Chapter 153: Mom is a Genius Too
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Meng Chao used his sincerity and friendliness to ingeniously resolve the conflict between him and the students.
It also meant that he didn’t need to do anything extra to destroy the rumors of not having enough room for growth and not having enough strength.
The next morning, when the day had just become bright, Duan Lian brought the other nine challengers to the lecturers. They told them that they accepted their defeat and that Meng Chao definitely had the right to represent Agricultural University in the war and show the monsters how shameless— No, how smart he was.
Meng Chao’s rich fighting experience had also enlightened them and helped them understand that the Ultimate Style, which had just been created, did indeed have great research value. When they reached the battlefield, they would definitely learn from him.
The matter of the list of soldiers to be sent to the battlefield was settled like that.
There were still three days until they would be sent out to battle, so Meng Chao and the other students finally had a break to go home to visit their parents.
Everything went on smoothly at home.
Meng Chao’s mother had received her first treatment in Fengshui Medical Center. A strengthened cell growth serum extracted from superbeast blood and flesh was injected in her, and Dr. Su Yuan used spirit energy every day to probe into her nerves and bones to stimulate her cells. Her legs recovered very quickly. Now, she could cast aside her cane and her leg stent to walk around with light footsteps.
His younger sister had to work hard for the exam for her third year in middle school. According to their parents, she had improved at a rapid speed over this period of time. She had managed to get the top score twice in school, and there was a high chance that she would get into one of the three top high schools.
Father’s resource recovery company was getting more and more popular. Thanks to Meng Chao predicting that the Monster War would get more intense, and through Thunderbolt as well as Yan Organization, they managed to get some investments, which allowed the company to get more harvesters. They also got themselves four mobile collection and cold storage vehicles.
In the beginning, there were some people who laughed at Meng Yishan for not knowing how to spend his money. There were many resource recovery companies, but not enough monsters. The monster supply in the city was gradually drying out, but he hired so many people and bought equipment. In less than half a year, he would definitely suffer a huge loss.
When the scale of the offense in the north swiftly grew and the Survival Committee released the major news that they wanted to build a new area, the monster carca.s.ses were suddenly being sent nonstop back to the city. All the resource recovery companies then began regretting not hiring more people. While all the harvesters longed for having four arms, they also envied and admired Meng Yishan for being able to predict the future.
Soon, Superstar Resource Recovery Company became famous within the harvesting circle.
Meng Yishan was busy every day, but he was happy and in high spirits. He looked to have become younger by ten years. Compared to the troubled man in Meng Chao’s memories of his previous life, he had become much more carefree.
They still sat around the dining table in the living room in their public renting house, but the food on the table had become much better. In fact, they even had super high-grade sausages that had the blood of superbeasts and boiled crocodile eggs. The aroma was so strong that it was a little pungent.
The family was happy as they listened to Meng Chao talk about the things he went through in the university.
“My coursemates are really friendly, and they’re really good to me. There’s this big buy called Duan Lian, who begged me to be his friend.
“Can’t help it. I’m just that popular.
“Tutor? Naturally, I have the best of them all. My tutor is strong, has high morales, is handsome, and elegant. He is the pillar of the martial arts course, and if I follow him, I will definitely have a bright future!”
Due to his words, his family stopped worrying about him.
But his next news caused his mother’s expression to change.
“What? You’re going to the frontlines?” Bai Suxin asked worriedly. “You’re just a freshman. Why are you going to the frontlines? When you went through the practical test of your national college exam, you were sent to the depths of the fog, and you fought against a b.l.o.o.d.y Moon Wolf King, which almost got you killed! Do you know how terrified I was? It has only been a short time since then, so how could you not remember the lesson?!”
“Mom, the two are very different things. What happened last time was an accident. More than one hundred muddleheaded examinees had to face hundreds of Demonic b.l.o.o.d.y Moon Wolves, so of course it was dangerous,” Meng Chao quickly explained.
“But this time, the scale of the offense in the north is really huge. You should have seen the news, right? The Red Dragon Army has mobilized a few of their elite squads. The Supernatural Tower has also sent nearly ten Deity Realm elites. Agricultural University isn’t the only one who has to provide reinforcements to the battle. All the universities in Dragon City have to send reinforcements to expand, build, and defend the new area.
“Humanity’s steel army is moving forward, and no monster can stop our footsteps. I’ll be going with the army, and I’ll be polishing my tactics as well as expanding my horizons. I can even earn cultivation resources and form connections. Compared to the benefits, the risks aren’t even worth mentioning. Mom, don’t worry!”
In truth, Meng Chao knew that the offense in the north would not go smoothly.
But he could not tell the truth, or else, his mom would definitely not let him go.
“Suxin, our son isn’t an average joe. Since he has become a superhuman, he must climb to the top bravely.” Meng Yishan worked in society, and he knew more things than his wife. “Besides, this time, all the citizens are mobilized.
“Even normal harvesters like us have to be constantly prepared to go to the edge of the city to provide reinforcements. Our son is an undergraduate student. He has been given many cultivation resources, so he must take up his responsibility.
“Don’t worry, if he could kill a b.l.o.o.d.y Moon Wolf King during the national college examination, he will definitely turn danger into a blessing and create a new miracle!”
Bai Suxin knew that her son would not listen to her. Besides, with Dragon City’s environment, it was impossible for superhumans to stay at home and do nothing.
She sighed in resignation. “Why did they suddenly mention that they want to build a new area? Just because an accident happened during the national college examination? They could have waited for another two years. When you graduated, your cultivation base would be higher, and it would have been more natural for you to go out for this expansion!”
“We can’t wait anymore. Regardless of whether the accident happened during the national college examination this year, the government would still have chosen to expand.”
Bai Jiacao, who had been eating silently, suddenly looked up and licked off the rice at the corners of her lips. She grinned and said, “If you’re going to blame someone, blame big brother’s Agricultural University!”
“What logic is this?” Bai Suxin could not understand.
“Since Agricultural University has developed so many amazing 3D farms, technology to modify genes and man-made food, they provided us with enough food!” Bai Jiacao said matter-of-factly. “Some thirty years ago, Dragon City faced its most dangerous moment, and its survival was threatened.
“At that time, Agricultural University’s chancellor, Jin Zhenglin developed a lot of new technology and completely got rid of our food problems. He turned earthworm meat into luncheon meat as well as made all sorts of sticky, synthesized food in cans. The taste is horrible, but it definitely provides us with enough calories.
“Since food is no longer a problem and we lost so many people during the war, to protect Dragon City and pa.s.s down our civilization, the humans had to keep on producing children. Every family now has at least three children, but having six or eight children is also quite normal. There are even those who have more than ten children.
“Dad only let mom give birth to one child because her legs were injured and he didn’t want her to suffer, but my cla.s.smates all have at least three siblings running around their house.
“Our agricultural technology has developed so much that it turned the city into something like a hive. There are all sorts of high-calorie foods being produced hundreds of meters underground and above ground. Even if we have to produce food for more than ten million people, we can do so.
“But there’s a problem. Humans are not pigs. We aren’t satisfied by just eating our fill.
“Let’s forget about the problem of us not having enough houses for the time being. The problem of the city not offering enough jobs is even more pressing.
“We must understand that a creature like a ‘city’ is born to suck blood from its surrounding areas. Then, it dumps its industrial products and services to the borders. That way, it can provide for the tens of millions of people despite its tiny area of tens of thousands of square kilometers.
“Dragon City had relied on the materials, technology, people, and market from the prefectures around it on Earth to retain its large structure. It even relied on the nation and the whole world to ensure its continued existence.
“Once we transmigrated to the Other World, the city had nothing but tens of millions of people. It did not have vast foundations to produce materials and markets for dumping. It didn’t even have enough jobs for all the people.
“Over the past few decades, we faced the threat of elimination, so everyone gritted their teeth and ate only canned food containing black stuff. We slept in deck beds with four or five layers, since as long as we could survive, everything was fine.
“Now, our lives are getting better. The number of youngsters who have nothing to do have increased by ten times compared to the past. The threat of monsters is also gradually reducing, so it’s only natural that the people want better lives, more appropriate jobs, larger living s.p.a.ces, and fresh, real food.
“We can’t solve the problem of providing for tens of millions of jobs for youngsters within Dragon City itself. So what else can we do aside from expanding our territory and building new areas?
“With that, we can provide jobs in the Red Dragon Army as it grows larger, among builders for new areas, and even more in the new mining area. When we’ve squeezed out almost every last drop from the new area, we’ll head further to colonize the vast Other World’s core to provide for the people. There’s no other way for us. We have to do this.
“So, Mom, you have to stop complaining. This is the fate of Dragon City. Forget about Big Brother going to war. In two years, I will definitely be swept into this as well, and I will brave the winds and waves!”
After Bai Jiacao finished speaking, she noticed that her entire family was staring at her with slack jaws.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Bai Jiacao touched her cheeks with a puzzled expression.
“Why do I feel like after you’re got into the third year of middle school, your horizons have expanded. You sound like a mini adult now!” Meng Chao said, unable to believe his own ears.
“Recently, Little Cao has been changing a lot. It feels like she has been growing every day, and she often says shocking things. I’m almost unable to understand her,” Bai Suxin said.
“I only know that the la.s.s’ appet.i.te has increased by a large degree. I bring two heavy sacks of monster meat back from the company every day, which tires me out a lot, but it’s not enough for her,” Meng Yishan said with a grin.
Bai Jiacao’s face turned red, and she quickly defended herself. “I’m not just eating. I train too. Recently, I feel like I’ve become much stronger. My saber skill, gun technique, and strength often shock my teachers. Even the boys in school can’t win against me.
“Also, after I read a book, I remember most of its contents. It’s the same with news and information online. Once I give it a casual sweep, it’s branded inside my brain. If I don’t pay attention, I then end up saying things like what I mentioned just now.
“... Hey, could it be that I’m actually one of those really rare, legendary geniuses?”
The girl puffed out her chest and swung her fist excitedly.
Meng Chao’s smile turned a little stiff.
Could it be... that the Night Demon Blood in his sister’s body was about to awaken?
Meng Yishan sipped his wine and said with a sigh, “I didn’t expect that I would be blessed, even though I’m a fool. I can’t believe that I would have two geniuses in the house!”
“It has nothing to do with you. It’s mainly because of Mom. I inherited Mom’s intellect.” Bai Jiacao stuck her tongue out at Meng Yishan. “Dad, did you know that Mom was even more of a genius compared to me when she was young?”
“Huh?”
Meng Yishan and Bai Suxin were both stunned.
Meng Chao could not understand what Bai Jiacao meant.
“It’s true. Even I was shocked. I didn’t expect that Mom would be so amazing when she was young.” Bai Jiacao patted her head and went out to bring out a rusty metal box from her room. “By the way, I haven’t had the time to tell you. This is something I found at the part.i.tion in the corner under the bed when you went to the hospital in the afternoon. I was bored, so I was looking around. It’s something that you put inside a long time ago. Did you forget about it?”