Chapter 145: Iron Umbrellas and Fallen Fruit

After swinging a sledgehammer for three months at Uncle Huo’s forge, Xia Qing had watched him craft umbrella-blades up close. She’d immediately fallen for this kind of weapon, tailored for Strength Evolvers. But she was broke, no points to her name, and couldn’t afford one.

A real umbrella-blade is made from sharp blades arranged as the canopy, with a mechanism at the top—turn the handle in a fight and blades shoot out like knives. One alone isn’t that scary, but a squad using them creates a rain of blades that’s downright lethal.

Even though Xia Qing had observed Uncle Huo making umbrella-blades, she’d only eyed the process—she hadn’t actually mastered the true skill. Still, with the basics in mind, she could manage to craft an iron umbrella with a canopy of metal sheets that could open and close.

This was her first time making one, so there were some flaws. As the team from Hu Zifeng’s Squad kept piling on the praise, Xia Qing pointed out the faults honestly. “It’s my first iron umbrella. The canopy’s too small and thick—way too heavy. Give me a few days and I’ll see if I can fix it up.”

The iron umbrella weighed over thirty jin—bulky for a normal person, but nothing to a Strength Evolver. Guan Tong loved the thing, since opened it blocked attacks and closed it made a solid iron club. “Qing-jie, mind if I tag along when you forge next time? I’ll pay tuition.”

Having someone willing to fire the forge and swing the hammer for her, Xia Qing was more than happy. “No need for tuition. Just come by if you’re free. I’ve really only been at it a few months—my skills aren’t great, so you won’t learn much from me.”

Guan Tong answered sincerely, “If I could pick up your technique, that’s more than enough for me.”

Soon, Hu Zifeng’s group trickled back to the farm shed, updating Xia Qing on the state of each greenhouse. The hail and rain had hit too fast; rainproof tarps were rushed, drainage ditches left unfinished, and a few greenhouses had flooded. Luckily, this wasn’t Xiang Rain, so a little water wouldn’t Xiangify the crops.

But the apple and jujube trees left outside the shelters had been stripped bare by the hail.

Hu Zifeng handed over some big green jujubes he’d salvaged, clearly disappointed. “We finally got these few to grow, and another month they’d be ripe. One hailstorm and they’re all gone.”

The two Greenlight jujube trees Xia Qing had planted in spring really pulled through this year, growing over a hundred fruits. Each time she checked on her territory, she’d wonder how those jujubes tasted.

Today, no more guessing. “If they fell but didn’t get smashed, we’re in luck. Let’s boil a few, see if jujubes have that meaty flavor everyone talks about.”

Hu Zifeng grinned wide at Xia Qing’s laid-back attitude.

Xia Qing pulled out a clay pot from the bamboo basket, filled it with water and set it on the fire. She chopped up some potatoes, tossed them in to simmer. “The wolves brought in a few geese today. I grabbed one and stewed the legs. This morning we’re having potatoes braised with goose.”

The geese caught by wolves, and Xia Qing managed to snag one for herself? Hu Zifeng couldn’t decide if he was just envious—or really envious.

Chen Cheng, the Olfactory Evolver, hurried over to feed the fire. “I could already smell the meat, Qing-jie! That’s a Greenlight goose, right? Smells amazing.”

Food packed with high Xiang elements always came with a weird taste and smell—especially obvious to Olfactory Evolvers who could actually sniff out the quality of ingredients.

Xia Qing nodded. “Yeah, it’s Greenlight. Once I checked the reading, I traded most of the meat to Territory Seven for insecticide. Only one goose leg left, just enough to pad out with potatoes.”

Seeing Xia Qing reaching for more supplies, Hu Zifeng quickly tried to stop her. “Xia Qing, enough, that’s plenty to eat.”

She just hummed a reply and fished out sealed packets of fried flour from her basket. The hot floury aroma quickly filled the little room.

Breakfast was the simple, filling tea soup she always served for visitors. But this time she’d also brought plenty of dried roast meat and compressed rations. Once the goose and potatoes finished braising, she set them on the little table. “This is rabbit jerky—I grilled it myself. Everyone, give it a try and tell me what you think.”

Ten people stood around the tiny table—there wasn’t room to sit, but with so much good food, nobody cared. Hot sips of tea soup, bites of tender goose, and the squad felt almost reborn.

After that beating from the hail this morning, breakfast made it all worth it.

“This stuff is great.” Chen Cheng downed half a bowl in one go. Back when the wolf pack had first entered Territory Three, Luo Pei returned to Plot One, and Chen Cheng had caught the scent and been curious ever since.

After breakfast, Xia Qing figured the jujubes in the clay pot should be cooked by now, so she poured them into a basin and brought them to the table. “I checked two when I washed them—both Greenlight grade, just not ripe yet. No idea how they taste.”

“I’ll go first.” Chen Zheng, the Olfactory Evolver, picked up a boiled jujube that had turned yellow-green, blew on it and took a bite. His eyes instantly lit up. “Delicious! Qing-jie, you’ve got to try one.”

Xia Qing told everyone to dig in and tried one herself. The moment it hit her tongue, her eyes lit up too.

These jujubes didn’t just lack a meaty taste, they had this subtle refreshing sweetness. Not quite as sweet as strawberries, but better than the wild berries in Evolver Forest.

If only the fruit had time to ripen, it would’ve tasted even better. Shame they wouldn’t get to eat proper ripe ones this year.

Two jujubes each, and soon only a bowl of steaming water was left. Da Jiang asked shyly, “Qing-jie, are you selling any? I want to take two home for my girlfriend to try.”

Chen Cheng piped up, “Qing-jie, I want to buy two for my mom.”

Hu Zifeng glared at them. “There are only a handful of jujubes in Territory Three, and if you all want to buy two, how’s Xia Qing supposed to have any left?”

“There’ll be more than enough with two each.” Xia Qing didn’t wave off their money, either. She just set a reasonable price. “Fifteen points a jujube, two per person. That’s a family discount. If you miss out now, next chance will be next August.”

According to the public trading prices on the Lord’s Channel, Greenlight seeds went for twenty points each. And Xia Qing wasn’t just offering seeds—she had tasty, top-grade Greenlight fruit. Fifteen points really was a steal.

But with the family discount, nobody hesitated. Everyone bought two and tucked the precious fruit away.

Hu Zifeng bought his last. He whispered, “No girlfriend. I’ll take two home for my cat.”

Xia Qing…

Seriously. She almost regretted selling them.

Chen Cheng couldn’t help but tease, “Captain, cats eat meat, not fruit.”

“Old Five’s an Evolved Cat. How do you know it won’t eat this awesome stuff? If it doesn’t, I will!” Hu Zifeng added with a grin.

Xia Qing handed over the jujubes. “Your cat’s called Old Five, Hu?”

“Yeah.” Whenever he talked about his cat, Hu Zifeng wore the very same proud expression Ji Li did about his. “I liked how you named your Evolved Sheep—really powerful. Used the same style for my cat.”

“It’s a great name.” Xia Qing almost got teary-eyed. That white-booted tabby, the first time she saw it, she’d known she’d call it Little Fifth herself.

Who would’ve thought the name would stick, but the cat would end up belonging to someone else?

Hu Zifeng tried to console Xia Qing. “Princess will have more kittens next year for sure. Plant more spinach and swap with Third Brother—get yourself one then.”

Guan Tong cut in, “Now you have a wolf, why even keep a cat? Wolves are way cooler.”

Chen Cheng agreed, “Totally. That wind earlier was insane—the wolf just vanished in a blink. I’m thinking its speed rivals Yang Boss. Definitely a Speed Evolver.”

Da Jiang asked quietly, “Qing-jie, will the wolf let you ride it?”

Xia Qing…

“Do you really think that’s possible?”