Chapter 1083: A Day in the Territory: Deals, Cows, and Friendly Banter

After admiring the Yi Stone, Xia Qing expertly set about dismantling the two homemade pistols she’d collected today.

She carefully checked the pistols’ rifling, springs, and slides, noting that the key components showed only minor wear. Judging by the condition, each pistol had fired fewer than 800 rounds, making them about seventy percent new. These might not match up to her own gun, but their compact size made them ideal for self-defense. For most people, weapons like these were impossible to buy without a special connection.

The serial numbers on both slides were scratched off, meaning the pistols had a shady past—either looted from Scavengers or bought through the black market.

To use these pistols in the territory, she’d need Uncle Huo—the local expert—to wipe away any identifying marks and rough up the finish.

Xia Qing had no shortage of guns herself. Once the traces were dealt with she planned to trade away both pistols to Yuan Yan and Zhao Ze.

Yuan Yan and Zhu Li had been heading out on more missions with their allies. Kuang Qingwei had managed to get Zhu Li a pistol, but Yuan Yan was still relying on a homemade firearm.

As project manager for the territory alliance, Zhao Ze also had to travel often for work. He too carried a homemade firearm and needed better gear.

Of course, Xia Qing was just making them an offer. If they thought the price in credits was too high, she’d just ask someone else—good gear never sat unsold.

The bullets she’d seized for the homemade guns had no markings at all. With quality like this, Huo Lei could make them himself, so Xia Qing let him handle selling them off.

The next morning, before Xia Qing could even contact Huo Lei, Tang Huai messaged her. “Xia Qing, have you finished weeding your greenhouse yet?”

Yesterday, with Xia Qing away from the territory, Chang Li had responded to questions from the other lords. Everyone assumed Xia Qing had spent all day weeding.

Since herbicides weren’t allowed, the only way to keep the fields clear was by hand—a never-ending job, thanks to the wild grass flourishing over and over.

Xia Qing pressed her walkie-talkie and calmly replied, “Nope.”

Unlike the other lords, Xia Qing never complained about how dull or tedious weeding was. She actually enjoyed it. She loved the neat, clean look of the fields once the weeds were gone.

Every time she came back from a mission, peeling off her blood-stained and filthy Level Four or Special Protective Suit, she’d change into something light, then weed in the greenhouse. To Xia Qing, it wasn’t work—it was pure relaxation.

The more tasks Xia Qing took on outside, the more she cherished her territory. Only at home could she truly let her guard down and enjoy life.

Since it was still early and not the right time to visit Huo Lei or head to Hill Fifty, Xia Qing squatted in her fragrant planting greenhouse, methodically pulling weeds.

Once she cleared the weeds in this greenhouse and thoroughly disinfected it, she could finally trade with Territory One for their Green Lantern bees.

Tang Huai brought great news. “The calf will be dropped off at 11 a.m. today. Is your barn ready? If not, I can keep the cow on my side for now.”

Xia Qing immediately pressed the button. “All set.”

She already had a ready-made sheep shed at home. All she had to do was clear out the straw and move it to the storage on the rack building, then it’d be perfect for raising cattle.

The news that the calf was finally on its way got her allies buzzing with excitement. They’d all been waiting for this day.

Qi Fu popped online. “Brother Huai, which gate will the calf come through? And are the sheep coming too?”

Tang Huai replied, “Both, entering through the East Gate as scheduled.”

Tan Qi chimed in right away. “I’ll head over by ten. Once I see the truck coming in with the cow, I’ll let everyone know.”

Little Shiyi, who was weeding beside Tan Qi, looked up with bright eyes. “Sister Tan Qi, can I come with you? I’ve never seen a real cow before.”

She’d only seen pictures in books—black and white cows. In the Evolved Forest, such coloring would stand out to predators, but in the territory it was a little safer, though they still had to watch out for birds of prey. If Aunt Qing needed, she’d happily stand guard over the cows for free.

“Me neither! Let’s go together!” Tan Qi laughed, then, hearing people in the chat already fighting over the calves and lambs, quickly pressed the button. “Sister Qing, Brother Huai, put me down for a Green Lantern calf and lamb at market price.”

No matter when the trade actually happened, she wanted her spot in line. According to Alliance rules, if lots of people wanted the same item, they’d draw lots. Ever since Tan Qi moved to the territory, her luck had shot up, so she had a good chance of nabbing a top spot.

The bidding war came to an abrupt halt—thanks to the resident big shot from Territory Seven.

“Xia Qing. It’s me, your Third Brother.”

It’d been ages since she’d heard her Idol call her like that—she jumped online right away. “Third Brother, you’re up early today!”

Zhang San responded with rare friendliness, “Is your calf male or female? Which base did you get it from? How’s the quality?”

No wonder he sounded so cheerful—he was after some fresh beef again…

Xia Qing replied, feeling a little guilty, “It’s a five-month-old calf, female, from Base Lan Yi. I’ll have to wait for it to arrive to check the quality.”

Her Idol was a big deal, but she couldn’t bear the thought of butchering a Green Lantern calf for meat.

Tang Huai wanted to answer but, thanks to being on Zhang San’s blacklist, had to keep quiet.

When Zhang San heard it was a heifer, his interest faded. He already had both a bull and a cow—also Green Lantern breed—so they were for milking, not slaughter.

Xin Yu logged on, a rare sight. “Third Brother, interested in some Green Lantern beef cattle?”

Zhang San asked warmly right away, “From your territory?”

Xin Yu replied, “No, from the Hui Two Chonglian Ranch. If you want, I can have them deliver one now.”

Zhang San snorted, “I’m not eating cattle from Chonglian.”

The mood shifted instantly. No one dared say a word when the big boss got grumpy.

Xia Qing could guess exactly why Xin Yu had chosen this moment to log on and propose a trade.

Chonglian’s Life Sciences Lab had just been exposed for experimenting with live fetuses. The uproar had the authorities furious and the public outraged. Even after the old chairman of Chonglian came forward to apologize in tears, people weren’t appeased, and the government wasn’t about to back down.

Now, with the situation so sensitive, Xin Yu offering Zhang San high-quality food from Chonglian was clearly an attempt by the company to curry favor with the big boss and soften the blow of their scandal.

Zhang San saw through it at once, which is why he shot down the offer without blinking.

Xin Yu, all formal business, kept her cool. “Alright, once I trade for some Green Lantern cattle from Lan City, I’ll send it over.”

Having missed out on the beef, Zhang San was clearly sulking. Xia Qing, his long-time superfan, jumped in. “Third Brother, want some fruit? I’ve still got grapes and wild berries.”

Zhang San didn’t sound thrilled, but agreed. “Sure. Send them as is, don’t bother washing.”

As soon as the boss wanted fruit, everyone started clamoring to offer up wild berries from their own territories.

Seizing the moment, Xia Qing messaged her friend. “Xin Yu, when’s the next Chonglian plane coming in?”

“Within three days. Need anything?”

Xin Yu’s voice was as cool as ever, but Xia Qing could tell from her tone that she was actually in a great mood. So she grinned and answered, “I want a big pressure cooker and another front door, like the one I installed. That’s a Chonglian product, right?”

Even if Xin Yu hadn’t stopped by Xia Qing’s territory lately, they often shared videos and pictures. She’d seen Xia Qing’s bizarre new front door and smiled. “Yep. Did your door break again?”

When Xia Qing heard her friend’s factory made the door, she put in an order right away. “No, it’s solid as ever. I just want another one. Could you bundle in some of that new cement and a high-capacity battery for the installation?”

“No problem.” Xin Yu didn’t ask where the second door would go, and Xia Qing didn’t volunteer the info. Instead, Xin Yu offered, “Cows eat more than sheep. Want me to throw in ten bags of special Green Lantern cattle feed?”

Chonglian Ranch bred Green Lantern livestock, so of course they had special feed.

“No need! I’ve got corn and wheat bran—I can make cattle feed myself.” Ever since Tang Huai told her he could trade her a Green Lantern cow, Xia Qing had been researching how to mix her own feed.

Store-bought feed would be easier, but Section Three produced higher quality crops. Mixing her own feed would keep the new Green Lantern cow in top condition.

Deal settled, Xia Qing invited her friend over for dinner. “Got any plans tonight? I’ve invited Hu Zifeng’s squad from Azure Dragon, Chang Li, and Huayang. Tang Huai might come too. You should join us! We’re having those chickens that got scared to death in my territory.”

Tang Huai could talk endlessly, but since he’d just traded Xia Qing a cow—and he was a pretty good cook—she wanted him to come.

With Tang Huai around, even if Xia Qing kept quiet, things would never get awkward.

After a moment of hesitation, Xin Yu accepted the invitation. “Alright. I’ll bring two cases of seafood and a box of rose pastries.”

Xin Yu grew edible roses in her territory, and Xia Qing had always loved her rose pastries.