Chapter 22: Breeding Factory

June 22nd.

The flames on the observable mountains had largely subsided. However, the sky remained overcast, the clouds thickening and darkening. Even at midday, it felt like twilight.

The good news was that the temperature had stabilized between 62 and 65 degrees Celsius.

On this day, Su Wu used survival points to upgrade the ground's construction waste layer to a standard, integrated concrete surface. The excavation of the shelter's third underground floor was officially complete.

"The third underground floor of the shelter," Su Wu declared, "will be named the Breeding Factory."

In the cool control center, he gazed at the 3D map of his shelter, a testament to his efforts. His refuge was becoming increasingly self-sufficient.

He opened a pre-prepared document, transmitting the design diagrams to the AI, adding the next phase of work.

The third floor would focus on breeding, producing chicken, duck, and fish – relatively easy livestock to manage. This plan, though seemingly simple, involved complex processes, essentially recreating a closed ecosystem.

From feed cultivation to temperature and light regulation, and the breeding, feeding, and disease prevention of the livestock, every step was interconnected. A single error could cause the entire system to collapse, impacting other parts of the shelter.

"Breeding rooms, chicken coops, duck coops, fish ponds, and slaughtering production lines," Su Wu reviewed the design, noting the buildings separated by concrete walls. The fish pond occupied 100 square meters, while the remaining buildings, including the livestock area for 2,500 chickens and ducks, totaled another 100 square meters.

The remaining 500 square meters would house soilless cultivation equipment for feed crops like barley sprouts, ensuring a steady supply for the livestock.

The breeding factory, in terms of space, resembled a specialized farm more than a typical factory. This was necessary because with external feed sources cut off, a large planting area was crucial for the breeding operation.

"There are no live animals yet," Su Wu noted. "We'll need to purchase them from other shelters in the future."

He decided to delay the third floor's transformation. He would transfer the engineering robot from the manufacturing center and a security robot to handle the construction. The original engineering team would begin excavating the fourth underground floor.

The breeding factory's renovation was complex, but with design diagrams and the AI, Su Wu had little to worry about. After a final review of the plans, he shifted his focus to the fourth floor's excavation.

Expanding the shelter's scale was always a priority.

That night, the network showed signs of recovery. Su Wu could intermittently receive messages.

Official personnel were venturing out to perform emergency maintenance on critical facilities and transportation routes. Some struggling private and corporate shelters were receiving official aid, including transfers to official shelters and supplies of clean water and medicine.

However, Jianghe City's power supply remained disrupted, with no prospect of recovery. Electricity had become a precious commodity.

After gathering information, Su Wu tried to contact others. In the ordinary citizens' group, most avatars were grayed out. However, the group of local private shelter owners was active.

"Brother Su is online," Wang Jianguo, the Iron Sanctuary's director, greeted him. "Is everything alright there?"

"Fortunately," Su Wu replied. "I'm in the suburbs, and the shelter is surrounded by gravel beaches. There's been no danger."

His farm's location was one of the safest in the area. It was far from the river, on high ground, and with few combustible materials.

"You're lucky," Wang Jianguo sighed. "It's a pity about Lao Li and the others. Their shelter was in the mountains, and they were trapped by fire and toxic gas. They say the official rescue team found no survivors."

Lao Li, another wealthy member, had purchased a 5,000-square-meter air raid shelter in the mountains and invested heavily in its renovation. Despite its luxurious configuration, he hadn't survived the first wave of disasters.

"Fate is unpredictable," Su Wu thought, feeling a renewed sense of gratitude.

He recalled that his initial ideal location was also a mountain air raid shelter, but he had lacked the funds to purchase it. Now, it seemed that being poor had been a blessing.

"Brother, how are things there? I remember your terrain was pretty good too," Su Wu asked.

"What's the use of good terrain?" the reply came. "The fire still spread to the windbreak forest outside the factory, and burned several factories. Plus, I wasn't prepared for toxic gas. We lost over a hundred people."

(End of Chapter)