China's wealth gap was still widening, a silent chasm growing deeper every day between those who held the levers of power and those who struggled for a handful of grain.
"Hey, Lass Jing, I heard you brought back some special medicine from America, something called ZS-880?" Zhou Bapi asked. "And right now, only you have it, right? The labs over there haven't even cracked it yet." His yellowed teeth gleamed in the dim light as he leaned closer, the scent of stale tobacco clinging to his clothes. "Whether Lao Jin could live or die now all depended on her!"
Jing Shu's brow rose, a little surprised that the old man was so well-informed about her private cargo. But when she caught the hopeful look in Jin Tianci's eyes, a desperate spark flickering in his sunken sockets, it all clicked. No wonder he had been so generous to her.
Sure, part of it was because of Zhou Bapi's presence, but the rest had to do with the drug she had brought back from America, the one that could extend a cell's division cycle and slow the march of decay.
She fell silent for a moment, thinking. Her gaze drifted toward the window as she weighed her memories. In her previous life, the Tyrant had risen to power around the fourth or fifth year, right after Jin Tianci's death left a vacuum in Wu City. If the butterfly effect hadn't changed anything this time, then maybe Yang Yang had also brought back the same drug in that lifetime and given it to Jin Tianci, which had extended his life.
But the effects of ZS-880 were limited. Given Jin Tianci's deteriorating condition and failing health, it eventually stopped working. In the end, he had lived barely a year longer before dying anyway.
That explained why he had survived until the fourth year back then.
"If I extend Jin Tianci's life this time, will the Tyrant still come to Wu City?" she wondered, weighing the pros and cons in her head while the room remained heavy with anticipation. If he didn't, would history still stay on track? Would things collapse without his iron-fisted rule? And if he did come anyway, what ripple would that cause in the timeline?
"Hey, Lass Jing?" Zhou Bapi whispered, pulling her out of her deep thoughts.
"Oh, that drug, yeah, I have still got a few doses," she said lightly. "When I was in the capital, I lent one to a research team that was begging for sponsorship. They have the formula now, but reproducing it will take time. I don't know yet if there are any side effects or long-term risks. Also, it only works when paired with a certain cauldron, but that cauldron is... still in the capital."
Zhou Bapi's face split into a greasy grin. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old handkerchief from the 1980s, then carefully unfolded it to reveal oil paper wrapped around a thin layer of rust-colored powder.
"This right here is the scrapings from that cauldron. Mix it with the drug, inject it, and it will work. Pretty rare stuff, mind you. They say after a few hundred scrapings, the whole cauldron will be gone."
Jing Shu's expression froze as she looked at the gritty metal dust. She hadn't expected the process to be that crude. "Wait, you're seriously injecting rusty metal into the body? That's safe?"
"Ah, what is a few side effects compared to living longer, right? So, how about it, are you going to sell me one? You can name any price you want from Lao Jin. Didn't you just buy that big piece of land? Why not let him reimburse you for it?" Zhou Bapi offered.
Jin Tianci cut him off, his voice raspy but determined. "That land is nothing compared to this drug's value. Miss Jing, name whatever conditions you want. As long as it is within my power, I will make it happen."
Even Madam Jin nodded eagerly, her hands trembling as she spoke. "Whatever you need, we will find a way to get it. We will not hesitate."
Jing Shu still had nine doses left. The drug couldn't compare to the Spirit Spring when it came to reviving the dead, but it was enough to give her leverage in the future. As for Jin Tianci, he had to be saved. If he died early and someone other than the Tyrant took his place. Or worse, if saving him summoned the Tyrant ahead of schedule, that would be a disaster.
The question now was how to name her price. It had to be fair, considering Jin Tianci had already done her a favor earlier with the property.
"The drugs are at home," she said finally, standing up. "I will go fetch them first, then we can talk conditions."
"Good, straightforward as always." Jin Tianci smiled faintly. No one who had brushed so close to death would turn down a chance to live. Madam Jin turned away, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. The news had come too suddenly for her to believe it.
"Come on, Lass Jing, I will go with you."
On the way, Zhou Bapi kept whispering advice like a sleazy mentor, his voice low and urgent. He didn't want to see her shortchanged. But food wasn't something she lacked. What she wanted were quality goods. She wanted rare animals, high-value livestock, or anything unique that could thrive in her space.
As for weapons, she could deal with that later and grab a batch from that fool Jun Jia's armory.
What she really lacked now was influence and authority. And soon, she had a plan.
After grabbing the drug and heading back to Jin Tianci's villa, Jing Shu said, "I heard Minister Niu Mou is about to be promoted, and the higher-ups plan to let Director Liu from the Old Urban District and Director Zhang from Ling Mountain District compete for the position. But personally, I think my mother, Director Su from the New Urban District, is far more capable."
Jin Tianci, half-drowsy from exhaustion as he rested his head, nodded slowly. "I agree. Director Su has got the ability for it. With a bit more time, she could even work alongside Minister Niu managing Wu City's agricultural affairs. Don't worry about her. Capable people might be buried for a while, but they will always shine eventually."
He paused to catch his breath, then added, "Oh right, Jun Jia just sent me a report. The livestock farm has been doing well. There's strong output, great efficiency, and they have just expanded. They're promoting a new deputy director, and the best candidate they have recommended is Jing An. Only then did I realize he is your father. What a coincidence."
"What a coincidence indeed. My father has always been the top performer every year." She smiled faintly.
Inside the glass vial, the liquid shimmered faintly like starlight. Once mixed with the iron dust, it turned into a thick, golden solution. The syringe itself looked larger than normal, and the liquid inside pulsed faintly as if it were alive.
When the last drop was injected, Jin Tianci fell unconscious. The spot where the needle went in swelled and turned purple-blue. It was clear this drug was far from perfect. Zhou Bapi and the medics rushed to work, while Jing Shu quietly excused herself from the room.
Another day passed in a blur. Before heading home, she went to see Wu City's third-in-command, Jun Jia. His face was full of disdain and annoyance, but he still fulfilled his duty and brought her to the legendary armory.
Jing Shu's heart leapt with excitement. In the apocalypse, every bullet counted, and every weapon mattered. If she could hoard a stash now, she would be set.
"There, go pick what you want. Anything," Jun Jia said, rolling his eyes as he pulled the heavy lever.
The armory was massive, built strong enough to withstand even bomb blasts. Those thick walls radiated safety, and she could tell that if another disaster struck, this place would be a perfect shelter.
But when the heavy iron doors opened and the dim light spilled in, Jing Shu's smile froze after barely two seconds.
The entire armory... was almost empty.
===
Zhao Bapi call her with "静丫头" (Jìng yātou). If you don't know, Yātou its literal, historical meaning is "slave girl" or "maidservant."
While it modern, colloquial Chinese (especially in northern dialects), the meaning is affectionate, familiar nickname for a young girl. It's used by elders, relatives, or close friends to express fondness, endearment, and a touch of playful teasing.
In My VR Games Terrify the World the MC's little sister also sometimes be called with "小丫头 (xiǎo yātou)" and I translate it into 'Little Lass'.
At its simplest, a lass is a girl or a young woman. However, its usage is deeply tied to specific dialects and cultural contexts, which gives it a much richer feel than the plain word "girl." It common in UK dialects.
Using "Lass" instantly creates a specific tone:
Affectionate and Familiar: It's rarely used in formal contexts. It's a term of endearment, used by family, friends, or elders in a community. It implies a degree of fondness.
Rustic or Folksy: The word has a warm, old-fashioned, and sometimes rural feel. It evokes images of close-knit communities, countryside villages, and a simpler way of life.
Warmly Informal: It's casual and friendly, but not disrespectful. When used by an elder to a younger person (as in example with "静丫头"), it carries a sense of kindly, avuncular regard.