Start by Spending One Billion [Entertainment Industry]

The flood in Lücheng had affected such a vast area that nearly everyone was scrambling to provide disaster relief under immense time pressure.

There weren’t enough rescue personnel.

There weren’t enough rescue equipment.

Medical supplies on-site were insufficient.

In large-scale disasters, resources are always stretched thin.

Although nationwide donations were underway, even as funds poured in, it was uncertain whether they would be enough given the complete collapse of resources. Moreover, it wasn’t as if a hundred yuan donated by someone in a certain province would instantly materialize as supplies in the disaster zone.

At this point, time meant lives, so the arrival of helicopters and drones had already alleviated much of the urgency.

But supplies remained a major issue.

Food and water aside, even life-saving equipment took time to gather from various sources.

Just then, Sheng Quan, who had already been a tremendous help, delivered another pleasant surprise.

Several officials in charge of receiving supplies stood before the massive transport trucks, their faces alight with joy.

"So many inflatable boats, motorboats, and rubber rafts! This is perfect—we’re desperately short on these. With these, we can dispatch even more rescue teams."

Another official, cross-checking the inventory list, couldn’t help but murmur excitedly, "They even brought generators. This is a game-changer."

"And so many tents! Let me see—ah, these are excellent. Thick, windproof, and waterproof. The troops who’ve traveled far to assist can finally get some proper rest."

"Not to mention all these blankets and warm clothing. So thoughtful—every single item hits the mark. Director Sheng, we can’t thank you enough. With these supplies, the relief efforts will go much smoother."

Truth be told, when they heard thirty trucks of relief supplies were en route, they were pleased but never imagined it would alleviate most of their struggles.

The flood’s scale was simply too vast. Typically, donations leaned toward food and water, but in many affected areas, those weren’t the pressing needs.

What they lacked were rescue tools. No matter how much food and water arrived, the actual rescue work would remain grueling without the right equipment.

Then, just before receiving the shipment, they saw the inventory list.

Thirty massive trucks, packed to the brim with exactly what they needed most.

Especially the heavy-duty waterproof gear, tents, and blankets. The weather was far from warm, and rescuers often spent hours submerged in floodwaters, emerging shivering from the cold.

Many of these responders had been deployed on short notice, leaving them under-equipped. Items like thick clothing might seem secondary, but they were absolutely critical.

And the tents—during flood relief, it was common to see exhausted soldiers collapsing on roadsides or sandbags after grueling shifts.

Even soldiers weren’t made of iron. Sleeping on the ground was far from comfortable.

During the day, it was manageable, but at night, when exhaustion, cold, and fatigue set in, a warm, spacious tent made all the difference.

Sheng Quan’s donated tents fit the bill perfectly: warm and roomy.

She’d even procured firewood. If not for the need to conserve generator power for essential electricity, she might’ve added portable heaters too.

"This is incredibly considerate."

The officials grew more delighted as they inspected the supplies. Reading the list was one thing; seeing the actual items was another.

When Sheng Quan had instructed her team to procure the supplies, she’d emphasized quality above all—practical and durable. The procurement team marveled at the selections, admitting even they couldn’t have arranged things better.

"You must’ve consulted professionals beforehand, right? Every single item here is twice as useful as we’d hoped."

Sheng Quan patted Jiang Lu’s arm beside her.

"He’s a veteran. He participated in disaster relief during his service and has volunteered many times since. So he has plenty of experience in this area."

Of course, she had her own insights too. Take the firewood, for instance—people under stress often feel cold, and the injured or weak are especially vulnerable to it.

After being rescued from an earthquake in her past, even wrapped in a military coat, Sheng Quan had shivered uncontrollably, longing for a roaring fire.

Plus, fires could cook large meals, and a simple canopy would keep the rain out.

But in this world, she had no such earthquake experience, so she credited everything to Jiang Lu.

"Ah, a veteran!" The group nodded approvingly at Jiang Lu.

Tall, solidly built—he certainly looked the part.

A light drizzle began, and Jiang Lu held an umbrella over Sheng Quan. Even when she insisted a little rain was nothing, the usually obedient man quietly refused.

Sheng Quan understood him well. "If I weren’t here, you’d be out there rescuing people, wouldn’t you?"

She didn’t need to come personally—a single order would’ve delegated the task. But when it came to disaster relief, where one well-placed item could save a life, she wanted to oversee things herself.

While she managed logistics, Jiang Lu stayed by her side.

He wasn’t much of a talker, but his actions spoke volumes. He was a doer, and one man’s work equaled three.

Sheng Quan would’ve bet anything that if he weren’t her aide, he’d have volunteered for the rescue efforts, just as he had before.

"If you went, you could save so many. You should go if you want—I have others here with me."

To her surprise, Jiang Lu shook his head.

The towering man kept the umbrella over her as the drizzle fell. His usually intense dark eyes softened slightly as he said quietly,

"You can save even more."

Though no exact count had been taken, Sheng Quan had indeed saved countless lives already. From the moment she’d been roused that morning, she hadn’t stopped coordinating relief efforts.

She wasn’t particularly strong, nor did she have rescue experience. She hadn’t once waded into the floodwaters.

Yet every minute, someone caught their breath because of her decisions.

Jiang Lu longed to join the rescues himself. Even after leaving the military, he still saw himself as a soldier.

Sheng Quan had once joked that Jiang Lu embodied the quintessential image of a Chinese soldier—just standing there radiated safety.

At this moment, Jiang Lu—who always gave people a strong sense of security—didn’t deny that he wanted to join the rescue efforts. But he had already made his choice. This usually reserved and steady man now looked at Sheng Quan earnestly and promised,

"I will stay by your side to protect you."

Damn, why is he so smooth?

Sheng ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍Quan thought to herself. It really was different when someone who rarely spoke suddenly said something so sweet.

But she only dwelled on it for a moment before shifting her focus back to continuously purchasing supplies.

The flood-affected area was still expanding. Helicopters and drones ensured rapid rescue operations, but when it came to logistics, Sheng Quan wanted to help as much as she could.

Of course, Sheng Quan’s idea of "helping" might be a little different from what others imagined.

Take the military logistics teams rushing to the scene, for example. Most people—even the soldiers on the front lines—probably thought a tent was enough, or a blanket was enough.

But Sheng Quan? Aside from tents, bedding, and warm clothes, she also wanted to buy folding beds.

Why not allocate limited funds to other, more critical supplies?

—Because she had money.

Not only could she direct funds toward essential supplies, but she could also spare plenty for other things.

Sheng Quan started making calls again, spending vast sums of money and feeling a deep sense of satisfaction in return.

Having witnessed in her past life the exhaustion of rescue soldiers who collapsed in their uniforms after grueling efforts, she wanted to do something now more than ever.

Folding beds were expensive? Buy them!

Cold weather and no electricity meant rescue workers could only eat cold food? Buy firewood! Buy pots! Hire chefs! Wait, you can’t buy chefs—so hire them!

Transporting supplies was difficult? Throw money at the problem.

Heavy equipment was hard to move to the front lines? Throw money at the problem.

Rescue teams didn’t have spare hands for miscellaneous tasks? Sheng Quan hired people to handle them herself.

The truth was, with enough money, you really could solve ninety percent of your problems.

It had been a while since she’d last marveled at it, but today, she couldn’t help but say it again:

Being rich is amazing.

Sheng Quan’s contributions to disaster relief were so significant that when she proposed handling things her way, the leadership team held a brief meeting and handed the reins to her.

And then Sheng Quan went on a spending spree.

She had always spent money, but never before had she felt such exhilaration doing it!!!

Every time she thought about how every penny she spent was saving lives, her heart swelled with joy.

006 didn’t stop her at all. Seeing its host so happy, it even cheered along, shouting "666!"

If the prize draw system had been available, it would’ve pulled out a dozen more helicopters for Sheng Quan without hesitation.

Xu He was so exhausted his vision blurred. His body was drained, but his mind remained wired, his steps unsteady as he walked, shivering constantly from the cold.

Whenever he felt like he couldn’t go on, he’d look up at the helicopters. There was no particular reason—he just liked them, and seeing them gave him a boost.

Despite the biting cold, he was still happy inside.

After all, he had saved lives today.

A veteran who had just stepped back from the front lines—though a little later than Xu He—raised a waterlogged, pale, and wrinkled hand and patted his arm. "Come on, let’s get some rest."

This was Xu He’s first disaster relief mission. He glanced around and suggested, "Let’s rest up ahead."

The veteran twisted his stiff neck. "Just find a spot to lie down."

Xu He: "Huh?"

The veteran, speaking from experience, said, "It’s only our first day. In urgent rescue situations like this, everyone’s too busy to arrange proper lodging. Didn’t we bring mats? Find a relatively flat spot and make do."

He frowned at Xu He’s expression. "What’s with that look? With so many people rushing to help, it’s normal not to have a place to sleep. You can’t expect a bunch of tents and beds to magically appear in such a short time. Clearing space isn’t easy either."

Xu He blinked in confusion and pointed ahead. "But over there… there are a bunch of tents and beds."

"What are you talking about? I checked earlier—there was nothing. You think this is some TV drama where supplies just fall from the sky on command? Dream on—"

The veteran lifted his gaze and, spotting the sprawling cluster of tents, swallowed the rest of his words.

There really were.

But… they hadn’t been there before.

Where did they come from?

Xu He: "Supplies… from the sky?"

The veteran: "…"

The two exchanged a glance, then slowly looked up.

—Toward the heavens.