Chapter 247: Over 1500 Jin of Edible Chestnuts

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Over 1500 Jin of Edible Chestnuts

Qi Fu proposed a trade. "I have four Green Light Orange Seedlings that just sprouted this spring. They’re already over a person’s height. I’ll go dig two up and bring them over."

Xiaqing asked for their advice. "Brother Qi, ma’am, is it easier for the trees to survive if I plant them now, or after the Harmful Rain next spring?"

Yuan Yan, delighted to be getting another type of Green Light tree, chimed in, "They’ll survive more easily next spring. Our winters have gotten colder, and if the snow is too heavy, the trees can freeze to death."

"Then let’s dig them up next spring." After settling the seedling exchange, Xiaqing grabbed a few more Green Light chestnuts and, refusing to take no for an answer, pressed them into Yuan Yan’s hands before seeing them off her territory.

Carrying such precious supplies, the pair was afraid of being seen. They waited for a patrol team before following them through the Northern Isolation Zone back to their own territory.

Back in their own territory, after a full day’s work, Qi Fu’s arms and legs were sore, and his shoulders burned with pain. But overriding the aches was the excitement from his haul. He whispered to his wife, "Last night, I was worried about what I’d do if I had to pee in the Evolution Forest. Turns out, I didn’t even feel the urge. All the water in my body just turned into sweat and poured right out. My clothes were soaked through."

Inside the Tenth Territory, Shi Zhong was stunned when his wife and son came back with a bag of Chestnuts. "These evolved Chestnuts... they’re huge! They’re almost as big as the jujubes from that giant old tree in our hometown."

"Two and a half kilos of Yellow Light Chestnuts got us enough rations to feed our family for three months," Mother Shi said, pleased with their haul.

Because Shi Zhong required long-term medication, they had to trade away most of the grain and vegetables they grew to get it.

The medicine Shi Zhong was taking now came from Zhang San. Although it was twice as expensive as the kind from the Safe Zone, it was far more effective. After just a few days on it, the swelling in Shi Zhong’s ankles and knees had subsided, and his whole body felt lighter.

Seeing his father’s health improve, Shi Du was overjoyed, even if it meant he had to eat rations made from grass every day. He was now just waiting for the autumn harvest to be over so he could team up with No.1 Territory and Xiaqing, make more runs into the Evolution Forest to earn points, and buy more medicine for his dad.

Mother Shi told her husband how capable Xiaqing was. "She tidied up the territory all by herself, made it so neat. Not only did she pull up all the Injurious Grass, she even raked the entire place. The plots of land are perfectly level, and she cleared away all the big rocks. It just looks so open and clean. And besides a crowing rooster, she has hens too. I wonder if she’ll be hatching chicks next spring. If she does, we should try to trade for a few to raise."

In July, Shi Du had gone on a mission with Hu Zifeng and brought back a little Yellow Light gosling. The family had treasured it, but it was killed by the ultrasound, and Mother Shi was so heartbroken she couldn’t sleep properly for several nights.

Shi Du thought it was better to ask Zhang San first. "Sister Qing got her chickens from Zhang San. Next spring, we should wait and see if Territory Land No. 7 is hatching any. If Brother San isn’t, then we can ask Sister Qing privately."

Back in the Third Territory, after giving Ji Li the sixteen kilos of Green Light Chestnuts in exchange for sixteen bottles of medicine, Xiaqing called over Sheep Leader and had him carry the rest of the Chestnuts home to the storage room beneath the garage.

During their chat this afternoon, Xiaqing had learned from Qi Fu, his wife, and Mother Shi how to store chestnuts. Once shelled, they could be put directly into cold storage. The temperature and humidity requirements were the same as for potatoes, so Xiaqing placed them in the same storeroom.

According to Yuan Yan, before the Natural Disaster, chestnuts could last for two years without spoiling as long as the temperature and humidity in cold storage were properly controlled. Because of this, Xiaqing decided to store the entire batch.

And just like that, Xiaqing’s food reserves in her storeroom increased by 145 kilos of Green Light Chestnuts and 600 kilos of Yellow Light Chestnuts. She planned to keep all of them. Even if she were to sell some, it would have to wait until after she harvested new Chestnuts next year.

She had another ten-plus kilos of Chestnuts in her kitchen whose shells were slightly damaged. Xiaqing didn’t take these down to storage, instead stuffing them in the refrigerator to eat over the next few days.

After two busy days, her food reserves had increased by over 750 kilos. Xiaqing hummed a little tune as she went back to her house to shower. That evening, she made chestnut chicken and also boiled some chicken breast porridge for Sick Wolf.

Seeing Sick Wolf lap up every last drop of the porridge, Xiaqing happily stroked its neck. "If you can eat, you’ll get better soon. Just hang in there for two more days, Second. This is the final deworming stage. You’ll be all better after these next two days."

After switching to the medicine prepared from herbs the Head Wolf had gathered, Sick Wolf had started to have diarrhea again. Xiaqing’s yard now stank, requiring her to be diligent about cleaning up its droppings.

After feeding Sick Wolf, Xiaqing tossed two pieces of meat jerky to Broken Waist Wolf. "Thanks to you and the Queen for helping me look after Sheep Leader today. This is your reward."

With people coming and going in the territory all day, Xiaqing had asked Head Wolf and Broken Waist Wolf to keep Sheep Leader at home and not let him wander out to show off. The two wolves had completed their task perfectly, but since Head Wolf wasn’t around, Xiaqing gave the reward to Broken Waist Wolf.

’And broken leg wolf?’ That one hadn’t shown up all day, probably off raising hell somewhere.

After feeding the wolves, Xiaqing went back inside to wash her hands. The house was already filled with a delicious aroma. She eagerly lifted the pot lid, and the sight of the meat inside nearly made her drool.

It smelled amazing! Absolutely incredible!

Green Light Chicken and Green Light Chestnuts. You could tell it was going to be delicious just from the smell. She carried the wok and a bowl of steamed rice directly to her table, put out some mixed feed for Sheep Leader, and picked up a chestnut with her chopsticks.

It tasted so good her soul seemed to leave her body, float on the fragrant air around the room a few times, and then settle back in.

Xiaqing opened her eyes and sighed at Sheep Leader, who was eating his concentrated feed across from her. "Leader, it’s a shame you can’t eat this. These Chestnuts are just so, so, so delicious. I’ve never tasted Chestnuts this good. They have to be the most perfect evolved Chestnuts on all of Blue Star! Brother San will definitely want to buy some from me... What should I ask for in return?"

Sheep Leader stared at the dark wok on Xiaqing’s table, his eyes narrowing.

Xiaqing knew instantly what the rascal was thinking. Her eyes widened. "You even think about touching my wok, and I’ll snap off your horns and sell them to Tang Huai to use for digging up worms."

Sheep Leader let out a heavy snort and buried his head, continuing to chow down.

Xiaqing picked up another chestnut, savoring it as she began to gently coax him. "You had a rough day, I know. I won’t leave the territory tomorrow. We can go for a run and have a good spar."

Sheep Leader continued to chow down, ignoring Xiaqing.

But not even Sheep Leader’s punchable face could ruin Xiaqing’s good mood. After a wonderful meal, she switched on the radio at the exact right time to catch the weather forecast and the farming broadcast.

Tomorrow would be another fine day, which would be a great help for crop growth. The farming knowledge segment was about late-stage cotton management and how to store harvested cotton.

After the farming segment, Xiaqing turned off the radio and was about to switch on her walkie-talkie when Sick Wolf trotted into the house, following Sheep Leader, who had just been outside to relieve himself.

The wolf had apparently cleaned his paws too, as he left a few neat prints on the floor and stared at Xiaqing with expectant eyes.

Xiaqing was surprised. "Second, not sleeping with Broken Waist Wolf tonight? You want to sleep with Leader?"

’A few days ago, I wouldn’t have minded,’ Xiaqing thought. But today, she was reluctant to agree. Sick Wolf had diarrhea, and he was starting to smell.

Leaving a trail of paw prints, Sick Wolf walked to the bathroom door and looked back at Xiaqing.

Xiaqing met his gaze for a couple of seconds, then asked, "You want a bath?"

Sick Wolf gave a single wag of his tail and parted his jaws, as if smiling at Xiaqing.