Film and Television World Life Record

"Really?"

Jiang Hui said happily, "Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, look at the news. This weather forecast is probably on the front page now."

Li Mu said, "This is good news."

Jiang Hui sighed, "If only the temperature could stay within this range and not rise any further."

Her words made Li Mu think of a possibility, and he said, "It's not impossible that the temperature will stop rising."

Jiang Hui asked in surprise, "Why?"

Li Mu said, "Don't you think that seasonal changes still affect the temperature?"

Jiang Hui suddenly realized: "Yes! According to past practice, winter has already arrived, and the temperature has begun to drop significantly. However, the weather is so hot, the sun is scorching, and the ground is sweltering, that no one would associate it with winter."

Jiang Hui pondered for a while and largely agreed with Li Mu's point of view: "This is very likely the reason. The arrival of winter has had a certain impact on the temperature."

With a delighted expression, he said, "So, the weather really has gotten colder."

Li Mu said, "It's very likely. However, according to this pattern, the temperature will only stay in the 50s this winter at most. In the other seasons, especially summer, the temperature will still reach the 60s or even higher."

Jiang Hui said, "It's good that the temperature can drop for a while. As for the other seasons, let's take it one step at a time. If we can get through this year, we might have more experience next year, and things might be even better. Don't you think so?"

Li Mu paused for a moment, then did not answer.

Jiang Hui asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Am I wrong? We've learned from this year's experience, and as long as the temperature doesn't continue to rise next year, the situation will definitely be better than this year."

Li Mu said softly, "What you said makes sense. In terms of the situation, with this year's experience, next year will be even better."

At this point, he emphasized, "But there's an even more important factor that's been overlooked!"

Jiang Hui asked, "What factors?"

Li Mu said, "This past year, with both high temperatures and floods, agricultural production has been impossible, and most of the crops have failed..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Hui suddenly widened her eyes: "You mean food, a food shortage..."

Li Mu nodded: "Food is the most important thing for the people, and this year's harvest was basically a total loss. Thanks to our relatively solid resources, the government hasn't had to worry about food, but what about the future..."

Jiang Hui said in a low voice, "If the harvest fails and the reserves are used up, then... there will be no more food!"

Then, looking at Li Mu, he asked, "Does that mean... humanity still has hope next year?"

Li Mu patted her hand, pulled her into his arms, and whispered, "Don't worry too much. Look at how much supplies and food were transported to the west last year, and how many people were relocated there. Large grain warehouses and supply bases have also been built on some high-altitude mountains. Next year, there shouldn't be a large-scale food shortage."

Jiang Hui's mood improved somewhat: "What about next year? If the temperature stays this high, we won't be able to grow any crops. What will we do then?"

Li Mu said, "Actually, the authorities have been making preparations for a long time. You can see from the news reports that the authorities have sent out a large number of fishing teams to fish in various places. Also, so many dead fish floating at sea have been collected. It is estimated that they will be made into dried fish and salted fish that can be preserved for a long time."

Jiang Hui said, "I've also seen news like this. It's said that dead fish in rivers and lakes on land are also collected by officials."

Li Mu nodded: "Yes! The authorities have actually been considering everyone's food problem."

"You should have heard of those mega-projects launched last year. Apart from the cave dwelling project that resettled hundreds of millions of people, the others were all aimed at solving the food problem."

"For example, super vegetable greenhouses that are resistant to high temperatures and can regulate the temperature inside have already blossomed in many high-altitude areas; underground cultivation technology, indoor soilless cultivation technology... have all started a large number of construction projects."

Jiang Hui nodded: "But compared to the entire population of the country, this is still a drop in the ocean."

Li Mu said, "Then we can only wait and see how technology advances. It is said that the government has already mobilized a large number of top scientists to work with several major technological powers to select and cultivate various plants that are resistant to high temperatures and floods. As long as they can be cultivated and planted on a large scale, the problem of food will be solved."

Jiang Hui sighed: "I hope so!"

Seeing her worried expression, he tightened his grip on her arm and comforted her, "Don't worry, there's always a way out. Human civilization has developed to this point; it's not that fragile."

"Besides, I'm here for you! I won't let you suffer any injustice."

Jiang Hui nodded, then turned around and hugged Li Mu, nestling in his arms.

After having dinner together and reading for a while, Li Mu checked the time and said, "Let's rest!"

Jiang Hui looked around and whispered, "Where's Qing Ning?"

Li Mu said, "What, you still want to be with her?"

Jiang Hui blushed slightly and pinched Li Mu: "You bad boy..."

Li Mu picked her up and carried her towards the bedroom.

"Then I'll show you how bad it can be!"

……

Time flies, and another year has passed. In order to cope with the food crisis, the government has clearly restricted the supply of food on the market, and at present, it can only maintain a simple subsistence.

In March, the temperature did indeed begin to rise, and high temperatures of 57 or 58 degrees Celsius became the norm.

The food problem has become even more prominent, leaving the city with no other choice but to implement fixed food quotas for each city in order to cope with the crisis.

After another heavy rain, the weather returned to cool and refreshing, and some shopping malls actually reopened. However, they were generally located on the fifth floor or above, selling clothes, electronic products, and various industrial goods. After all, the high temperatures have the greatest impact on agriculture, but not so much on industrial production. Many electronic products are actually quite cheap.

Despite suffering heavy losses and undergoing bankruptcy reorganization, many of China's major private enterprises have managed to survive.

Li Mu browsed around and found that most of the products for sale were industrial electronic products... As for daily necessities, the only items available for open supply were table salt and industrially synthesized foods...

Li Mu took a piece of industrially synthesized food and tasted it. The taste was a bit strange, after all, it was not naturally grown, but synthesized using industrial methods.

According to the instructions, this industrially synthesized food, as long as you don't eat too much of it and use it as a staple food, won't cause much harm to your health. Of course, it doesn't have much nutritional value either; its biggest advantage is that it can fill your stomach, and it's not cheap.

Even so, there were still many people buying, forming long queues. Seeing everyone looking pale and as if they were afraid of not being able to buy anything, Li Mu felt a little uncomfortable.

Back at the building, after discussing it with Wang Qian for a while, they finally decided to donate 300,000 tons of grain and various supplies to the city. They couldn't take care of other places for the time being, nor did they have the capacity to do so. Ensuring the local people wouldn't go hungry and maintaining good order was a good thing.

The city was naturally delighted to receive such a large donation. Three hundred thousand tons, totaling six hundred million jin, plus a large amount of other supplies, finally gave them a much-needed reprieve.

At Li Mu's request, this matter was not publicized. The city also didn't want too much attention, lest it attract envy and jealousy from other cities and lead to a reduction in future quotas.

Thinking about the unfinished construction site, there are still so many supplies, many of which have short shelf lives. This includes the remaining million-plus tons of grain, all stored loose without any insect-proofing, moisture-proofing, or anti-corrosion packaging. If left too long, a large portion will spoil and must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Donating it all is unrealistic, considering the large amount of outstanding bank loans!

Although it's a post-apocalyptic world with high temperatures, it's different from what people imagine. Order has been maintained, and money is still money, only prices have risen considerably.

Of course, bank loans also need to be repaid.

After discussing it with Wang Qian, we decided that the supplies stored in the Muwu Building, whether dehydrated rice, vacuum-packed wheat and rice, or various canned goods, ham, cured meat, vacuum-packed vegetables, red wine, or white wine that can be stored for a long time, can all be preserved without spoiling. We don't need to deal with these; we can continue to stockpile them.

With these supplies, we could eat them for several lifetimes and wouldn't have to worry about going hungry in the future.

The supplies and food stored on the rooftops of eight unfinished buildings in the economic development zone are on a larger scale, and many of them have a short shelf life, so it would be better to dispose of them as soon as possible.

Moreover, with such a large amount of supplies, it would be rather conspicuous to keep them in this situation. It's better to release them; the supplies on the Muwu Building are sufficient.

After discussing it with Wang Qian for a long time, we concluded that selling in large quantities directly was not a good idea, especially for raw materials like grain. If the selling price was too high, people would say we were hoarding rare goods. If the selling price was too low, a large number of secondary dealers would swarm us, buying grain from us at low prices and reselling it elsewhere at higher prices, leaving us with a huge loss.

Compared to selling grain directly, where selling too high or too low is problematic, processing it into an edible finished product eliminates this worry.

For example, processing grains directly into compressed biscuits that can be stored for a long time turns them into a commodity. You can create your own brand, and even if you sell them at a higher price, no one will say anything.

They acted immediately. Despite the difficult situation, the government still maintained a tolerant attitude towards private enterprises, after all, they could solve a large number of jobs, and all kinds of products needed to be produced by private enterprises.

For example, several leading courier companies had previously shrunk drastically and nearly went bankrupt, with only a few areas still able to operate normally. Later, they absorbed a large amount of capital and began to re-establish their nodes and expand their operations to major cities across the country.

It's impossible to return to the state before the disaster, but it's possible to return to the scale of e-commerce more than a decade ago, before its massive boom.

The government naturally supports companies that can solve many employment and livelihood issues.

Chapter 481 The Panic Buying of Compressed Biscuits

The food processing plant was established very quickly, with the city giving it the green light all the way. The brand that was deregistered here had just been approved, and the machines there had already arrived.

Li Mu still placed the production plant in the unfinished building in the economic development zone.

Three hundred thousand tons of food and supplies were donated, and coincidentally, one building was emptied out. After renovation, starting from the fifth floor, apart from some areas designated for employee benefits such as dormitories, canteens, gyms, and libraries, the remaining twelve floors were used as a food processing plant.

The recruitment of workers went smoothly, and the benefits were very good. With the assistance of the city, everything was done quickly and before the next heavy rain arrived.

Then, Li Mu kept a few hundred workers for training and debugging the machines, and gave the rest of them a holiday.

There was no other way; with the heavy rain, all but a few thermal power plants that had been moved to higher ground to generate electricity had to be shut down and waterproofed to avoid the need for lengthy repairs after flooding.

Without an external power supply, generators alone are insufficient. The only option is to leave a few hundred people to train and debug the machinery. Once the rain stops, the floodwaters recede, and the power plant resumes operation, then production can resume.

Li Mu estimated that as long as the power system is not completely upgraded and cannot provide normal power supply, this will continue in the future. Work will be suspended for a period of time, then a break will be given when heavy rains occur.

……

The rain ended quickly, and the floodwaters receded much faster than before. Several new rivers, experiencing major floods every two to three months, have seen their riverbeds become increasingly deeper and wider, with ever-increasing flow rates.

The same floodwater can be drained in a shorter time.

In May, the factory officially started production, manufacturing various flavors of compressed biscuits, which are currently one of the most popular items. They are not only convenient to carry and have generous portions, but also have a very long shelf life.

In this apocalyptic world, food with a longer shelf life is something everyone desires, whether for storage or emergency use…

After taking stock of the current supplies, he had nearly 10 billion yuan in funds at his disposal for the third procurement, which was also the largest procurement to date.

The third round of procurement involved grain, specifically 500,000 tons of wheat, 300,000 tons of rice, 300,000 tons of corn, 100,000 tons of soybeans, and 50,000 tons of peanuts…

There are also some grains and cereals.

For example, they purchased 30,000 tons of mung beans in one go; 20,000 tons of barley; 20,000 tons of oats; 5,000 tons of lotus seeds; 3,000 tons of lilies; 10,000 tons of dried dates; 10,000 tons of sesame seeds; and 10,000 tons of chestnuts…

All of these combined amount to over 100,000 tons.

Regarding meat, he purchased over 10,000 tons of smoked meat, cured meat, ham, and more.