Chapter 162
The time until the next drought is still relatively long.
However, recalling the nearly two-month drought period before the flood, Grandpa Li felt that building reservoirs was highly necessary.
After the flood, residents accustomed to the stable and safe lifestyle of Desolate City Haven would likely choose to stay.
Ensuring sufficient water for so many people would be a long-term challenge requiring careful planning.
Building reservoirs during the flood period was undoubtedly an effective solution—it’s precisely what reservoirs were originally designed for.
“Grandpa, your idea is fantastic!” Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but exclaim.
Just last night, they were worried about how to deliver the remaining 9,990 cubic meters of water owed to Corsona after the flood receded. Grandpa Li’s suggestion gave Tang Yu’an the idea of building a small reservoir themselves.
For instance, with brick or concrete walls three meters high, they could construct a reservoir 60 meters long and wide, holding 10,800 cubic meters of water.
A reservoir with 60-meter sides would have a perimeter of 240 meters. Brick walls would cost 12,000 points, while concrete walls would cost 24,000 points.
With their current balance of over 80,000 points, they could easily afford it!
Moreover, they could connect the reservoir to the grocery store, making it part of the store. This way, Tang Yu’an could use the inventory function to directly extract purified water, avoiding the cumbersome manual process from the previous night.
Seeing the two boys agree with his proposal, Grandpa Li smiled.
“Perfect timing,” he said. “The residents’ kang beds should be finished today, and tomorrow we can start firing the bricks needed for the reservoir. However…”
The residents making bricks in exchange for their kang beds wasn’t entirely unprofitable for Store No. 1.
For every 300 bricks produced, the store earned 50 points. Residents who didn’t participate in brickmaking, such as those with metal or wood-based abilities, had to pay labor and material fees for their kang beds, adding another income stream.
Even though the brick factory provided meals daily, it was essentially operating at break-even.
Building a reservoir, however, might lead to temporary losses in the short term.
Hearing Grandpa Li’s analysis, Tang Yu’an waved it off, saying, “This isn’t a loss at all. Go ahead and do it!”
He pointed out that even when using the system to purchase materials, he had to spend points—pure expenditure with no return.
Now, they were using crops produced by Store No. 1 as payment, which would later earn points back when residents delivered bricks. How could that be a loss?
After all, the crops stored in Store No. 1’s warehouse had already been purchased once with points from the growers. Since they couldn’t consume it all, why not use it to hire residents? It allowed them to sustain themselves through work while adding new infrastructure to the store.
Experience points and point income along the way were just a bonus—not necessary but welcome.
“Grandpa, the early stages of Desolate City Haven require investment, and we’re prepared for that,” Zhou Qi added.
As the community grew and more resources became available, that’s when Desolate City Haven would truly begin to flourish.
“Exactly! If we can fill all 1,000 resident slots, just their daily salt purchases would bring in hundreds of experience points!” Tang Yu’an grinned, envisioning the future.
He thought of Hai Jing’s village. Though it had only 76 residents, their daily rice exchanges with Hai Jing earned him over 220 experience points daily.
Even Hai Jing’s employee level was steadily rising.
“Alright, I’ll follow your lead,” Grandpa Li said with a smile, feeling heartened by the boys’ vision.
For such a promising future, he was willing to do his part.
Grandpa Li surveyed the swimming pool’s layout again and commented, “I saw you put up a glass wall in one of the upstairs rooms?”
“Yes, Grandpa,” Tang Yu’an replied. “Golden Head needs sunlight for energy.”
Grandpa Li nodded thoughtfully. “Could you do the same for part of this building? For example, if you install a half-wall of glass here—” he pointed at one side of the wall, “sunlight could stream in from this direction.”
Currently, the swimming pool was too dark and damp, which wasn’t good for the animals’ growth.
Moreover, the lotus flowers the boys were cultivating in the pool wouldn’t grow without enough sunlight and might even wither.
“You’re absolutely right, Grandpa,” Zhou Qi agreed. “Sunlight is important, even for egg-laying hens. Letting in more natural light is definitely better.”
“Alright, let’s add a half-wall of glass!”
Since Store No. 3 was permanently closed to the outside world, no one would see the swimming pool anyway, so they could modify it however they wanted.
They spent 2,000 points installing a half-wall of glass in the swimming pool.
For the other walls where sunlight couldn’t directly enter, they added several small windows for ventilation and airflow.
Leaving Golden Head at the swimming pool to make clothes, they returned to Store No. 1. Tang Yu’an handed Grandpa Li 18 pieces of fire stones he had obtained from Gan Lin the previous night.
Residents without the ability to use fire stones would temporarily rely on charcoal.
With all the kang beds completed, Lan Lin wouldn’t need to stay up all night heating anymore. To thank him for his hard work, they brought over a piece of low-temperature fabric.
“Huh? No more overnight heating?” Lan Lin looked confused as he stood at the door.
Compared to the dark circles he had from sleepless nights of heating, Lan Lin now looked much healthier.
Through such intense practice, he had finally learned to maintain an ice energy absorption state even while sleeping.
After discussing with a few higher-ranked ability users in the community, Lan Lin decided to name this state “meditation.”
Maintaining meditation during sleep was very beneficial for enhancing his abilities.
So, when Lan Lin heard he was no longer needed for heating, he couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
“To express our gratitude, this piece of fabric is for you,” Tang Yu’an said, pulling out a piece of low-temperature fabric measuring 2.4 meters by 2 meters.
The fabric had a faint blue hue, resembling a frosty, icy shade. Lan Lin liked it immediately upon seeing it.
As he accepted the fabric, he quickly noticed something different about it.
“This fabric…”
“It’s made using a special process to maintain a low temperature. Depending on your needs, you can even process it into clothing. If you want, you can ask Grandpa Li to help,” Tang Yu’an explained.
While 10 degrees Celsius would feel cold to most people, for an ice-element user like Lan Lin, it might be just right.
Tang Yu’an wasn’t sure, so he didn’t process the fabric into clothing beforehand and left the decision up to Lan Lin.
Lan Lin stroked the fabric in his hands, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he pursed his lips and said, “So, does this mean Desolate City Haven no longer needs the ice I produce?”
Lan Lin had been using his ice abilities to absorb cold energy into his room each night. With the high moisture levels in the air, this often resulted in blocks of ice forming in his room.
Residents with refrigeration needs, like the growers, frequently bought ice from him. The transactions were always pleasant, and even without doing other work, Lan Lin could get by.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been content with being compensated with just a couple of popsicles for overnight heating.
But now, with the introduction of low-temperature fabric, he immediately recognized its potential. It was far superior to ice in terms of durability and stability.
Lan Lin could already foresee how popular this fabric would become.
Tang Yu’an scratched his head, realizing the same issue but unsure how to respond.
With a sigh, Lan Lin accepted the fabric and asked, “Got anything else?”
By now, daytime temperatures had started to drop, and in a few days, the demand for his ice would likely diminish further. He was simply feeling a bit down at the thought that when summer came again, he might not have any buyers left.
Seeing Tang Yu’an shake his head, Lan Lin prepared to head back to his room. However, the young man stopped him and stuffed a few milk candies into his hand.
“Thanks.”
Lan Lin accepted the candy. Although his mood didn’t completely recover, his expression softened noticeably.
Only then did Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi bid him farewell and leave.
“Brother Qi, did we just steal Lan Lin’s business?” Tang Yu’an asked, scratching his head.
Unless they refrained from selling low-temperature fabric in the community, taking business away from Lan Lin was inevitable. But it didn’t make sense to withhold such a useful product.
“Increased productivity inevitably leads to the obsolescence of old products. That’s just the way it is,” Zhou Qi said.
“What we’re doing now saves lives, but it’s also bound to infringe on many people’s interests in the future.”
For instance, the conflict with Jin Fu began because they sold affordable salt in Jufeng Town, prompting a shift in attitude and eventual hostility toward them.
“When the flood subsides, and Desolate City Haven reconnects with Jufeng Town, even more people will likely want to move here. That could put us at odds with Hong Li’s interests.”
Desolate City Haven’s protective barrier was a major draw—not just for regular people but for ability users as well.
Take Lan Lin as an example. Even though his business was impacted, he only sulked in private and remained amicable toward them. A large part of this was because he lived in Desolate City Haven and wanted to stay, meaning his interests aligned with theirs.
But Hong Li was a different story.
If the ability users she had painstakingly recruited and nurtured started flocking to Desolate City Haven, could she stay neutral? She’d likely see them as competitors, if not outright enemies.
“I don’t think Sister Hong Li is like that,” Tang Yu’an muttered. “She’s not that shortsighted.”
With so many good things in Desolate City Haven, she’d probably be more inclined to trade with them, wouldn’t she?
Zhou Qi sighed. “It’s because we have so many good things that it’s a problem…”
The protective barrier only worked against natural disasters and dangerous creatures—it had no effect on people.
And those not on the overnight stay list weren’t bound by the overnight rules, meaning they could steal from or even destroy Desolate City Haven, much like what happened to Jufeng General Store.
Looking at the muddy floodwaters outside, Zhou Qi said, “Right now, the flood itself has become our protective barrier.”
Tang Yu’an opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute.
The pleasant experience of living in Desolate City Haven had almost made him forget that this was still a post-apocalyptic world rife with treachery. The residents’ obedience stemmed largely from the strict overnight rules.
The bleak reality of the world hadn’t fundamentally changed.
“What should we do, then?” Tang Yu’an asked anxiously. “Will we end up clashing with Sister Hong Li in the future?”
For example, would the guards from Jufeng Town come to attack Desolate City Haven?
The thought saddened Tang Yu’an, as he felt he had built a good relationship with Hong Li.
From the moment they met, she had been helping them. Even though their interactions were mutually beneficial, relationships were built through such exchanges, weren’t they?
Seeing Tang Yu’an’s downcast expression, Zhou Qi reached out to touch his cheek. “This is just one of the worst-case scenarios. Even if it’s not Hong Li, it could be someone else.”
In his spare time, Zhou Qi often used his portable warehouse to “chat” privately with Chi Hao.
Though Chi Hao was vague about details, it was clear that he would return to Desolate City Haven—and likely not alone.
What if Qingmu Fortress discovered Desolate City Haven? If they mobilized resources from Jufeng Mountain, as a leader fostered by Qingmu Fortress, could Hong Li really refuse?
“From a long-term perspective, we need to start making preparations now,” Zhou Qi said.
The floodwaters could recede at any time, but fortunately, this world’s poor transportation and slow information flow worked in their favor.
The residents of Desolate City Haven probably wouldn’t need to go to Jufeng Mountain for supplies anymore. Instead, they needed to prepare for hunters coming from Jufeng Mountain to Desolate City Haven.
That said, with the floodwaters bringing more animals to Jufeng Mountain, this wouldn’t likely become an issue in the short term.
“So, how do we prepare?” Tang Yu’an asked.
“Important things should be hidden from outside customers,” Zhou Qi explained. “We’ll build a small house on the perimeter to serve as a storefront for external sales.”
Fields, fish ponds, and the brick kiln weren’t a concern. Jufeng Mountain was also experimenting with farming, and making bricks wasn’t technically challenging—these things would mainly attract ordinary people.
Similarly, the residents’ uniform lodging outfits weren’t an issue, especially since they had already sold cotton fabric to Hong Li, reducing its novelty.
The most critical aspect was to ensure the lodging tower—the heart of Desolate City Haven—remained hidden.
As for the protective barrier, unless outsiders stayed overnight, it wouldn’t be easily discovered. Adding a rule to prohibit revealing the barrier’s function to non-overnight customers could provide extra security.
Tang Yu’an nodded in agreement with Zhou Qi’s analysis, but he wasn’t entirely optimistic about the last suggestion.
Given their experience in exploiting system loopholes, he doubted such a rule would have a significant impact.
For example, if a resident mentioned that Desolate City Haven was safe at night and free from danger, would that count as breaking the rule? Probably not. A slight change in wording could still hint at the special nature of Desolate City Haven.
“It’s still better than explicitly revealing the barrier’s purpose.”
“That’s true,” Tang Yu’an admitted. “Anything else?”
“Yes,” Zhou Qi said after a moment of thought. “Perhaps we should also consider forming a security team.”
“A security team?” Tang Yu’an blinked. “Like Jufeng Mountain’s guards?”
Zhou Qi shook his head. “Not exactly. We’d need to plan according to our specific situation.”
With the protective barrier and overnight rules, Desolate City Haven didn’t typically need a security team. It would only be necessary if the settlement came under attack.
“We could start by forming a small team of ability users and train them to respond immediately to threats,” Zhou Qi suggested.
“That sounds like a good idea!” Tang Yu’an agreed enthusiastically. “We should make sure strong ability users like Lan Lin want to stay.”
“We can discuss the details with Grandpa Li later and figure out the best way to organize it.”
“Alright!”
Afterward, they delivered new clothes to Jin Lili.
Tie Jin was delighted but didn’t accept the clothes outright. Instead, he paid for them before dressing his daughter in the new outfit.
The little clothes were made to Jin Lili’s previous measurements, with a loose-fitting design. Surprisingly, they fit perfectly.
Looking at Jin Lili’s now rounder face, it was clear she had grown a lot.
The most noticeable change was her teeth—she had finally started teething. What was once just two tiny teeth had grown into five.
Seeing Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi, she smiled brightly and reached out for a hug.
Thanks to the nurturing environment, Jin Lili was no longer as timid and quiet as when she first arrived. She had learned to express her needs.
“Lili is so cute!”
Tang Yu’an patted her little head and told Tie Jin and A’Lian, “If her clothes don’t fit in the future, just take them to Room 501 and find Grandpa Li. You can exchange them for new ones for a small processing fee.”
Since ambient-temperature fabric was reusable, the old clothes could be repurposed. With two newborns soon joining Desolate City Haven, these small outfits could be handed down.
“That’s great! Lili will always have new clothes!” Tie Jin said, holding his daughter happily.
Jin Lili clapped her hands and echoed, “New! New!”
A’Lian stood nearby, smiling warmly. Her eyes sparkled with vitality and hope, a stark contrast to her state when she first arrived.
They then visited Granny Guo’s house to deliver new clothes for Kang Kang and handed over a bundle of ambient-temperature fabric in exchange for 1,000 Lanhu leaves.
Granny Guo happily accepted.
To her, the Lanhu leaves were too precious and even gave her nightmares at night, fearing they might be stolen. Now that they were exchanged for something as practical as fabric, she felt much more at ease.
“This fabric is great—better than the Lanhu leaves!” Granny Guo exclaimed, stroking the material with delight. “How can I get more? Is it expensive?”
“You’ll need to ask Grandpa Li. He’s in charge now,” Tang Yu’an replied, also mentioning the existence of low-temperature fabric.
Granny Guo nodded repeatedly and eagerly asked, “Grandpa Li is in Room 501, right?”
“Yes,” Tang Yu’an confirmed.
Granny Guo promptly entrusted Kang Kang to Lin Lu’s care, then grabbed a small bundle and prepared to head downstairs to find Grandpa Li for a trade.
She had realized the immense value of low-temperature fabric and didn’t want to miss the opportunity to acquire some.
Her bundle contained salt notes she had accumulated by trading potatoes with Grandpa Li. While others might not see their value, Granny Guo considered them incredibly useful.
Being older, carrying heavy potatoes up and down the stairs had been exhausting. With salt notes, her life became much easier—just a small bundle in hand, and she could trade for whatever she needed.
Given Desolate City Haven’s current trajectory, she wasn’t worried about the notes losing value anytime soon.
Moreover, these salt notes were exceptionally durable. As long as she kept enough potatoes for food, she didn’t have to worry about the rest rotting or going bad.
When needed, she could always exchange them with Grandpa Li for fresh food. For someone like her, who had used paper currency and even digital money, transitioning to salt notes became much easier once trust in the system was established.
Other growers were still observing the situation, but under her influence, Tie Mu Hua decided to get a batch. Now, she was using them even more adeptly than Granny Guo.
After all, the goods in Room 501 were genuinely top-notch, with new items released almost daily. Just the powdered sugar had everyone drooling with desire.
Not to mention clean cotton and linen fabric, quilts, various first-aid medications, and even the Flame Stones produced by Flame Dragon Fortress.
These fist-sized stones, when placed in a kang bed, could continuously generate heat. They were much more stable and safer than burning wood or charcoal.
Although everyone was curious about the source of these goods in Desolate City Haven, they only dared to speculate in private. No one dared to ask Grandpa Li directly.
Even Lin Zhen and Xiao Cao, the three young assistants in Room 501, were treated with utmost respect.
When Granny Guo arrived at Room 501 with her small bundle, Grandpa Li wasn’t there—he had gone to the brickyard to announce that operations would continue.
“Let’s aim to finish all the kang beds today,” Grandpa Li said. “Starting tomorrow, some of us will begin digging the water channel while the rest continue making bricks.”
He added, “We need to build reservoirs to store water, preparing for future droughts. I hope everyone will actively participate.”
Those who had been worried about the brickyard closing and going hungry immediately perked up.
“Will meals still be included for digging water channels and making bricks?” someone asked.
Grandpa Li nodded but didn’t let them get too excited. He clarified, “The meal policy will be slightly adjusted going forward.”
Previously, making bricks for kang beds directly benefited everyone, so participation had been enthusiastic.
But building reservoirs might not feel as urgent to everyone. To prevent slackers, Grandpa Li set a new rule: only those who met their minimum work quota would be given meals.
Those who exceeded their quotas would receive additional rewards.
Additionally, the brickyard wouldn’t operate continuously as it did before. Workers who completed their tasks early could leave to attend to personal matters.
“Of course, while speed is important, quality cannot be compromised. I’ll assign group leaders who will be responsible for supervising the work quality in their teams. Group leaders will receive better compensation but must ensure the quality of their group’s output…”
Grandpa Li’s strong, authoritative voice carried so far that Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi could hear it clearly from the ninth floor.
Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s so good to have Grandpa around!”
Zhou Qi nodded in agreement, and the two then set off for Jufeng Town to complete their daily tasks.
After finishing their tasks and returning, Tang Yu’an couldn’t wait to try his luck with the Lucky Wheel. He had gone two days without getting anything good and was eager for a win.
“This kind of streak is normal,” Zhou Qi reassured him.
Just as he finished speaking, Tang Yu’an cheered, “Brother Qi, I got a new skill!”
[Congratulations! You’ve obtained the special skill “Wind Blade Lv1”!]
Zhou Qi: …
