Chapter 40
When Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi heard Old Li say that they could go to the market town tomorrow, they were stunned.
"Grandpa, is your foot injury completely healed?" Tang Yu'an asked.
"Well, it no longer affects the operation."
Although he had long known about the recovery ability of people with special abilities, Tang Yu'an still couldn't help but be surprised when he heard his words.
It’s only been a few days?
Even with such a serious injury, he has almost recovered and it no longer affects his movements!
Will Brother Xiaoqi be able to recover so quickly in the future? As soon as this thought came to mind, Tang Yu'an immediately shook his head in his heart.
Bah! Brother Xiaoqi won't get hurt.
Old Li saw his expression change and couldn't guess what he was thinking, so he lowered his head again to assemble the wooden blocks and adjust the size of the blocks with a knife.
As he worked, he said, "Get ready. Come a little earlier tomorrow so we can leave early and arrive the day after tomorrow afternoon."
Hearing this, Zhou Qi couldn't help but frown.
"Are we going to spend the night on the road?"
He didn't expect the town to be so far away that it would take two days and one night to get there.
"Yeah." Old Li nodded. "Don't worry, the route I'm taking you is safe. You should be able to meet other people along the way. Camping in the wild shouldn't be a problem."
The deserted city is neither big nor small. There are at least hundreds of people living here, and there is only one road leading to the market town.
Moreover, there are many mutant creatures in the center of the deserted city. Although it is dangerous, there is no shortage of people in the wasteland who are willing to take risks for profit.
Therefore, there is a high possibility of encountering other people on that road. They don’t have to worry about being attacked by mutant creatures, but they do need to be on guard against outsiders.
Zhou Qi nodded and continued, "Can you tell us about the situation in the market town?"
Old Li organized his words.
He said, "That market town is probably the largest settlement near the deserted city, with a population of several thousand. Everyone calls it Jufeng Town."
"Jufeng?" Tang Yu'an asked curiously, "Is it because this town is on a mountain?"
"Yes, the mutant creatures on that mountain have been basically cleared out. Plus, the town has guards patrolling the area, so there's basically no need to worry about safety when living there. It's just that..."
Old Li paused and said, "We need to pay protection fees regularly and fulfill our obligations as townspeople."
The so-called "obligation" means helping managers work for free.
"Ordinary people are fine. They can earn a living by helping out with the labor, but those with special abilities who have the ability to produce..."
Old Li paused.
"So what?" Tang Yu'an asked curiously.
Looking at the child's clear and innocent eyes, Old Li, who originally didn't want to say too much, suddenly felt that he needed to point it out.
Otherwise, given this child's personality, he will suffer a great loss in the wasteland sooner or later.
"They will be gathered together and locked up in one place, working day and night. Apart from eating and sleeping, they are not allowed to leave the place."
Old Li said bluntly: "If you resist, your family will be threatened."
People with special abilities live a relatively wealthy life and are more likely to have families. Such people will be more miserable if they fall into this situation, especially women.
Because low-level psychics who control productivity often do not have enough military force to protect themselves, it is conceivable that they are treated like livestock by the strong.
Granny Guo was once one of them.
She has now escaped from the devil's den. Although her life is still hard, she has at least gained freedom and hope.
And Kang Kang will no longer fall into the same misery as her and can truly live like a human being.
Old Li hid Granny Guo's name and slowly recounted the darkness he had witnessed, revealing to the two young men from a peaceful era the tip of the rotten iceberg beneath the wasteland.
"How could they do this? It's so abominable!" Tang Yu'an was indignant.
Zhou Qi also pursed his lips and frowned deeply.
Obviously, such a cruel reality has caused a great impact on the two young men who come from a peaceful world and have good family backgrounds.
Old Li smiled, a smile filled with complex emotions. He whispered, "An innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure. Without strong power in this wasteland, wealth and resources will only bring disaster to you."
Of course, staying away from the crowd is one way, but being able to break away from collective life is also a kind of strength, isn’t it?
Old Li looked at the two teenagers lost in thought and did not continue the topic.
Just keep it to the point; there's no point in saying too much.
After all, they came out of the fortress. They dared to walk in the wasteland at such a young age. Either someone was protecting them in secret, or they had something to rely on.
Perhaps, there is no need for him to talk so much.
"The administrator of Jufeng Town is a powerful mutant..."
Old Li continued to talk about the situation in the market town. He paused and changed the subject, "That's what you call a person with superpowers."
"He's very strong, has fire-attribute abilities, and is a combat-type."
The abilities of psychics are generally divided into life-related and combat-related abilities. Those who simply control productivity are life-related abilities, such as Tiejin. He can produce metal but cannot use metal to fight.
Granny Guo can control the enemy by promoting the growth of vines. If there are poisonous flowers and thorns, she can also exert a certain combat effectiveness. Unfortunately, she is old and lacks combat-effective plant seeds, so her combat strength is limited. She can be regarded as a mid-level life-oriented mutant.
The manager of Jufeng Town is a pure combat mutant, and all his abilities are born for fighting.
"No one in Jufeng Town dares to challenge his authority. Rumor has it that he also came from the fortress... Behind Jufeng Town, there must be a big shot in Qingmu Fort."
Looking at the confused or thoughtful expressions of the two teenagers, Old Li knew that they were not clear about this matter.
"I haven't met him either, but I've only heard of his deeds." He continued, "Under his management, the public security in Jufeng Town is relatively good, not as chaotic as other settlements."
At least in Jufeng Town, there was still a place for women and children. Just like Granny Guo, her daughter was lost to a natural disaster, not some awful experience...
"Don't worry." Old Li continued, "Generally speaking, we don't run into managers. The only people we interact with are the minions below us."
Thinking of something, he looked at the two teenagers and said, "Are you going to the market town just to trade, or... is there something else? Will you come back after you go?"
Tang Yu'an couldn't help but look at Zhou Qi.
Zhou Qi replied: "We have to come back. We don't plan to stay in the market town."
Old Li breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Before, you had to pay a toll when entering or leaving the town, but Tiejin said that recently you only have to pay when leaving, not when entering."
I guess more and more people are leaving the town, and the managers are anxious, so they come up with such a policy.
After all, now is not like decades ago when humans could only survive by sticking together. More and more people are awakening their special powers, and the number of people like them who are able to escape from town life is also increasing.
Those who awakened their productivity abilities later, seeing the misfortunes of their predecessors, would naturally choose to hide their abilities and escape secretly.
In recent years, the permanent population of Jufeng Town has been declining.
Zhou Qi listened carefully, and waited until Old Li stopped talking before asking, "So, is the trading method in the market town also barter?"
"Barter?"
Old Li felt that this statement was a bit awkward, but he could understand the meaning. "Yes, everyone believes more in things that can actually be obtained."
As for the monetary system, it completely collapsed after the Cataclysm. Even in the fortress, transactions were conducted using crystals and precious metals, which had actual value.
"So what can you usually exchange for?" Zhou Qi asked again.
"There are a lot of things," Old Li recalled. "Animal skins, flesh, and bones, homemade weapons, metals, ceramics, and antiques from before the Cataclysm... but the most popular thing is food."
Food was still in short supply for ordinary residents, and only the town management and the guards had enough food and drink.
"Okay, I understand." Zhou Qi nodded.
Old Li looked at them and said hesitantly, "It's best not to take out the refined salt and rice in your hands... Although sales should be good, it can also easily lead to danger."
Especially salt, which was an important commodity in ancient times and was controlled by the government and salt merchants, not to mention the wasteland after the catastrophe.
Once a fight breaks out, it will be difficult to protect it and you may even get injured.
"Yeah, we know that."
Zhou Qi nodded again to show that he understood, and then asked, "Grandpa Li, can we postpone our trip for a day? We need to prepare."
Although there are many people in the market town and they can meet many new customers, it is impossible for them to buy and sell too many things on their first visit to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
Excluding Jin Lili, if An An successfully gets the maximum experience points today, he can get 15 points. Adding the previous 7 points, An An's experience bar can reach level 3 (22/40) - only 18 points are left to upgrade.
If you calculate it this way, it would be better to postpone it for one day, and then get 15 experience points tomorrow, and then make a deal with Lao Li on the road the day after tomorrow to get another 3 points, which is just enough to level up.
After upgrading to lv4, you should be able to unlock more products. If you are lucky, you can also get new functions and have an extra guarantee.
Moreover, they really need to make preparations. Chi Hao is still lying in the grocery store, and it is a problem how to arrange for him.
"Okay, no problem." Old Li nodded. "I can leave anytime."
He was only there to fulfill his promise. He didn't have much to trade, and this time he was there just to act as a guide.
"Thank you, Grandpa!" Tang Yu'an thanked him with a smile.
Old Li looked at him with a smile in his eyes, but what he said was: "You want to go too, right?"
Tang Yu'an nodded naturally.
It's such a far place and it will take so long, of course he has to go with them!
Old Li couldn't help but sigh and said, "Then you'll have to disguise yourself a little better when the time comes."
Zhou Qi was fine, because he was growing taller than he was fatter during puberty, and he looked tall and thin. As long as he covered up his skin color and changed into tattered clothes, he could barely pretend to be someone from the wasteland.
Although he is very tall, this is an advantage. People like Tiejin are also tall, and few people dare to mess with him.
However, Tang Yu'an is different.
Although he is not short among his peers, he is not very good-looking in front of adults. He looks chubby and tender, with bright and clear eyes, and a naive innocence that seems to be written on his face: "I am from the fortress."
There are many desperate criminals in the wasteland, but it is not so bad in the town. After all, the management has the background of Qingmu Fort, and the minions dare not do anything to them who come from the same fortress.
But it’s hard to say when you leave the town.
Furthermore, what if the administrators got mad and wanted to forcibly detain them in the market town? The fortress was not a monolithic entity, and the struggle would only be more intense and brutal than outside.
Hearing Old Li's worries, Zhou Qi frowned even more.
Tang Yu'an opened his mouth slightly and was about to say something when Zhou Qi held his hand. He saw Brother Xiaoqi shaking his head at him.
His cheeks puffed up, but he remained quiet.
Afterwards, Zhou Qi made three transactions with Old Li.
To be honest, it is really a headache to trade like this every day and make a profit, especially since Old Li has been unable to move around easily these days and has almost no output.
Of course, Zhou Qi finally succeeded in obtaining three employee experience points.
He exchanged the thatch he collected from the slope for a straw basket from Old Li, and then, just like yesterday, he used 100 grams of rice in two installments to exchange for a straw hat and three arrows.
The straw basket and straw hat are both 9 points each, with a total profit of 20 points.
After booking a new straw basket with Old Li, Zhou Qi took Tang Yu'an away and went to Lin Zhen's home together.
On the way, Tang Yu'an muttered to himself.
"Brother Xiaoqi, do you want to leave me and secretly go to the market town with Grandpa Li?" He hugged Zhou Qi's neck tightly, his face full of displeasure.
Zhou Qi paused, then said, "I won't abandon you, but... the grocery store needs someone to guard it, too?"
"You just want to abandon me!"
Tang Yu'an's eyes turned red, and he said aggrievedly, "It takes four days to go to the market town and back. Are you willing to leave me here alone for so long?"
Naturally I can’t bear to do that.
Zhou Qi pursed his lips, his thoughts wavering a little.
They had hardly ever been separated for such a long time in their original world. At least they could see each other every night. Not to mention that in this wasteland full of hidden dangers, they might be separated by accident.
Moreover, the grocery store is not absolutely safe. It has to be open to customers during the day, and the protective barrier will not work. What if he encounters a situation like Chi Hao again while he is away?
Although Chi Hao was hired as an employee, he did not gain his full trust.
However, what Old Li said makes sense.
An An's appearance was too eye-catching, and there were so many people in the town, he really didn't have the confidence to protect him...
At this time, Tang Yu'an said again: "Brother Xiaoqi, I have a shadow umbrella and happy marbles. If anything dangerous happens, I can protect you!"
Their current self-defense tools are only cat teasers, dog frisbees, and mousetraps, but these three items should be ineffective against humans.
When Tang Yu'an uses it, Zhou Qi will not be affected, so in the end, only Happy Marbles can be effective when dealing with humans.
The Happy Marbles are already bound to Tang Yu'an, so Zhou Qi cannot use them. Apart from that, the only other option is probably the mutated metal dagger given to them by Tie Jin.
Although Zhou Qi's physique was improving every day, he had never really fought anyone, nor had he come into contact with the people in the market town, so he didn't know how strong they were...
If Tang Yu'an was really left behind, both of them would be worried about each other and probably wouldn't even be able to sleep well.
"So we absolutely cannot separate!" Tang Yu'an said solemnly.
Finally, Zhou Qi was persuaded.
"Then we'll think of a solution when the time comes," he said. "If it doesn't work, we can go our separate ways with Grandpa Li and meet up outside the market town."
When they were trading with others, it was not convenient for Old Li to watch from the side. After they separated, he let An An use a shadow umbrella to follow him, which greatly improved their safety.
Even when entering or leaving the town, they could use a combination of shadow umbrellas and light body techniques to secretly avoid the guards' inspections.
"Okay, it's settled!"
Seeing that Zhou Qi was willing to take him and had come up with a solution, Tang Yu'an was happy. He asked again, "If we don't sell rice and salt, what else should we bring to sell?"
Well...
Zhou Qi thought for a moment and suggested, "How about making steamed buns? Making smaller whole-wheat buns, those don't look good and don't taste very good either, so that should draw less attention."
Moreover, steamed buns can be sold one by one, which greatly improves concealment and convenience, unlike rice and salt, which need to be packed in containers or bags.
And based on what they learned in the past few days, at least no one in this area should be growing rice and wheat.
They can make their own choices consciously. Unless they are survivors of the catastrophe like Granny Guo, they will not be able to tell what the steamed buns are made of.
"Yeah, this is good!"
Tang Yu'an also added: "We can also add some bean bran or grass leaves. It will be irritating to the throat, but it will still fill you up. It should still be popular."
Zhou Qi smiled and nodded.
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
The steamed buns they made before were too delicate, and their appearance and taste were incompatible with this wasteland. If they were taken out rashly, it would easily arouse suspicion and covetousness, but this kind of roughly made steamed bun was different.
Maybe, I can take it out and trade it with Old Li and others in the future.
At this point, Zhou Qi thought of something and said, "We have to find a way to make a stone mill."
He had checked before when he was making steamed buns, and there wasn't much whole wheat flour left in the shop. If he wanted to make steamed buns like this, he would have to grind it himself from wheat.
"Brother Xiaoqi, can you make a stone mill?" Tang Yu'an asked curiously.
"No, but I've seen the structural diagram in a book." Zhou Qi said, "Let's try and see if we can make it."
Moreover, there are people with special abilities in this world. Since there are people who can control metal and plants, there should also be people who can control stone, right? If there are people with such special abilities, they won't have to do it themselves.
"When we get back, I'll draw the structural diagram first."
As long as the size is less than one meter, An An can put it in his portable warehouse. Moreover, when the merchant level is upgraded to level 4, the skill level of picking up goods remotely will also be improved.
If calculated tenfold, the pickup range can be increased to 100 kilometers.
The straight-line distance between Jufeng Town and the deserted city shouldn't exceed this range, right? After all, the road is difficult to walk on, and there's a mountain to climb.
If you can directly use the teleportation skill, you can entrust the craftsmen in the town to make the goods, and then put them directly into the grocery store warehouse after they are finished, saving the effort of transporting them.
and……
If there is a millstone in the warehouse, combined with the skill of telekinesis, can it become another form of attack?
Anyway, there are no restrictions on An An taking and putting away goods. After smashing people with the millstone, he can take it back and reuse it. Isn’t this very convenient?
"Well, let's ask Sister Lin later to see if she knows such a person with special abilities?" Tang Yu'an said.
Maybe it was because of preconceived notions, but he always felt that the residents of the deserted city were more reliable.
"Okay." Zhou Qi nodded.
At this time, the effect of the light body technique also disappeared. Because they left home early, they had completed half of today's mission route, and it was only half past nine.
"Let's try to get back before eleven."
"Uh-huh."
The temperature seemed to have risen a bit today. It was only half past nine, but the sunlight was already a bit hot. Fortunately, the umbrella helped to block the view, so Tang Yu'an didn't sweat profusely.
After re-blessing Zhou Qi with the light body technique, they quickly went to Lin Zhen's home.
When they arrived outside Lin Zhen's house, Zhou Qi didn't ask Tang Yu'an to put away the umbrella. Instead, he said, "You wait outside. I'll go in."
It's cool under the umbrella, it's hot outside.
The temperature will fluctuate between hot and cold, which can easily make you sick, and it also wastes the use of umbrellas.
Tang Yu'an nodded obediently, standing under the umbrella and watching Zhou Qi greet Lin Zhen, then crawl into the house.
"Are you the only one here today?" Lin Zhen said.
Zhou Qi nodded.
When facing outsiders, he seemed a little silent. After seeing that Amu was in good condition, he considered proposing a deal with Lin Zhen.
The packet of insect repellent powder that was not traded yesterday became the starting point of the topic, and the subsequent conversation became much simpler.
Without Tang Yu'an, Lin Zhen also felt the difference.
Before, the atmosphere seemed warm and someone responded to every word she said. But now it seems cold and indifferent. Even Amu can't warm up the atmosphere, which makes her feel uncomfortable.
But this is in the wasteland, so this is normal.
Hearing that Zhou Qi was going to look for Tie Jin, Lin Zhen asked him to help deliver the bird eggs she had just found in the morning to him.
There were six eggs in total. The eggshells were earthy gray with spots. It was unknown what kind of bird they belonged to.
"It took me a long time to find it." Lin Zhen said, "I have to stay home with Amu today, otherwise he will get angry."
"Play dice!"
"Come play dice!"
The big parrot nestled in the chicken coop shook its head feathers, stretched its neck and shouted.
"Got it, I'll be right there!"
Lin Zhe replied, then stuffed the bird egg into Zhou Qi's hands and said, "Please."
Zhou Qi took the bird's egg and said to her before leaving: "We are going to the market town the day after tomorrow. Do you need anything to exchange?"
"Old Li will take you there?"
"Um."
Lin Zhen couldn't help but sigh, "I want to go too! But I have to stay home with Amu to hatch the eggs."
She hesitated for a moment and said, "Forget it. Let's go together again when there's a chance. Be careful on the road."
Then she took out a packet of medicine powder from her waist bag, handed it to Zhou Qi, and said with a wink: "This is itching powder, you can use it to protect yourself on the road. If anyone doesn't have eyes, you can sprinkle it on him!"
"I'll trade you some candy."
Zhou Qi didn’t take her things in vain. He exchanged one pack and then bought another one. He completed three profitable transactions smoothly and successfully upgraded his employee level to level 2.
"I'll come back tomorrow. If you need anything, you can tell me."
Zhou Qi took the bird eggs and left.
Lin Zhen chased to the window, but found that the boy had disappeared in the blink of an eye, and he couldn't help but be shocked.
"This is too fast!" she muttered and went back into the house.
In fact—
Zhou Qi didn't go far at all. He was still standing outside the window, bending down to pick up Tang Yu'an from under the umbrella, while the young boy was talking to him excitedly.
Because it was a bit boring to stay outside alone, and seeing that the daily tasks were completed, Tang Yu'an used the number of draws on the lucky wheel.
Tang Yu'an's system panel read:
[Congratulations! You won the special skill "Light Body Technique Level 1"]
[Detected that the host already possesses a skill of the same level, "Light Body Skill" skill level +1]
【Light Body Skill lv2】
Attributes: Magical skills.
Effect: It can release a force of wind, making the target as light as a swallow. It is an essential skill for delivering goods and doing business.
The duration is 180 minutes and can be used 3 times a day.
Remaining times: 3
Not only is the duration of the effect extended by 60 minutes, but the remaining number of times is also refreshed.
They still have 3 uses left today!
When Zhou Qi heard that Tang Yu'an had drawn another special skill, he was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "From now on, you should draw alone."
I'd gotten secondary items like points and refresh cards during my previous draws, and even a guaranteed 1 point once. But now...
This is several consecutive single-draw shipments!
The author has something to say:
Grocery Store System: Ahhhh, doesn't your conscience hurt? [distorted.gif]
"Haha, is that so?" Tang Yu'an leaned on Zhou Qi's shoulder, his eyes sparkling and his face full of joy. "Then I'll listen to you. I'll just draw alone from now on."
"Well, let's go to Uncle Jin's house."
Zhou Qi carried Tang Yu'an on his back, identified the direction, and then went to Tie Jin's house - basically, he knew the way after just walking there once, and didn't need Tang Yu'an to use a map to guide him.
"Brother Xiaoqi, what good things did you exchange with Sister Lin?" At this time, Tang Yu'an asked again.
"Didn't you hear it outside?"
"I want to hear you say that."
Zhou Qi curled his lips slightly and whispered to him what he had exchanged from Lin Zhen, then asked, "How many points is a pack of itching powder?"
"A pack of 5 grams is worth 10 points."
Tang Yu'an just used the identification skill on both the itching powder and the insect repellent powder.
The same weight of insect repellent powder is worth 50 points, much more than the itching powder. Perhaps due to Lin Zhen's homemade formula, both powders are unique to this plane.
Although the insect repellent powder is more valuable, the itching powder can restrain humans and play an unexpected role in the battle. They should be able to use it in the future.
If we just talk about practicality, it is a good value for money.
Zhou Qi nodded.
As they chatted on the road, Tiejin's home soon came into view.
Looking at the metal net covered with spikes around his house, Tang Yu'an stopped talking, fearing that he would disturb Zhou Qi and get hurt by the venom-coated spikes on the metal net.
However, Zhou Qi did not use the usual method to approach Tiejin's door.
He asked Tang Yu'an to let go of the umbrella, then he carried him back a few steps, then took a run-up and jumped forward.
The boy's figure drew a graceful arc in the air.
Point your toes.
He brought Tang Yu'an and landed steadily in the small safe area in front of Tie Jin's house. All this was done with ease.
“So handsome!”
Tang Yu'an came back to his senses and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Brother Xiaoqi, you were so handsome just now! I want to learn this too!"
Zhou Qi bent down slightly and put him on the ground.
Perhaps it was the transformation from the parasite. In addition to his powerful recovery ability, his strength and speed were also increasing day by day, and he could also perform more difficult moves.
Zhou Qi couldn't tell whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Perhaps in such an apocalypse, gaining power would always be more beneficial than harmful...
At this time, the shadow umbrella that was left behind slowly floated over. It hovered above Tang Yu'an's head, dutifully shielding him from the scorching sun.
Tang Yu'an then let go of Zhou Qi, looked up at the umbrella and said, "Thank you, umbrella!"
The shadow umbrella turned around in place, as if responding to him, which made Zhou Qi look a little surprised.
When Zhou Qi saw that the shadow umbrella could float by itself before, he was also surprised, but he just thought that this was an original function of the shadow umbrella, which was only developed by An An.
Now seeing the interaction between Shadow Umbrella and Tang Yu'an, Zhou Qi suddenly realized that he might have been thinking in the wrong direction.
This may be the ability that the Shadow Umbrella actively displays.
He knew that the shadow umbrella had a spirit.
So, before they helped it fulfill its wish, An An had already gained its recognition?
Looking at the boy smiling and interacting with the umbrella, Zhou Qi suddenly felt that this was a perfectly normal thing.
After all, who can not like their An An?
He smiled, retracted his gaze to look at the gate of Tiejin's house, then picked up the stone on the ground and asked Tang Yu'an: "Do you want to stay under the umbrella?"
Tang Yu'an hesitated for a moment, then looked at him pitifully.
"Can I come out?" he asked.
Although it was cool under the umbrella, it was also boring for him to wait outside alone. He was more afraid of boredom than the heat.
Zhou Qi patted his head and said, "Then let's go together."
"Yeah!"
Tang Yu'an happily said goodbye to the shadow umbrella, and then put it into his portable storage. Seeing that he was ready, Zhou Qi knocked on the metal plate at the door of Tie Jin's house with a stone.
“Dang—dang—”
There were two metal sounds, and soon the door was opened, and Tiejin's figure appeared in front of them.
But he seemed to look more haggard than yesterday, and the dark circles under his eyes were obvious, indicating that he might have stayed up all night last night.
This made his temperament even more sinister and terrifying. He stared at Zhou Qi and Tang Yu'an for a few seconds, and then -
"It's you two little guys!"
Tie Jin grinned widely, which made Tang Yu'an inexplicably think of a character in a magic movie. Looking at his beard, he suddenly felt familiar with him.
"Uncle Jin, good morning."
"Uncle Tiejin, good morning!"
The two young men greeted him with such vigor and vitality that Tiejin was stunned for a moment. He thought to himself that they were worthy of coming out of the fortress, their temperament and appearance were different.
"Come in quickly." Tiejin welcomed them into the house, looked outside cautiously, and then closed and locked the door.
"Didn't Xiaolin come with you today?"
"Well, these are the bird eggs she found." Zhou Qi handed the eggs in the straw basket to Tie Jin, "She asked us to give them to you."
"well!"
Tiejin carefully took the basket, his face full of surprise, "Thank you, I'm almost out of bird eggs at home, this really helps me out of my urgent need."
This is now the only thing his daughter can eat, and it is especially precious to him.
"Weren't there quite a lot yesterday?" Tang Yu'an asked curiously.
He remembered that there were at least a dozen bird eggs in the basket. Jin Lili was young, so there was no way she could eat so many, right?
Upon hearing this, Tiejin showed a bit of shame on his face.
"It's my first time making steamed eggs... and I ruined a few of them..." He held the straw basket, his tall body slightly curled up, looking a little cramped.
“It was successful, but it wasn’t as tender and delicious as Xiao Zhou’s…”
At this point, he couldn't help but look at Zhou Qi and asked, "Xiao Zhou, can you show me again? I'll give you a piece of mutant metal the size of an arrow as tuition. Is that okay?"
After hearing his explanation, Zhou Qi was very confused. Steaming eggs is so simple, how could someone make it wrong?
However, since Tiejin offered a deal, he naturally wouldn't refuse, so he nodded happily: "Okay, shall we go to the kitchen now?"
Seeing Zhou Qi agreed, Tie Jin hurriedly welcomed them upstairs.
As soon as they climbed up one flight of stairs, they unexpectedly discovered that the second floor, which was originally full of debris, had been cleared out and looked empty.
In the corner was a metal cube covered with a straw mat, and a small figure was sitting on it. It was Tiejin's adopted daughter, Jin Lili, a little girl who was only a little over one year old.
Hearing the sound, she poked her head over to look.
When she found that there was someone else following her father, she was obviously stunned for a moment, and then shrank back timidly.
She did not recognize Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi, or maybe she was not in good condition at that time, so she did not remember them.
"You told me the key points of caring for children, so I paid close attention. I found that staying on the fourth floor during the day was still too hot for Xiaoli."
"So I cleared the second floor yesterday afternoon, just laid out a straw mat, and opened the windows for ventilation. She finally felt less hot."
"Of course, when it gets cold at night, we still have to go back to the room on the fourth floor to sleep."
Tiejin kept talking about how the temperature difference between day and night in the wasteland was huge. It was very hot during the day and very cold at night. It was okay for people with special abilities, but it was a great torture for ordinary people.
Seeing that his daughter was scared, Tiejin did not continue to go up, but went to the corner, stretched out his big hand and touched his daughter's head.
Jin Lili climbed down the metal block, grabbed his trouser legs with her two small hands, and poked her head out from behind him. Her round yellow-brown eyes stared at Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi with a bit of timidity.
"Don't be afraid, these two brothers are good people. They came to see you yesterday."
Tiejin didn't care whether his daughter could understand or not, and said in one breath, "Thanks to them, you didn't get sick. And the delicious egg custard was also made by Brother Xiao Zhou."
Jin Lili seemed to understand and looked much more relaxed.
Tang Yu'an squatted down to look her in the eye, smiled slightly and greeted her.
However, Zhou Qi looked down at the metal cube where Jin Lili had just been sitting. The cube was about one meter long and wide, and reached the height of his calf. He felt that it was a little special.
So this feeling is...
Zhou Qi reached out and tentatively touched the metal box.
It feels slightly cool to the touch, not as hot as the metal itself.
Seeing his actions, Tang Yu'an also curiously reached out and touched this strange-looking metal cube, and then couldn't help but exclaimed: "It's so cool!"
In such hot weather, I can’t imagine how comfortable it would be to lie on such a cool metal block!
Tiejin couldn't help laughing when he saw their reactions.
"Cool, isn't it?" he said proudly. "I put ice in it."
Ice cubes!
This time Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi were really surprised.
They thought it was some kind of temperature-changing metal, but they didn't expect that ice cubes were added to it?
Zhou Qi tapped the metal block with his fingers and found that it was indeed hollow inside. However, the texture of the metal block was very good and it looked very heavy. From the outside, you couldn't tell that it was actually a box.
Seeing their curiosity, Tiejin removed the straw mat, revealing a small buckle above the metal block.
The metal box is made with exquisite workmanship, and the door and the box are almost integrated. If it weren't for this small buckle, you wouldn't be able to tell that there is a door on the box.
After Tiejin unfastened the buckle, he pulled it gently and the metal door panel opened.
A cool white mist emerged.
Jin Lili and Tang Yu'an couldn't help but squint their eyes slightly, enjoying the sudden coolness.
When the white mist dissipated, I saw a large piece of ice lying in the metal box. It had melted a little, but the water looked a little turbid and had a slight odor.
After showing them, Tiejin quickly closed the metal door to protect the ice inside from melting too quickly.
"Uncle Tiejin, where did this ice come from?" Tang Yu'an couldn't help but be curious.
He really couldn't imagine that in such a doomsday, he could see such a big piece of ice on such a hot day!
Even if it is a freezer in a shop, it may be a bit difficult to freeze such large ice cubes.
"Hey, you never thought of that, did you?"
Tiejin was very proud. After he closed the metal box, he gave the answer, "There's a guy in the deserted city who can freeze ice. I got it from him."
"Now that the weather is getting hotter, his business is booming. Luckily, I have a good relationship with him, so I was able to jump the queue and get such a big block of ice."
"And this box is made of mutant metal. It has excellent heat preservation. The ice inside should last for ten days to half a month before completely melting."
"Xiaoli, you don't have to worry about the heat as long as you stay here for a while." Tiejin reached out and rubbed his daughter's head, his face full of love.
Jin Lili looked at him with bright eyes.
This little girl was treated so kindly and cared for so well for the first time in her life... It was great to meet her father.
Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi next to them couldn't help but look at each other.
Who would have thought that there would be a person with the ability to produce ice in a deserted city? This is too amazing!
Tang Yu'an quickly opened the map and found that there were still no new green dots, so... apart from Jin Lili, could the other green dot be the ice-type mutant?
"Did you go to get ice last night?" Tang Yu'an asked.
"Yes, it's too hot during the day and the ice melts easily." Tiejin replied.
Tang Yu'an nodded. It seemed that this green dot was indeed the ice-type mutant.
"Uncle Jin, did you fill the water yourself and then freeze it for that person?" Zhou Qi asked at this time.
"Yes." Tiejin nodded. "He can actually condense ice directly, but it consumes too much energy, so he asks us to bring our own water."
No wonder the ice water has a strange smell.
"If you need ice, you can tell me and I can help you cut in line." Tiejin said with a smile.
After we got to know each other, he became honest and cheerful, no longer as taciturn and gloomy as when we first met, and his full beard didn't look scary anymore.
"He is my good friend. If I ask him for help, he will definitely agree."
"Okay, we'll tell you if we need anything." Zhou Qi thanked him.
They are not planning to look for it for the time being.
On the one hand, I have to go to the market town soon and don’t have time; on the other hand, this is a new customer, so I’d better save the task of attracting new customers for when I get to know him.
As for Jin Lili...
Looking at the little girl who was snuggling beside Tiejin and still looked a little timid, they decided to take it easy for a while and cultivate their good impression first.
At this time, Tiejin looked at the empty second floor again and asked the two teenagers, "Do you think there's anything else that needs to be decorated here? It feels a bit empty."
What are you arranging...
Tang Yu'an looked at the large, well-lit flat and subconsciously said, "Grow some vegetables?"
"Growing vegetables?"
"Yeah, we can grow some vegetables that Lily can eat. Plants can also make the air in the house fresher, or..."
Tang Yu'an suddenly had an idea and said, "Oh right, plant mint!"
Not only does mint release a refreshing aroma to cool down the room, but its leaves can also be soaked in water for drinking.
It tastes cool and is especially refreshing. If you add a little sugar, it will taste sweet and icy, which is so delicious!
When Tiejin heard that mint can reduce body temperature and bring a refreshing fragrance, he immediately became interested.
He knew that the weather would get hotter and hotter, and if there were other ways to cool down, he wouldn't have to rely entirely on ice.
"Great! Do you know where I can find this plant?" he asked eagerly. "I'll go dig it up right now!"
"Uncle Jin, don't be anxious." Zhou Qi comforted him.
Tang Yu'an just remembered that this was not the original world, and he didn't know if there was a plant called mint. Even if there was, he wouldn't be able to find it for the time being.
However, there is a pot of it in Tang’s mother’s small botanical garden, and it is growing well. It seems that there will be no problem in digging one up for the iron metal.
"We have one, and we can bring one to you tomorrow," said Tang Yu'an.
Tiejin nodded, "Okay, I'll trade with you! What do you need?"
"Let's see it after I bring it over tomorrow."
"That's fine." Tie Jin looked at Zhou Qi again, "Then let's go make the egg custard now?"
Seeing Zhou Qi nod, he said to Tang Yu'an: "Xiao'an, please help me look after Xiao Li. It's cool here, you can take a rest."
"Okay, okay."
Tiejin touched his daughter's head again, asked her to stay on the second floor, and then led Zhou Qi to the kitchen.
Watching Zhou Qi and Tie Jin's backs disappear on the stairs, Jin Lili looked at Tang Yu'an. Seeing his eyes looking at her, she quickly ran away with her short legs and hid behind the metal box.
She stuck out her little head and stared at Tang Yu'an with the vigilance and curiosity of a young animal.
Tang Yu'an was not in a hurry. He took out a picnic blanket from his backpack, spread it on the ground and then sat down. Then he looked in the direction of the stairs and secretly took out another box of milk.
Under Jin Lili's curious gaze, he took out a pot of hot water and poured it into a wide-mouthed cup, then put the carton of milk in it.
Jin Lili, who was originally observing him, couldn't help but widen her eyes when she saw his backpack that looked like a treasure chest filled with everything.
Tang Yu'an put the kettle back and touched the milk again.
The weather is hot now, and the water temperature is high, so the milk becomes warm after a while.
Mom said that children have weak stomachs and cannot drink cold things. Even milk has to be heated before drinking. Tang Yu'an has always remembered this.
When he felt it was about time, he took out a small cup, poured out the milky white milk, and took a small sip.
It's warm and has a rich milky flavor.
It tastes so good!
Tang Yu'an showed a happy expression. The little girl who was originally looking at his backpack curiously now had her eyes fixed on the cup in his hand, staring at it straight in the eyes.
"Do you want to drink?" Tang Yu'an asked with a smile.
The little girl swallowed hard.
"Don't be afraid, come and drink." Tang Yu'an waved to her.
Finally, under the temptation of food, Jin Lili walked out from behind the metal box and approached Tang Yu'an cautiously step by step.
Tang Yu'an waited patiently.
He looked at the skinny little girl with no flesh on her face, and finally mustered up the courage to come to him.
Her eyes remained fixed on the cup in his hand.
The milk with a frankincense aroma has a natural attraction to the cubs.
"Drink this."
Tang Yu'an turned the straw on the milk carton in front of her and said, "Put this in your mouth and suck it."
Jin Lili did as she was told.
Soon, the warm, fragrant lotion flowed into her mouth.
She couldn't help but widen her eyes and subconsciously took a big gulp.
It's milk...
It’s delicious milk...
This was the food that Jin Lili was most familiar with. When she swallowed another bite, she suddenly realized that the person in front of her was not her mother. She looked up at Tang Yu'an in panic.
However, the young man sitting in front of her just smiled slightly and said to her in a gentle voice, "Isn't it delicious?"
Jin Lili nodded.
"Then drink a little more, don't drink too fast." Tang Yu'an touched the top of her head.
The panicked little girl slowly calmed down and tried to drink another mouthful of food. When she found that she was not beaten or scolded, she bravely continued to suck.
Soon, a 200ml box of milk was finished.
Jin Lili burped with a feeling of unsatisfied satisfaction.
"Are you full?" Tang Yu'an touched her belly. The child didn't have much flesh on her body, which made her belly look particularly round.
Now that I’ve drunk enough milk, I’m even rounder.
"Oh, I can't drink anymore, and I won't be able to eat the egg custard later." Tang Yu'an put the milk carton into his backpack with a guilty conscience.
After drinking the milk, Jin Lili was no longer afraid of him.
She stood there quietly, with her big round eyes open, looking confused, which reminded Tang Yu'an of his sister.
Xinxin wasn't as well behaved as Jin Lili when she was little, but she was just as cute...
He suppressed his sadness, took out a handkerchief from his backpack, wet it with the water he had used to soak the milk, and carefully wiped the little girl's face and hands.
Tiejin is a rough man after all, and he lives a rough life himself, let alone taking care of children.
Although the little girl's face was relatively clean, her hands were very dirty, with black dirt between her nails.
Tang Yu'an took out a pair of nail clippers from her bag and carefully helped her cut her long nails.
Jin Lili looked at him blankly. It was her first time to cut her nails. She was a little scared at first, but soon she found that it didn't hurt and relaxed.
She looked at the delicate nail clippers in Tang Yu'an's hand, and couldn't help but look at his backpack.
This gadget was also taken out of this bag. She had seen Tang Yu'an take out many things from the backpack that she had never seen before.
This bag can hold anything, big or small.
So amazing!
Soon the nails were trimmed and the dirt in the nail crevices was cleaned. Tang Yu'an looked at her messy little curly hair and couldn't help but said, "Let me help you comb your hair."
Under Jin Lili's surprised gaze, he took out a comb and began to comb the little girl's hair.
The ends of her hair were frizzy and tangled, and the comb couldn't comb it out, so Tang Yu'an had to take out a pair of scissors to help her cut it off - this way her hair would be shorter and more comfortable when the weather was hot.
He combed Jin Lili's curly hair slowly, and then braided her hair into two pigtails.
When at home, Tang Yu'an often combs and braids her sister's hair. Now she is very skilled at it. Finally, she ties a hair rope at the end of the braid and the job is done.
Jin Lili let him dress her up like a doll. Her upbringing made her not very sensitive about her appearance.
She lowered her head and kept staring at Tang Yu'an's backpack.
It was not until Tie Jin came back with the egg custard that he was surprised to see his daughter's new appearance. He couldn't help but pick her up and spin her around. She was still staring at Tang Yu'an's backpack.
That bag really has everything!
Tiejin likes his daughter's new look very much.
People born in the wasteland are busy working hard to survive every day, and few people bother to take care of their appearance.
Tiejin's own hair was messy, so he didn't think there was anything wrong with Jin Lili's messy little curls.
But after seeing Tang Yu'an wipe her face, comb her hair, and tie her beautiful red hair into two braids, he felt a neat and clean beauty that he had never seen before.
This is a completely different feeling from the wildness and barbarity of the wasteland world.
Tiejin seemed to have caught a glimpse of the world before the catastrophe that Old Li had described to him - the world he deeply longed for but would never be able to see in his lifetime.
How could this not make him feel excited?
Tiejin, who had enough material resources to meet his survival needs, had enough energy to pursue a higher quality of life. With this simple idea in mind, Tiejin let his daughter go.
He looked at Tang Yu'an and asked humbly, "Xiao'an, can you teach me how to do it?"
The love and desire in Tiejin's eyes made Tang Yu'an unable to refuse. What's more, this Uncle Tiejin really didn't like to owe others.
"I can pay my tuition in metal," he said again.
Tang Yu'an readily agreed. Next, he taught Tie Jin the technique of combing long hair, "You have to comb from the ends of your hair little by little, otherwise it will easily get tangled, and it will hurt if you pull your hair."
This is the experience he gained from years of combing and braiding his sister's hair.
"Then split it left and right like this, and then split it into three..."
He patiently taught Tiejin, and Jin Lili did not move obediently. Even if Tiejin's strong grip accidentally hurt her, she would just shudder.
He didn't cry or make a fuss, and was so well-behaved that he didn't look like a baby who was only a one-year-old. Tang Yu'an couldn't help but feel distressed. Tie Jin also had a guilty look on his face and became more careful in his movements.
In the end, Tang Yu'an successfully exchanged his braiding skills for metal, achieving a profitable transaction.
Tie Jin took a piece of shiny metal plate and used it as a mirror for Jin Lili to look at. Seeing them so happy together, Tang Yu'an also felt happy.
Transactions with Uncle Tiejin always made them feel at ease, probably because they didn't need to bother thinking about the terms of the transaction, Tiejin would take the initiative to propose the demands.
Because he really wants to improve!
While Tang Yu'an was undid Jin Lili's braids and combing her hair back into place, Tie Jin took a fancy to this useful little tool again.
However, because he only had this one, and it was the comb in his family, it had special meaning to Tang Yu'an, so he didn't plan to take it out for exchange.
"You can make it yourself using metal or wood," Zhou Qi said.
"Yes!" Tang Yu'an nodded. "A wooden comb is more comfortable to use. Even if it scratches your scalp, it won't hurt."
Tie Jin, who had originally shown a look of disappointment, could not help but feel happy. He smiled and said, "Then I'll ask Lao Li to help me make one. He has good carpentry skills."
Then he borrowed a comb from Tang Yu'an to use for proofing.
Tang Yu'an looked at him curiously.
Tiejin took out a piece of metal from his pocket. It was only the size of a palm. As a faint golden light appeared on his palm, the metal slowly softened as if it was melting.
Tie Jin pulled the metal into long strips like pulling dough, then placed the comb on it, pressed down gently, and took the comb away, leaving a comb-shaped imprint on it.
Then, the soft metal block hardened again, and the shape of the comb remained on it.
Tang Yu'an was fascinated by what he saw. He took the comb back and put it back into his backpack, then asked Tie Jin for a rubbing of the metal block to look at.
The metal block felt slightly cold to the touch and had become hard, without any of the melted texture it had just had.
"Uncle Tiejin, you are so awesome!" Tang Yu'an couldn't help but say.
"Haha, it's nothing. It's very simple for metal mutants." Tiejin waved his hand.
“But I think it’s amazing.”
Tang Yu'an looked at him with sparkling eyes, and even Jin Lili, who had re-braided her hair, looked at Tie Jin with shining eyes.
Faced with two pairs of starry eyes like this, it was hard for Tiejin not to lose himself.
He laughed heartily and said, "If you like it, I'll show you again next time!"
"We agreed not to go back on our word."
"Haha, that's natural."
Under Tang Yu'an's instruction, Tiejin learned how to braid her hair into a pigtail - although it looked very clumsy and the braids were loose and frizzy, Jin Lili didn't mind at all.
As for the bowl of egg custard made by Zhou Qi, since Jin Lili was already full from drinking milk, she temporarily placed it on a metal box to "keep it fresh."
Tie Jin then asked Zhou Qi about the key points in making a wok and took out the semi-finished product he had made yesterday for discussion.
At around 11 o'clock, Zhou Qi took out 100 grams of glucose, exchanged a metal arrow with him, and then said goodbye and left.
Tiejin held his daughter and enthusiastically walked them to the door.
"Remember my mint!" he reminded.
"Okay, I'll definitely send it to you tomorrow."
Only after making sure that Tie Jin could no longer see them did Tang Yu'an quickly take out the umbrella.
If he was any slower, he felt his hair would be burned!
"This is too hot."
He lay on Zhou Qi's back. As soon as he walked out of Tie Jin's house, he felt like he was hit by a heat wave. In just a short while, his forehead was already covered in sweat.
"Drink some water, don't get heatstroke."
"good……"
Tang Yu'an took out the water bottle and drank it with a straw. Because he was isolated from the heat waves from the outside world under the umbrella, he gradually felt much better.
Zhou Qi concentrated on walking and seemed a little silent.
It seemed that he had a thoughtful expression ever since Uncle Tiejin finished his "performance" just now.
"Brother Xiaoqi, what's wrong with you?" Tang Yu'an asked with concern.
"Let's talk about it when we get back."
Zhou Qi did not explain immediately, nor did he deny that he did have some condition, which made Tang Yu'an feel a little uneasy.
Fortunately, they returned to the grocery store in less than twenty minutes.
Seeing the door, Tang Yu'an jumped off Zhou Qi's back and ran to open the door. He thought he would feel comfortable after returning home, but in the end -
As the door opened, a wave of heat came rolling in.
The protective barrier had no temperature control effect, and because the front half of the grocery store only had a roof, the insulation was very poor, making the room very stuffy.
Tang Yu'an couldn't stand it any more, but because Chi Hao was present, he couldn't hide under the umbrella and disappear.
The umbrella is one of their greatest protections, and they don't plan to expose themselves to outsiders for the time being.
Chi Hao, who was resting with his eyes closed, quickly opened his eyes when he heard the noise, and looked outside. He saw Tang Yu'an sweating profusely and looking like he could hardly bear the heat.
Zhou Qi didn't blush or gasp for breath——
He ran such a long distance carrying Tang Yu'an on his back, and his forehead was only slightly sweaty. He didn't feel very hot after standing outside for a while.
This is the physical difference between people with special abilities and ordinary people. Chi Hao has become accustomed to it and greeted them with a smile.
"Brother Chi Hao..." Tang Yu greeted him unhappily.
This was the first time they had returned home before noon, and he hadn't expected it to be so hot inside.
Yuanbao did not sneak out today. It kept staring at Chi Hao diligently. Even when Tang Yu'an and the others came back, it squatted there and just wagged its little tail.
The other two little ones also wagged their tails to greet them, but they both lay on the glass door of the refrigerator, sticking out their tongues and not moving.
Obviously, the two furries also felt the heat.
Tang Yu'an reached out to stroke their heads, but ended up with a hand full of fur.
"Where's the air conditioner remote control?" Zhou Qi took out a bottle of mineral water from the refrigerator and handed it to Tang Yu'an, saying.
It's so hot today, it's really not possible to live without air conditioning. It would be a waste if you get heatstroke.
"No, turning on the air conditioner consumes a lot of electricity..." Although I have more points now, it is still better to save as much as possible.
But when it comes to air conditioning, Tang Yu'an couldn't help but look at Chi Hao.
After a morning, his face had regained some color and he looked much more energetic. Like Zhou Qi, he did not feel uncomfortable staying in such a hot room.
In fact, his face looked more contented than Zhou Qi's.
"Brother Chi Hao, aren't you afraid of the heat?" Tang Yu'an asked.
Chi Hao smiled and shook his head: "I am a fire-type ability user. High temperatures not only cannot harm me, but can also help me recover from my injuries."
Tang Yu'an's eyes lit up immediately.
The reason why he asked Chi Hao was because of this!
Zhou Qi also looked over. It was obvious that he had understood Tang Yu'an's meaning. He continued his words and asked, "Then can you absorb the heat?"
"Ah?" Chi Hao was stunned for a moment, then nodded hesitantly, "It should be possible, what's wrong?"
"Then you can absorb all the heat in the room?" Tang Yu'an said in surprise, "If you absorb the heat, you can recover faster and cool down the room!"
Chi Hao:?!
A path he had never imagined appeared!
As the captain of the Qingmu Fort's ability team, Chi Hao's main focus has been combat since entering the training base.
Of course, there are times when severe cold weather comes and flames are required to increase indoor temperature, but such times are relatively rare, and the fortress's infrastructure can meet the needs of keeping out the cold.
But cooling down a fire-type ability user?
Oh my god, who would connect these two things? Even if someone did, it would be impossible for them to make such a request to a mid-level ability user like him!
However, the scary thing is, when Chi Hao thinks about it carefully, he seems, seems, maybe...
Can it really be done?
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