Chapter 25: Possible Cooperation with Boss Chu

“This is the owner of Jianglin Hotel.”

If it weren’t for an important matter, Ling Feng wouldn’t have wanted to message Chu Jiangyue. After all, bothering her and ending up on her blacklist wouldn’t be good.

“Hotel owner? Then ask her—those steamed buns, meat buns, and bok choy you mentioned earlier—can she really supply them indefinitely? Our base has over a million people.”

Originally, the population had been over 20 million, now reduced to just over a million. To be honest, Lu Zhengyao felt heartbroken.

But the dead were gone, and the living still had to carry on. There was no time to grieve; they had to face reality.

“Commander, the base does have over a million people, but are you sure we can bring back that many supplies?”

Ling Feng thought that trying to buy food for over a million people at once was impossible.

“You’re right. I was thinking too simplistically.”

Lu Zhengyao immediately calmed down. Indeed, purchasing that much food at once was unrealistic.

“Since Captain Ling and your team have been there safely once, could you lead other teams from the base? We’ll assign tasks so the psychic squads can each bring back some supplies. Gradually, we can solve the problem.”

Moreover, the base still had some stock to last a while. By the time it ran out, the supplies brought back from Jianglin Hotel could make a substantial difference. This would naturally solve the food shortage issue.

“Leading the way is fine, but I think the base could also consider negotiating a cooperation with Boss Chu.”

Based on Ling Feng’s observations at Jianglin Hotel, Chu Jiangyue seemed to enjoy having people generate revenue for her.

So far, no other base had contacted her. Why not make their base the first?

Sending psychic squads on task runs wasn’t a long-term solution.

Lu Zhengyao’s eyes brightened. “I’ll arrange personnel immediately, and we’ll trouble you to lead them.”

It was better for their own people to negotiate the cooperation face-to-face.

“No problem. We can depart anytime.”

Ling Feng felt a strong sense of belonging to the B City safety base, so he was happy to help the base personnel.

“However, I suggest that when you confirm your personnel, you investigate them first. Boss Chu doesn’t have the best temper. If your people anger her, the cooperation might fail. In serious cases, they could even end up on her blacklist.”

Ling Feng recalled Chu Jiangyue’s friendly warning:

“Anyone on the blacklist may never set foot in Jianglin Hotel.”

At this point, it didn’t seem too serious. After all, apart from Jianglin Hotel, there were other sources of supplies.

But Ling Feng had a feeling: the longer the apocalypse lasted, the more important Jianglin Hotel would become for them.

Hearing Ling Feng’s words, Lu Zhengyao nodded slightly. “I understand. I’ll make sure people are careful.”

If possible, Lu Zhengyao certainly didn’t want to offend the hotel owner. After all, anyone capable of running a hotel during the apocalypse wasn’t an ordinary person.

“Then, if there’s nothing else, shall we leave?”

Ling Feng still wanted to bring some of today’s loot back to the base’s free trade market to sell items they didn’t need.

Lu Zhengyao waved his hand. “Go ahead. I’ll arrange personnel as soon as possible and notify you.”

Whether Jianglin Hotel was real or not, for the sake of everyone’s food at the base, Lu Zhengyao would have it investigated.

Meanwhile, inside Jianglin Hotel, Chu Jiangyue was unaware she was about to land a huge business opportunity. She had just finished her meal and was walking along the stone path in the hotel grounds, channeling wood-based psychic energy into the saplings she had personally planted. Then she returned to her two-story cabin, went to the kitchen, sliced open a watermelon, held half of it, grabbed a spoon, and headed toward Building 1.

Due to the high temperatures, people had been unable to go out during the day. Chu Jiangyue adjusted her working hours to match others’ schedules.

Today was her first day working the new schedule.

As she carried the half watermelon into Building 1, she ran into Shen Zhigui and his group, who were about to leave.

Xie Silin’s eyes lit up at the sight of the watermelon in Chu Jiangyue’s hands. “Boss Chu has watermelon?”

“Don’t even think about it. This is mine; you can’t eat it. But you brought me so many guests, and the fruit tree outside has shown signs of flowering today. It might bear fruit soon. Just wait.”

Little Fox had clearly stated that all supplies prepared by the hotel were for her use only. Even if given for free, others could not use them.

So even if Xie Silin and the others were tempted, Chu Jiangyue wouldn’t share.

“Another hotel rule?”

Xie Silin thought that without the hotel rule, given their relationship with Boss Chu, she wouldn’t be so stingy as to refuse them even a bit of watermelon.

Chu Jiangyue didn’t respond, but silence implied agreement.

“Boss Chu, are you working overtime today?”

It was already past 6 PM. Normally, she would have returned by now, but she had brought the watermelon back to Building 1.

Shen Zhigui immediately sensed something unusual.

“No, I changed my working hours. People mostly go out at night in this heat, so…”

Chu Jiangyue didn’t finish, but Shen Zhigui and the others understood her meaning.

“Indeed. Boss Chu, with your new schedule, we might even run into you when we return!”

Su Zhucheng’s quick tongue blurted the question, realizing immediately afterward that he had asked something rather personal. He quickly stopped talking, standing at attention nervously before Chu Jiangyue.

“It’s fine. I was going to say it anyway. I’ve changed my working hours to 5 PM to 11 PM.”

However, she didn’t guarantee she would be in Building 1 at 5 PM. She might still be having dinner then.

But after 11 PM, she would definitely not be in Building 1. The idea was: you can be late, but no overtime.

At this point, Su Zhucheng realized they couldn’t guarantee they’d return, so he let out a nervous laugh. The atmosphere turned slightly awkward.

“You all should be heading out. Go ahead; don’t worry about me.”

Chu Jiangyue signaled that Shen Zhigui and the others could leave freely.

“Then we’re off. Goodbye, Boss Chu!”

Su Zhucheng quickly said and led Lin Xuyuan out of Building 1.

In the Shengshi Huadu area, only Jianglin Hotel had its lights on, like a lighthouse. Every night, seeing the lights guided them home.

After Shen Zhigui’s group left, Chu Jiangyue focused on her watermelon.

She had to admit, as a system-supplied fruit, the watermelon had no seeds and tasted sweet and refreshing.

Eating it in the heat felt divine.

“Host, host! The male lead has arrived!”

Little Fox, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.