Chapter 477: Commotion
After signing the lease contract, the staff member called over a colleague. "Comrade, please escort them to make the payment and collect their identity cards."
"Alright."
Before leaving, Yao Ran took out a small package from her space. Inside were a small first-aid kit, ten packs of compressed biscuits, and two bottles of mineral water.
Placing the package in the staff member's hand, Yao Ran said in a low voice, "This is for you."
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Without waiting for a response, she took Long Yu's hand and followed the other staff member to complete the payment.
Looking down at the small package, curiosity got the better of the staff member, and she opened it slightly. The moment she saw what was inside, she quickly packed it up and stuffed it into her backpack.
She then called a few more colleagues and took Xu Ruihan and others to the main hall to collect their ID cards.
Meanwhile, the other staff member led Yao Ran and Long Yu to a small storage room at the back and said, "Comrade, you can take out the food now."
Yao Ran nodded, then walked to an empty spot and took out six bags of two hundred kilograms of rice and one bag of fifty kilograms of rice.
When the staff member saw that she had given rice instead of potatoes or sweet potatoes, his eyes widened in disbelief. It had been almost two years since he last saw rice, even broken rice was a rare commodity now.
While the staff was still staring at the rice, Yao Ran turned to look at him and said, "Comrade, you can check the rice."
Hearing this, the staff member snapped out of his daze and quickly approached the bags. Opening the fifty-kilogram bag, he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the plump, white grains inside.
Grabbing a handful, he took a sniff and exclaimed in disbelief, "This—this is new rice!"
Yao Ran nodded. "Yes. This is Arborio rice. Do you accept it, or do you only take sweet potatoes and potatoes?"
Fearing that she was going to change the rice into sweet potatoes or potatoes, the staff member quickly replied, "No, we prefer rice! If you are sure about paying with this, then please come with me to the main hall to collect your ID card."
Since there was no issue with the rice, Yao Ran agreed. "Alright."
Seeing that she was serious about paying with new rice, the staff member was delighted. He smiled and gestured for Yao Ran and Long Yu to follow. "Please, this way."
With the staff member leading the way, it didn't take long for them to reach the main hall. When they reached the main hall, the spacious area was already filled with survivors.
Seeing the crowded main hall, the staff member said, "Please wait here for a moment while I get your ID card and house key."
After he left, Long Yu turned to Yao Ran and asked, "Ran Ran, why did you pay with rice instead of potatoes? I remember you have plenty of potatoes and sweet potatoes, as well as cold-resistant and heat-resistant crops in your warehouse. Won't paying with rice cause you trouble later?"
Sensing his concern, Yao Ran explained, "I do have other crops in my warehouse, but rice can be made into porridge. It can feed more people. I also have a lot of high-yield seeds in my space, and I can give it to the army if they want so that they can grow more variety of food in the future."
As she gazed at the dirty, thin, and injured survivors crowding the main hall, Yao Ran asked, "A Yu, how many people do you think can survive and make it here?"
Hearing this, Long Yu frowned slightly and replied in a heavy tone, "Less than 5% of the remaining survivors."
Yao Ran nodded. "That's right. Out of billions of people who lived before the end of the world, only a few hundred thousand will make it to this place alive."
"If we don't help them, most will die from starvation, sickness, or injuries after they come here. Besides, I can produce endless food and water. If I can give a little help, maybe a few more people will survive."
She then turned to look at Long Yu and smiled. "After meeting you and our friends, I realized that I can't live alone. Ultimately, we still need other people so that we can rebuild the world."
Listening to her words, Long Yu reached out and touched Yao Ran's hair gently. He sighed and said, "Ran Ran, you have changed. I'm really proud of you."
Hearing his praise, Yao Ran felt happy but also a little shy. She blushed slightly and mumbled, "I just hate wasting food."
Seeing her blushings, Long Yu chuckled but didn't expose her small lie. Just as they were speaking in low voices, a sudden commotion broke out nearby.
"Let me go! I'm not sick!"
Attracted by the noise, Yao Ran and Long Yu turned toward the source. They saw two soldiers restraining a man who was struggling against three individuals dressed in protective suits.
Curious, Yao Ran grabbed Long Yu's hand and pulled him forward. Long Yu sighed but still followed her into the crowd.
Standing behind the gathered survivors, Yao Ran observed the man struggling against the three men while shouting, "I'm not sick! Let me go!"
The soldiers, noticing the crowd forming around them, raised their weapons and ordered, "Step back! Don't block the way!"
At the sight of the raised weapons, the survivors quickly moved away, making room for the three men in protective suits to drag the man away.
As the group passed by Yao Ran, she noticed the large pimples covering the man's face. Combined with his tanned skin, thin body, cracked skin, bulging eye sockets, and yellowed, cloudy eyes, she instantly recognized the symptoms.
Yao Ran lowered her head and thought, 'He had likely been contaminated by seawater.'