Chapter 79: Deliberately Targeted

Lin Manzhi thought, since Lettuce has a special function and is hard to find here, she would try a different planting method.

Regarding Hydroponic Lettuce, it is already a mature technology in modern times; at that time videos of Hydroponic Vegetables appeared online, showing rows of Hydroponic Vegetables in greenhouses, and people laughed that it was suitable for post‑apocalyptic survival.

Lin Manzhi smiled, feeling it would also be suitable for survival in Beast World.

When the major factions discover the Lettuce base and see the whole room filled with rootless, floating Water Spirit Lettuce, it looks like a miracle that shocks them, and they think the high price of Lettuce makes sense.

After all, this futuristic planting technique would shock the hearts of Beast World observers even more than in modern times.

Doing this unique Hydroponic Vegetables, Lin Manzhi also thought of her Lettuce selling at a high price, taking a premium route.

Sometimes, to sell goods at a high price, packaging is also very important.

However, she has no nutrient solution and temporarily no water for irrigation in the space, so she can only use the local water to cultivate Lettuce for now.

Lin Manzhi has seen many in videos, so she is naturally familiar.

First, she takes out Lettuce seeds from the space, light‑brown seeds about the size of sesame.

She has some insight into farming; Lettuce seeds cannot be tossed directly into water to soak, they need to be germinated first, then transplanted.

Lin Manzhi thought of a piece of linen, took it to the eaves to collect rainwater and dampen it, then sprinkled Lettuce seeds onto it and placed it on the living‑room windowsill.

Next, she occasionally goes to water it, keeping the seeds warm, and after Lettuce sprouts, moves them into a Small Ceramic Pot filled with water.

Lettuce cannot be fully submerged; only the roots need to be in water. Lin Manzhi asked Mo Lie to fashion a few wooden sticks to hold the Lettuce in the pot, then moved it to the two of their bedroom.

The bedroom is a private space; Beastfolk do not enter casually.

These days Lin Manzhi and Mo Lie have been busy with Lettuce, and outside it has been raining continuously, filling the tribe's homes with rainwater collection pots and jars.

Since parting from Xi Tao on the rainy day, Xi Tao has stayed at home; today, hearing something, they came specifically to find Lin Manzhi to talk.

Before Xi Tao arrived, Lin Manzhi was with Mo Lie busy in the kitchen; Mo Lie dismantled the vehicle frame they brought back to make a cabinet for storing items in the kitchen.

Lin Manzhi: "I want a six‑tier cabinet; the four long rods of the frame can serve as four cabinet legs, a car board can be one tier, and after it's built we can place it against the wall opposite the Mud Stove—how does that sound?"

Mo Lie nodded: "Fine."

He, at home, wearing a simple outfit, broad‑shouldered and slender, applied steady force when dismantling the wooden vehicle frame, and through the thin clothes his smooth muscular curves were visible, drawing involuntary attention.

His muscles aren't exaggerated; they are the sleek, beautiful strength typical of felines, and with his uniquely handsome face, even when doing carpentry labor he looks as if filming an advertisement.

Lin Manzhi sits cross‑legged on one side, hands cupping her face, silently swallowing her saliva at the sight of this beauty.

Handsome people look good at whatever they do!

Lin Manzhi crouches nearby watching as Mo Lie works; neither says another word, but the atmosphere feels homely.

Only when she hears Xi Tao's shout from outside does Lin Manzhi pull her gaze back, jogs out of the kitchen to open the courtyard gate, then leads Xi Tao into the hall.

Xi Tao shakes off the rain droplets clinging to the leather robe on their head, sits on the leather rug on the living‑room floor, looks out at the rain and sighs sorrowfully.

"What's wrong?" Lin Manzhi brings a small shallow‑yellow fruit bowl placed in the living room and pushes it toward Xi Tao.

Xi Tao turns their head, immediately swallows, "This is Yellow Fragrant Fruit, it grows deep in the desert, it's pricey—five Beast Coins each!"

Seeing the other's embarrassed yet eager expression, Lin Manzhi picks up one, hands it over, and says, "Go ahead, eat it. I bought these in Kuangsha City, they're not that expensive, and if you don't eat them you'll wither."

After hearing that, Xi Tao reaches out, grabs the Yellow Fragrant Fruit, splits it, lifts a half of the bright yellow flesh and eats it.

The Yellow Fragrant Fruit's skin encloses a few slices of flesh; the flesh is only a thin layer surrounding a large pit that looks like a modern loquat, but the taste and flesh are far inferior.

Yet within the tribe, it's considered a rare delicacy.

Xi Tao eats with great pleasure.

Lin Manzhi, after Xi Tao finishes the Yellow Fragrant Fruit, asks, "You braved the rain to find me—what happened?"

Hearing this, Xi Tao immediately says, "During the rainy season, the tribe, following the usual custom, collectively prepares to go to Ansen City to exchange food. Earlier the chieftain sent someone to my house; I took the saved Exotic Beast Skin and bones to trade for Meat Jerky. I saw he didn't come to your house..."

At this point, Xi Tao, not wanting to speak of the chieftain targeting others, looks at Lin Manzhi and says, "It's fine if he doesn't come; whatever you need to trade, give it to me, and I'll take the items to the chieftain and say what goods we want to exchange."

"Oh, his own house, this must be written in the chieftain's little grudge notebook, right?"

Exchanging food is a very important matter for the desolate land's Luo Sangya tribe; many Beastfolk lack enough dry‑season food storage, so they hand over items to the chieftain, who dispatches a team to Ansen City to trade for food and bring it back.

Lin Manzhi didn't bother to mind the chieftain's opinion of her family; since Luo Ji deliberately targeted her family, if she lets Xi Tao bring items perhaps Xi Tao would also be held in Luo Ji's resentment.

Lin Manzhi shakes her head: "Forget it, Luo Ji is watching this side; I can go to Kuangsha City to buy food."

She laughs; her family doesn't lack food at all.

"Indeed." Xi Tao widens their eyes: "Merchant Caravans come every two months; your Beast Husband is part of the caravan's Guard Squad; you can go to Kuangsha City to buy food."

Although it's a bit more expensive than Ansen City, food can still be bought.

Xi Tao thinks of this, smirks: "Unfortunately Kuangsha City is similar to our place; Exotic Beast Skin and bones don't sell, otherwise I could pile them up and trade at Kuangsha City for Meat Jerky."

Lin Manzhi, being kind to those who are kind to her, wants to help Xi Tao who risks the wind, and asks, "Do you still sell the Sand-tail Grass Stalks to the merchant shop?"

"It's been raining lately, I can't go out to dig Sand-tail Grass Stalks," Xi Tao sighs, "Males can be active in rain, females cannot get wet; if they get fever it's over."

Lin Manzhi: "..."

Forgot, the female setting is similar to humans; getting rained on and developing fever without medicine is indeed serious.