Chapter 875: A Cool Breeze Beneath the Canopy

As long as the weather stays mild, crops in the fields keep growing nonstop. Insects and microorganisms multiply in waves right alongside them.

Since chemical pesticides can’t be used on crops after the disaster—doing so would trigger a surge in Devastation Evolution—the only options left are plant-based and microbial remedies. They’re gentler and don’t pollute the soil or water, but unlike synthesized chemicals, they aren’t quick to wipe out pests and disease.

Another thing: the rampant wild grass and Devastation Grass spreading through the fields can’t be controlled by synthetic weed killers. So now, life for farmers after the disaster is even busier than before.

After sowing wheat and mung beans, Xia Qing wasted no time clearing weeds from half an acre of idle farmland inside Greenhouse 11. That plot had been left untouched for nearly a month after harvesting winter rapeseed. Once the weeds were gone, she fertilized, watered, and readied it for transplanting rice seedlings.

The five jin of Green Lantern Hybrid Rice wd-6 and 4.5 jin of Green Lantern Rice J-2 that she started as seedlings in the greenhouse back in early May will be ready for planting in just a few days.

Naturally, Xia Qing handled the fertilizing herself, but when it came to hauling water for irrigation, Old Goat took full responsibility.

Lately the weather’s been scorching. Even after sheared, she couldn’t bear to make Old Goat pedal under the blazing sun to fetch water. So Xia Qing rigged a canopy over the water bicycle and mounted the blower to it.

That way, Old Goat could pedal in the shade with a breeze blowing while hauling water.

Er, Little Fei Mao from Section Three, and Monkey—still recovering—were either lounging, squatting, or sprawled beneath the canopy, savoring the cool air.

Xia Qing stepped out of the greenhouse in her light, breathable lavender protective suit, sporting her own handmade straw hat and carrying a shovel. She ducked under the shade, took off her hat, and used a towel to wipe the sweat from her face and damp hair, sighing in relief. “Old Goat, you’re a lifesaver. It’s so cool in here!”

Old Goat shot Xia Qing a sidelong glance as he pedaled, the meaning clear—Is that all I get?

Xia Qing didn’t hold back her praise for a moment. “If you weren’t pedaling, the rest of us—me, Er, Little Fei Mao, and Monkey—would have been roasted alive by now! You’re amazing, Old Goat! You’re the backbone of our territory, the king of all Evolved Sheep, the pride of Blue Star!”

Once her flurry of compliments subsided, Xia Qing took a few big gulps of clean, uncontaminated water, then reached into her small basket and pulled out a handful of finger-length lettuce leaves, offering them right to the hard worker’s mouth. “Old Goat, the lettuce is finally ready. Want to give it a try?”

Old Goat chomped down on the leaves right away. Xia Qing could see from his expression that raw lettuce really suited his palate. “Glad you like it! Just let me know if you want more—don’t go picking it yourself. If you tear up the roots, we won’t get any more fresh lettuce.”

Xia Qing glanced down to see only four lettuce leaves left, so she divided them among the other three animals—one for each—and handed the last piece to Old Goat for all his hard work.

Little Fei Mao was the quickest, grabbing its big leaf and munching away. Monkey, whom Xia Qing had helped up, slowly reached for his leaf, raised it to his mouth, and began chewing with a blank look. It’s a good thing the three lords of Section Three aren’t the impatient type—otherwise, with how sluggish Monkey is, he’d probably get smacked ten times a day.

Er didn’t like lettuce much, but seeing everyone else eat, he wrapped his tongue around the leaf and swallowed it whole.

Xia Qing patted Er’s head and sat down beside him to enjoy the breeze.

No sooner had she sat, Little Fei Mao tried to climb onto her, but she grabbed him and plopped him back on the rock. “How many times do I have to tell you? This new suit is light-colored. No climbing!”

Little Fei Mao sulked on the rock, running his paws through his patchy fur.

Since joining Section Three just over two weeks ago, Little Fei Mao’s meals and lodgings have taken a huge leap. His shaved fur hasn’t grown out yet, but he’s filled out and is looking much healthier.

After watching him for a few seconds, Xia Qing pulled out her phone and checked the date. She turned to her companions and said, “Er, when it gets dark tonight, head over to Hill Fifty-Five and bring back the Queen and Broken Back. It’s time for our medicinal bath.”

In a flash, it had been over a month since Monkey arrived in Section Three. Xia Qing’s last round of medicine after her injury from the shelling had also been a month ago—time for another healing soak.

As an employee benefit, Little Fei Mao got a free medicinal bath to help his damaged skin recover, too.

As soon as she finished, Er got up to leave, but Xia Qing quickly pressed him back down. “No rush. Wait until the sun moves over. It’s way too hot right now.”

Er might not have understood her words, but he got the message from her gesture and obediently sprawled out again to enjoy the cool air.

Monkey finally finished his leaf and sat staring blankly at the reservoir.

Xia Qing scooped Monkey up, helped him move his limbs, and rubbed his belly to help digestion as she asked, “Hey Old Goat, Er, do you think Monkey will really recover in another month?”

She didn’t love the aftermath, but after nursing Monkey for more than a month, she’d really done her best.

Old Goat pedaled his bicycle into the wind, clearly in high spirits, while Er lay grinning with his tongue lolling.

Xia Qing went on murmuring, “Whatever. Once the medicine’s gone, I’ll send Monkey to Hill Fifty-Five. If the wolves want to keep him, great; if not, they can hand him off to the bears. Er, you think the bears won’t get mad seeing Monkey like this, right?”

The animals were silent, but the sound of gushing water made the breeze even more refreshing. Xia Qing set Monkey down, grabbed her hat and shovel, and followed the water channel toward Section Eleven greenhouse. Old Goat was working hard, and the rice field should be nearly full.

Suddenly, a worried voice from Wen Nengjie popped up in Lords’ channel. “Hey, did anyone else notice the river’s dropped a good bit today? Are we heading for a drought?”

“Don’t jinx it!” Tang Huai’s grumbling voice cut in. “The water level’s down because Territory Nine is pumping water to irrigate 300 acres for transplanting rice seedlings!”

Wen Nengjie was too far away to hear the roar of the water pumps, but Tang Huai, right on the edge of Territory Nine, had been listening to it all day.

Wen Nengjie just laughed off the scolding and said, “Knowing someone’s pumping water for irrigation, I feel much better. You’ve got sharp ears, Brother Huai. By the way, I just caught six Green Lantern Crickets—two males, four females. Still want ’em?”

Tang Huai buys live Green Lantern Insects for three credits each, so lately people have been catching bugs during chores and checking their quality. If it’s a Green Lantern, it gets sent to Territory Two for credits.

Tang Huai was delighted. “Nice catch, Jie! Bring them here.”

“Will do! I’ll head right over and learn how you prep feed.” Inspired by Tang Huai’s claims that raising bugs is more profitable than farming, Wen Nengjie had started studying bug-rearing under his tutelage.

Tang Huai wasn’t exactly patient—whenever Wen Nengjie couldn’t follow, he’d start cursing—but Wen Nengjie was grateful. Tang Huai had taught him everything about digging for bugs and raising them.