With the arrival of the hot-tempered Tang Lu, who loved to be ruthless and push her way to the front, Xiaqing felt her chances of getting the plot of land she wanted had just increased by thirty percent. It was now almost a sure thing.
When the crowd in the hall saw Tang Lu actually condescend to stand in line at an empty desk, they couldn’t help but start to see the task of farming outside the Safe Zone—previously regarded as a "suicide mission"—in a different light.
Soon, the number of people lining up for territory grew from over thirty to more than a hundred. The long queue snaked twice within the hall, resembling a great serpent coiled inside.
Tang Lu glanced back at the people squabbling and fighting for a position, then shot a vicious glare at two soldiers who appeared to be maintaining order but were actually there to supervise her uncle. She snorted in disdain.
’If the military personnel weren’t stuck to us like flies, I wouldn’t have to be here smelling this stench!’
When Tang Zhengrong emerged from the office area with his entourage, Tang Lu, who had been scowling for over an hour, immediately straightened up and put on a docile smile.
The plainly dressed Tang Zhengrong pretended not to see his niece, walked straight to the half-meter-high platform set up next to the desk, and began to speak.
"As you all know, our nation’s agricultural system has collapsed. Food shortages have become the primary bottleneck threatening the survival and development of our people. I want to thank you all for answering the nation’s call, for volunteering to claim territory, and for contributing to our country’s food production. As long as we stand united, we will surely overcome any disaster, defend humanity’s dominant position on Blue Star, and rebuild our home..."
Xiaqing lifted her face, which was as grimy as most others’, and calmly glanced at the seemingly gentle man on the stage who firmly held the position of second-in-command of Hui San Base.
"All residents who claim territory today will receive a special reward from the base: two months of rations per person, a five-year tax exemption on the claimed land, and a promise of professional support from the nation."
ROAR—
The moment Tang Zhengrong finished speaking, the hall and the area outside erupted into a frenzy. The queue instantly grew, snaking for two more turns.
"But there are two points that I must make clear to everyone." Tang Zhengrong spoke again, his gentle voice turning stern:
"First, the claimed land cannot be transferred or resold. It can only be inherited by the biological children of the land-use rights holder—the Lord themself. If a Lord dies without an heir, the land-use rights revert to the base. Second, the base will conduct an annual assessment of each territory’s cultivation. If the standards are not met for three consecutive years, the territory will be repossessed. After the land is taken back, the former land-use rights holder will not only lose their status as a Lord but will also be barred from applying for any position or task within Hui San Base."
After these two points were made, the number of people scrambling to line up for territory instantly decreased by more than half. Those still in the queue also became hesitant.
The tall, thin man standing behind Xiaqing asked loudly, "Mayor Tang, what counts as meeting the standard?"
Before the Natural Disasters, Tang Zhengrong had been the mayor of the city where Hui San Base is now located. After this place was converted into a base, he became the vice base commander, still in charge of civil affairs, while the role of Base Commander was filled by a military general.
Since "Vice Base Commander" didn’t sound impressive enough, the residents still respectfully called him Mayor.
Hearing the resident’s inquiry, Tang Zhengrong smiled and explained, "For the first five years, you will meet the standard as long as the area planted with new edible plants in your territory increases by more than two mu each year."
’Only two mu a year? That’s not hard!’ The tall, thin man breathed a sigh of relief, and Xiaqing’s taut nerves eased slightly as well.
Seeing a few who had left return to the queue, Tang Zhengrong’s smile widened. He waved his hand and ordered, "The first territory ceremony of Hui San Base officially begins. Everyone, after you receive your land, gather at the Safe Zone’s South Gate within two hours. The base will send vehicles to take you there."
’Two hours?’ Xiaqing shot a quick glance at Tang Zhengrong. ’What’s the rush? Is he afraid people will claim their land and then change their minds and refuse to go?’
The moment Tang Zhengrong’s voice fell, Tang Lu, who had long grown impatient, tapped the desk with her snow-white fingers, urging the functionary, "Hurry up."
The clean-faced male functionary immediately picked up a land-use rights certificate and handed it to Tang Lu with both hands. "Miss Tang, this is yours. Please keep it safe. According to the rules, the first resident to claim territory can receive an extra two months of rations. Please present this certificate at the desk to the right to collect your rations, associated supplies, and crop seeds."
As Tang Lu pinched the certificate between two snow-white fingers and turned to leave, Xiaqing clearly saw the two words "Second Territory" on the land-use rights certificate she held. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to the desk.
Without looking up, the male functionary asked, "ID number, name."
Xiaqing raised her voice and asked in return, "According to the rules, the first three people can choose their own land and receive double rations, right?"
"The first three can choose their land and get double rations? Really?" the tall, thin man in the third spot yelped, drawing the attention of several hundred people.
’Nonsense!’
The male functionary frowned and looked up. When he saw the dirty woman in front of him, her icy gaze, and the green tag she wore, his forehead started to break out in a cold sweat.
’If I say there’s no such rule, this Evolver will definitely seize on the fact that I just gave Tang Lu extra rations and cause a huge scene. I don’t know what will happen to Mayor Tang if the matter reaches the Base Commander, but my own job will definitely be gone.’
’My family of four depends on this job to eat.’ The functionary felt wronged and suffocated. ’I wasn’t the one who decided on Tang Lu’s special treatment!’
"You’re talking non—"
Hearing the dirty woman’s words, Tang Lu, who was collecting her rations, turned her head to curse, but she had just started speaking when a seemingly placid glance from her uncle frightened her into silence.
Tang Zhengrong stopped his brainless niece, walked to the territory desk, quickly sized up the half-bowed Xiaqing, and asked with a smile on his face, "There is indeed such an incentive policy. Which plot of land would you like to choose, young lady?"
Xiaqing’s mud-stained finger pointed firmly at a territory on the map north of the Safe Zone, one that contained a long, narrow strip of blue water.
"Here. The Third Territory."
’Her target is the most remote territory. Is she from the military, or is she one of the Green Dragon Team’s people?’
Tang Zhengrong’s tone was still gentle, but his meaning was very clear. "The Third Territory is the outermost arable land cleared by our base. It’s over a hundred kilometers from the Safe Zone, so travel to and from is very inconvenient."
Xiaqing pretended not to understand and declared righteously, "Thank you for the reminder, Mayor Tang. I am an Evolver. It’s my duty to go to the most dangerous and remote places to grow more food for the nation and make a greater contribution."
Tang Zhengrong’s smile froze for half a second. Only then did he officially glance at Xiaqing’s ID tag. "It’s excellent that you have such a sense of duty, young lady. Mr. Zhang, handle the paperwork."
Mr. Zhang, as if relieved of a heavy burden, quickly registered Xiaqing’s personal information and printed the use rights certificate for the Third Territory.
After confirming there were no errors, Xiaqing collected her double rations and other supplies from the adjacent desk, then went straight to the window on the east side of the hall and used the points on her ID card to exchange for two high-capacity portable phone chargers.
Power hadn’t been restored outside the Safe Zone. Until she could install solar power equipment, she would need the portable chargers to power her phone and radio.
Xiaqing carried her supplies out of the hall, passing through a crowd of sallow and gaunt onlookers who were staring intently at the grain sack in her hand, and walked quickly forward.
Sitting in a car by the roadside, Tang Lu stared at Xiaqing with a "you’re finished" look. But Xiaqing paid her no mind. Listening to the broadcast announcement endlessly repeating the instruction for territory holders to gather outside the South Gate, she quickly returned to the Evolver dormitory to pack her things.
It was currently working hours, so the vast majority of Evolvers were at their jobs. Thus, Xiaqing only encountered one or two people upon entering the dormitory area, and it seemed they were also just back to grab something.
In the Disaster Years, everyone was busy earning living supplies every day and had no energy to pay attention to what others were doing. So when they saw Xiaqing return with her bags, they didn’t ask questions, just nodded in greeting and hurried away.
Xiaqing returned to her own dorm room and found her roommate was inside.
The Level 3 Olfactory Evolver, Feng Wen, saw that Xiaqing had returned all grimy again. She immediately covered her nose, frowned, and postured as if she was about to be sick from Xiaqing’s stench.
Xiaqing couldn’t be bothered with her. She unlocked the large padlock on the iron trunk under her bed, pulled out the bags of luggage she had packed long ago, stuffed them into a large canvas duffel, and then bent down to pack up the bedding on her single bed.
Feng Wen, still holding her nose, stared with wide eyes. "You really went to get a territory? Have you worked yourself stupid?"