Chapter 39 High Temperature Prelude
The faucet was turned on, and clear water gushed out, quickly filling the bucket.
Gu Nian picked up the bucket and began to water the newly planted fruit trees in the farmland. As soon as the water moistened the roots of the trees, the small fruits on the branches and leaves of the fruit tree seedlings began to grow rapidly, and some older fruit trees were already full of heavy fruits.
After watering the two rows of fruit trees, Gu Nian picked up the basket and began to pick the ripe fruits. The fresh peaches were as big as fists, with plump skins. The pink peach skins were covered with fine hairs, which made people salivate. The orange tree next to it was also full of large fruits. The skins of the oranges were shiny, and you could feel the elasticity of the flesh when you pinched them in your hands.
Gu Nian hadn't eaten such delicious fruit for a long time. Ever since the natural disaster, everything had to be grown in a greenhouse. It was harder than climbing to the sky to eat some vegetables, not to mention the fruit trees that needed more planting space and a longer fruiting cycle? Nowadays, some ordinary people can hardly afford vegetables and can only rely on a synthetic liquid every week to supplement the necessary vitamins.
With farmland in hand, Gu Nian has no shortage of vegetables to eat, but he can only buy some unfresh fruits occasionally. Nowadays, there are almost no fruit trees in the whole Jiangcheng. Although the official has announced that the fruit of the wild spiritual plant is edible, the fruit of this wild spiritual plant that has not been artificially domesticated is sour and astringent, and has a sandy taste. How can it be as delicious as the fruit selected and cultivated by experts for many years?
When Gu Nian was checking the list of official contribution redemption agencies, he found that not only could he redeem various foods, but he could also redeem fruit tree seedlings! He didn't expect that the official had such good things, so he quickly took action and stocked up two of each fruit tree seedling.
Now the farm space has been unlocked. After unlocking, a large piece of land has been expanded in addition to the original farmland. Gu Nian specially loaded all the fruit tree seedlings into it. Apple, citrus, pear trees, peaches...all kinds of fruit tree seedlings are planted in two rows.
When watering the saplings, Gu Nian naturally noticed that as long as the new spiritual spring water was used for watering, the growth of the plants planted in the space was accelerated even more than before, which greatly saved Gu Nian's planting costs. Because of this, Gu Nian was more and more satisfied with himself for venturing deep into the wilderness, but finally getting the spiritual spring back.
Carrying a basket full of fresh fruits, Gu Nian took Lianhua back to the cabin on the farm.
From a distance, Gu Nian saw the tall nine-tailed fox waiting at the fence outside the cabin. Gu Nian had already discovered that the nine-tailed fox could not enter her private area without permission if she had not invited it.
According to the latest map on the system screen, the cultivated farmland, pastures, and cabins are surrounded by red lines, which are Gu Nian's private areas. The rivers and forests farther away are not marked. Only a small house in the middle shows a blacksmith shop, which is the residence of the nine-tailed fox. The rest of the map is shrouded in thick fog, and there may be other unlocking conditions.
The nine-tailed fox saw Gu Nian coming over and couldn't wait to ask, "Where are my chickens? You should have taken care of them by now, right?"
Gu Nian nodded with amusement. She didn't expect that the nine-tailed fox would be obsessed with this piece of chicken. She invited the nine-tailed fox in and took him to the ranch.
In the pasture, a group of mutant golden pheasants were pacing around, occasionally looking at the green fodder in the feed trough, which was made from crushed vegetables produced on the farm. Because this feed was rare, each of these mutant golden pheasants was fat and strong, with shinier feathers and stronger bodies than when they came.
Gu Nian made a gesture of invitation to the mutant golden pheasant: "You choose."
Tu Shanluo looked at the group of golden pheasants with greedy eyes, his saliva almost dripping out. He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he, a member of the Tushan clan, had eaten a chicken! He sniffed and decisively pointed at two of the mutant golden pheasants: "These two are the most delicious! Let's eat these two first! As for the others, I'll keep them here for now, and I'll come back to get them when I want to eat them."
Tushan Luo also had his own plan. He had to eat fresh chickens. He took 25 chickens at once. He would have to either raise chickens or eat them all at once. It would be better to keep them in this human's ranch first and come back to get them when Master Tushan wanted to eat them.
Gu Nian agreed readily, opened the pasture, grabbed the two mutant golden pheasants selected by Tu Shanluo, and handed them to him.
Tu Shanluo looked at her hesitantly.
Gu Nian was puzzled, so he held a chicken in each hand and handed them to Tu Shanluo.
Tu Shanluo whispered, "I only know how to kill chickens, but I don't know how to cook them. I don't want to eat them raw." Tu Shanluo looked at her pitifully, with her nine beautiful fur tails swaying behind her.
Gu Nian suddenly realized that this large furry creature was a complete idiot in the kitchen.
But Tu Shanluo was right, he was really good at killing chickens. With a swipe of his sharp claws, the mutant golden pheasant would kick itself to death. He was also very skilled at removing the feathers and gutting the chicken by boiling water.
Gu Nian went to the warehouse next to the cabin, took out the seasoning from the stockpiled goods in the farm space, and picked some fresh green onions and ginger from the farmland. When she came back after finishing these, she saw that Tu Shanlu had already cleaned up the two chickens.
Gu Nian rolled up her sleeves and started cooking. She tied the washed fresh green onions into a knot, washed and sliced the ginger, and stuffed them into the chicken's stomach. Then she evenly rubbed fine salt on the skin of the chicken, sprinkled a layer of black pepper, and massaged it carefully to make it taste good. Then she lit the firewood, used a branch to build a wooden rack, and started to turn the roast chicken.
The meat of this mutant golden pheasant is good, and it is a rare ingredient found in the wilderness. Now it has been raised on the farm for a period of time, drinking spiritual springs and eating spiritual vegetables every day, and it has become a top-grade ingredient. When it is roasted, the aroma of the carefully raised chicken is so delicious that it goes straight into your nose. The fat drips on the firewood, making an attractive sizzling sound, and the chicken skin gradually turns brown.
Flip back and forth several times.
"Are you done?" Tu Shanluo couldn't remember how many times she had asked this question.
"Wait a little longer." Gu Nian didn't know how many times he had answered this question.
Finally, the chicken was roasted. Tu Shanluo could not wait to take a chicken from the branch and gave half to Gu Nian. As for the other whole roasted chicken on the branch, it belonged to Master Tu Shan!
Looking at the half roasted chicken that was given away reluctantly, Tu Shanluo took a big bite of the remaining half in her hand.
So delicious! How can humans cook chicken so well! The chicken skin is crispy and crispy on the outside, but the chicken inside is still tender and juicy! Such fresh chicken, the salt and black pepper make it even more delicious! Chicken expert Tu Shanluo said that he hasn't eaten such delicious chicken in many years! Even when he used to eat chicken casually, he had never eaten such delicious chicken!
Gu Nian took the half chicken. This mutant golden pheasant was about the size of a goose, and even if it was only half a chicken, Gu Nian estimated that it would weigh about two or three kilograms, enough for her and Lianhua to eat.
Gu Nian put half a chicken on a plate, carefully tore off some chicken meat and gave it to Lianhua, then started eating himself.
Gu Nian took a bite and widened his eyes in surprise. Sure enough, high-end ingredients only require the simplest cooking methods. Such top-quality meat only needs the simplest salt and black pepper to enhance the deliciousness of the food itself! The charred chicken skin, tender chicken meat, and the delicious taste instantly filled the taste buds.
Lotus was eating so much that his long beard was covered with oil, and the other nine-tailed furry one was also busy eating, its beautiful big tail swinging back and forth. Gu Nian took advantage of Tu Shanluo's inattention and secretly touched it. It was indeed plump and soft, and it felt great to rub!
Looking at the two furry animals eating without even raising their heads, Gu Nian felt quite accomplished in feeding them.
Tu Shanluo finished the roasted chicken in one breath, then collapsed on the ground holding his tail. After being full, he just wanted to lie down lazily and waste time.
Gu Nian ate the fruit after the meal. It must be said that the quality of the crops produced in the farm space is guaranteed. The orange peel is as crystal clear as jelly, with very little fiber. It melts into dregs in the mouth. This is the real jelly orange! Compared with this, the fruits outside are instantly killed into dregs.
The nine-tailed fox rolled his eyes and said, "Hey, human, help me cook chicken next time."
Gu Nian asked with a smile: "Of course, I can, but what are you going to exchange for next time? I don't lack chicken to eat." She reminded: "Last time you gave me that branding iron sheet, I brought you a lot of things from the outside world." She began to count on her fingers: "Quilt, pillow, mattress, water cup..."
The nine-tailed fox suddenly felt insecure. When Gu Nian brought him these things last time, he had promised to settle the debt of the branding iron sheet. So now, what could he offer in exchange for this human making him a delicious roast chicken?
The nine-tailed fox patted the ground with its tail and pointed at itself: "We can sign a contract. Then, I can go to your space and help you do things, just like your little cat, but I am much more powerful than it."
Gu Nian was stunned when she heard this. She didn't expect it to be like this? But she didn't need the nine-tailed fox to do anything. "Forget it, I refuse."
The nine-tailed fox said unwillingly: "Hey, do you know what kind of treasure this space you own is? That spiritual spring can drive people crazy, but compared to this space, what is the spiritual spring? Once outsiders know about it, the people chasing you will come sooner or later. When that time comes, you will need me."
Gu Nian didn't comment, and even thought what the nine-tailed fox said was a little funny. She was just an ordinary evolved person, and no one knew that she had a space and a spiritual spring, so why would anyone chase her?
Seeing that she didn't believe him, the nine-tailed fox didn't say much, closed his eyes and dozed off on the lawn. Gu Nian would find out anyway. After all, it was for this reason that he existed in this space...
Gu Nian returned to his villa and turned on the TV.
The TV in the living room was still broadcasting the news: "The temperature has been rising recently, and the long-lost warm sun has appeared in Jiangcheng. Many citizens have gone out for activities. We have invited a meteorological expert..."
When February arrived, the climate in Jiangcheng suddenly changed.
The temperature, which had been hovering around minus 50 degrees Celsius not long ago, quickly climbed to plus 30 degrees Celsius in just ten days.
Nowadays, Gu Nian has to wear short-sleeved shirts at home, and even has to turn on the air conditioner at noon. Compared with the current weather, the cold wave a while ago seems like a dream.
However, Gu Nian knew that this was just a prelude to the arrival of high temperatures. Severe high temperatures and large-scale droughts would soon begin. By then, it would be difficult for the Jiangcheng government to guarantee power supply and water supply, after all, the current industrial power is becoming increasingly degraded. The cities of the entire Dragon Country have been largely abandoned, and the only ones that survived now are the twenty or so large urban bases scattered across the country.
While the temperature is still warm enough to go out, Gu Nian decided to go out and do some more shopping, trying to replenish as many supplies as possible.
She took the lotus to a vegetable market near her home. As the temperature rose, the vegetable market had reopened and was filled with stalls. Even in 30-degree weather, people were doing business under the scorching sun.
Lotus stood on Gu Nian's shoulder, feeling dizzy from the heat, and meowed softly.
The people walking in and out of the vegetable market can be clearly divided into two categories. The former are relatively tall and strong, with well-developed muscles. They look quite relaxed in the current weather. Their clothes are also good and intact. They have ruddy complexions. They are mostly evolved people, while the latter are pale and thin, with beads of sweat dripping from their foreheads. Regardless of gender, age or status, their hair is almost shaved off to reduce cleaning costs. These are ordinary people who have not evolved.
In today's era, evolved people have more opportunities to make money. No matter what kind of job it is, evolved people will be given priority, while ordinary people can only take on some hard work with lower wages and higher risks. In this way, the living standards between evolved people and ordinary people have opened up a huge gap, and as the natural disaster continues, this gap will only get bigger.
Many passers-by looked at Gu Nian with envy. It was rare to keep a clean body and neat clothes nowadays. Gu Nian looked well-nourished, with red lips and white teeth, smooth and delicate skin, and a kitten with clean and slippery fur. It was obvious that she lived a rich life.
Gu Nian was walking around the market. She had plenty of food, but she stopped at a daily necessities store. This daily necessities store was selling big-name skin care products before the apocalypse. These items were very valuable before the apocalypse, but now they are extremely cheap. One basket can barely be exchanged for a pound of meat. The shower gel and soap on the side are a little more expensive, but they only cost one credit point per bottle, and you can choose any brand.
Nowadays, people in Jiangcheng have become smarter. When it comes to body cleaning, they just wash casually and get by. No one is willing to spend credit points on it.
When the boss saw Gu Nianlai, he also complained: "Girl, I'll give you a discount on whatever you like. Oh, these things of mine were expensive before. Now think about it, even if I was doing rice and grain business, opening a small supermarket, or a grocery store, it would be more profitable than doing this business!"
Gu Nian did not respond. She knew that after the natural disaster, the energy shortage would only become more serious. The sharply reduced population and abandoned cities would cause modern civilization to regress. At that time, a large number of non-essential industrial products would no longer be produced, including shower gel, skin care products, and soap. At that time, they would all regress to handmade production.
If the boss can wait until that time, the batch of daily chemical products in his hands can be sold at a high price again.
Although Gu Nian bought some before the cold wave came, she saw that the boss was selling them so cheaply, so she simply stocked up some more. She spent 100 credit points and bought a bunch of daily necessities, including skin care products, shower gel, and shampoo, which filled a whole woven bag. After all, the later it gets, the harder it is to buy these things.
Gu Nian continued to stroll in the market.
She suddenly stopped. In the middle of the market, there was an old man leading a black and white dairy cow. The cow looked quite energetic, and there was a sign next to it saying 30 credit points for a pound of milk.
This price is not low. The price of meat has been rising. One pound of meat is only 60 credit points. It takes 30 credit points. People would rather buy meat or rice. Who would be willing to buy milk?
It is also because of this that, although passers-by know that milk is nutritious and a good thing, no one is willing to buy it.
Gu Nian walked over and asked, "Boss, do you want the milk to be cheaper?"
But the old man was very stubborn: "No, this milk cannot be less."
The people around him also started to make a fuss, "You're selling this milk at such a high price, it's obvious that you're asking for a high price! It's rare that someone asks, so just sell it, or you'll have to go home with nothing later!"
The old man stamped his feet anxiously: "My wife is sick, I need to exchange credit to buy medicine!"
Gu Nian's heart moved, and he asked, "How about you give me less? I'll take all the milk your cow can give me."
Seeing her say that, the old man was indeed moved: "Girl, don't make fun of an old man like me, are you serious?"
Gu Nian nodded affirmatively. She really wanted to buy some milk. Thinking of the hot weather, she wanted to make some ice cream. Since milk was hard to buy, she might as well make it all at once and freeze it in the refrigerator to eat slowly.
The old man smiled brightly, "25 credit points per pound. Don't worry, this is the cheapest price in the market."
This price is quite suitable. Gu Nian agreed to the price. The old man started to milk the cow quickly. The cow was obviously a high-quality breed. It squeezed out 50 kilograms of milk, and Gu Nian took it back in one breath. She was very satisfied to be able to buy fresh milk before the high temperature came. Ice cream, yogurt, milk pudding...all kinds of ice desserts, all need milk!
As for the old man selling milk, his face was also full of joy. Medicine was really too expensive now and it was too difficult to buy some. He finally had enough credit points to buy medicine for his wife!
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