Chapter 271: Rosemary and Mint

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Rosemary and Mint

Xiaqing gave Qi Fu a detailed answer. "I previously traded with Brother San for a soil insecticide, which I applied at the end of July. That’s why very few spiny worms showed up in my greenhouse. A few days ago, I found heart borers, so I traded with Brother San again for a specialized insecticide."

Hu Zifeng also chimed in. "Our No.1 Territory also traded for the soil insecticide, but since we haven’t started planting, we haven’t used it yet. The fields have plenty of spiny worms and leaf miner larvae. We’ll definitely use it when we plant wheat after this plague is over."

At this, not only Qi Fu and the others, but even Xin Yu—who had never participated in resource exchanges between Lords—made a request. "Brother San, can No. 8 Territory trade for your specialized soil insecticide and the one for heart borers?"

Zhang San’s interest was immediately piqued. "What are you offering in exchange?"

Xin Yu listed her assets. "Green Light mint or Green Light rosemary. The Harmful Element content for both is below 0.3%. Is that acceptable?"

Zhang San readily agreed. After they settled on the terms, Zhang San gave his usual warning. "For the soil insecticide, see how effective this round of spraying is before deciding on the dosage. You can go ahead and spray the heart borer insecticide. I’ll have Ji Li deliver it to you."

Li Si immediately jumped in. "No. 8 Territory, that Green Light mint and rosemary—did you bring it with you, or was it already growing in your territory?"

Xin Yu shut him down directly. "My Green Light resources are limited. I’ve already traded for the medicine I need. I’m not making any more exchanges."

...

Back in his territory, Tang Huai roared with laughter and clapped his hands. "Savage! Xin Yu is even more savage than Xiaqing! This is great, just great!"

Shi Du, who was in the middle of catching bugs, asked, "Is rosemary an herb or a vegetable?"

Xin Yu didn’t answer. Tang Huai was too busy gloating to pay attention. It was Kuang Qingwei’s wife, Zhu Li, who cleared things up for Shi Du. "Rosemary is an aromatic herb. It can be used to make air fresheners and perfumes, or as a seasoning."

While comforting her companions, Xiaqing considered what she should trade with Xin Yu for the captured Evolutionary Eagle. ’I don’t need a luxury seasoning like rosemary. Green Light Garlic and Green Light mint are still my top choices.’

After three hours of the helicopter’s massive propellers roaring, Xiaqing noticed the Sheep Leader’s tense muscles finally relax. It perked up and headed downstairs, wanting to go outside.

Xiaqing put a Protective Mask and a Protective Suit on it. "It smells awful outside. Make it quick."

The Sheep Leader went out to relieve itself and quickly ran back inside. Then, the Broken Waist Wolf stood by the door, indicating it also wanted to go out. Xiaqing immediately pulled out the Protective Suit she’d gotten from Tang Huai. "Broken Waist, how about you try this on?"

Seeing no objection from the Broken Waist Wolf, Xiaqing quickly dressed it in the Protective Suit, even putting on the shoes.

Just as clothes make the man, a protective suit makes the wolf. Once dressed, the Broken Waist Wolf, despite the large bald patch on its back, instantly looked majestic and handsome from every angle.

Xiaqing couldn’t help but pull out her phone and take a few quick pictures—CLICK! CLICK! Hearing no helicopter roar within a three-kilometer radius, she quickly took the Broken Waist Wolf to the wolf latrine.

After returning indoors, Xiaqing also put a Protective Suit on the Sick Wolf and took it out for a quick trip, keeping close to the base of the wall.

Once her companions had grown accustomed to the roar of the helicopters, Xiaqing no longer needed to stay inside and watch over them. She tuned the intercoms inside the two wolves’ masks and gave her fully-armored companions a solemn warning. "I’m going to patrol the territory. None of you are to go outside. If the humans in the helicopter spot you, you’ll all have to retreat deep into the Evolution Forest. You won’t be able to stay in my territory anymore."

"Baa," the Sheep Leader was the first to respond. It was a coward, preferring to lay low just like Xiaqing.

The fully-armored Broken Waist Wolf responded second. "Woof."

Because the Broken Waist Wolf was wearing a Protective Mask, the sound was muffled, but Xiaqing still heard it clearly. She was delighted. "Broken Waist, I’m leaving the house in your care. I’m going to patrol the territory. If you need anything, just call for me at this volume. I’ll be able to hear you."

"Woof," the Broken Waist Wolf replied again, clearly in high spirits. Its good mood was obviously related to the Protective Suit it was wearing. It tirelessly twisted its body to admire the suit on its back, its eyes shining with joy.

Fully armed, Xiaqing went out to patrol her territory. Perhaps because the helicopters were drawing water from her land, they began spraying the undeveloped plains in her territory right after finishing the cultivated farmlands.

By now, her entire territory—aside from two uninhabited Deserted Villages and the Buffer Forest—had been sprayed once with insecticide. Everything was drenched. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Xiaqing carefully observed the caterpillars. She found that about twenty percent of them had fallen stiffly to the ground, dead. Sixty percent were curled into motionless little balls, but they weren’t dead yet. The remaining twenty percent were still nibbling on blades of grass, though their eating speed had noticeably decreased.

Xiaqing pressed the button and reported her findings.

Li Si responded, "If those curled-up, motionless ones recover, we still won’t be able to avoid a full-blown plague. It would be best to spray again with a higher concentration of insecticide as soon as possible."

Zhao Ze asked, "The insecticide is in limited supply; we probably can’t spray a second time. Brother San, do you think the ones that are curled up can be killed?"

Zhang San still sounded listless. "We’ll have to run tests to find out. Kuang Qingwei, I’ll send someone to No. 6 Territory to collect samples?"

The reply from No. 6 Territory came from Zhu Li—Kuang Qingwei was presumably busy fighting the bugs. "Of course. Thank you for going to the trouble, Brother San."

Xin Yu’s voice came over the Lord channel. "Xiaqing, can we make the trade now?"

’Is Xin Yu worried the eagle will die in the Third Territory?’ Xiaqing pressed the button. "Yes."

Xin Yu asked again, "Captain Tan and his team are busy. Can I meet you at the road sign for the Third Territory to make the trade?"

"You can." Xin Yu hadn’t specified what resources she was offering in exchange. Xiaqing figured she didn’t want to disclose that on the Lord channel, so she gave a clean, simple agreement.

"Thank you. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes."

Tang Huai, who loved a good spectacle, was more eager than anyone. He soon appeared at the road sign for the Second Territory, his eyes fixed intently on the western path. When Xin Yu’s figure finally emerged, Tang Huai waved his arm in greeting. "Xin Yu, over here!"

Xiaqing, who was waiting behind the Wild Grass Wall, paused. When she heard no response from Xin Yu to Tang Huai’s call, she passed through the wall and appeared at the road sign.

Xin Yu was wearing a Protective Suit and carrying the same large machete from the last time she’d gone out to chop wood and accidentally wandered into the Third Territory. This time, however, the Protective Mask she wore was different—it was a one-way mirrored visor.

In the Safe Zone, people who wore this type of mask usually had severe facial or eye injuries and didn’t want to be seen. As a result, this kind of Protective Mask was seen by most as a mark of facial disfigurement. Healthy people didn’t wear them, as they prevented eye contact.

’The last time I saw Xin Yu, her eyes and the skin around them were perfectly fine,’ Xiaqing thought. ’Did she get injured? Or does she just not want people to see her face, so she’s deliberately dressing like this?’

A helicopter roared past at low altitude, its downdraft making the Wild Grass Wall ripple and sway. The two female Lords stood in silence, waiting until the helicopter landed in the Third Territory to draw water before they began to discuss the trade.