Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 345: Chapter 335: Art Competition

Tang Mo was delighted to see the principal find the tunnel entrance so quickly. ’Looks like he really knows his stuff.’

”If people from the outside wanted to dig a tunnel entrance, this would absolutely be their first choice.”

The principal hadn’t studied architecture for all those years for nothing. This sort of thing was child’s play for him.

”Xiao Jin, I helped you find the entrance. Shouldn’t you take me to see those things now?”

Having completed his task, the principal rubbed his hands together in excitement, his eyes fixed on Tang Mo with anticipation.

Tang Mo couldn’t help but shiver. ’Why do I feel like a little white rabbit being eyed by the big bad wolf?’

”Alright.”

But since she had already gotten what she wanted, being a fair trader, Tang Mo led the principal, Director Yan, and Teacher Chen to a place she had prepared in advance.

Naturally, Tang Mo couldn’t take them down to the valley floor. So, she had already moved all the remaining unopened packages up and placed them behind a large rock near the stream where she had fainted.

Few people came here. It wasn’t upstream, so no one would come to this spot to fetch water.

Everyone was so hungry they had no energy. Besides Qiao Jin, who would have the time to wander all over the mountainside?

”This is...”

Upon seeing the packages piled up behind the rock, the principal, Director Yan, and Teacher Chen were all stunned.

It had to be said, Tang Mo was being honest this time. Aside from the supplies she had already collected and stored in the cave, she had brought everything else from the gorge up here.

After all, she didn’t have her Space right now. She couldn’t eat it all, nor could she carry it away, so she didn’t mind using these things to save a few more people.

Besides, these things were originally sent by other students’ parents. She was just a temporary delivery person.

However, Tang Mo had taken a precaution: she’d erased all the names from the packages. This would save a lot of trouble with people trying to claim them later.

’Public resources should be distributed equally by the school. No need for any of that childish clique nonsense.’

This many packages would be enough to feed them for a long time.

As three pairs of eyes slowly turned to her, Tang Mo recited the lie she had prepared long ago.

”I’ve been collecting these for a long time. You can always find good stuff if you specifically search in remote and dangerous places.”

The pre-packaged lie was full of holes. How could a little girl so easily find all this when so many teachers couldn’t?

But Tang Mo couldn’t be bothered with that right now. ’Isn’t it good enough that I’m giving them the supplies? Don’t ask too much of me, okay?’

Despite their many questions, people who become teachers are not fools. They knew what was most important right now. Even the rigid-looking Director Yan readily accepted Tang Mo’s explanation, nodding without another word.

”But I have one more request.”

’With all these supplies, I might as well get as much compensation as I can.’

”Go ahead, Xiao Jin. I’ll definitely grant it.”

The principal didn’t think much of Xiao Jin’s request. ’What could a little girl possibly ask for, out here in the deep mountains and ancient forests? At most, she’ll want to keep a portion for herself, which is only right since she found it all.’

Director Yan’s heart, however, clenched. The principal didn’t know, but she did. Qiao Jin’s life these past few days had not been easy.

If she were to demand that the food not be given to the students who had targeted her, many people would starve to death.

Seeing the principal so easily agree to Xiao Jin’s request, Director Yan grew anxious.

As a teacher, it was one thing to have no food. But to stand by and watch so many students starve to death when there *was* food... once they got out, how could she possibly explain that to their parents?

Those parents were not simple people. They were not people she could afford to cross.

If Tang Mo knew what Director Yan was thinking, she would have died laughing. ’So the other students’ lives are lives, but Qiao Jin’s isn’t?’

’Just because in Director Yan’s mind, Qiao Jin’s parents are just ordinary people, it’s not a big deal?’

But Tang Mo’s perspective wasn’t as petty as Director Yan imagined. These minor student conflicts might have been the last straw for Qiao Jin, but for an adult like Tang Mo who had been through so much, she truly didn’t take them to heart.

’They didn’t hit me, and they didn’t curse me. Ultimately, if I don’t care about them gossiping behind my back, it’s out of sight, out of mind.’

’As for not giving me any food...’

’The food was theirs to begin with. It’s up to them whether they want to share it or not.’ Tang Mo found that perfectly normal.

”I want the school to hold an art competition. I’ll decide the theme, and anyone who wants food, except for the teachers, has to participate.”

An art competition—that was Tang Mo’s ultimate goal.

Now that they had found the exit, she needed to fulfill another one of Xiao Jin’s wishes before they left.

”Alright.”

This was enough to feed all the students. Getting them fed and organizing an activity to distract them was a win-win situation. There was no reason to refuse.

Having accomplished all her goals, Tang Mo returned, satisfied. Meanwhile, the principal, who had reaped a great harvest, went back as happy as a lark to gather people.

Gather people for what? To move the packages, of course. There was no way an old man and two female teachers could move all this stuff back by themselves, was there?

The principal was a man of action. After returning and securing the supplies, he immediately began to work on the matter he had promised Tang Mo.

The competition theme Tang Mo provided was ”Scene.”

Meaning, everyone had to paint a scene.

This was the exact same theme as the last competition—the one where Zhang Siyang had stolen Xiao Jin’s painting.

That’s right. Tang Mo did it on purpose.

She had already tested it. By possessing Qiao Jin’s body, she had completely inherited the girl’s genius-level artistic talent. She was going to use this competition to finally fulfill the wish in Xiao Jin’s heart.

”Why is it this theme again?”

”Yeah, can’t they pick something else? The school has no imagination.”

The students grumbled a bit about the repeated theme. But now that they had full bellies and their art supplies were available, trading a painting for a meal wasn’t a big deal for them.

After some minor complaints, they all began to prepare in earnest.

After all, the principal had also promised that the top three winners would receive a generous food reward.

Food! What could be more precious or desirable right now? Everyone brought out their best skills, ready to give it everything they had.