The Beginning of Natural Disaster, I Won by Hoarding Tens of Billions of Supplies

Chapter 554: I Hope You Won’t Dislike It

In a world devastated by natural disasters, who hasn’t had their fair share of suffering? How many times have they lost the will to live when waking from a dream in the dead of night? 

Rong Tingting walked up to Doudou and said, “Sister Doudou, we caught her red-handed. Should we take her to the police station?” 

Doudou approached the middle-aged woman. “Your wages will be settled, but the farm won’t be hiring you again.” 

After speaking, she coldly swept her gaze across the workers present. Her young and beautiful face carried a stern expression. “This is the first and last time. If this happens again, there will be no discussion—you’ll be handed over to the authorities and permanently banned from working here!” 

Rong Dashao waved his hand to disperse the crowd. “Alright, everyone, get back to work.” 

Then, he called the members of the planting team aside for a talk, reminding them to appreciate the opportunity they had. 

Seeing that the issue had been resolved, Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen quietly left. 

After witnessing this, Jiang Ning couldn’t help but see Rong Tingting in a new light. The young girl might surpass even Rong Sanshao in the future. 

She was observant, willing to take the lead, and didn’t care about keeping up appearances. 

On the other hand, Doudou remained composed and did not compromise her dignity over trivial matters. 

She had fully embraced her role as the farm owner—unlike when she was at the Huacheng base, where she had chosen to stay silent after seeing a coworker secretly eating maggots. 

A different position called for a different approach, but she still maintained a sense of kindness. 

Jiang Ning was quite satisfied. How far Doudou could go from here depended on her own abilities. 

*** 

That evening, Gu Tinglin returned home. 

Jiang Ning went next door to inform him that she had passed the registration.  

“I’ll report in two days.” 

Gu Tinglin had been keeping an eye on this. “This department was set up specifically to earn merit based on the number of Fire Seed boxes collected and the types of supplies gathered. You might have to travel all over the world, do you think you can handle it?'” 

“I’ll do my best with what I can collect, but I won’t risk my life for it.” 

Gu Tinglin nodded. “That’s right. Always know your limits.” 

After some thought, he added, “Anning, are you interested in working at a hospital?” 

Jiang Ning was puzzled. 

“You studied medicine. Once you’ve finished collecting the Fire Seed boxes, you could consider working at a hospital.” 

Jiang Ning opened her mouth and, after a long moment, finally said, “Mm.” 

Gu Tinglin rubbed his temples. “In a few days, I’ll meet with He Tianming personally.” 

After discussing official matters, Jiang Ning checked his pulse and examined his health. 

His sharp gaze gradually softened. Worried, he couldn’t help but remind her, “Be careful on your missions, and don’t push yourself too hard.” 

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but tease him back, “And what about you? Don’t just lecture me.” 

The father and daughter exchanged a smile. 

*** 

Doudou returned late that night. She didn’t mention a word about what had happened at the farm. Instead, she cheerfully shared some good news. “Sister-in-law, the first greenhouse will be fully planted by tomorrow. Once things settle down, I’ll go negotiate with the food factory about breeding maggots.” 

“Alright, no rush. Take your time.” 

After dinner, Jiang Ning grabbed a few cans of fruit and headed to see He Tianming with Huo Yishen. 

He Tianming lived in the civilian district, sharing a two-bedroom military tent with Rong Dashao and Rong Tingting. 

Even so, for the civilian district, this was considered a decent living arrangement. 

There was no doubt that the tent had been arranged by Rong Sanshao. 

In such a harsh environment, sticking together was the safest option. 

He Tianming wasn’t surprised by Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen’s visit, but he was genuinely happy to see them. 

He knew deep down that without them, he wouldn’t have made it back from the Arctic alive. 

He never mentioned the details to anyone—not even Rong Sanshao. 

And he was certain that the two of them wouldn’t want to talk about it either. 

Rong Tingting caught on fast and hurried to let them in. “Uncle Huo, Aunt Jiang, our place is a bit simple. Hope you don’t mind!” 

Seeing that they had come to find He Tianming, she quickly said, “I’ll leave you to talk. I’ll go for a walk with my uncle to help with digestion.” 

The table and stools were all made from salvaged wood. He Tianming invited them to sit. 

With no outsiders present, he sincerely expressed his gratitude. “If it weren’t for your help, I fear I would never have been able to return home in this lifetime.” 

Home? They hadn’t expected him to hold Fengcheng in such high regard. 

Or perhaps, this Fengcheng was not the same as the one he had in mind. But hopefully, within their lifetime, the two could become one. 

Jiang Ning studied him. He had gotten darker and thinner. Although he seemed tired, his expression was relaxed and at ease. 

As expected of a psychologist, his mental state was far better than most. 

She gradually eased into the topic, “Captain He, we enlisted in the army today and passed the selection process.” 

He Tianming sincerely wished them well. “Fengcheng’s development and reconstruction rely on talented people like you.” 

“Mm. Hopefully, in the near future, this place will regain the true brilliance of Fengcheng.” 

After expressing her thoughts, she shifted the topic. “The base is recruiting civil servants. I saw a position that would be a perfect fit for you. Have you considered applying?” 

He Tianming chuckled. “I’m not young anymore. Even making it this far feels like a miracle. I really don’t have the energy to go through all that again.” 

Jiang Ning hadn’t expected that one day, she would be the one persuading someone. “Everyone who stays here carries their own dream of Fengcheng. Don’t you want to see it come true as soon as possible?” 

He Tianming replied calmly, “As long as the soil is fertile, good crops will naturally grow.” 

“But without good seeds, even the best soil can’t produce a bountiful harvest.” 

Jiang Ning could tell that He Tianming did care. The reason he declined was that he understood too well—without real authority, no matter how high the position, it would just be an empty title. 

In the end, no matter how much effort he put in, it would all be in vain. 

He wasn’t just smart; he had a keen understanding of the situation. That’s why he remained indifferent. 

But Jiang Ning hadn’t come today expecting to convince him with just a few words. She was merely paving the way for Gu Tinglin. 

She casually brought up a few things, setting up the stage. Whether or not he wanted to step onto it was up to him. 

As they were leaving, she smiled and said, “Captain He, once Ah Shen and I finish reporting in, we’ll be sent on a mission to retrieve the scattered Fire Seed boxes. We’ll visit you again when we’re back.” 

He Tianming saw them off. “Safe travels. I hope you return smoothly.” 

They understood each other well, so Jiang Ning didn’t say more. 

Watching them leave, He Tianming couldn’t help but smile. 

Back home, Doudou was still awake, sitting on the sofa, lost in thought. 

Huo Yishen asked with concern, “What’s wrong?” 

“Brother, I’m fine,” Doudou snapped out of it. “I was just reviewing today’s events, thinking about what I could have done better and how I can improve next time.” 

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you ever feel like you’re not doing well enough, you can always tell me or your sister-in-law. We’ll figure something out together.” 

Doudou smiled and nodded. “I will.” 

Now that they had passed the enlistment, deployment was just around the corner. Too many uncertainties lay ahead, and there was no telling when they’d return. 

Jiang Ning went through her supplies, preparing everything they might need—food, clothing, daily essentials— packing two sets of everything. 

One was for Doudou. The other was for their neighbor. 

Gu Tinglin’s body had suffered too much, and it wouldn’t recover in a short time. He needed long-term care. 

She stocked up on supplements, medicine, and anything that might be useful, especially fresh meat, eggs, and milk. 

Jiang Ning took out a large freezer to store everything. Later, she would have Doudou deliver supplies from time to time…