Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

The extraction of the Elemental Stone vein would definitely continue.

Zhang Yi had decided this, and he planned to send people to supervise. In addition, the Jiangnan Region would need to dispatch personnel as well, to prevent anyone from using tricks during the allocation.

After discussing these matters, Zhang Yi took his leave of Qin Qigong and prepared to return to the Jiangnan Region.

After Qin Qigong exchanged polite words, he escorted Zhang Yi out.

When Zhang Yi returned to his residence, he spotted from a distance two beautiful women standing at the gate wearing Snowy Plateau ethnic attire, silently waiting in the wind and snow.

As soon as he arrived, the two women immediately stepped forward to greet him.

”Honorable Chaos!”

Zhang Yi recognized them as maidservants from Pagyi Gesang’s entourage.

That old man himself was ugly and fat, but his attendants were young and pretty.

”Is there a reason you came here?” Zhang Yi asked with a smile.

One of the maidservants cupped her hands and said to Zhang Yi, ”My master has prepared a celebratory banquet for you, and specially sent the two of us to invite you to attend.”

Zhang Yi suddenly remembered. He had recalled that before he departed for the Qinling Mountains, Pagyi Gesang had mentioned something like this.

But after returning, he had forgotten about it.

”I thought he was just being polite, I never expected he’d actually do it,” Zhang Yi muttered to himself.

He did not have strong feelings for the fatty from the Southwest Region, but he did not really hate him either.

After all, he was too lazy to meddle in other people’s affairs.

However, Pagyi Gesang had always been very respectful toward him. Having promised, Zhang Yi found it hard to refuse.

Out of caution, he said to the two maidservants, ”If Chief Pagyi has prepared a lavish dinner, I cannot enjoy it alone. May I bring my family with me?”

The two maidservants exchanged a glance, then cupped their hands and smiled at Zhang Yi.

”Of course! Lord Pagyi said this banquet is prepared for you and your relatives and friends.”

Zhang Yi chuckled and had them wait at the gate while he returned to his residence to call everyone.

The group was not overly surprised to hear Pagyi Gesang had invited them to dine.

With Zhang Yi’s current power and status, everyone wanted to curry favor with him.

”Maybe it’s just a normal dinner. Let’s just go,” Zhou Ke’er said, linking her arm with Zhang Yi and smiling.

Yang Xinxin nodded in agreement.

Zhang Yi smiled and said, ”Since someone is hosting, let’s all go together. You know, the Pagyi household has an outstanding cook; his dishes haunt your dreams. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water!”

Zhang Yi had tasted many delicious dishes, but the chef who accompanied Pagyi Gesang, Pagyi Luodan, was a culinary-type superhuman.

The meals he prepared were extraordinarily tasty, far surpassing even the best state banquet chefs in Shengjing.

Although Zhang Yi wasn’t sure whether Pagyi Gesang had hidden motives, going together and treating it as one last sumptuous meal before leaving Shengjing sounded fine to everyone.

Led by the two maidservants, the group arrived at the Southwest Region’s temporary residence.

Even before entering the courtyard, an irresistibly enticing aroma wafted through the air.

Hua Hua, curled up in Yang Xinxin’s arms, lifted its head, eyes wide and shining, sniffing intently to locate the scent’s source.

When those inside saw Zhang Yi arrive, they hurriedly came to inform their master.

Soon Pagyi Gesang waddled out, dragging his bulky body and wearing a face full of smiles to greet them.

”Respected Lord Chaos, and his relatives and friends, thank you very much for coming! I, Pagyi Gesang, am deeply honored.”

Pagyi Gesang bowed to Zhang Yi with meticulous manners.

Zhang Yi quickly moved forward to help him up.

”Chief Pagyi, you need not be so formal. We should be the ones thanking you for preparing this dinner.”

After some polite exchange, Pagyi Gesang led Zhang Yi and the others into the house.

As they entered, Zhang Yi’s eyes scanned everything around him.

People from the Southwest Region wore their local ethnic clothing: detachable-sleeve cotton coats, their hair tied with scarves or cords.

Yet beneath those garments, the hems of high-tech combat suits were still visible.

Inside the house, all the attendants were uniformly young and pretty maidservants.

Compared to Zhou Ke’er and the others, their looks were only delicate, not breathtaking.

Still, on the Snowy Plateau such beauty was uncommon; some of the women seemed to have been brought from the Sichuan-Chongqing area, their complexions clearly fair and lovely.

Once a few of them entered the room, they were catered to with extraordinary attentiveness by those maidservants.

Even the recently heartbroken Fatty Xu found himself surrounded by two maidservants helping him take off his coat.

Fatty Xu, flattered and surprised, looked them over and shook his head.

In terms of looks and gentle charm, they were far inferior to Li Yangyang.

Indeed, when men start showing off, women have no say, he thought inwardly.

Zhang Yi and the others took their seats at a massive round table in the center.

Host Pagyi Gesang sat at the head, with Zhang Yi at the next seat.

Once the guests had arrived, the prepared dishes were quickly brought to the table by the maidservants.

The meal was unbelievably lavish. Zhang Yi had eaten many exquisite dishes, but he had to admit nothing compared to this feast.

When the cloches were lifted, the dazzling array of dishes alone greatly increased appetite, not to mention the intoxicating fragrances that filled the air.

Zhang Yi swallowed discreetly; that biological reaction to seeing food was natural.

He was not alone; the others showed similar reactions.

Pagyi Gesang beckoned and took a skin flask from a maidservant, personally pouring a cup of highland barley wine for Zhang Yi and the others.

”This is the best wine from our Snowy Plateau. Please, everyone, have a taste!”

Pagyi Gesang said with a smile.

His humble manner left no room for criticism.

He raised his own cup and said, ”Thank you all for coming. I drink to you all!” Then he drained the cup in one gulp.

Zhang Yi looked at the cup in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then also took a swallow.

Everyone in Zhang Yi’s household normally took antidotes to prevent accidental poisoning or being targeted, so they were careful.

Throughout the toasting and cup-swapping, Pagyi Gesang’s hospitality was unusually attentive. If one hadn’t seen how he treated his subordinates before, it would be hard to believe he was a respected tusi of the Southwest Region.

Zhang Yi looked at Pagyi Gesang and felt a growing sense of puzzlement.

The Southwest Region was very special. Because of the presence of the esoteric order, it had always operated as a theocratic system where religion and government were unified.

Outsiders seldom interfered.

This trip from Shengjing had only sent a third-ranking official to represent their stance.

Pagyi Gesang’s overly warm behavior toward him was treatment that representatives from other regions did not receive.

Author’s Note