Chapter 39: The Evolved Kitten

Tang Huai snorted coldly. "You're worrying over nothing. Even if there are refugees, they'll head to Hui-1 and Hui-5 bases."

After the Great Biological Evolution, humanity abandoned their old homes to survive and gathered to build bases. Two or three years after the disasters began, several hundred bases of varying sizes were established within Huaguo's borders, but with the continual deterioration of evolved creatures and the environment, only forty-four remain. For easier management and coordinated defense, these forty-four bases were divided into four base groups. The core Red City base group consisted of eleven bases, with Red-1 Base serving as Huaguo's capital. The seven northern bases formed the Baicheng base group, the ten western bases the Lancheng base group, the ten central bases the Huicheng base group, and the six southern bases the Guicheng base group.

As the name suggests, Hui-3 Base, where Xia Qing is located, is the third-largest base by population in the Huicheng base group. To the south of Hui-3 Base are Hui-1 and Hui-5 Bases, and five hundred kilometers southwest of Hui-5 Base lies Gui-3 Base, which faces the greatest threat from marine creatures.

Just as Tang Huai said, once Gui-3 Base falls, the refugees heading north would definitely flood into Hui-1 and Hui-3 Bases first.

But Kuang Qingwei was still uneasy. "Brother Tang, I remember Gui-3 Base has two and a half million people. Even if only two million escape, and just under half head north into the Huicheng base group, Hui-1 and Hui-3 together can't hold nearly a million refugees. I think they'll definitely pick and choose who to take in, and let the rest keep heading north."

Xia Qing nodded too. Right now every base was barely scraping by at the edge of subsistence—letting in a few hundred thousand people would blow the place apart.

Tang Huai didn't respond. An unfamiliar voice came over the channel. "These things can only be arranged by the higher-ups. No use us worrying. We just need to farm our own plots well and make sure we don't starve."

The moment his voice fell, Tang Huai immediately asked, "Beard, you're going to farm?!"

The person at Plot One cursed. "My name is Hu Zi Feng. I took a squad mission to garrison Plot One. What's wrong with farming? If you keep yelling that crap, I'll come over right now and blow your damn head off."

Everyone...

Compared to Luo Pei, who had been taken away by the plane, this new arrival at Plot One really had a terrible temper.

Hu Zi Feng, a Level-5 visually evolved human, had been sent over as the squad leader to protect Xia Qing and Territory Three. This mission suited sharpshooter Hu Zi Feng, who specialized in long-range sniping, perfectly.

Xia Qing was more than satisfied with this future year-long security captain.

Tang Huai, who'd misspoke because he was too surprised, didn't dare make a sound. Zhang San's lazy voice came over the channel. "I'm Zhang San from Plot Seven. Did you guys at Plot One find anything good to eat?"

Hu Zi Feng reined in his temper and answered calmly. "We're clearing the qiang grass right now. So far we've only found a few peanut seedlings and ginger seedlings just sprouting. When we have good stuff later, we'll trade with everyone."

Zhang San couldn't wait to place an order. "Once the peanuts are harvested, however many you put out, I'll take that many."

Xia Qing followed up. "I want ginger." She had too little ginger—only six plants.

Qi Fu and Zhao Ze spoke at the same time. "Brother Feng, I'm Zhao Ze (Qi Fu) from Plot Four (Five). I also need ginger."

What Zhang San wanted, they didn't dare compete for—they could only fight over other things.

Hu Zi Feng answered, "Sure, we'll trade with everyone once we harvest. We came out late and missed the sowing season, so we don't know if the seeds will sprout. Whose plot has lots of seedlings coming up? Can we trade with points or supplies?"

Kuang Qingwei, who had run a fruit shop before the disaster, hustled supplies in the safe zone after it, and wanted to keep being a middleman after coming out to the territory, immediately asked, "Brother Feng just got here so he doesn't know yet. We agreed earlier that vegetable seedlings trade one for one. You can also buy them—one hundred points per seedling, and supplies are exchanged at the safe zone's price after conversion. What supplies can Brother Feng offer?"

Xia Qing sat up and placed her finger on the walkie-talkie's button.

Hu Zi Feng answered, "We just arrived and didn't bring much supplies. But I brought two small micro-tillers. Only after arriving did I realize Plot One isn't big and can't use both, so I want to trade one. I pulled strings to get this machine from the Planting Center—brand new. Five thousand points."

A fuel-eating micro-tiller actually costs fifty vegetable seedlings?! No one was interested—manual labor was still more cost-effective.

Here comes the overture.

Xia Qing pressed the button and, following Kuang Qingwei and the others, called Hu Zi Feng "Brother" too. "Brother Feng, I'm Xia Qing from Plot Three. I want to trade with you. I have garlic, perilla, tomato, pumpkin, eggplant, and cucumber seedlings. The perilla and garlic can be transplanted now; the rest need another half month. Also, in just over a month, I'll have spinach seeds to trade."

Hu Zi Feng answered properly. "Deal. Ten seedlings each of tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and pumpkin. How many spinach seeds can I get for the remaining points?"

Spinach has a growth cycle of about forty days. In the later stage it bolts and produces seeds, which can be sown again to get even more spinach.

Xia Qing haggled like a pro. "My spinach is a green-light safe food. One hundred points for five seeds—deal?"

"Deal."

The moment Hu Zi Feng finished speaking, Zhang San's voice rang out. "Xia Qing, it's me, your Third Brother. How much green-light spinach do you have? Can I trade now? Name your price."

Qi Fu followed up. "Little Xia, it's Old Qi here. I want spinach seeds too. Can I trade with vegetable seedlings?"

"Sis, I want some too." Zhao Ze and Kuang Qingwei immediately cozied up and chimed in. The channel was in total chaos.

Zhang San played his trump card. "Xia Qing, my evolved cat is pregnant."

A kitten!!!

Xia Qing's heart went wild, but before she could speak, Tang Huai jumped in first. "Third Brother, I want a cat. Name your price."

"Get lost. I don't trade with Plot Two." After cursing Tang Huai, Zhang San turned to Xia Qing and asked nicely. "Xia Qing, want a kitten? When my cat has the litter, pick whichever one you want."

With a soft, milky kitten on the table, Boss Sheep instantly lost its appeal. Xia Qing's heart was racing, but—"Third Brother, of course I want a cat. But I only have a few spinach plants. If I pull them up to trade with you, I won't have any seeds left. Also, evolved cats are really hard to keep. How did Third Brother manage to keep yours? If it can only be kept in a cage, I don't want it."

Before the evolution, cats were humanity's masters. After the evolution, cats were promoted straight to Emperor—humans couldn't just keep them whenever they felt like it. Keep one locked in a cage and it'll drive you to the brink of collapse.

Zhang San answered immediately. "No cage needed. As long as you have fish, the cat will come back to eat when it's hungry. After you raise the cat, you can trade dried fish with me—green-light veggies will do. I don't need all your spinach either. Just pull a few plants and let me have a taste."

Xia Qing...

Zhang San added more conditions. "I can also trade you a household food dehydrator and a household fully automatic vacuum packaging machine."

Xia Qing guessed Zhang San's intention. "Third Brother, do I have to trade with you for the food packaging bags too?"

Zhang San laughed happily. "Heh heh, you can buy them from the patrol team too, but I guarantee mine are the best quality."

Now that fungi and bacteria are all evolving at an accelerated pace, food isn't easy to preserve. A dehydrator that can quickly dry food, and a vacuum packaging machine that sucks out the air to extend food's shelf life, are hot commodities in the safe zone that you can't get even if you fight for them.

If you could have both together, you could dry and seal fresh vegetables to last for months.

Zhang San really went all out for a taste of spinach.

Xia Qing's heart was racing, but she was extremely cautious at the same time. "I really only have a few spinach plants, and I can't guarantee they'll still be green-light after a qiang rain. I need to keep them all for seed. Can we wait until the spinach goes to seed and I grow the next batch, then trade with you?"

Zhang San was easy to talk to. "Sure, but my cat and supplies are both hot items. If you want to reserve one now, you have to put down a deposit with spinach. You don't have to pull up the plants—just pinch off whatever leaves you can."

Xia Qing...