Chapter 311: Operation Cancelled

Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Operation Cancelled

Purslane, when fresh and tender, was a fine dish whether served cold or stir-fried. During the sunny summer days, one could pick the edible purslane, trim its roots, wash it, blanch it in boiling water, and then sun-dry it for sealed storage. Xiaqing had edible purslane in her territory as well and had dried quite a bit of it over the summer.

In the Disaster Years, there was no better way to show sincerity than by gifting food, especially Green Light food.

Xiaqing accepted the purslane from Mrs. Zhao and started to discuss a matter with her. "Mrs. Zhao, a few days ago, intruders entered my territory through this valley. If Captain Tan hadn’t discovered them early, I would have lost all the crops I worked so hard to grow. I think this valley between our two territories is a huge gap, a major security risk. We’d best block it off before the autumn harvest."

The two territories were divided by the valley’s river channel, so to block the passage from the Northern Isolation Zone into the valley, Xiaqing needed to consult with Territory No. 4. They could only take action after reaching an agreement.

Mrs. Zhao’s eyes widened in surprise. "When did that happen?"

Xiaqing briefly explained what had happened. The case involving the Jiang Bear Squad entering the Third Territory had not yet been concluded, and no official announcement had been made, so the other Lords in the area were still unaware.

Mrs. Zhao immediately agreed with Xiaqing’s proposal. "You’re right. Our crops will be ripe soon. The sooner we plug that gap, the sooner we can have some peace of mind. It won’t just keep people out, but wild animals too. Last time, if you hadn’t killed all those muskrats that swam over, who knows how badly our territories would have been ravaged."

After voicing her agreement, Mrs. Zhao immediately came up with a plan. "I have two large Evolved Aralia Wood trees here. Their thorns are hard and long. I’ll have Zhao Ze and some men saw them down tomorrow."

It was so refreshing to deal with a straightforward person. A rare smile touched Xiaqing’s usually expressionless face. "We’re thinking the same thing. I have Aralia trees in my territory, too. I’ll cut down two large ones and bring them over."

Aralia wood is also called "thorny tender shoots." If the Harmful Element content were a bit lower, the tender shoots growing on the tree would be edible. Unfortunately, the few trees in Xiaqing’s territory were all Red Light. After evolving, the Aralia tree’s thorns grew to over twenty centimeters long, sharp and sturdy, making them excellent material for building fences.

After reaching an agreement with Mrs. Zhao, Xiaqing, ever the woman of action, returned home, opened her garage door, attached the digging shovel to her micro-tiller, and immediately went to uproot the trees. This was because those two Aralia trees were also near the Qiang Evolved cotton plants and needed to be cleared out quickly.

When Sheep Leader saw Xiaqing drive the micro-tiller out, it immediately hopped into its exclusive seat. The Sick Wolf trotted over, squatting to one side and staring at Xiaqing with longing eyes.

"You want a ride too? Hold on."

Xiaqing swiftly removed the micro-tiller’s rain cover, installed a seat on the fender over the left track, and gestured to the Sick Wolf. "Second, hop on. We’re going to go dig up some trees."

The Sick Wolf immediately plopped down on the seat, panting happily and nudging its head against Xiaqing’s arm. Sheep Leader was also pleased, letting out a bleat as if to praise her for her good judgment.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, a wolf to her left and a sheep to her right, Xiaqing felt a wave of pure bliss. She started the micro-tiller and advanced toward the Aralia trees.

Tang Huai, who was in the Second Territory digging for insects, heard the familiar racket and started cursing again. "Zhou Xun, go see what that damn woman is up to. It’s noisy as hell."

Xiaqing quickly felled the two six-meter-plus-tall Aralia trees, sawed them into sections, and loaded them onto the sheep-drawn cart, having Sheep Leader pull it to the valley’s edge. It wasn’t that she couldn’t use the gas-powered micro-tiller to haul the wood, but using Sheep Leader was more cost-effective.

The crucial part was that Sheep Leader genuinely enjoyed farm work that could be completed with brute strength.

Since the roots of the freshly uprooted trees were still active, they couldn’t immediately be dug into the ground as fence posts. Otherwise, during the next Harmful Rain, the Red Light Aralia trees, their biological balance already disrupted, would very likely undergo Qiang Evolution. The things were covered in thorns; if they underwent an aggressive Qiang Evolution, their destructive power would be absolutely astounding.

Therefore, Xiaqing and Mrs. Zhao had agreed to each contribute two Aralia trees. They would first pile the branches and trunks in the valley to block the passage into their territories, and then, once the wood was dry, they would construct a sturdy, thorny barrier.

After moving the two Aralia trees into the valley, a fifteen-meter-wide firebreak was cleared out beside the Qiang Evolved cotton plants.

Security Risk #1: The cotton plants that could release flammable gas. A firebreak had been cleared around them, so even if they caught fire, it wouldn’t spread.

Security Risk #2: The valley offering covert access to the Third Territory was now blocked.

In truth, the most permanent solution would be to simply uproot the Qiang Evolved plants. But Xiaqing wanted to leave the cotton patch as it was, partly to see what kind of trouble the people from the Second Territory were plotting, and partly so she could seize the chance to extort the Su Feng Team for a hefty sum again.

In the Second Territory, Tang Huai reported to Qian Lin with great regret, "Xiaqing has cleared the area around the Qiang Evolved cotton plants."

"Why would she clear it today? What a coincidence." Qian Lin, who had been ready to make his move tonight, eyed Tang Huai suspiciously.

Tang Huai gave him a huge eye-roll. "My Auditory Evolution is the only power I have. She didn’t mutter her reasons out loud while she was working, so how the hell would I know!"

A Su Feng Team member inside the room whispered, "Brother Lin, are we still a go for tonight?"

"Let me ask for instructions." Qian Lin shot Tang Huai a subtle glare, gave his subordinate a meaningful look, and then walked off with his phone. He was clearly planning to tattle on Tang Huai in the process.

The members of Qian Lin’s squad stood near Tang Huai, talking loudly to deliberately prevent him from overhearing Qian Lin’s conversation.

Tang Huai rolled his eyes again, crossed his legs, and started humming a little tune, acting as if he couldn’t care less what Qian Lin was up to.

A short while later, Qian Lin returned, his face dark. "The operation is off."

After Qian Lin led his team away, Zhou Xun sidled up to Tang Huai. "Boss, that Qian fellow is just a Level 4 Strength Evolver; he’s nothing compared to you. You’re not angry that he’s walking all over you like that?"

Swinging his crossed leg, Tang Huai adopted Zhang San’s lazy tone and asked, "Oh, I’m angry. What do you propose we do about it?"

Zhou Xun clenched his fist. "Kill him."

"Sounds good. You do it."

Zhou Xun was speechless.

Tang Huai shot him a look of contempt. "If you don’t have the guts to do it yourself, then stop fucking whining about it in my ear. Now piss off and get back to your post."

’It’s already dark, and no one is watching. What mission is there to carry out?’ Zhou Xun thought. ’I’m not an idiot.’ He chuckled. "Boss, what do you think Deputy Xu is really up to?"

"You want to know?"

"I do."

"If you want to know, go ask Xu Pin yourself."

Zhou Xun was speechless again.

Only after everyone had left did Tang Huai stand up and stretch. Humming his tune, he sauntered over to the Northern Wilderness Grass Wall to eavesdrop on the Third Territory.

The leaves on the Wild Grass Wall, which had been eaten by thorn bugs, had grown back, so Tang Huai couldn’t see into the Third Territory. He thought he heard Xiaqing call out "Second," though.

Tang Huai knew Xiaqing’s Evolutionary Sheep was called Sheep Leader. This "Second," he figured, was most likely the Evolutionary Wolf. Tang Huai felt an overwhelming urge to tear a hole in the Wild Grass Wall and sneak into the Third Territory for a look.

After dinner, having listened to the news and the agricultural knowledge broadcast, Xiaqing checked her five security cameras. Then she conferred with the Sick Wolf. "Second, how about we do a patrol of the territory? I’ve got a bad feeling about something."

The Sick Wolf, stuffed from its meal, got up from the tatami mat, its readiness to go clear in its actions. Sheep Leader, however, remained lying down with its eyes half-closed, its lack of movement making its complete disinterest just as clear.

Xiaqing hadn’t planned on taking it anyway. Sheep Leader’s white fleece was like a glowing beacon in the dark—far too conspicuous.

The night passed peacefully. The next evening, Xiaqing went on patrol as usual. At ten o’clock, she instructed the Sick Wolf, who was sleeping in the center of the territory, to alert her immediately if anything happened. She had just returned home and laid down on her bed when her phone rang.

Xiaqing picked up her phone, glanced at the screen, and immediately sat bolt upright.