Chapter 126: A Deal of Medicines and Morning Breakfast

Zhang San calmly finished preparing the medicine, then set two large, clear glass bottles in front of Xia Qing. He looked genuinely pleased with the colorful liquids inside.

Xia Qing found herself staring at them too. The liquids in those bottles were actually really pretty.

“So, the total of one hundred and fifty thousand covers your compensation. Anything extra is for these two bottles. The blue one is for the wolf, use it externally. The purplish-red one, put two drops in your bath—it’s better than bloodvine extract. Keep them in the fridge; they’ll last three years.”

Her idol wasn’t ugly. With sharp features in all the right places!

Her idol wasn’t balding either. He had a full head of curly hair!

Her idol had been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to do a four-hour surgery on a wolf, and after all that, he didn’t complain. He even gave her a bottle of color-enhancing skincare water that would last three years!

Xia Qing dug her gratitude deep enough to touch the earth’s core and just went with it. “Thank you, Third Brother. I just planted two plots of green-glow mung beans in my terraced fields—once they’re ready, I’ll bring some over so you can have mung bean milk. And I’ve got peanuts growing in my territory too. The green-glow ones I’ll keep for seeds, but I’ll send you half of the yellow-light ones for snacking. Plus, I’m raising some green-glow spring-water fish. In two months, if you want fish, just let me know.”

The ever-greedy Zhang San beamed with a kind smile. “Don’t mention this stuff on the Lord’s Channel. If I want something, I’ll call you. And if there’s any trouble at night, call Yan Long or Ji Li instead. Don’t wake me up again.”

“Understood.” Xia Qing answered right away.

“My cat doesn’t like wolves, so you’re taking that one back with you. And don’t go parading the fact you have a wolf in your territory. The research institute’s been after advanced evolved wolves for experiments for ages.” He finished with his instructions and waved Xia Qing out of the pharmacy.

Ji Li followed her out and gave Xia Qing her number and Yan Long’s, then walked her back to the operating room door.

The injured wolf had already been moved back out, now lying on a wooden board covered in plastic outside the operating room. Its waist was secured in a white, tube-shaped protective shell. Xia Qing had no idea what it was made of, but it fit the wolf perfectly.

Hearing sounds, the wolf on the board strained its eyes to look at Xia Qing.

Xia Qing spotted fear in the wolf’s eyes. She went over and gently rubbed its head in silent comfort. After carefully memorizing the assistant’s instructions on changing bandages and aftercare, she quietly asked, “How much of a recovery can it expect?”

The female assistant smiled. “The surgery went great. If you care for it properly, it’ll be just as it was before.”

Xia Qing was overjoyed. Carrying the medicine and supporting the wolf, she followed Ji Li out of the room and saw Yan Long standing outside.

Yan Long was incredibly pretty, but to Xia Qing she felt just like Tan Junjie—serious and strict, like the stern homeroom teacher from her school days. Standing before her, Xia Qing couldn’t help but feel tense.

“You can go. I’ll take her home.” After sending Ji Li away, Yan Long led Xia Qing towards the northern Buffer Forest of Territory Seven, her voice serious. “The wolf that marked you last time has been waiting outside. Take it with you. If your wrong choices bring a wolf pack or any other evolved animals down on the neighboring territories, I’ll report your mistake. You’ll bear all the consequences.”

“I’ll be responsible for my actions. Thanks for the warning, Sis Yan.” Last time, when Hu Zifeng called Yan Long ‘Company Commander Yan’ and got scolded, Xia Qing learned her lesson and stuck to calling her ‘Sis’ per the rules.

No matter their age, around here if someone’s impressive, they’re always called ‘Brother’ or ‘Sister.’

Yan Long glanced back at Xia Qing but said nothing more.

On the way from Territory Seven back to Territory Three, Xia Qing didn’t see any sign of the Alpha Wolf, but she was sure it was shadowing them. Once Yan Long left, Xia Qing quietly spoke to the Alpha Wolf, “The surgery was a big success, but the wolf needs a bandage change in three days and has to drink medicine every day for now. So it’s got to recover in my territory a while. Don’t make trouble. If anyone comes for the wolves, I can’t help.”

After returning to her territory, Xia Qing picked up her pace. It was almost eight, and her beloved chickens were still locked up in the sheep shed. But when she reached the low slope, she saw her chicks already scratching for bugs in the chicken enclosure. Hu Zifeng’s squad must have let them out for her.

Xia Qing looked around—Boss Sheep was grazing in the pasture, while Hu Zifeng carried the special feed basket for Boss Sheep, prowling around the greenhouse on the hunt for rodents.

Who gave him the basket? Boss Sheep himself? The thought made Xia Qing laugh as she carefully carried the post-surgery wolf across the stone bridge.

Luo Pei walked out from the small house by the fields. “Surgery’s done?”

“Yeah, it was a success. With proper care, it’ll recover.” Clearly Luo Pei hadn’t gone home yet because he wanted a word. Xia Qing asked, “Luo Ge, want to come in for a bit?”

Luo Pei nodded and followed Xia Qing back to the village. The three-legged wolf lying in the courtyard instantly struggled up on its forelegs, baring its teeth and growling at the humans.

Before Xia Qing could speak, the Alpha Wolf standing atop the front-yard ruins growled once, and the three-legged wolf went silent, dropping flat, though it kept its eyes locked on its wounded companion.

“Hang on a sec, Luo Ge.” Xia Qing placed the wooden board gently under the eaves. She quickly cleaned out the chicken mess in the sheep shed, disinfected and got rid of pests, then brought over a big newly-woven grass mat, laying it down for the wolf—plastic sheet and all. She whispered, “No food or water for four hours after surgery. Just rest for now.”

The wolf in the yard kept a close watch. Luo Pei stood quietly, waiting until Xia Qing was done before following her into the house.

Luo Pei had been living in Territory Three for over two months, but this was his first time in Xia Qing’s home. Unlike the chilly, empty houses in Plot One, hers was packed with signs of life.

In the living room, a child’s-height bamboo bed lined the right wall. On it was one of those grass mats, just like the wolf’s. A big old pillow sat on top—one end thick, the other end thin, clearly made for her evolved sheep.

Honestly… it actually looked super comfortable.

Luo Pei gave a gentle smile. “I didn’t know you were this handy.”

“I just tied up the grass any old way. Had to pull it apart and redo it countless times before I got it looking like this.” Xia Qing swiftly tidied up the table and chairs. “Sit here, Luo Ge.”

Once Luo Pei was seated, Xia Qing darted into the back room to peel off her protective suit and put away her weapons. She emerged and asked, “You haven’t had breakfast, have you, Luo Ge? How about some tea soup?”

Luo Pei shook his head. “You’ve already been up all night. No need to fuss, I’ll just say my piece and go.”

“It’s only boiling some water. Won’t take a minute.” There was no way she’d let her overnight helper leave unfed.

She went to the kitchen, put a kettle of spring water on the stove, then sliced up a potato and blanched it for a cold salad, threw in some strips of pickled sour bamboo shoot, and grabbed a handful of roasted dried meat. These she placed on the dining table. Into two big bowls she scooped fried flour and poured on hot water—instantly, the room filled with a mouthwatering aroma.

“I learned this from Plot Ten. You grind the flour fine, mix in some sugar, and slow-roast it with oil. Whenever you want, just make a bowl—takes care of both hunger and thirst.”

She’d barely finished explaining when Boss Sheep waltzed in, pushing the door open with a sharp bang. It glanced sleepily from Xia Qing to Luo Pei, looking distinctly unimpressed.

Luo Pei quietly asked, “Do all evolved animals have territorial instincts? Your evolved sheep seems pretty annoyed with me being here. Should I eat outside?”

“No need, Luo Ge, stay and eat.” Xia Qing hurried to the kitchen, fetched Boss Sheep’s special feed, and set it on his table. “Boss, you had a long night too. Enjoy.”

Boss Sheep finally stopped glaring at Luo Pei and headed to his own table to eat. Luo Pei stared at the special feed and its food bowl in surprise. “You’re giving it compressed rations?”

Xia Qing explained, “Compressed rations are made mostly from vegetables, with some salt. Boss Sheep loves the stuff, so I give him a little every day. Ever since he started eating it, his coat’s gotten so glossy.”

Luo Pei grinned. “Compressed rations really are better for herbivores.”

After the disaster, humans could barely get by, nowhere near as well-fed as the livestock in those pre-disaster factory farms.

Xia Qing handed Luo Pei a steaming bowl of tea soup and explained the sides. “If you like sour, add some bamboo shot. The potato’s fresh from last night, and the dried meat is just something I roasted myself. It’s not much, Luo Ge, but hope it’s enough.”

“Not much? It’s fantastic!” Pure spring water, freshly-milled flour, yellow-light potatoes, green-glow bamboo shoots, green-glow dried meat—Xia Qing had whipped up a feast in under ten minutes.

With skills like these, who even needs a chef.