Chapter Thirty: Planting Cherry Tomatoes

The population at the Weimo base had already reached thirty-three and was still growing. To maintain the base’s normal operation and development, Jiang Qiyu returned to her room, spread out a large blueprint, and began carefully planning the layout of the base. Taking the terrain and topography into account, she sketched the outlines of each building on the paper, marking their functions and purposes.

She gathered all the base members and, with a calm yet authoritative tone that brooked no argument, announced the new regulations: “From today onward, anyone who wants food must work for it.” She paused, then added, “The more you work, the more you earn; no work, no food.”

The residents were divided into three groups: the Livestock Group, the Base Construction Group, and the Planting Group. The Livestock Group, led by Zhou Yun, was responsible for raising poultry such as chickens and ducks; the Base Construction Group, headed by Lin Xiaoxiao, took charge of daily maintenance and expansion of the base; the Planting Group managed agricultural production, currently focusing on small tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants.

Under Sun Fang’s guidance, the Planting Group began sowing small tomatoes and potatoes.

Small tomatoes were easy to grow and demanded little from the environment — even a balcony could sustain them. They had a short growth cycle, allowing for rapid harvests of fresh fruit. Potatoes were versatile in cooking; they could be made into creamy mashed potatoes or crispy stir-fried potato strips, offering delicious flavor and rich nutrition.

They first tilled the soil, then dug small holes to carefully place the tomato seedlings into, gently covering them with soil before watering.

At first, the small tomatoes thrived. Their green leaves sparkled under the sunlight, and tiny buds gradually blossomed, promising a bountiful harvest.

However, the good times did not last.

A few days later, the tomato leaves began yellowing and curling; the once plump buds withered, and the small tomatoes shriveled. Initially, everyone thought it was due to lack of water, so they increased watering, but things only worsened. Some tomato stems developed brown spots and snapped easily with a light touch. Watching the once-vibrant seedlings wither away, the members of the Planting Group stood helplessly in the field. They exchanged worried glances, anxiety and unease etched on their faces, unsure how to salvage what now looked like a total loss.

The Weimo base’s rules were clear: to earn food, one must work; more work meant more food, and no work meant none. The failure of the tomato crop meant they could not fulfill their labor quotas. Without completing their tasks, they would be denied food. In other words, if the tomatoes failed, they faced hunger.

The progress stalled. Several people rushed to Jiang Qiyu, chattering anxiously: “Boss, it’s bad! The tomato leaves are all yellow and withered!” “There are so many tiny white bugs, swarming everywhere!”

Jiang Qiyu hurried to the tomato patch, spotting Sun Fang hunched over, carefully inspecting each plant. She crouched beside her, peering at the yellowing, curling leaves. They exchanged a few low words. Sun Fang pointed to the undersides of the leaves, covered with tiny white insects, frowning deeply.

Jiang Qiyu observed closely. The small white bugs clustered densely beneath the leaves, writhing incessantly—an unsettling sight.

Soon after, Zhou Yun arrived. Having grown up in the countryside, she immediately recognized the pests: whiteflies, a common agricultural nuisance. She sighed, “These are whiteflies. We used to deal with them on the farm with pesticides.” She spread her hands helplessly. “But where would we get pesticides now?” She grabbed a handful of soil, rubbing it in her palm. “This soil is poor too, too barren. We need fertilizer; otherwise, forget about the tomatoes, even other crops won’t survive.”

Jiang Qiyu understood deeply that animal and plant husbandry were the lifeblood of the Weimo base, sustaining everyone’s lives. Once food ran scarce, internal strife would inevitably erupt as people struggled to survive, potentially threatening the base’s safety and stability.

She convened the Planting Group to discuss solutions to the pest problem. Members suggested various ideas: some proposed fumigation, others catching the bugs by hand, some recommended using wood ash… They tried everything, but results were minimal.

Despair settled over the group; their faces fell, resembling withered eggplants.

Jiang Qiyu’s expression remained calm, but her mind churned with thoughts. The people had grown too comfortable in the base; until the very last moment, they would not recognize the crisis or dare to take risks. Though the tomato failure temporarily cut off their food source, it might awaken their survival instincts.

She habitually tapped her fingers softly on the table, her gaze serene but contemplative.

After a moment’s thought, she proposed, “Why don’t we make another trip to the previous shopping mall?” She paused, explaining, “I remember there were plenty of fertilizers and books on animal and plant husbandry there. We can bring them back together.”

A Planting Group member rubbed his hands nervously, pacing and whispering, “Isn’t going to the mall too dangerous?”

Another agreed, “Yeah, with so many zombies outside… what if…” He swallowed hard, worry creasing his face, “What if we get surrounded by zombies, or someone gets hurt? What then?”

A young member anxiously asked, “Boss, do we really have to go?”

In a corner, a timid girl fearfully tugged her companion’s sleeve, whispering, “I… I’m scared…” The companion gently patted her hand, reassuring her, “Don’t be afraid. We’re with the boss; nothing will happen.”

Hearing Jiang Qiyu’s suggestion, Wang Yu and Zhao Hu’s eyes brightened immediately, expressing their support. Remembering the last trip to the supermarket, where they had found plenty of food and supplies, they felt excited at the prospect of more gains from the mall.

Wang Yu spoke first, “I think it’s doable! Last time at the supermarket, we found a lot of food and drink, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, even flower seeds. We came back with full loads. Surely the mall will have something good too.”

Zhao Hu chimed in, “Yeah, the supplies last time really helped us out. This time at the mall, we might even find ways to deal with the pests.”

Jiang Qiyu scanned the group, her voice calm but resolute, “We could choose not to go, but I’m sure you all know how long our current supplies will last. Once they run out, we won’t have to wait for the zombies to attack. We’ll all starve to death.” She paused, her gaze sweeping over their hesitant, fearful, uneasy faces.

Zhao Hu suddenly slammed his hand on the table, standing up and shouting, “The boss is right! We have to fight! Going out means a chance to live; waiting here means certain death! Better to take the risk than just wait to die!”

Wang Yu echoed him, “Exactly. What’s there to be afraid of? Last time we went to the supermarket and came back fully loaded!” His face lit up with excitement. “This time to the mall, who knows what treasures we might find!”

Jiang Qiyu looked at the stirred crowd with satisfaction, nodding.

“Alright, since everyone agrees, prepare yourselves—we leave immediately!” With her command, everyone sprang into action, gathering their gear and readying to head to the mall.