CHAPTER 177: WHO THE HELL IS ROASTING RED EARTHWORMS? (SEEKING MONTHLY TICKETS)

Wu You’ai gathered everyone together and announced the news:

"The government is planning to recruit tens of thousands of Salvage Workers, a portion of whom will become civil servants. The requirements are: good swimming ability, familiarity with Wu City, and no gender restrictions. The daily work involves transferring materials from the flooded city. Compensation is 4 Virtual Coins per day with housing provided, but those who fail to meet performance standards will be eliminated."

"You can sign up with me here, and there will be a screening in a few days. I advise only those who are good swimmers and familiar with the roads to sign up, because the government won’t care if you accidentally drown or die in an accident."

The news shocked many people, and those who were good swimmers were eager to register. In everyone’s opinion, what could be dangerous about diving to retrieve materials?

Now, how good is the treatment for official workers? Housing, food, and Virtual Coins to boot—that’s pretty much a guaranteed job for life in this apocalypse.

At the same time, Wu You’ai announced another piece of good news: "Don’t be discouraged if you don’t make the cut. The higher-ups say that buildings in Wu City, up to dozens of meters high, are submerged. The water may not recede completely anytime soon. However, we must salvage the materials from the city before they spoil from long-term submersion."

"The rest of unbelievables can follow the Salvage Ships to the city to retrieve materials, which can be traded for Virtual Coins at a discounted price, presenting a good opportunity to earn and pay off loans."

Speaking of loans, that’s a happy worry only Banana District and a few other districts possessed.

When everyone learned that the floodwaters in the city wouldn’t recede for quite some time, and the whole population had to move, it was anticipated that there might be no homes left in the future. Whether it would be possible to live in them after the floodwaters retreated was anyone’s guess.

So now, to have a house of one’s own, without having to squeeze in with others, was seen as being part of the truly ’housed class,’ the impressive kind.

Especially since such squeezing in could last a very, very long time... Homes were a luxury for those in the apocalypse.

So when Jing Shu’s high school classmates found out that her family was in Banana District, they were overwhelmingly envious, jealous, and resentful.

Because of the flooding, millions of people from Wu City were displaced overnight, and tens of thousands went missing. The situation was similar nationwide, but the news didn’t report it. There was no time to mourn the dead; what mattered was how the living would survive.

On January 4th, Red Mountain Ecological Garden provided meals twice due to the extremely low temperatures at night. The caves were damp and soggy, causing colds and fevers, and another hundred people died.

Despite the unrelenting downpour, the caves also accumulated a thick layer of water. At night, people in the caves couldn’t sleep at all. The water on the roads already reached their calves. However, the higher areas of Wu City ultimately remained unsubmerged.

The government decided to start moving people to new residences on January 5th. The caves were flooded and unfit for habitation. They were filled not just with water but also with red earthworms mating en masse, creating a SIZZLING and BUZZING sound. Shining a light would reveal swarms of red earthworms jumping and tangling on the water’s surface.

The red earthworm posed a major danger and challenge in the initial stages of underwater salvage.

Jing Shu remembered clearly stepping into them, feeling countless insects tickling the soles of her feet. In less than two or three seconds, a multitude of red earthworms would twist together and ensnare her foot. You think they’re attacking you? No, no.

Red earthworm:

You want to eat us? Sorry, we’re mating.

You’re standing on us? Sorry, we’re still mating.

Whatever you do, you can’t stop us from reproducing.

So, when Salvage Workers went underwater to move items, they would often be entangled by a large mass of red earthworms, which in the water were just like seaweed. It was unknown how many Salvage Workers died entangled by the red earthworms.

Speaking of Jing Shu’s cave, because she had everyone lay bricks early on, and also used stones to build a stove-like channel, it was much better than the other caves. By the time people from other caves reacted, there were no more bricks or firewood left, so they had to suffer in the cold water.

With quite a few people from other caves having died the night before, the government also distributed some coal tonight, keeping all of Cave 5 warm and toasty.

Wang Qiqi stood up with a steaming broken tile pot and said loudly:

"Today I use water in place of wine to thank the family from the villa district. They really helped everyone a lot. Jing Shu even saved many lives here, and the fact that we can stay in a dry cave and sleep well at night is all thanks to the ideas Jing Shu shared with us.

We live in larger caves than other people, and the food we receive each time is also more, all thanks to them.

Starting from tomorrow, even more people will be living in our district, including more civil servants. Other wealthy individuals and influential groups will even move into the villa area.

But no matter what, from now on I only acknowledge Jing Shu’s family; if her family ever needs anything, I’ll be there at the drop of a hat!"

Young Master Has-a-Child, holding Tuanzi, also said loudly, "Jing Shu saved my family of three. If anyone tries to harm Jingshu’s house in the future, I will definitely contribute my meager strength."

"Count me in, too," Wang Xue Mei stood up from the corner.

"Me as well," the increasingly thin Fatty Girl raised her broken jar.

A formerly disjointed community, because of the imminent influx of a large number of people, inadvertently came together. Wang Qiqi was able to successfully rally people’s hearts by borrowing Jing Shu’s prestige, and of course, this also garnered support for Jing Shu.

"Look at our Jing Shu, she is truly remarkable to be held so dear by so many people," Aunt said with an envious look.

The whole family gave Jing Shu a thumbs up.

Jing Shu stood up and thanked everyone. After all, having fewer troublemakers around was always a good thing.

However, even though Jing Shu had thought of every trick in the book to improve the quality of life, she still couldn’t get a good night’s sleep that night.

The damp cave was lined with tiles, wooden planks, moisture-proof mats, sleeping bags, and tents that were windproof and waterproof but could not keep the smell at bay.

At four in the morning, Jing Shu was awakened by a familiar stench. Oh, it was everyone in the cave.

The smell was a combination of rotten eggs, grilled durian, and a gas bomb.

Grinding her teeth, Jing Shu got out of bed. She couldn’t believe that, having been reborn, she still had to deal with people roasting red earthworms to eat! Who was it!

"What’s that smell? UGH, it’s disgusting."

"It’s the neighboring caves; they’ve made fire and are grilling red earthworms because they got hungry at night."

"But the smell shouldn’t be that bad."

"I heard they were advised against it and wouldn’t listen, then the other caves started grilling as well, saying if there’s a stink, we might as well all smell it together."

Alright then, several caves grilling together... the smell was simply unbearable.

Jing Shu’s family had never experienced such an odor and couldn’t stand it. They packed up and went straight back to the villa; they had to return there today anyway. "We left the Shark Submarine for you; we’ll drive back first."

Slipping away.

Leaving Wu You’ai and Jinglai in the cave, Jing Shu’s family drove back to the villa first. The others had to wait for the government to distribute another meal before heading back.

Driving back through the water, Grandma Jing was still a bit worried about all the water and whether they would be flooded.

"Huh, why has the underground garage door been locked?"

"Then let’s go from above."