Chapter 530: Y-3

Xia Qing didn't nod or shake her head, but simply laid out her decision directly:

"That spring has a substantial output—taking ten people's share from each territory won't be a problem. The key is how to keep it secret. After we adjourn today, everyone go back and discuss it, then come up with a concrete, workable secrecy plan. We'll meet back here at this same time tomorrow morning. As long as your plan gets unanimous approval from all members, we can start drawing water. Once the numbers and plan are confirmed, we need to immediately begin clearing the hidden valley and preparing facilities for raising rice seedlings."

Everyone nodded at once.

"I have an idea—let me run it by everyone first." After learning the news about the spring, Kuang Qingwei, who had been writing and sketching the whole time, spoke up. Though he said 'everyone,' he looked directly at Xia Qing.

Seeing Xia Qing nod, Kuang Qingwei continued, "No matter how many people in the territory ultimately decide to drink the premium water, our lord will definitely be drinking the premium spring water. After drinking premium spring water for a period of time, our physical fitness will definitely improve, and there's no way to hide that from the people in the territory. Once their curiosity is piqued, it's only a matter of time before they discover our secret."

"Over the years, we've all seen too much ugliness and greed in human nature. Everyone can pretty much guess what they'd do once they found out."

This was the downside of having a large population in the territory—everyone nodded in agreement.

Kuang Qingwei continued, "My plan is this: we pretend to start using high-grade filter cartridges. I'll pretend to bring in a batch of high-grade filter cartridges and publicly 'sell' them to everyone. You all just pretend that the water from the river in our territory is being treated with high-grade filter cartridges before we drink it."

"The river in our territory is a low-level polluted water source. Once we use high-grade filter cartridges, the water quality can reach the standard of green-light drinking water. Drinking such good water, combined with natural food, it's only natural that our physical fitness would improve." Kuang Qingwei laid it out rapid-fire for everyone.

"A high-grade filter cartridge costs 550 points. Based on our river's water quality, one cartridge can filter out about 50 liters of drinking water, so that's 11 points per liter. One person needs about 2.5 liters of water per day for food and drinking, which comes to 27.5 points. We pay workers in the territory 3-5 points per day. At this price, it's far beyond what they can afford. So they won't buy water from us."

"However, if the workers in the territory decide to pool together to install high-grade filter cartridges or buy water from us, we won't object. Them drinking premium water to improve their physique isn't a bad thing for us either."

Xia Qing felt Kuang Qingwei's plan had merit, but the flaw was also obvious. "Over time, the channel you source from will notice something's off—there's still a risk of leaks. Instead of sourcing fake cartridges from outside, it's better to trade with Third Brother."

Kuang Qingwei's eyes lit up immediately. "If Third Brother agrees, 'buying' from him is the safest option. A high-grade filter cartridge costs 550 points outside, but Third Brother's cartridges can be sold for 700 points. At 700 points, the daily water cost comes to 35 points."

"Right, Third Brother's pharmaceutical skills are that impressive—700 points isn't excessive." Zhao Ze jumped in immediately. "But will Third Brother agree?"

Hearing Zhu Li reminded Zhao Ze, "Third Brother is also a member of the alliance."

On the way back after the meeting, Zhao Ze explained to Xia Qing with great earnestness, "Xia Qing, Zhao Chong spying on your territory really wasn't something I ordered."

Xia Qing nodded and reminded Zhao Ze, "Brother Zhao, your territory and Territory Fifteen have the most complicated situations. Go back and discuss it carefully with your mother. You still remember the consequences of leaking a first-level secret, right?"

Leaking a first-level secret carries three penalties:

First, expulsion from the Territory Alliance and blacklisting—territory members will no longer conduct any transactions with that territory.

Second, the territory that leaked the secret must pay double compensation to the Territory Alliance for losses caused by the leak.

Third, the Territory Alliance will reclaim all benefits that territory had previously enjoyed within the alliance.

For an ordinary lord, these three penalties were tantamount to a death sentence.

These penalties were jointly established by all members of the Lords' Alliance. Because order was chaotic during the disaster years, harsh punishments were necessary to keep everyone constantly vigilant about protecting the alliance's first-level secrets.

After parting with the heavy-footed Zhao Ze, Xia Qing returned to Territory Three and found Tan Junjie waiting for her outside the territory's north gate.

Xia Qing hurried up the slope. "Captain Tan."

Tan Junjie nodded. "Sister Qiqi caused you trouble last night."

Xia Qing answered objectively, "No, Sister Qiqi is very sensible. The buns she wrapped and the jerky she made were both delicious."

Tan Junjie pulled out an insulated bag from his backpack. "I traded for these at Red Eleven Base—six jin of green-light corn seed, ten jin of yellow-light wheat seed, and twenty green-light garlic heads—to trade with you for that 40 jin of meat. The green-light corn is a specialty of Red Eleven Base; the variety is called Y-3, with three-generation stability. The yellow-light wheat is a new variety called M-14, which is also said to have three-generation stability, with strong cold resistance and disease resistance."

After saying this, Tan Junjie added, "I had long planned to go to Red Eleven Base to get supplies and trade with you afterward."

He just hadn't expected Yan Long to mention it to Xia Qing first.

Xia Qing was delighted. "I've heard about Red Eleven's Y-3 for a long time. Captain Tan, you're amazing—getting six jin in one go!"

Seeing that Xia Qing truly liked it, Tan Junjie's face finally showed some hint of a smile. "I have an old comrade who works at Red Eleven Base's planting center. I made this trip specifically to find him. I heard there's also a green-light variety of M-14 wheat, but my comrade's clearance wasn't high enough to get it. If you plant the yellow-light wheat next spring, you might harvest a few ears of green-light wheat—save them as seed."

If it weren't for getting premium seeds to trade with Xia Qing for python meat, Tan Junjie wouldn't have fought so hard for a spot escorting the criminals.

Xia Qing took the seeds. "Please wait a moment—I'll go back and get the meat."

Xia Qing placed the seeds in the underground grain storage room, then took out 60 jin of high-grade evolved green-light python meat and 5 jin of green-light mountain walnuts, and handed them to Tan Junjie. "Sister Yan's 20 jin of snake meat—please take that along to her as well. Here are five jin of green-light mountain walnuts; eating them raw boosts brain function. If you and Sister Qiqi are eating them, don't have more than three per day."

Before Tan Junjie could say anything, Xia Qing added, "The seeds you gave me are worth this much supplies."

Tan Junjie accepted them solemnly, thanked her solemnly, then extended an invitation. "Sister Qiqi will be staying in the territory from now on and won't return to the safe zone. Next spring, I plan to set aside a plot of land in Territory Fifteen to build her a house and wall in a courtyard. If you're not busy at that time, I'd like to invite you over to help advise on the best way to build it."

It seemed Tan Qi had told her father what happened in the safe zone. Xia Qing smiled. "Just give me a heads-up in advance when the time comes—I'll definitely go."

After returning to the territory, Xia Qing immediately ducked into the underground grain storage room, opened the sack, and grabbed a handful of golden corn kernels to examine them closely.