Chapter 145: Does That Wolf Let You Ride It?

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Does That Wolf Let You Ride It?

After spending three months swinging a sledgehammer at the Huo Family Knife Shop, Xiaqing had watched the shop’s owner, Uncle Huo, forge an umbrella knife. She had immediately taken a liking to this type of weapon, which was perfect for Strength Evolvers, but she was poor and had no points to buy one.

The canopy of a real umbrella knife was composed of numerous sharp blades. A mechanism at the top allowed the user to rotate the handle up and down during combat, launching the blades like throwing knives. A single umbrella knife might not pose a significant threat to an enemy, but a rain of blades from a group of people using them was definitely a deadly weapon.

Although Xiaqing had observed Uncle Huo’s process of forging the umbrella knife, she had only watched and hadn’t grasped the true essence of the craft. However, based on the fundamental principles of the weapon, she was still capable of crafting an Iron Umbrella with a sheet metal canopy that could open and close.

However, since it was her first attempt, Xiaqing’s umbrella still had some flaws. Listening to the members of Hu Zifeng’s team praise her to the high heavens, Xiaqing honestly pointed out the umbrella’s shortcomings. "This is my first time making an Iron Umbrella. I made the canopy too small and thick, so it’s too heavy. When I have some free time in a few days, I’ll modify the canopy."

The Iron Umbrella weighed over thirty pounds. While certainly heavy for an ordinary person, it was nothing for a Strength Evolver. Guan Tong was extremely fond of this umbrella, which could block attacks when open and serve as an iron club when closed. "Sister Qing, can I come and learn from you the next time you’re smithing? I’ll pay tuition."

Having someone to stoke the fire and swing the sledgehammer for her was something Xiaqing would certainly welcome. "No tuition necessary. Just come over when you’re free. But I’ve only been learning for a few months, so my skills aren’t that great. You won’t learn much from me."

Guan Tong replied sincerely, "If I can learn your level of skill, Sister Qing, that will be more than enough."

Hu Zifeng and the others returned to the small cabin one by one to report the situation in the various greenhouses to Xiaqing. The hail and heavy rain had come too suddenly. The rainproof cloths had been closed in a hurry, and there hadn’t been time to clear the drainage ditches, so a few of the greenhouses were flooded. However, since it wasn’t Harmful Rain, a little water in the fields wouldn’t cause the crops to turn harmful.

But the apple and jujube trees that weren’t covered by the rain shelters had been battered bare.

Hu Zifeng handed Xiaqing a large, unripe jujube he had picked up, looking very regretful. "It was so hard to get these few to grow. They would have been ripe in another month, but the hailstorm knocked them all down."

The two insect-eating Green Light Jujube Trees that Xiaqing had planted in the spring had done very well this year, producing over a hundred dates. Every time she patrolled her territory, she would wonder what they tasted like.

Today, she wouldn’t have to wonder anymore. "It’s lucky they just fell and weren’t smashed to bits, and that we could still pick them up. Let’s boil a few and see if these dates taste like meat."

Seeing how philosophical Xiaqing was, Hu Zifeng broke into a grin.

Xiaqing took a clay pot from a bamboo basket, added some boiling water, and placed it on the fire. She sliced a few potatoes and dropped them in to cook. "The Wolf Group caught a few geese today. I took one and stewed the legs. We’re having goose and potato stew for breakfast."

’Xiaqing can just take a goose caught by the wolves?’ Hu Zifeng didn’t know whether to feel envious, or just plain envious.

The Olfactory Evolver, Chen Cheng, immediately moved closer to stoke the fire. "I smelled meat a minute ago! Sister Qing, this goose is Green Light, right? It smells amazing."

Food with a high content of Harmful Elements had a strange smell and taste. The noses of Olfactory Evolvers were especially sensitive, allowing them to judge a food’s grade by its scent.

Xiaqing nodded. "It’s Green Light. After I tested it, I traded the rest of the goose meat for insecticide from Territory Land No. 7. Only the legs were left. There’s not much meat, so I had to stretch it with potatoes."

Seeing Xiaqing taking out even more things, Hu Zifeng quickly tried to stop her. "Xiaqing, don’t go to any more trouble. This is more than enough to eat."

Xiaqing gave a noncommittal reply and pulled out several sealed bags of roasted flour from her back basket. The warmth and fragrant aroma of the flour quickly filled the small cabin.

What she was serving Hu Zifeng’s team today was the same simple yet filling "tea soup." Besides the tea soup, Xiaqing had also brought plenty of roasted meat jerky and compressed rations. Placing the stewed goose and potato chunks on the small table, breakfast was served. "This is rabbit jerky. I just threw it together. Everyone, give it a try and tell me what you think."

Ten people around one small table meant they all had to stand, but with such delicious food, nobody cared. Taking a sip of the hot tea soup and eating a piece of the tender, stewed goose, everyone felt like they were ascending to a higher plane.

’This morning’s hailstorm was totally worth it.’

"This is really good." Chen Cheng downed more than half the bowl in one go. On the day the Wolf Group entered the Third Territory, Luo Pei had returned from the Third Territory to the No.1 Territory, and Chen Cheng had wanted to taste this ever since smelling it on him then.

After they finished eating, Xiaqing figured the dates boiling in the pot should be cooked. She poured them into a small basin and brought it to the table. "I tested a couple while I was washing them. They’re both Green Light. They just weren’t ripe, so I don’t know how they’ll taste."

"I’ll go first." The Olfactory Evolver, Chen Zheng, picked up a date that had turned yellowish-green after boiling, blew on it, popped it in his mouth, and took a bite. His eyes lit up. "Delicious! Sister Qing, hurry and try one."

Xiaqing invited everyone to eat, then picked one up for herself and put it in her mouth. Her eyes couldn’t help but light up as well.

Not only did the date not taste like meat, but it also had an indescribably clean sweetness. Although the sweetness wasn’t as intense as a strawberry’s, it was more delicious than the Earth-raspberry Fruit from the Evolution Forest.

’If these dates were ripe, they would surely taste even better. Too bad we won’t get to eat any this year.’

Two dates per person, and in the blink of an eye, only steaming water was left in the basin. Da Jiang asked in a low voice, "Sister Qing, are you selling these dates? I’d like to buy a couple to take back for my girlfriend to try."

Chen Cheng sidled up as well. "Sister Qing, I’d also like to buy a couple to take home for my mom to try."

Hu Zifeng glared. "How many dates does the Third Territory even have? If you buy a couple, and you buy a couple, how many will be left for Xiaqing?"

"Even if you each buy two, I’ll still have plenty left." Xiaqing didn’t offer them for free, instead stating a very reasonable price. "Fifteen points per date, two per person. This is a friends-and-family price. If you miss this chance, you’ll have to wait until next August to buy more."

According to the public trade prices on the Lord channel, a single Green Light Seed was twenty points. Xiaqing’s dates were not only Green Light Seeds but also delicious Green Light food, so fifteen points each was truly a very low price.

But since Xiaqing had called it a friends-and-family price, the group didn’t stand on ceremony. Each person bought two and happily pocketed them.

Hu Zifeng was the last to buy. He said quietly, "I don’t have a girlfriend. I’m buying two to let my cat try them."

Xiaqing...

’Damn it, I don’t want to sell them to him!’

Chen Cheng retorted, "Captain, cats are carnivores."

"Old Wu is an Evolution Cat. With food this good, how will we know if he doesn’t eat it unless we try?" After speaking, Hu Zifeng added, "If he doesn’t eat it, I will."

Xiaqing handed the dates to Hu Zifeng. "Captain Hu, you named your cat Old Wu?"

"Mhm." As Hu Zifeng spoke of his cat, his expression became identical to that of the tough-as-nails Ji Li when he mentioned his own cat. "I thought the name you gave your Evolutionary Sheep was pretty impressive, so I went with a similar style."

"It’s a really good name." Internally, Xiaqing was shedding tears. The moment she had first seen that little tabby with white paws, she had claimed it as hers and named it Little Fifth.

’Who would have thought that after all that, the name Little Fifth would stick, but the cat wouldn’t be hers.’

Hu Zifeng consoled Xiaqing, "Princess will definitely have more kittens next year. Just plant some extra spinach, and you can trade with Brother San for another one."

Guan Tong chimed in, "Sister Qing has wolves now, why would she still want a cat? Wolves are way more impressive than cats."

Chen Cheng also preferred wolves. "Exactly. In that strong wind just now, the wolf vanished with a single leap. I’d say its speed is no slower than Yang’s. It must be a Speed Evolver."

Little Jiang asked in a low voice, "Sister Qing, does the wolf let you ride it?"

Xiaqing...

’Do you really think that’s possible?’