Chapter 40
As Jiang Shu spoke, he sat down on the ground and began the testing.
Unfortunately, the results were not satisfactory. After testing more than ten mole crickets in their hands, only two of them were found to be moderately toxic.
Jiang Shu frowned. "Could it be that I didn't pray when the lottery was drawn?"
Jiang Zhi chuckled and said, "Then next time, you must remember to ask the Queen Mother and her goddesses to bless us first."
The mutated mole crickets were only a little bigger, but they looked much uglier, somewhat like the alien insectoids described in novels.
However, it feels fleshy and bouncy in your hand, so you could eat it like meat.
Because of the meager harvest, everyone's mood was affected.
Jiang Wen touched the wound on his face and said, "With such a low odds of winning, let's just find something that can fill our stomachs."
Jiang Zhi nodded.
Fortunately, the yam beans in front of them had a good yield, so even with a low success rate, they should be able to harvest some.
Jiang Shu picked a yam bean. "By the way, Brother Wen, you just said this isn't a potato, so what is it?"
The size and skin look quite similar to the potatoes from before, except that Jiang Shu knows that potatoes grow on the ground.
Jiang Wen said with a smile, "These are yam beans. They have a high starch content. This one is so big that it can be a staple food."
Before the mutation, the yam bean was a small, round, unremarkable piece, about the size of a peanut, with a rough, calloused skin.
After the mutation, they grew much larger, some as big as a fist, with irregular little wrinkles on them, and they did look a bit like potatoes.
Jiang Wen picked one and continued, "Moreover, this thing can be made sweet or stir-fried; there are many ways to eat it."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shu immediately perked up.
"You can make sweet ones too?"
"Have you forgotten the candied hawthorns my mom bought for you in the county town when you were little? Those were made from yam beans by the people in the county."
He pulled up a ginger tree and examined it closely; he did indeed vaguely recognize it.
Jiang Wen distributed the small nets woven from spider webs to the other three people.
"If we find anything edible, we'll put it in first."
They brought quite a few tools with them this time, including several nets in their hands and several baskets placed under the cart.
It was woven from the vines that Ye Qingyun had bought from the base store. When not in use, it could be flattened and rolled up, which was very convenient.
Jiang Shu rubbed his hands together. "If it can be made sweet, then I'll pick at least a hundred catties today."
Jiang Zhi laughed at him: "Brother, you're quite the talker, aren't you? Did you pray?"
Jiang Shu slapped his forehead, "I had completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it! I'll be right there!"
Then he started spouting his charlatan nonsense again.
Jiang Zhi shook her head, put on work gloves, and began picking.
The four of them were no more than five meters apart, which they had agreed upon beforehand so that they could look after each other in case of any uncontrollable events.
The other three began testing the yam beans, while in front of Jiang Zhi was a patch of reeds and a small amount of foxtail grass.
Instead of testing the yam beans, she started testing the foxtail grass first.
She remembered that when her family first arrived, they bought foxtail millet cultivated by the base itself.
In the base store, the seeds from foxtail millet are also used as a staple food, but it's unclear whether the wild ones can be used as food.
"Drip—Highly toxic, not for consumption."
Unsurprisingly, I didn't win.
Jiang Zhi was not disappointed and tested several more in succession.
finally--
"Drip - Moderate toxicity, can be consumed in moderation."
The mutated foxtail grass stalks were very thick. Jiang Zhi jumped up, grabbed the top, and kicked it from below, breaking the thick, long foxtail grass stalks in half, along with a bunch of yam beans wrapped around it.
Jiang Shu, standing to the side, stared in disbelief. "A-Zhi, what are you doing?"
Jiang Zhigan laughed, "I'll give it a try."
Jiang Shu was used to his sister always doing strange things, so he said, "We agreed that everyone would pick 100 jin, so don't let us down."
Jiang Zhi:......
She pouted and muttered, "When did it become 'everyone' again?"
The top of the foxtail grass has a bunch of spikes, and the grains look big and plump.
Several ginger twigs were tested, and without exception, they were all highly toxic.
Testing each one individually was too time-consuming, so Jiang Zhi abandoned her idea of putting the foxtail millet into her pocket and instead gathered up the yam beans she had just torn off, preparing to test them one by one.
"Drip—Highly toxic, not for consumption."
"Drip—Highly toxic, not for consumption."
...
Several ginger branches were tested, and all of them were highly toxic. Looking over at the ginger tree, the basket was already half full of yam beans.
...Do we really have to pray for a higher chance of winning?
Jiang Zhi hesitated for a second, silently recited a few words in her mind, and then picked up a piece of yam bean again to test it—
"Drip - Moderate toxicity, can be consumed in moderation."
Jiang Zhi's brows relaxed.
As expected, this thing does have a bit of mystical basis.
Although the field of yam beans was mostly covered by foxtail grass, the yam beans yielded a high output, and within just half an hour, the baskets of several people were filled with yam beans.
With this kind of harvest, it's no wonder the base temporarily changed the rules—in addition to handing over 20% of the food, passengers also have to pay for transportation.
Jiang Wen wiped the sweat from his forehead. Watching Niu Dali easily pour the four baskets of yam beans into a snakeskin bag and finally tie it to the cart, he couldn't be happier.
"Our gains today will definitely be seen by the people at the base, and from tomorrow onwards, I expect more and more people will risk coming here."
Jiang Shu: "There are indeed many good things here. We've been here for the past few days. If we can't find anything good, we'll go to other places."
Jiangzhi thought so too.
In just one hour, the harvest was more than what I would have gained in a whole day in other gathering areas.
No wonder there's an old saying: "The bold get rich, the timid starve."
The four of them ransacked the yam field.
In the end, they got about four or five hundred catties of yam beans. Even after deducting the twenty percent that had to be handed over, the Jiang family, such a large family, could eat for more than half a month.
Jiang Zhi's anxiety subsided somewhat.
But Niu Dali...
"Brother Dali, how much do you usually eat in one meal?"
Niu Dali hesitated for a moment, "Azhi, are you asking if we should eat until we're half full?"
Jiang Zhi: "..."
"No, it's just that I'm full."
Niu Dali was immediately a little embarrassed, "I don't know either, I've never been full..."
Jiang Zhi didn't know what to say for a moment.
Jiang Wen then asked in a different way, "How much do you usually eat to feel better?"
Niu Dali knew how to answer, and said with a smile, "Two jin will do."
Jiang Wen: ...
The three looked at each other, all admiring Liu Xu in their hearts.
With this kind of eating habit, Liu Xu actually managed to accumulate a fortune, which shows how amazing she is.
Jiang Zhi thought for a moment and then asked, "What if we eat foods with low toxin levels?"
Niu Dali scratched his head. "Shouldn't half a jin be enough?"
Jiang Zhi felt it was acceptable.
Of the yam beans they just found, about ten pounds of them contained low levels of toxins.
It was quite a haul.
However, if you want to get through the winter better, you should try to find as many low-toxin foods as possible.
Not only do she and Jiang Shu need it, but their family members also need to consume low-toxicity foods from time to time to maintain their body's balance.
Jiangzhi immediately made a decision, "Let's try to find as many things as possible that can fill our stomachs, and put the others aside for now."
Several people agreed.
However, luck is a very unpredictable thing. It seemed that the yam beans in front had used up most of their luck. In the end, they hardly encountered any more starchy mutant plants, and all they encountered were leafy vegetable fields.
They spent half an hour testing each plot of land.
Despite this, they still managed to harvest over 100 kilograms of leafy vegetables from the four or five plots.
Many others, like them, also reaped rewards, and joy radiated from their faces.
Jiang Shu wishes there were 108 hours in a day; this basin is so big, this amount of time is simply not enough.
He regretted not bringing his family along.
As Jiang Shu walked, he said, "I don't think it's that dangerous. Otherwise, we could have my uncle and the others come together tomorrow."
Jiangzhi also had this idea.
But she didn't say anything, intending to observe for a while longer before making a decision.
Continuing on, we discovered that the latter half of the fields had already been harvested.
Then, take in the few small trucks from the base that just left in the distance.
—It seems the base is indeed stockpiling food.
"Ah Zhi! Come quick, there are cowpeas here!!"
cowpea!
That's a really good thing!
Whether stir-fried or served cold, cowpeas are delicious, and most importantly, they can be pickled and preserved for a very long time! They're perfect as a side dish when winter comes.
The group hurried over and indeed found a field of cowpeas.
The furrows were neatly divided by short grass, each furrow about half a meter wide, with even spacing, making it very convenient for people to walk and work among them.
The cowpea vines have mutated and become denser, growing ever upwards until they intertwine in the air for two meters. The bamboo poles that originally served as supports have long been buried in recent years, leaving only the cowpea vines to form a long archway, which looks particularly picturesque.
Jiang Zhi scanned the area and, finding no danger, stepped inside.
Upon closer inspection, the stems of the cowpeas are covered with fine hairs, almost invisible unless you look closely. Some stems droop down from the top, like curtains.
Jiang Shu was a little scared when he saw this.
"Ah Zhi, won't we get hanged by these vines if we go in?"
Jiang Zhi rolled her eyes. "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth!"
The bean pods hung in clusters along the stems, their vibrant green almost blinding. Each pod was about the thickness of a Chinese yam, though its length remained unchanged at twenty or thirty centimeters. They were plump, with smooth skin, and occasionally a few thin blue veins could be seen. Upon closer inspection, a small, dried stamen still clung to the tip of the pod—a remnant of the previous bloom.
The leaves are densely packed on the stems, one after another, forming a pinnate leaflet. The leaflets are oval with smooth, even edges. The front of the leaves is dark green, while the back is slightly lighter. When you touch the leaves, you can feel that they are cool and thin.
Above the "arch", you can also see newly blooming small purple and white flowers from time to time. The flowers are large, with two or three clustered together, growing in the leaf axils, scattered very brightly.
If this were before the cataclysm, it would definitely be a popular spot for internet celebrities to take photos and check in.
Jiang Wen said, "Azhi, there are a lot of cowpeas here. I think we can stock up on some."
Jiang Zhi checked the time; there was still an hour and a half until 11 o'clock. "Okay, we can only stay here for another hour. Dali and I are strong, so we'll be in charge of picking, and you can be in charge of monitoring. That way, we'll be more efficient."
"good!"
The four of them quickly got to work.
Jiang Zhi first grabbed a large handful of cowpeas and held them in her hand, then gently pulled, and the cowpeas broke off at the point where they were connected to the vines.
They got a whole bunch right away.
Niu Dali followed suit. He had big hands, so he grabbed more cowpeas, getting dozens in just a few strokes.
This efficiency left Jiang Wen and Jiang Shu, who were guarding the cart, dumbfounded—how could it be like this?
Jiangzhi brought back another set, saying, "What are you doing? Hurry up and get tested!"
The two then came to their senses and quickly began the testing.
"Drip, moderate toxicity, can be consumed in moderation."
Jiang Shu beamed, "You went all out right from the start, Grandma Queen Mother, you're really spoiling me today!"
Jiang Wen smiled and shook his head, his hands never stopping.
In this way, the two sides worked together and soon a large pile of cowpeas was accumulated.
Jiang Shu was starting to worry about the amount of stuff. "A-Zhi, we have so much stuff this time, will we be able to bring it all?"
He hadn't forgotten the purpose of their visit to Collection Area 15.
Jiang Zhi was also a little worried. This place was practically a goldmine, and everyone was definitely working hard to pick things. The little bus they were riding in was so small, could it fit all their harvest?
"I'll ask when I get back."
It was almost 11 o'clock when Jiang Zhi called out to Niu Dali, "Brother Dali, let's stop picking now. We have to go back now, or we'll be late."
Niu Dali responded and walked back.
In front of the Jiang brothers was a pile of cowpeas that they hadn't had time to measure.
"Brother, second brother, don't test them anymore, take them back over there and test them later." Jiang Zhi carried the cowpeas that they had tested and put aside directly onto the cart. "Otherwise, when the temperature rises, we won't have time to get back."
Jiang Wen and Jiang Shu also knew the seriousness of the matter, so they stopped testing, tied the untested parts together with a rope, and then carried them back.
Many people followed them back.
Jiang Zhi said, "Brother, Dali and I are stronger, let's go back and reserve a spot first, otherwise I'm afraid there won't be any good spots later."
Jiang Shu was unbearably hot, and the cowpeas on his shoulders made it difficult for him to walk. He knew that his physical strength was not as good as his younger sister's, so he said, "Okay, you guys go first."
"Okay." Going back the way they came would basically eliminate any further danger, so Jiang Zhi decided to split up.
So the two of them went ahead, one pushing a cart and the other carrying a basket weighing over 100 pounds, hurrying back.
Jiang Wen, watching the two figures from behind, felt a pang of envy. "It's so convenient to be strong..."
"Brother Wen, stop being envious, come help me, these cowpeas are too heavy."
Jiang Wen: ...Suddenly I felt relieved. At least there are still people who need him!
On the other side.
Jiangzhi and Niudali were extremely fast, taking two steps at a time, almost running.
Seeing Jiang Zhi steadily keeping up with him, Niu Dali couldn't help but glance at her a few times, wanting to say something but too embarrassed to.
"What's wrong, Brother Dali?"
Niu Dali: "Azhi, you're amazing."
Jiang Zhi:? ?
No way, you're someone who can easily push a cart full of supplies weighing several hundred kilograms and you're telling others you're amazing?
Seeing Jiang Zhi's complicated expression, Niu Dali immediately said, "It's already impressive that you can keep up with me!"
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but laugh.
If she didn't know that Niu Dali was a simpleton, she would have doubted whether the other person was actually praising himself.
“Really! I’ve gone out to collect things with others before, and every time I was looked down upon. They said I liked to show off and that I got too much stuff.” Niu Dali said, a hint of grievance on his face.
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "That's because they don't understand. Look at us, aren't we doing just fine now?"
People like Niu Dali are good at working blindly; just give them tasks.
However, teamwork usually involves the principle of more work, more reward. I guess the teams that worked with Niu Dali in the past didn't want to give him too much, which is why they suppressed him like this.
Niu Dali nodded vigorously, "Azhi, I can do more and take less, I don't want more."
Although he wasn't very bright, he knew who was good to him, and he cherished a team like the Jiang Zhi siblings.
Jiang Zhi laughed and said, "What's the big deal? What's meant to be yours will be yours. Don't overthink it."
As they talked, the two quickly returned to their encampment.
Two mutants, a man and a woman, were standing at the door.
Jiang Zhi looked at the middle-aged woman and said directly, "Hello comrades, we'd like to find a place to stay for lunch."
The middle-aged woman nodded. "Go in. First come, first served. You can leave your things outside the tent; someone will be watching them."
Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
The base's policies are quite humane.
There were indeed a lot of things piled up outside, and it seemed that everyone who came today had made a good purchase.
Jiangzhi and Niu Dali placed the cart in front of the tent entrance so they could keep an eye on things from inside.
Jiang Zhi even used a piece of hemp wood to cover the grain on the cart.
Wealth can be a powerful motivator; this principle is timeless. With mutants keeping order now, who knows what will happen when we return to base?
Upon stepping into the tent, Jiang Zhi's pupils constricted involuntarily when she saw the situation inside.
Niu Dali asked nervously, "Ah, Ah Zhi, what's going on?"
The tent looks only 30 square meters from the outside, but once you go inside, it looks like it's over 200 square meters.
Just then, a notification appeared on the dashboard in my mind:
"Beep—Golden item detected: Kangaroo pouch. Use the foldable space."
Jiang Zhi suddenly realized that it was a special prop.
No wonder...
Jiang Zhi gestured for Niu Dali to go inside, while observing him discreetly. "Let's go, Brother Dali."
The tent looked a bit old, the gray canvas fabric rustling loudly in the wind. The interior, over 200 square meters, was empty, with hardly any items inside, but quite a few people were already sitting on the floor, occupying all the good spots.
Every two meters there is a one-meter-wide curtain window. Looking out from inside, you can see that the ground nails outside are loose and the support poles are a bit crooked.
Walking on the ground, you can feel that there is a thin moisture-proof cloth on the ground, which gives off a cold and desolate feeling.
Jiang Zhi found a spot near a corner where she could see outside the door.
As soon as he sat down, Niu Dali asked in a low voice:
"Ah Zhi, what's going on here? How did it suddenly become so big?"
Jiang Zhi: "They must have used special items."
It's not hard to understand. The base was able to grow to its current size in just three years. Besides the initial advantage of firearms, it was also thanks to these gold items.
With so many mutants fighting on the front lines, how could they possibly receive few gold items?
Judging from the size of the folded space, Jiang Zhi guessed that the user must be quite capable to have reached this level.
Niu Dali gave an "Oh" that sounded like he understood but didn't quite.
Not long after, Jiang Zhi saw Jiang Shu and Jiang Wen return and quickly called out, "Brother, put the things outside!"
Upon seeing his own cart, Jiang Shu immediately gathered the cowpeas in his hands, stuffed them into the burlap sack, and then ran in with Jiang Wen.
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