Chapter 165: Xiaqing Gets Scolded

Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Xiaqing Gets Scolded

After returning home and greeting the two wolves and one sheep resting in their pen, Xiaqing brought the cage inside. Her first order of business was to retrieve the spinach juice hanging in the cellar and feed two drops to each chicken.

The other chickens were well-behaved; only the little black-feathered rooster struggled fiercely. But it was just a chick, and no amount of struggling could save it from being handled. After feeding it the spinach juice, Xiaqing tapped its little head with her finger and scolded it, "You better behave. Otherwise, you’ll be the first one I slaughter for New Year’s dinner."

Once she finished feeding the Green Light Chickens, Xiaqing turned her gaze to the goose cage. Inside, a lone, listless Red Light gosling of the Black Feathered Goose breed was huddled in a ball. She had received three goslings from yesterday’s mission—one Green Light, one Yellow Light, and one Red Light. Great. Now only the Red Light one was left.

Black Feathered Goose meat was delicious, but this was a Red Light one. It was inedible unless it underwent special processing back at the Safe Zone. Even then, the taste would be off and it offered no health benefits. Xiaqing had no desire to eat it.

After today’s ultrasound attack, the birds near the swamp had surely fled. The chances of catching another edible goose were extremely low.

Although mature Red Light Animals could be sold for twenty-five points per pound, it wasn’t worth the effort for Xiaqing. The time it would take to raise a goose would be better spent harvesting some White-haired Chicken Shit Vine.

However, the Chicken Shit Vine had been badly damaged by the hail, so harvesting it for points would have to wait until next year. For now, she might as well raise this little goose along with the chickens.

Xiaqing took the little goose out and fed it two drops of spinach juice, muttering, "Don’t look down on these two drops. They’re worth two hundred points. You’d better stay alive."

After feeding the poultry, Xiaqing went to check on the fish in the bucket. The one that had gone belly-up was a lost cause, but the remaining few were much more energetic than they had been at noon.

Xiaqing tested the belly-up fish’s Harmful Element and toxic substance levels. She found it was still Yellow Light, with very low toxicity. The meat hadn’t spoiled yet, so it was edible. She released the live fish back into the weir pond, deciding to make soup from the dead one.

They say fish is food for the brain, and since Xiaqing’s head still felt off, she could use the nourishment.

That evening, while drinking her fish soup, Xiaqing heard a news report from Hui San Base. It was a rebroadcast from Hua Country’s Main Station, mentioning Hui City Base’s recent battle against the Evolution Bird Group.

"A flock of over three thousand Evolutionary Birds, led by Evolutionary Ape-eating Eagles and Evolved Sea Eagles, surged from Gui City Base into Hui City Base. After being effectively intercepted at Hui Yi Base, the flock fled toward Hui San and Hui Wu Bases. The military and civilians of the two bases joined forces to fight back, repelling the flock without suffering major losses."

The Main Station’s brief mention became a ten-minute segment on Hui City’s radio news. By the time it reached Hui San Base’s broadcast slot, it had turned into a fifteen-minute special feature. The feature mentioned Luo Pei’s name several times and also detailed how the military and civilians of the two territories in the northern part of the Safe Zone fought against the Evolutionary Birds.

Only then did Xiaqing learn that over three thousand Evolved Fierce Birds had gathered by the sea near Gui City Base. After several hundred were killed at Hui Yi Base, the flock split in two. Over a thousand entered Hui San Base’s territory, where the base’s defensive line whittled their numbers down to just over two hundred. These survivors then flew over her territory at the foot of Mountain No. 49. After the troops led by Tan Junjie and the territory’s personnel killed all but a dozen or so, the remaining Evolution Bird Group fled toward the Evolution Forest, where they were annihilated by missiles.

’If I had encountered the flock of three thousand Evolved Fierce Birds from the start, I definitely would have given up fighting. I would have taken my companions and important supplies and hidden in the cellar, only coming out to deal with the aftermath after the flock had passed.’

’No matter how important the crops are, they aren’t worth my life. When faced with extreme danger, survival is the top priority.’

’The armies and teams from Hui Yi and Hui San that faced the Evolution Bird Group head-on are heroes. I’m not a hero, and I don’t get a hero’s treatment or benefits. I used to be a manual laborer; now I’m just a farmer. When danger comes, my job is to take care of myself and try not to get in the heroes’ way.’

Xiaqing was always very clear on where she stood.

’Right now, the most important thing is to get the cellar organized. It’s not just for storing food, but also for safety. If another Evolution Bird Group attacks, even if I stay outside to fight, I need to have a hiding place ready for my important supplies and animals.’

Today’s agricultural broadcast explained how Lords within the territories should clean up bird carcasses and feathers, eliminate Evolutionary Bacteria, and resume production as quickly as possible after being attacked by an Evolution Bird Group. ℯℯ𝑙.

After the agricultural segment ended, before Xiaqing could even turn on her walkie-talkie, she received a call from Luo Pei.

"Xiaqing, how are you doing now?"

Luo Pei knew that Xiaqing had Auditory Evolution, which was why he called to check on her.

Xiaqing could hear that it was very quiet on his end; she couldn’t hear any voices or the sound of wind. She guessed he must have returned to the Green Dragon Team’s headquarters in the Safe Zone. She answered briefly, "I was wearing the best Protective Mask at the time, which blocked part of the attack. I’m a little uncomfortable, but I’ll be fine after a couple of days’ rest. Brother Luo, I just heard on the broadcast that you shot down four Evolutionary Ape-eating Eagles. That’s amazing!"

The Evolution Bird Group that had descended on Hui San Base was led by five Evolutionary Ape-eating Eagles. If Hui San Base’s Top Level Sniper, Luo Pei, hadn’t recovered his combat strength and been able to rush to the front lines, the base would have suffered far greater losses.

Luo Pei’s voice was gentle. "I heard from Hu Zifeng that you killed seven Evolutionary Birds?"

Xiaqing grinned, quite pleased with her own battle record. But before she could offer a few modest words, she heard Luo Pei add, "And one of those seven... you stabbed it to death with a knife?"

Xiaqing was speechless.

’It’s over. Luo Pei just switched to strict-mentor mode. I’m about to get a lecture.’

After a ten-minute lecture from Luo Pei, a thoroughly convinced Xiaqing said, "You’re right. My performance in this battle had too many flaws. I have to work hard to improve."

Luo Pei’s voice softened slightly. "Learn from your mistakes. You need to work hard from now on."

"Yes," Xiaqing replied emphatically, then asked in a low voice, "Brother Luo, are you with Captain Yang?"

A moment ago, Xiaqing had heard Yang Jin’s voice giving out work assignments.

Luo Pei nodded. "Yes."

Then, Yang Jin’s voice came through the phone. "Xiaqing, did you suffer any losses in the battle with the bird flock? Do you need to restock supplies?"

Unlike Luo Pei’s gentle tone, Yang Jin’s voice seemed to lack warmth, yet it was very comforting to listen to. It wasn’t the same kind of comfort as Tang Zhengpo’s voice, which was calm and composed from the tempering of time and experience. Instead, it was a kind of quiet—a sky-like quiet that made one instinctively lower their guard.

This was a powerful tool in Yang Jin’s arsenal, allowing him to be such a notorious Iron Rooster!

Xiaqing gathered her wits. "Captain Yang, the Protective Mask from the canine Protective Suit I traded with you in March is damaged. Could I trade for another one? Also, I’d like to trade for a set of that camouflage Protective Suit like last time, with two Protective Masks."

Yang Jin tapped his cigarette ash into an ashtray and replied calmly, "Those are outdoor Level 3 protective suits. The price has gone up."

Luo Pei was left speechless.

Xiaqing had previously only worn Level 1 protective suits. Level 3 was two grades better and wasn’t sold publicly in the Safe Zone, so a price increase was normal. Xiaqing asked, "Alright. Do I have any supplies that you need?"

There was. A lot.

Yang Jin answered concisely, "Let’s use Green Light vegetables. I plan on juicing them next month."

Xiaqing understood: Yang Jin had an important combat mission next month and needed her spinach leaves to be juiced into Special Level Nutrient Liquid.

That, she could provide.

Xiaqing straightened her back. "Deal."

After the call ended, Luo Pei sighed. "She just said she’d train harder, and in the next breath, she’s already thinking about getting a new Protective Mask for her sheep."