See, even in the apocalypse there were still selfless, good-hearted people. The dishes and food brought out today were clearly all of Old Master Yang's best supplies. Enough to feed more than two hundred people, food that could have sustained his family for half a year.
By the time guests arrived, the pond still had some fish left, but all the vegetables in the flowerbeds had already been harvested.
Old Master Yang could have simply declared that all the gifts today would be donated, saving himself this massive banquet, and still he would have won endless admiration. But instead, he first chose to treat his old friends with his very best.
Some said the donations weren't really his, yet he ended up gaining prestige. But the truth was, Old Master Yang could have earned respect without donating a thing, and he chose not to take that route.
Sometimes the act of giving itself carries meaning. Over the years, the gifts he had handed out would have returned to him anyway. In the end, all of this was still his.
Jing Shu suddenly remembered something. In her previous life, this event had made the news. Old Master Yang donated a banquet of white rice to tens of thousands in Wu City, earning immense gratitude. Sadly, she hadn't eaten any herself, because the food ran out before it reached Banana Community.
What impressed Jing Shu most was that Old Master Yang was elderly. In such cruel living conditions, life was even harder for people his age.
No wonder Yang Yang had been sighing. This time he truly lost both money and face: no gift money received, and his own household food wiped out. His grandmother was sure to make his grandfather kneel on a washboard.
As exclamations of shock and disbelief rippled across the venue, Shen Sanqiao tapped the auctioneer's desk. "At the same time, everyone participating in today's charity auction will be recorded in Wu City News as doing a good deed. This event will also be listed in the Big Data Charity Auction section as an example."
In Jing Shu's eyes, celebrities using donations for publicity was nothing worth criticizing. As long as they donated a lot, did real good deeds, and the common people benefited, both sides got what they wanted. What was wrong with that?
The auction began, table by table, starting from the top left. An elderly man produced a water filter. Old Master Yang winced, for his household water was currently brought over from his son's house after being filtered.
"Haha, you old geezer. You're donating something this precious? Fine, let's auction it then."
Water filters were priceless now. It sold for 1,000 virtual coins. Everyone just went through the motions, since they were all influential people. The exact price didn't matter, since this wasn't a real commercial auction.
"Brought some walnuts, thought I'd help your old brain a little."
Five kilograms of walnuts sold for 600 virtual coins.
"Caught you a rooster and a hen from the Livestock Breeding Center."
That pair of chickens fetched 1,500 virtual coins.
Water was no longer scarce, and feed was sufficient too. The government had been heavily promoting animal husbandry. But when insect eggs mutated, a large portion of livestock had been poisoned by polluted water and died, just like humans.
Fortunately, the sewage treatment plant had been repaired soon after, allowing water to be filtered again. Both people and poultry in Wu City now relied on government distributions.
"Lao Yang, I won't give you anything. Don't want you to feel too heartbroken. Here's 1,000 virtual coins straight. That way you'll really feel the sting, hahaha."
Others followed suit, donating coins directly, from 500 to 1,000 each.
Usually Old Master Yang's closest friends gave things that nourished the body. Others who joined later tended to donate rice. Of course, the wealthy gave more lavishly.
Soon it was Jing Shu's table's turn.
"That one's my grandson's friend. Family. Skip this table, skip this table." Since they were close, it was acceptable to lump them together.
Jing Shu originally thought being skipped was fine. She could always give something privately to Yang Yang later. But unexpectedly, those who had gone to America, including Wang Dazhao, all stood up together and presented an M1911 meteorite pistol. Yang Yang whispered the gun's origin to Jing Shu.
None of them mentioned the model, but simply handed it over. Old Master Yang recognized it at a glance.
"Old Master, this is the pistol you've always wanted. We prepared it together for your eighty-eighth birthday. Your grandson especially sought it out for you. No need to auction this one, right?"
Old Master Yang caressed it lovingly. It was one of only two ever made, commissioned at enormous cost in America. Worth thirty million, the pair was unique in the world. Somehow this brat had stolen one back. But now that the apocalypse had come, America was too busy surviving to worry about a fancy pistol.
"Besides, no one else here is qualified to own a firearm. If it went to auction, wouldn't that just cause trouble?"
Seeing Old Master Yang hesitate, Niu Mou delivered the final push.
The crowd were all shrewd people. No one dared claim the gun. Who would dare to bid? If it failed to sell, how embarrassing would that be?
"A gift from family doesn't need to be auctioned," Old Master Yang finally said, relieved that at least one present didn't have to slip away from his grasp. His mood improved.
Niu Mou then brought out his own gift: two enormous longevity peach cakes, topped with thick cream and strawberries.
"Cake prepared by family. Everyone gets a share. This doesn't need to be auctioned."
The crowd chuckled. Of course you needed a cake at a birthday. Thoughtful indeed.
When everyone at the table had given their gifts, Jing Shu had no choice but to take out her blood mushroom. The moment she revealed it, gasps of astonishment filled the hall. Wasn't this the hottest item in Wu City right now?
Blood mushrooms had only appeared at three auctions in total. Each one fetched no less than 1,500 coins, always in short supply, with prices trending upward. Nobody expected anyone to still have one.
"This is the biggest one I've ever seen, and so fresh!"
Those who had tasted blood mushrooms raved endlessly. Not only were they delicious, but after eating, they felt younger, their bodies full of vitality. Even bystanders remarked they looked more energetic.
The legend of the blood mushroom only grew.
"Our family's eaten it. The effects are real."
"No wonder your brat looks so much younger."
"This isn't something you can buy with money. Old Master, you should eat it yourself."
"Exactly. You won't live much longer anyway, old geezer. I'm still waiting for you to repay the gifts I gave you."
Old Master Yang didn't recognize this quiet young girl, but seeing her seated with his grandson, he thought of something, grinned foolishly, and said, "This is a gift from family. Doesn't count, doesn't count."
The crowd let out a long "Ooooh."
Jing Shu: "???"
"Did you all misunderstand something?"