The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144

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Chapter 144

Back upstairs, Beatrice offered to share some of the firewood with Nicole.

Nicole shook her head. “I’ve got plenty of clothes and blankets. I don’t burn through wood as fast. You guys keep it and stock up. If I need more, I’ll go get it myself.”

Knowing how she was, Beatrice didn’t push.

Hughie knocked on Zeph’s door, and everyone gathered again at Hughie’s place.

“Good news!”

A lot of people had gone to Mount Westbridge for firewood today, and they had picked up some encouraging news.

“The government’s going to start distributing supplies.”

During the floods, travel had been nearly impossible, and many government departments had shut down. Now that everything was frozen over, it was brutally cold, but at least people could move around again.

“The government’s handing out relief food the day after tomorrow. Once a week, one pound each time. Residents have to bring their ID to their designated neighborhood distribution site to collect it.”

One pound of grain per week wasn’t much. The disaster had hit suddenly, and most supplies were still submerged underwater.

Coastal cities sat low, and even though national reserves were stored in higher locations, the combined force of the typhoon and flooding meant only so much could be saved.

Westbridge had millions of people. Even if more than half had died, there were still over a million survivors. Being able to provide this much food was no small feat.

“Also, the government announced that paper currency is no longer valid. A new system will be introduced later. For now, it’s all barter.”

That didn’t affect most residents much. They had already spent whatever cash they had.

The ones who suffered were those who had profited from the disaster. They were probably regretting it

now.

“On top of the relief food, the government is recruiting. Thousands of positions, from technical researchers to basic cleanup crews. The pay is in food. Skilled specialists can earn 20 to 30 pounds a month. Manual labor like body collection pays 5 pounds a month, but lunch is included.”

Hughie joked, “Nicole, think we should apply?” 1

“Up to you. I’m not going.”

No skills meant no high-paying jobs, and five pounds a month wasn’t even enough to survive on. Even adding the weekly relief food, it would just barely keep someone alive.

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Chapter 144

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Hughie was only joking. Their priority was holding down the 18th floor, not risking their lives for a few pounds of food.

If Hughie’s group rationed carefully, their supplies could last two years.

The government was starting to take control again. Different departments were working to fight the disaster. Things might gradually improve. There was no need to risk everything for such a little reward. Besides, earning it didn’t mean you would live long enough to spend it.

So the 18th floor collectively decided to sit it out and not compete for those jobs.

As Nicole was leaving, she noticed a wound on Jeremy’s hand and asked, “What happened?”

“It’s nothing serious. When we were cutting trees at Mount Westbridge, a few groups targeted us. They tried to take our wood and even the saw. We fought them off.”

Things outside were too chaotic. Going out alone was dangerous. Even in a group of three, there were constant risks. One mistake, and someone could get the drop on you.

While he and Hughie were cutting wood, Beatrice stood guard, and even then, they were still targeted.

Nicole wanted to say something comforting, but nothing came to mind.

This was normal now, and it was only going to get worse.

On the day relief food was distributed, Jeremy came knocking early.

Nicole didn’t feel like standing in line. “You guys go ahead. I’ll stay and watch the place.”

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