Chapter 77 The Fence of Hope, Lame Old Mo and the First Beggar Bird...
As the last traveler left, praising the Hope Town tin box lunch and looking forward to portable rations, the doors of Store No. 1 slowly closed, but Lin Yue's heart did not relax at all.
The travelers' complaints about how "dry rations spoil easily and we dare not light a fire at night" made him keenly aware that this was a common pain point for all long-distance travelers. If this problem could be solved, the food produced by Yihaodian would no longer be limited to Hope Town, but could truly reach farther places.
He needed the ultimate solution that could perfectly combine deliciousness and convenience.
“Canned food…or rather, vacuum-sealed food.” The thought flashed through his mind.
However, this idea was quickly dampened by the limitations of reality. Vacuum sealing is the ideal solution, but the technical threshold for achieving it is too high. Currently, the pottery produced by the kilns in the town is acceptable, but to stably mass-produce airtight glass bottles that can withstand high-temperature sterilization and internal and external pressure differences is almost impossible. As for tinplate, it is a technology that has not yet been explored.
[System notification: A host request for [Long-term Food Preservation Technology] has been detected. Current unlockable branches in the technology tree: 1. Pickling/Drying/Candiing Technology (Basic Mastery); 2. Fermentation Technology (Basic Mastery); 3. Smoking Technology (Basic Mastery); 4. Physical Sealing Technology.]
Physical sealing technology (basic)
[Key elements: 1. High-temperature resistant, airtight containers (such as ceramic jars and glass bottles); 2. Sealing materials that maintain elasticity at high temperatures and form a reliable seal after cooling; 3. High-temperature sterilization of food.]
“Sealing material…” Lin Yue’s gaze fell on these four words. This was the crux of the problem.
He immediately took action, employing a two-pronged approach.
On one hand, he found the logistics team of Shop No. 1, who was in charge of liaising with merchants from outside the area. "Everyone," he solemnly instructed, "from today onwards, when you trade with all the caravans and travelers, help me find out about a special plant, something with a viscous, waterproof sap, and preferably a little elastic. Tell them that as long as they can provide useful clues or samples, we are willing to exchange them for double the amount of snow salt."
On the other hand, he went to see the knowledgeable old people in town and described in detail the properties of the magical glue he was looking for.
"Dear elders, you have traveled all over the country and seen far more than we young people. Think carefully, have you seen a similar plant anywhere? Please tell me even if you have only a slight recollection of it."
The news of the search for "sticky grass" quickly spread throughout the town. Everyone would discuss it in their chats after finishing their daily work, and even some children would pay special attention to plants that exuded sap when playing in the woods.
However, several days passed, and what everyone brought back were still all sorts of strange but unacceptable resins and colloids.
Just when Lin Yue was about to give up and pin his hopes on the outrageously expensive synthetic sealant blueprints in the system store, an unexpected person brought him a turning point.
It's Ella.
This skillful Silent Potter, while sorting through the scrolls he brought from the Valley of Tears, stumbled upon a record about plants.
Holding the leather scroll that exuded the scent of ancient times, she found Lin Yue in his office, sighing over a pile of failed sealing materials.
“Lord Lin… Lord Lin Yue,” she said softly, pointing to a somewhat abstract but still recognizable vine pattern on the scroll, “Is this… what you’re looking for?”
Lin Yue looked at the unfamiliar ancient characters and abstract patterns, knowing he couldn't decipher them, but he saw a glimmer of hope in Ella's eyes. So he immediately summoned Elder Farador.
The elder leaned closer to the scroll, squinting his cloudy eyes to carefully decipher the ancient characters on it, and then let out a long sigh.
“It’s sticky grass.” The elder’s voice carried a hint of nostalgia and regret. “In our… Silent Whisperers’… records, it is… a very magical… plant. Its juice… after… special… boiling and… blending, can not only… make… the most powerful… adhesive, but also… maintain… a long-lasting… flexibility… and elasticity, perfectly… sealing… any container.”
"Then...where does it grow? How can we find it?" Lin Yue asked anxiously.
The elder slowly shook his head, a trace of sadness flashing in his old eyes: "Child, it has... become extinct. According to records... the sticky grass's... growing environment... is extremely demanding. It needs... pure... air, abundant... water, and... a special... volcanic ash soil containing... a faint... power of the earth... And our... this land, ever since it was... eroded by... polluted air... the last... sticky grass... withered completely a hundred years ago."
This news dimmed the nascent hope. The trail seemed to have led to a dead end.
Just when everyone was feeling sorry and worried about this, an unexpected turning point appeared.
The shrewd middle-aged merchant from the Clover Caravan once again led his team to Hope Town. This time, he was there for Hope Town's stable supply of snow salt and the newly forged high-quality ironware, and also to find out what new business opportunities this vibrant town might have.
After the transaction was completed, the merchant looked at Lin Yue, who had a worried expression, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mayor Lin, you seem to have something on your mind? Is there some difficulty in the town? As you know, although our Clover Caravan is not large, we have some connections on the trade routes in the south. Maybe we can be of some help."
Lin Yue had an idea. With a "nothing to lose" mentality, he told the merchant that they were looking for a plant-based adhesive that was elastic, waterproof, and could withstand certain high temperatures.
After listening to Lin Yue's description, the businessman narrowed his shrewd little eyes, keenly sensing the business opportunity it contained.
He stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, "Mayor Lin, the plant you mentioned is indeed not found near our Fallen Leaf Town. However, I travel frequently to the southern countries, and I remember that in the Emerald Swamp rainforest in the far south, the natives there seem to use a similar plant."
“They called it tree blood,” the merchant recalled. “It was from a huge tree that grew deep in the swamp. When you cut its bark, a milky white, viscous sap would flow out. This sap would slowly solidify in the air, becoming very elastic, and it was waterproof and fireproof. The local natives used it to repair canoes, make waterproof quivers, and even to make a kind of inflatable ball for the children to play with.”
Elastic! Waterproof! Fireproof!
Isn't this the natural rubber he's been dreaming of?!
Lin Yue's heart started pounding wildly.
"Can you get your hands on seeds or seedlings of that plant?"
"Well..." The merchant looked troubled. "Mayor Lin, as you know, the Emerald Swamp Rainforest is remote and treacherous, and the indigenous tribes there are very xenophobic. Obtaining such a treasure from them is no easy task. The costs and risks involved..."
Lin Yue immediately understood the meaning behind his words.
“I understand.” Lin Yue interrupted him, a confident smile on his face. “We hope the town can cover the travel expenses and supplies. As long as you can help me get the seeds or seedlings of Tree Blood, I can buy them at a price that will definitely satisfy you.”
“However,” he changed the subject, “I prefer a different way of working together.”
"Sir businessman, you and I both know that the biggest enemy of long-distance transportation is food spoilage. If I could create a food that could preserve meat for months or even longer, how valuable do you think it would be?"
"When you come again, if you can bring me what I want, I will let you witness firsthand how we preserve the quality of fresh meat in earthenware jars for an extended period. At that time, we will possess a product unique to the entire continent, and you will be our most important partner. I guarantee that the profits from this deal will far exceed any goods you are currently selling."
These words struck a chord with a businessman. He could almost see countless gold coins beckoning to him. If it was for investing in a clearly visible and incredibly profitable future market, then making the arduous journey was not out of the question.
“Alright, Mayor Lin, it’s a deal.” The businessman nodded heavily. “I will immediately send people to do everything possible to find the Blood of the Tree for you in the south.”
After seeing off the energetic businessman, Lin Yue breathed a sigh of relief, but when he turned around, he saw Mia standing at the kitchen door, frowning at the last half of the dried meat that had been smoked until it looked like old tree bark.
"What's wrong, Mia?" Lin Yue walked over and asked.
“Mayor,” Mia said, a troubled look on her face when she saw Lin Yue, “the meat… is almost gone. Today’s tin lunch has reduced the minced meat in the meat sauce by a third. The food standards for the patrol guards and several heavy labor groups can barely be maintained, but all meat-related dishes are gone from the work point exchange menu for ordinary residents.”
Lin Yue walked up to the huge menu wall and his heart pounded with alarm when he saw the wooden sign that said "Sold Out".
At the routine meeting that evening.
"Gentlemen, the problem is very serious," he said in a deep voice. "Spring planting has exhausted a lot of our energy, and the hunting output of Gray and his men is far from keeping up with our consumption. We can't wait any longer, and we can't rely entirely on the whims of the heavens and the monsters in the forest to make a living. If we want everyone to be able to eat meat, we must have our own butcher shop and establish animal husbandry in Hope Town."
The following day, the Hope Town hunting team's focus subtly shifted. This time, the objective was no longer simply to kill, but to capture alive. This presented a completely new challenge for the hunting team, who were accustomed to a one-hit kill.
Lin Yue and Gray are working together to develop a capture plan.
“The Rainbow Winged Silly Bird and the Rocky Cuckoo Chicken, these two small animals that aren’t very bright, are our primary targets.” Old Barton pointed to the simple map drawn by Lin Yue. “They like to forage in flat grasslands in the early morning. We can use some starlight wheat flour as bait, and then set up a lot of slipknot traps and nets woven from flexible vines around them.”
Kalan added, “...the rock antelopes in the woods...are very wary. Ordinary traps...don't work. But they...like to lick a kind of...salty...blue rock. We can...dig some...deep pit traps with gentle slopes...and camouflage them with branches and fallen leaves near those rocks.”
But the group was stumped by the most difficult creature, the rock-skinned wild boar. Those things were thick-skinned and rampaged wildly; ordinary nets simply couldn't contain them.
Just then, Uncle Stone Fist strolled over, carrying a newly forged iron sledgehammer. He overheard the conversation and scoffed, "A bunch of idiots! To deal with these clumsy creatures, you need an even clumsier method. Build a cage with a sliding door using the sturdiest ironwood along their usual route, and put their favorite sour berries inside. Once it's inside and eaten them, we pull the lever, lower the door, and just... just... what was that word you used last time?"
"Catching a turtle in a jar".
"Yes, yes, that's it."
Lin Yue's eyes lit up as he listened, and he immediately instructed the system to conduct a feasibility assessment and optimization of these plans.
[System Notification: A capture plan has been generated. Success rates: Poultry (85%), Rockhorn Sheep (60%), Stone Boar (45%, high risk). Recommendation: Construct a sturdier net and equip the boar trap's sliding door with an iron counterweight to increase its descent speed.]
After several days of hard work, the capture team achieved remarkable results.
When the first batch of colorful-winged silly birds and stone-ground clucking chickens were transported back to town, they attracted the attention and cheers of the children.
A few days later, the sight of several rockhorn sheep, paralyzed by the sap of the anesthetic vines and then bound and carried back, caused a sensation throughout the town.
The most dangerous moment was capturing the two stone-skinned wild boar cubs. Although they were young, they were incredibly strong and nearly overturned the huge trap designed by Stonefist. In the end, it took Gray and Amu working together to use a huge shield to keep them firmly trapped in the cage.
Lin Yue immediately conducted a systematic scan of these future meat reserves.
[Species detected: Rocky Cuckoo Chicken. Characteristics: Omnivorous, not picky eater, fast growth rate, slightly coarse meat fibers, but high egg production. Feeding suggestions: Can be fed grains, grass seeds, wild vegetables, and kitchen scraps.]
[Species detected: Rockhorn Sheep. Characteristics: Herbivorous, prefers moss on rock walls and certain shrubs; docile but easily startled. Meat is delicious with a mild muttony odor; its milk is rich in minerals. Feeding recommendations: Provide a quiet, dry environment and add a small amount of mineral powder to the feed.]
[Species detected: Snowshoe Hare. Characteristics: Herbivorous, extremely prolific, short growth cycle. Tender meat, fur suitable for making winter clothing. Care recommendations: Prevent escape; provide ample hay and clean water.]
A nascent "Fence of Hope" breeding farm was quickly established in the downwind area of Hope Town.
After the farm was built, Lin Yue issued a recruitment notice for breeders throughout the town. He did not require experience, but only put forward a few conditions: "A loving heart, patience, and no fear of getting dirty or tired."
At the recruitment site, one figure caught everyone's attention.
A middle-aged man named "Old Mo" limped out of the crowd, leaning on a simple wooden crutch. His leg had been broken during the resistance against the Red Scorpion Army.
Although he can walk after treatment, he can no longer do heavy physical labor. This makes him feel very inferior, always feeling that he is a burden to the town, receiving only the most basic welfare work points every day, but unable to make more contributions to his home.
He walked up to Lin Yue, his bloodshot eyes filled with earnestness and a hint of barely perceptible stubbornness, and said in a hoarse voice, "Mayor... I... I want to try. I've never raised these before, but... I can learn."
Aunt Leah, standing nearby, looked at Old Mo's hunched back and sighed softly. She stepped forward and whispered to Lin Yue about Old Mo's past.
She said that before Blackrock City was destroyed, Old Mo's family wasn't wealthy, but they managed to get by thanks to his hard work. During holidays and festivals, the family would always find a way to get a piece of meat, which was the happiest time of the year for the children.
His two children often huddled together, saying that when they had money in the future, they would definitely have a real meat feast, eating as much as they wanted. Actually, this was quite normal; for children in their small village, this was already the most lavish meal they could imagine.
But then the Red Scorpion Army arrived, shattering their peaceful lives. On their escape, hunger and disease took everything away. The feast the children had longed for was never enjoyed by them, even in their final moments.
Old Mo's leg was broken during that period when he tried to snatch half a piece of black bread from under the hooves of a Red Scorpion soldier's horse for his child.
Old Mo ignored the sympathetic glances around him; he just stared intently at the captive, lively animals, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
“I…I can’t do heavy work, but I can watch over them, add hay for them, give them water, and clean their enclosures.” He looked up at Lin Yue and said, word by word, “Watching them grow bigger and fatter day by day is like…like seeing hope. I…I want to raise them myself, and then…make them into soup…just so…for my unfortunate wife and children, they can taste the flavor of this good life…”
Upon hearing this, many refugees who had experienced similar hardships couldn't help but secretly wipe away their tears.
Lin Yue stepped forward, patted Lao Mo's somewhat hunched shoulder heavily, and then solemnly handed him a gleaming, sturdy iron pitchfork.
"Brother Lao Mo, from now on, we'll entrust all the meat soup for our Hope Town's breeding farm to you."
Under Lao Mo's influence, several people who were also unable to participate in heavy physical labor due to physical disabilities, as well as some gentlemen and women with a natural affinity for animals, volunteered to join the livestock team. This group instantly became the most special and heartwarming place in Hope Town.
Taming these wild creatures is a science full of wisdom and art.
Taming domestic fowl like the Rainbow Winged Fool and the Rocky Cuckoo is relatively simple. Clip one side of their flight feathers to disrupt their balance and prevent them from flying over the fence. Then, brand their feet with warm, non-harmful metal rings bearing the mark of Hope Town.
As for the two wild boar cubs, who were in their rebellious adolescence, full of energy, and constantly trying to headbutt the fence, ordinary methods were ineffective. Lin Yue thought of Xiao Fen. He had Xiao Fen, who now possessed quite the demeanor of a wolf king, patrol the pigpen at a set time every day.
Xiao Fen didn't even need to roar. She simply stood there, releasing her powerful aura, and the two wild boar cubs, who had been fearless, immediately became as docile as kittens, obediently shrinking into the corner, trembling, and making ingratiating "oink oink" sounds. This scene of the "wolf king training the pigs" quickly became a favorite spectacle for the town's children.
As for the naturally wary and easily startled rockhorn sheep, they became the stage for Ella and a few Silent Ones to showcase their unique natural affinity. They would approach them slowly, humming ancient songs that could soothe the creatures in gentle tones.
Their hands seemed to possess a magical power, gently stroking the necks and backs of the rockhorn sheep, gradually dispelling their hostility. A few days later, they even managed to squeeze the first handful of precious sheep milk, rich in the aroma of fresh grass, from several ewes, adding a completely new category to Hope Town's menu.
After more than half a month of careful feeding, with Lao Mo and his team taking care of them almost every step of the way, the first batch of Rainbow Winged Silly Birds, which were already half-grown when they were captured, finally reached the market standard after being fed a special fattening feed mixed with wild vegetables, grass seeds and a small amount of starlight wheat bran.
To celebrate the first harvest of livestock farming and to reward all those who had worked hard for it, Lin Yue decided to prepare a grand, ceremonial dish as a tribute to the past and a declaration for the future.
He personally led everyone in rubbing the cleaned chicken inside and out with a mixture of snow salt, fragrant pine needles, and freshly harvested wild garlic and leeks, and marinating it for a long time. The bird's belly was stuffed with stir-fried mushrooms, diced radishes, and a small amount of starlight wheat.
Then, using large, tough-veined leaves from the woods, they were wrapped layer by layer. Finally, a thick layer of red clay mixed with salt and spice powder was evenly applied to the outside.
Finally, the huge lump of mud, resembling a dinosaur egg, was thrown directly into the brick kiln, which had just been extinguished but still retained embers of high temperature, and slowly baked using the kiln's sustained residual heat.
When Old Mo personally took the clay, which had been baked to a hard, rock-like consistency, out of the kiln, he solemnly cracked it open with a hammer under the watchful eyes of all the livestock team members.
"Bang!"
As the mud shell crumbled, a unique aroma—a blend of the fresh scent of leaves, the rustic fragrance of earth, the smoky aroma of roasted meat, and a variety of spices—burst forth from the cracks, instantly enveloping everyone present. The scent was both powerful and gentle, rich yet refreshing, causing everyone to involuntarily take a deep breath, their faces showing expressions of pure bliss.
Tearing open the golden-brown leaves of the *Vitex negundo* tree, you'll find the roasted chicken inside, glistening with oil and tenderness. The meat is so succulent that it easily falls off the bone with a gentle touch, and even the bones are bursting with flavor. The stuffing inside has absorbed all the essence of the bird meat, making it incredibly delicious.
During the tasting, a meticulous young Silent One discovered another surprise. The clucking chicken he received was an experimental product fed with a special feed made from starlight wheat bran.
He was surprised to find that the chicken meat was not only more tender and juicy, but also seemed to have a hint of the fragrance of starlight wheat. After eating it, he felt that the fatigue and mental tension of the past few days were greatly relieved.
This discovery thrilled both Lin Yue and Norm.
At the banquet, the lame old man Mo carried the first bowl of rich, snow-white chicken soup made from the bones of a domesticated gugu chicken, but he didn't drink it himself. He limped to the fence of the farm and slowly poured the soup from the bowl onto the land of Hope Town.
He gazed into the empty distance and whispered in a voice only he could hear, "Wife...child...do you see? We...have meat to eat...every meal..."
Two streams of hot tears flowed from his eyes. Half of those tears were of sorrow, and the other half of of hope.
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