152: Call me sister

Feng Chenlu spoke quickly, “The residents who previously refused to seal their windows suffered heavy losses due to the sandstorm, and some even lost family members. They blamed Xu Qianyao and went to his house to cause trouble and demand compensation.”

“Now, people are blocking Grandma Xu’s doorway, trying to force their way in. Xu Qianyao isn’t home, and Xiao Jia can’t stop those lunatics. I had no choice but to come out and get help!”

She came to Building 2 hoping to get lucky and see if Jiang Fei was home.

Jiang Fei immediately rushed to Building 5, taking out her walkie-talkie midway to call the nearest Patrol Team for assistance.

The corridor on the second floor where Old Mrs. Xu lived was now packed with people.

Xiao Jia was hit on the head and lay unconscious on the stairs.

The people blocking the outside of 201 were banging on the door and shouting.

“Mingshang is your grandson’s responsibility! He didn’t implement proper sand prevention measures for the community! Our families suffered losses because of him! You must compensate us today!”

“It’s because the Rescue Team didn’t help us seal our windows that my house was destroyed by the sandstorm! Why are your houses fine?! Open the door!”

“You all move aside, I’ll smash it with an axe!”

A burly man raised an axe and walked to the door, just about to swing it.

Bang—!

A bullet pierced the man’s wrist.

The man screamed and dropped the axe, accidentally injuring someone next to him.

“Ah, my ear!!!”

Blood splattered, and people immediately fell into chaos.

Until another gunshot rang out.

Jiang Fei, standing at the stairwell, shouted, “Everyone, cover your heads and squat down! Otherwise, you will be shot on the spot!”

Fearing being shot, everyone hurriedly complied.

Someone recognized Jiang Fei and angrily said, “You, the Rescue Team, carry guns to protect the people! Not to harm us!”

“I’m going to complain about you!”

“Do you even count as people?” Jiang Fei scoffed, scanning the crowd:

“Before the sandstorm, the Rescue Team used loudspeakers in the community to tell you to collect wooden planks and sand prevention supplies, and even lent you tools for sealing windows for free.”

“It was you yourselves who didn’t go to collect them, saying that the officials were being overly worried.”

“Now you’re causing trouble at 201, simply because you’re bullying Old Mrs. Xu who is home alone. If you’re so capable, go cause trouble at the police station and the Rescue Team!”

The man who had just spoken was left speechless by Jiang Fei’s rebuttal.

They indeed didn’t dare to cause trouble at the police station and the Rescue Team; they just wanted to take advantage of Xu Qianyao’s absence to extort some supplies from his grandmother.

Afterward, they would flatly deny ever going to 201, and Xu Qianyao would have no evidence, so he couldn’t do anything to them.

Just then, members of the Patrol Team arrived, handcuffing and taking away the troublemakers one by one.

The corridor instantly became spacious.

Feng Chenlu found someone to send the unconscious Xiao Jia to the Hospital.

Jiang Fei went upstairs and gently knocked on the door: “Grandma, it’s me, Jiang Fei.”

The door quickly opened.

Old Mrs. Xu, who had been standing by the door, had tears shimmering in her eyes.

“Little Jiang, how did this world become like this…?”

“Qian Yao clearly didn’t do anything wrong… why do those people have to come and cause trouble…?”

Jiang Fei hugged the crying Old Mrs. Xu, comforting her: “It’s their problem. They brought it upon themselves and still want someone else to pay for their actions. It has nothing to do with Qian Yao.”

Helping Old Mrs. Xu into the house, Jiang Fei poured her a glass of water before taking out her walkie-talkie to contact Xu Qianyao and tell him what had happened today.

Xu Qianyao: “I’m rushing back now!”

Once Xu Qianyao returned, Jiang Fei discreetly left.

The off-road vehicle was parked downstairs of Building 2.

Jiang Fei got into the car, retrieved two large boxes of fruit and vegetable seeds and a small box of protective gear from the Supermarket warehouse, placed them in the back seat, and then drove to the Planting Base.

The Planting Base had excellent sand prevention measures, and its remote location meant that dangerous items like cars or buildings wouldn’t be blown in, so it didn’t suffer too much damage.

However, the farmland in the planting area was buried by yellow sand, and staff members were rushing to harvest the crops in the fields.

Learning that Ling Zhaorui was in the dormitory, Jiang Fei drove over.

Ling Zhaorui had just returned and was shaking the dust from his hair.

“Sister Jiang, why are you here?”

“To bring you protective gear, and to discuss some business with Mr. Kang,” Jiang Fei said, placing the small box she had taken from the car on the ground.

“What a coincidence, my teacher also told me to pick you up and bring you to the Planting Base today.”

“I’ll take you to him.”

—

Inside the Base Leader’s office.

Seeing Jiang Fei and Ling Zhaorui enter one after another, carrying two boxes of fruit and vegetable seeds, Kang Ansheng made no attempt to hide his surprise: “Miss Jiang, please sit down.”

“You’re quick, young man. I told you at noon, and you brought her over this afternoon.”

Ling Zhaorui: “She came on her own.”

Jiang Fei placed the boxes down: “The agricultural machinery I rented from the Planting Base has been overdue for a long time. These are the overdue rental fees.”

“Mr. Kang, my boss also wants to rent several agricultural machines from the Planting Base.”

“As compensation, my boss can provide 300 bags of seeds, 20 blackfish, and 20 river crabs, all live. The Planting Base can raise them, and the rent will be paid every three months, just like the first batch of agricultural machinery.”

The breeding cycle for blackfish and river crabs is longer than for green shrimp, roughly 3-6 months.

By the time the Base finishes breeding them, she would have earned enough.

Then, she would launch new products for sale, which wouldn't affect her business.

Kang Ansheng dazedly grabbed Ling Zhaorui’s hand: “She said… live fish and crabs?”

“Yes, teacher… Ow, ow, ow! Please don’t pinch my hand!”

“I’m checking if I misheard.”

Ling Zhaorui: “...”

Was the teacher afraid of pain, which is why he didn't pinch himself?

Ling Zhaorui didn't dare to ask that question, instead rubbing his reddened hand with a wronged expression.

Kang Ansheng took out a bottle of iced mineral water from the refrigerator, handed it to Jiang Fei, and smiled with exceptional kindness: “Your boss can rent for as long as he wants, no problem.”

“Tell Zhao Rui the agricultural machinery you need later, and I’ll find someone to deliver it to Mingshang tomorrow.”

“When will you send the blackfish and river crabs?”

It was unknown how long the sandstorms would last.

Once the land became desertified, crops would be difficult to grow.

He sought Jiang Fei precisely to inquire if her boss had other aquatic products, as a backup plan.

If it really became impossible to grow crops in the future, survivors would still have food to eat.

Jiang Fei thought for a moment: “Tomorrow or the day after.”

Kang Ansheng agreed: “Next time you come to the Planting Base, just find me directly. You don’t need to have Zhao Rui bring you.”

“By the way, Xiao Rong was frightened by the sandstorm a while ago. She has nightmares at night and can’t sleep well, and often cries during the day, asking for her brother.”

“I don’t have her family’s contact information. Can you bring her brother to stay for a few days?”

“It’s also fine to send her home to live; that way, she’ll recover faster.”

Dao Rong’s brother definitely wouldn’t dare to stay at the Planting Base, so Jiang Fei chose the latter option.

After telling Ling Zhaorui the types of agricultural machinery needed, Jiang Fei drove to the female dormitory to pick up Dao Rong.

The dormitories at the Planting Base were all independent bungalows.

Finding Dao Rong’s room, Jiang Fei raised her hand and knocked on the door.

“Xiao Rong, it’s me, the big sister in white.”

Creak—

As soon as the door opened, Dao Rong pounced into Jiang Fei’s arms.

Her small hands tightly hugged Jiang Fei’s waist, and snot and tears got all over her clothes.

“Mother Jiang! I want my brother!”

Jiang Fei: “...”

This damned address couldn't be changed.

Taking out a lollipop from her pocket, Jiang Fei coaxed Dao Rong:

“I’ll take you home. Will you stop crying, okay?”

Dao Rong sniffled: “Okay, Mother Jiang!”

“Call me Big Sister, or my name, Jiang Fei.”

“Mother Jiang! It sounds nice!”

Jiang Fei gave up struggling.

Forget it, let the child be.

After helping Dao Rong pack her luggage and put on her protective mask, Jiang Fei had her sit in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

Just as she was about to return to the driver’s seat to drive, Jiang Fei heard an unfamiliar voice.

“Who are you?”