Nevertheless, its existence still holds significant meaning.
It represents Su Wu's ability to double food production and quickly acquire various plant materials when necessary.
"Now our little grove can grow quickly."
Chen Yue sat in front of the experimental table, resting her chin on one hand.
With eager eyes, she stared unblinkingly at the reagent protected by a transparent constant-temperature box.
It was as if she could see a dense forest sprawling before her.
That adorable expression made Su Wu unable to resist the urge to pinch her cheek.
After discreetly capturing this moment, Su Wu directed Chen Yue, who was five floors underground in the biological laboratory, to shift her focus to another research achievement.
A few sprouted rice plants.
Compared to the first-generation plant growth agents, these high-yield rice seeds were even more significant for Su Wu's shelter.
They represented everlasting abundance and prosperity.
"Since the tests have shown no issues, let's try planting a portion in the hydroponic farm on the first underground level."
"And let's take this opportunity to celebrate."
"Tomorrow, everyone gets a day off."
Although they had developed rice seeds, Su Wu currently had no extra space to promote them on a large scale.
Outside the core area of the farmhouse courtyard, everything had been converted into collective dormitories and large construction sites.
These were meant to accommodate the ever-growing workforce, which had surpassed a million.
The celebration was not merely Su Wu's whim.
It stemmed from a report and suggestion submitted by artificial intelligence.
For a long time, constrained by the narrow underground space, scarce food, and lack of mental entertainment, along with nearly ceaseless labor,
even though Su Wu tried to keep everyone's work hours around eight per day through shifts,
it was inevitable that many negative emotions had accumulated in people's hearts.
At this moment, a nationwide festive event was needed to alleviate the impact of these negative feelings.
As Su Wu made the decision, changes began to take place immediately, including in the farmhouse courtyard and all affiliated shelters.
Some of the weaker laborers, including women and children, were mobilized.
Carrying various decorations distributed to them, they adorned the streets, corridors, squares, and other public spaces.
Colorful ribbons, artificial flowers, vibrant balloons, and tinkling wind chimes gradually filled every corner visible to the shelter's residents.
A strong festive atmosphere emerged.
Meanwhile, some workers in the food factory received a large quantity of high-quality ingredients transported from the warehouse.
Various pre-apocalypse rice, flour, frozen meats from pigs, cows, and sheep, seafood products, and even canned fruits piled up like small mountains.
They were allowed to prepare these under the guidance of several experienced chefs.
As for the rest of the people,
although they were not assigned any specific tasks,
they all heard the artificial intelligence's first greeting beyond work assignments.
They learned that to celebrate the successful development of rice seeds, everyone would have a day off tomorrow and receive a free food gift.
As a result, a thunderous cheer erupted for the first time in the underground shelters of Jianghe City.
This cheer quickly spread to the Golden Lion Shelter in Tumen City, the large copper mine shelter in Shanghe City, and the locations of twelve communication signal towers.
Even the communication signal tower located 800 kilometers away by the sea would receive the festival-exclusive delicacies from Jianghe City tomorrow via Azure Sky-Class Transport Drones.
On the morning of the second day,
Jianghe City Television broadcasted various celebration activities from the shelters.
This small joy shared by millions was transmitted to the outside world.
At least forty to fifty million people,
hiding in their own narrow or desolate shelters, eating tasteless cold rations, watched the celebrations on television.
They gazed at the brightly lit squares filled with thousands of people, their expressions complex and inscrutable.
However, whether it was these ordinary television viewers or the residents of the affiliated shelters under Su Wu's rule present at the festive scene,
most did not care much about the reason for the celebration—the successful development of rice seeds.
Many even thought it was just a convenient excuse.
Only a few informed individuals understood that this was, in fact, a piece of news capable of completely overturning their previous perceptions of Jianghe City, like a thunderclap.
In the south of Jianghe City,
over 800 kilometers away,
in a bustling underground city,
in a grand, cathedral-like conference hall illuminated by bright lights,
dozens of men and women of various ages, all with extraordinary identities, gathered to watch the television broadcast from Jianghe City.
After a long while,
the chairman of Changming City, Song Hong, who was presiding over the meeting, scanned the many city council members present.
Clearing his throat, he asked,
"What do you all think of Jianghe City?"
There was a moment of silence in the room.
Many council members discreetly assessed each other, seemingly guessing each other's positions.
Finally, the youngest council member, Sun Jiasheng, stepped forward.
"This is a city with a high degree of order and stability."
He provided this characterization.
Order and stability.
This meant that the local ruling power had a strong centralized authority, capable of fully mobilizing every bit of strength under its control.
It was a high form of praise.
"From the footage they released, we can see that even in crowded places, there are hardly any guards maintaining order."
"We all know that once the lower-class civilians gather in sufficient numbers, some extreme behaviors will inevitably arise, whether intentionally or unintentionally."
"If there is no strong restraint, it can easily turn into chaos."
"But there, such signs are absent."
"Everyone can maintain basic restraint."
"This indicates that they have likely become accustomed to adhering to a highly strict order in their daily lives."
"And this order is relatively fair, or the penalties for violations are extremely severe."
"This is what allows them to maintain restraint even in a temporarily unmonitored environment."
"Additionally, many of them are wearing wireless earphones."
"Yet, judging by their expressions, they don't seem to be listening to music or other audio entertainment."
"I have reason to suspect that they are using artificial intelligence for auxiliary management."
"The entire city's level of intelligence is extremely high."
Sun Jiasheng's voice was clear and powerful, carrying a strong sense of persuasion.
What he said was substantial enough to prompt many council members present to reflect.
After his speech, several other council members began to speak up.
Some continued to analyze the previously broadcast television content, while others brought out exclusive intelligence.
It was evident that before this meeting,
many council members had already noticed Jianghe City, a once-remote small city, and had diligently gathered relevant information.
Through their explanations, many who were previously unaware gained a clear understanding of Jianghe City.
It was a city with top-notch artificial intelligence, precise electronic manufacturing, and abundant martial virtue.
Although none of these fields could compare in scale to a true provincial capital city,
in terms of specialization,
it would not fall short, and might even surpass provincial capital cities.
Of course, if it were just that,
Jianghe City could at most be considered a half-province capital city.
It had little to do with Changming City, which was nearly a thousand kilometers away.
But the crux of the matter lay in the news it released today.
The latest announcement declared the successful development of staple grain seeds.
This was a significant event and closely related to the future of Changming City.
"Everyone should have some understanding of the specifics."
"Their scientific research capabilities are strong, and their military power is not weak."
"We cannot treat them like ordinary cities and use force to coerce them."
"Moreover, they have already proven through action that they have the ability to stabilize and govern a population of over ten million."
"They qualify to become a super city."
"Therefore, I suggest that instead of establishing formal diplomatic relations, we propose to the alliance to invite Jianghe City to become our new partner."
Song Hong, sitting at the head of the table, looked quite serious.
Inviting a new super city to join the alliance was both important and unimportant for everyone present.
It was important because it meant they formally acknowledged that Jianghe City had the qualification to stand on equal footing with Changming City as a whole.
As individuals within Changming City, if they could not unify the will of the entire city in the future,
they would naturally be at a disadvantage when facing Jianghe City.
It was unimportant because this acknowledgment was merely nominal and cost-free.
Aside from potentially causing some individuals to lose face in the future,
it would not fundamentally affect their immediate interests.
As Song Hong, the chairman, initiated the vote,
the other 56 city council members present quietly discussed for a while before exercising their voting rights.
In favor, in favor, against—
Ultimately, the proposal was agreed upon with a ratio of 36:20.
"Then, next."
"The task of sending an envoy to Jianghe City will be entrusted to Council Member Sun Jiasheng."
Song Hong looked at the named council member with a somewhat emotional gaze, feeling as if he were witnessing history.
He knew that with this trip, there was a high probability that a new super city would gain entry into their circle of rights.
This could very well influence the entire situation in the Eastern Continent.
They needed to prepare for this in advance.
On November 21,
a massive twin-rotor helicopter slowly descended onto a temporary clearing near the Jingyuan Shelter in Jianghe City.
Sun Jiasheng, clad in Exoskeleton Armor, along with a group of staff members, boarded a snow transport vehicle that was responsible for the reception.
They entered the Jingyuan Shelter.
"I didn't expect your environment to look so simple."
"It doesn't have the aura of a superpower at all."
"It looks just like an ordinary large shelter."
Inside the shelter, Sun Jiasheng opened his visor and carefully observed the scenery along the way.
He couldn't help but exclaim.
"This is originally a large shelter."
"It just temporarily serves as the external reception center for the entire Jianghe City."
The Jianghe City personnel accompanying him felt a bit awkward upon hearing this.
It was hard to tell whether it was a mockery or a compliment.
"I apologize for my presumptuousness."
Noticing the stiff expressions of the accompanying personnel, Sun Jiasheng belatedly realized he might have misspoken.
He truly did not mean it.
It was purely because he had subconsciously regarded Jianghe City as an equal force and thought that the layout of the Jingyuan Shelter did not quite match Jianghe City's status.
But a mistake is a mistake.
He could only lower his head and apologize.
After spending a few minutes, they arrived at the conference room on the second underground level of the shelter.
Here, Sun Jiasheng met Su Wu's holographic projection.
Skipping the pleasantries, Sun Jiasheng directly extended an invitation.
"Southeast Alliance."
Su Wu repeated the name, feeling it was exceptionally unfamiliar.
"This isn't really a formal organization."
"It's just a platform for mutual communication established by several cities with populations exceeding ten million in the Southeast region after the apocalypse."
"There are not too many rights and obligations among them."
Sun Jiasheng explained.
Although he seemed inconspicuous in the Changming City council,
he was nonetheless one of the top figures in a super city with a population of tens of millions.
Many secret messages were no longer secrets to him.
Thus, he was quite knowledgeable about the Southeast Alliance.
"In that case."
"Of course, we can."
Su Wu instantly understood that this was essentially a chat group.
In essence,
it was similar to the private groups he had previously joined in Jianghe City.
The only difference was the identities of the group members, all of whom were from the upper echelons of super cities.
Su Wu did not reject such matters.
Even if no concrete results came from the discussions,
the information revealed during the exchange, which only those at their level would know, was worth the trip.
"Additionally, we came here this time."
"We hope to procure a batch of rice seeds."
"The original seeds you developed."
"They can be considered the savior of our Eastern Continent."
In this world, staple grain seeds were basically monopolized by several agricultural companies located in North America, the federal capital.
In peacetime, it was fine; they could buy them whenever they wanted.
After entering the apocalypse, intercontinental transport routes were almost entirely cut off.
The difficulty of purchasing seeds had increased exponentially.
However, while it sounded exaggerated,
staple grain seeds were not essential for Sun Jiasheng and the others.
Without the original seeds, it merely meant that yields would gradually decrease.
At most, it would lower the dietary standards of originally middle-class families by a few levels.
It would not affect someone like Sun Jiasheng, who stood at the pinnacle of power.
Nor would it starve the lower-class people who could not afford staple grains.
(End of Chapter)