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We need to plow more fields to plant wheat and beans like soybeans, which are essential for both people and livestock.
Especially wheat, we should plant more of it. This time we have more people, so I'm planning to plant fifty acres. We'll plant another crop of corn, say twenty acres, and the rest will be for peanuts and the like.
The rice paddies need to be deeply plowed several times before, fumigated with sulfur to kill pests, then doused with wood ash water. We must also spread grass seed powder, which also acts as an insecticide. We need to apply a combination of methods.
We've previously discovered pests, and it was all thanks to the frogs eating them up, but we can't rely solely on them—we need other methods as well. The land must be deeply plowed to turn the pest eggs to the surface, making the extermination more thorough.
Once these tasks are complete, we have to keep reclaiming land in the plains area. We can't just keep working the same few plots over and over; it reduces their fertility and thins the soil.
The newly cleared land will be planted with wheat. We'll plant a few more acres so that when the harvest comes, we'll have flour to eat. With grain available, there's no need to eat wheat bran and strain our voices, right?
All the people, even the cows, are working in the fields. At noon, we eat right there, and after lunch, we have to strip the dried corn kernels ready for grinding into cornmeal, which tastes better than wheat bran.
The vegetable gardens have been replanted. The watermelons and cantaloupes we planted before are ripe now, as well as the sponge gourds, bottle gourds, and eggplants, all ready to be picked in succession.
We lost some to the mutated birds last time, and the replacement crops aren't ripe yet, but those that weren't eaten are mature now, resulting in an overabundance.
We load the vegetables, watermelons, and cantaloupes into baskets. You can't say I didn't plant a lot, nor did I skimp on the hard work. The vegetables were a great success.
Though there aren't many watermelons and cantaloupes, we still harvested over eight hundred pounds. We can't eat that much ourselves, and there will be more to pick later on.
"How much should we keep?"
"You decide how much to keep. I want to make some watermelon jam for us to eat in the winter."
Li Pan looked at the bountiful harvest and felt truly happy and content from the bottom of her heart.
"We've got so many green beans as well. Let's sell them to the base too."
"Pan'er, do you need to buy anything? We might as well take it with us when we go to the base."
"I want to buy some coal. We'll need it at home during winter, and the animal breeding area will need heating too. Also, we have more poultry now. I'll kill a few and take them to the Base Commander to thank him for getting me the Crystal Core."
Li Pan was someone who never forgot a favor and always remembered the kindness she had received from others.
"Alright, let's slaughter a batch of chickens and ducks. We indeed have quite a few. Let's keep some and see how many to slaughter; we'll sell half to the base and keep the other half for ourselves."
"I'll do the slaughtering."
Qin Jianzhong got busy with the task.
"Brother, the cotton we planted is ready to pick too. We can't finish it ourselves, so we should hire some people for the job, even just as temporary workers."
"That's fine. Let's make a trip to the base then and find some workers."
Xue Dong considered it and agreed without hesitation, eager to secure the harvest in the storage; just in case mutant beasts attacked again or the weather turned, it could spell trouble.
The rapeseed crop we planted before has been harvested, and we had Gao Wenbin take it to be pressed for oil. The grain we brought back last time was sold to the base, and the oil we kept is enough for our use.
We loaded all these items and made a list of things to buy to take back with us.
The next day, we took the three-wheeler to the base. This time, Xue Dong and Li Pan went, leaving the others to watch the house.
Having a Space superpower is so convenient; her space is especially large, so there's no worry about not fitting everything. She specially tidied up the house and took everything that could be taken; anything extra was sold to the base.
"Boss, I'm back again."
"What are you short of now? I've collected some Crystal Cores, though they are not of high rank. You use them first, Pan'er. I'll keep collecting for you slowly."
"Thank you, Uncle, for taking the trouble. We've harvested the vegetables at home, along with watermelons and cantaloupes; I've brought them all for you guys to enjoy something sweet."
"Good kid, you're the most honest one, always thinking of us. There's something I want to discuss with you, child."
The Base Commander felt a warm feeling in his heart upon hearing that Li Pan brought vegetables over.
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Pointing to Li Pan's farm, the Base Commander had resolved several crises for him, really providing invaluable assistance.
"You say it, anything within my power, I'll handle it efficiently for you."
Li Pan smiled at him.
"It's like this, can your Star Tree heal? I want you to treat the brothers a bit, don't force it if the diseases can't be cured."
Li Pan glanced at Xue Dong.
"How come you thought of Pan'er now? Weren't you all looking for help from the neighboring base before?"
"I'm out of money. The last time we exchanged food, it nearly wiped out our stockpile at home. The brothers can't wait that long, so I thought of having Pan'er treat them first. Even if it can only alleviate the symptoms to last a bit longer, it's something. Isn't it better to rely on our own people rather than outsiders? If I have good stuff, shouldn't I take care of our own first?"
Seeking treatment from the Base Commander for the brothers requires trading valuable items, it's not free.
Where can we find so many good things to trade? We can only collect a bunch in order to go once. Going every time is too expensive and unaffordable. Some treatable diseases also get delayed and worsen because there's no way around it—we're out of money.
"Pan'er, can you do it? If not, don't force yourself."
Xue Dong sighed. They were brothers who had been through life and death together; he couldn't bear to watch everyone succumb to death.
"I'll give it a try."
"Don't overexert yourself if it's too tough. If you can't cure it, don't insist on it. You don't need to show your face. All the injured will have their faces covered. I'll arrange it and ensure your safety," the Base Commander repeatedly assured.
"Then I'll give it a try, but I still have things I need to buy. Should I move in?"
Li Pan looked at Xue Dong. What about the work at home?
"Send a Wood Power User over to watch over the farm for me. The sorghum and other crops are nearly ready for harvest. Also, I need to lead a team into the forest to advance Pan'er's Companion Spirit Plant. Don't forget that."
"I won't forget. In a few days, people will be back, and I'll send two Wood Power Users to the base. Do you want to keep a Wood Power User at the farm to work long-term? That way we can pull Pan'er out, otherwise, she can't go anywhere. She can earn a lot of Contribution Points and money by treating everyone—no labor in vain. I can also get you in touch with other bases to exchange for good stuff. You'll get double portions—one for the base, one for the person."
The Base Commander was protective of his own. Surely, he couldn't let his people suffer.
"Save our own people first. Outsiders can wait. Pan'er's safety is the most important. She's only a Middle-level Superpower User after all; she can't compare with the High-level. I reckon she won't be able to handle too complex diseases. The Star Tree must grow more to have a future."
You're right, I'll listen to you, and I'll make the arrangements. Stay for a couple of days. I have a candidate in mind—a child from the orphanage, a brother and sister pair. The brother has Beginner Wood Power, and the sister has Spiritual Power. She's a bit troublesome, everyone is afraid of her, and they don't want her to work. The brother insists on staying with his sister; they can't be separated. If you don't mind taking on children, I'll let them work for you long-term. The pay and points will be less."
Children and adults have different rates. Children's labor comes at half the price.
Back when Xue Dong and Li Pan were children, they had superpowers too. They worked for half the price, which is why during the food distribution, leaders would often give an extra portion. You worked as much as an adult but got only half as much. Nobody would complain or talk about it, as it was embarrassing and could lead to retribution from the leaders.
"If they're willing to work hard and can endure hardship, then it's fine. Life isn't easy for anyone."
"I'll get in touch. I'll also send another Wood Power User to do some temporary work for you. I'm short on people myself and can't offer you long-term service."
The base also has a cultivation area, and is in desperate need of Wood Power Users.
"Alright."
"Let's eat first, then after the meal we can treat the ailments."
"No need. I ate before coming. Let's just get on with the treatment."
"Silly child, I still have to make some arrangements. Find a room to set up so that they can't see your face and guess whether you're male or female to protect your safety. You go ahead and eat first."
The Base Commander smiled warmly, not having coddled these children for nothing; they were indeed considerate and sincere.
Only then did Li Pan nod in agreement to eat, not wanting to take advantage of the base's difficult situation.