[Chapter 31: Maloney’s Crazy Imagination]

When Maloney heard David introduce the few villagers in his village, his first reaction was that he seemed to be late.

He had previously considered whether to invest in David, but looking at the situation in Winter Village, weren’t there too many people who “bet” on David?

Although he didn’t know where Watney, Fording and Crawford were from? And it couldn’t be said that there were no civilians with surnames, but he absolutely didn’t believe that these people gathered in such a remote new village because of some strange coincidence. What’s more, the

woodcutter named Tirion Fording, although he seemed very polite and respectful to him, his special temperament could not be ignored at all – that feeling was like facing his father, grandfather, or the top nobles of Irontree Castle. Because this feeling was too absurd, Maloney suspected that he might have lost his judgment because of being tired from the journey.

Riding into the village and sitting at the table where David and his friends usually ate, Maloney would turn his head from time to time to look for Tirion Fording, trying to make sure if he was wrong. However, the woodcutter named Tirion had gone to nowhere, but Maroni finally saw Mark Watney, who had not been seen before.

“Is this a farmer?”

Although Mark Watney’s appearance was not particularly outstanding, and he was wearing ordinary coarse cloth clothes, Fording saw someone coming from a distance and notified Mark to change his clothes temporarily, so Maroni did not see Mark at the first time. After seeing him at this time, he felt that he was facing a scholar with rich knowledge, not a farmer who only knew how to farm.

Now he can be sure that David’s identity is very extraordinary, otherwise he would not have received such strong support.

As for a young man who is suspected to be a descendant of aristocrats, joining the pioneering team and becoming the village chief, and obtaining territory, should he expose this matter?

Maroni almost made a decision at the same time as he judged David’s identity: It’s none of my business! It

‘s true that he came to investigate Winter Village, but what he wanted to investigate was whether Winter Village was a qualified village? Was there any farmland reclaimed? Was there a stable crop output? Can it support ordinary people to live on this land?

After these things are confirmed, we will investigate the surrounding geographical conditions to see if there are any mineral deposits or special products on this land.

As for David’s identity? It has nothing to do with his work. Not to mention that the identities of David and these villagers are just his speculations, even if it is confirmed, Maroni will not expose this matter.

The reason is simple. What benefit does it bring to him to reveal David’s “real” identity? Absolutely not! The requirements for identity in the development decree of the Kingdom of Tilan are very loose. As long as you are a citizen of the Kingdom of Tilan, you can participate, whether you are a noble or a commoner.

Even when the development decree was just issued, the main force in developing new lands was the nobles of the kingdom, especially the descendants of nobles who could not inherit the territories of their elders! It was not until the territory of the Kingdom of Tilan increased to a certain extent, and the good places were occupied, leaving only some bitter and cold land, that the nobles gradually “withdrew” from this activity.

Not to mention that David is just a suspected descendant of aristocrats, even if he is really aristocrats, it is not a big deal. At the same time, David’s situation gave Maroni some inspiration: when necessary, he can also perform similar operations? After all, as a wealthy and powerful noble, it is not strange to have several illegitimate children.

“Although the winter in this area is a bit cold and ordinary crops can’t grow, it’s a territory after all.”

With this idea, Maloney became more concerned about some things. He kept talking to Mark about the situation of the land. He wanted to know if this land really couldn’t grow anything except potatoes?

“It’s not that it can’t be planted, it’s just a little troublesome.” For Mark Watney, who came from a more advanced world and mastered more advanced planting concepts, there is nothing that is absolutely impossible, especially when the potatoes he planted on Mars successfully sprouted, his self-confidence has exploded.

In Mark’s view, how bad can the environment be worse than Mars? So as long as there are suitable means, he believes that this land can grow any crop he wants to grow, whether it is wheat, vegetables or fruits!

Maloney listened to Mark’s various bold words and had already determined the other party’s identity in his heart: This is a scholar in this field! Coming here is to ensure that David’s Winter Village can successfully produce crops. No wonder potatoes, a crop that no one has discovered before, can be discovered.

Maloney also imagined the identity of Tirion Fording-maybe a powerful knight, or a personal guard arranged for David.

Considering his feelings, maybe this Tirion Fording has also served as the commander of an elite force? Otherwise, he would not have such a temperament.

In this case, whose child is this David?

Several family names went through his mind. It must not be an ordinary family that can use such excellent resources, but after a few names flashed through his mind, he almost scared himself into a cold sweat. Maloney found that it might not be a good thing to continue to entangle with this problem, and decisively stopped thinking…

David was tidying up in his wooden house, and at the same time observing Maloney’s situation from time to time.

Laura stood in front of him, but there was no intention of “helping” at all: “Aren’t you worried that Mark would let something slip?”

“Don’t worry, Mark is not stupid!” After all, he is a scientist who can join the Mars Exploration Program team. It not only requires Mark to reach the top level of the industry in his own professional field, but also to be able to complete various additional trainings. People who can do this are naturally not stupid.

Don’t look at Mark sitting there bragging, in fact, he has never said a word that he shouldn’t say.

At this time, Fording came to David’s cabin after walking around somewhere. He walked to David and whispered, “Two of the warriors are resting, and the other two are patrolling outside the village.”

The last one was Knight Hackett. After walking around, he also returned to the vicinity of Marroni and stood not far behind Marroni, keeping watch.

“By the way, I arranged for the old hunter with the child to rest in my cabin.” When David took Marroni to visit the general situation of Winter Village – in fact, it was just to look at the small farmland, Tirion learned about the general situation of these people from Laura. Addis and Alfie were not officials or their followers of Iron Tree Castle, but would become the “own people” of the villagers of Winter Village, so they would naturally take care of them separately.

You know, except for Marroni Mansfield who could live in David’s cabin, the rest, including Knight Hackett, could only rest in the temporary large cabin that had not been demolished yet.

“What about you?”

“It depends on what David has arranged?” Fording looked at David, and then at Laura who was standing next to him. Although he didn’t say anything, the meaning he wanted to express was already very clear – if David and Laura lived in the same room, he could go live with Mark; if David and Mark lived in a wooden house, Fording could only live in the big wooden house for a few days.

“I’ll go to Laura’s place.” There was nothing to hide about this kind of thing. David immediately answered Fording’s question and asked how many potatoes there were in the village now: “How many potatoes are there in stock? Enough for 50 kilograms?”

“Of course not.” Fording didn’t even need to check to give the answer: “The last batch of potatoes harvested, except for a part left as our food, the rest were replanted.” The food reserves they left for themselves were not as much as 50 kilograms, but only about 20 kilograms.

In addition to the fact that the initial seeds were relatively small, which limited the yield, the main reason was that the people in Winter Village did not rely entirely on potatoes to live. Whether it was the food brought by Mark from the Mars base or the food brought by Laura from her hometown in England, they didn’t have to worry about eating.

“Why do you suddenly need 50 kilograms of potatoes?”

David told Fording directly that he had sold 50 kilograms of potatoes to Captain Gregory of the Northern Outpost. In addition to earning the first sum of money, he could also exchange them for chickens, ducks, horses, etc.

“Speaking of this…” Fording seemed to remember something and suddenly mentioned something that everyone had overlooked: “Large livestock such as cattle and horses are not easy to deal with, but chickens, ducks, and even pigs and sheep, we think we can try to solve it ourselves?”

David was stunned for two seconds, and then slapped his forehead hard. He really didn’t think about it that way: “But, can living things be brought here?”

Before, it was only confirmed that if you want to bring something, you must “lift” it, which is why you can’t bring anything too big or particularly heavy.

At the same time, you can’t bring people here, otherwise Laura could have taken Ross to Winter Village for treatment. Even if Ross was seriously injured at the time, as long as he didn’t die on the spot, it would be entirely possible to cure him with the magic of the Holy Light.

“When Marloni takes people to investigate the surrounding situation, I’ll go back and buy a live chicken to try it?” Laura must go back, and the promised 50 kilograms of potatoes can only be taken care of by her.

“Well, just buy a live chicken and try it out. Once the situation is confirmed, decide whether to buy more chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, etc.” There is no need to buy immediately before you are sure that they can be delivered: “But books like how to raise chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, etc. can be bought and sent in advance.”

David doesn’t know how to raise poultry and livestock. Not only does he not know, but no one in Winter Village, including the few temporary guests, knows this knowledge. He had to ask Laura to bring some teaching materials, and then learn and apply them on the spot.

“Well, I will consult relevant professionals. Maybe the experience they have compiled will be more useful.”

“That’s a good idea. Otherwise… Winter Village Chicken Farm will be left to you!”

“…”

(End of this chapter)