The Chef Rules the Last Days-Chapter 68 - 66 Storing Water
68: Chapter 66: Storing Water
68 -66: Storing Water
Su Mo also did not want to lie in bed all day, so she simply followed Li Qian and Lu Chen to see how they were planning to transform the prison.
The dormitory was unusually lively today, as many people had moved in, mostly tall and burly ordinary people.
Li Qian explained, “I have arranged for key personnel to be housed in the dormitory; among them is a doctor, and I have also brought back a few medical students.”
Lu Chen had no objections, and Su Mo nodded in agreement; this was the fairest way, as those doing the hardest work could not be left to live in the worst cells.
Zhao Xiwen, supported by crutches, was flanked by two burly men as she walked.
With Mo Yan gone and without his protection, Chu Mengyao was exceptionally obedient and quietly followed behind.
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The group arrived at the cells where a small platform had been set up with a chair placed on it.
The pungent, sour stench made both women cover their noses at the same time.
Li Qian stopped in front of the platform and said gently to them, “From today, you will need to take turns here and at the dormitory collecting water; the cells must have water for daily use.”
“You’re making us work here?” Chu Mengyao glared, as horrific memories of this place quickly flooded her mind.
She paled and stepped back only to bump into a tall, strong man who pushed her back, causing her to stumble before steadying herself.
“Yes,” Li Qian smiled and nodded, “If you can’t manage that, and can’t contribute to the prison, you will have to leave the dormitory.”
“Li Qian, do you know what happened to me here?
How can you be so cruel!” Chu Mengyao held her head with both hands, shaking it continuously.
“Notify someone to clean a cell out for Miss Chu to stay in,” Li Qian ordered a burly man behind him without a hint of sympathy.
Su Mo watched with glee as Chu Mengyao reluctantly bowed her head in agreement.
“And what about Su Mo, what has she contributed to the prison?” Zhao Xiwen, leaning on her crutch, turned the accusation towards the amused spectator.
“Me?
Well…” Su Mo feigned a sigh and said to her, “The food you eat from now on will certainly owe some credit to me.”
“Miss Su Mo will join us in searching for supplies outside.
Should we call you along when the time comes?” Li Qian turned and addressed Zhao Xiwen.
She paused, looked down at her crippled leg, then turned her head away, stubbornly muttering, “When my leg is healed, I can also go out to find supplies.”
“You should save that talk for Mo Yan,” Su Mo said cheerfully, pointing to the small platform, “You two should first settle who will collect water.”
Upon hearing that arrangements had been made for someone to collect water at the gate, the people in the cells swarmed out, forming a long line outside with bottles and buckets in hand, hoping to get a sip of the superpower user’s water.
In the past, these outsiders never had such privileges, and being thirsty enough to drink urine was considered normal.
Finally, Li Qian decided that today Zhao Xiwen would collect water at the cells and Chu Mengyao at the dormitory, alternating every two days.
Even though those coming to collect water emitted foul odors, under the indirect supervision of a few large men at the platform, Zhao Xiwen had no choice but to focus on using her superpower to fill their bottles.
Despite harboring a thousand resentments, she could only swallow them all.
By the end of the day, they all reeked.
Su Mo followed Lu Chen and Li Qian to the farm, where the workers were all thin and underfed, unable to swing a rake due to hunger.
“I think those working on the farm could have an extra meal,” she suggested to them, “If they’re not well-fed, the tilling will be subpar and the crops will be poor.”
She had seen them in the cafeteria, all eating the same coarse bun; the food was seriously inadequate for the physically demanding work.
“They are not wasting food if they eat well and the crops turn out good,” at least Su Mo thought so, it was just that she was unsure what the two men thought.
“That’s possible,” Lu Chen nodded, his eyes noting their pallid, emaciated appearance.
“The food in the granary is rapidly diminishing; we might not make it until the day we see results,” Li Qian did not immediately agree, well aware of how much food was left in the granary.
“We’ll take turns going out to find supplies these next few days,” Su Mo thought for a moment and then added, “It might be difficult initially, but if we manage to get crops going later on, most people won’t go hungry.”
Lu Chen and she were both going to leave eventually; before that happened, they wanted to ensure these people were on the right track.
“The weather is hot now; let Chu Mengyao and Zhao Xiweng collect and bring more water when they’re free,” Su Mo suggested as she crouched down and grabbed a handful of dry, cracked soil.
A batch of seeds had already been planted earlier, and they had been watered sparsely.
Li Qian nodded in agreement without any objection.
Everything is always difficult at the beginning.
They walked over to the cattle shed where someone was busy managing the manure to use as fertilizer.
These two cows were currently growing the best.
Old Shen Du had not skimped on their care, and it remained so even now.
After taking care of the farm, the trio headed to the cafeteria.
To Su Mo’s surprise, the pregnant woman named Zhuang Mei was also there helping out.
From afar, Su Niang spotted them and informed Zhuang Mei before coming out.
“The young lady is here,” Su Niang said to Su Mo, wiping her hands with a face full of happiness, looking refreshed now that Old Shen Du’s oppression was gone.
Su Mo smiled warmly, “Su Niang, I hope you weren’t too scared yesterday.”
“Not at all, not at all, thanks to you, Miss.
I really owe you a lot,” Su Niang said and started to untie her apron, intending to kneel before her.
Li Qian and Su Mo both caught her as she started to kneel.
“No, no, no, Su Niang.
I might lose years of my life,” Su Mo quickly helped her up.
Truth be told, she had her own motives and didn’t deserve such gratitude.
Li Qian steadied Su Niang, preventing her from kneeling, “Su Niang, Miss Su has already taken it to heart.”
“All right, all right,” she nodded obediently, smiling broadly as she retied her apron.
“That woman over there, is she helping you too?” Su Mo pointed towards Zhuang Mei, who was busy inside the window.
“Oh, her, I bumped into her on the road,” Su Niang patted her hand gently, “She’s a good girl.
Despite being so heavily pregnant, she insisted on helping share the load.”
Su Mo nodded, appreciating the woman’s sense of duty and ability to adapt under the circumstances, qualities she found commendable.
They ate there, and Li Qian informed the cafeteria staff, assigning the management of the cafeteria and the task of adding meals for those working the fields in the evening to Su Niang.
From today, she wouldn’t have to do the toughest tasks and could just supervise.
Su Niang, realizing the change, teared up in gratitude towards Li Qian, continually praising him as a good boy until they left.
The most crucial areas had been arranged.
The trio then proceeded to the prison guard’s office, which temporarily served as their place to discuss serious matters.
“Where did Mo Yan and the others go to find supplies today?” Su Mo took a seat on a chair.
“Pingshui County, it’s in a different direction from Black City,” Li Qian replied.
“It’s not far, and they should be back by tonight unless something unexpected happens.”
“If the resources there are abundant, we might also take a trip tomorrow,” Su Mo nodded and turned to Lu Chen, “What do you think?”
“You stay here, I’ll go,” Lu Chen frowned and refused.
She still had injuries, and going out at this time…
