CHAPTER 29: RECEIVING SUBSIDY SUPPLIES

"The state issued a declaration prohibiting supermarkets and other entities from inflating prices, preventing public hoarding, and banning the dissemination of panic-inducing statements. If such activities are discovered or reported, political rights will be revoked and supplies confiscated."

"The state is providing aid. From December 15th to December 31st, citizens with no criminal record can present their ID and undergo facial recognition at community centers and major supermarkets to receive one pack of supplies daily, free of charge. Each pack includes 2 kilograms of corn and 2 kilograms of rice/flour. Collection is supported only through individual facial recognition. Proxy collection, fraudulent claims, or any discovered violations will result in the disqualification of the involved individuals and a recorded offense."

"Master Kong is distributing Dark Day donations. From December 15th until the end of the Dark Day, under the same conditions, each individual can receive one randomly flavored pack of instant noodles per day. Starting at 10:00 a.m. daily, 2 million free packs of instant noodles will be distributed. Individuals must line up at supermarkets and use facial recognition to claim them, with a maximum of three packs per person during the Dark Day period."

The day had arrived, just as in her previous life, but she could no longer compare this news with the typhoon ’Mangkhut’.

Back then, everyone thought this disaster was similar to Mangkhut; that it would pass in a little over a month, schools would resume, and people would go back to work. As for the free supplies distributed by the state, Jing Shu in her previous life hadn’t even had time to claim them, a decision she later regretted terribly. If she had another chance, she would definitely claim them!

In the supermarkets, it was mostly retirees, homemakers with children, freelancers, and the unemployed who showed up every day. Homemakers with children could use facial recognition to claim double portions.

For food items worth only about ten yuan, most men couldn’t be bothered to queue, generally opting to buy two bags of rice and flour directly to take home. Thrifty women, however, couldn’t resist anything free.

The state distributed 4 kilograms of grain per person daily for 17 days. This amounted to two months’ rations per individual, ensuring everyone had grain while also restricting purchase amounts.

Similar to bank withdrawal limits, individuals were restricted to purchasing no more than 500 yuan worth of various grains daily from supermarkets, grain stores, and oil shops. This policy encouraged multiple small purchases and aimed to prevent panic, panic buying, and price inflation by prohibiting the one-time hoarding of excessive amounts of grain. Of course, snacks and other meats were not included in this limit.

"Come on, let’s hurry to the supermarket to get the rice," Grandma Jing urged, grabbing Mr. Jing (who had just been bragging about the two sheep), Jing Shu, and Mr. Jing. All four went together. Jing Shu was a bit excited. This time, I’ll finally claim the rice and make up for my past regrets!

They drove seven kilometers to the Ai Family Supermarket. A patrol car was parked at the entrance, and security personnel guarded the main gate. Everyone entering had to pass through security checks, undergo facial recognition, and present their ID. Anyone carrying knives, lighters, or other dangerous items had to deposit them at the security checkpoint, retrieving them only upon departure.

This eliminated all possibilities of causing trouble. Jing Shu gave it a mental thumbs-up.

Although there were many people, the process was quick. On one side, cashiers at ten windows continuously processed payments. On the other side was a warehouse fully packed with grain. Staff members used megaphones to repeatedly announce the rules: no private resale, no fraudulent claims, and no proxy collection.

There were five automated pickup stations, similar to those for collecting train tickets. You swiped your ID and faced the camera for facial recognition, and then neatly packaged rice and corn were dispensed. Staff members were also on hand to assist those unfamiliar with the system, such as the elderly. After a five-minute wait, it was Jing Shu’s family’s turn.

"It’s getting more and more high-tech," Mr. Jing remarked curiously as he swiped his ID and looked at the camera. Packaged rice and corn popped out of the dispensing slot, and the collection time was recorded.

Just then, a nearby machine sounded an alarm.

Two staff members immediately approached and began to verify the man’s identification information.

"I’m so sorry, I took the wrong ID! This is mine..."

"You’ll have to explain that to the police officers," a staff member said.

Without further argument, they took the man away. The surrounding bustle suddenly quieted significantly, followed by whispers. The announcement over the loudspeakers also changed: "We reiterate: anyone attempting fraudulent collection, proxy collection, or reselling will be stripped of their eligibility to receive supplies! Those who are disabled or severely ill should report their situation, and we will deliver personally!"

The small incident passed quickly. In less than five minutes, the supermarket returned to its usual noisy state. Most people collecting grain also took the opportunity to stock up on other items, though they didn’t buy perishables in large quantities. Instant noodles were quite popular, so there were no empty shelves. Popular items were piled high and replenished as they were taken.

The crowd today is only slightly larger than on a typical weekend. It’s nothing like it will be five or six months from now, when arriving at 5:00 a.m. will be considered late, and people will basically camp out for days to keep their place in line.

Jing Shu would never forget that scene: temperatures over 40°C during the day, dropping to just a few degrees Celsius at night. She and Mr. Jing took turns queuing at the supermarket entrance. By then, prices had skyrocketed, and only a pitifully small amount of old grain was available in the supermarket.

Most households still had some food reserves, but facing half a year of the Dark Day and the halt in production by Master Kong and other food companies, no one felt they had too much food stored away.

The extreme heat, coupled with the drought, caused many people to suffer heatstroke, including Mrs. Jing. Medicine and hospital beds were incredibly scarce.

Seeing that the supermarket was too crowded and purchasing goods would involve a long wait, Jing Shu, Grandma Jing, Mr. Jing, and Mr. Jing returned home. Unfortunately, Jing Shu was too late; the free Master Kong noodles had been snatched up nationwide in less than thirty seconds.

By morning, social media was flooded with posts—some about the arrival of the Dark Day, others about needing to wake up early for the free Master Kong noodles. Jing Shu figured she wouldn’t be able to get any; By the time I drive Grandma, Grandpa, and Mr. Jing all that way, they’ll surely be gone.

After returning to the villa, Jing Shu, Grandma Jing, and Mr. Jing turned their attention to the day’s main event: the sheep.

Whether prepared southern hot-pot style or northern roasted style, the mutton was delicious. After butchering, they kept the whole sheep, chopped the meat, and packed it into the freezer. Later, they would slice it for dishes like hand-pulled mutton pieces or roasted mutton buns, or stew a mutton and carrot soup when the weather turned cold. SLURP.

The offal was thoroughly washed, cooked into a mutton offal soup, and then frozen. Jing Shu secretly kept a few hot portions in her space for late-night snacks. I need four meals a day now to feel full, she thought.

The sheep’s feet were made into spicy sheep’s feet, and the casings were saved for making rice sausages, noodle-stuffed lungs, and similar dishes.

She marinated two sheep legs and placed them on the heated kang bed she had requested, preparing them as rack-roasted meat. When it was roasted to a crispy golden brown and oozing with juices, she sprinkled it with chili powder and cumin. It was served surrounded by a row of sesame-sprinkled nang pancakes. In Wu City, this dish was known as Nangkeng Meat.

The rest of the meat was made into jerky, which sold moderately well, but many fans still preferred the golden, roasted Nangkeng Meat.

「The next morning.」

Mr. Jing proudly brought out a beef steer, showing it off to his live stream audience. "Have any of you ever seen a muscular bull like this?" he asked. Patting the steer’s thigh, he added contentedly, "This shank meat will definitely be delicious."

Jing Shu’s dairy cow was kept at the villa to produce milk. The bull calf and heifer it had birthed were moved by Jing Shu into her space for breeding. This remaining bull could now be slaughtered for its meat.