In the second year of the great era of cataclysmic changes, the food reserves stored up during the once glorious and prosperous age were gradually depleted. The land withered, the environment deteriorated, strange beasts roamed freely, food and clothing were scarce, morality collapsed, and humanity faced one enormous problem after another.
In an era when even coarse food was priceless, Ji Xiaoxiao's ability to obtain chicken, which even the Liao family couldn't get, demonstrates her hidden talents and exceptional abilities.
In the second year of the great cataclysmic upheaval, the Liao family began to tighten their belts and cut back on food and clothing. Old Master Liao, being of advanced age, needed to nourish his body occasionally, so he would drink some hot soup and eat a bowl of millet porridge every few days. However, the situation was dire. A month later, all the chickens, ducks, fish, geese, and other poultry and livestock had been slaughtered and eaten, and their precious rice supplies were completely exhausted.
During the days when they had no rice or meat, Ji Xiaoxiao happened to go out of town for a stroll. When she returned, she was shocked to find that her chubby little dumpling looked pale and sickly, and that Old Master Liao, who could usually climb five flights of stairs in one go, was listless. Ji Xiaoxiao was extremely surprised. After asking, she learned that they hadn't had any delicious food for several days and were craving it!
Ji Xiaoxiao laughed loudly at them, then took out bags of vacuum-packed chicken, duck, beef, and other food from her large backpack. That night, the Liao family was all smiles and laughter; anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was their last supper, trying to find joy in their misery.
The reason Ji Xiaoxiao was able to find food near City A, which had been thoroughly excavated, could be either that she had hidden it beforehand or that she had found a large granary.
The granary, with its piles of white rice and fragrant meats, is practically begging to be eaten!
"Xiao Qiong, we really can't hold on much longer."
If it were simply a matter of face-to-face combat with the alien beasts, Liao Yu could confidently guarantee that the base would not be destroyed and its inhabitants killed. But the defenders were starving, exhausted, and barely surviving. What would they use to protect their homeland?
Ji Xiaoxiao had visited Liao Yu several times, who was directing operations from the city wall day and night. She knew the condition of the city defenders very well. Their limbs were weak, their eyes were dull, their faces were sallow and thin, they were emaciated, they were starving and freezing... It was truly remarkable that the city defenders had managed to hold on until now.
“I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. I just want you to help me, to help Hope Base. The base is facing a severe food shortage, and the cannibalism is becoming increasingly uncontrollable. If news of the food shortage spreads, Hope Base will collapse and destroy itself. By the time the alien beasts are at the gates, the base will likely be deserted. So, Xiao Qiong, I know you are powerful, but you only want to live a peaceful life. But with humanity facing a crisis, could you spare some food to help us out?”
Liao Yu knelt on the ground, his forehead pounding heavily against the ground.
Ji Xiaoxiao spread her hands and said expressionlessly, "Ayu, it's not that I don't want to help you, but look at me, I only have two pockets on me."
The implication was that I had no food.
Liao Yu clearly didn't believe it, stubbornly looking at Ji Xiaoxiao with bright, shining eyes that showed his defiance of a hopeless life and his unwavering determination and fearlessness in the face of adversity.
Ji Xiaoxiao stared at Liao Yu, then sighed helplessly.
"Ayu, you said you didn't force me, but aren't your words and actions now blatantly and subtly forcing me to submit?" Ji Xiaoxiao said helplessly.
Liao Yu lowered his head and slightly curled the corners of his lips.
"Grandpa, Xiaobao." Like father, like son, brothers fight tigers together.
Grandpa Liao took Liao Kongmin's hand, and the two of them knelt down.
Ji Xiaoxiao smirked speechlessly, remained silent for a moment, and then agreed to let Liao Yu take them to get food.
"Thank you, Xiaoqiong. On behalf of the 300,000 people at Hope Base, I thank you." Liao Yu excitedly grasped Ji Xiaoxiao's hand, unconsciously squeezing it so hard it hurt.
Ji Xiaoxiao withdrew her hand and said in a muffled voice, "No need for thanks. I just hope you won't turn your back on me after you've gotten the grain."
"Of course not," Liao Yu joked.
Ji Xiaoxiao told Liao Yu that he could set off once he was ready and that he didn't need to worry about her.
Liao Yu didn't rest that night; he quickly arranged for the grain-gathering team. After working for most of the day, the next morning, the energetic Liao Yu dragged Ji Xiaoxiao out of bed.
As the weather grew colder, Ji Xiaoxiao was sleeping soundly and warmly in her thin pajamas when she was suddenly exposed to the cold wind and air conditioning, which made her shiver.
"Can't you just let me get a good night's sleep?" Ji Xiaoxiao complained.
Liao Yu awkwardly scratched the back of his head, apologized, and left the room.
Ji Xiaoxiao quickly changed her clothes, went into the washroom, washed her face and brushed her teeth.
The mirror in the bathroom hung alone on the wall. Ji Xiaoxiao leaned closer and saw that her face was becoming more and more beautiful, with fair skin that had a healthy rosy glow. Her cherry-like lips were slightly pursed, and the cold had made them a little pale and dry.
Ji Xiaoxiao hesitated before agreeing to Liao Yu's request to take him to retrieve the grain from the granary, unaware that the granary didn't exist. To conjure the grain out of thin air and supply the 300,000 people at Hope Base, Ji Xiaoxiao needed to allocate half of the resources within the Qiankun Pearl.
Ji Xiaoxiao didn't regret her actions. The original owner had no worries about food and drink; the remaining supplies in the Qiankun Pearl were enough for her to live for another five hundred years. Giving away half was harmless and insignificant. What bothered her was what excuse she would use to fool the Liao family when she ate good food in the future—whether it was something she had luckily found, something given to her by someone else, or something else she had discovered in the granary.
"Ugh, this is so annoying." Ji Xiaoxiao held her head, and couldn't help but think, maybe I should just go all the way and leave the Liao family. The sky is high enough for birds to fly, the sea is wide enough for fish to leap, the world is so big, where isn't home?
Looking around the clean and tidy washroom, Ji Xiaoxiao's resolve crumbled once again.
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