Chapter 6 Hoarding Fruit Trees And Fishes

Along with the food supplies, Theresa's latest order of seeds had also arrived. She had placed an order for a variety of common crop seeds and saplings. Most vegetable seeds were straightforward to plant and cultivate, but for certain crops like sweet potatoes, she needed to purchase the actual seedlings. The seeds were remarkably inexpensive, and even the sweet potato seedlings were a bargain. After making a bulk purchase from a prominent seed store, she casually inquired about additional seedlings. To her surprise, the shop owner generously gifted her a few extras. As for fruit trees, it was far more practical to buy saplings that were already mature, rather than starting from seed. Growing fruit trees from scratch could be a slow and labor-intensive process, so opting for ten-year-old saplings was not only more convenient but also cost-effective. For instance, a top-tier honey apple sapling, already ten years old, only costs around seventy to eighty. Theresa made a substantial investment in a variety of ten-year-old tree saplings. She purchased an assortment of fruit trees, including apple, fig, jujube, pear, mulberry, cherry, orange, plum, walnut, chestnut, hazelnut, peach, pomegranate, and persimmon, ordering three of each species. Her plan was to create a sustainable fruit supply year-round, ensuring that different fruits would be available with each season. In total, she secured over a hundred trees for a mere six thousand. The area needed to accommodate them was modest—less than half an acre, which was conveniently situated on the right side of her bunker. On the left side, she constructed high-quality plastic greenhouses and racks, where she sowed an array of vegetable seeds, including cabbages, cucumbers, eggplants, carrots, tomatoes, cabbages, scallions, kale, and green beans. While many vegetables can be easily grown from seedlings, Theresa opted to start from scratch from seeds. She recognized that buying seedlings only provided a one-time harvest, and the following year's crops might suffer without good-quality seedlings. Therefore, she decided to take matters into her own hands and grow her own seedlings from scratch. For potatoes, all she needed were the tubers to plant. Thankfully, her land was of exceptional quality, ensuring that once the seeds were in the ground, they would thrive without requiring much attention from her. In a mere ten days, she had transformed her bunker entirely. Both the interior and exterior were completely revamped, giving the entire place a fresh new look. As the days ticked by, there were only three days left until the impending apocalypse, and she began to consider what else she might need. She envisioned a life of self-sufficiency in this secluded haven, perhaps raising chickens, ducks, and fishes to round out her setup! While her stash of meal packs would keep her fed, nothing could compare to the satisfaction of fresh food. After days of relying on packaged meals, she realized something vital was missing from her diet. By raising her own livestock, she could ensure a steady supply of fresh meat whenever she wanted! With this thought in mind, she wasted no time and set out for the farmer's market. As usual, she left Summer at the warehouse to oversee the incoming supplies. It had been several days since she last ventured into the city, and today, as she entered, she immediately sensed that something was off. The atmosphere felt tense, and everyone around her wore masks, their faces marked with worry. "Hey, young lady, what can I get for you? I'm about to pack up and head home once I sell these," a vendor called out. Theresa had stopped at a stall that had a variety of live chickens and ducks. She took a quick look at the birds—both roosters and hens, as well as ducks—each one appeared to be in good condition. "How about cutting me a deal? I'll take everything off your hands!" she said. The vendor's eyes widened with excitement. "You want all of them?" Theresa nodded. "Alright then, I'll sell them to you for ten per pound! Normally, I charge fifteen for the chickens and eleven for the ducks!" She agreed. "Sounds good!" Theresa ended up purchasing a total of twenty-six chickens and ducks, each weighing between six to seven pounds. The entire lot set her back just under two thousand. Once she arranged for the vendor to deliver the poultry to her warehouse, she proceeded with her shopping. As she wandered through the market, her attention was drawn to a stall brimming with fresh fishes. A spark of inspiration hit her. Since her bunker had a water source, she could easily create a small pond for them. Without hesitation, she bought more than thirty fishes from the vendor, including carp, crucian carp, grass carp, and over forty pounds of fresh shrimp. She had a particular fondness for shrimp—whether stir-fried, sautéed, or served with scrambled eggs, she enjoyed them all. To ensure everything was properly cared for, she spent a little more to have plastic tanks and oxygenators to keep the fishes healthy. Everything was sent to her warehouse, and the total cost for the fishes and shrimp came to over three thousand. Her shopping didn't stop there! While it was impossible to find live pigs or cows, she was resourceful enough to make use of her refrigerated warehouse and domain to make up for the shortage! She made an immediate purchase of one thousand pounds of pork and five hundred pounds of beef from a local butcher stall. Recognizing the bulk of her purchase, she urged the vendor to process the order quickly, offering extra payment to ensure it would be delivered directly from the slaughterhouse to her warehouse the same day. The cost was steep, totaling over forty thousand, but she still had more than 1.6 million remaining in her budget. After circling the market for a while, she had hoped to buy some additional fresh goods. However, she soon realized that many of the stalls had already closed for the day. Just as she was about to leave, her eyes caught a small stall tucked away in a corner that was also preparing to close. To her surprise, the vendor was selling live baby goats. Without a second thought, she immediately purchased the last two for 1,500! The vendor explained that the goats had originally been bred for milk production, but due to poor market conditions, most of the herd had been sold, leaving only these two young ones. She was fortunate to buy them before they were gone. "Miss, it's best you finish up and head home quickly!" the vendor urged after taking her payment. "The flu's been spreading, and it's best to avoid being out." Theresa gave a small nod in acknowledgment. She was well aware of the situation, always making sure to wear a top-tier medical mask for protection when she ventured out. However, the flu wasn't the root cause of the zombie virus. What had actually happened was that the flu, by spreading so widely, had lowered people's immune defenses. When the zombie virus made its appearance, it found easy targets in those with weakened systems, turning them into zombies. This led to the misconception that the flu was the real threat! It had taken Theresa years of survival in the apocalypse to piece together these facts. However, the true source of the zombie virus remained an enigma. There were rumors that the virus was some sort of twisted game devised by the gods, as it had resulted in drastic changes within humanity! She made sure to have the vendor drop everything off at her warehouse before she left the farmer's market, determined not to linger any longer. With the impending virus outbreak just days away, she planned to stay inside for the remainder of the time. But before she retreated, she was resolute about spending the last of her funds. There was no way I was going to leave so much unspent! Seeking a secluded area away from prying eyes and cameras, she tucked the two baby goats into her domain and then drove off, with Summer in tow. Along the way, she stopped at a farm supply store, where she picked up a full set of essential tools and added twenty iron shovels to her haul, ensuring she was fully prepared! Many are unaware that the iron shovel, among all farming tools, was a surprisingly formidable weapon! In the days of warfare, when weapons were scarce, it was common for people to grab whatever they could find, and the iron shovel was often the go-to choice. In rural skirmishes, brandishing an iron shovel meant things were about to get serious! In modern military equipment, the highly effective military spade is a direct upgrade from the humble shovel. In the post-apocalyptic world, cold weapons have proven far more reliable than firearms. Theresa wisely prepared by hoarding a large number of iron shovels, ensuring she had more than enough for whatever came next. She also picked up a few baseball bats, knowing their solid impact could pack a punch when needed.