Wang Simi nodded. That was indeed the case.

Those in charge wanted to look good on paper, so they were particularly concerned with keeping up appearances.

"So, I’ve heard you mention that the situation in some communes is particularly dire. Those are the isolated ones. The only reason any news has leaked out for you to hear is because things there have gotten so bad."

"What worries me now is that other places probably aren’t much better off. They’re just holding out until their resources are completely drained. At that point, it won’t be a question of whether those in charge can bear the responsibility or cover it up—it will be a man-made disaster."

"People are terrifying when they’re starving. When they can’t even save their own lives, do you think they’ll care about honor or shame? If they find out our cafeteria warehouse has grain reserves right now, what do you think will happen?"

"Do you think just a dozen or a few dozen demobilized veterans will be able to stop them?"

The more Wang Simi thought about what Zhu Yun said, the more horrified and panicked she became.

She wasn’t old, but then again, New Xiahua hadn’t been founded that long ago. Her generation had witnessed the fires of war in their childhood and had grown up on stories of heroes. But those heroic tales often contained the helpless, dark, and cruel aspects of life.

Take the brigands who burned, killed, and pillaged, committing every evil imaginable—were any of them born to be killers?

Many of them came from good, decent families. It just goes to show that when people are pushed to the brink, they’re capable of anything.

If people get hungry enough, even swapping children to eat them becomes a possibility!

"Master, you’re not just trying to scare me, are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with tears, clinging to a sliver of hope.

In the living room, Chu Shenyu and Mrs. Chu heard Zhu Yun’s words as well, and it was as if a storm was crashing in their hearts.

Modern Xiahua was different from the dynasties of old. The people were their own masters, fed and clothed, united in their drive for national construction. Plus, they were in the Capital City; how could such chaos touch them? Moreover, the machinery factory was run by a demobilized military unit. Most of the men were still muscular and strong.

Surely, no one would dare try to rob them.

However, Chu Shenyu lowered his gaze. ’But when people are starving and have nothing to lose, will they really think things through so carefully?’

’It’s as they say: "those with nothing to lose don’t fear those who have everything." The people at the factory have to consider the repercussions; they can’t afford to get anyone killed. That creates a vulnerability others could easily exploit.’

’Once people go crazy with looting, emboldened by the idea that there’s safety in numbers, what else will they care about?’

’The chaos will just spiral out of control!’

Zhu Yun shrugged. "What do you think? Apprentice, you must remember to never overestimate human goodness, and never underestimate human evil."

"Look at your master. I always assume the worst of people, so I never get taken advantage of. And aren’t I living a perfectly lovely life?"

Wang Simi giggled. ’Master must have forgotten the seven years she suffered under the Wang Family.’

"Then what should we do?" she asked, worried.

Before Zhu Yun could speak, Chu Shenyu interjected, "We’ll make a show of repairing the road, but secretly take another path."

"We need to move the contents of the warehouse as quickly as possible. We’ll leave a small portion behind as a front, and move the rest somewhere hidden." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"And perhaps," he added, a cold smirk playing on his lips, "we can also catch a few restless opportunists in the process."

Zhu Yun snapped her fingers and looked at him with pure admiration. But then her expression turned to worry. "Chu Shenyu, how are you so brilliant? It took me a whole season of mulling this over just to smell a whiff of danger, and you’ve already laid out a plan and figured out how to use this to make a bigger move!"

"They say a child’s intelligence comes from their mother. What a waste of that brilliant brain of yours."

Wang Simi had to endure their public display of affection.

’Master never held back when it came to praising her husband.’

Chu Shenyu smiled and patted his wife’s head. "You’re no slouch yourself. You’re a director, after all."

After he spoke, he turned to Wang Simi, his expression calm. "You won’t be able to explain all this clearly by yourself. Keep everything you just heard to yourself. Don’t mention it to anyone. I’ll go with you to see Director Wang."

Zhu Yun didn’t interfere, simply pulling her husband aside to whisper a quiet warning. "We’ll help where we can. But if it turns out there’s an insider, and chaos erupts, we have to protect ourselves first. Don’t you dare risk your life fighting anyone."

"We have an escape plan, remember?"

Chu Shenyu smiled and nodded. "I know. I’m not on my own anymore. And now there’s a little one in your belly. Of course I’ll be careful."

A cold north wind was howling. The moment the door opened, a gust swirled inside.

Zhu Yun shivered, pulling her neck into her collar, and Mrs. Chu pressed another bowl of chicken soup into her hands.

"Finish your soup, walk around the room a little, and then go to bed. When Shen Yu gets back, I should head home and have a word with your father."