Chapter Thirty-One: Revisiting the Mall

In the car, Jiang Qiyu’s fingers gently rubbed her chin as she fell into deep thought. Whiteflies and barren soil were indeed two thorny problems.

In her previous life, within the base, there had been attempts to cultivate crops, but they had all ended in failure. The reasons were simple: severe soil pollution, coupled with a lack of necessary fertilizers and pesticides, meant the crops simply could not survive.

"Zhou Yun, what kind of pesticides do you think we need?" Jiang Qiyu asked.

This scavenging mission required specialized knowledge, so Zhou Yun and Lin Xiaoxiao, both experienced in these fields, were brought along. Zhou Yun was responsible for livestock supplies, while Lin Xiaoxiao handled daily necessities and agricultural materials.

The experienced Wang Yu, Zhao Hu, and Zhang Qiang formed the vanguard, responsible for scouting and perimeter security. Li Dalin remained at the base to coordinate logistics. Ability users Shi Chao and Lu Yao were also part of the team.

"Hmm..." Zhou Yun counted on her fingers. "To deal with whiteflies, imidacloprid or acetamiprid would work. For the soil, compound fertilizers or organic fertilizers are both fine. It would be best to get some fungicides, too, to prevent crop diseases."

Jiang Qiyu nodded, a plan forming in her mind. "Alright, I understand."

Solutions existed, though they were slightly troublesome. She remembered that in the largest shopping mall in the city center, there was a massive bookstore where she might find agricultural reference books. As for the pesticides and fertilizers, the mall should have sold those as well, though it was uncertain if they could still be found now.

Along the way, the density of zombies was significantly higher than before, and they were more agile. A few evolved zombies even appeared, displaying incredible speed and astonishing strength.

After some effort, the trio finally reached the mall. The bookstore’s doors had already been pried open, and books were scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess.

"Zhou Yun, go to the bookstore and collect all books related to agriculture, especially those on pest control and soil improvement," Jiang Qiyu instructed. She turned her gaze to Wang Yu and Zhao Hu. "Wang Yu, Zhao Hu, you two are responsible for Zhou Yun’s safety; ensure she isn't attacked by zombies." She paused, scanning the group. "Everyone else, follow me. We are going to find pesticides and fertilizers." Jiang Qiyu emphasized, "Remember, our target this time is pesticides, fertilizers, and any supplies useful to the base. Do not waste time on anything else."

This time, everyone skillfully grabbed their weapons as Jiang Qiyu observed the surroundings and issued commands.

A biting cold wind blew in through the broken windows, brushing against her cheeks. Jiang Qiyu couldn't help but shiver, her thoughts drifting to the approaching winter. Most people in the base had thin clothing. She reached up to pull her collar shut and her gaze fell on Lin Xiaoxiao. "Xiaoxiao," Jiang Qiyu called out, her tone tinged with concern. "Winter is coming, and many people in the base don't have thick clothes. While you search for supplies in the mall, keep an eye out for warm items like yarn, sweaters, and cotton-padded jackets. Also, if you see any books or instructions on knitting, collect those as well."

As the group moved, they passed the pet section. Jiang Qiyu remembered a certain fluffy creature and spent three minutes scavenging some top-tier cat canned food.

They descended through the floors.

In the center of the mall’s ground floor, several abandoned vehicles were parked haphazardly. The bodies were rusted, and the windows shattered; it was clear they had been through a fierce battle. A faint, sickening scent of blood hung in the air.

Jiang Qiyu and the others approached cautiously, with Wang Yu and Zhao Hu in the lead, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

"It seems someone has been here," Wang Yu said, pointing at the messy footprints on the ground.

"Looks like quite a few people," Zhao Hu added, his eyes falling on a pile of ash nearby. "They built a fire here."

Jiang Qiyu nodded, a sense of caution rising within her. Besides their base, there were other survivors nearby, and it appeared their numbers were not small.

The group continued deeper into the mall, discovering that the situation inside was worse than imagined. The shelves had been looted, and the floor was littered with debris—a complete mess.

Suddenly, a clamor of footsteps echoed from a distance, mixed with shouting.

"Someone's here!" Zhang Qiang whispered.

Jiang Qiyu and the others immediately hid behind a row of shelves, holding their breath and listening intently to the commotion outside.

The footsteps drew closer, and soon, a group of people appeared in their line of sight. They were ragged and gaunt, wielding various makeshift weapons, looking fierce and malicious.

"Boss, it doesn't look like anyone is here," a tall, thin man said.

"Impossible! I clearly saw someone go in!" a burly man shouted, clutching a machete tightly.

"Could they be hiding?" another man suggested.

"Search! Don't leave a single corner unchecked!" the burly man ordered.

Jiang Qiyu and the others inwardly cursed; it seemed they couldn't avoid a confrontation.

"What do we do?" Zhou Yun whispered, her face pale with panic.

Jiang Qiyu thought for a moment and said, "Wait until they get closer, then we act."

Soon, the group searched their way to the shelves where Jiang Qiyu’s group was hiding.

"Come out!" the burly man roared. "I know you're hiding in there!"

Jiang Qiyu and her group ignored him, remaining hidden.

"If you won't drink the toast, you'll drink the forfeit!" The burly man bellowed and raised his machete to hack at the shelves.

*Bang!*

A gunshot rang out. The burly man’s machete dropped to the ground as he clutched his bleeding arm, screaming in agony.

Jiang Qiyu and her group charged out from behind the shelves and engaged in a fierce fight with the others. Although Jiang Qiyu's group was well-equipped, the opposition had the advantage of numbers, leading to a temporary stalemate.

Just then, a strange, guttural roar echoed from the depths of the mall.

"What's going on?" the burly man asked, clutching his arm.

"It sounds like... zombies!" a man said in terror.

The roaring grew closer, and soon, a swarm of zombies appeared in their view.

"Oh no! It's a horde!" a man shrieked.

"Run!" the burly man shouted, taking the lead as he bolted toward the mall entrance.

The others followed suit, fleeing in chaos. Jiang Qiyu and her team took the opportunity to retreat and left the mall.

They drove away with the last batch of scavenged supplies. Clearly, the mall was no longer safe.

Back at the base, Jiang Qiyu handed the books to Sun Fang and Zhou Yun, instructing them to organize lessons. She also gave them the pesticides and fertilizers, explaining their usage and precautions.

The people in the base quickly threw themselves into learning and labor. Some learned to knit sweaters, others studied how to use the agricultural supplies, and some began organizing the warehouse to prepare for the coming winter.

When the first batch of small tomatoes grown by the base ripened, Jiang Qiyu held a celebration. The bright red tomatoes, emitting an alluring fragrance, felt exceptionally precious in the apocalypse.

The base now had 33 people. The livestock group, led by Zhou Yun, was responsible for raising chickens and ducks, having already successfully hatched a batch of chicks and ducklings. The agricultural group was responsible for produce, currently focusing on small tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. The base construction group, led by Lin Xiaoxiao, handled daily maintenance and expansion.

A portion of the base's construction was complete, featuring a primary warehouse, a poultry enclosure, and a well-organized field. The once-spacious villa now felt slightly crowded.

After the celebration, Jiang Qiyu stood on the rooftop, observing the surrounding buildings through binoculars. She thought it was time to expand.

She took out the villa reclamation plan she had made earlier and studied it carefully. Just then, Qiuqiu walked over with an elegant gait and rubbed against her leg.

Jiang Qiyu bent down to pick up Qiuqiu, fed it a piece of cat food, and asked with a smile, "Qiuqiu, shall we pick a villa?"

Qiuqiu licked its paw, appearing to think the question over seriously, and then... bit Jiang Qiyu on the face.