Chapter 49: Reforming the Team

Chapter 49: Reforming the Team

Although she hadn't tested the toxin element content of the exchanged seedlings and strawberry plants, Xia Qing remained optimistic. Firstly, because Luo Pei was still in her territory recovering from his injuries with the help of her spring water, the seedlings sent by the Azure Dragon Team were bound to be high quality; secondly, she had chosen excellent locations for planting them.

The two small Chinese Toon seedlings she had transplanted from under the large Toon tree to the edge of the spring had survived and remained "Green Light" plants, proving that the soil conditions in this area were highly suitable for cultivation.

As for the five Toon seedlings she had transplanted near the courtyard? Unfortunately, they had been snapped by the wall that collapsed during her fight with Boss Yang; not a single one survived.

Taking advantage of the time spent collecting spring water, Xia Qing patrolled the vegetable garden. Seeing that most of the transplanted vegetable seedlings were thriving, she couldn't help but fantasize about a garden overflowing with fruits and vegetables.

Tightening the lid of her bucket and stuffing it into her backpack, Xia Qing crossed the babbling stone bridge to water the sweet potato and potato seedlings.

After a month of growth, the sweet potato vines had grown over half a meter long and had branched out into several small shoots, showing impressive growth, and every single one was "Green Light." The potatoes had grown to palm-sized, but the seedlings were a reddish-green, making Xia Qing wonder if she was actually growing potatoes at all; the potato seedlings in the Planting Center didn't look like this.

Through communication on the Lord Channel, Xia Qing learned that other lords' potato seedlings looked the same. She guessed that the difference in color was because the base issued "Yellow Light" potatoes to the lords, whereas the Planting Center received "Green Light" ones.

Despite her dissatisfaction with the color and growth rate of the potato seedlings, Xia Qing still watered each one with meticulous care.

If other lords knew of her mindset, they would surely accuse her of "humblebragging." This was because the potato seedlings of other lords were a head shorter than hers, barely reaching the height of a finger.

After watering the potatoes and sweet potatoes, Xia Qing went to check on the wheat, mung bean, and cotton seedlings, finding that they all needed watering as well.

Because Luo Pei used a large amount of water, Xia Qing couldn't save enough spring water to irrigate the farmland. Therefore, whether it was the fields sown with filtered water or those sown with spring water, she had to use water from the reservoir for irrigation.

Just as Xia Qing was about to head back to the tool room to bring out the water bicycle, she received a call from Hu Zifeng.

Zhang San had invited Hu Zifeng's team to join the team he had found to dig for bamboo shoots in the Evolution Forest. Hu Zifeng called to ask if Xia Qing wanted to join them. "Zhang San has found an eight-person team. I'm leaving two people here to protect Territory No. 3 and one person to protect Territory No. 1, so if you join, it makes exactly eight. The harvest this time will definitely be greater than last time. If you participate, the supplies will still be distributed based on the contribution points of logistics members."

Xia Qing naturally agreed, but added, "I'm just an external logistics person this time; Captain Hu doesn't need to give me special treatment."

"Understood." Hu Zifeng added a reminder, "Aside from your own essential supplies, our team will be responsible for preparing everything else."

Since she was going back into the mountains to dig for bamboo shoots again, Xia Qing postponed the irrigation and went home to handle some chores.

The dryer was still running normally. Xia Qing carried a large bundle of thick bamboo poles out of the tool room and began splitting them in the courtyard to create the frame for a rain shelter.

Boss Yang lay beside her, squinting as he basked in the sun. Xia Qing turned on her walkie-talkie to listen to the other lords chatting.

At this time, Zhang San was offline, so Zhao Ze took the opportunity to continue asking Qi Fu for advice on composting methods.

Qi Fu was still eyeing the wild boar breeding center. "Pigs eat, defecate, and root around; they are incredible at producing manure. I heard there are over a dozen pigs in there, and they don't even farm..."

Kuang Qingwei felt the idea wasn't quite feasible. "The breeding center is under the jurisdiction of the Base Security Zone. If you can think of it, wouldn't the people in the Security Zone? The manure from the breeding center definitely belongs to the Planting Center. Let's think of something else."

Xia Qing agreed with Kuang Qingwei's view and pressed the button. "Brother Qi, besides animal manure, can we use leaves and grass for compost? I saw this method mentioned in a book."

Zhao Ze immediately chimed in, "That's possible? Sister Xia Qing knows so much."

Ever since the incident involving Zhao Chong's spying, Zhao Ze had been intentionally or unintentionally trying to curry favor with Xia Qing, though Xia Qing acted as if she didn't notice.

Kuang Qing took the opportunity to pry, "The Green Light food Third Brother ate yesterday—you were the one who exchanged it to him, right? I knew it; no one in this area besides you has that kind of ability."

Xia Qing picked up the thread, "Besides the four of us, there are over a dozen other lords nearby. They have quite a few good things in their hands as well."

Kuang Qingwei was extremely surprised. "Sister Xia Qing can actually contact other lords? How? Which ones are they?"

Xia Qing answered vaguely, "I just heard a few people mention it in passing."

Zhao Ze immediately followed up, "Sister Xia Qing is so amazing."

*Crack!* Xia Qing split a several-meter-long bamboo pole and didn't respond.

Qi Fu spoke up, "In the past, you could use leaf compost, but not anymore. I heard from people at the Planting Center that after the Great Biological Evolution, there are many microorganisms and insect eggs on dead leaves that cannot be killed by normal fermentation temperatures. Therefore, you can only use organic fertilizer made from animal manure. However, since Sister Xia Qing mentioned it, I just thought of a way."

Zhao Ze immediately asked, "What way?"

Qi Fu replied, "Worm castings. If we let earthworms eat the dead leaves and grass, they will surely destroy the microorganisms and insect eggs. But I don't know how to produce worm castings. Xiao Xia, before the catastrophe, Sun Zhe's father from your old team worked at an organic fertilizer factory. Have you seen Old Sun?"

Xia Qing put down the split bamboo pole and pressed the button. "I've heard of him, but I haven't met him."

Sun Zhe was a year younger than Xia Qing, and his family of three were ordinary people. Fortunately, his family had lived in the city where the Hui San Base Security Zone was located before the catastrophe, so the Sun family did not experience the world-ending despair of fleeing for their lives and the agony of parting from loved ones; they were among the luckiest people in the first year of the catastrophe.

After the Security Zone was established, the Sun family continued to live in their own house until supplies and food became increasingly scarce. Only then did his father follow a team out of the Security Zone to perform missions and earn points.

During one mission, the team encountered an attack by evolved venomous insects. His father fell while fleeing and was bitten. Although he fought desperately to make it back to the Security Zone, he lost his left lower leg and left arm, losing his ability to work. Since then, Sun Zhe, who used to be a laborer in the construction team, had become the primary breadwinner for the family.

Qi Fu sighed, "When will we get a signal again?"

If they had a signal, he could call Sun Zhe and ask how to make worm castings.

Xia Qing said nothing more. Kuang Qingwei from Territory No. 6 excitedly shared some news: "I just heard the sound of a car and thought the patrol team was coming. I ran out to look, and guess what? Someone came from Third Brother's territory in a full truck, everyone wearing camouflage protective suits and carrying guns. What a sight!"

"Third Brother is definitely not an ordinary person," Zhao Ze immediately added.

Xia Qing put down her machete, understanding why Zhang San hadn't sent anyone to the Evolution Forest to dig for bamboo shoots today. It was because he was short-handed and had to call people in from the Security Zone.

After finishing the bamboo splitting, Xia Qing began tying the bamboo frame. Vegetables would grow at most as high as a person, so a two-meter-high rain shelter would be sufficient; any higher and it would be easily overturned by the wind. After tying the frame, Xia Qing heard the dryer signal that it had finished. She went inside to put the dried bamboo shoot slices into airtight bags for storage, then casually handed a fresh slice of bamboo shoot to Boss Yang.

Fearing that the dryer might malfunction from continuous operation, Xia Qing decided to let it rest for a few hours and continue working in the evening. She then shouldered the bamboo frame and headed straight for the back hillside. The frame wasn't heavy, but its volume made it difficult to carry. Since the roads were already built, she should get a trailer bed and use a micro-tiller with a trailer to haul things.

If this trip to the Evolution Forest yielded a great harvest, she would exchange with Zhong Tao for several key components to make a tractor trailer.