Chapter 114

“Longfeng No. 2?” It was three in the afternoon, and everyone turned to look at the Off-site Seeds.

According to the mission details, the Off-site Seeds in question were Longfeng No. 2. A billion mu sounded exaggerated, but given the current global environment, it was actually a small task!

After reading through the report, Liu Wensheng immediately submitted it to the Longxia Team.

“Finally, some progress.” In the lab, everyone looked at the Improved Fertilizer and the latest mission with a collective sigh of relief. The tension of the past two weeks was finally easing.

Over the next two days, the farm focused its main efforts on planning around the Improved Fertilizer and the Off-site Seeds.

…

While the farm was deep in research, in Lishu City, Longbei, Sun Fengxia walked out of a pharmacy with a frustrated expression. As soon as she stepped outside, two middle-aged women with hiking backpacks approached her.

“Any luck?”

Sun Fengxia shook her head. “No.”

Sun Fengxia was fifty-seven this year, a member of the Lishu Dance Team. Since last year’s meat crisis, the team had formed a volunteer group called the Dance Help Squad. The group mainly assisted the government with volunteer tasks—keeping retirement life meaningful while staying active.

Now, with the ongoing medicine shortage, the Help Squad received a request last Sunday from a single elderly person: the senior had trouble walking and hoped the dance team could help buy some blood pressure medication. The request came with the name of the medicine and a prescription number. Seeing it was a common drug, the team readily agreed to help.

Lishu City was a fourth-tier town with ninety pharmacies. Everyone thought it would be a simple errand. But after combing through every street and alley, they found that not a single pharmacy stocked the medicine!

After Sun Fengxia finished speaking, one of the dance team members said, “I’ve got some blood pressure meds at home. Should I bring them over?”

Sun Fengxia waved her off. “You’ve got high blood pressure too. What if something happens to you?”

The average age of the dance team was fifty-eight. Most had some form of chronic issue—lower back strain, high blood pressure. They were out hunting for medicine not just for the elderly man, but also out of fear that in a few years, they themselves might die alone at home from a lack of medication.

After chatting for a bit, a middle-aged man said, “Let’s go home and rest first. We’ll check the Third Hospital this afternoon.”

Small clinics were out of stock. Large hospitals still had some reserves, but their supply chains were complex, and certain medicines required a wait.

Half an hour later, Sun Fengxia arrived at a burger shop.

“Mom!” Xu Jiaojiao was frying chicken cutlets when she saw her and called out.

“Keep frying,” Sun Fengxia motioned for her not to worry.

Xu Jiaojiao’s burger shop was located on South Lishu Road, right next to two middle schools and an elementary school. During last year’s meat crisis, business had almost collapsed. But ever since the national meat market recovered, the burger shop had been booming.

Sun Fengxia watched as Xu Jiaojiao worked non-stop from five to seven. Once the after-school rush passed, she fried a bag of fries for her.

“New secret honey glaze flavor from headquarters. Try it!”

Sun Fengxia took a bite. “Delicious.”

The two chatted as they snacked on half the bag. Xu Jiaojiao asked, “Still no luck with the medicine?”

“Nope.” Sun Fengxia updated her on the situation, then added, “Once I start going downhill in a couple years, you don’t need to run around like this…”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Xu Jiaojiao cut her off immediately.

The sudden global medicine shortage wasn’t just due to the Sandstorm—it was also because of uncertainty about the future. For instance, even though she was only twenty-seven, Xu Jiaojiao had stockpiled cold medicine and liver supplements just in case. They might expire before she ever needed them, but having them gave her peace of mind.

As they sighed and chatted, Xu Jiaojiao’s phone buzzed twice.

Community Residents Group—

“Medicine prices are rising. Stocking up on meds isn’t as good as staying healthy! Phoenix Community is organizing a morning jogging group. Anyone want to join?”

“Sign me up!”

“Count me in.”

“I work in the mornings. Is there an evening workout group?”

“I teach Pilates. I can lead evening sessions, but we’ll need a quiet square.”

…

It was dinnertime, and the community residents were all discussing fitness plans. In the 3,000-member group chat, over 300 people signed up within minutes.

Xu Jiaojiao scrolled through and spotted two familiar usernames: @DareToChallenge and @A-Lishu Luxury Used Cars.

Both had just signed up for the morning jog group. Seeing their names made Xu Jiaojiao chuckle.

@DareToChallenge was a fitness buff who regularly shared workout tips in the group and had a daily morning jog routine. @A-Lishu Luxury Used Cars often posted second-hand car listings.

Back in the summer of 3026, during one of DareToChallenge’s fitness posts, Luxury Used Cars had mocked him: “Only idiots run at 6 AM,” “All that muscle’s useless,” and so on. He was just trolling, but DareToChallenge had a short fuse, and the two ended up in a full-blown argument in the group chat. They even agreed to meet and fight in person. The squabble got so intense that concerned neighbors called the police.

In the end, just as they were about to throw punches, the police showed up and hauled them off. They both had to write self-reflections at the station. Ever since, they’d been infamous figures in the community group.

Now, not only had Luxury Used Cars signed up for the jogging team, but even the residents who had backed him before were quietly joining. With the global medicine shortage, staying fit had become the most cost-effective health insurance.

Xu Jiaojiao read for a while, then opened Long Xia News.

“[20 Must-Know Office Fitness Tips].”

“[Skip the meds! Master Hao’s Summer Wellness Secrets].”

“[Exercise and Save on Year-Round Cold Medicine Costs]…”

…

Three of the current top ten trending articles were about exercise and fitness. Those who had stocked up on medicine were feeling secure; those who hadn’t were taking better care of their health. One thing was clear—this surge in medicine prices had made countless netizens realize: being healthy is a blessing!

Just as Xu Jiaojiao was about to keep browsing, two middle school students walked in.

“Boss, got any chicken tenders?”

“Sure do.”

Xu Jiaojiao quickly put down her phone. She stayed busy until 9 PM. At 9:30, the two finally closed up and left.

As Xu Jiaojiao was about to hop on her bike, Sun Fengxia suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Jiaojiao asked, curious.

“The government just released a statement…” Sun Fengxia stared blankly at her phone screen.

Xu Jiaojiao quickly unlocked her phone.

“Longxia Academy of Sciences has developed an Improved Fertilizer for acidic soil. Land treated with this fertilizer can now grow edible plants, with peak fertility lasting up to three years…”

“Longxia plans to establish a 50-million-mu medicinal herb base in southern Longnan. By October 3030, it’s expected to ease the national shortage of essential medicines, and by May 3031, resolve Longxia’s basic supply shortages…”

“Longxia has signed Off-site Seeds export agreements with 23 equatorial countries, including Mali, Cybera, and Alasheng. The first batch of seeds will be officially shipped on May 1st.”

…

Every one of these trending headlines was a bombshell—and now, three of them had dropped at once. This was a full-on bombshell PLUS.

“Acid Rain Improved Fertilizer! Does this mean we can grow whatever we want now?”

“Cherries, bananas, dragon fruit… I just want affordable fruit again!”

“Waaah, I need fertilizer! My zucchini on the balcony wants to grow taller!”

…

The moment the news about the Improved Fertilizer dropped, the entire internet exploded.

Just last August, Longxia had developed Locust Fertilizer, which brought a burst of floral color back to the country. And now, with this new fertilizer capable of growing edible plants… it was a direct leap toward restoring the nation’s ecosystem to pre-disaster levels.

Netizens eagerly pored over the details of the Improved Fertilizer.

The estimated cost was 800 yuan per mu, with applications needed only once every three years.

Aside from the triennial application, the soil would function just like normal earth. Before the Harma Acid Rain disaster, soil was everywhere and worth next to nothing. Now, with the land on the verge of recovery, people were instantly reminded of the excitement when Longfeng No.1 was first developed.

“Does this mean we don’t have to hoard medicine anymore?” After the initial excitement, everyone’s attention turned to the second trending topic.

According to the Longxia Health Bureau, Longxia planned to build a 50-million-mu medicinal herb production base. Not only would this solve employment issues for most herb farmers, but surplus herbs would also be exported to other countries. Projections estimated the base would generate nearly 100 billion yuan in local income. Beyond that, Longxia would spare no expense in ramping up research and development of other biopharmaceuticals.

“A triple-A hand against a three-of-a-kind…” one netizen commented with mixed emotions.

People had been grumbling about rising drug prices for a while, but they also knew the global pharmaceutical supply was under immense strain. In Longxia, a box of Ganmaoling cost seventy-five yuan, but in many other countries, Ganmaoling wasn’t even available.

Now, with the successful development of Improved Fertilizer—though not yet in widespread use—people could already envision a future where plant-based medicines were no longer in short supply…

“This is amazing!” Xu Jiaojiao wasn’t sick or in need of medicine, but just the thought that the nation’s soil could recover filled her with genuine pride.

“Sun-jie, are you up yet?” The next morning, Sun Fengxia had just woken up when she got a call from the dance troupe.

“Just woke up,” she replied, brushing her teeth.

“Hurry and get ready—the blood pressure meds have been found!”

“The Third Hospital restocked?”

“No, it’s Jinhua Pharmacy.”

…

Sun Fengxia was a bit confused.

An hour later, she and the dance troupe members arrived at Jinhua Pharmacy. Outside, a massive crowd had gathered, with people lining up to buy medicine.

The recent drug shortage wasn’t just due to actual patients—60% of the demand came from scalpers hoarding stock to drive up prices.

They had planned to hold onto the stock for a few more months and then cash in, but now that the government had announced the Improved Fertilizer, prices for plant-based medicines had plummeted overnight. Animal-derived medicines weren’t affected for now, but the market for plant-based ones had collapsed. Seeing the shift in the wind, the hoarders quickly changed course. As a result, prices for about 70% of medicines nationwide began to drop.

“Those bastards!” Sun Fengxia, rarely one to curse, couldn’t hold back.

Jinhua Pharmacy had no stock yesterday, but the moment the news broke last night, they suddenly had medicine? Something fishy was definitely going on.

Just as she finished cursing, one of the dance troupe members leaned in mysteriously and said, “No need to be mad. These profiteers won’t be jumping around for much longer.”

Sun Fengxia looked puzzled.

“My nephew works at the Drug Administration…”

Half an hour later, Sun Fengxia finally understood what was going on. In short, ever since the release of the new Pharmaceutical Management Regulations, the government had been strictly regulating drug prices. However, some distributors had been hoarding supplies and jacking up prices, disrupting market order and skirting the edge of legality. While the Longxia Government had been busy with the Improved Fertilizer project, they’d also been closely monitoring the market.

Now that the pharmaceutical market had stabilized, it was time for Longxia to strike hard.

“Serves them right!” Sun Fengxia felt a wave of satisfaction she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

…

“Off-site Seeds.”

“They’re finally being sold…”

…

While domestic attention was focused on the Improved Fertilizer, the rest of the world had their eyes on Off-site Seeds. Now that the seeds were finally available, they could finally grow their own crops!