I became a farmer in the apocalypse.

"What's the maximum level a mutated animal can evolve to?"

Jiang Yan wasn't quite sure either.

"But I've heard that some people have seen level-five mutated animals!"

High-level mutant animals are relatively rare because there is fierce competition among mutant animals, and very few animals can live that long.

Jiang Li glanced at the piglet in her arms and pinched its ear.

"How did you, so small and weak, survive in the jaws of so many powerful mutated animals?"

Jiang Yan: "Sister, I heard that mutated animals do not harm non-mutated animals of the same species. In the eyes of mutated animals, non-mutated animals are regarded as 'clovers' because non-mutation means not yet grown up. Therefore, they not only do not harm non-mutated animals of the same species, but also protect the 'clovers' until they complete their evolution."

"The sow you killed, including this piglet, must have been well protected by other mutated pigs, which is why they grew up in the mountains. Moreover, there must be extremely strong individuals in the mutated pig herd to protect these two non-mutated pigs from being eaten by other mutated animals."

Jiang Li suddenly realized.

I never imagined animals could be so intelligent and so united with each other.

No wonder those pheasants looked so silly before; they were just too well protected.

Aren't the humans in the safe zone the same? They are also protected by high walls, by the army and evolved beings, so they only need to live in their own world, work day after day, earn points, and maintain the stability before the apocalypse, without having to experience how cruel the outside world is.

But such peace is ultimately just an illusion. Once they leave the protector's sight, they will be eaten by other groups, just like the chicken Jiang Li ate and the pig she is about to eat.

"Sis, why is the little piglet crying?" Jiang Yan asked, puzzled.

It has been crying ever since it woke up.

Moreover, its crying was so human-like that it was hard for Jiang Yan not to notice it.

Jiang Li carried the piglet to the corner of the wall, tied it with a rope, and threw some wild vegetables in front of it.

"It's okay, it'll be fine once it forgets what's sad."

After saying that, Jiang Li turned around, picked out a piece of pork from the pork she had just prepared, cut off two strips of pork belly, and said to Li Lan's family:

"Aunt Li, Uncle Ye, please stay for dinner! We're having barbecue today! Plenty to go!"

Upon hearing this, the Ye couple quickly waved their hands, "No, no! Pork is so expensive! How could we possibly freeload here?"

Many families only spare a little meat during holidays. The last time Li Lan's family ate pork was last year's Spring Festival. They exchanged a pound of meat to make dumplings and had a meaty New Year. They still remember the taste of those dumplings!

"That won't do!" Jiang Yan said firmly. "You helped slaughter a whole pig, you have to stay and eat some!"

Jiang Yan called out to Ye Tong, "There aren't enough benches here, hurry home and get some more, I'll grill some meat for you!"

"Okay!"

Ye Tong hurriedly ran home! She was afraid the barbecue would be gone if she was even a second too late!

"Hey! You little rascal!"

Jiang Li: "Aunt Li, please don't be so polite."

Aunt Li smiled and said shyly, "Thank you, Jiang girl."

Over here, Jiang Yan has already started cutting the meat.

Freshly slaughtered pigs, with their alternating layers of fat and lean meat, are perfect for roasting!

Place the chopped meat pieces into a plate.

Ye Hongjun wasn't idle either; he brought over a lot of freshly shaved bamboo sticks, sharpening one end to make it easier to skewer the meat, and shaping the other end into a horseshoe shape.

After preparing the bamboo and wooden sticks, Jiang Li, Li Lan, and Ye Qing began to skewer the meat. The skewered meat was then stacked in another iron plate.

Ye Hongjun set up a fire.

Before long, more than sixty large meat skewers were ready.

The thick branches inside the fire gradually burned into glowing red charcoal.

The skewered meat was placed at a 45-degree angle next to the fire. Li Lan went home and got a bag of steamed buns, a few cornbreads, and a bottle of barbecue seasoning.

These days, seasonings are expensive. A small bottle of chili powder can cost tens of points, and Li Lan usually doesn't have the chance to use it.

As the pork is slowly grilled over charcoal, it gradually begins to sizzle and release oil. The oil drips onto the edge of the charcoal, releasing bursts of charcoal aroma that mingles with the meat's fragrance in the air.

Sprinkle some chili powder on the grilled meat skewers.

"Huffing and puffing!"

Ye Tong kept taking bites!

"OMG! It smells so good! It smells amazing—!"

"Mom, how come I never knew meat was so delicious?"

Li Lan laughed, "We never used to eat like this!"

Food and meat in the safe zone are too precious. Even if we exchanged meat for meat before, we couldn't bear to use it for barbecue. Instead, we would add a little when stir-frying vegetables or use it to make dumplings. Just tasting a little meat was enough to satisfy us.

Eating meat like this is something I never dared to dream of before.

This meal will probably consume a month's worth of food points for an average family!

Looking at Ye Qing and Ye Tong's thin faces, and seeing the two children eating with such satisfaction, Li Lan felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

What she couldn't provide for the children, the two children received from Jiang Li.

"You should thank Sister Jiang! Most people wouldn't be willing to take out such expensive meat for you to eat!"

And then there's Ye Tong, that foodie. Jiang Li hasn't even had a few skewers yet, but he's already eaten who knows how many. He really doesn't know any better!

"Thank you, Sister Jiang!" Ye Tong said loudly.

Jiang Li chuckled, "No rush, there's more if you're still hungry. I said I'd make sure you're full today."

Ye Qing observed Jiang Li's composed demeanor; even when eating meat, such delicious food, she remained slow and methodical, neither fighting nor grabbing.

For some reason, at this moment, she vaguely felt that Jiang Li didn't seem to be from this world.

She possessed a composure unlike that of people in this world, or rather, a confidence that was different from others. There was no unease, no financial constraints, and no pettiness. It seemed that even when the whole world was struggling to put food on the table, she would not have to worry about such a simple matter.

But at the same age, she couldn't be so calm and composed in the apocalypse.

Everyone enjoyed the meat meal immensely. The night, the stars, and the barbecue made even Li Lan and Ye Jianjun feel as if this wasn't the end of the world.

……

Before going to bed, Jiang Li opened the foam insulated box for the fermented seeds and changed the water in the bowl to warm water.

Jiang Yan: "Sis, I want to go back to the safe zone tomorrow."

"What are you going to do?"

"Go back and check on my older sister." Jiang Yan said with a worried expression. "I sent her messages several days ago, but she hasn't replied. I don't know what's going on."

Jiang Li took out her phone and glanced at it.

Not only did Jiang Yan not reply to Jiang Tang's messages, but Jiang Li's messages also went unanswered.

I can't get through on the phone either.

Jiang Li put away her phone, remained silent for a moment, and said, "I'll go with you tomorrow, and I'll bring some pork for my sister too."

Tonight, the six of them ate about 5 jin (2.5 catties) of pork. In addition, she cut another jin (0.5 kg) of pork for Li Lan separately, and borrowed Li Lan's refrigerator to store the remaining 50-plus jin (25 kg) of pork.

Before going to sleep, Jiang Li lay in bed and tallied up her earnings for the day.

Wild vegetables………………2248 points

Pork...24250 points

[A rich family's young lady... 10000 points]

Total... 36498 points

[Expenditure: 0]

Balance: 36748

I have over 30,000 points, enough to buy some things.

Tomorrow I'm going to the safe zone to check out the generators and refrigerators at the electronics store.

We need a refrigerator eventually; it will make storing food in the safe house much more convenient in the future. We can't keep borrowing Li Lan's refrigerator.