Just by looking at this room alone, one could tell what kind of status the Ma family held in Windsoil City.
All the furniture was made of solid wood — an entire set of hardwood tables, chairs, and cabinets.
At this moment, the short man nicknamed “Radish” no longer looked arrogant like he had in the starch shop; instead, he kept his head down nervously, afraid to even breathe loudly.
Captain Ma’s name fit him well — he had a long, horse-like face.
“Do you know what this silkworm is used for?”
“It’s… it’s used to make fabric.”
“And do you know what I use that fabric for?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Hmph!” Captain Ma flicked his sleeve angrily, sweeping the iron box and the silkworm off the table.
“It was supposed to be a gift for the Alliance Commander’s daughter!”
“I don’t care what you have to do — find me more of these silkworms. Alive ones!” Captain Ma’s last two words were bitten out through clenched teeth.
His eyes were so sharp and fierce they made the short man feel like his neck had turned to ice. Terrified, he dropped to his knees.
“Understood! I’ll find them right away — I’ll go ask Yang Ming where he got the silkworms!”
He scrambled out of the hall as fast as he could.
When he reached the starch shop, however, only the young clerk was there. The boy said he had no idea where Yang Ming had gone.
Short on time and patience, the short man didn’t bother pressing further and rushed off to look elsewhere for news.
Meanwhile, Huo Tao was teaching Shen Guoguo how to drive the electric cart.
Although it was only a simple pushcart, it ran on solar power and even had shock absorbers installed on the wheels — very cleverly designed.
When Shen Guoguo tried operating it herself, she discovered that with just the lightest push, the cart glided forward smoother than silk, effortlessly carrying several big basins.
Startled, she quickly grabbed the handle to pull it back.
“Amazing! This thing’s so awesome!” she exclaimed. “Totally worth the 4,000 star coins they charge!”
“What?” Huo Tao looked confused — he had probably never seen a cow before, let alone understood her colorful metaphors.
Unable to explain her slang properly, Shen Guoguo just waved it off. “Forget it. Let’s go home.”
The two of them pushed the cart through the city.
Along the way, plenty of people stared at the strange pair.
“Those two have been quite noticeable lately!”
“Weren’t they the ones pushing a cart full of trash through the city the other day?”
“Yeah, that’s them! And look — those big basins… did they just come from the slaughterhouse?”
“Oh wow, they really did!”
“What are they doing with that stuff? Is that waste from mutant beasts?”
“What would they want with that garbage? Don’t tell me they’re gonna eat it? Damn, stay away from those weirdos!”
The crowd murmured among themselves.
Shen Guoguo just grinned inwardly. Congratulations — you guessed right.
Ignoring the curious and disgusted looks, they walked calmly through the inner city and back home.
Huo Tao looked completely unfazed, as if he hadn’t heard a single word of the gossip.
That made Shen Guoguo even happier.
If there was anything that could be called happiness in this world, it was when a hidden dragon met a phoenix chick — when one mad soul met another willing to go mad with them.
Shen Guoguo’s behavior might look crazy in this world, but Huo Tao was the one who chose to accompany her in that madness.
She opened the door, let Huo Tao roll inside first, then left the cart blocking the doorway. Huo Tao lifted the big basins one by one into the room.
The cart was too large to fit indoors, so they had to leave it outside. Fortunately, it came with a simple smart lock.
After securing it, Shen Guoguo hurriedly pushed Huo Tao back out — to the starch shop again.
When Yang Ming returned and stepped inside, he saw the two waiting there. He opened the cloth bag in his hand and said, “Look — is this what you were talking about?”
Shen Guoguo and Huo Tao exchanged a glance.
Huo Tao gave the slightest nod.
Shen Guoguo stepped forward, picked up one of the dark green leaves, and held it under her nose. It carried a faint, refreshing scent, almost like green tea. She tore off a small piece and chewed it — a touch of bitterness spread across her tongue.
No doubt about it — mulberry leaves. And they didn’t seem heavily mutated.
“This is it. Perfect for dyeing fabric. I’ll take them all. Hubby, pay the man,” Shen Guoguo said, deliberately raising her voice.
The word hubby almost made Huo Tao’s soul leave his body.
After a few seconds of composure, he lifted his wrist and bumped his device against Yang Ming’s.
【Beep, transaction successful】
He transferred nine star coins — and along with it, their home address.
Taking the bag from the stunned Yang Ming, he wheeled himself out of the shop with Shen Guoguo.
Yang Ming blinked in confusion and looked at his assistant. “What just happened?”
“Uh… I don’t know either.”
Something was definitely off. He trusted Huo Tao’s character — if he had said he’d help raise the silkworms, he wouldn’t go back on his word. Something must have happened.
Yang Ming stared blankly at his wristband, deep in thought.
As Shen Guoguo pushed Huo Tao home, she casually glanced toward a street corner.
“So? We weren’t followed, right?” she asked in a low voice.
Huo Tao shook his head. “No one followed. Looks like they’re just keeping watch on the starch shop.”
“Ugh, I bet it’s that Ma family spying on Uncle Yang. Do you think Uncle Yang will understand your message?” Shen Guoguo asked, a bit worried.
Huo Tao patted her hand gently. “Don’t worry. Uncle Yang’s not strong in combat, but he’s definitely not lacking in brains. He’ll get it.”
“We just need to wait at home.”
As his long, dry fingers covered her small hand, Shen Guoguo couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but she suddenly felt safe and warm.
Honestly… Huo Tao’s hand had a real sense of security.
Passing by the spice shop, Shen Guoguo bought several jars of baking soda and salt, and even splurged on a jar of sugar and a bottle of white liquor.
Those things were expensive and couldn’t be homemade.
Sigh… money really vanishes fast. I need to work harder to earn more!
But still — one step at a time. Meals are eaten one bite at a time, after all.
Back home, she poured all the mulberry leaves out onto the floor, spreading them to dry.
“Huo Tao, what’s it really like outside the base?” she asked as she worked.
Watching her small, busy figure, Huo Tao’s eyes softened as his thoughts drifted. “I haven’t left the base in five years,” he said quietly.
“Outside… it’s radioactive, barren, vast, and dangerous. I’ll take you out there someday.”
“But I’m a defective human — can I even go out?” Shen Guoguo asked, her fear of radiation instinctively surfacing.
“If we buy proper protective suits, it won’t be a problem,” he reassured her. “The reason defectives aren’t allowed outside is because no battle squad wants to risk taking someone ‘useless.’”
“Uh… I didn’t mean you’re useless…” he quickly added.
Shen Guoguo smiled sweetly. “I know. When Uncle Yang comes tonight, let’s make him something good to eat.”
She took out the pig bristles they’d collected earlier, placed them in a small basin, and poured in hot water to soak them.
Then she pushed the basin in front of Huo Tao.
“Here, don’t just sit there — I’ll teach you how to do this.”
“Alright,” Huo Tao agreed readily.
“First, comb the bristles straight, then cut off the roots. Use the back of the knife to scrape them a few times to remove the grease, then rinse them twice in hot water.”
Shen Guoguo demonstrated as she spoke, tilting her head at him. “Got it, or are you confused already?”
Huo Tao didn’t understand the slang, so he answered seriously, “Confused.”
“Hahahaha!” Shen Guoguo burst out laughing.