[Ding!]
[Your product “Blue Star Flavor Scallion-Braised Duck Egg Soup” has sold 9 portions.]
[Reward: Credit Points +855.]
[Total Credit Points: 1038]
Ji Nanxi stared at the sales column, watching the remaining 9 portions of Blue Star Flavor Scallion-Braised Duck Egg Soup. The moment the first five-star review popped up, the status visibly jumped to the glaring red “Sold Out.”
[Product “Blue Star Flavor Scallion-Braised Duck Egg Soup” is sold out. Please restock promptly, Host.]
[New task triggered: Complete first inter-dimensional food transaction. Task completion: 100/100.]
[Reward: Credit Points +50, unlock “Request Column,” where you can post purchase requests.]
[Total Credit Points: 1088]
The Request Column!
Previously, Ji Nanxi could only passively browse purchase requests from the other side—she didn’t even have the permission to post her own requests.
Now that her Credit Points had broken through one thousand, this new door had finally opened.
Not bad, not bad!
Feeling a surge of excitement, Ji Nanxi immediately focused her consciousness on the Dimensional Mall panel.
Sure enough, the previously grayed-out [Request Column] option was now lit up in a vibrant green.
She glanced at the empty duck egg soup inventory in the System and suddenly asked, “Yaoyao Zero, can the Credit Points in the System be exchanged for the currency of this era?”
[Yes, one Credit Point equals one yuan.]
One Credit Point equals one yuan?
Ji Nanxi gasped—the exchange rate exceeded her expectations.
In other words, with just those ten bowls of duck egg soup, she had earned nearly a thousand yuan in just a few days?
Even though she knew the profit margins for transactions in the Dimensional Mall were considerable, she hadn’t expected it to be this outrageous.
The small handling fee deducted by the System was practically negligible compared to the profits she’d earned.
“Tsk! Where there’s a System, there’s bound to be something extraordinary.”
Ji Nanxi murmured to herself, her heart beating a little faster.
The fact that Credit Points could be directly cashed out was undoubtedly a reassurance for her.
Whether it was improving her current tight financial situation or accumulating capital for her future plan to hand the System over to the country, she now had solid confidence.
After the initial euphoria, Ji Nanxi quickly calmed down.
Looking at the empty sales column, her excitement faded, and the reality of the situation became clear.
Restock?
Even the most skilled housewife can’t cook without rice.
She had just bought duck eggs from Gujia Village once, and going back wouldn’t solve the urgent problem.
Buying from the market?
Small purchases were fine, but large-scale procurement would definitely raise suspicions.
In these times, eggs and duck eggs were scarce commodities. Ordinary farming households could hardly spare any for themselves, let alone sell them.
Even if there were any available, they were mostly reserved by regular customers. Where would there be any surplus for her?
“If I want to keep this business going, I need to solve the raw material supply problem first.”
Ji Nanxi frowned, pondering. Perhaps she could ask Squad Leader Li from the cafeteria if he knew of any places selling duck eggs and if they could supply her long-term.
Her gaze returned to the Interstellar users’ [Request Column], and suddenly, a message flashed before her eyes: [Heavily seeking purchase of ancient Blue Star ingredient introduction materials.]
That’s right!
At the scrap collection station, she might be able to find old recipe books or ingredient manuals that were sold as scrap paper for cheap.
Ji Nanxi quickly formulated a plan in her mind: she would use the costless technical information of this era to earn high Credit Points in the Request Column.
She hadn’t forgotten that the Auction Column in the Dimensional Mall would only unlock after accumulating one million Credit Points.
This was currently the lowest-risk and most feasible strategy for saving up points.
Ji Nanxi closed the interface, already planning to visit the county’s scrap collection station first thing tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhiyan had also encountered his mission target for this operation.
…
At four in the morning, three patrol boats cut through the waves like arrows released from a bowstring in the ink-black night.
Lu Zhiyan stood on the deck of the lead boat. The sea wind whipped up spray against the hull, making the hem of his training uniform flap loudly.
He raised his night-vision binoculars. Behind the lenses, his eyes shone as sharply as a hawk’s in the darkness before dawn.
“Report!”
“Suspicious vessel sighted at ten o’clock!”
The lookout’s voice suddenly dropped, carrying a hint of tension.
Lu Zhiyan swung his binoculars toward the ten o’clock direction.
A modified fishing boat without navigation lights was silently gliding toward international waters, its alterations faintly visible in the night.
“All units, maintain distance, track and monitor.”
Lu Zhiyan narrowed his eyes. These desperadoes truly had nerves of steel!
Since they had crossed his path, they weren’t leaving!
He calmly issued orders into the communicator, “Viper in the cage. Squad, stay alert. Prepare to intercept at any moment.”
As the horizon began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, the boat slowed near a rocky reef area, as if waiting for something.
Lu Zhiyan raised his hand. The entire flotilla instantly cut their engines.
Like sharks lurking in the dark, they silently closed in.
“Old Lu, they’re about to rendezvous with the pickup boat.”
Deputy Captain Zhang Dahe whispered, his gaze fixed intently on the distant sea.
Lu Zhiyan stared at another dark dot gradually appearing on the far sea surface, his lips pressed into a cold, hard line. “Wait.”
“Wait until they’re making the exchange. Catch them red-handed.”
The moment morning light pierced the clouds, the two boats slowly drew alongside each other. Several shadowy figures began swiftly transferring crates, moving as fast as cats.
Lu Zhiyan sprang to his feet. The metal buckles on his combat uniform reflected the rising sun with a cold gleam.
“Move out!”
The three patrol boats surged forward like dragons emerging from the sea, cleaving through the waves straight toward their target.
Lu Zhiyan’s icy voice boomed from the loudspeaker, “Chinese Coast Guard!”
“Halt your vessel immediately and prepare for inspection!”
Chaos instantly erupted on the target boat.
Some tried to push crates overboard, others drew weapons—
Bang!
A gunshot cracked across the water. A bullet whizzed past the patrol boat’s railing, sending up a spray of water.
Lu Zhiyan’s eyes turned fierce. He snatched a sniper rifle from a soldier beside him, chambered a round, aimed, and pulled the trigger in one fluid, lightning-fast motion that left only a blur.
Bang!
The wrist of the gunman on the target boat’s bow exploded in a spray of blood. His weapon clattered into the sea.
Lu Zhiyan’s voice, amplified and laced with fury, thundered across the water, “Resist again, and the next shot won’t be at your hand! It’ll be your head!”
Reconnaissance boats materialized like ghosts from behind the reefs, completely blocking any escape route.
One hour later, twelve criminals.
All were handcuffed on the deck, their faces etched with resentment and fear.
Nearly a hundred kilograms of goods, sealed in waterproof bags, gleamed with an illicit sheen in the morning light.
Lu Zhiyan’s gaze turned frigid. He said to the communications soldier, “Contact the Base. Report mission accomplished.”
This time, they caught the criminals red-handed with the evidence. The quantity seized exceeded expectations, and the forces involved ran deeper than anticipated.
The communications soldier ended the call, stood at attention, and reported, “Regimental Commander Lu, we have received orders from the Base. Commander Liang wants us to escort the prisoners and contraband directly to Pier 3, where a joint task force will take over. You are required to accompany the ship to provide a preliminary briefing.”
“Understood.”
Lu Zhiyan nodded. He glanced at the heavily guarded prisoners and the pile of sinister powder. “Notify all vessels to change course to Pier 3 and maintain the highest level of alert.”
The patrol boats cut through the azure sea, heading toward Pier 3.
Lu Zhiyan pinched the bridge of his nose. After dozens of consecutive hours of high-intensity work, compounded by the rough seas, even someone made of iron would feel weary.
“Old Lu, have some water.”
Deputy Captain Zhang Dacheng handed him a canteen, interrupting his thoughts.
Lu Zhiyan took it, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water.
The icy liquid slid down his throat, slightly easing his tense nerves.
The mission was almost over.
Once they pried open the mouths of these scum and completely severed this poison chain, he could return.