Chapter 23 Sugar and Knives

"Ugh… I'm stuffed. I don't want to eat seafood ever again!"

Han Han clutched her little belly and sprawled on the sofa like some famous comedian, a carton of yogurt dangling from her mouth as she sighed.

The table in front of her was piled high with crab and crayfish shells.

She had single-handedly devoured nearly ten pounds of seafood.

Hairy crabs, crayfish, and half a steamed perch…

An ordinary little girl would have had her stomach explode from overeating.

"Today is the twenty-first day after the world's changes. After regulation and investigation, although the market price of food is under control, it is still extremely expensive… According to the latest international news, the average price of rice is about two hundred and twenty Yanhuang coins per 500 grams, flour is one hundred and ninety-eight yuan, and vegetables and fruits are even more priceless…"

"Due to the soaring grain prices, a large number of wild animals have been hunted within the world, which has also affected the price of meat and seafood."

"As of now, the price of pork is five hundred and eighty yuan! The price of mutton is seven hundred and twenty yuan, and the price of seafood has exceeded the one thousand yuan mark…"

In the television, a heavily made-up host was reciting some data, a hint of fatigue and confusion about the future on her face. Even thick foundation couldn't hide her true emotions.

Television hosts are public figures, the most concerned about appearance and words and deeds, because their small actions, expressions, or words can affect many people.

But even public figures today can hardly hide their confusion about the future in front of the screen, which shows that the current situation in the world may be worse than what is reported on television.

"Most people cannot afford such expensive food prices. According to a survey, 98% of the world's families have switched to frozen food for their main meals…"

"We don't know when this disaster will end in the future, but we still can't give up hope. Let us work together to win this war without gunpowder! Believe that the light is not far ahead!"

The host said some uninspired words of encouragement, and from her face, it could be seen that even she herself did not believe these words.

The television broadcast ended here, and what was left was some data.

Lists of people who died from famine riots in various countries.

The world has changed and become a huge purgatory.

And Li Tianran's farm is the only small oasis…

Han Han sat on the sofa, watching the broadcast on TV, her little hands resting on her cheeks as she softly asked, "Big Brother… is it true that nothing grows on the land outside now?"

"That's right." Li Tianran walked over with a basin of peeled crayfish, sat on the sofa, and watched TV: "Many people can't afford meat and vegetables, and can only eat plain noodles and instant noodles…"

Han Han blinked and asked curiously, "Big Brother, we have a lot to eat! Why don't we share some with others?"

Children are naturally kind, know how to share, and know how to help the weak.

Li Tianran was very happy that Han Han had such an idea.

"Wanting to help others… that's a very good thought," Li Tianran nodded, and then said: "But the world of adults is very complicated! A kind helping hand doesn't always get a good return!"

Han Han looked at Li Tianran with a puzzled expression.

"Let me put it in simpler terms…" Li Tianran smiled and said: "For example, you have two lollipops, and you give one to a child A, but children B, C, and D also see it, and they also want to eat lollipops. They think that since you gave one to A, you must have more in your hand."

"But you only have one left. If you give it to them, you won't have any left for yourself."

"You refuse them, but at this time they have a very strange idea: You gave one to A, why don't you give one to us?"

"They are attracted by the sweet taste of the lollipop, lose their minds, become angry, and start snatching your lollipop. In the end, your lollipop is snatched away, and you are pushed to the ground, and your clothes are dirtied…"

"And child A? He got a lollipop from you, but he still wants a second and a third! Who would think they have too many sweets?"

"But you have no more sweets, so child A thinks you are lying to him, leaves angrily, and proclaims everywhere that you are a stingy person…"

"You lost your friends and your sweets."

Li Tianran spoke slowly, his tone very serious.

Han Han was stunned. She opened her mouth and muttered, "The children in our kindergarten aren't that bad! And they don't dare to fight me… Han Han is very good at fighting. She is the class leader in kindergarten!"

Li Tianran smiled when he heard this.

He touched Han Han's head and said, "I'm just giving an example! In this world now, there are many people without 'sweets,' and they are almost driven mad by hunger. If they know that we have a lot of 'sweets' in our hands, they will definitely come to snatch them!"

"People's greed is endless."

"If we give away our food, the chances of being grateful and being envied are 50-50. I don't want to gamble on human nature in this end of the world."

"And like you said just now… only when the children in your class are afraid of your force, and are all intimidated by you, can you freely show your kindness! The power to distribute sweets is in your hands. You can give it if you want, and you can take it back at any time if you don't want to!"

"The treasure-giving gods in mythology often hold treasures in one hand and swords in the other. The left hand represents kindness, and the right hand represents majesty."

"Kindness cannot coexist with majesty. People will think you are a piece of fat and will want to take a bite."

Li Tianran said a lot. He believed Han Han could understand the meaning of his words.

Although being exposed to these principles is a bit too early for Han Han's age, in this world environment, Li Tianran still hopes that Han Han can have some awareness of protecting herself.

Naive, innocent children and soft-hearted pushovers without principles are the same kind of people who are most easily destroyed in the apocalypse.

In this era, even doing good deeds and being a good person requires extremely strong force to maintain.

Otherwise, it will harm not only yourself, but also your family!

"In summary, there is only one sentence… Your kindness must have an edge," Li Tianran said softly.

"An edge?" Han Han asked softly.

"That's right." Li Tianran walked to the window. He held the level 4 crop seeds in his left hand and the black gold Tang saber in his right hand, pointing the blade at the large farm outside the window, at those cold and powerful fighting warriors reflecting the light: "These are my edges! Now, it is not strong enough…"

"Only when it grows to the point where it can split everything open will I be qualified to show my kindness to this world!"

Han Han stared blankly at Li Tianran.

At this moment, she suddenly felt that he was a bit like a god!

…

Research Institute.

More than a dozen researchers were sitting in front of comparison machines, frantically comparing nearly 100,000 DNA samples that had just been sent.

A strand of hair was quietly placed in the center of a large instrument.

Although it was extremely small, it was like a treasure, affecting everyone's heart.

Bai Jingyan sat aside, watching quietly.

Suddenly, blood streaks spread across his neck, quickly climbing onto his face, and his eyes suddenly changed, becoming extremely violent.

Side effects of imperfect mutation—loss of control!

Bai Jingyan quickly picked up a syringe and pierced it into his wrist. As about 10 milliliters of sedative was injected into his body, his emotions gradually stabilized.

The blood streaks receded, and his eyes calmed down.

"Huff… Huff…" Bai Jingyan's chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath. This feeling of fighting against his body's instincts made him miserable. If he hadn't been used to suffering since childhood, he would have collapsed long ago!

Situations like the one just now, since he walked out of the sterile ward, had occurred five times in just seven hours!

And each time was more intense than the last.

The amount of sedative injected also increased from eight milliliters at the beginning to ten milliliters, which was a terrifying thing.

If it continued to worsen like this, he was afraid that the sedative would fail sooner or later.

In less than seven days, he would go berserk due to loss of control!

Bai Jingyan stood up, pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, still maintaining an elegant and calm attitude, and said softly, "Everyone, I don't have much time left… Please hurry up."