Farming for Survival in the Apocalypse [Stockpiling]

Three years after a meteorite strike devastated Blue Star, humanity has been relegated to the bottom of a new food chain dominated by colossal, radiation-saturated mutated flora and fauna. Survival is a daily struggle, with most pre-disaster food sources rendered inedible and nighttime travel considered a death sentence. Jiang Shan, a former structural engineer, leads his family of four—his wife Ye Qingyun, son Jiang Shu, and daughter Jiang Zhi—through this hostile wilderness. They have survived in a remote tourist outpost, relying on scavenged vacuum-sealed food and their hard-won expertise, but the increasing danger of mutated creatures forces them to attempt a perilous journey to the safety of Ancheng Base.

The family’s SUV, their primary lifeline, suffers a critical fuel leak while they are still far from the base. Faced with the choice between abandoning their vehicle or risking a night trek through territory patrolled by a ton-sized wild boar, Jiang Shan decides to leave the car behind. The four of them embark on a grueling three-day hike, navigating through towering, mutated trees and overgrown weeds that blot out the sun. Their journey is fraught with constant tension, as they must remain vigilant against predators that have evolved to become far more aggressive and dangerous than before. Upon reaching the outskirts of Ancheng Base, they encounter a Sharpfang Rabbit, a creature with razor-sharp incisors and toxic venom. The family’s seamless teamwork allows them to kill the beast, but Jiang Zhi’s wrist-mounted scanner reveals that the meat is highly radioactive and inedible, save for the heart and kidneys which register as low-toxin.

Jiang Zhi possesses a unique, innate ability to sense her surroundings through a mental interface resembling a terrain instrument. She can detect hostile entities, valuable resources, and radiation levels, a gift that has been crucial to her family’s survival. However, revealing such an ability in a world where mutants are both valued and feared is dangerous. Upon entering Ancheng Base, a massive fortified city with hundred-meter-high walls, the family is struck by the stark contrast between the chaotic wilderness and the structured, albeit impoverished, society within. They learn that the base operates on a point system, with food, housing, and services all requiring payment. Meat is a luxury item, costing ninety points per pound, while low-toxin food, which can counteract radiation poisoning, is even more expensive and scarce.

The family secures temporary lodging in D District, a residential area for ordinary citizens, and immediately begins to navigate the complex social and economic landscape of the base. Jiang Shan and Jiang Shu work to retrieve their abandoned SUV, hiring Captain Luo’s exploration team for a steep fee. Meanwhile, Ye Qingyun and Jiang Zhi explore the base, gathering information and posting missing person notices for their extended family. Jiang Zhi uses her scanner to identify valuable items, such as a bone club made from mutated wild boar bone, which she acquires through a discreet transaction at the base store. She also learns that low-toxin food is in high demand, often reserved for mutants or the wealthy, while ordinary residents struggle to afford basic nutrition.

As they settle in, the Jiang family faces the harsh reality of base politics and resource scarcity. They observe the divide between mutants, who enjoy better living conditions and access to food, and ordinary humans, who are relegated to menial labor and meager rations. The family decides to keep Jiang Zhi’s abilities hidden, posing as ordinary survivors to avoid unwanted attention. They also begin to plan for a more permanent future, considering the high cost of land and the requirement for able-bodied family members to work at construction sites. The narrative follows their efforts to establish themselves in this new world, balancing the need for safety with the desire to reunite with lost relatives and improve their standing in a society where every point counts.