Tang Huai scoffed, "You're meddling in other people's business. Even if there are refugees, they'll be heading to Huiyi and Huiwu bases."
After the great biological evolution, humans abandoned their original homes for survival, establishing bases in groups. In the two or three years following the natural disaster, hundreds of bases of varying sizes were established within China. However, with the continuous deterioration of evolving organisms and the environment, only forty-four remain. For ease of management and coordinated defense, these forty-four bases were divided into four base clusters. The core Hongcheng base cluster consists of eleven bases, with Hongyi base being the capital of China. The seven bases in northern China form the Baicheng base cluster, the ten bases in the west form the Lancheng base cluster, the ten bases in the central region form the Huicheng base cluster, and the six bases in the south form the Guicheng base cluster.
As the names suggest, Xia Qing's Huisan base is the third largest in terms of the number of people within the Huicheng base cluster. South of Huisan base are Huiyi and Huiwu bases, and 500 kilometers southwest of Huiwu base lies Guisan base, which faces the greatest threat from marine life.
Just as Tang Huai said, if the Gui San base fell, the refugees heading north would definitely rush towards Hui Yi and Hui San bases first.
But Kuang Qingwei was still worried. "Brother Tang," he said, "I remember the Gui San base has 2.5 million people. Even if only 2 million escape, and a small portion of them rush north into the Hui Cheng base, Hui Yi and Hui San can't hold nearly a million refugees. I think they'll definitely pick and choose, letting the remaining refugees go north."
Xia Qing nodded. Right now, every base is struggling to survive; letting hundreds of thousands of people in would definitely cause a massive explosion.
Before Tang Huai could speak, an unfamiliar voice rang out in the channel, "These things can only be arranged by the higher-ups; there's no use worrying about them. We just need to farm our own land and make sure we don't starve."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Huai immediately asked, "Hu Zi, you're going to farm?!"
The people from Area One cursed, "My name is Hu Zifeng. I'm here on a mission to guard Area One. What's wrong with farming? If you keep yelling like that, I'll come over and blow your dog's head off right now."
Everyone…
Compared to Luo Pei, who was taken away by plane, this newcomer to Area One really had a bad temper.
Hu Zifeng, a Level 5 visual evolutionist, was sent to protect Xia Qing and the squad leader of Area Three. This mission was perfect for Hu Zifeng, who was skilled in long-range sniping.
Xia Qing was extremely satisfied with this security captain who would be there for the next year.
Tang Huai, caught off guard and realizing he'd misspoke, fell silent. Zhang San's lazy voice came through the channel, "This is Zhang San from plot number seven. Have you found anything good to eat from plot number one?"
Hu Zifeng, his temper fading, calmly replied, "We're clearing weeds. So far, we've only found a few newly sprouted peanut and ginger seedlings. We'll trade with everyone when we find something better."
Zhang San eagerly placed an order, "Once the peanuts are harvested, I'll take as many as you offer."
Xia Qing chimed in, "I want ginger." She only had six plants.
Qi Fu and Zhao Ze spoke up simultaneously, "Brother Feng, this is Zhao Ze (Qi Fu) from plot number four (five). I also need ginger."
They dared not take what Zhang San wanted, so they could only take other things.
Hu Zifeng replied, "Sure, we'll exchange after the harvest. We came out late and missed the planting season, so we don't know if the seeds will germinate. Does anyone have a lot of seedlings? Can we exchange them with points or supplies?"
Kuang Qingwei, who ran a fruit shop before the disaster, smuggled supplies in the safe zone afterward, and wanted to continue being a middleman after leaving the territory, immediately asked, "Brother Feng, you just arrived and don't know yet. We agreed beforehand that we'd exchange vegetable seedlings one for one, or you could buy them, 100 points per seedling. Supplies will be exchanged at a discounted price according to the safe zone's prices. What supplies can Brother Feng offer?"
Xia Qing sat up, her finger on the walkie-talkie button.
Hu Zifeng replied, "We just arrived, and we didn't bring many supplies. But I brought two small micro-tillers, and when we got here, we realized that plot number one isn't big enough to use both, so I wanted to exchange one. I got this machine through connections from the planting center; it's brand new, 5,000 points."
A gas-guzzling micro-tiller for fifty vegetable seedlings?! Nobody was interested; manpower was more cost-effective.
Minglu, it's time to start. Xia Qing pressed the button, following Kuang Qingwei and the others, and called out to Hu Zifeng, "Brother Feng, I'm Xia Qing from plot number three. I'd like to trade with you. I have garlic, perilla, tomato, pumpkin, eggplant, and cucumber seedlings. The perilla and garlic can be transplanted now, the others will be ready in about two weeks. Also, I have spinach seeds to trade in a little over a month."
Hu Zifeng replied in a similar manner, "Sure. Ten of each of the tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and pumpkin seedlings. How many spinach seeds can I exchange the remaining points for?"
Spinach has a growth cycle of about 40 days. Later in its growth, it bolts and produces seeds, which can be replanted to get more spinach.
Xia Qing, feigning seriousness, tried to bargain, "My spinach is green-light safe food, how about 100 points for five seeds?"
"Sure."
As soon as Hu Zifeng finished speaking, Zhang San's voice rang out, "Xia Qing, it's me, your third brother. How much green-light spinach do you have? Can I trade now? Name your price."
Qi Fu chimed in, "Little Xia, it's me, Old Qi! I also want spinach seeds, can I trade them for vegetable seedlings?"
"Hey girl, me too!" Zhao Ze and Kuang Qingwei immediately chimed in, creating chaos in the chat.
Zhang San unleashed his trump card, "Xia Qing, my evolved cat is pregnant!"
Little kittens!!! Xia Qing was ecstatic, but before she could speak, Tang Huai beat her to it, "Third Brother, I want a cat. Name your price."
"Get lost! I'm not trading with Number Two." Zhang San cursed Tang Huai, then tried to reason with Xia Qing, "Xia Qing, how about a kitten? When my cats have kittens, you can choose whichever one you want."
With the adorable kittens before her, the eldest sheep suddenly lost its appeal. Xia Qing was ecstatic, but, "Third Brother, of course I want a cat. But I only have a few spinach plants. If I pull them up to trade with you, I'll have no seeds left. Besides, evolved cats are hard to raise. How did you manage to keep it? If it can only be kept in a cage, I don't want it."
Before evolution, cats were the masters of humans; after evolution, they became emperors, not something humans could simply keep. Keeping them in a cage all the time would drive a person crazy.
Zhang San immediately replied, "No need to cage it. As long as you have fish, the cat will come back to eat when it's hungry. After you get a cat, you can trade me dried fish in exchange for green-light vegetables. I don't need all the spinach; just pick a few for me to try."
Xia Qing…
Zhang San added, "I can also trade you a household food dehydrator and a household fully automatic vacuum packaging machine."
Xia Qing guessed Zhang San's intention, "Brother San, do I have to trade you for food packaging bags too?"
Zhang San smiled happily, "Hehe, you can buy them from the patrol team, but I guarantee mine are the best quality."
Now that fungi and bacteria are evolving rapidly, food is difficult to preserve. Dehydrators that can quickly dry food and vacuum packaging machines that can truly dry the air to extend the shelf life of food are high-priced resources that are hard to find even in the safe zone.
If you could have both, you could dry and seal fresh vegetables, preserving them for months.
Zhang San was really going all out for a bowl of spinach.
Xia Qing was both incredibly excited and extremely cautious. "I really only have a few spinach plants, and I can't guarantee they'll still be green after a rainstorm. I need to save them all for seed. Can we exchange them after the next crop is grown from the seeds?"
Zhang San was very agreeable. "That's fine, but my cats and supplies are in high demand. If you want to order now, you'll have to pay a deposit with spinach. No need to harvest them, just pluck the leaves you can."
Xia Qing…