After Apocalypse, I Got Rich With Superpower

Chapter 61: Chapter 59 Hail

Chapter 61: Chapter 59 Hail

This was the last season of winter wheat planted after autumn, and the day of harvest had finally arrived. The base feared unforeseen complications and dispatched some temporary superpower users with strength abilities for a speedy harvest, bearing the cost themselves.

Only Li Pan’s farm received such treatment, other farms had to pay for their own labor, and it was difficult to hire help at this time, as there was a severe shortage of workers and the asking prices had risen by ten percent.

But the Patrol Team, being brothers, did not raise their prices, and debts could be accrued in lieu of payment. The personnel dispatched by the base were paid for by them without raising costs. People were willing to work, and this helped Li Pan save a considerable amount of expenses.

The May rainy season was imminently approaching, so everyone frantically rushed the harvest. If they didn’t hurry, the rain would flood the crops, and a year’s hard work would be wasted.

The wheat was dried as it was harvested; once completely gathered, it was sent straight back to the base to be processed by large machinery into bagged flour.

They also harvested some corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and the like, and a batch of vegetables that were mature, picking them early and delivering them to the base—these were the first fresh vegetables of the spring.

Every day, vehicles specialized in traveling to and from the farm, and one could also call to schedule a pickup. Mobile phones allowed for direct order swiping, quick and efficient.

Batch after batch of grains, aside from being sent to the Farmer’s Market, went straight back to the base.

There were mature Medicinal Materials as well, and Li Pan let Gao Wenbin take a small portion back, including ginseng that had been ripened using superpowers. As it absorbed ample amounts of superpower throughout its growth, both the medicinal potency and age of the ginseng increased, a task suited for high-level superpower users.

These required testing before they could be authenticated and sold externally.

The soy sauce made from last year’s soybeans was also ready, and it looked pretty good, with a thin layer of oil floating on top, no wonder it’s called soy sauce, hence the lasting use of “oil” rather than “water” in its name.

Last year’s soybean harvest was plentiful; most of it was used for making soy sauce and miso, with a smaller portion kept for personal consumption and to feed livestock.

This soy sauce and miso, along with watermelon jam and fruit preserves, were also taken to the store at the trade market to sell. Breadfruit, vegetables, and Medicinal Materials like honeysuckle were all marketable, along with various miscellaneous items such as yarn, backpack baskets, and the like which, if the family had surplus, were sold off.

Believe it or not, from time to time, people came to buy them. Fresh vegetables attracted many buyers, and quite a few residents from the base came to shop here, where prices were a few cents cheaper than at the base, and bargaining was possible with large quantities.

She sold last year’s unsold cotton as well, and this year’s cotton harvest could be used to make new items. There were also plenty of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and taro on sale for low prices.

At the moment, the number of customers was not too high, and the turnover was not substantial, but every day there were purchasers, and some even came specifically to wholesale vegetables and fruits.

“Brother, I’m thinking of turning one of the shops into a roasted meats and marinated delicacies outlet. It would be a waste to leave it empty. We’ve got the raw materials, chickens, ducks, geese, cows, sheep—everything needed to do it ourselves,”

“That’s true. Doing it ourselves could earn us extra money. We work for you, and every month you spend a considerable sum on labor costs alone. The pressure is huge on Pan’er,”

Jiao Ming and the others realized this after doing their accounting. Since their arrival, they had never had to spend a penny, as everything they needed was provided.

“Who would be suitable for the job? I don’t have the time,”

Xue Dong had thought the same initially—that acquiring one more shop would mean one more source of income.

“Making marinated meat isn’t too hard, but we do need to learn how to do the roasting. I’m thinking of having one adult and one child work on it,”

Liu Qian pondered before suggesting.

“I like working on the farm, and I can’t cook,”

Cui Yanjun was the first to declare.

“I can’t either, don’t look at me,”

“How about Jianzhong does it? You go to the base to learn first, then come back and teach Sun Wenwen. She’s of the Water Element, and you won’t even have to pay for the water,”

After much thought, Xue Dong determined that Jianzhong was the only one among the current options who could cook.

“Alright, I’ll go learn how to make roasted and marinated meats. I remember the head chef knows how—they used to run a shop back home,”

Qin Jianzhong considered and agreed.

“Good, you go learn first. If you don’t like it, I’ll hire someone else, but we need to acquire the skill. Otherwise, if the chef makes a wrong move, we’d be at a disadvantage,”

“Wenwen, come with me to the base to learn,”

“Fine.”

“Zhengfei, you should go and learn too, and see who has the talent. Wenwen, you can’t fall behind in accounting, you still need to learn.”

“I remember, I can’t forget.”

Wenwen nodded obediently.

“Moreover, both farms should stick to their roles, gradually clarifying everyone’s responsibilities to manage the farms better in the future. We can’t just muddle through everything. We’ll need to hire more people later on, like for deep processing and such. I plan to have Pan’er specifically responsible for growing medicinal materials and Spirit Plants, as these can be more profitable to support the farm. Zhang Qi and Xie Ling, you two need to work hard to improve your superpowers and learn more skills, and not rely entirely on Sister Pan’er.”

“Okay.”

“Brother Cui, you’ll take over from Jianzhong and get the breeding areas of both farms up and running. Zhang Yu, you’re in charge of the accounts for both farms, keeping them separate for easy comparison.”

“Okay.”

“Shi Lei and Jiao Ming will be responsible for the agricultural planning and harvesting at No.7 Farm, including the addition of other crops. Liu Qian will look after the management and defense of No.7 Farm.”

“No problem.”

Everyone nodded.

“I, along with the children and Pan’er, will take care of No. 8 Farm as well as the deep processing of medicinal materials.”

Xue Dong stroked his chin and thought, “We need a proper chef to take over the cooking. Otherwise, we’re always short two people for work.”

“Let’s hold off on that for now. It’s not good to overextend. Let’s at least get through this year, recoup the farm’s initial costs, then we can think about the rest. Once we have profits in hand, it’s not too late to start other projects.”

Jiao Ming, being older than the rest, advised them to proceed with caution.

“Alright, we’ll follow your advice.”

For now, that was the plan.

The rainy season arrived on May 8th. It started with a light drizzle, followed by heavy rainfall. Li Pan, Zhang Qi, and Xie Ling, the three Wood Power Users, had to brave the elements daily to check on the crops, fearful of any problems. Vegetable sheds were erected, and the drainage ditches had to be inspected and cleaned daily.

After ten days of rain, which stopped for one day, they thought it was over, but then the hail began, and this really worried Li Pan.

Hail started falling at night, and for a moment, Li Pan activated the Barrier, protecting both farms, but the temperature dropped significantly.

Even with superpowers, they had to farm according to natural laws. Hail meant cold, and the crops began to wither right before their eyes.

Li Pan paced desperately like an ant on a hot pan, channeling superpower into the crops with little noticeable effect. Eventually, they started burning straw in the field to raise the temperature, hoping to save what they could.

She squatted in the field, holding her head, tears dripping down as she buried her face in the crook of her arm. Disaster was certain this year, and it seemed unlikely they would even recoup the costs.

The hail showed no sign of stopping, and it seemed probable that all the crops would be ruined.

The Barrier was opened at night for one hour, followed by a ten-minute rest, but the effect was minimal. The Barrier couldn’t control the weather’s warmth or cold—it was still cold.

Li Pan squatting in the field, hugging herself, silently cried. It was all over. As she watched the crops die, she felt helpless to save them.

Everyone watched Li Pan cry in the field, inhaling deeply, their chests heavy as though blocked by a boulder, making it hard to breathe—it was a sigh of helplessness, sadness, and regret, with no real solutions at hand.

The crops and seedlings in the field would crumble at the slightest touch, frozen crisp. It was beyond saving.

Xue Dong stepped forward, squatted down, and embraced her. “Pan’er, don’t be afraid. We’ll shoulder it together. No matter how many difficulties we face, we’ll get through them. If it comes to it, we’ll save what we can. For the rest, we’ll wait for the weather to warm up and replant in time. It’s still possible.”

Li Pan embraced him and suddenly burst into loud, wailing sobs.