“Are you planning to trade with them?”
At Lu Ning’s question, Chen Jia couldn’t help but look over from the back seat, her face full of curiosity.
Ye Mian glanced at the rearview mirror first and then hummed in affirmation. “Not just them, but Xie Yi’s group as well.”
Whether it was the corn and sweet potatoes left as a gift or the prepared food she had insisted on trading just now, they were all bait she had cast out. And they were specifically tailored to their interests.
The former group had their own stockpiled supplies and could cook delicious meals even without electricity in a rural area like this, but those supplies would dwindle day by day and eventually run out.
The latter group, at a glance, clearly came from the city. They had outstanding skills and spent most of their time fighting mutants, so they would likely choose convenient instant foods for sustenance. But after eating too much of that, they would inevitably crave something else.
“Xie Yi and the others are one thing—since there are many of them, they won’t leave that village for the time being. But seeing those other two again seems like it would be entirely up to chance,” Lu Ning noted.
Hearing Lu Ning’s concern, Ye Mian chuckled softly. “You were so focused on being on guard just now that you didn’t observe them closely, did you?”
Lu Ning paused. “True.” There hadn’t been enough time; she was in a hurry to leave as soon as the misunderstanding was cleared.
“First of all, they were very composed in their actions and speech. Rather than passing through by accident, it seemed more like they were specifically searching or clearing dangers in that area. This suggests they might be stationed nearby.”
“Secondly, while their skills are great for both combat and escape, if there were only two of them, it’s unlikely they would be wandering around so lightly unless they have a portable warehouse or something similar, like I do.”
“Finally, I can probably guess their purpose for being stationed and patrolling in that area.”
Lu Ning hadn’t expected that in such a short time, and under circumstances where they nearly clashed, Ye Mian could still observe and analyze so calmly. While part of it might be due to her skills, it likely had more to do with her inherent personality.
Lu Ning nodded thoughtfully. “What is their purpose?”
“The industrial park we didn’t have time to explore.”
As she spoke, Ye Mian took out the map Xue Kai had given her and flipped it open. “It’s a huge place. Both the buildings inside and the outer walls are built very sturdily. It’s even been on the news and printed on the map.”
Lu Ning had initially thought those two were just looking for supplies in the industrial park, but after hearing Ye Mian’s subsequent words and taking a moment to look at the aerial photo on the map, she understood. “They want to take that place over and turn it into a shelter or something?”
“If my guess is correct, that’s exactly it,” Ye Mian said, tapping the photo on the map and musing. “Though it probably won’t be easy to conquer.”
“The Li’an Industrial Park?” Chen Jia suddenly poked her head forward to look at the map in Ye Mian’s hand. “I think I heard them mention it. Brother Xie Yi was planning to take people there to see if they could rescue any survivors.”
“Oh?” Ye Mian turned to look at her. “Did they say roughly how many people were inside before the mutation?”
Chen Jia recalled for a moment. “I’m not sure of the exact number. Even though the power went out beforehand, many workers relied on the factories to support their families, so many stayed inside hoping the power would come back one day.”
Hearing this, Ye Mian and Lu Ning exchanged a look.
In such a large industrial park, there would be at least ten thousand people. If most of them had stayed, then the number of mutants would likely be half that or more. That meant thousands of mutants, and potentially several intermediate-level ones. The danger level was higher than going into a city.
“That’s not great.”
Ye Mian closed the map, thinking about how to reasonably join this operation and get a share of the mechanical tools and supplies they could use. After all, even if they wanted to help, Lu Ning was the only one who truly counted as combat power. Big Black still wasn’t suited for places with too many mutants; he was better at hunting mutated beasts.
Therefore, the best way would be to successfully establish a trade and gain special privileges through it. She had already cast the bait; now she just had to wait for the big fish to bite while making thorough preparations in advance.
Storing the map back into the warehouse and turning her gaze out the car window, Ye Mian realized they had quickly driven down the mountain, and Chen Jia’s home town was once again in sight. From a distance, several figures could be seen busy in the desolate fields.
“Hmm?” Ye Mian looked closely and saw they were collecting mutant corpses to pile up and dispose of, which she found a bit regrettable. She had planned to see if she could pick up any Shuoshi on her way down.
Lu Ning hesitated but didn’t slow down, only asking, “What is it?”
“Nothing, it’s not important.”
As long as the barter trade could be successfully developed, she would have more Shuoshi and Shuojing in the future.
As the two finished talking, Chen Jia, watching her hometown fade away from the back seat, suddenly remembered something. “Ah…”
At this sound, the two in the front looked at her through the rearview mirror simultaneously. Chen Jia looked a bit embarrassed. “I didn’t bring anything from home.”
Hearing that it was just this minor issue, Lu Ning went back to focusing on the road.
Ye Mian smiled. “Don’t worry, the new home has everything.”
At this moment, Chen Jia’s concept of a new home was just a very safe and hidden house with plenty of supplies. Even when they crossed the highway and Lu Ning drove the car into a wasteland, stopping midway for Ye Mian to perform a verbal agreement ritual with her before continuing, she didn’t think much of it.
It wasn’t until they actually arrived and she stepped out of the car to see a small building—one story higher and larger than her own home—built right on the wasteland, along with fields and vegetable plots that had clearly been recently planted, that Chen Jia realized how wrong she had been. She remembered what Ye Mian had said to her:
“Do you want to change your way of living?”
So this was the change she meant—it wasn’t just changing locations to continue hiding.
Xue Kai, who was already in the kitchen preparing dinner, hurried out to greet them when he heard the car. Seeing that Ye Mian and the others were not only unharmed but had returned with a newer and better vehicle, he breathed a sigh of relief and broke into a wide smile.
“You’re back! Did you find the treasure? What was it?”
Ye Mian, walking toward the vegetable plot, nodded. “Yes, it’s diesel. I’m going to go fishing first and organize today’s harvest later.”
“Ah? Oh, okay. Dinner’s at six!”
Watching Ye Mian head straight for the fish pond behind the house, Xue Kai reacted a beat late. “We have diesel! Then once we find farm machinery, won’t we be able to free our hands?”
Lu Ning, who was the last to get out of the car, happened to hear him. She shook her head with a smile and looked at Chen Jia, who was still standing dazed by the car door, just as she had been a few days ago.
“Go on in. If you have any questions, feel free to ask that talkative brother. He’ll answer them all for you.”
Xue Kai walked over. “It’s not that I’m talkative, it’s that you two talk too little.” He then smiled at Chen Jia. “Hi, I’m Xue Kai—Kai as in ‘triumph.’ Do you have any dietary restrictions, and can you eat things like onions, ginger, garlic, or cilantro?”
Chen Jia snapped out of it, still a bit shy around strangers. “No, I’m not a picky eater.”
“That’s good. I have to go finish dinner. Why don’t you take a look around inside and out? By the way, go upstairs and pick an open room to freshen up. We’ll call you when dinner is ready.”
After saying that, Xue Kai hurried back to the kitchen. After patting Chen Jia on the shoulder for reassurance, Lu Ning went directly to the warehouse to find work she could do. Left alone, Chen Jia stood for a moment before gathering the courage to take the first step.
By the time Ye Mian finished fishing, poured the catch from her basket into the reservoir, and returned to the house, she saw that Chen Jia had already cleaned herself up. Having drunk the corn juice and eaten something, her cheeks and lips had regained a healthy color. However, probably not knowing what to do, she was pacing somewhat restlessly in the living room.
Just as Ye Mian was about to speak, Xue Kai came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming pot, looking quite rushed. “Quick, quick, everyone come and sit.”
With his shout, the quiet house was suddenly filled with the atmosphere of daily life. Chen Jia also became more lively. “I’ll help!”
Ye Mian washed her hands first and then called Lu Ning, who was struggling with a stone mill in the warehouse, to sit at the dining table. Lu Ning had smelled the aroma from afar; looking at the pot on the table, she raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You used all the fish?”
The pot on the table had a divider—one side was bright red and spicy, the other clear and mild. Both were filled with white fish meat, smelling incredibly fresh and savory.
Xue Kai and Chen Jia brought over the utensils. Beside the pot were some vegetables and prepared cold dishes. He grinned at her words. “Since we have a newcomer, I figured I’d cook several fish. It just so happens Ye Mian caught a lot more.”
“By the way, any other harvest besides the fish?”
Ye Mian had already picked up her chopsticks. “Yes, a vegetable seed gift pack and a drink gift pack, both of which I’ve opened before.”
That meant there was nothing new. Xue Kai didn’t say more and pulled out a chair to sit down. “Let’s eat, let’s eat. Chen Jia, you sit too.”
It wasn’t just Ye Mian and the other two who had made do with a simple breakfast and lunch while out; Xue Kai had also only eaten a little. So, as the four of them started eating, they found it hard to stop. It wasn’t until they were about seventy or eighty percent full that their movements slowed.
The first to stop was Xue Kai, who had a large appetite but ate quickly. He looked at Chen Jia, whose eyes were red—she claimed it was because the food was too spicy—and thoughtfully poured her a glass of water. Then, after getting Ye Mian’s permission, he began to explain the system and the farm to clear up Chen Jia’s confusion.
During their Q&A, Ye Mian was also finished. She put down her chopsticks and took small sips from her water glass. As she enjoyed the post-meal leisure, a touch of green suddenly caught her eye. Stunned for a moment, she stood up and walked to the corner to look at the potted plant on the shelf.
The once bare soil now had clusters of light green sprouts. As they shook in the slight breeze, a very faint, fresh scent could be detected. But simply looking at it didn’t reveal anything magical, so Ye Mian stored the plant back into the system warehouse and checked its details.
[Magical Potted Plant (Half-Lotus Grass): An evergreen ornamental grass that has a magical attraction for animals.]
The three at the table saw her actions. Not only was Chen Jia confused, but Xue Kai and Lu Ning weren’t sure what had happened either. Seeing Ye Mian put the sprouted plant back, Lu Ning asked, “Is there something special about it?”
“Hmm…” Ye Mian turned around. “It says it attracts animals.”
Xue Kai let out an “Ah.” “Mutated beasts? Then we’ll have more meat to eat.”
Rather than mutated beasts, Ye Mian thought it might be normal animals. After all, mutated beasts were already everywhere outside; there was no need to specifically attract them. And by the next morning, she found that her guess was correct.