Chapter 32 Heatwave Alert! Massive Group Buying Delivers Warmth (and Life) to Your Door...
Summer in the Cursed Lands arrives suddenly and with an intensity that's almost unbearable.
Lin Yue finally managed to put on the wild boar skin vest that she and Mia had sewn together. In the blink of an eye, the sun was like it had been injected with chicken blood, shining brightly in the sky every day, freely scattering its excess calories.
Temperatures soared, the air was scorching, and even the wind carried a burnt smell that could dry you out.
After a brief period of joy at the comfortable weather, the people at Lin's Restaurant quickly experienced what it meant to be in dire straits.
The potato seedlings and newly sprouted wheat seedlings in the field were drooping and desperately needed a lot of water for irrigation. Lin Yue and Gray doubled the number of times they carried water each day, feeling like they were turning into two walking water pumps.
The open-air blacksmith shop had become a sauna plus version. Uncle Shi Quan was drenched in sweat every time he worked on the blacksmith's block, his beard dripping with water. Lin Yue, who was working the bellows next to him, felt like he was about to suffer heatstroke and collapse.
"This awful weather is even more torturous than the client changing requirements!" Lin Yue complained, fanning himself with a rag. "System, don't you guys in this other world have any great inventions like air conditioning? Or even an artificial rain spell would be fine!"
[System Response: A need for [Ambient Temperature Control Technology] has been detected in the host. The relevant technology tree is not yet unlocked. The host is advised to prioritize addressing water and food storage issues, and take precautions against heatstroke and food spoilage.]
Lin Yue: "..." I knew I couldn't count on you.
Fortunately, despite the hot weather, the Lin Family Restaurant's operations and daily life gradually got back on track after the initial chaos and trial and error.
With the addition of metal supports, the fencing project is progressing well and is almost complete, with only some reinforcement and finishing touches remaining. Although it's still just wooden stakes, it at least looks presentable and gives everyone a sense of security.
In terms of agriculture, the first crop of potatoes has been harvested, and the second crop has been planted. Although the wheat seedlings grow slowly, they are changing every day, turning a lush green that is pleasing to the eye. Old Bader has taken great care of the experimental field, even planting some wild vegetable seeds he brought along in the corners, enriching everyone's meals.
The blacksmith's output became increasingly stable. Under Uncle Stone Fist's careful guidance and Lin Yue's scientific assistance, they had forged several decent iron hoes, shovels, and axes, and even a special Lin family kitchen knife for cutting meat and chopping bones. Although the quality was still only average, it was a revolutionary improvement compared to the previous stone tools!
Gray went hunting every day with his new weapons, and his catches became increasingly plentiful. Although he couldn't catch any big ones yet, the silly birds, rabbits, and occasionally small antelopes were enough to ensure that the restaurant had meat every day.
Under Lin Yue's guidance, Mia's cooking skills have also improved significantly. She has not only learned to handle various ingredients, but can also independently prepare some simple dishes, such as potato pancakes and wild vegetable soup, greatly reducing Lin Yue's burden.
Amu became Gray's loyal follower, doing all sorts of physical labor with him every day, growing stronger and more talkative.
Even Uncle Stone Fist, nourished by ample salt and meat every day, recovered his leg injury rapidly. His temper... well, it was still as irritable as ever, but at least he no longer talked about "leaving" every day. Instead, he started to actively think about how to improve the smelting furnace and increase the iron yield.
Xiao Fen had grown into a half-grown wolf cub. Lin Yue was still unsure of its exact breed. Its fur was glossy and smooth, and it was so energetic it could overturn the entire small restaurant. Furthermore, its sensitivity to magic was becoming increasingly acute; it could often detect potential dangers approaching, such as poisonous insects or menacing wild beasts.
Everything seems to be moving in a positive direction.
Lin Yue even started to think about whether he could polish the Lin Family Restaurant's signboard and officially open it to the public, using their surplus potatoes and crude ironware to exchange for more useful resources.
His daily menu board has also undergone several upgrades. Now it's a smoother wooden board, with the following written in charcoal:
【Lin's Little Restaurant - Good Things Keep Coming!】 The title is becoming more and more down-to-earth.
One all-you-can-eat potato set meal (Main dish: choose one from roasted potato/mashed potato/potato pancake; Side dish: seasonal wild vegetable soup; Includes a glass of clean water! Everyone loves it!) --> Exchange for: 2 high-quality flints or a small packet of salt (about 50 grams) or a intact animal hide (medium or larger).
Three skewers of secret-recipe grilled meat, made with select game meat, marinated with exclusive exotic herbs, and slow-grilled over charcoal! Even the neighbor's kid is drooling! --> Exchange for: 1 small iron tool (such as a dagger or knife tip) or a bundle of practical herbs (identification required) or "Advanced Edition of Common Sense Geography of Mainland China"
A large jug of purified water, multiple filtrations, clear, sweet, and refreshing – perfect for quenching thirst and relieving heat! --> Exchange for: Half a bolt of durable cloth or a small amount of metal ore
Secure shelter for one night, including a private straw mat, shared campfire, and a complimentary herbal remedy for mosquitoes! First come, first served! --> Exchange for: Valuable latest intelligence, rare plant seeds, or other items negotiable.
This menu was significantly more professional than Old Tom's, offering a wider variety of goods and more specific exchange terms. Lin Yue even thoughtfully included a few simple drawings on the side to help those who couldn't read understand.
Unfortunately, since old Tom left, no customers have come. This carefully prepared menu board can only lean against the entrance of the small restaurant, exposed to the wind and sun, and occasionally marked by Xiao Fen's paw prints.
"Is our place too remote? Or is Old Tom's big mouth not making enough of a good advertisement?" Lin Yue looked at the dusty menu board, feeling a little annoyed.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
That day, Lin Yue and Gray took Xiao Fen out hunting as usual, and also to explore whether there were any new mining sites or water sources nearby.
They walked to a high slope more than ten miles away from the restaurant and were about to rest when Lin Yue suddenly noticed that something seemed a little strange on the distant horizon.
In the far distance, plumes of yellowish-brown smoke rose into the sky, like billowing smoke signals. And faintly visible were countless tiny black dots, moving like ants.
“Gray, look over there,” Lin Yue pointed into the distance, his expression grave. “What’s that? Is it on fire or is a large army marching?”
Gray narrowed his eyes, observed carefully for a moment, then shook his head, his tone tinged with unease: "...It doesn't look like...fire. It looks more like...many people...running."
[System Scan (Long Distance, Weak Signal): Signs of large-scale crowd movement detected. Direction of movement: Roughly east (towards Lin's Restaurant). Specific number of people and their identities unknown. Host, please be vigilant and prepare accordingly.]
A large-scale crowd movement?! And it's heading this way?!
Lin Yue's heart jumped into his throat.
Are they the army? Are they refugees fleeing the war? Or something worse, an organized bandit gang like the Black Rock Gang, grown many times larger?!
Either way, it would be a catastrophe for their tiny settlement of only seven people and a dog.
"We must go back immediately and inform Uncle Stone Fist and Old Bard to prepare for defense," Lin Yue decided decisively.
The two people and the dog rushed back to Lin's Restaurant in a great hurry.
When Lin Yue told Shi Quan and Old Bard about the situation in the distance, everyone's expression became extremely solemn.
“Smoke and dust…and many people…” Old Bard’s cloudy eyes were filled with fear. “Could it be…that the lords in the west are fighting again? Or…that those damned bandits have started looting again?” He had experienced the tragedy of his home being destroyed and had an instinctive fear of such a sight.
Shi Quan frowned, stroking his thick beard: "Hmph, who cares what they are? They dare to mess with our... cough cough, mess with our Lin Family Restaurant, let them taste my stone and my newly forged iron." Although he spoke toughly, the worry in his eyes was undisguised.
In the following days, Lin's Restaurant entered an unprecedented state of high alert.
The gaps in the fence were patched up overnight and reinforced considerably. Gray and Amu took turns patrolling and keeping watch outside the fence. Stone Fist, meanwhile, was busy making more iron spearheads and arrowheads. Mia and Old Bard were in charge of stockpiling food and water. Lin Yue racked his brains, thinking of various defense plans and contingency plans.
Xiao Fen seemed to sense the tense atmosphere as well. She stopped running around and playing wildly as before, and instead stayed quietly by Gray's or Lin Yue's side, occasionally pricking up her ears and listening alertly to any sounds coming from afar.
However, after waiting for several days, the expected main force did not appear. The dust in the distance gradually subsided.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it might just be a false alarm, that evening, Amu, who was on lookout duty, suddenly came running back, stumbling and crawling, his face filled with terror:
"My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened! People are coming! So many people!"
Lin Yue felt a chill and quickly led Gray and Stone Fist to the fence.
In the distance, under the setting sun, a dark mass of figures appeared on the horizon. They were ragged and emaciated, supporting each other as they slowly moved towards Lin's Restaurant like walking corpses.
This is definitely not an army; it looks more like a group of refugees fleeing a disaster.
And this was just the vanguard; further behind them, there seemed to be even more figures wriggling about.
"My God..." Lin Yue gasped, staring at the scene that resembled something out of an apocalyptic movie. How many people were there?!
"Guard the gate! No one is allowed to approach!"
"Amu, go and move all the usable weapons to the fence. Old Bard, Mia, extinguish the extra fires, leaving only one for lighting, and hide all the food and water in the main house."
The order was carried out swiftly. Soon, the first group of refugees staggered to the fence of the Lin family's restaurant. When they saw the stronghold surrounded by wooden stakes and illuminated by firelight, a strong will to survive ignited in their eyes. But what greeted them was the tightly closed gate, and Gray and Stonefist standing behind the fence, holding iron spears and with cold expressions.
"Water...give us some water..."
"Food...please...give me some food..."
"Save us...save our children..."
Pleading, crying, and the wailing of children rose and fell, weaving together a symphony of despair.
Some agitated refugees began shaking the wooden fence, making a dangerous creaking sound. The entire settlement resembled a small boat in a storm, on the verge of being swallowed by the waves of despair.
Lin Yue looked at the tragic scene before him, his heart heavy with sorrow.
"My lord... what... what should we do?" Old Bard asked in a trembling voice, as if he saw his own past self reflected in these people.
Lin Yue fell silent.
To save or not to save?
If they were to be rescued, how many people could they support with their meager resources? If they were caught up in this massive refugee crisis, would their small outpost be instantly swallowed up?
If he didn't save them... he couldn't just watch them starve and die of thirst right in front of him.
He took a deep breath, stood on a high rock inside the fence, and roared with all his might:
"Quiet down, or nobody will get any help!"
His voice wasn't loud, but with Shi Quan's thunderous roar, "Shut the hell up!", the restless crowd was temporarily quelled.
Looking at the desperate and numb faces below, Lin Yue said loudly, "I know you need food and water, but we have limited manpower and resources. If you keep rushing around like this, you will only put everyone in danger and no one will get help."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, searching for someone he could communicate with. "You must choose someone who can speak to me," Lin Yue said, pointing to an open space in front of the fence. "The rest of you, back off, keep backing off, or I will consider your actions an attack."
Gray and Stonefist simultaneously pointed their iron spears forward, the cold tips gleaming in the firelight. Little Finn also let out a low, threatening growl at the opportune moment.
A stir ran through the crowd, but driven by their desire to survive and their fear of weapons, they eventually retreated slowly.
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