issue of wolf offal. If cleaned properly, offal could be quite a good source of meat. The problem lay in cleaning it; they had limited manpower and couldn't afford to spend time cleaning the internal organs. Besides, offal wasn't easy to exchange. Meat could be cut into pieces and sold, but intestines couldn't be cut into pieces and sold, could they?
At this moment, someone in the crowd shouted angrily, "Why are you cutting in line?!" "Why are you cutting in line? Go to the back!"
Jiang Rong looked in the direction of the sound and saw three men squeezing through the crowd. Jiang Rong recognized the man in the lead; his surname was Liu, he was the third son, and a well-known village cook in the second team. The two behind him were his sons. Before the major crisis, the three of them had taken on banquets for miles around, and whether it was a wedding or a funeral, their team could always provide suitable dishes within the host's budget.
Upon seeing these three people, Jiang Rong already guessed what they were up to.
Seeing that the Zhang brothers had obtained wolf meat through their own skills, and noticing the offal and wolf head on the ground, Liu Laosan had his eye on them. He grinned broadly and asked, "Jiang Rong, do you still want the wolf offal and wolf head?"
Jiang Rong smiled slightly: "Of course I will."
Actually, he hadn't taken the entrails from the two wolves he'd killed earlier. First, cleaning entrails was complicated and might just make the house stink. Second, he wasn't sure what the mutated wolves had eaten, and if they'd seen something they shouldn't have, it might leave him traumatized.
However, seeing Liu Laosan and his two companions, he realized that their internal organs could be put to good use. The internal organs of over thirty wolves could be put to great use if used properly, and Liu Laosan's initiative saved him the trouble.
Disappointment flashed in Liu Laosan's eyes, and he scratched his head sheepishly: "Oh..."
Just as he was about to leave, Jiang Rong's voice came: "However, if you can help clean the internal organs and wolf head, and make wolf offal soup, I will give you six strings of offal."
A significant portion of the mutated wolf's weight is in its internal organs; a single load of offal, including the heart, liver, and intestines, weighs forty to fifty pounds. Although the offal shrinks considerably when cooked, one load can still provide enough meat for five or six people for several delicious meals. If you eat six loads of offal sparingly, you can have meat at every meal for a month.
Old Liu grinned from ear to ear, his teeth showing in delight: "Hey, good, good!" He then called to his sons: "Hurry home and move your things, let's get started!"
The Zhang brothers were extremely annoyed: "Oh dear, how could Old Liu have gotten such a lucrative job? We've lost out big time." When it comes to handling waste, who can compare to them, the pig butchers?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Rong silently turned to look at the two brothers. Zhang Zhou chuckled and said, "I was just kidding, just kidding."
One shouldn't be too greedy; one can't want one thing and then want another. The important thing is to complete the tasks Jiang Rong assigned them perfectly. If they don't finish their tasks, losing meat is a minor matter; offending a superhuman is a major one.
At that moment, Jiang Rong heard Ruan Hanyu's voice again: "Um, President Jiang..."
Jiang Rong calmly met her gaze: "Just call me Jiang Rong."
Ruan Hanyu said timidly, "I type fast, so I can help with the registration."
As soon as she finished speaking, the people around her looked at Ruan Hanyu with knowing eyes. Some even raised their voices: "It seems that no matter what kind of world you're in, taking shortcuts is the only way to go."
In the aftermath of a major crisis, beautiful young women often attach themselves to powerful men, using their beauty to secure a stable and peaceful life. This is a common occurrence, and many have already categorized Ruan Hanyu as someone seeking to climb the social ladder.
Seeing Jiang Rong's complicated expression, Ruan Hanyu blushed and explained, "I don't want payment, I, I just think the cat litter..."
Although she had spent a lot of money on cat litter before, it was worthless these days. She felt that Jiang Rong must have lost a lot of money to exchange meat for her, and feeling guilty, she wanted to do something to make herself feel better.
Hearing Ruan Hanyu say that, Jiang Rong stood up: "Okay, you know the rules, right?"
Ruan Hanyu quickly walked around the square table to the back of the computer. After getting used to the keyboard for a while, she smiled and nodded: "I can do it."
Jiang Rong stood behind Ruan Hanyu, making sure she could complete the task independently, before turning around and saying, "Guan Shao."
Guan Shao's movements slowed down again. "Hmm?"
Jiang Rong smiled and waved the water bottle in her hand at him: "Let them do their work first, let's go and rest for a bit."
Guan Shao lowered his eyes to hide the smile in them. "Okay."
*
At 8 p.m., the temperature gradually dropped, but the number of people at the activity center increased instead of decreasing.
The queue stretched from the square table all the way to the parking lot, people carrying items and excitedly whispering among themselves. Every now and then, they would stand on tiptoe to look ahead, hoping there would still be wolf meat when it was their turn. But if there wasn't any wolf meat, that was fine too; they could exchange it for cooked wolf offal soup.
The chef's stewed wolf offal soup smelled wonderfully, making everyone's stomachs rumble. When Aunt Chu arrived at the activity center with the children, they were just in time to smell the delicious broth. Jiang Xiaoheng took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Ah~ it smells so good~"
More than the meat soup, Jiang Xiaoheng was looking forward to seeing his father. Ever since Jiang Rong decided to hunt wolves, he had sent his son to Chu Qiang's house. With Uncle Chu and Aunt Chu taking care of him, he could deal with the aftermath with peace of mind.
Jiang Xiaoheng tiptoed and looked around the crowd, immediately spotting his father leaning against the pickup truck with his arms crossed. He grabbed Jiang Hao's hand with one hand and Lele's with the other, raising his voice as he ran towards Jiang Rong, calling out, "Dad—!"
Jiang Rong bent down and caught her son and Jiang Hao who were running towards her: "Hey~"
Jiang Xiaoheng hugged his father's neck tightly, then planted several kisses on Jiang Rong's cheeks. Lele became even more unrestrained, licking Jiang Rong's chin and leaving glistening drool. Jiang Rong was flustered, shouting, "Lele, Lele, shut up!"
Jiang Hao followed Jiang Xiaoheng's example and slowly moved closer to Jiang Rong. He lightly touched Jiang Rong's cheek, which counted as a kiss.
Jiang Rong narrowed her eyes: "Good girl~"
Jiang Hao slowly turned his head, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks. He then took two steps back, breaking free from Jiang Rong's embrace, and stood beside Guan Shao. Guan Shao patted his head: "Very good."
Jiang Hao's face flushed even more, and his expressionless face became more lively.
After the kiss, Jiang Xiaoheng didn't intend to leave his father. He started rambling on, expressing his longing: "Dad, I miss you so much! Have you finished your work? Can I go home to sleep today?"
Before Jiang Rong could speak, Chu Qiang objected, glaring at her: "You ungrateful brat, isn't it good to sleep in my house? I read you stories every day, isn't that better than your father's?"
Jiang Xiaoheng thought about it seriously for a while, then tilted her head and said softly, "Uncle Chu is very good to me, but I miss my dad very much too."
Jiang Rong picked up her son and solemnly promised, "Okay, after Dad is done with his work, we'll go home together."
Jiang Xiaoheng chattered on and on, sharing his little secrets with his father, such as learning a new song today, Leilei giving him a bottle of Leleduo (a popular children's drink), and what games his brother Xiaohao played with him... He clung tightly to Jiang Rong's arms like a sticky koala, unwilling to let go.
When Pan Pan arrived at the activity center after receiving the message, this was the scene he saw. A young father was gently holding his baby, a beautiful picture both before and after the great crisis. However, he knew very well how terrifying the refined and handsome superhuman in front of him was; just looking at the piles of wolf pelts in the activity center, he dared not be careless.
Although he was also a superhuman, he had awakened earth-based abilities. If he joined another superhuman team, his abilities would only be used as a shield, and he would be the first to die. He had no desire to get involved with other superhumans, and he didn't want to owe them any favors. He just wanted to live a good life with his mother, but even this small wish was difficult to fulfill.
If he doesn't come to take Pan Xiaoquan away, who knows what those shameless relatives will do to his mother.
Sensing something unusual, Jiang Rong looked up. Chu Qiang quickly whispered in Jiang Rong's ear, "That's Pan Pan."
Jiang Rong was somewhat surprised when he first saw Pan Pan. In his imagination, Pan Pan should be a burly young man. Unexpectedly, he looked like a refined and fair-skinned young man, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a white shirt, with a tall and thin figure.
Pan Pan's left arm was bandaged, and he walked with a limp, looking like he was still recovering from a serious injury. He slowly walked up to Jiang Rong and nodded: "I am Pan Pan from the Fifth Fisheries Team. I heard that Pan Xiaoquan has been detained by you. Tell me, what price do you want me to pay to release him?"
When Pan Pan mentioned the name "Pan Xiaoquan," his eyes revealed undisguised disgust.
Jiang Rong put her son down: "Xiao Heng, be good, go find your older brother and Sister Lei Lei to play." Jiang Xiao Heng looked at Pan Pan curiously, gave him a bright smile, and then ran over to Wang Chunlan and her daughter.
After Pan Pan finished speaking, he stood there like a wooden statue in front of Jiang Rong. He lowered his eyes and avoided meeting Jiang Rong's gaze, but Jiang Rong did not miss the anger hidden in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Rong spoke her first words after they met: "Have you had dinner? If not, let's have some soup together. The chef's soup is very good."
Pan Pan looked up in surprise, but before he could say anything, his stomach was already growling loudly.
This is really... so embarrassing.
Jiang Rong wasn't deliberately trying to get close to Pan Pan; he was genuinely hungry. In the countryside, the cooks were known for their generous portions and affordable meals. The wolf offal soup that Liu Laosan and his friends stewed was milky white, rich in flavor, and its aroma wafted for miles. Before the crisis, health-conscious people considered it a bowl of heavily seasoned purine soup.
However, everyone present hadn't seen meat for over a month. At this moment, as long as they had a sip of soup, who cared about purines? After smelling the aroma for hours, everyone was starving. They sat around the makeshift table, gulping down soup and eating meat, their attention completely focused on the broth.
Pan Pan had expected Jiang Rong and the others to take the opportunity to make demands of him, but his bowl of soup was almost empty. All he heard were a few very ordinary words: "Want some chili oil?" "Want some cilantro?" "Want another bowl?"
Only the last sentence was addressed to Pan Pan. Pan Pan wanted to refuse, but his body reacted too honestly. Before he could even process it, his head had already nodded.
Another bowl of meat soup with golden oil floating on top appeared in front of Pan Pan. This time, he could no longer hold back: "Just tell me what you want me to do. As long as it's within my power, I will do my best to do it."
Jiang Rong pointed to the room where Pan Xiaoquan was being held: "Pan Xiaoquan stole your things to exchange for wolf meat. I can't stand people who steal. I'm just letting you know about this. After you finish your soup, you can take him away."
Before Pan Pan arrived, Jiang Rong had overheard some gossip. Pan Pan's mother had remarried a villager from the fifth team of Yuxi, and Pan Pan was her stepchild. Although many people were skeptical of this blended couple, they formed a happy family of three after their marriage. Pan Pan's stepfather treated him like his own son, giving them the greatest love and care.
During the crisis, Pan Pan's stepfather tragically passed away. Relatives of the Pan family then tried to evict Pan Pan and her son, seizing their property and belongings. They claimed Pan Pan wasn't a member of the Pan family and had no right to live there.
But the house Pan Pan lives in now was built with great effort by his mother and stepfather, and Pan Pan's mother refuses to leave the Pan family no matter what. In order to protect their home, Pan Pan has repeatedly bowed to his unscrupulous relatives.
Presumably, he was forced to come by Pan's relatives this time.
Anger, embarrassment, and helplessness flashed in Pan Pan's eyes. He lowered his head and awkwardly scooped up the leftover bits of food at the bottom of the bowl with his chopsticks. Whether he was full or his hands were too weak, he drank the second bowl much slower than the first.
Jiang Rong didn't rush him. After finishing the wolf meat soup, the group went about their own business. He wanted to switch places with Ruan Hanyu; she had been working for several hours and had done a really good job. Now it was getting late, and it was time to take the meat back.
After carefully handing over the prepared food to Jiang Rong, Ruan Hanyu was about to go to queue up when Jiang Rong called her back. Then she turned to Zhang Zhou and said, "Cut ten catties of wolf meat." She then instructed Liu Laosan, "Pack up a serving of wolf offal soup."
A moment later, Chu Qiang handed the wolf meat and the packaged wolf offal soup to Ruan Hanyu. Ruan Hanyu was startled and quickly stepped back, saying, "No, no need. I really just wanted to help."
Jiang Rong glanced at her and said seriously, "This is what you deserve, accept it."
Ruan Hanyu grinned, but her eyes reddened: "Jiang Rong, you are a good person."
Seeing Ruan Hanyu's reddened eyes, Jiang Rong still added, "Do you know the saying 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime'?"
Ruan Hanyu sniffed, her voice trembling: "I know." "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime"—this proverb means that talented people are easily framed. I learned this in school.
Jiang Rong nodded: "Good to know. Be careful on your way home."
Ruan Hanyu didn't quite understand why Jiang Rong would say that to her, but she still bowed gratefully to Jiang Rong and said, "Thank you."
Thanks to Jiang Rong, she was able to turn the useless cat litter into meat. With this meat, life won't be too difficult for the next few days.
However, Jiang Rong was not as optimistic as Ruan Hanyu. He turned to Chu Qiang and asked, "Qiangzi, are the fifth and sixth fishing villages close to each other?"
Chu Qiang had just passed through these villages and had a deep impression of them: "They're alright, separated by a few mountains. What's wrong?"
Jiang Rong said, "In a little while, drive Pan Pan and Pan Xiaoquan back, and give Ruan Hanyu a ride on the way. Remember to take the girl home and see her walk in with your own eyes."
Chu Qiang's expression turned serious: "I understand." On his way back from City C, he had witnessed many tragedies. Some scumbags took advantage of natural disasters and man-made calamities to bully women; their cruelty and depravity were outrageous and abhorrent to both gods and men.
The news that Ruan Hanyu had exchanged so much meat couldn't be kept secret. If there were other people in her family, it wouldn't be a problem, but if she was alone, these meats might bring her trouble.
About half an hour later, Pan Pan stood in front of Jiang Rong again, this time with a determined look in his eyes: "Jiang Rong, I want to join you."
He had been narrow-minded before; he only thought about not getting involved in the conflicts among people with superpowers, but he forgot that there is no paradise in this world. Rather than hoping that the Pan family would treat his mother well, he should become strong enough that they wouldn't dare to bully him and his mother.
He wanted to become a superhuman like Jiang Rong, powerful enough to protect the people he cared about.
Author's Note:
Don't worry about Ruan Meizi. She's just innocent and hasn't experienced the harsh realities of a chaotic world. Just like Jiang Rong in her previous life, she was full of naivety but got tricked and left with a bloody face.
Ruan is amazing!
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