Cold Disaster

The light snow continued to fall, and the wind was intermittent.

On the sloping roof, a bit of snow that couldn't be held up slid down, scattering snowflakes everywhere.

The three of them carried small stools and sat at the kitchen doorway, drinking fish soup and exhaling steaming white vapors in unison.

Drinking fish soup is a real treat.

Especially with the cold wind and snow outside, it's so comforting to gather together and drink soup.

"The country is rich now."

Grandpa said, "These past few days, Teacher Qiao has been coming to see me a lot, and I've finally gotten to the bottom of this special talent reserve matter."

"You don't have to do anything special, and you still get paid and receive benefits."

"As for emergencies, even without registering this or anything, if something serious really happens, we, the people from all around, should lend a hand."

"In the past, we never received such good treatment!"

Chu Tianshu nodded. He had also heard about the special talent reserve in the Macau.

The attitude in China towards special events and spiritual practitioners has changed several times.

In the mid-20th century, many special incidents were handled directly by skilled personnel from the military.

However, due to factors such as encouraging development, a large number of soldiers were demobilized, and many practitioners were also tempted by the development opportunities at that time, applied for demobilization, and started businesses.

In that era, the whole world was still in the aftermath of war and a wave of great development, and special events occurred one after another among the people.

The retired practitioners then spearheaded a "Metaphysics Research Association," recruiting practitioners from the general public to assist in handling related matters. Although the compensation was not substantial, they could obtain some convenience and support in return.

However, this Metaphysics Research Association is indeed a mixed bag, with all sorts of people from different walks of life.

Many of the organizations that are nominally affiliated with these organizations are only there to take advantage of others and don't actually do their jobs properly.

Once the economy improved, Special Investigation Bureau was established, providing generous benefits and fully accepting its command and control to fulfill its duties.

In addition to recruiting members from outside, there are also educational institutions connected to the Special Investigation Bureau. If you can pass the exam, you can receive all the training courses for free.

Then it's been these past few years.

Or to put it simply, it was only recently that the "special talent reserve" program was officially launched.

Before recruiting and registering anyone, they offer practical training and guidance on cultivation methods.

"It's not just because we have money, it's also to cope with the trend of frequent special events."

Chu Tianshu turned his head and said, "Teacher Qiao, you don't need to tell me the details of the technique you learned. Just demonstrate it for me, okay?"

Qiao Xing nodded and smiled, "I've only just developed a little bit of Mind Power, don't laugh at me."

He raised his right index finger, his lips slightly parted, clearly chanting a spell, then looked ahead and poked with his index finger.

Half a foot away, a snowflake that was about to fall suddenly froze in mid-air.

It paused for about two seconds, then the snowflakes started falling again.

This effect would probably have been difficult to notice had the two bystanders not paid attention.

"Very pure."

Chu Tianshu nodded slightly and took a sip of fish soup.

Although the amount of this Mind Power is still very small, its quality is indeed quite good.

Since that's the case, there's no need for Teacher Qiao to switch to studying "The Secret Incantations of Vertical and Horizontal".

"Haha, Great Saber in front of Lord Guan."

Teacher Qiao said, "I thought this Mind Power cultivation method was so good that I was even thinking of having you register as a special talent."

"As it turns out, Second Master Chu said that you've also acquired some excellent martial arts techniques. I heard you even went to Macau as a consultant for a project. Your skills are now unfathomable."

Chu Tianshu modestly replied, "It's alright."

Speaking of the Macau, he realized he hadn't yet called the pharmacy to inquire about the situation.

Never mind, I'll contact you again before going to bed tonight.

As for Lin Baisui...

Chu Tianshu held a bowl of fish soup in one hand and took out his phone to open a chat window.

[Are you there? Are you there? Are you there? I'm home, drinking fish soup at my second grandfather's house.]

After a while, Lin Baisui responded with a GIF of a large yellow hand suddenly clenching up and giving a thumbs-up.

[Poor taxi driver, I've been working overtime every day lately. The authorities predict there might be a snowstorm in the south, and various places are making preparations for the cold. We also need to be wary of any special events mixing in and causing trouble.]

[You wait, after I finish working overtime, I'll take the fishing net straight to my second grandfather's house and fish them out!]

He then posted a goodbye emoji of a black puppy disappearing into the snow.

Chu Tianshu replied with a goodbye.

"Snow disaster?"

When his second grandfather heard him recite the word, he said, "It's been snowing for at least six or seven days now, heavy snow, light snow, but it hasn't stopped for a single day."

"I checked the weather forecast, and it looks like the snow is going to keep falling. If this continues, it'll probably become a disaster."

Second Grandfather looked at the fields beyond the river.

"Fortunately, most of the fields in our village have been contracted out to large households, so we have surplus grain at home. If this had happened a few years ago, I don't know how heartbroken we would have been."

Teacher Qiao said seriously, "It's not just a matter of the land; our equipment in the south isn't as cold-resistant as what we have in the north."

"If it really turns into a snow disaster, transportation infrastructure, and household water and electricity systems could all potentially be affected."

"Our school has already let everyone on holiday except for the senior students. If the snow doesn't stop in a couple of days, the senior students might have to go back too."

Chu Tianshu sighed upon hearing this.

"I was quite happy to see such heavy snow today, but I never imagined it might turn into a disaster."

He looked at the snow outside.

Tiny snowflakes, vanishing the moment they touch the skin.

Once the damage is truly accumulated, natural disasters become unavoidable, and all one can do is endure them.

"Don't overthink it. Given the current conditions in our country, the chances of anyone freezing to death are still quite slim."

My second grandfather, having lived through truly difficult times, is relatively optimistic about this situation.

"Besides, I've been watching the weather forecast for years, and it's only half accurate, half inaccurate."

"The snow might stop tomorrow, and there won't really be any cold disaster."

Chu Tianshu laughed heartily and gave a thumbs up, "Second Grandpa has such a good attitude."

"That's right! Taking things easy is a secret to longevity."

My second grandfather said, "Many people in the village have been saying they're going to the supermarket and farmers' market to stock up on goods lately, but I haven't gone."

"There are fish in the water, ducks behind the house, and vegetables in the field. I'm growing Chinese cabbage, and even if it's covered by snow, you can still eat the heart of the cabbage, maybe even crisper and sweeter."

Teacher Qiao hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

The countryside in the Jianghuai is neither as impoverished as mountain villages nor as densely populated as Dadu, relying heavily on transportation and disconnected from the fields.

Amidst the cold disaster, this place may actually be the least affected.

But looking at the whole of the South, such places are, after all, a minority.

Teacher Qiao sighed and didn't say anything more.

With his limited resources and abilities, thinking too much is just empty talk. He's helpless and can only sigh in despair. He should just focus on living his own life first.

After finishing the fish soup, Chu Tianshu said goodbye to his second grandfather and Teacher Qiao, then unfolded his black umbrella and went for a walk.

When he reached the bridge, his second grandfather picked up his fishing rod and turned on the radio.

Chu Tianshu looked into the distance, pondering to himself that he didn't raise any ducks, so he should go to the supermarket and buy some meat and a few bags of chicken and duck legs to put in the refrigerator.

Even if the power goes out due to the cold weather, the meat you buy won't spoil in this temperature.

I'll also buy a few more cases of drinks.

A lot of the medicinal wine we used to make at home has been used up, so we need to buy some white wine to add to it.

He was too lazy to go back to charge his electric scooter. After arriving at the supermarket, he bundled up the wine and drinks, piled the meat on top, and carried it away with one hand.

The supermarket owner, seeing how relaxed he was, was full of surprise and couldn't help but ask the sales clerk next to him if it was okay to carry it like that.

Judging from the looks of it, the boss will definitely be talking about this with others later.

But with Chu Tianshu's current strength, he doesn't need to care about being ostentatious over such a small matter, so he can act as he pleases.

In the evening, he went to the field and picked a few large bok choy. He then stir-fried the bok choy, made a meat and egg soup, and cooked a pot of rice.

After finishing the meal, I called Fang Jun and Yin Fengxin from the table and chatted for a long time.

"What? It's really selling like hotcakes?"

"Of course, of course! I knew it would sell so well; I definitely had a plan."

"Okay, transfer the money tomorrow. I'll think about some new recipes."

Hearing Yin Fengxin excitedly chatting about his online store business, Chu Tianshu casually asked, "How's your cultivation going?"

Yin Fengxin fell silent for a while.

He said cautiously, "Right now, I can only maintain this Aperture Opening for fifty minutes."

Chu Tianshu had thought he might have slacked off in his cultivation when he heard his silence, but upon hearing this answer, he couldn't help but praise him.

"Wow, you've only been cultivating for a little over a month, and you've already achieved such results."

"Although I said you had already cultivated Spirit Root, this was still unexpectedly fast. Very good, very good."

Yin Fengxin hesitated, "Is it really that good? But even now, I don't dare to use electric shocks to assist my cultivation, and I don't have your diligence in entering cultivation at any time..."

Chu Tianshu responded with an "Oh."

"You use me as your standard? Then you at least have to wait until your own foundation is close to my level."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "You're already very fast. Didn't Fang Jun tell you how good your performance was?"

Yin Fengxin asked doubtfully, "At first, Brother Jun was very enthusiastic in guiding me. After a week, it took me almost half an hour to Aperture Opening concepts, and then he stopped guiding me much."

"Every time I ask him, his evaluation is just average, at most slightly better than he was back then."

Yin Fengxin wasn't stupid; he just didn't understand cultivation well enough. As he spoke, his tone became somewhat enlightened.

"Is Jun-ge...?"

Chu Tianshu couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"He probably just didn't want you to become arrogant and complacent, haha, he just meant well."

Chu Tianshu coughed. "No wonder he mentioned earlier that the soul-nurturing playing cards he had previously commissioned were just sitting idle, so he might consider nurturing some malevolent spirits in them."

"That's great, you can encourage each other."

Yin Fengxin said excitedly, "Don't worry, Brother Chu, I will definitely continue to practice hard."

Chu Tianshu hung up the phone, his fist resting on his chin, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

Fang Jun usually seems pretty cool, I really want to see what his expression is when he comments "just average".

The laughter tugged at his ribs, and Chu Tianshu touched the injury on his ribs.

There's already a scar there, but with his physique, it should heal in another two days.

Chu Tianshu's expression calmed down.

"Duan Zhong, his final move, the change of direction, it all happened so fast, yet so smoothly and naturally. The air wasn't an obstacle, but rather an aid."

Chu Tianshu pondered.

"My boxing style should also be able to achieve this kind of harmony with the environment."

The lights in the house remained on for a long time before finally going out.

The first thing Chu Tianshu did after getting up the next day was to go to the bamboo forest behind the house to practice boxing.

Light snow was still falling from the sky.

Snow was everywhere on the open ground and bamboo leaves, especially on the bamboo stalks; the slightest touch would send snowflakes fluttering down.

Chu Tianshu wandered through the forest, increasing his speed with each turn. After emerging, he noticed a few snowflakes of water on the hem of his clothes.

He closed his eyes in deep thought, shook his sleeves to dry them, and soon after, he entered the bamboo forest again.

In the house, one is as still as an Arhat, cultivating one's physical strength; in the forest, one wanders like the wind, seeking to ride it; before going to sleep, one cultivates Mind Power, nourishing Weapon Soul.

Chu Tianshu began to lead a very regular life.

But this weather is becoming increasingly disheartening.

It had already been snowing for six or seven days, but after Chu Tianshu returned, it snowed every single day of the week.

News reports already state unequivocally the facts regarding the cold disaster.

Several coastal cities known for their consistently hot climate have recently experienced snowfall.

Many places also reported that freezing rain had fallen in recent days, and the bare, blackened tree branches were covered with a thin layer of ice.

Roads and railway tracks were frozen solid, and the ice grew thicker and heavier in the rain and snow.

(End of this chapter)