RIACMET chapter 63

 

Water dripped from his hair and quickly turned his white shirt translucent, clinging to his body. Jiang Nian lifted a hand to push back his hair, then leaned against the wall and closed his eyes slightly.

Cheng Jing traced his neck with one hand and slowly fumbled with the buttons of his shirt with the other. He lowered his head and rested his forehead against the man’s. He asked softly,

“Are you tired?”

The weather was scorching, and anyone would lose a bit of weight after a day out.

Jiang Nian looked at him, a little puzzled.

“How could I be? We haven’t even started yet.”

What an incredible man—he was actually teasing him in the bathroom! It looked like any serious discussion tonight was off the table.

Forget it. Soothing a jealous boyfriend was the most important thing. If anything, they could talk later.

Jiang Nian was satisfied with his rebirth and their reconciliation, but his boyfriend still seemed to lack security around him sometimes. His criminal record was so severe that Jiang Nian didn’t know how to reassure him. All he could do was indulge him.

Cheng Jing bit his shoulder through the fabric.

“You’ve been running around for days on end. Why don’t you just stay home and rest tomorrow?”

It was a polite suggestion, but it left no room for argument.

“All right, Brother Jing always has the final say.”

Jiang Nian agreed happily.

Warmth spread over his neck, thick and unrestrained.

The restless atmosphere quickly heated up, melting away someone’s unhappiness and jealousy.

It was past midnight when the commotion finally subsided.

Jiang Nian stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling exhausted and languid but not ready to sleep yet.

Logically, he should have been smoking a cigarette by now. Unfortunately, back in college, he’d considered picking up the habit, but Brother Jing stopped him.

…

Over the next few days, Jiang Nian barely stepped outside. Other than checking on the progress of the shop renovations, he called or messaged Jiang Wenwen to ask her a few questions about the farm.

Meanwhile, Cheng Jing had finally finished the initial training that had caused him to leave early and return late. Now, he could come home at five o’clock like normal.

He’d wanted to surprise someone, but the recipient only looked mildly surprised, not particularly enthusiastic.

Jiang Nian sat on the sofa, studying the farming plans seriously. He didn’t join Cheng Jing in the shower and was indifferent when Cheng Jing came out naked.

Something was wrong if things were this unusual. Cheng Jing stepped closer and asked,

“What are you looking at?”

The cool scent of mint soap lingered in the air. Jiang Nian kept his gaze on the blueprints. His left hand rested unerringly on his boyfriend’s abs as he answered.

“The farm plans. I’m planning to sign the contract tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

Cheng Jing let him touch him for a moment before sitting down. He slipped an arm around his shoulders, resting his chin there as he looked at the drawings.

“It’s all just vacant land. How much is the rent?”

Jiang Nian tapped a finger on the plans.

“The rent is one hundred points per hectare per month. Don’t think of it as abandoned land anymore. It’ll soon be hot property, so we have to act first if we want more choices.”

Cheng Jing raised his brows.

“Tell me about it.”

“Hmmm…”

Jiang Nian sorted through the information he remembered from his previous life and began explaining.

“As more and more people enter the base, all kinds of methods for improving the land will emerge, especially from people with special abilities. After the period of extreme heat, the research institutes in each base will start producing first-generation soil-repair potions, and rents will increase dramatically.”

At Z Base, where he had been in his previous life, there was a small village that had fled during the zombie outbreak. The average monthly rent for one hectare of farmland was one thousand points. In larger bases, the rent was as high as five thousand points.

Cheng Jing nodded slowly.

“Then we really do have to move first. The base is much busier now than when we first arrived…”

“Yeah.”

Jiang Nian continued, unable to stop touching him:

“As the soil-repair potions improve with each generation, more people will want to farm.”

At the start of the apocalypse, people could rely on scavenging existing supplies for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. But as time passed, those initial resources were used up, and the only way forward was to restore production and manufacturing.

The precondition for production and manufacturing was survival, and one of the most basic requirements for survival was securing food and clothing through agriculture and breeding.

However, in the apocalypse, there were not only zombies, but also all sorts of unknown disasters. The range that each base could control was limited.

The supply of soil-purifying potions was limited, too.

Before the antidotes were produced, no base would risk burning through the potions and expanding blindly. Therefore, safe farmland within the bases became the most sought-after resource.

“… ”

“Just rent it. Nian Nian can decide,” Cheng Jing said seriously.

Cheng Jing said seriously. He hadn’t discussed the matter of leasing farmland with Jiang Nian much lately.

Originally, he’d thought there was no rush. Opening a grocery store would be enough—there was no need to tire themselves out running around.

But now, he understood what Jiang Nian meant.

To ordinary people, renting abandoned land seemed pointless and wasteful. Those with abundant resources didn’t care—there was no hurry to act until the soil-repair potions were released.

Ultimately, most of the prime farmland ended up in the hands of a few powerful groups. The rich would get richer and the poor would remain poor.

It’s a pretty bleak reality.

Given that, they might as well rent what they can while they still have the chance. There’s no need to be greedy—just take it slowly.

After thinking it through, he asked again:

“Do we have enough points?”

As he spoke, he checked the farmland leasing regulations.

According to the Nancheng Base farmland leasing regulations,

Official staff members, as well as individuals or teams with long-term contracts with the base authorities, were not allowed to lease these cheap vacant plots.

For instance, once they became an official rescue team, they would no longer be eligible. Only Jiang Nian, as an individual, could sign the lease.

Additionally, the lessee had to be between 18 and 60 years old, so the criteria were quite precise.

“There’s enough; some is left over. If you ever need any, just say the word. I’ll transfer it to you,”

Jiang Nian replied with a smile, pointing out the area he planned to rent on the diagram.

“This is what I have my eye on. Jiang Wenwen helped out a lot and gave some useful suggestions. She’s the manager of the water facilities in the planned farm now. Her job is easy, and she has a lot of freedom. It’ll be convenient for us to work with her.”

Cheng Jing rubbed a hand over his face.

“We can cooperate, but don’t get too close. If there are other options, I’d prefer that you not work with her.”

Jiang Nian reached up to smooth his hair.

“For now, she’s the best choice. Don’t worry. Jiang Wenwen is as secretive as Sister Qian. She knows everything, but she keeps it to herself. She only wants to work together. Besides, I told her very clearly that I’m not good at getting along with women.”

Unless there’s something seriously wrong with her, no woman would chase after a gay man.

Cheng Jing chuckled, clearly pleased yet still dissatisfied. Then he said,

“You should have told her that you’re not allowed to be with anyone but me, whether they’re a man or a woman.”

Jiang Nian: “…”

Honestly, he didn’t think that was necessary. Really!

Strangely enough, no one ever said a boyfriend’s love-struck brain could evolve.

It would be fine if it just evolved, but as Brother Jing evolved, he somehow grew darker.