Chapter 142: How About Planting 500 Mu?

Chapter 142: Chapter 142: How About Planting 500 Mu?

Tang Huai spoke first. "Mountain No. 49 has no large-scale edible plants or animals, and no unpolluted water sources. The Green Dragon Team has likely discovered a valuable mineral deposit on the mountain. Could it be Yi Stone?"

"Unlikely." Tang Zhengpo, a veteran of the business world, shook his head. "If they’d discovered a Yi Stone Mine, the Green Dragon Team’s defenses wouldn’t be this lax. I suspect there’s nothing special about Mountain No. 49. The Green Dragon Team is shifting its focus because they’ve become completely disillusioned with the base management team led by Tang Zhengrong after Luo Pei’s poisoning."

Tang Huai couldn’t help but curse, "Tang Zhengsu must have been brainwashed by Xu Pin. What was he thinking, poisoning Luo Pei for no reason! Luckily, Luo Pei is fine. Otherwise, those two madmen, Yang Jin and Xie Yu, would have definitely flattened the Su Feng Team."

Tang Zhengpo said no more, seeming to listen intently as Shi Zhong explained how to use a hoe to remove the weeds around the corn seedlings without harming them.

Tang Huai continued to curse and grumble. Tang Heng listened for a while before asking his father, "The Green Dragon Team has reclaimed hundreds of acres of farmland, and Zhang San’s territory is also growing a lot of things. The people in these two territories definitely won’t move away easily. With them around, this area should be able to hold out if a Beast Tide or insect plague occurs in the future. Dad, should we also increase our investment in Territory No. 12 and plant dozens of acres of winter vegetables and wheat?"

Seeing both his sons staring at him, Tang Zhengpo nodded. "How about we plant five hundred acres?"

How many?

Tang Huai was so shocked the gun-cleaning cloth fell from his hand. Tang Heng was both surprised and excited. "Dad, really?"

"When you see an opportunity, you have to seize it with everything you’ve got. Even if we suffer a disaster and have no harvest, our losses won’t be that great." Tang Zhengpo was calm and unhurried. "But if we succeed, we’ll have the capital to ensure our quality of life."

"Dad..." Tang Heng’s eyes welled with emotional tears. His father’s demeanor reminded him of the time before the Natural Disaster.

Back then, his father was one of the top entrepreneurs in the province. Back then, Tang Zhengsu was just a street punk. Without his father’s support, how could Tang Zhengrong have smoothly climbed into the mayor’s seat?!

After the Natural Disaster, however much Tang Zhengsu had kissed up to them before, that’s how much he stomped on them now.

’Tch, typical of a small man who gets a little power.’

"What’s everyone eating tonight?" Zhang San’s weak voice came through the Lord channel.

Tang Huai, who had been in the middle of his furious tirade, immediately shut his mouth. He began to silently count how many Green Light insects he had dug up, wondering if it was enough for a dish and whether it would be good enough to catch Zhang San’s eye.

On the Lord channel, Zhao Ze was the first to answer. "I’m having flatbread tonight. My mom’s leavened flatbread is amazing. Brother San, want to try some?"

Xiaqing also pressed the button. "Brother San, I’m picking sweet potato leaves right now. Should I send some over for you?"

Qi Fu said, "We’re having porridge tonight, with peeled wheat, mung beans, and beans shelled from old long beans."

Tang Zhengpo’s voice was gentle. "Tonight, we’re having deep-fried Yellow Light evolved mantises and Green Light Worm Pupae."

Luo Pei spoke up as well. "My brother came over today, so we’re having barbecue tonight. We caught a muntjac today, but unfortunately, it’s a Yellow Light. Otherwise, I would have sent a few pounds over for you, Brother San."

Zhang San listened to everyone and then chose the venison. "Luo Pei, can you trade me two pounds of the tenderloin?"

Tang Huai muttered under his breath, "Zhang San really knows how to eat."

Deer tenderloin is tender, low in fat, easy to digest, and is the best cut of meat on a deer.

"Of course." Luo Pei readily agreed. "I’ve cleared some land to plant grains, but the soil is full of insect larvae and eggs. Brother San, could you trade me some effective insecticide?"

Hearing that there were lots of insects in Territory No. 1’s land, Tang Huai felt an excited urge to go dig...

Zhang San stated his price: "A pound of venison for a pound of insecticide."

"Okay, thanks, Brother San." Luo Pei immediately agreed.

Tang Heng said quietly, "Dad, Zhang San’s insecticide must be good stuff. Should we trade for some too?"

Tang Huai immediately objected. "You’ve got me, what do you need insecticide for?"

Tang Zhengpo ignored his older son and instructed his younger one, "Call your sister later and have her send over four Green Light Crabs."

August was the perfect time to eat crab.

When they heard it was possible to trade for insecticide from Zhang San, the Lords of Territories Three, Four, Five, Six, and Ten were wracking their brains for a food item that might interest him. Just then, Little Liu, the assistant from No. 9 Territory, actually spoke up. "Can No. 9 Territory trade for insecticide? With Green Light Spinach."

Just when everyone thought Zhang San would refuse, he surprisingly agreed. "Sure. Two pounds of Green Light spinach for a pound of insecticide."

"Deal. Thank you, Lord Zhang." Little Liu immediately agreed.

’Zhang San agreed to trade with No. 9 Territory, probably because he wants to find out the Yi Element content of the Green Light Spinach they’re growing.’

Xiaqing finished picking the sweet potato leaves. Holding her breath, she carried her basket through the stinky alfalfa and perilla fields, and walked out of the High Slope planting greenhouse.

Xiaqing wasn’t the least bit surprised that No. 9 Territory was growing Green Light Spinach. Green Light Spinach was a primary vegetable ingredient for making Special Level Nutrient Liquid and Yi Element Stimulating Liquid. As an expert in cultivation techniques, Li Si would definitely try planting spinach in different soil conditions to see the effects.

’No. 9 Territory probably got their Green Light Spinach seeds from the Fiery Fire Team.’

’Xiaqing remembered Luo Pei saying that the Fiery Fire Team had a crop with a Yi Element content as high as nine parts per ten thousand. Could that be the spinach?’

’Was No. 9 Territory making a goodwill gesture to Zhang San by offering the spinach? And by accepting it, was Zhang San agreeing to let them off the hook?’

Lost in thought, Xiaqing entered the greenhouse in the low-slope planting area. She took out a water bucket that was already full from the Spring Cave, tightened the lid, and put it in her backpack. Just as she was about to pick some old long beans to take home—planning to shell the beans and make porridge like Qi Fu’s family—she received a call from Zhang San.

Zhang San’s voice was still weak, as if he’d suffered some terrible blow. "Xiaqing, are those two wolves still recovering in your territory?"

Xiaqing answered immediately, "Yes. The one with the spinal injury can feel its hind legs again. You’re amazing, Brother San. You can even heal a broken spine."

"That’s because its spinal nerves weren’t completely severed. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have responded so quickly." Zhang San continued, "How are you handling their food?"

Xiaqing understood why her idol was calling her. She answered, holding back a little, "The Wolf Group brings them food every day. Sometimes birds, sometimes rabbits or Little Wild Boars."

Hearing about food, Zhang San’s mood finally improved. "They’re recovering in your territory, and the Wolf Group doesn’t share any of the prey with you?"

Xiaqing, who was already getting sick of eating so much meat, answered with conviction, "No. They already paid me with medicinal herbs."

’She had already paid Zhang San’s surgery fee. The Green Light meat was her reward for diligently caring for the wolves. Not even her idol could take a share of her meat.’

Zhang San huffed. It was unclear whether he was dissatisfied with Xiaqing, the Wolf Group, or both.

Xiaqing was, of course, concerned about her idol’s health. She asked cautiously, "Brother San, are you not feeling well?"

"I’m so hungry my stomach hurts." Zhang San’s voice sounded genuinely unwell.

’Zhang San, a man with several large greenhouses, raising Green Light Chickens and Green Light dairy cows, and possessing countless high-value supplies, was actually hungry enough for his stomach to hurt?’

Xiaqing didn’t disbelieve him, she just found it incredible. She asked, "The spinach from No. 9 Territory wasn’t to your liking?"

Zhang San huffed again and continued his questioning. "Is it that the Wolf Group doesn’t share with you, or that they bring food and you just don’t go get it?"

’She was eating so much meat she was getting sick of it, yet her idol was starving so much his stomach hurt. How was that fair? She would give him some meat tomorrow! And while she was at it, she’d get some insecticide too.’

Xiaqing replied, "Brother San, am I really allowed to take the wolves’ food?"

Zhang San’s interest picked up a little. "From what I know of Wolf Groups, if they’re letting their own recover in your territory, they don’t see you as an outsider. You can go take the prey they deliver. Next time, put on a Protective Suit and give it a try. If you get something, test it. If it’s Green Light, save some for me."

Xiaqing agreed with great enthusiasm. "Okay, Brother San! I’ll try it tomorrow when the Wolf Group brings food."