Published: February 10, 2025
This idea has been around for a long time.
In the previous life, there were several industries that were quite profitable, such as equipment manufacturing, potion production, battle beast breeding, and information intelligence, among others.
This also included pharmaceutical factories.
Of course, compared to pharmaceutical companies in normal times, the pharmaceutical factories during the apocalypse could only be called small workshops.
Those rough, odoriferous pills were the products of these small workshops.
However, once they hit the market, these pills, though not priceless, could still be considered semi-luxury items.
In such a violent industry, how could Ye Zhongming give up?
To this end, Ye Zhongming paid special attention to searching for and protecting talents in Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacists, chemistry professionals, and others while gathering talents. Now he already has a certain reserve of talents.
Even during the previous cooperation with Mu Xinfey, he had also requested talents in this area.
These individuals had little role to play before, but Ye Zhongming had always supported them. Now was their time to shine.
“Although the research on mutated plants provided the laboratory with a lot of important data and conclusions, instability is a common issue. When a plant evolves once, its various data can change drastically.”
Daning squatted next to Ye Zhongming, his face showing a serious expression.
When it came to his specialty, the previous shyness and tension disappeared, replaced by shining eyes.
“Before, we were extracting some edible parts from these plants, such as leaves, roots, and even fruits to supplement trace elements and other nutrients that the body needed.”
“The effects were okay, but Sister Hong, I, and some others in this area are a bit worried.”
“Worried?” Ye Zhongming pulled out a pack of smuggled cigarettes and handed them to Daning. He didn't remember whether this researcher smoked or not, but he recalled that there were very few non-smokers in the laboratory.
Since he didn't have Daning in his memory, it was obvious that this middle-aged man smoked.
“Thank you.” Daning quickly wiped his hands on his clothes, that shyness returning.
After taking a deep puff and feeling the smoke swirling in his body, Daning thought that not being afraid of getting sick from smoking was probably the greatest kindness the apocalypse had shown humanity.
“Although they are both living beings, we and them are not of the same kind.”
Ye Zhongming paused for a moment, quickly understanding what Daning was saying.
Both are mutated life forms, but humans are a type of mutated animal, while these are mutated plants.
“I won't use overly technical terms; I'll just say animals and plants. We eat the meat of mutated animals because their evolution is similar to ours, and by consuming them, we can also gain energy. But what about these plants? Apart from some special ones, when we eat them, we are more supplementing nutrients rather than gaining the energy needed for evolution.”
“Over time, no one knows what will happen. Will the genes of the plants erode the genes of animals? And produce changes that none of us want to see?”
“Just like… tree people?” Ye Zhongming hesitated before asking.
“Although the situation is not exactly the same, yes.”
Ye Zhongming thought for a moment, “Before, we could eat both meat and vegetables without any issues.”
Daning shook his head, “Ye Boss, that was different. We did eat those things, but this planet has proven over countless ages that it was safe. But now, everything has changed. Those plants that used to not know pain when their leaves were torn or wouldn’t cry out when stepped on have developed characteristics similar to ours. When harmed, they react violently, even launching deadly counterattacks.”
“So if we consume them for a long time, what will happen? Will their genes merge into our bodies? Will their memory-carrying cells invade our own cells?”