Chapter 654: Chapter 654: Seizing Grain

"Before the apocalypse, we were a major grain-producing nation, and we also purchased massive amounts of grain from abroad each year as a strategic reserve. That’s no secret. They’re coming to plunder our food, probably assuming we weren’t hit hard by the disaster and still have reserves. But there’s another crucial point: they’re counting on our people’s ’compassionate’ nature."

"In times like these, who has any compassion left for them? If you ask me, the Central Base handled it beautifully. We should kill those bandits on sight."

"Liam, if the Central Base brings over ten million people to Khoros, could these grasslands even accommodate that many?" Taylor Vance was worried; an increase in population would inevitably lead to more trouble and crises.

The first issue was the population-to-land ratio. Eldoria already had more than ten million people. The base planned to convert all the grasslands and desert into farmland to grow food. If the Central Base were to join them, combined with the residents of Eldoria Base, the population would be nearly thirty million, which would clearly exceed the available land per person.

"In Eldoria Base, there’s an average of a small plot of arable land per person—about two hundred square meters. If you plant potatoes and sweet potatoes, that’s enough to keep one person fed for a year. If the people from the Central Base join, that plot of land would be cut in half, and so would the drinking water. People who could once eat until they were mostly full would suddenly be left with barely enough to survive. The base residents would surely complain, and complaints lead to resistance and riots."

Liam Sterling sighed. "Mr. Chase didn’t say whether the Central Base would relocate to the grasslands, but their migration toward the Northwest seems to be set in stone."

Evelyn Ford’s brow furrowed. She mulled it over for a moment, and when an idea struck her, she pulled out a map, spread it across the table, and circled several key provinces in red.

"I think the Central Base should send a scouting party to the Central Plains Region first. It’s more suitable for survival than the grasslands. Look," she said, pointing at the map. "It has unique geographical advantages. First, it’s far from the nuclear power plants in the south. Second, the Central Plains are mostly flat, with vast stretches of open land. Third, it isn’t short on water, and it’s right next to Pyral and Anford, which are rich in mineral resources."

"Whatever we’ve thought of, the leaders at the Central Base have surely thought of it too. Maybe the Central Plains Region is no longer habitable, which is why they have no choice but to head for the Northwest," Ethan Dawson said, tapping a finger on an area of the map.

"I think the Southwest Basin could be an option."

"No way." Evelyn was the first to object. "The Southwest Basin sits on an active seismic zone—three of them, in fact. It’s far too dangerous. Besides, the journey from Sardis to the Southwest is just too long."

The group considered several other locations, but each one was a dead end.

"Right now, the only viable options are the grasslands and the Central Plains. I agree with what Evelyn said earlier; I believe the Central Plains is the best place for a new settlement. Perhaps they could try to contact any bases there, or send a helicopter to investigate."

Taylor Vance glanced at everyone and continued, "It took us months to travel from Rivenia into Khoros, and then from Khoros to Varden. Khoros is incredibly vast from east to west. If they were to settle in the eastern part, I don’t think accommodating thirty million people would be a problem."

"True. As long as you have water, you can survive anywhere."

"We’ll find a way when the time comes. As long as there are no more natural disasters, our people can find a way to survive, even in a barren desert."

Evelyn folded the map and casually tossed it into her space.

"Let’s stop thinking about all this. The grilled fish is cold. I’ll go heat it up."

"I’ll do it." Ronan Kendrick picked up the grilled fish and went back to grilling meat for everyone. Evelyn and Wendy were whispering to each other. Zoe, who had caught a grasshopper from somewhere, insisted that Ronan grill it for her.

"It’s freezing. The wind on these grasslands is fierce."

"Bllooow, oh blooow, my reckless priiiide—OUCH! Who hit me?" Quincy had just started to belt out a song when a rock thrown by Ethan Dawson smacked him in the back of the head.

He charged over and grabbed Ethan Dawson by the throat. The two men, with a combined age of over sixty, started wrestling like a couple of toddlers.

"Your singing is atrocious."

"You hit me just because my singing is bad? What kind of monster are you? Evelyn’s singing is even worse than mine! You dare hit her?"

Evelyn...

"I only hit you." Enjoying his advantage in height and strength, Ethan pinned Quincy to the ground. Powerless to fight back, Quincy let loose a stream of curses.

"Ethan Dawson, you better not sleep too soundly tonight. Sooner or later, I’m going to kill you."

"I’ll be waiting."

"Wyatt, help me!"

Wyatt Vaughn, busy chewing on some grilled meat, barely lifted an eyelid. "I can’t beat Mr. Dawson."

Quincy turned his pleading gaze to Evelyn. She just snorted. "Serves you right. Did you or did you not just say my singing is worse than yours?"

Quincy wiped away imaginary tears. "All of you, just you wait."

"Dad, I told you not to sing. You just wouldn’t listen. See? You got hit. Maybe now you’ll learn your lesson. Just endure it for now. I’ll get revenge for you when I grow up."

Quincy was so moved he was on the verge of tears. "My daughter is the only one who cares about me. Zoe, honey, can you get revenge for Daddy right now?"

Zoe shook her head. "Not now. I’m a kid, and kids aren’t allowed to fight. You just have to wait another twenty years, then I can help you get revenge."

Quincy was speechless. ’My daughter is a little filial, but not very.’

As dawn approached, Evelyn stood up and stretched lazily.

"Finish up the grilled meat. Let’s pack up our things and the trash. It’s time to head back. It gets frigid around six or seven in the morning, and the wind can cause migraines, so we need to get back before then."

"Time flies. It’s four o’clock already? I was hoping to get some sleep out here."

Evelyn smiled. "Maybe next time. By March, the grasslands should be lush and green. We can come back for a proper spring outing then."

Once everything was packed, Evelyn sent everyone into her space. Then, she and Ronan Kendrick rode back to Eldoria on horseback.

At five in the morning, the first shift of workers was already waking up. Dressed in tattered jackets, they hastily washed their faces and rushed off to their work sites.

—

At one o’clock in the afternoon, Evelyn arrived promptly at the new classroom. All forty-three students were present. Evelyn had brought some notebooks and pencils, which she asked Jean Wallace to distribute.

"Ms. Ford, are these notebooks a personal gift from you?"

Evelyn nodded. "To master a subject, you can’t just rely on memorization. You have to write down the key concepts and review them repeatedly. In a moment, I’ll write some important information on the blackboard. We won’t be learning anything new today. Your only task is to copy down the notes as I write them."

To train a group of qualified OB/GYNs in just six months, Evelyn had to resort to the most direct, brute-force method: have them rote-memorize all the various symptoms and treatments. Then, she would take them to the medical tents to study and intern simultaneously. Hands-on experience was the fastest way to learn.

"Ms. Ford, will we be qualified to work after six months?"

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