Chapter 11: A Little Good Luck as Compensation
There are actually quite a few people passing by this road during the day, so it's impossible for such a low-radiation alfalfa stalk to go unnoticed.
Zuo Shan analyzed it and concluded that perhaps because this clover branch was a newly sprouted branch close to the ground, it grew after sunset yesterday. The sun hadn't risen yet, so it didn't have time to be exposed to strong sunlight, which is why it was measured to have low radiation.
Each leaf of the mutated alfalfa was as big as a palm. She quickly tested two leaves and found that they both had low radiation levels. She couldn't help but scream like a groundhog inside!
Ahhh! I got it! I got it!
Low-radiation leaves are priced by the gram. These two low-radiation leaves in front of you can sell for at least 80 silver coins. The most important thing is that they were picked up in the wild for free, with no cost whatsoever!
Zuo Shan looked up at the sky and saw a touch of crimson in the east. Worried that the remaining leaves would become moderately irradiated by the sun, she immediately took out a hoe and dug up the mutated alfalfa plant by the roots.
Only after digging did she discover that the root system of this mutated alfalfa was incredibly developed, occupying an underground space of more than two meters deep and more than one meter in diameter, which was equivalent to a tree in her previous life.
Fortunately, her scavenging sack was big enough to hold the roots of the plant.
Alfalfa is not a rare species; scavengers in District 50 often encounter it in the wild. However, when they do find it, the alfalfa is usually old and highly radioactive. Even if they occasionally find a few moderately radioactive leaves, they are tough and unpalatable.
So, Zuo Shan didn't even bother tying the sack shut; he just dragged it back home. The scavengers he encountered on the way couldn't help but wonder at first glance:
"Has this girl gone crazy from not being able to find food lately? She actually dug up an alfalfa plant and brought it home. Instead of wasting time digging up the roots, she should have gone to find some edible leaves."
Zuo Shan didn't care what they thought; all she wanted was for no one to covet what was hers.
The chestnut perched on her shoulder also used virtual imagery to transform itself into a simple robotic cat, which only fueled the scavengers' disdain.
"What good is this robot cat? It can't do any work, it can't fight mutant beasts, and it just wastes the electricity bill to charge it."
"Is this guy on the left because he was abandoned by his childhood sweetheart and went crazy with loneliness, so he picked up an ugly, useless Doraemon from the trash heap?"
Hearing the slander from passersby, Mao Li was furious, but thinking of her master's frailty, she worried that if she revealed her beautiful form, someone would steal it.
Forget it, he's too weak right now and can't protect his master. He'll just have to swallow his anger for now.
Zuo Shan returned home, immediately locked the door as soon as he entered, turned down the volume of the testing knife, and began testing the leaves on the entire alfalfa plant one by one.
Unfortunately, apart from the one that extended out to the side of the road, only two of them were found to have moderate radiation; the rest were found to have high radiation.
However, this was enough to make Zuo Shan happy, because the leaves that grew on just one low-radiation branch numbered 18. If he sold them all, he could get about 700 silver coins.
If you use those 700 silver coins to buy moderately irradiated food, it should last you at least three months.
Did God give her a good fortune as compensation by dressing her up as a pregnant woman scavenging in the wasteland?
Mao Li listened to her rambling on and on, and heard her say some completely unscientific things. He wanted to refute her but didn't dare, since she was suspected of being pregnant.
Fresh alfalfa leaves will taste much worse if not eaten within two days, and will fetch a lower price if sold later.
Zuo Shan decided to keep 4 pieces for herself and take the remaining 14 pieces to the exchange center to exchange for silver coins, and also go to the hospital for a prenatal checkup.
After mentally preparing herself along the way, she was able to calmly face the possibility of pregnancy. On the bright side, after giving birth, she would receive a one-time compensation of 5,000 silver coins. If the mother and child were frugal, they could at least make ends meet for a year.
More importantly, she has no relatives in this wasteland. This child will be with her for at least 20 years. With a child, she will no longer be a lonely ghost.
Of course, the beginning will be difficult, but she believes that as long as she is willing to work hard, things will get better and better.
With these thoughts in mind, she entered the exchange hall.
Not many people come here to exchange items, since most people don't have much of a chance to find rare low-radiation food, and energy stones are even rarer.
There are eight windows in the hall, six of which are for exchanging weapons. Most of the people who go there are mercenaries. They often take on dangerous missions, and their weapons wear out quickly, so they need to replace them frequently.
The other two windows are for exchanging energy stones and low-radiation food. As for moderate-radiation food, they don't serve it here at all; you can only exchange it with the shopkeeper in the residential area.
Zuo Shan calmly walked to the window and glanced at the exchange prices. The sign was very vague, listing the exchange price for low-radiation food as 20-200 silver coins per 100 grams.
The price fluctuations are too big. Zuo Shan couldn't help but wonder if he had been ripped off.
However, apart from official and legitimate exchange points, she didn't dare to go to any other exchange points that resembled black markets. With her small frame, if she went there, she would probably just be delivering vegetables to someone else. Not only would she not get the money, but she might also lose her life.
Oh well, so be it. I'll just have to accept the loss. It's all free anyway, I didn't pay any cost.
She comforted herself with this thought, then leaned towards the window and spoke to the young woman lounging against the back of her chair inside: "Madam, may I ask if I can exchange low-radiation alfalfa leaves here?"
Upon hearing about low radiation, the woman immediately sat up straight, a faint smile appearing on her face: "Of course, we can exchange all kinds of low-radiation food at this window. Even if it's toxic, as long as it's on the purchase list, it can be exchanged."
"Then, could you give me an estimate for this?" Zuo Shan took a leaf out of his backpack and handed it to her.
This bag was a canvas bag left by the original owner's mother. The color had long since faded from washing, and the original patterns on it were no longer visible. She had been reluctant to use it for many years, but now she had taken it out and was using it.
It's not that we're particular about the left side of the bag; it's just that besides burlap sacks and rattan baskets, we don't have any other presentable bags at home.
The woman's eyes lit up when she saw the bright green leaves in her hand, and she stood up from her chair.
“If this is truly low-radiation, it’s worth at least 100 silver coins,” the woman exclaimed excitedly.
Zuo Shan was stunned. In the original owner's memories, low-radiation blades weren't worth this much.
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