Chapter 189
“Baa—”
The little lamb looked at Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi with wide, innocent eyes, its soft bleat breaking the tension. It didn’t seem afraid at all—rather, it curiously greeted them.
How adorable!
Tang Yu’an restrained his urge to reach out and pet the lamb. Instead, he gestured for Old Ping to stand up and asked, “You want to trade these two lambs for water?”
“Yes, yes!” Old Ping stood but kept his back hunched, not daring to straighten fully.
It was the dry season, and their tribe couldn’t afford to feed the lambs. They would eventually be slaughtered anyway, so it made sense to trade them now for water.
“How much water do you think we can get for these two lambs?” Old Ping asked timidly.
Tang Yu’an evaluated the lambs. Each weighed under 10 kilos, and if priced for meat, they might be worth 300 points each.
However, Zhou Qi had mentioned in their message board chat that these lambs were likely sheep. Sheep could produce wool for clothing when grown, making them far more valuable than just meat.
Besides, these little lambs were too cute to eat!
“One lamb for 30 buckets of water,” Tang Yu’an decided.
The wooden buckets Old Ping’s tribe used each held about 20 liters. Two lambs equaled 60 buckets, or 1.2 cubic meters of water. Considering the lake had tens of thousands of cubic meters, this trade was more than fair.
When the cloaked figure wearing the silver mask named the price, Old Ping’s face lit up with joy, his wrinkled features breaking into a broad smile.
Thirty buckets of water for one lamb?! What a deal!
For drinking alone, 30 buckets could sustain their tribe’s people and livestock for an entire month if rationed carefully.
Old Ping profusely expressed his gratitude, nearly kneeling again before Tang Yu’an stopped him.
The lambs were left behind as Old Ping returned to his group to explain the arrangement. Upon hearing the terms, the other tribespeople knelt and bowed toward the cloaked figures from afar before hurrying to fetch water.
Seven people carried two buckets each, drawing 14 buckets of water in one trip. On the second trip, a dozen or so others fetched the remaining 60 buckets.
To Tang Yu’an’s surprise, he actually profited from the exchange.
The system valued each lamb at 1,500 points, meaning the two lambs were worth 3,000 points. Tang Yu’an had only traded 1,200 liters of water, worth 1,400 points, earning him a net profit of 1,600 points.
“This is our first trade involving live animals,” Tang Yu’an said in amazement. “I didn’t expect lambs to be so valuable.”
Zhou Qi thought for a moment. “It might be because they’re alive.”
From past trades, they had noticed that plants and plant-based products tended to have high system valuations, likely because they possessed life force.
Tang Yu’an nodded. “Then we should focus on developing livestock and animal husbandry!”
He studied the map, noting that Old Ping’s tribe was about two kilometers from the lake and consisted of around 30 to 40 people based on the green markers.
Although small, the tribe seemed to have retained its sense of civility and order, as evidenced by their respectful conduct and patience. Such a tribe was worth fostering a relationship with.
“If we plan to build a ranch on the grasslands, we could entrust it to their tribe,” Tang Yu’an suggested.
“Should we recruit Old Ping as an employee for Shop #6?”
Tang Yu’an reasoned that they couldn’t stay here forever. While they had considered raising sheep, it was a long-term plan they hadn’t fleshed out yet.
Once they left, the lake would likely be at risk.
“Recruiting Old Ping as an employee for Shop #6 could help,” Tang Yu’an analyzed. “He could handle transactions to boost the shop’s popularity, which would eventually unlock the barrier’s full capabilities and even the lodging list feature.”
This would allow them to use the lodging rules to regulate the nomadic herders, provide protection when necessary, and lay the groundwork for future grassland development.
“Who knows? Maybe we could even build a grassland version of the home base!”
Zhou Qi shook his head. “Nomadic herders migrate based on water and grass availability. The model of the home base might not suit the grasslands.”
However, he agreed with recruiting Old Ping. “I support bringing him on as an employee for Shop #6. He’s bold, careful, and takes responsibility—perfect for the role.”
Tang Yu’an tapped his chin thoughtfully. “If they’re nomadic, we could just build multiple branches across the grasslands!”
Anywhere with water would attract vegetation, which in turn would draw herders. Branches in key locations could provide protection and services when they settled temporarily.
Zhou Qi considered the idea and nodded. “It’s a solid plan.”
Moreover, the wasteland wasn’t their original world. With wood-element ability users capable of accelerating plant growth, Old Ping’s tribe likely wouldn’t need to migrate far for now.
“Their livestock numbers are probably small—maybe two or three per household at most,” Zhou Qi speculated.
The grasslands, though relatively stable, were still fraught with challenges: drastic temperature changes, alternating rainy and dry seasons, violent windstorms, and dangerous mutated creatures. These factors limited livestock populations.
Migration wouldn’t become necessary until the tribe expanded significantly, which was a distant concern.
“For now, let’s focus on increasing Shop #6’s popularity,” Zhou Qi concluded.
“Alright!” Tang Yu’an responded enthusiastically. “Should I recruit him as an employee now?”
“Go ahead,” Zhou Qi nodded.
Tang Yu’an sent the recruitment notification to Old Ping.
After ensuring there were no other dots moving around on the map, he crouched down and finally allowed himself to pet the lamb’s soft head.
“Baa—”
True to its domesticated nature, the lamb was docile and fluffy, its demeanor far gentler than that of a goat. Tang Yu’an instantly fell in love with it.
“Let’s take these lambs back to Grandpa and the others for care!”
Until Shop #6’s popularity increased, the area wasn’t suitable for raising livestock. The presence of water would soon attract more animals.
The map already showed several red dots circling nearby, deterred only by the presence of Black Pearl and Yuan Bao.
Once they left, the area would likely be overtaken by animals, potentially transforming into an oasis with the growth of vegetation.
“Alright, let’s head back.”
The duo packed up the magical tent, each carrying a lamb while leading their pets into Shop #6. Using the teleportation array, they returned to Shop #1.
Meanwhile, Old Ping was on his way back when a glowing screen suddenly appeared in front of him.
[The Mysterious Merchant invites you to become a salesperson at “Peace Grocery Shop – Branch #6.”]
Hearing the voice that accompanied the message, Old Ping nearly tripped but quickly regained his composure.
He read the text carefully, and the voice read it aloud as his gaze moved across it.
A salesperson? Was this the title the “Commerce God Church” used for its followers?
They had refused his request to join earlier, so why were they recruiting him now? Old Ping thought for a moment and concluded it must be because of his actions today—bringing the lambs to trade for water must have earned their approval.
The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Yesterday was only their first meeting; the emissaries likely wanted to test his character.
Should he join? The offer mentioned a monthly salary of 10 points, but he wasn’t sure what that could be used for…
After some consideration, Old Ping gritted his teeth and accepted.
If one lamb could get 30 buckets of water, working for these emissaries had to be a good opportunity!
As soon as he accepted, a tutorial task and a long-term profit-oriented task appeared, explaining how to conduct valid trades.
So, as long as the transactions are profitable, it counts?
Old Ping turned to his son, Ah Shan, and said, “Here, take this bucket of water and give me the binoculars.”
Ah Shan, already holding a bucket, handed over the binoculars without question and picked up his father’s bucket.
[You’ve completed a profitable trade with a returning customer. Points +1, Employee Experience +1.]
Old Ping had successfully unlocked the employee interface.
When he saw the marketplace tab, he nearly exclaimed in surprise but managed to hold it in.
For now, he could only exchange points for wheat or glucose.
Testing it out, Old Ping spent 1 point to buy wheat. When he saw his empty pouch suddenly fill with 100 grams of wheat seeds, his face lit up with joy.
Amazing! Being a follower of the Commerce God really does provide food!
*
Back at Desolate City Haven
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi handed the lambs over to Grandpa Li.
“Where did you two find these lambs?” Grandpa Li asked, visibly delighted but not pressing for details.
He called for Huo Qiu to take the lambs to the pen, instructing him to set up a separate enclosure for them to avoid being bullied by the goats.
“Once these lambs grow, they’ll provide wool, and we can make sweaters,” Grandpa Li noted.
While temperature-regulating fabric was available, its production was limited, and not everyone could afford it. Having a cheaper alternative for warmth was ideal.
“In time, when resources are abundant, people will want more than just the basics,” Grandpa Li added, recalling the prosperous days before the apocalypse.
He chuckled as the two boys prepared to leave but suddenly stopped Tang Yu’an.
“An An, will you be updating your story today?”
“Yes, I’ll post it later!” Tang Yu’an nodded.
Relieved, Grandpa Li let them go.
He had considered asking for the original book but refrained, knowing how fragile books had become after years of neglect.
Instead, the anticipation of each update brought him a rare sense of excitement, reminding him of the days he eagerly awaited new book releases.
Returning to the teleportation room, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi noticed that the points and popularity of Shop #1 had increased significantly in recent days.
Tang Yu’an used 10,000 points and 1,000 popularity points to expand Shop #1’s protective barrier by another 10 meters.
“Let’s go slowly,” Tang Yu’an said. “The popularity points are limited, so I don’t want to use them all at once.”
The barrier now extended further, providing better security without depleting their resources too quickly.
“Bit by bit, it doesn’t feel as painful to spend,” Tang Yu’an remarked with satisfaction.
Suddenly remembering something, he opened the shop’s upgrade conditions again.
“Small is Strong” Path: This path couldn’t be achieved anytime soon. Upgrading to Level 4 required 5 Lv3 magical furnitures and 10 Lv2 magical furnitures.
It had taken a long time to gather 5 Lv2 furniture last time, and now the requirements had doubled, including the higher-tier items.
“Big is Beautiful” Path: Peace Grocery Shop (“Big is Beautiful!”) Lv1
Upgrade to Lv2 requires:
Merchant Level 10 (met)
Ownership of 6 branches (met)
Total shop area of 10,000 sq. meters (met)
Total shop popularity of 50,000 (not met)
Their current total shop popularity exceeded 30,000 points. Judging by the employees’ efficiency, it would likely reach the target within a week or two.
The “Big is Beautiful” path primarily increased the nightly guest capacity.
The next upgrade would likely raise the limit from 1,000 guests to 10,000, which could cover the entire population of Jufeng Mountain and Desolate City.
After all, Jufeng Mountain had only around 5,000–6,000 residents.
Satisfied with the plan, Tang Yu’an closed the interface and, alongside Zhou Qi, used the teleportation array to return to the alternate world.
*
Alternate World
In the time they had been away, two to three months had passed in the alternate dimension.
The mutant chicken eggs left in the coop had already hatched, and the yellow chicks were chirping as they dashed around the yard.
Tang Yu’an captured the rowdy big yellow chick and sent it back to the swimming hall to be disciplined by the mutant mother hen.
The swimming hall now housed three mutant chickens. After the original six, the eggs laid by the mother hen were all unfertilized.
Those eggs were given to Grandpa Li, who used them to make egg pancakes as rewards for the top three brick and cement producers of the day.
Meanwhile, Tang Yu’an learned that their use of bricks and cement to build Shop #6 hadn’t depleted their stock. The warehouse still held plenty of materials, and the first single-story house was already under construction.
This house was intended for Granny Guo, though not for free. She had to provide a certain amount of agricultural produce in exchange.
Other cultivators were also interested, but as the eldest member of the community, Granny Guo had priority in choosing housing—a policy that emphasized respect for elders, a hallmark of Desolate City Haven’s values.
*:
At the swimming hall, another litter of rabbits had been born—this time from a different pair.
Meanwhile, the first pair had already produced another litter, and, according to Grandpa Li, the female rabbit was pregnant again!
Tang Yu’an realized that, at this rate, the rabbits would multiply frighteningly fast if brought to the alternate world. For now, he decided to keep them in the main world.
Returning to the alternate world, Tang Yu’an took out the remaining chicken and duck eggs, leaving only three of each for emergencies. The rest were placed in the incubation chamber.
Since livestock held significant value, Tang Yu’an was keen on promoting their cultivation. Not only would it improve the residents’ quality of life, but it would also increase the community’s points revenue.
After setting everything in order, Tang Yu’an eagerly dove back into his studies.
Though Lin Zhen hadn’t unlocked all subjects, her progress into middle school courses gave Tang Yu’an a sense of urgency.
“I can’t fall behind! The sooner I finish studying, the sooner I can explore freely like Brother Zhou!”
While Tang Yu’an focused on his studies, Zhou Qi ventured out alone to train and explore.
Although the dangers increased without Tang Yu’an’s presence, Zhou Qi remained undeterred.
Every day, he returned bloodied and bruised after battling mutant beasts, only to rest overnight and head out again the next morning.
Tang Yu’an’s initial worry and heartache gradually turned into acceptance.
“If this is what Brother Zhou wants to do, all I can do is support him,” he thought.
So, he made sure to provide a warm, safe space for Zhou Qi to recover and tended to his injuries whenever he returned.
For the next three days, they spent most of their time in the alternate world. Only at 10 PM each night did they return to the Peace Grocery Shop in the main world to draw the daily Drift Bottles and participate in lotteries.
Three Months of Work:
During this time, Tang Yu’an completed transcribing the entire wuxia novel during his study breaks.
To employees eagerly awaiting updates, the story appeared to update at a rapid pace—around 15 chapters per day over three days—culminating in the grand finale on the third day.
Forum Reactions:
[Little Troublemaker]: “Tang Lord is amazing! (?V?)/”
[Changqing]: “Cheering you on!”
[Panshi]: “Amazing! (?V?)/”
Thanks to two former internet enthusiasts, employees had picked up pre-apocalypse slang and emoji use, mimicking it eagerly.
While Tang Yu’an’s posts brought fun and excitement, Zhou Qi continued diligently updating scientific knowledge threads.
The forum now struck a perfect balance between seriousness and entertainment, creating a dynamic community atmosphere.
Tang Yu’an felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
To employees, the novel’s completion seemed like a feat accomplished in just three days. Only Tang Yu’an knew it had taken him three months to finish.
After a short break, he planned to resume transcribing his father’s collection, preserving these cultural treasures for posterity—even in an alternate world, it felt like a meaningful mission.
As he thought about his plans, a sudden realization struck him.
“In just a month, it’ll be my birthday,” Tang Yu’an said aloud.
He would soon turn 14 years old.
Zhou Qi gave a slight nod. In two months, he would turn 17.
During the three months spent in the alternate dimension, Zhou Qi had grown noticeably taller. Thanks to his daily battles with mutant beasts, his physique became stronger and more robust. Even his demeanor had changed—his once melancholic eyes, shaped by childhood experiences, now held a profound depth, and his brows and gaze were sharper, exuding a cutting-edge aura.
However, whenever he faced Tang Yu’an, all that sharpness seemed to melt away, leaving behind a warm and harmless presence.
As for Tang Yu’an, apart from growing taller, his round, chubby cheeks remained, a testament to how well Zhou Qi had taken care of him. Aside from gaining a slightly steadier temperament from transcribing books, he hadn’t changed much.
“Let’s stay in the main dimension and take a break for a while,” Tang Yu’an suggested.
In the alternate world, life was monotonous, filled with studying, training, and fighting. Aside from the occasional movie or book transcription, it was relatively dull.
Tang Yu’an missed life at the Desolate City Haven. Even just chatting with familiar faces was a comfort.
Seeing Tang Yu’an’s sullen demeanor, Zhou Qi reached out to ruffle his hair gently and said, “Alright, we’ll stay here and rest for a while.”
Hearing that, Tang Yu’an finally smiled and asked, “What are we doing today?”
Having spent so much time in the alternate world, he had grown a little fuzzy on the tasks awaiting them in the main dimension.
“We’re taking Kang Kang to Lanhu Town,” Zhou Qi reminded him.
“Oh, right! Let’s go find Kang Kang!” Tang Yu’an exclaimed, pulling Zhou Qi along to see Granny Guo.
When Granny Guo saw Zhou Qi, she was momentarily taken aback. In Zhou Qi’s nervous gaze, she gave a warm, gentle smile and said, “You’ve grown up.”
For some reason, those words stirred a bittersweet emotion in Zhou Qi’s heart. He nodded lightly and replied with a soft hum.
One of Zhou Qi’s motivations for staying in the alternate dimension and working so hard to grow stronger was to mature quickly.
After all, Granny Guo was already 86 years old.
He wanted her to see him grow up. He didn’t want to leave any regrets.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Qi suppressed the emotions welling up inside him and smiled at Granny Guo. “We’re here to pick up Kang Kang.”
When he smiled, it softened the sharp edges of his features, making him look youthful again. Seeing this, Granny Guo’s smile grew even kinder.
“He’s in the yard. I’ll call him,” she offered.
But Tang Yu’an quickly volunteered, “I’ll go get him. Be right back!”
With that, he dashed off, leaving Zhou Qi to chat with Granny Guo.
“Where have you been these past few days? You’ve changed so much,” she asked, handing him a sweet fruit.
“Just went through a few battles. It’s nothing,” Zhou Qi replied casually.
Granny Guo could tell it wasn’t as simple as he made it sound. She reached out to gently pat his shoulder and said, “Don’t carry everything on your own. We’re here to help. Don’t overwork yourself.”
“Thank you, Granny,” Zhou Qi replied softly.
By the time Tang Yu’an returned, carrying Kang Kang in his arms, Zhou Qi had already composed himself.
Granny Guo dressed Kang Kang in new clothes and packed his little backpack with some food before helping him put it on. “Granny will be waiting at home. Come back soon,” she said.
Kang Kang, still a bit confused, nodded and hugged Granny Guo tightly before happily jumping into Tang Yu’an’s arms.
“Play! Go play!”
He clapped his hands excitedly, making Granny Guo shake her head with a mix of worry and amusement.
“Granny, we’re off! Don’t worry, we’ll keep Kang Kang safe!” Tang Yu’an promised.
“I’ll leave him in your care,” she replied.
After saying goodbye to Granny Guo, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi took Kang Kang to the 9th-floor teleportation room.
They opened the teleportation array settings and added Kang Kang’s name to the user list.
[Deduct 1,000 points to grant teleportation access to longtime customer ‘Guo Kang Kang’?]
Tang Yu’an, already used to such prompts, confirmed the deduction without hesitation.
As the teleportation array lit up, their figures vanished, reappearing moments later in the basement of the Lanhu Town #5 Store.
