Chapter 329: The Sixth Use Yishi

Xia Qing wholeheartedly agreed that Wolf Lao Er was fickle.

So she traded a set of dog protective gear and a newly made wooden door for a walnut-sized Yi stone.

This was the seventh Yi stone Xia Qing had traded with the wolf pack, and the sixth she now possessed.

On July 19th, the lead wolf brought the broken-waist wolf and the broken-leg wolf into Territory Three to seek medical treatment, and gave Xia Qing four pigeon-egg-sized Yi stones. Xia Qing gave one to Luo Pei, who had brought people to help, and kept three for herself.

On August 9th, the lead wolf gave Xia Qing a walnut-sized Yi stone to save the life of a critically ill wolf.

On September 19th, the broken-waist wolf traded two sets of dog protective gear for a walnut-sized Yi stone.

Today, October 20th, the broken-waist wolf and the lead wolf returned to the territory and traded a walnut-sized Yi stone for a set of dog protective gear and a newly made wooden door.

According to Yi stone classification standards, these Yi stones were all mid-grade; after breaking open the outer shell, they could release Yi elements outward to drive away Harmful elements, with a release period of two months.

Currently, two of the pigeon-egg-sized Yi stones had been split by Xia Qing.

One was used on the food storage room, the green-light spinach field with Gao Yi elements, the refrigerator, herself, Sheep Boss, the sick wolf, the broken-waist wolf, and the broken-leg wolf.

The other was broken open and used to protect the green-light rice, chickens, and fish during the third Harmful rain. After the Harmful rain passed, these Yi stones were once again collected by Xia Qing into Yi stone protective shells for sealed storage, waiting for the next Harmful rain to arrive before being used again.

The underground food storage room was fitted with 6-gram Yi stones that needed replacing every two months, requiring a total of 72 grams of mid-grade Yi stones per year to ensure the food inside the storage room was protected from Harmful elements and the rapidly multiplying Harmful-element bacteria.

Besides the underground room, the refrigerator also required long-term Yi stone protection; Xia Qing, who never shortchanged herself, also wore Yi stones long-term, and her companions Sheep Boss and the sick wolf had to wear them too. All in all, Territory Three used 144 grams of mid-grade Yi stones per year, not counting the Yi stones used during Harmful rain.

The pigeon-egg-sized Yi stones Xia Qing traded with the wolf pack weighed 30 grams, and the walnut-sized Yi stones weighed 80 grams. In other words, accounting for regular use plus what was needed to cope with Harmful rain, the Yi stones Xia Qing currently had on hand were enough for two years.

On the crazy Blue Star where natural disasters could strike at any moment, two years was already a considerable amount of time, which gave Xia Qing a strong sense of security.

If she could satisfy the wolf pack's needs—especially those of the lead wolf and the broken-waist wolf—then "a strong sense of security" would become "an overwhelming sense of security."

So Xia Qing eagerly asked, "Handsome Wolf Brother, painting the wooden door will make it sturdier and more durable. It's been raining these past two days, so it wouldn't be convenient for you and my lord to carry the door back. Why don't I apply two coats of paint first? Free of charge."

The aesthetically discerning broken-waist wolf stared at the wooden door, seemingly admiring the beech wood's grain.

Since it stayed silent, Xia Qing took that as agreement.

After being painted, the wooden door was left to dry in the shade under the ventilated eaves. Just as Xia Qing was about to go make dinner, she heard the surveillance system issue a warning.

Xia Qing pulled out her phone and took a look—well, look at that! The lead wolf, which had left two hours ago, had actually come back carrying a prey animal weighing over thirty jin in its mouth.

After the lead wolf placed the prey in front of Xia Qing, the broken-waist wolf left the territory in the drizzle, apparently also going to hunt.

Seeing the lead wolf's already bulging belly, Xia Qing beamed with joy. "Thank you, my lord, for the prey. You worked hard, my lord."

Whatever the lead wolf selected was sure to be top quality. This prey animal, whose evolved breed was unknown, was green-light without exception.

Xia Qing quickly skinned and cleaned the prey, dividing the offal into two portions—one half for the lead wolf to eat, the other half cooked for the sick wolf.

The sick wolf's body was gradually recovering, and its appetite was growing larger too.

She set aside a few large bones to stew a bone and radish soup, and put the remaining meat and bones into the refrigerator for frozen storage.

When the aroma of bone soup filled the courtyard, the broken-waist wolf returned with a full belly. After washing its paws clean under the eaves, the broken-waist wolf cleaned the rainwater-dampened fur on its body while staring at the chicken coop.

Only then did Xia Qing remember that she hadn't gone to collect the eggs today.

After opening the chicken coop door, going in, and making a round, Xia Qing showed the broken-waist wolf the day's harvest. "Three eggs today. Our chickens are just too capable."

The broken-waist wolf glanced at the eggs, then went back to studying the chicken coop door.

"Wipe your feet when you go inside." Xia Qing stopped minding it, gave that reminder, and went downstairs into the house.

Drizzle, night, companions, and green-light meat—these four elements woven together made a home full of happiness and warmth.

The sick wolf's vegetable and meat porridge had cooled to room temperature and was ready to eat. Xia Qing brought out the sick wolf's food bowl and Sheep Boss's concentrate bowl together, set them on their dining table, then brought out the radish and large bone soup and the mixed-grain mantou made from white flour and corn, eating while listening to the radio.

Today's farming knowledge broadcast introduced the key points to note when sowing winter wheat. Xia Qing listened carefully, then looked up and saw the lead wolf eating the meat porridge from the sick wolf's bowl. She secretly laughed, looking just like a cunning little fox.

She had made more meat porridge today than the sick wolf could eat, deliberately wanting the lead wolf and the broken-waist wolf to have a taste, hoping they would like it and then trade prey or Yi stones with her for the delicious food.

This matter couldn't be rushed—it had to be worked on gradually.

Xia Qing pretended not to see the lead wolf eating cooked food. After clearing the dishes, she told the wolf pack and Sheep Boss, "I'm going upstairs for a medicinal bath. Wolf Lao Er, listen for any movement in the territory, and notify me promptly if any intruders appear. My lord, Broken-Waist, you two get some rest early."

Ten days had passed since the last use of the body-damage healing potion; today was the date for the second use.

She had expected that the second soak would hurt a little less, but once Xia Qing got in, she once again experienced the same pain as last time. Every pore, every muscle, every bone in her body hurt terribly.

The sick wolf, wearing protective gear, went out to patrol the territory. On the tatami on the first floor, Sheep Boss lay with eyes closed right next to the lead wolf, chewing cud, while the lead wolf and the broken-waist wolf also rested with their eyes closed.

But on closer inspection, one would notice that both wolves' ears would twitch slightly every time Xia Qing couldn't help crying out in pain.

After soaking for a full hour, Xia Qing climbed out of the tub and rested for an hour, then forced herself downstairs, poured the medicinal liquid from her tub into Sheep Boss's tub, heated it to a suitable temperature with a heating rod, and weakly called to her companion, "Boss, come take a bath."

The potion soaked in the unpolluted spring water would lose its effectiveness if left overnight. Xia Qing had moved the bath time earlier today specifically so that her two companions could absorb more of the medicinal effects.

After Xia Qing called three times, Sheep Boss finally entered the bathroom at a leisurely pace, coaxed by Xia Qing into taking the bath.

This medicinal bath was highly effective; Sheep Boss's pain was even more pronounced than last time, though it didn't struggle as much. Probably because after the pain of the last medicinal bath, it had also tasted the benefits.

After soaking for 40 minutes, Sheep Boss couldn't take it anymore and struggled to let Xia Qing lift it out of the water.

With trembling hands, Xia Qing lifted her companion out, rinsed the medicinal liquid off its body with the showerhead, then called to the sick wolf, who had returned from patrol, "Wolf Lao Er, come take a medicinal bath. After soaking, your body will be even stronger."

The sick wolf also showed fear, but obediently went into the bathroom anyway.

It was still very brave—shivering from the pain, it persisted for a full hour before Xia Qing finally lifted it out of the water.

After giving her two companions their medicinal baths, the utterly exhausted Xia Qing rose shakily to her feet, only to find the lead wolf sitting imposingly at the bathroom door, staring at the tub.