193: Food purchase restrictions

The people gathered at the official store were clamoring.

“Many privately run shops are closed now, so we can’t buy food. If the official store also limits purchases, how are we supposed to live?”

“Forget about not having vegetables, fruits, or seafood. Each person can only buy 10 potatoes at a time, and then they have to wait a week to buy more. My family has six or seven people; how do you expect us to last seven days?”

“Everyone has gone through the pandemic and their bodies are a bit weakened, needing nutritional supplements. But you officials are doing great; instead of helping, you won’t even let us eat our fill!”

The store clerks guarding the door tried their best to appease the crowd.

“During this special period, we hope everyone can understand the difficulties of the Safety Shelter. Although the official store has restricted food purchases, locusts are edible.”

“Locusts are rich in nutrients and easy to prepare. Those who want to try them can come to me to get an edible pamphlet…”

Before the clerk could finish speaking, people interrupted him.

“Who wants to eat those disgusting bugs?! We want food! Edible food for humans!”

“Even if we can’t have vegetables, fruits, and seafood like before, selling more potatoes would be fine!”

A new round of shouting began.

Jiang Fei drove past the official store and glanced at the large sign hanging on the wall.

The items currently for sale were only potatoes, special sweet potatoes, dried noodles, instant noodles, and compressed biscuits.

Potatoes and special sweet potatoes were limited to 10 per person each.

Dried noodles, instant noodles, and biscuits were limited to 3 packs.

Each person could only buy one type of food at a time.

All official stores of the Safety Shelter had implemented purchase limits, and most privately run shops had closed down.

The shops that were open had a sign at their entrance, stating, “No points accepted, bartering only, food preferred.”

This was enough to show how scarce food was in the Safety Shelter.

The officials had previously ordered the Rescue Team to catch a large number of locusts, likely intending to make bug cakes for the survivors to eat.

The Planting Base had already cultivated fast-growing, high-yield crops and was conducting its first experiment.

If there were no issues, large-scale planting would begin soon.

She wondered if the Safety Shelter could overcome the food crisis brought by the locust plague.

A hint of worry touched Jiang Fei’s brows as she drove to the police station.

Xu Qianyao and a dozen Comrades were waiting for her at the entrance, with hundreds of cardboard boxes filled with gold stacked on the ground.

After parking, Jiang Fei got out and opened the trunk door.

The Comrades began to move the boxes.

Xu Qianyao: “Director Ning said that food is precious now and he couldn’t let you and your boss make a losing deal, so he gave you a bit more gold.”

At this point, he lowered his voice and reminded Jiang Fei: “Food is scarce recently. The higher-ups announced today that the official store will limit purchases, only to ensure survivors don’t starve to death.”

“This situation can easily lead to snatch and theft. Your store should close in a few days.”

Jiang Fei had the same idea.

Not to mention the food crisis could develop into a famine, people in a long-term state of hunger would become irritable and prone to anger.

Simply put, they would go mad from hunger.

They would be capable of any extreme violent act.

If the officials wanted to control it, they would have to kill all the starving people.

Otherwise, if the Safety Shelter lost control, her store would become a living target.

After the Comrades finished loading the boxes, Jiang Fei got in the car and drove towards West Street, secretly putting the gold into the Supermarket along the way.

System: [Ding — Detected gold: 3,000,000 grams]

Upon arriving at Ping An Supermarket, Jiang Fei saw a long line outside the window.

There was also a long line at the branch store.

With private shops closed and official stores limiting purchases, everyone came to Ping An’s two stores to stock up.

The store door was locked from the inside. Jiang Fei used her walkie-talkie to contact Jiang Zhengkang at the branch store to open the door, then got out of the car to help.

When the store closed at 8:00 PM, more than half of the branch store’s goods were empty.

The rest room couldn’t hold any more gold, so Jiang Fei, along with Jiang Zhengkang, Han Yang, Su Liuyuan, and Yao Jin, simply moved the suitcases into the car.

This included the gold earned by Ping An Supermarket over the past few days.

After more than an hour of work, Jiang Fei and the others returned to the second floor of the branch store, where Niu Er had already prepared dinner.

Each person had a bowl of plain noodle soup and a chicken drumstick roasted in an air fryer.

Niu Er explained to Jiang Fei: “Many people have been stocking up these past two days, saying there’s going to be a famine. Brother Su was worried that stir-frying would release cooking fumes and attract ill-intentioned people, so he asked me to make simple dishes with less aroma.”

Su Liuyuan: “Captain, you were at the Planting Base and I couldn’t reach you on the walkie-talkie, so I took the liberty.”

“You did very well. We really need to keep a low profile now.”

Jiang Fei told them about the purchase limits.

“When the goods in both stores are sold out, there’s no need to restock. We’ll close down directly. Remember to hang a ‘Sold Out’ sign at the door when the time comes.”

“Uncle, I’ll deliver the supplies you need tomorrow.”

Jiang Zhengkang and the others had no objections, but Su Liuyuan was a bit worried.

“Then won’t I have nothing to do and be stuck at home for several weeks again?”

“Not necessarily, it depends on what solutions the officials come up with.”

After speaking, Jiang Fei used her walkie-talkie to call A Meng, asking him to tell Crippled Wang and Yao Damang to come to the store to find her later.

She also gave A Meng Cao Xiuhong’s address, asking him to pick her up as well.

After dinner, Jiang Fei went to the large truck outside to secretly collect gold.

[Ding — Detected gold: 466,000 grams]

Then she went to the warehouse in the back street to collect what Crippled Wang and Yao Damang had earned.

[Ding — Detected gold: 8,955,000 grams]

[Current unlock progress: 75%]

The revenue from the North Market and Dongyang District had significantly decreased.

Director Ning probably couldn’t transfer much more gold either.

The gold in the Safety Shelter was not infinite; there would eventually be a day when she collected it all.

Perhaps she should move to another place.

The date she had agreed upon with Mo Yan’an was at the end of next month.

She could go to the base in Kyoto to take a look.

If it wasn’t suitable to stay, she could still make a large sum.

Thinking this, Jiang Fei returned to the branch store.

Crippled Wang and the other two had arrived.

Compared to Crippled Wang and Yao Damang’s ease, Cao Xiuhong seemed a bit nervous, sitting on the chair and constantly rubbing her pants with both hands.

“Don’t be nervous. I asked you to come today to formally invite you to join us.”

Jiang Fei handed Cao Xiuhong a bottle of water and continued: “You should know that food is scarce in the Safety Shelter recently.”

“Dried herbs, tonics, and protective gear will not be sold temporarily. I plan to have you sell grain.”

Yao Damang: “Actually, tonics can continue to be sold. Residents in Dongyang District still have some savings and won’t be too short on food.”

“Then sell off the remaining tonics in the Nantong Avenue warehouse.”

Jiang Fei looked at Crippled Wang: “You’ll take A Meng and the others to Dongyang District to pick up goods at six tomorrow morning. No need to drive; I’ll find someone to help move the goods tonight.”

“Cao Xiuhong, if you need stock in the future, go to the warehouse on Nantong Avenue. Crippled Wang will show you the way.”

“This time, the Safety Shelter is experiencing a food crisis. No matter how you sell, you must act discreetly, avoid trouble, and protect your own safety.”

The three nodded, remembering Jiang Fei’s words.

Crippled Wang suddenly looked serious: “Oh, by the way, Boss, I found something out these past few days. Someone is spreading rumors about Brother Lu, saying he’s a kept man, clinging to your coattails, and has done all sorts of outrageous things.”

“The rumors came from the Patrol Team on West Street.”

Jiang Fei’s brows furrowed slightly.

The Patrol Team on West Street was under Lu Yu’s command.

Had he been resented by his team members?

She would ask Lu Yu when she got back.

After Crippled Wang and the other two left, Jiang Fei drove the large truck back to Dongyang District.

She sent Su Liuyuan home, then found an empty street nearby and took out 5 large trucks.

She loaded them with rice, flour, beans, vegetables, fruits, instant food, and other provisions.

The large truck she was driving was loaded with instant food, pre-made dishes, and daily necessities for the two stores, which she planned to have Crippled Wang deliver tomorrow.

Once she finished organizing everything in advance, she could sleep for an extra half hour.

Locking the truck, Jiang Fei walked home.

Just then, Lu Yu drove back.

Jiang Fei called out to Lu Yu, who was about to go to 01, and told him the news Crippled Wang had shared with her.

Lu Yu: “I’ve already investigated.”

“You know that person too.”