Afternoon.
In the backyard of the two-story building of the Qiongzhou Island garrison, Ji Nanxi took out a large piece of Wind-Feather Chicken from the System Space. She first boiled it to make chicken broth, then added washed rice to the broth.
Next, she removed the chicken pieces, shredded the meat bit by bit, and tossed it into the nearly cooked rice porridge.
This way, it became shredded chicken porridge!
Lu Zhiyan had told Ji Nanxi that he would be participating in a two-week closed training organized by the base for the next half month.
He would leave early and return late—heading out at six in the morning and not coming home until nine at night.
With Lu Zhiyan away, Ji Nanxi had plenty of time. In the morning, she spent 10 Credit Points in the Dimensional Mall to purchase another batch of Starbeast Meat, processed it all, and stored it in the Mall Space.
A pile of firewood half a person’s height was stacked in the corner of the kitchen. The fire in the stove had just gone out, leaving a faint smoky scent in the air, mingled with the aroma of shredded chicken porridge.
Ji Nanxi glanced at the inventory in her System Space. Today, she had purchased Starbeast Meat again.
Even after delivering a hundred pounds of meat to the cafeteria that day, her current stock was still substantial.
Wind-Feather Chicken pieces: 200 pounds; Ice-Feather Duck: 300 pounds; Iron-Beak Goose: 400 pounds; Red-Eye Rabbit: 600 pounds; Iron-Clad Pig pieces: 900 pounds; Rock-Shell Ox pieces: 1,200 pounds; White Snow Sheep: 1,300 pounds; Black-Skin Donkey: 1,400 pounds.
“The meat inventory still isn’t enough,” Ji Nanxi muttered to herself, her gaze sweeping over the stock. “I need to store more to prepare for unexpected needs.”
“Also, I should prepare a clear price list for Squad Leader Li to make it easier for them to purchase and keep accounts.”
After washing her hands, she returned to the main room.
From the drawer next to the sewing machine, she took out letter paper and a fountain pen.
These were left by Lu Zhiyan.
Leaning over the brand-new sewing machine table under the dim but steady lamplight, she picked up a sheet of letter paper and began writing carefully, stroke by stroke: Supply Price List.
Chicken, Duck, Goose, Rabbit: 1.2 yuan per pound.
Pig, Ox, Sheep, Donkey: 1.5 yuan per pound.
Cash only, no coupons required; for every hundred pounds of pig, ox, sheep, or donkey purchased, bones of the corresponding type will be given as a gift; regular supply available, variety and quantity must be confirmed one day in advance.
Ji Nanxi wrote with great care, considering not only the base cafeteria’s procurement budget and the nutritional needs of the soldiers but also ensuring she could earn Credit Points.
After finishing, she checked it twice and made a copy.
Once she confirmed there were no errors, she waited for the ink to dry before folding it and putting it away.
She planned to deliver it to Squad Leader Li the day after tomorrow, keeping a copy for herself.
After finishing these tasks, Ji Nanxi casually ate some shredded chicken porridge and lay down for a midday nap, but she couldn’t fall asleep.
With a slight thought, she summoned the pale blue panel of the Space-Time Mall System.
As soon as the panel opened, a message popped up.
[Your product “Blue Star-Style Scallion Braised Duck Egg Soup” has sold out. Please restock promptly.]
A few more comments had appeared in the product review section, all requesting purchases.
Ji Nanxi wanted to see if there were any mutated plants available in the Interstellar sales section.
But after looking around, she still couldn’t find any.
Just as she was about to close the panel and rest, the private message channel suddenly flashed with a familiar yet somewhat special icon.
It was the merchant from whom she had purchased Starbeast Meat last time.
Ji Nanxi’s heart stirred, and she clicked on the message.
[Good day, Boss. I am Minister Kane from the Logistics Department of the First Legion of the Interstellar Alliance. Noticing that you purchased our processed Starbeast Meat today, may I ask if you are also interested in other Interstellar specialties? For example, plant-based products?]
Minister Kane’s message was concise, but his tone seemed to carry a hint of probing and enthusiasm?
This was slightly different from his usual strictly business-like style.
When Ji Nanxi was in the Interstellar world, she had also served in the First Legion.
She immediately sat up straight, all drowsiness gone.
Plants?
Wasn’t this exactly what she had been looking for!
The Starbeast Meat she had purchased earlier had already given Ji Nanxi a taste of success.
If the Interstellar world could also provide plant-based ingredients, that would definitely be good news.
Suppressing her excitement, Ji Nanxi cautiously replied: [Minister Kane, hello. I am very interested in what you mentioned. Could you provide some images and basic information? For example, full-plant images and approximate weight.]
Almost the moment her message was sent, the other party replied: [Of course, please wait a moment.]
Immediately after, several high-definition, even slightly three-dimensional images were transmitted over.
Ji Nanxi opened the first one, and her pupils suddenly contracted!
The background of the image looked like a massive warehouse or laboratory, with a plant standing tall inside—its height almost touching the ceiling!
The purplish-red stalk was so thick it would take two people to wrap their arms around it. The segments were distinct, the surface smooth, and the top was adorned with emerald-green tassel leaves.
This was unmistakably sugarcane!
But it had mutated, now a giant sugarcane resembling an ancient banyan tree!
[Note: Each stalk weighs 6,000 jin.]
Ji Nanxi’s heart raced, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened the second image.
It showed several grains of rice, hulled and resting quietly on a specially designed metal tray. Each grain was enormous, comparable in size to a household bucket!
The grains were crystal clear, plump, and round, as if glowing softly, emitting a faint, natural fragrance of grain.
What was she seeing? These were giant rice grains!
[Note: Each grain weighs 5 jin, with about 10 grains per plant.]
The third image was the most impactful.
A perfectly round, clearly patterned green-skinned watermelon was placed in an open area, with a common Interstellar light transport vehicle parked beside it for scale.
The watermelon was roughly the same size as the transport vehicle next to it!
[Note: Each one weighs 3,000 jin.]
These three images made Ji Nanxi’s eyes grow brighter and brighter, her breathing becoming rapid.
These Mutated Plants, in her eyes, were nothing less than legendary super ingredients, a dream granary!
How much sugar could be extracted from a 6,000-jin sugarcane stalk?
Or even eaten directly as fruit—it could supply an entire company!
A single 5-jin rice grain would be enough for several people to eat two meals a day!
Boiling porridge, steaming rice, grinding flour!
It was practically a strategic-level grain reserve!
A 3,000-jin watermelon could absolutely become the king of summer fruits for the entire Base!
Even in the future, when handing over the Mall System to the nation, these would be heavyweight bargaining chips with the potential to improve people’s livelihoods.
Ji Nanxi could almost imagine the sensation these things would cause if brought to Blue Star.
She took several deep breaths to barely calm her surging emotions before quickly replying to the other party.
[Minister Kane, the images have been received. They are truly astonishing and have greatly piqued my interest. Regarding the plants you mentioned, I would like to know about their yield, the stability of your supply, and their pricing.]
The other party seemed to have been waiting for her response, as a message quickly arrived: [I’m very glad you’re interested in them. These are by-products from our cleanup operations in certain abandoned ecological zones. The yield is relatively stable, but the quantity obtained from each cleanup varies.]
[Given my intention to establish a long-term partnership with you, I will offer you a very favorable price. In fact, I have a favor to ask. I have personally tried the “Blue Star Scallion Duck Egg Soup” you sell in the Dimensional Mall. It indeed has a slight calming effect on Mental Power. Although the effect is mild, for some soldiers who are constantly exposed to stellar radiation and combat stress, leading to frequent fluctuations in their Mental Power, any amount of calming is precious.]
[I would like to know if it’s possible for you to increase the production of this soup, or provide me with at least ten portions per month of such Blue Star native food with calming effects? Rest assured, the First Interstellar Legion is willing to pay a higher price or supply you with whatever you need, according to your requirements.]
So that was the crux of the matter!
Ji Nanxi suddenly understood.
Interstellar soldiers suffered greatly from Mental Power disorders. Her duck egg soup wasn’t just a delicacy; it had become a kind of special medicine!
After thinking for a moment, Ji Nanxi didn’t make any absolute promises.
A long-term partnership with the First Interstellar Legion was an opportunity she absolutely could not miss.
Ji Nanxi quickly replied: [Minister Kane, I understand your needs. The calming effect of the duck egg soup is likely related to the use of Blue Star native ingredients and a specific cooking method. Increasing production presents certain difficulties, mainly limited by the availability of native ingredients and my personal capacity. However, I can try to research and see if I can stably provide a small amount of such specially made food.]
She then shifted the focus, proposing her own plan to show sincerity for cooperation while securing the best possible terms for herself: [Regarding the giant plants you’ve provided, I am very willing to purchase them. I also agree to establish a long-term partnership. I will regularly purchase Starbeast Meat and these Mutated Plants from you; at the same time, I will do my best to prepare Blue Star specialty foods with calming effects for you.]
[As for the quantity I purchase and the price, we can discuss them separately each time based on the available goods and the market prices of the day. What do you think?]
This proposal was beneficial for both parties.
Minister Kane was clearly satisfied with this plan and replied quickly: [That’s a very fair suggestion. It’s settled then. Pleasure doing business. I will send you the first batch of samples free of charge via the Mall System so you can verify their quality. At the same time, I will attach a list of the Starbeast Meat we can provide next time.]
[Pleasure doing business, Minister Kane.]
Ji Nanxi replied, finally unable to suppress a bright, radiant smile from curling at the corner of her mouth.