During years of natural disasters, China still strictly prohibits its citizens from illegally possessing firearms.
Of course, you can carry a rocket launcher outside the safe zone without anyone interfering, but once you enter the safe zone, you must undergo strict checks. Therefore, Xia Qing's weapons have always been a machete and a slingshot.
After the great evolution of life on Earth, to cope with the deadly dangers posed by these evolved creatures to humanity, legally registered teams within the safe zone can also possess weapons, but they must use them strictly according to regulations. Violations will not only result in the confiscation of weapons but also severe punishment.
Xia Qing could possess weapons while farming outside the safe zone, but she had neither the points nor the means to purchase them, which is why she devised the method of exchanging unpolluted spring water with the Azure Dragon Team.
Her goal was to exchange for a sniper rifle and two hundred rounds of ammunition, but the conditions offered by Yang Jin far exceeded her expectations.
Xia Qing steadied her wildly beating heart and looked directly into Yang Jin's eyes through the firelight. "How many liters of spring water would you like to exchange these equipment and weapons for?"
Xia Qing's caution pleased Yang Jin somewhat. "Could we use these supplies to increase the total spring water volume from 15,000 liters to 17,500 liters? The extra 2,500 liters can be used for Brother Luo's treatment."
There's no clear experimental data showing that drinking unpolluted spring water can enhance a person's physique, not because the water itself can't, but because there isn't enough water for experiments. The benefit of unpolluted spring water to humans isn't a question of yes or no, but rather the degree of benefit.
Ten Azure Dragon Team evolved human security guards for a year, three sets of top-tier protective gear, three guns and nine hundred rounds of ammunition, plus the hands-on training from sharpshooter Luo Pei, in exchange for 17,500 liters of spring water for the next four months—it's a good deal for Xia Qing.
Yang Jin is notoriously stingy, and this transaction made Xia Qing directly realize the value of the spring water.
Although Xia Qing was practically begging for the boss's approval in his heart, he still had to maintain a composed demeanor and calmly nodded, "Deal."
After adding two more pieces of firewood to the fire, Yang Jin brought up the next deal, "I have another exchange to make, I wonder if you'd be interested."
Xia Qing's mind raced with the supplies he desperately needed, his expression inscrutable. "Please tell me first."
Yang Jin explained the terms of the deal, "If Brother Luo stays in Territory One to treat his poison, the spring in your territory will eventually be exposed, disrupting your life. Therefore, I want Brother Luo to come into your territory to heal. He'll only bring four people, and they can stay in this house or anywhere you arrange. Except for fetching supplies and water for Brother Luo, they will never leave the area you've designated. Once Brother Luo is able to move again, he'll start teaching you shooting. He guarantees to leave with his men in four months. If you haven't learned by then, Brother Luo will stay in Territory One to continue teaching you until you do." Seeing Xia Qing's still furrowed brow, Yang Jin's smile deepened as he presented a deal Xia Qing couldn't refuse: "In return, we'll provide two hundred liters of diesel fuel and a tracked, small, multi-purpose tiller, capable of rotary tilling, ditching, raking, backfilling, weeding, and spraying pesticides, along with two edible apple, strawberry, jujube, and grape seedlings."
The tiller, diesel fuel, and seedlings—each item struck a chord with Xia Qing. What more could she ask for?
Xia Qing, unable to maintain her composure, immediately nodded, "Deal. This village will be under Brother Luo's control for the next four months."
"For safety reasons, can Brother Luo and the others come over now?"
"Yes."
"To ensure the safe transport of supplies and medicine from Territory One to Territory Three, can we dig a tunnel from Brother Luo's residence to Territory One? Fill the tunnel immediately after Brother Luo leaves."
"...Okay."
Yang Jin smiled, "Good. If there are any problems later, you can discuss them directly with Brother Luo."
Yang Jin's smile was so handsome that Xia Qing almost invited him to stay for a late-night snack. Fortunately, she hadn't lost her composure and sent Yang Jin out of the territory before dawn.
The Azure Dragon Team's efficiency was remarkable; half an hour later, Luo Pei was carried into Territory Three without anyone noticing. Shortly after dawn, a small helicopter stopped at Territory One for twenty minutes before taking off.
Two hours later, Tang Huai dialed Xu Pin, the vice-captain of the Su Feng team. "...Yes, it's confirmed that Luo Pei was picked up by Yang Jin in a helicopter. Territory One is now undefended, and the people inside have started clearing weeds, turning the soil, and planting...Yes, we've sent people in to check, and they've confirmed Luo Pei isn't in the territory...Yes, the helicopter headed west; there was only one."
After hanging up, in high spirits, Tang Huai called to his younger brother, Tang Heng, "Come on, let's go hunting! We'll have barbecue and drinks today!"
On the fourth day after Luo Pei moved into the territory, six saplings and two strawberry seedlings were secretly delivered to Xia Qing's territory by members of the Qinglong team. Xia Qing planted them all in the already tilled planting area and watered them thoroughly with mountain spring water.
To save enough spring water for planting the trees, Xia Qing had been using water sparingly these past few days, even sparingly using it to make porridge.
The saplings were all bare trunks, only one to two meters tall in their first year. The strawberry seedlings only had five leaves. Xia Qing couldn't bear to even pick a single leaf or break off a branch to squeeze sap for testing, so she couldn't determine whether the seedlings were in a green or yellow light (i.e., a negative health indicator).
To prevent the eldest sheep from eating the seedlings, Xia Qing risked going to the Evolution Forest to cut branches from the thorny, palm-sized Evolutionary Jujube trees to make a fence and protect the saplings.
After the fence was in place, Xia Qing was in high spirits. She called Luo Pei's new phone number and went to visit him with a basket of vegetables.
Luo Pei and his people stayed for four days, and as Yang Jin had promised, they stayed obediently in the village, even choosing to fetch water at night, without disturbing Xia Qing's life at all.
Within Territory Number Three, there were three abandoned villages arranged in a triangular pattern. Xia Qing lived in the northern village, Luo Pei lived in the southwestern one, and the southeastern village was still empty. Xia Qing planned to clear it out later and raise some chickens, ducks, and geese, provided she could catch or trade for them.
Luo Pei was staying in the courtyard where Xia Qing and Yang Jin were negotiating. Xia Qing went inside and discovered that although the exterior looked unchanged, they had actually dug several basements underneath, with the entrance in one of them.
When did they dig them? Where did they throw the soil?
The basement walls were not only moisture-proofed and soundproofed, but also equipped with lights and various sophisticated medical devices incongruous with the post-disaster environment.
When did they install them? How were they transported in?
Seeing Xia Qing's bewildered expression, Wei Chengdong grinned, revealing his gums. Luo Pei, blindfolded, beckoned to Xia Qing, "Xia Qing, come and sit down."
After only five days of treatment with ample spring water, Luo Pei was able to sit up straight. Xia Qing handed the vegetable basket to Wei Chengdong, her voice tinged with amusement, "Looks like Brother Luo's treatment is working well."
"It's all thanks to you," Luo Pei said with a genuine smile. "The farm machinery is quite large, so we'll have to find a suitable opportunity to deliver it through official channels. The guns and ammunition have already been delivered. Since you're a Power Evolver, I chose a small submachine pistol, an automatic rifle, and a non-automatic sniper rifle."
Wei Chengdong opened the long wooden box he brought in, revealing three new guns that smelled of machine oil. Although Xia Qing wasn't an expert, she immediately recognized the sniper rifle in the box—it was exactly the same as the one Luo Pei carried on his missions!
This was definitely good stuff.
Luo Pei continued, "For concealment, all three guns are equipped with accessories to reduce the sound, flash, and smoke of firing, and they're all kept in their cases. Today, Cheng Dong will teach you how to use the pistol; take it for self-defense. I'll teach you the other two guns once my eyesight improves."
"Thank you, Brother Luo. Thank you for your trouble, Brother Dong." Xia Qing didn't mention that she had used a rifle once during a mission with the Dongyang team, because that old, homemade gun was nothing compared to the three guns in front of her.