Chapter 2: The Lottery for Land

Listening to Tang Lu complain, Xia Qing lowered her head slightly, the corners of her lips curving up—she was in a fantastic mood. She’d long expected someone from the Tang family to come, but didn’t think it would be the family’s pampered daughter, Tang Lu herself.

With the brainless Tang Lu here, Xia Qing figured her odds of getting her favorite plot of land just shot up by thirty percent—nothing was surer. If it weren’t for the setting, she would’ve hollered out, ‘Today’s a lucky day!’ right then and there.

Inside the hall, people watched in astonishment as Tang Lu, usually so haughty, queued humbly at an empty office desk. Some started to rethink the idea of growing crops outside the safe zone—a task usually seen as a death sentence.

Soon enough, the land-claiming line swelled from just over thirty to more than a hundred people. The winding queue twisted twice around the lobby, looking like a giant snake coiled inside the hall.

Tang Lu glanced back at the furious crowd fighting for a spot, then shot a sharp glare at the two soldiers who were supposed to keep order but were actually there to keep tabs on her uncle. She let out a scornful huff.

If those military types weren’t sticking to her like flies, she wouldn’t have to stand here breathing in this stench.

As soon as Tang Zhengrong emerged from the office with his entourage, Tang Lu—who’d spent over an hour sulking—straightened up and plastered on her most obedient smile.

In a plain, unadorned outfit, Tang Zhengrong pretended not to notice his niece. He strode straight onto the half-meter-high platform set up beside the office desk and began his speech.

“Everyone living in the safety zone knows—over the last ten years, natural disasters have wiped out our farming system. Food shortages are the number one problem we need to solve. I’m grateful you’ve all answered the country’s call, stepping up to work the land and help rebuild our food supply. If we stand together, nothing can beat us. Let’s protect humanity’s place on Blue Star and rebuild our home…”

Xia Qing lifted her head, her gaze steady as she studied the man who’d secured the Number Two spot at Hui San Base—a seemingly gentle figure.

“All residents taking up land today will receive special base rewards: two months’ food rations per person, five years of tax exemption on your land, and full professional support from the state.”

“Whoa—”

As soon as Tang Zhengrong finished, the whole place erupted. The queue instantly twisted into two more bends.

“But there are two things I have to make clear,” Tang Zhengrong continued, his previously gentle tone suddenly stern. “First: You can’t abandon, transfer, or sell your land. Only your biological children can inherit it. If there are no heirs when a landholder dies, the land returns to the base. Second: The base will check your farming results each year. Fail to meet the standard for three years, and your land is taken back. After that, you can’t apply for any jobs or assignments here at Hui San Base.”

That did it. In an instant, more than half the crowd bailed on the queue, and those left looked seriously hesitant.

A tall man standing behind Xia Qing called out, “Mayor Tang, so what counts as meeting the standard?”

Tang Zhengrong smiled as he replied, “For the first five years, as long as you plant at least two new mu of edible crops every year, you’ve made the cut.”

Just two mu a year? Piece of cake! The man breathed a sigh of relief. Even Xia Qing’s nerves loosened a bit.

Seeing a few people who’d left running back to line up, Tang Zhengrong felt a flash of pride. With a flourish, he announced, “The first land grant ceremony at Hui San Base is officially underway. Once you get your certificate, meet at the safe zone gates within two hours. The base will send vehicles to take you out.”

No sooner had Tang Zhengrong finished speaking than the impatient Tang Lu quietly urged the clerk behind the desk, “Hurry up.”

The fair-skinned male clerk quickly picked up a land certificate and handed it to Tang Lu with both hands. “Miss Tang, here’s yours. Hold onto it. As the first person to claim land, you get two extra months of rations. Please take this certificate to the right-hand desk and collect your food, supplies, and seeds.”

Grabbing the certificate, Tang Lu turned and shot another smug look at the grimy, stinking evolvers nearby—absolutely reveling in her triumph.

When Xia Qing spotted the words “Plot No. 2” on Tang Lu’s certificate, she stepped forward to the desk.

The male clerk didn’t even look up. “ID number and name?” he droned.

Xia Qing fired back, “According to the rules, the top three get to choose their own land and double rations—right?”

“Wait, the top three get to pick their own land and double rations? Really?” The guy who’d come in third yelped, pulling all eyes in the hall his way.

That’s total nonsense!

The clerk frowned and finally looked up—only to meet Xia Qing’s icy stare and spot her green badge. Instantly he looked away, sweat beading on his forehead. If he denied it now, this evolver woman would definitely make a scene about him secretly giving Tang Lu those extra rations. If word reached Major General Qi, the top man at base, who knew what would happen to Mayor Tang—but one thing was sure: he’d lose his own job for sure.

He had a family of four counting on this job.

“You shut—” Tang Lu, busy collecting her rations, whipped her head around to curse Xia Qing. But all it took was her uncle’s flat, warning glance as he passed by for her to snap her mouth shut.

Tang Zhengrong reined in his airheaded niece and came to the desk, glancing Xia Qing up and down before breaking into a smile. “Yes, it’s an official reward policy. Which plot do you want, young lady?”

With her mud-stained fingers, Xia Qing pointed firmly at the territory on the map north of the safe zone, the one with a long ribbon of blue water.

“That one. Plot No. 3.”

She picked Plot No. 3 right off the bat—was she with the military, or maybe the Azure Dragon Unit?

Tang Zhengrong’s voice was still gentle, but his meaning couldn’t have been clearer: “Plot 3 is the furthest field the base has reclaimed. It’s over a hundred kilometers from the safe zone—not exactly convenient.”

But Xia Qing pretended not to get it, lifting her head to make a little speech. “Thank you for the reminder, Mayor Tang. But I’m an evolver. I should be out in the most dangerous, remote places—growing crops for the nation and doing my part!”

Tang Zhengrong’s smile flickered, but he finally took a real look at Xia Qing’s badge and memorized her name. “It’s great to hear such selfless dedication. Clerk Zhang, handle her paperwork.”

Clerk Zhang practically sighed in relief and quickly registered Xia Qing’s info, printing her Plot No. 3 certificate.

After checking her paperwork and collecting food and supplies from the side desk, Xia Qing went to the east window, where she used her card points to exchange for two extra-large phone power banks. There was no electricity outside the safe zone, so she’d have to charge her phone with those.

Hauling her things out of the lobby, she ignored the stares from onlookers eying her bag of rations and the murderous glare from Tang Lu in her car. As the repeated broadcast told land claimants to meet at the main gate, Xia Qing headed straight back to the dorm to pack.

The moment she walked in, her roommate Feng Wen—a triple-sense evolver—dropped her makeup mirror, clamped her nose, and rolled her eyes as if she was about to throw up.

Xia Qing ignored her, unlocking the thick iron chest under her bed and hauling out bags she’d packed ahead of time. She stuffed them all into a big canvas duffel, then bent to roll up her bedding.

Still holding her nose, Feng Wen asked in disbelief, “You’re really taking land? Are you out of your mind?”