Jing Shu fell silent. If it wasn't hers, then whose was it?
"The wealth I earned came from the government during peaceful times," Qian Duoduo said slowly. "If I don't do something to help reduce the impact of future disasters, the state can take it back anytime once national collapse looms. When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. If the common people at the bottom all die, do you really think I, Qian Duoduo, the richest man, can still enjoy my peaceful life here in Shiyuan like some paradise on earth?
I only started expanding this aggressively after learning that the coming disasters would get worse and worse. The fatter this sheep grows, the more I can survive after being sheared when the higher-ups come for me. As long as they take the wool instead of the whole sheep, I can still live."
He paused, then gave a half-smile. "Think about it. If Shiyuan grows strong enough to withstand the next big disaster, don't you think I'll still be the richest man, still the Master of Shiyuan? To keep living comfortably up here, I can't let everyone below die out.
That's why I've been developing so aggressively. It's self-preservation."
"So, after realizing what might happen, he was actually trying to save himself?" Jing Shu found that logic surprisingly similar to her decision to open the Red Nematode Breeding and Processing Factory.
Except his ending had been tragic. He'd probably gotten taken down halfway through his plans when Wu City couldn't hold out any longer.
But wait... in her past life, hadn't people said Qian Duoduo's downfall was because he and the Tyrant couldn't reach an agreement? The Tyrant had demanded all his supplies, and when Qian Duoduo refused, tragedy struck.
Yet, from today's conversation, he clearly wasn't some arrogant fool. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"Then… if the kind of disaster you mentioned hits in three months, and the higher-ups decide to 'butcher' Shiyuan, what would you do?" she asked.
Qian Duoduo thought for a moment. "Naturally, I'd cooperate fully and open Shiyuan to the public."
"And what if they want more than Shiyuan? What if they demand all your supplies?" Jing Shu probed carefully. Shiyuan was only part of his assets. He still had plenty of materials stockpiled elsewhere. If the Tyrant in her past life hadn't just wanted Shiyuan but everything he owned... and if those supplies could've saved more people...
Qian Duoduo's eyes narrowed, a determined light gleaming within.
"That won't be easy," he said firmly. "I've worked all my life for my wife and daughters. They've lived in luxury for half their lives, there's no going back now. I don't want to end up like Puyi, having everything only to lose it all later. Living in misery after that… what's the point?
I do have a sense of righteousness," he continued, "but I've also got my personal feelings. My selflessness exists because I'm selfish."
Puyi Aisin-Gioro, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, had once owned the entire nation, only to die a commoner. After spending half his life in prison, he'd returned to the Forbidden City, his former home, and had to buy a ticket to enter.
Jing Shu went quiet again. In her previous life, she'd owned almost nothing and had grown used to scraping by during the ten long years of the apocalypse. In this life, with her Cube Space and all its treasures, she'd tasted every rare delicacy in the world. If she lost everything now, if her space vanished and she had to go back to eating red nematodes and maggots… would she accept it?
Would she give up all her resources just to save others?
Maybe that was exactly where Qian Duoduo and the Tyrant had clashed back then.
No outsider could know the full truth behind that old event. Maybe there'd been other reasons too. Still, no matter what the cause, Jing Shu thought this lifetime had to change. Otherwise, who knew, maybe the Tyrant's "butchering" would reach her next.
"Everyone's heard about what happened with Lao Jin," Qian Duoduo sighed. "You saved his life but only asked for a convenient government post in return. Smart move. Not only does he owe you big, but so does everyone in our circle. That old guy can't die. If he does, everything falls apart."
Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. Honestly, she hadn't thought that far ahead. She'd just wanted a life-saving favor to keep in her pocket. As long as she didn't cash it in, no one would dare touch her before the Tyrant took power. She hadn't expected to gain a whole circle of connections out of it.
"I also heard you bought some land and started a factory," Qian Duoduo said, rolling a walnut between his palms. "But when I found out it was a Red Nematode Breeding Factory, I was honestly surprised. Jing Shu, you're a smart woman. Since you dared to go public with it, you must've been sure of your footing. But you'd better be careful too. The formula behind it is the most important thing."
His intelligence network really was impressive.
Jing Shu smiled wryly. "To tell you the truth, I don't plan to keep red nematode breeding a secret. I'd love to make it public, so China would never lack food again, and everyone could live safely. Unfortunately, it can't be replicated. That's actually why I came to you today—to discuss cooperation."
"Oh?" Qian Duoduo leaned forward, intrigued. "Let's hear it."
The conference room filled with the occasional clink of teacup lids and Qian Duoduo's occasional exclamation of approval. Jing Shu did most of the talking, while he mostly listened, only asking questions when something puzzled him before falling back into thoughtful silence.
"No problem with the kind of stones you mentioned," he finally said. "Xishan's short on everything but that. I'll ship them to the Banana Community at cost, but you'll have to find your own builders. As for the land for your Red Nematode Breeding Factory, I'll send over some stone as you asked. The really large slabs might be harder to get, but I'll have Butler Cai handle it. You'll get a result in a couple of days."
Jing Shu's heart leaped. Finally, progress on her mudslide defense project for Year Four! Once the stones arrived, construction could begin. She didn't have much time left.
Qian Duoduo finally pulled out a cigar, taking a slow puff. Smoke curled around him as he spoke again.
"As for cooperating on your red nematode business, I think it's necessary. Your idea's solid, though some details still need work. But you're right, Shiyuan shouldn't be seen working too closely with the breeding factory. We'll handle it discreetly. Butler Cai will take charge behind the scenes, while publicly, Shiyuan will just act as a buyer."
That was about as good as it could get.
Qian Duoduo's expression eased. "With your red nematode feed, Shiyuan's poultry production can finally ramp up. It'll cut my costs and losses massively. I'll stockpile more food and resources and be much better prepared for the worsening conditions. Jing Shu, you've really helped me out this time! Tell you what, I'll give you an extra one percent of monthly dividends."
"One percent just like that? What a damn tycoon. Reckless generosity"—but Jing Shu liked it.
"As for our cooperation," he continued, "we'll stick to your plan. You'll supply red nematode feed, and I'll provide energy materials. Both sides will grow fast, and we must get Wu City back on its feet as soon as possible."
===
Puyi Aisin-Gioro is most famously known as Puyi (溥仪), and Aisin-Gioro was the name of the imperial clan of the Qing Dynasty.
Here are the key facts about him:
He was the last Emperor of China and the final ruler of the Qing Dynasty.
His reign names were Xuantong (宣统) as the Emperor of China, and he was later made the puppet ruler of Manchukuo by the Japanese during World War II.
His life was dramatic. He was installed as emperor as a small child, abdicated as a boy after the 1911 Revolution, was briefly restored, and then was later used as a figurehead by the Japanese in Manchuria.
After World War II, he was captured by the Soviets and later handed over to the People's Republic of China, where he was "re-educated" in a prison camp. He was eventually pardoned and lived out his later years as an ordinary citizen in Beijing. He famously wrote an autobiography and worked as a gardener.