The rental market in the city is too chaotic,” Jiang Ning discussed with Huo Yishen. “How about trying our luck in the villa area? ” 

Indeed, not only did survivors from the lower classes gather here, but also many sharp-eyed tycoons flocked in. 

The villa area is about three or four kilometers away from the main beach, situated on the mountainside, relatively close to the docks. Walking along the coastal road, you could vaguely see European-style villas emerging from the forest. 

They arrived quickly by car. There was a security booth at the foot of the mountain, manned by fifteen or sixteen people, each armed and patrolling. 

Seeing a car approaching, they became alert, gesturing from afar to halt. 

They were all dressed in identical security uniforms. 

The leader, around thirty years old, had a dark complexion from the scorching sun. “What are you guys doing here?” 

Jiang Ning rolled down the car window. “Excuse me, are there any houses for rent?” 

Good Lord, the stench of sweat almost drove the man away. 

The man covered his nose and stepped back. Seeing that the two were not only dressed in shabby clothes but also had a broken car, he immediately said impatiently, “No, hurry up; you can’t afford to live here.” 

Before the disaster, when running businesses and pulling deals, there were simply too many people like this. Jiang Ning wasn’t angry at all. She took out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and handed it over. “Brother, could you help us out?” 

Seeing the cigarettes, the man’s eyes widened. 

God knew; he hadn’t smelled tobacco in two years. Back then, he smoked a pack a day. Now, he couldn’t even afford a full meal, let alone a smoke. 

If you want it, you can only have it in your dreams. 

Quickly, he pocketed the cigarettes, afraid that hesitating would let others snatch them. 

The man put on a smile, his tone a complete one-eighty. “Sure thing, there are still some houses available, but the rent is a bit high.” 

Rich people always knew how to play; they were so afraid of being robbed that they even disguised themselves. No wonder he misjudged them. 

Taking a closer look, despite their dirty clothes and haggard appearance, their bodies couldn’t deceive anyone. 

Jiang Ning inquired, “How is the rent calculated?” 

“This area is all villas, rented out by the unit. Almost all have been leased by wealthy individuals. Now, only a few near the mountaintop are left.” 

The man’s surname was Luo, grinning. “Just call me Lao Luo.” 

He immediately started the introduction. There were over a hundred houses in the villa area, renovated after the extreme cold ended and gradually rented out to wealthy people relocating to the seaside. 

It’s also very simple to rent, as long as you meet the requirements. 

Any resident in each villa could not exceed eight people, and they all had to register with their ID cards. During the lease, they couldn’t bring outsiders in casually. Daily entry and exit had to be supervised by security. 

“The requirements are a bit much, but all for the safety of tenants,” Lao Luo explained. “It’s quite safe here, with patrols 24/7 and strong connections. Ordinary refugees dare not intrude. Living here, you don’t have to worry at all.” 

Jiang Ning understood, smiling. “What about the rent?” 

“300 kilograms of grain per month, no seafood or salt.” 

300 kilograms of grain? Jiang Ning sucked in a breath. On the way here, they met villagers from fishing villages trying to solicit customers. They are renting out 8 kilograms of grain per month. 

However, this is a villa area, so it is naturally a different matter. 

Jiang Ning looked at Huo Yishen, seeking his opinion with his eyes. 

Going out with two people and coming here to stock up, safety was the most important. 

Huo Yishen had no objection; the rent was indeed high, but with Jiang Ning’s ability to grow food, it wasn’t a problem. 

Jiang Ning thought carefully. “What kind of grains are included?” 

“Rice, flour, cooking oil, grains. Tea, cigarettes, and alcohol are separate. Other grains like soybeans and mung beans are also acceptable. For potatoes and sweet potatoes, the quantity needs to be relatively increased.” 

“How much for potatoes?” 

“Cold-resistant potatoes double, regular potatoes fifty percent more.” 

Jiang Ning had no objections. “Could you show us the house first?” 

Lao Luo had no problem. He returned to the security booth and mounted the little donkey used for patrol, slowly heading towards the villa area on the mountainside. 

Jiang Ning rolled down the car window, keeping an eye on all directions. 

Judging from the security team and the donkey, the security facilities in the villa area are still relatively good. Many of the trees on the mountain were not frozen to death. The humid air gave them new vitality, and green leaves have grown. 

The villas are built along the winding mountain road, with one villa every few dozen meters. 

A two-and-a-half-story European-style villa, many of them had solar panels on the rooftops, and all balcony windows were enclosed with stainless steel mesh. 

Being close to the seaside, there was a strong wind, and the temperature difference between morning and evening was significant. The humid air was much better than the dryness in Fengcheng. The surroundings were lush with greenery. 

The car moved slowly, and Jiang Ning even heard the sound of diesel engines. 

Some villas even had glass conservatories, sun umbrellas, and beach chairs. Fair-skinned beauties wearing sunglasses were sipping iced drinks while basking in the morning sun. 

If you didn’t know better, you’d think this was a vacation paradise, and the talk of natural disasters was just nonsense! 

As the car reached halfway up the mountain, Jiang Ning looked down and saw children playing soccer on the rooftop. 

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but sigh; even in the same disaster, people’s lives were worlds apart. 

The forest halfway up the mountain was lush, and the heat wasn’t as intense. All the villas had been rented out, except for the three near the mountaintop. 

Lao Luo parked the car and opened the villa gate. “You can drive your car in.” 

Seeing a ragged child come out of the dilapidated car didn’t surprise Lao Luo, but when he saw the majestic dog, he was still shocked. 

There were two or three households in the villa area that kept pets, some with cats and some with dogs, but they were all small pets and didn’t eat much. 

What kind of conditions were needed to raise a dog? fat and strong? 

Lao Luo couldn’t help but take another look, but he found the dog’s eyes filled with murderous intent. Seeing its posture, ready for a fight at any moment, he felt a chill run down his spine and dared not look at it again. 

Jiang Ning waved her hand, and the fierce dog instantly turned into a docile lamb, obediently circling around her. 

The villa was spacious, with sculptures and a fountain in the front yard, but the flowers and plants had withered due to the high temperature and drought. 

The exterior was high-end and classy, with four rooms on each floor, but there were almost no decent furnishings left. However, the air conditioners on the walls were still there. 

It was evident that this place had been renovated and refurbished, and even the water pipes had been replaced. 

Standing on the balcony, the azure sea was in full view. 

So, luxury came with its own reasons. 

Jiang Ning was quite satisfied and proceeded to look at the other two remaining villas. 

The architectural designs were similar, but the villas on the mountaintop were higher, with fewer tall trees around, making it noticeably hotter. However, the views and scenery were better. 

Lao Luo spoke up, “Are you planning to rent?” 

Jiang Ning didn’t rush to answer. “Luo Ge, to be honest, we’re here for business. We want to trade sea salt and dried goods. Can this business be done?” 

“As long as there’s a way, why can’t it be done?” 

Unable to resist the craving for cigarettes, Lao Luo lit one up and smoked, his eyes filled with both intoxication and confusion. But soon, he spoke confidently: “With this damned weather, people have no way out. Everyone is flocking to the seaside. 

There are too many people; not everyone can survive. You need a boat to go fishing, but boats are either owned by the government or controlled by wealthy individuals. 

Some smart and diligent ones collect seawater to make salt, sell it to shops, or trade it for seafood. But it’s too hot for salt production, and many people have sunburned several layers of skin. 

There are also those who want to gain without working; they can only resort to robbery everywhere. Some come from a village, some from a region, causing trouble wherever they go. 

Many people rent in fishing villages, only to have their doors broken late at night. Some even specialize in robbing children. 

He reminded the two not to take children lightly. As for dogs, it’s best not to take them out. He feared they’d attract unwanted attention and might not come back. 

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