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

Chapter 613: Aftermath of the Natural Disaster

The climate had stabilized quite a bit lately, but crops still needed time to grow. Most people could now eat until they were about 60–70% full. 

With Yu Changzheng’s status, filling his stomach wasn’t a problem, but the meals were far from lavish. 

Earlier, Jiang Ning sent some poultry to the Yu family, so it wasn’t an issue for them to have eggs every now and then. 

Just a couple of days ago, the daughter who had been missing for many years returned. Without hesitation, Madam Yu slaughtered the hen that laid eggs to help nourish her frail body. 

Gu Tinglin, well aware of the Yu family’s situation, warmly invited them to join the meal. “Come have another meal, there’s no need to stand on ceremony with family.” 

Shu Xueqing added warmly, “We have more than enough food, and it’s made by Anning—it’s not something you get to eat every day.” 

The Yu family was overwhelmed by the hospitality and couldn’t refuse. They awkwardly took a seat. 

Doudou, eager to help, quickly jumped into the kitchen to prepare a couple more dishes, and soon they were ready to serve. 

The two families chatted and ate together, creating a lively atmosphere. 

After resting for two days, Yu Yin’s condition improved significantly. 

Shu Xueqing, concerned that the mother and daughter might feel awkward, personally ladled two bowls of chicken soup and even added a chicken leg to Yu Yin’s bowl. “Xiao Yin, eat more and build up your strength. Your parents have been waiting for you all these years, and finally, the heavens have opened their eyes.” 

Madam Yu was also good with words. “Xueqing, it’s not that heaven has opened its eyes, but that Xiao Yin has great fortune and good luck to meet Jiang Ning.” 

Jiang Ning was indeed the true benefactor of the family. 

This is typical of the Chinese, who enjoy being polite and chatty at the dinner table. It’s their unique way of communicating, and the atmosphere is always warm. 

After the meal, Jiang Ning noticed that something was off with Yu Yin. She wasn’t just shy; she seemed to zone out easily and appeared a bit dazed. 

Madam Yu, worried sick, hurriedly brought her to see Jiang Ning when she heard that she had returned. 

Their daughter was physically back, but her spirit wasn’t fully there. 

The two families had grown close, and Jiang Ning was genuinely concerned. 

After dinner, Yu Changzheng and Gu Tinglin went to the study, and Madam Yu, still worried, spoke up. 

Jiang Ning checked Yu Yin’s pulse. The physical weakness was to be expected, but the real issue was her mental state—a psychological aftermath of the natural disaster. 

It wasn’t just Yu Yin; Jiang Ning had also experienced the same when she was reborn—anxiety, depression, irritability, and recurring nightmares. 

The symptoms showed up differently depending on a person’s personality. 

Yu Yin was introverted and physically fragile; it was already a miracle that she survived. 

In the past ten years, she had experienced too much bloodshed and cruelty, and lived in complete darkness in the concentration camp. 

After enduring so much hardship, returning to her parents should have been the greatest joy, but the tension that had built up inside her from all the suffering didn’t simply go away. 

Her body and mind were still trapped in the trauma of the disaster, unable to escape. 

“It’s nothing serious. It’s just physical exhaustion, and her spirit is a bit weak. Some medicine should help, and she should try to get outside more, get some sunshine, and exercise.” 

Mental health issues can’t be cured overnight. Yu Yin would need to slowly work through it on her own. 

Yu Yin thanked her quietly. “Thank you, Sister Ning.” 

She wasn’t very talkative and quickly zoned out again, her attention drawn to the lively dog. 

The dog, feeling territorial, walked over to stare back at her as she kept eyeing it. 

It wasn’t happy that Grandma had given her its special treat. 

Hmph, that used to be for the dog! 

Yu Yin didn’t notice the dog’s displeasure and tentatively reached out to pet its ear. 

It was soft and comforting. 

The dog didn’t mind, thinking, if she wants to pet, then go ahead, but just give the treat back afterward. 

Countless studies show that good dogs have the power to heal human hearts. 

Madam Yu took the chance to call Jiang Ning to the yard. “Anning, is Xiao Yin really okay? She’s been having nightmares every night, crying and shouting in her sleep. Today, I took her out to clear her mind, and a man accidentally bumped into her. She got so scared, she screamed and almost fainted.” 

These were things Jiang Ning had experienced herself. She believed that Yu Yin had gone through the same things, and probably in an even more difficult situation. 

When she returned to her parents’ side, she felt a sense of relief, but many problems started to surface. 

There were some things Jiang Ning didn’t feel comfortable saying. “Don’t rush. Take it slow, and spend more time with her. Don’t let her get stuck on things. Once she’s feeling better, help her find a job to keep her busy.” 

Madam Yu was quick-witted, and just by thinking about it, she could guess what her daughter had been through. 

Her heart ached, and she regretted not being able to shield her daughter from the storm. 

“Anning, Xiao Yin… she’s been through so much.” Madam Yu couldn’t hold back her tears. “We already lost our eldest. We can’t lose Xiao Yin too. Please, help her get better soon.” 

Jiang Ning could only nod. “I’ll do my best.” 

She returned home and prepared three sets of medicine: ones to calm her nerves and help restore her health. After taking them, Xiao Yin would come back for a follow-up check. 

Meanwhile, after finishing up work, Yu Changzheng couldn’t help but say to Gu Tinglin, “Old Gu, we really owe Anning this time. If it weren’t for her, Xiao Yin wouldn’t even have made it back.” 

“Xiao Yin grew up under my watch. She’s like my own daughter,” Gu Tinglin replied casually. “And without your full support, Yi Shen and Anning’s work wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.” 

“You don’t need to worry too much about Xiao Yin’s condition. Let her spend more time with people her age—she’ll come around slowly.” 

After decades of partnership, they could understand each other with just a glance or a word. 

With Gu Tinglin’s reassurance, Yu Changzheng felt at ease. 

After seeing the Yu family off, the father and daughter sat down for a heart-to-heart talk. 

Jiang Ning didn’t hide anything and explained the whole rescue mission, especially what had happened in the New Continent. 

The New Continent had a harsh environment but was vast in size. She estimated there were quite a few survivors. The key issue was that the Americans were stationed there, though the exact number was still unclear. 

What made Jiang Ning feel frustrated were the open-air oil fields. 

The Americans really were like heaven’s illegitimate children. 

Zhang Chao, Lu Yu, and the others had been wandering the New Continent for years. While the environment was harsh, the mineral resources seemed abundant. 

As long as one kept their feet on the ground, even the worst environment could be changed. 

Abundant mineral resources meant that if the Americans managed to secure their foothold, they would likely rise right from there. 

But worrying was useless—only by becoming strong could one be fearless. 

Still, she shared what she had seen about the port layout. She didn’t expect the Americans to have such a strong presence, even after being betrayed. Fortunately, they had destroyed the fake U.S. base in the Arctic. Otherwise, if the Americans found it, it would have been a major blow. 

All the important supplies were stored in her space. As for the aircraft carrier and transport ships that couldn’t be moved, the Russians had probably almost finished repurposing them. 

After learning about the Americans’ situation, Gu Tinglin remained calm. Fengcheng had also preserved the southern military’s foundation. When it came down to it, they could hold their ground. 

What was more worth discussing were the four friends who had returned with her. 

Back when they were at the southern military base, he had wanted to know more about Jiang Ning, so he had looked into the four of them. 

At first, they seemed ordinary. However, over time, especially during the natural disasters, they had grown stronger. Perhaps that’s the difference between humans and animals. Faced with natural and man-made disasters, humans became more resilient and full of potential. 

But Gu Tinglin was cautious. “After all these years apart, do you still know them well?”