What is the rarest thing to see these days? It is definitely chickens and ducks, creatures that have already been listed as endangered for years.
And that is not even counting the specific Darklife species that only the upper class knows about: the dino-chickens.
As soon as these clean, gorgeous hens stepped into the bright, clinical interior of the plane, everyone on the fully modified aircraft saw them at once. It was like a heavy boulder crashing into a still pond, sending ripples of shock and longing splashing everywhere. The scent of the cabin, usually filled with the sharp smell of disinfectant and recycled air, was suddenly cut by the earthy, musky presence of living livestock.
The pharmacists on board, all of them heading to the Imperial Capital for the high-stakes competition, widened their eyes in unison. They stared at this walking flock of luxury birds, their throats working as they swallowed hard in disbelief.
"My God, are those really chickens? Living, breathing chickens?"
"These chickens are even fatter than the ones I have seen owned by the city's biggest tycoons! What on earth are they being fed? We can't even fill ourselves up, and someone is feeding these birds to this extent?"
"And that first one up front, look how fat it is!"
"How many eggs does that one lay a day? If I could eat just one egg a day, I would die happy!"
"Look, President Jing is here! Are all these chickens hers? Wow, she really is that rich!"
"Yeah, and she is the one who provides the chicken manure to the association every day. No wonder she must have a ton of chickens at home."
"I want to touch a chicken. It's been ages since I have seen one, and I have almost forgotten what they even look like."
"Damn, this chicken bites! It is so fierce!"
"I want a feather from one. I wonder if President Jing would hit me for taking one."
"Danai, you are closest to President Jing. Can you get a few spare feathers for us?"
The crowd chattered endlessly, their voices rising in a frantic hum. Many of them tried to shuffle closer to the walking flock, but after one man got a sharp, warning peck on his hand, they kept a safe distance. Their eyes remained fixed on the birds, filled with a messy mix of desperate longing to touch, raw envy, and deep, hollow hunger.
Thankfully, this was a private plane with no outsiders on board. If these chickens had been out in the open on a public street, their feathers would probably have been stripped bare by the starving crowds by now.
Jing Shu spotted Li Dayou and his group seated at the front. Each of them was desperately trying to control the flood of saliva threatening to escape as they watched the birds strut past.
Wang Dan wiped away the drool with the back of his hand and whispered excitedly to Li Dayou, who was currently pretending to rest with his eyes shut. "Captain, captain, look! Chickens! A whole flock of real chickens! Remember when we were trapped back there and promised ourselves that if we ever got to eat chicken again, we would die happy? This is it!"
Li Dayou subtly swallowed to hide his own mounting excitement and said calmly, "Can you not see everyone is watching? But yes, you have got a clear view. That lead chicken belongs to Jing Shu. You want to eat it? Keep dreaming."
Everyone in Li Dayou's team knew just how formidable Jing Shu's chickens were. If they ever tried to eat that particular one, their lives wouldn't be enough to pay the price.
Jing Shu laughed out loud as she caught the tail end of Wang Dan's words. "Haha, your wish to eat chicken again in your lifetime? That is pretty impossible. But getting an egg every now and then? That's doable."
Her dino-chickens weren't ordinary birds. As long as they could lay fertile eggs, they could hatch more of their kind. They were clearly evolved for the apocalypse, possessing the ability to eat almost anything and survive in harsh conditions. Even if humans were starving, these chickens wouldn't. If they were left alone, they would live for a very long time.
The only downside was that this specific second generation of dino-chickens couldn't reproduce a next generation on their own.
Wang Dan scratched his head, his face turning a deep shade of red. "Hey, you heard all that? By the way, last time we parted, how did the seed thing go? We heard you were sick, and we couldn't do much to help from where we were. Sorry about that. Oh, you are heading to the Imperial Capital too? We didn't get a proper farewell, which was such a regret."
"All smooth, everything went fine. Thanks to you guys handling all the follow-ups and the escorting; that really helped me out. Yes, for this trip, I'm bringing the Wu City Medicinal Herb Association pharmacists to the competition. And, to thank you for everything, I have a small favor to ask. Let's call it a case of mutual benefit," Jing Shu said, her smile warming.
Li Dayou opened his eyes and returned the smile. After spending over ten days together in the wilderness, they had already bonded for life. He knew Jing Shu had saved him, and he couldn't forget her kindness. "What do you need? Just say it. If we can help, we will."
Jing Shu grinned, her eyes sparkling. "So, you know how food is tight right now, and my family can't really raise all these chickens properly anymore. I have been wanting to repay you for guarding my things all this time, but I never found the perfect chance. Perfect timing: you each get one chicken. It eases my own burden and gives you some extra nutrition too."
Wang Dan's drool started flowing again instantly. He glanced at Captain Li Dayou in envy, knowing that Jing Shu was remarkably loyal and thoughtful.
What she was really saying was, 'I'm giving these chickens to you to lighten my load,' but anyone with eyes could see she was taking care of them. She was likely worried they might refuse if she simply called it a gift.
With Jing Shu's immense wealth, could she not afford a few chickens? Even if caring for them was difficult, those chickens produced luxury eggs.
Li Dayou shook his head quickly. "No, no, no, these are too precious; everyone knows how rare chickens are now. Giving us one each is like giving away a luxury car. We can't raise something this expensive in our position. And what we have done is just our duty, nothing more."
He didn't even know yet that these weren't ordinary chickens. Ordinary chickens were something Jing Shu wouldn't even bother giving to them. Feeding fragile, pre-apocalypse chickens would waste tons of food and effort. What she wanted was to provide a reliable, daily food source for them—eggs that would come even in the middle of a food shortage.
Giving a man a fish feeds the hunger for today, but providing eggs that last much longer is a different story.
Murmurs of shock and admiration rippled through the plane as the other passengers listened.
"President Jing really is a tycoon. I heard the rumors about her, but this... giving away all these chickens, just like that."
"And these people are crazy to refuse. If it were me, I would take them in a heartbeat. They are starving and still worrying about manners?"
Jing Shu didn't argue. She simply gave the proud Xiao Dou a gentle, playful kick with the toe of her boot.
The large hen clucked in immediate understanding, her head tilting.
Then, the dino-chickens went in a perfect, disciplined order. Each one found its new owner, flapping their wings and hopping up onto the laps of the team members.
The plane erupted into a brief moment of chaos. Feathers flew through the air as the soldiers found themselves holding the heavy, warm birds. They all looked completely helpless, innocent, and more than a bit stunned by the weight in their arms.
How did this chicken end up in my arms? they thought, their hands hovering tentatively over the birds. They were careful not to squeeze too hard for fear of accidentally killing such a precious creature.
The plane began to taxi toward the runway, and the automated announcement came over the speakers, telling everyone to return to their seats as takeoff was imminent. Those who had collected fallen feathers scurried back to their places.
Jing Shu smiled and winked. "See? They have found their homes. Make sure you treat them well."