Chapter 390: Night Before the Great Haul

“So here’s the plan: between the 11th and 12th, we need to haul 2,604 cubic meters of soil from the Evolved Forest on Hill Fifty. Also, from the 11th to the 15th, we’ve got to cut enough thornwood and shrubs to fence in 7,000 meters for the thorn wall, and load it all up for transport!”

Zhao Ze circled the numbers with his pen, then looked up and asked, “Xia Qing, what model of transport truck and excavator did you rent from Territory Eight?”

After Xia Qing reported the equipment models, Zhao Ze drilled down for details about the thornwood grove and the clay river slope’s terrain and soil. It didn’t take long before he had a plan ready.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll split into two teams like before. One group will use chainsaws to cut down trees, the other will load the clay onto trucks with the excavator. The rotary tiller leaves at 5:30 a.m. to clear the path to the river slope, and we need that done before seven. Xia Qing, I’ll be going with you—think we need a couple more people?”

Xia Qing replied in a flash, “Two more should do it. Qi will come along, and Brother Yue—can you send someone too?”

Qi Fu used to work construction in the Safe Zone and was an Evolver, so he picked things up fast. Yue Haiying’s team surely has someone suitable, too.

Yue Haiying nodded. “Yeah. Yu Shou is a level-four Strength-Based Evolver, and before he retired, he drove construction vehicles. I’ll have him wait for you at the Territory Fifteen north signpost at 5:30.”

“Works for me. The four of us will head out first thing tomorrow.”

Zhao Ze kept going, “Let’s get everyone from all six territories to pause their usual tasks and pool manpower for tree cutting and digging. Report how many strong workers each territory can send to Hill Fifty. They all need full protective suits. For Territory Four, not counting me, I’ve got 7 more people available.”

“Section Three, just me. I can stay in the Evolved Forest for the full five days, handling transport, machinery, or guard duty.”

“Section Five, including my wife and me—that’s 11 people.”

“Territory Six, with me, that’s 13.”

“Territory Ten, just my wife and Shi Du—two of us.”

“Territory Fifteen, me plus 21. Thirteen of those are Evolvers. Granted, a lot of our people have some disabilities, but heavy work’s not a problem. We also have three guns, and three people can take up guard duty.”

When everyone heard Territory Fifteen had numbers and guns, the leaders lit up.

Kuang Qingwei did the math and scribbled the numbers in his notebook. “Everyone pitches in. Laborers get 4 credits a day, guards earn 10, and Zhao Ze, as chief engineer, you’ll get 20 credits per day. Once we’re finished, we’ll settle credits based on material deliveries and work done for each territory. Everyone good with that?”

Once everyone agreed, Zhao Ze started handing out assignments.

“Tonight, each territory needs to clear out a spot for unloading soil and timber, and build a path from the signpost to the site. It’s got to be at least 3.5 meters wide, nice and level. Territories Four, Five, Six, and Ten, your roads are done. Xia Qing, Brother Yue, any problems on your end?”

After confirming it was all fine, Zhao Ze carried on, “Tomorrow morning we leave at 5:30. I’ll go with Xia Qing, Qi, and Yu. You three start repairing the path while I survey the site. Everyone else, gear up—protective suits and tools—by 6:40 at your signposts. Ride the engineering truck from Territory Eight to the worksite…”

With tasks assigned, the leaders broke up fast, each heading home to fix their roads and unloading areas.

In Section Three, there was no need for more road or greenhouse work, but Xia Qing still had important business tonight.

She packed up spring water and medicine at home, then headed straight for the Wolf Den in Section Three on Hill Forty-Nine.

With the valley entrance blocked off by thornwood, Xia Qing had to climb the Hill Forty-Nine slope and stood over the abandoned valley. She called out, “Queen, Crippled Wolf, you two in there?”

When she didn’t hear a peep, Xia Qing raised her voice, “Lame Wolf, you in there?”

“Woo—” A low, wild warning growl echoed from the cave. Evolution Wolf was on guard.

Xia Qing got it right away. “So Lame Wolf is in, but Crippled and Queen are out? Do you know where they went?”

Those two clever wolves gone… which meant the wild boars were left unguarded.

Xia Qing practically started drooling on the spot. She coughed, grabbed the rope, and slid into the valley. Just as she reached for the Wolf Den’s wooden door, she heard something inside. She jumped back a few meters, pressed herself to the rock wall, hand resting on her gun, ready for anything.

“Creak—”

A furry paw nudged open the door. Crippled Wolf poked its head out, flashed two sharp, snowy little fangs, and gave Xia Qing a big, cheeky grin.

Xia Qing’s whole body unclenched. “Cripp—”

“Creak—”

Before she could finish, Crippled Wolf pulled its paw back and the door swung shut again.

Xia Qing blinked. Seriously?

What was that about?

“Creak—”

A few seconds later, the door opened again, and Crippled Wolf popped out once more.

Addicted to opening doors now? What kind of weird hobby is this?

Actually… pretty fun.

Xia Qing holstered her gun, strolled up, and knocked firmly on the closed door, putting on her best formal tone. “Crippled Wolf, handsome Sir, are you home? It’s me, Xia Qing. I’ve got business with you.”

Crippled Wolf immediately shoved his head out the door and grinned even wider.

Xia Qing laughed, too, pulling out supplies from her bag. “Why are the hinges squeaking? I’ll fix that in a bit. I brought medicine and water for Lame Wolf’s little sister. Could you go get her for meds and water?”

“Creak—”

And the door closed yet again.

As Xia Qing poured out the water, there was no telltale sound of Lame Wolf’s sister dragging her bandaged leg over the gravel. Instead, she heard the soft swish of straw being trampled.

When she spotted the grass hanging off the bandages, Xia Qing realized Crippled Wolf had not just been playing with the door. He’d piled up tons of fresh straw in the den.

Where did all the straw come from? Had he harvested the straw left to dry in Section Three before she got to it?

Honestly… what a domestic, responsible wolf!

Queen, please hurry back and marry Crippled Wolf off to Hill Sixty. This guy’s living at my place, wasting my door—and my straw.

Lame Wolf’s little sister might be fierce, but she was a champ at taking medicine. Xia Qing had never seen a wolf gulp down water straight from the basin like that, or swallow meat whole without even chewing.

Watching her eat and drink was almost enough to make anyone hungry too—she made it all look so appetizing.

When Lame Wolf finished the medicine, Xia Qing filled another basin and carried it into the den, digging a spot in a thick pile of straw in the corner to set the water basin down.

Using her night vision goggles, Xia Qing swept the den and felt a twinge of regret at all the trampled straw. With a sigh, she pulled out her tools to fix the door.

Lame Wolf’s sister bared her teeth and let out a low growl as Xia Qing fiddled with the door. Crippled Wolf watched with deep concentration.

After fixing it, Xia Qing bared her own teeth right back and gave Lame Wolf’s sister two sharp warning barks, leaving her dazed and subdued, then turned to talk to Crippled Wolf.

“I’ll be super busy in the next few days. I’ve got to leave early tomorrow and won’t be back until the evening. While I’m gone, don’t mess with the main gate or someone might catch you.”

Xia Qing paused, face serious and voice stern. “One more thing.”

She waited until Crippled Wolf went quiet and gave her his full attention. “Remember when we first met? Your pack clashed with our combat team, and I hid in a tree. You wolves won that fight and killed a lot of people.”

Crippled Wolf’s eyes locked on hers, thoughtful.

“The humans you killed back then had a teammate who’s here now—an Evolver with scent-based abilities. He’ll recognize your pack’s scent right away. So…”

Xia Qing drew a firm boundary on the ground. “Except for my territory and Old Goat’s land, your wild boar valley, the Wolf Pack cannot step foot in any other human settlements.”

“Crippled Wolf, if you leave this zone and the scent Evolver finds you and calls in a combat team for revenge, I will not warn you. I won’t lift a finger to help the Wolf Pack.”