190: Lu Yu is living off Jiang Fei?

Having eaten rat meat before, Lu Yu was the first to pick up a spicy stir-fried locust and put it into his mouth.

Unexpectedly, it was spicy and delicious, and the locust meat was very tender.

The neighbor seemed to have a magic touch, able to make everything taste good.

Xiao Chuxia chose fried locusts.

"So delicious! Miss, do you have rice? I could eat a whole bowl!"

Jiang Fei went to the kitchen to get a bowl for Chu Xia, and also brought portions for Lu Yu and Su Liuyuan.

Su Liuyuan had been bitten by locusts before, so he was a bit hesitant to eat them.

After a moment of hesitation, he chose the fried locusts coated in batter.

Paired with the slightly numbing, savory pepper salt, it was like eating crispy fried pork, and Su Liuyuan's eyes lit up:

"I didn't expect locusts to be ugly but taste surprisingly good."

Su Liuyuan couldn't stop, eating one after another, then suddenly paused and looked at Lu Yu:

"I heard some gossip at the shop today."

"Someone said you got promoted so quickly by sucking up to the captain and being a kept man."

"They even fabricated stories, saying you were a male escort before the apocalypse, earning ten thousand a night, which was very cheap."

Xiao Chuxia: "I also heard people at the Hospital discussing Lu Yu's promotion. It was similar to Liu Yuan's version, all derogatory remarks."

"How did such a rumor suddenly appear? Could someone be targeting Lu Yu?"

Jiang Fei recalled carefully.

Most of her enemies were dead, so there was no possibility of implicating her teammates.

Lu Yu's eyes turned cold: "I'll investigate this matter when I have time."

He didn't care if people spread rumors about him, he was just afraid the other party would then target his neighbors.

After the locust dinner, Jiang Fei went upstairs and brought down three helmets.

"From now on, wear helmets when you go out, and wear the cold-proof suits I gave you before."

Protective gear was troublesome to put on, piece by piece, unlike a helmet which was more convenient and could protect the entire head.

The cold-proof suit was safer than medical protective clothing and could also protect the neck.

Getting heat rash was better than being bitten all over by locusts.

The three of them — Lu Yu, Chu Xia, and Liu Yuan — cleaned the dining table, then put on their helmets and protective gear before leaving.

Several locusts flew in when the door opened.

Jiang Fei didn't use the flamethrower, but instead released the chicks and goslings, wanting to test their combat effectiveness.

Before she could give a command, the biggest chick flapped its wings, snatched a locust in its beak, and swallowed it.

The second and third chicks also excitedly caught and ate locusts.

The fourth chick was very cunning, following behind the three chicks to pick up leftovers.

In less than five minutes, the locusts in the yard were all cleared by them.

No wonder the country used poultry to control locust plagues in the past; their combat effectiveness was impressive!

Jiang Fei decided not to cage the chicks and goslings anymore.

She left the cage door open, allowing them to move freely in the yard and eat any locusts that snuck in.

As for Big Yellow, he was too timid and could only be kept indoors. Jiang Fei also installed curtains in the cat room, so the little one wouldn't be scared by locusts again.

Early the next morning, the walkie-talkie by Jiang Fei's pillow rang.

It was Xu Qianyao.

"The authorities ordered us to catch locusts. We're short on staff, so even temporary workers have to come in."

"I'll wait for you at your doorstep. Remember to take anti-insect measures."

"Locust bites are especially painful and can easily cause inflammation."

Jiang Fei replied "Okay" and sighed as she got out of bed.

Once you enter the door of labor, you'll have the soul of a laborer for life!

Muttering to herself, Jiang Fei quickly washed up and put on her helmet and cold-proof suit.

Over her clothes, she also wore a thickened one-piece rain suit.

Holding the flamethrower, she opened the door and went out.

Outside, the number of locusts had not decreased at all. They flew around in swarms, causing people with trypophobia to feel overwhelmed.

Feeling locusts crawling on her through her clothes, Jiang Fei disgustedly used the flamethrower to drive them away.

Don't touch her!

Finally finding the police car parked by the road, Jiang Fei shooed away the locusts around her and quickly opened the door to sit in the passenger seat.

Xu Qianyao, in the driver's seat, was wearing a camouflage combat uniform and had a mesh trash can over his head.

The eye area was specially cut out and fitted with a pair of transparent goggles.

Seeing a small peace knot hanging from the bottom of the trash can, Jiang Fei knew it was made by Grandma Xu for Qian Yao.

Seeing that Jiang Fei was wearing a helmet, which was both cool and insect-proof, Xu Qianyao's eyes were full of envy.

"Do you have any extra helmets?"

"I'll trade you a combat uniform for one."

Xu Qianyao pointed to the clothes he was wearing: "They're made of special material, resistant to cuts and punctures, and only official Rescue Team members have them."

Jiang Fei was tempted.

Isn't this better than a cold-proof suit?

"Five sets, two female sizes, three male sizes. I'll also give you a box of eggs."

Eggs could supplement Grandma Xu's nutrition, so Xu Qianyao readily agreed.

The two agreed to pick them up after work in the evening and drove to the residential area to meet up with the other team members.

On the way, no residents could be seen outside.

Yin Jing had already driven a military truck and was waiting at the assembly point.

Official team members wore the same combat uniform as Xu Qianyao, while temporary workers wore protective suits and raincoats.

Everyone wore gloves and protective rubber shoes.

There were two types of head protection measures.

One was like Xu Qianyao's homemade mesh trash can head cover.

The other was an upside-down stainless steel basin, with a circle of plastic sheeting glued around the rim, and two tiny holes poked in it for ventilation.

The plastic sheeting was then taped around the chest, which could protect the neck and above.

Xu Qianyao raised his handheld loudspeaker and said:

"The Patrol Team is responsible for searching for and destroying locust eggs. We are responsible for catching locusts and distributing methods for eating locusts to every household."

"Today, everyone must catch ten bags of locusts, dead or alive, seal them in bags, and hand them over to Yin Jing."

"Experts at the Safety Shelter have already tested them. Locusts do not spread viruses and are edible, but everyone must be careful not to be bitten."

"Now, line up to receive your supplies."

Xu Qianyao had Yin Jing open the truck bed to distribute the items.

Jiang Fei was near the front and quickly received her share.

A pack of flamethrowers, with 10 inside.

A pack of rough booklets, about 50-plus copies.

A catching net, 10 burlap sacks.

The booklet described how to process locusts, as well as various cooking methods like frying, boiling, and roasting.

This mission was not divided by area, so Jiang Fei started catching locusts nearby.

After catching enough, she gave them to Yin Jing, then went door-to-door in the community to distribute the booklets.

Most people found it difficult to accept eating locusts.

The Safety Shelter had never lacked food, and if there were difficulties, the higher-ups would even distribute free supply packages, which made everyone forget how difficult the current world was.

They either disdainfully threw away the booklets sent by the Rescue Team or angrily chased people away.

"My family doesn't lack food! Don't give me any more booklets! I'd rather die than eat disgusting locusts!"

"If you want to eat bugs, go eat them yourselves! Don't involve us!"

"Who knows if locusts have bacteria or viruses on them? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Go, go, go! Hearing this news so early in the morning is terribly unlucky!"

In response, the Rescue Team didn't waste their breath and turned to leave.

Eat or don't eat, it wouldn't be them who went hungry later.

After working until the afternoon, the Rescue Team finished for the day. They would meet at the assembly point at the same time tomorrow to continue collecting supplies and catching locusts.

Jiang Fei rode in Xu Qianyao's car back to Dongyang District.

Approaching 0-02, she saw a person wearing a combat uniform and a vegetable basket on their head, stealthily standing in front of her house.

They seemed to be holding a hammer in their hand.

A thief?