After receiving immense material assistance, Shen Feng understood that mobilizing the entire nation could establish a massive food production base. This was a crucial undertaking that garnered widespread attention, and he had thus become the nominal leader of China.
Following multiple discussions and meetings at the City Lord's Mansion, it was decided to recruit a large number of laborers locally to construct extensive production bases. These food production bases were primarily to be built within Sichuan Province, as the land there was relatively flat and suitable for large-scale cultivation. Moreover, the abundance of plains facilitated more convenient transportation, allowing food to be transported from Sichuan to Yuzhou by train in just half a day.
Coincidentally, many disaster victims who had flooded into Yuzhou were idle, awaiting relief. While they could be sustained with just two bowls of porridge daily, harboring a population of idle individuals was not ideal, as these vagrants could potentially cause trouble and lead to unnecessary unrest.
Consequently, many disaster victims were recruited into the construction teams, heading to Sichuan to establish numerous food production bases. Currently, the national population was around 60 million. If this were in a foreign country, 60 million people would be a considerable number. However, China had once been home to 1.4 billion people, and its current meager population was truly alarming.
When the apocalypse descended, people had fallen into despair. At that time, nine-tenths of the population had turned into zombies. The population then was over 100 million, but after more than a decade, the population had sharply declined, leaving only 60 million. One-third of the population was under Shen Feng's command, while the remaining two-thirds were scattered elsewhere.
As for Shen Feng, he did not need to produce enough food for 60 million people. Producing enough food for 40 million would suffice. This was because it was difficult to protect 60 million people, but producing enough grain for 40 million would allow 60 million people to eat to about half their fill, enabling them to survive, albeit barely.
The construction of the production bases proceeded at a rapid pace, as people were filled with hope. The leaders would descend daily, broadcasting messages through loudspeakers, shouting to them: "Work diligently, everyone! Only by producing more food can we have a happy life. Once the volcanic ash settles, we can live in peace! You are all working hard not for others, but for yourselves, striving for your own lives. So, you must all push forward!"
"Good!" The laborers, upon hearing these words, worked even harder, assembling various equipment, constructing greenhouses, and installing thermometers and hygrometers to monitor the conditions inside the greenhouses.
Almost everyone working possessed the drive of Shichen (a period of time), as they understood that only by producing more food could they avert the crisis facing humanity. They also knew that they were fighting for their fellow countrymen, and thus, no one complained. Everyone worked diligently, hoping that the food production bases could expand quickly.
Meanwhile, Shen Feng took the opportunity to travel overseas. This time, he ventured into the Pacific and encountered many large sea beasts. These sea beasts found it difficult to breathe in the ocean, so to obtain fresh air, they had to surface. Shen Feng seized this opportunity, killing several sea beasts and obtaining enough evolution crystals. He then returned to Yuzhou because many powerful ability users were currently stuck at the sixth tier, and to enhance their strength, they could only hunt sea beasts.
To establish the production bases, Yuzhou recruited over a million people to construct them. Construction commenced simultaneously in various locations, resulting in the establishment of numerous vegetable greenhouses throughout Sichuan Province. These greenhouses were either covered with glass or plastic film. The plastic film, when laid over the ground, could reflect sunlight, keeping the interior warm and increasing humidity, which was conducive to crop growth.
Chang Jianyi's ability had a vast range of influence, as she was now a seventh-tier ability user. Ordinary ability users could not match her strength. Her most potent ability was the promotion of plant growth.
However, rapidly obtaining a large amount of food was not solely achievable through promoting plant growth. The growth of crops still required substantial resource investment, such as soil and fertilizer, and even more so, irrigation facilities. Without adequate irrigation, food production would remain an empty promise.
Fortunately, Yuzhou possessed abundant water resources for agricultural irrigation. With the addition of soil and fertilizer, and effective pest control, large-scale food production became possible.
It was no exaggeration to say that these subsequently built food production bases were established through the collective efforts of the entire nation. These bases were massive, equipped not only with irrigation facilities but also with temperature and humidity monitoring systems. Furthermore, strict surveillance was in place across all locations; anyone daring to cause sabotage would be immediately detected by soldiers, apprehended, and imprisoned.
Previously, the Sichuan-Chongqing region took three to four months to build a 10,000-mu food production base, capable of harvesting grain daily, but this came at a considerable cost. However, with the assistance of the entire nation, the construction of food production bases accelerated. In just four months, a 200,000-mu food production base was completed. While this 200,000 mu might seem small, it allowed for daily grain harvesting with a considerable yield.
The fertile black soil of the Northeast also played a significant role in food production. This black soil was transported by sea from the north to the mouth of the Yangtze River, then upstream along the Jinling River to Yuzhou. Through transportation methods like trains and trucks, it was delivered to various production bases, providing better nutrients for the plants and promoting their growth.
Once there was a surplus of food, Shen Feng immediately distributed large quantities of grain. Some were sent to the southeast, some to the northeast, and other portions were distributed as relief to regions experiencing food shortages, ensuring they could have a full meal.
The reputations of Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi soared to unimaginable heights, as daily news broadcasts featured their activities. Whatever they did or said was immediately recorded and used for educating children.
Wang Ao Ye also contacted the forces in Jinling, who had previously provided substantial supplies. With the arrival of food, the spread of famine was finally alleviated. Now, they needed to fulfill the second condition: to secure the Jiuquan region and then proceed with building rockets.
Despite his immense fame abroad, Shen Feng was constantly troubled by domestic concerns upon his return home. The most significant and vexing issue was the health condition of his youngest daughter.
Shen Feng had not yet had the chance to name his daughter. One reason was that numerous major events had preoccupied him, forcing him to focus on resolving paramount issues, leaving him with little time to attend to family matters. Another reason was the difference in customs; families with children who were difficult to raise often gave them simple, unpretentious names rather than formal ones initially.
There was a widespread folk belief that exceptionally good names were meant only for those blessed with fortune. If someone without such fortune took such a name, they would subsequently face retribution, making it difficult to raise the child. In such cases, it became a custom to give difficult-to-raise children simple, often unappealing names, such as "Shi Zhenxiang" or "Gouzi" (Doggy). The intention was to give the child a humble name, making them easier to raise, as these names carried little fortune, and the children would thus be spared unnecessary calamities.
Chu Zhaoyan had only this one child. Although she had raised Shen Yishi, that child was not her biological daughter. Now, her adopted daughter had grown up healthy and was becoming a lively and active little princess. However, her biological daughter was currently difficult to even keep alive, causing Chu Zhaoyan to weep daily.
Shen Feng visited Chu Zhaoyan daily, hoping to comfort her. However, Chu Zhaoyan remained deeply distressed, crying incessantly.
One day, Shen Feng went to Chu Zhaoyan's small building. Normally, he could hear faint sounds of crying or lullabies, but today it was unusually quiet. He immediately went inside to see what had happened.
Upon entering, Shen Feng saw Shen Yishi rocking a cradle. Within the cradle lay a tiny infant, appearing extremely frail. Most children have fair skin with a rosy hue, but this infant's skin was very pale, clearly indicating poor health.
"Shen Yishi, where is your mother?" Shen Feng asked.
"Shh!" Shen Yishi placed her index finger on her lips, making a gesture to silence him, clearly indicating that Shen Feng should not speak too loudly, lest he disturb someone.
Shen Feng nodded and crouched down.
When Shen Yishi approached her father, she whispered, "Mom cried today, her eyes are red and swollen. Seeing that sister is asleep, she went to lie down for a while. If you speak too loudly now, you'll wake her up!"
"Oh! Then thank you for taking care of your sister. If Mom cries again, you must comfort her!" Shen Feng quickly said.
Shen Yishi nodded, "No problem! I will definitely complete the task!"
Shen Feng then looked at his youngest daughter in the cradle. This daughter's health was truly poor. Although her cries were relatively strong at birth, her health deteriorated day by day, eventually reaching this state.
As if sensing Shen Feng's presence, Jing'er opened her eyes and called out to him, "Dad... Daddy..."
The voice was intermittent, but it was a call. Upon hearing his youngest daughter's voice, Shen Feng's heart ached. He picked her up from the cradle and walked out.
"If only you could grow up to personally witness the prosperous world, how wonderful that would be!" Shen Feng said, his mood somber.