Chapter 1878: The Injured Red Big-Mao

The first rain of the twelfth year of the disaster fell in a light drizzle at 2:30 AM on February 26th.

In the territory leader's walkie-talkie, Tan Tan Junjie's stern notification rang out: "Attention all territory leaders, attention all territory leaders: the period of harmful rain has begun. The first wave of rain is blue-level, lasting approximately two hours. There will be no gale-force winds or hail within the next thirty minutes. Please ensure all personnel within your territories are wearing protective masks. If any emergencies occur in your territory requiring assistance from the inspection team, please call for rescue on this channel. Please acknowledge receipt."

"Territory 1, received."

"Territory 3, received."

In the courtyard of the desolate village in Territory 3, Xia Qing, inside the protective cover of her micro-tiller, replied. After releasing the walkie-talkie button, she felt her physical state once more, confirming there was no obvious discomfort in her abdomen. "Boss, Dagua, Blue-Face, Guapi, the harmful rain period has begun. We are setting off."

"Baa."

On the seat to Xia Qing's right, the lead sheep of Territory 3, wearing camouflage protective gear with only its snowy white head exposed, let out a bleat.

"Eee..."

"Eee..."

"Hmph..."

On the seat to the left, the white-faced saki monkey, also wearing protective gear and carrying a backpack with only its snowy white head visible, let out a weak sound, followed by the green-furred, blue-faced golden monkey and the original-colored Guapi piglet.

Xia Qing drove the micro-tiller out of the village and turned right, quickly stopping outside the laboratory. She ordered, "Territory 3 employee number 002, Dagua, put on your protective gear and check that your personal supplies are complete."

Dagua, crouching on the seat, immediately picked up its protective mask and put it on, fastening the strap around its neck. After checking the mask's airtightness, the little fellow raised its small arm to confirm the air toxin detector on its arm was undamaged. Finally, it opened its backpack to verify that its phone, power bank, emergency medicine, and large steamed bun were all there, then raised its small head and responded, "Eee!"

Xia Qing nodded. "Very good. Apprentice number 005, Blue-Face, put on your protective mask and check that your protective gear and supplies are complete."

The blue-faced monkey, also wearing protective gear, quickly put on its mask and finished checking, then opened the small bag Xia Qing had just prepared for it to inspect the emergency medicine and vegetable pack, responding, "Eee!"

"Very good."

Xia Qing opened the car door and jumped out, carrying the two monkeys and the piglet to the laboratory entrance. She entered the password to let them in and instructed earnestly, "Dagua, you are on duty in the laboratory. Keep your walkie-talkie and phone connected and report any issues immediately. If Dagua completes all tasks, you will receive a reward of 500 grams of green-light honey after the harmful rain period ends. Blue-Face, follow Dagua and learn well. Take care of your companion Guapi and make sure it goes to the bathroom in the right place. After the harmful rain period ends, you will receive ten high-element spinach leaves."

"Eee!!!"

Little Dagua responded with high spirits and immediately jumped onto the sink to wash its small black paws. The blue-faced monkey followed suit, crouching beside Dagua and learning to wash its green-furred, yellow-skinned paws.

As for Guapi? It was a family member of an employee and didn't need to work, just ensure it didn't relieve itself everywhere.

Xia Qing kept the two monkeys and the piglet in the laboratory not just to have them perform tasks, but because the laboratory was the safest building in Territory 3.

If the laboratory management regulations didn't forbid it, Xia Qing would have loved to put the Qiangzai family and the hairless ferret family in there too.

As for Boss?

It knew the harmful rain period was dangerous and firmly believed that being by Xia Qing's side was the safest place, so wherever Xia Qing went, it went.

After the laboratory door closed, Xia Qing returned to the micro-tiller, took Boss, and drove out of the village toward the conference room by the farmland to meet up with the speed evolver Eryong and the hearing evolver Liangzi.

For the second half of the night, the three of them and one sheep would be on duty.

Two members of Hu Hu Zifeng's team were guarding Mountain 49, two were guarding the rat-breeding shed, and the other four had just finished their shift and were resting.

Seeing Xia Qing arrive, Eryong, who was watching the monitors, reported the situation from the first half of the night: "Boss, everything was normal in the territory during the first half of the night. Three hours ago, Old Four, wearing protective gear and a full-coverage mask, carried a prey weighing over a hundred pounds into the fourth peak of Mountain 50. An hour and a half ago, Old Boss Duan, also wearing full protective gear, personally inspected the fourth peak of Mountain 49 to check the disaster response at the rat-breeding shed. Half an hour ago, Red Big-Mao and Red Second-Mao entered the third zone of Mountain 49. Red Big-Mao has already circled the northern isolation belt of Territory 3 twice; it seems to be looking for you."

"I'll go check the northern isolation belt." Xia Qing discussed with Boss, "Boss, I'm going to the northern isolation belt and will be back soon. Can you stay here and protect our territory?"

Boss stared at Eryong and Liangzi for two seconds, then firmly stood by Xia Qing's side, indicating it wanted to go with her.

Xia Qing had no objections. She put the protective mask on it again, carried it to the off-road vehicle, then drove to the riverbank. She jumped out, opened her umbrella, and took Boss up the buffer forest, crossed the wild grass wall, and arrived at the north gate. She called out, "Red Big-Mao, are you there?"

"Red Second-Mao, are you there?"

Xia Qing had only called twice when a red fox emerged from the dense evolutionary forest, braving the drizzling harmful rain, successfully climbed over two wire mesh walls, and landed before Xia Qing, chirping.

Then, another red fox with a large belly emerged from the dense forest, easily climbed over the two walls, and landed under a large pine tree five meters away from Xia Qing to avoid the rain.

Xia Qing turned on her flashlight to check Red Big-Mao's condition, then turned around. "Big-Mao, what animal were you hunting when you got hurt?"

Animals in the evolutionary forest all knew the harmful rain period was dangerous and had to hide. But before the rain started, carnivorous predators would all come out to hunt.

Red Big-Mao had come out to hunt, hoping to catch a large prey before the rain started to bring back so that the pregnant Red Second-Mao could be well-fed, increasing the chances of Red Second-Mao successfully surviving the harmful rain period.

Old Four had also sent prey to Pian Hu before the rain started for the same reason.

"Ying~"

"Ying~"

"Baa——"

Red Big-Mao chirped, and Red Second-Mao and Boss followed suit.

Xia Qing glanced at Red Second-Mao, who was squeezed between Boss and Red Big-Mao. Having seen many different animals huddled together, she thought it was quite harmonious.

After skillfully shaving the fur around Red Big-Mao's wound, cleaning it, applying medicine, and putting on an antibacterial patch, Xia Qing fed it anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medicine.