Rebirth: I Will Win Easily in the Apocalypse

72: Chapter 60 Prion Virus 72: Chapter 60 Prion Virus Based on the rate of temperature rise, the extreme cold would soon end.

It was unknown whether, like in his previous life, the ice would disappear overnight, or whether, as the temperature rose above zero degrees, the ice layer would gradually thaw and City C would once again experience the devastation of floods.

One thing was certain, though: it was no longer viable to stay in City C.

Whether it was a direct temperature increase leading to the ice disappearing, or another flood, life in City C was sure to be fraught with difficulties.

Once the ice was gone, the exposed corpses would breed bacteria endlessly.

Coupled with people’s weakened immune systems due to malnutrition from food shortages, it would be easy for bacterial and viral infections to spread, likely leading to an epidemic.

Alternatively, with very few houses left intact in City C suitable for living, the tumultuous floods would make even pitching tents or living outdoors a difficult task.

“We should move,” Gu Yanzhi sighed deeply, contemplating to discuss it with Song Zhao once he returned.

Recently, Song Zhao had found a job as a porter, aiding relief teams or government food distribution centers with transporting supplies.

Because only he and Gu Yanzhi were at home, and with Gu Yanzhi’s condition making it impossible for her to move, she definitely couldn’t work outside.

If he didn’t work either, and they stayed unproductive at home yet didn’t lack food and drink and didn’t lose weight, it would sooner or later arouse suspicion.

The job he found was quite leisurely, only requiring him to deliver supplies to designated locations at fixed intervals each day, with no work beyond those times, making it convenient for him to care for Gu Yanzhi at any moment.

Consequently, the job’s pay wasn’t high, merely providing three meals a day.

The provided meals were somewhat better than the watery porridge or soup rations— at least they were dry food, and occasionally he could get a can of canned food.

Every mealtime, after delivering supplies, Song Zhao could directly bring back his own meal along with Gu Yanzhi’s rations to their tent without having to make an extra trip.

Even such a low-reward job was now enviable among everyone.

The government-run factories had collapsed in the earthquake and had yet to clear manpower for excavation and reconstruction.

Many factory workers were temporarily unemployed and had to look for work elsewhere.

The government-provided meals for disaster victims were either porridge, mushy flour paste, or occasionally vegetable soup, but without exception, they were like water— quickly consumed and quickly leaving one hungry again.

It wasn’t that the government didn’t want to provide better food; much of the supplies were still trapped under rubble and being excavated.

With limited supplies available, only such measures could ensure that more people could eat.

When this job had opened up, everyone had clamored fiercely to get in.

If not for the aid of Building 10, Song Zhao might not have secured this job.

Previously, the Gu Family had helped them a lot, but their ability to repay was limited.

Now at last there was an opportunity, and several families alternated visiting the recruiter in their spare time, speaking well of Song Zhao.

Learning that Song Zhao was skilled, brave, and meticulous, the person in charge happily settled on hiring him.

The person in charge also knew that with food scarce and everyone hungry, emotions could get the better of people, leading to irrational actions.

An accidental loss of supplies to theft could mean more people without meals, possibly unable to sustain even basic life.

Indeed, the delivery of supplies required such a competent person at the core.

Now, they didn’t know how long City C’s supplies could last; they could only take it one day at a time, trying to ensure that more people could eat.

By evening, Song Zhao had returned home after delivering the last batch of supplies for the day.

Gu Yanzhi had already set the food on the table, and it was steaming hot.

“What delicious food have we got today?” Song Zhao lifted the tent’s curtain and then carefully secured it back in place.

As soon as he entered, he could smell the aroma of the food.

Today, a small supply delivery team had been caught skimming off the top for themselves and were punished with hard labor.

Their team took a few extra trips to deliver the supplies designated to that team.

Having worked longer than usual, Song Zhao felt hungry.

He changed out of his dusty clothes, and Gu Yanzhi handed him a wet wipe.

After cleaning his hands, he sat down at the small dining table.

The small dining table was actually the over-the-bed table Gu Yanzhi had found when she first woke up, which they continued to use recently to facilitate meals for her.

During the meal, Gu Yanzhi brought up the possibility of them having to move.

Gu Yanzhi didn’t need to elaborate; Song Zhao understood her meaning as soon as she started.

Even if Gu Yanzhi hadn’t brought it up, Song Zhao had planned to discuss the matter with her today.

Lately, while working outside, he noticed more and more people with symptoms of fever, coughing, and diarrhea.

Considering the current cold weather, it was unlikely to be an epidemic.

It might be due to people eating less and their immunity declining leading to sickness, but Song Zhao harbored an even more terrifying suspicion.

“Are you saying…”
As Song Zhao described the symptoms, Gu Yanzhi’s eyes widened; clearly, she too suspected something.

Prions!!

Gu Yanzhi was aware—a group in City C had been secretly collecting corpses.

Previously, the normal incomes and government support sufficed for most families, so although such people existed, due to general consciousness and government control, their activities had remained clandestine and participants were few.

Unexpectedly, just a week post-earthquake, food had become so scarce that prion infection and transmission were already occurring.

If it wasn’t for Song Zhao mentioning it today, Gu Yanzhi might have forgotten.

In her previous life, prion outbreaks had occurred as well.

Back then, due to inattentive government control and the profusion of darkness, prion epidemics had emerged even earlier.

During that period, nearly half of City C’s population perished before the government reacted to start taking control; however, it was too late by then, and less than a third of City C’s inhabitants survived.

Regardless of how one looked at it, City C was no longer suitable for habitation.

Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao tacitly agreed.

The most difficult issue now was Gu Yanlin, who had joined the military.

Under ordinary circumstances, he was definitely expected to follow the orders of the 532 Squad and their superiors.

It was unknown whether they could let him be discharged; Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao certainly couldn’t rest easy leaving Gu Yanlin on his own.

Their future place of residence had to be near him.

If 532 Squad didn’t evacuate City C, the two of them were also unlikely to leave.

Even if they did, they would at most relocate to somewhere near City C to live.

Fortunately, it seemed there were still a few days buffer time to think things over.

This matter would also have to wait until Gu Yanlin had completed his rescue missions and had time to discuss it thoroughly.