Chapter 276: Companion

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Companion

When Xiaqing returned from her territory inspection the next day, she found the potted Evolution Ice Grass wilting under the sun. But as she was no longer a rookie farmer, she wasn’t worried in the least.

Evolution Ice Grass had a vigorous Life Force. She was using the best potting soil and watering it with Pollution-free Spring Water, so she was confident it would survive until its seeds matured.

Today, Xiaqing wasn’t leaving her territory. Her task was pest control.

After two days of frenzied growth, the first batch of Evolutionary Thorn Moth larvae that had emerged and survived the insecticide had already grown to nearly two centimeters long. After one more day of munching on leaves, they would burrow into the soil to pupate.

The surviving larvae had developed a resistance to the insecticide. If they managed to pupate and turn into Evolutionary Thorn Moths, there would be an even more severe infestation in the territory this time next year.

Xiaqing’s territory was vast; she couldn’t possibly handle it alone. Hu Zifeng’s team had arrived early in the morning. In the afternoon, after they had finished catching the worms in their own territories, the Lords of Territory No.5 and Territory No. 4 sent people over to help. Xiaqing paid the two Lords a wage of three points per person for their workers.

The going rate for hiring an ordinary person to farm in a territory was four points a day. Since Zhao Ze and Qi Fu had sent people to help, Xiaqing certainly couldn’t expect them to pay their workers’ wages on her behalf.

Four points might not sound like a lot, but back when Xiaqing was a vice-captain of a construction team in the Safe Zone, she only earned five points after a full day of hard labor. Many jobs available to ordinary people paid just one or two points a day.

One point could buy a block of compressed rations. During the Disaster Years, a single block of these rations, soaked in water and cooked into a porridge, was enough to keep an ordinary adult from starving for a day.

So, even though farming in the territories was more dangerous than working in the Safe Zone, some people were still willing to risk it for the higher pay.

In the evening, after seeing the two Lords out of her territory, Xiaqing was greeted enthusiastically by Tang Huai, who was waiting by the sign for the Second Territory. "Xiaqing! Done with the pest control? Many hands make light work, eh? That was quick."

"Mhm."

Having traded the Protective Suit for the Yi Stone, Xiaqing was in an excellent mood. Even the sight of Tang Huai, the one who’d provided the suit, was less irritating.

Surprised to get a response from her, Tang Huai excitedly took two steps forward. "How about I help you with pest control tomorrow? I can work from dawn till dusk. No points, and you don’t have to feed me. You know, when it comes to this kind of farm work, nobody in these territories is more of an expert at catching worms than I am."

"Not necessary." Xiaqing turned and headed back inside.

"That ugly bitch, I’ll kill her sooner or later!" Zhou Xun muttered as he walked over. Then he asked, "Boss, it’s getting dark. Shouldn’t we head back?"

"Go back, my ass! Who told you we stop working just because it’s dark? Have you figured out what all that commotion in No.1 Territory was about today? Now go keep an eye on them!"

After taking his frustration out on Zhou Xun, Tang Huai turned his eager gaze back toward the Third Territory.

The leaves of the Third Territory’s Wild Grass Wall had been chewed up by the Evolutionary Worms, so it no longer completely obscured the view. Tang Huai peered through the now-visible gaps.

’Even if I can’t see the wolves, I’d settle for a glimpse of that crazy sheep. At this point, even seeing a chicken would be something!’ He was just that curious about the Third Territory.

’If Xiaqing would just hire me to work in her territory, I’d leave the Su Feng Team in a heartbeat and join the Third Territory. I’d even do it for free, as long as she lets me walk her Evolutionary Wolves.’

The Wild Grass Wall would grow back quickly once it was watered. Xiaqing ignored Tang Huai, who was just asking for trouble, and went to the Buffer Forest to fetch a bucket of Pollution-free Spring Water. She then returned home to discuss an important matter with the Sick Wolf and the Broken Waist Wolf.

Although the insecticide, fortified with High Level Evolution Black Orchid Grass, had exterminated 95% of the Evolutionary Thorn Moth larvae, the initial infestation had been so large that the remaining 5% was still a significant number.

The worms in the domain of Mounts 49 and 50 were plentiful enough to gorge all the local birds, snakes, frogs, and lizards. However, few of these predators dared venture into the human-inhabited territories to hunt. Therefore, eliminating the remaining Evolutionary Worms had to rely on the resources within the territory itself.

In fact, Xiaqing and her animal companions had been so diligent that they had nearly caught all the snakes, frogs, and lizards within her territory.

As for birds? Ever since Xiaqing had stolen their eggs and the two White Egrets had moved away, her thousands of acres of territory had no resident birds to speak of. They were even less reliable.

Since she couldn’t rely on wild animals, Xiaqing decided to use her domesticated ones.

Xiaqing had the Sheep Leader take the insect-loving flock of chickens to exterminate the pests in the village. After being put in its place a few times, the Black Feathered Rooster no longer dared to challenge the Sheep Leader and would go wherever it was herded.

Today, while Xiaqing was busy with pest control outside, the Sheep Leader had herded the chickens through the village, clearing it of worms.

There’s always something to keep another in check. No matter how tough the Evolutionary Thorn Moth larvae were, they were still just over two centimeters long—nothing more than a snack to an evolved chicken. The chickens even dug up and ate some of the faster worms that had already burrowed into the soil to pupate.

But this was just in the village; throughout Xiaqing’s seven-thousand-mu territory, countless Evolutionary Worms that had escaped human sight were still feasting day and night.

Every worm killed now was one less moth next year. A single female moth could lay at least five hundred eggs. Therefore, every single worm they could find had to be destroyed.

Humans couldn’t continue the work at night, but the wolves, having rested at home all day, certainly could.

The Sick Wolf was very obedient. After lapping up the meat porridge Xiaqing served it and watching her practical demonstration on how to kill the pests, it put on a Protective Suit and set off. The Broken Waist Wolf, however, remained sprawled on the tatami mat, unmoving.

The Sheep Leader worked for praise, and the Sick Wolf worked for food. But this last one, the Brain Domain Evolution Wolf, wasn’t so easy to order around.

An idea struck Xiaqing. She went upstairs and came back down with several polished, lustrous Pearl Necklaces. "Hey, Broken Waist, look. These are Pearl Necklaces. Pretty, huh?"

The Broken Waist Wolf couldn’t talk, but its eyes tracked the necklaces wherever Xiaqing moved her hand.

Xiaqing quickly figured out which necklace it liked most. She held it out in front of the wolf and stated her terms. "Go kill the pests, and this necklace will be yours in the morning."

The Broken Waist Wolf just stared silently at the necklace, not moving. Xiaqing got the message. She draped the Pearl Necklace directly around its neck. "Fine. I’ll pay you upfront. Now go kill the pests."

Only then did the Broken Waist Wolf stand up, give a lazy stretch, and paw the door open. As she watched it leave, Xiaqing couldn’t help but sigh.

’The evolved animals of Blue Star just keep getting weirder and weirder. Who would have thought a male Brain Domain Evolution Wolf could be so vain? He actually likes a necklace made of pink and white pearls.’

As for its Protective Suit?

’No need! He’d already demanded she put it on him first thing in the morning, right after she woke up. He’d been showing it off all day.’

Xiaqing put a necklace with a single Black Pearl on her own neck. Of all the pearls, she liked this black one the best.

The bag Yang Jin had given her contained only a few Black Pearls—not enough to string a full necklace. Xiaqing had tried trading with Chang Li and the others from No.1 Territory, but while they had pearls of all colors, none matched the size of her black ones. In the end, Xiaqing simply made a single-pearl necklace.

It felt nice and looked pretty, but she could only wear it indoors. When on a mission in the Evolution Forest, anything without a practical purpose was just a liability.

After grooming the fur of the Sheep Leader, who had worked hard all day, Xiaqing put on her Night Vision Goggles and went up to the attic. She quickly spotted the two wolves patrolling the territory and killing pests.

With the parasites gone, the Sick Wolf was recovering at a visible rate. He was much more energetic now, and he nimbly leaped to swat at pests with his bootie-clad paws.

The Broken Waist Wolf, on the other hand, moved at a leisurely pace, searching for the two types of Evolutionary Worms Xiaqing had shown it in the pictures. It would kill them with a single swat of its paw, and its movements were, surprisingly, almost stylish.

With two Evolutionary Wolves guarding her territory through the night, Xiaqing felt completely at ease. She yawned and drew the curtain.