Chapter 24 – The Value of Mutant Lantern Fruit
Lin Zhen wasn’t swayed by the immediate benefits in front of her; instead, she set her sights on a more distant future.
If the egg the boy presented could truly hatch into a hen that could lay eggs continuously, that prospect was far more enticing than a bag of sugar!
Her gaze was sharp, but as Tang Yu’an looked at her, his expression turned a bit peculiar.
From now until the chicks hatch and grow into egg-laying hens, it would take at least half a year. On a farm, this time could be shortened to three or four months, but without the right conditions or knowledge, they couldn’t achieve that themselves.
Sister Lin was really willing to take such a long gamble!
Moreover…
“Sister, you want ten eggs… Are you planning to hatch more chicks with them?” Tang Yu’an asked.
Lin Zhen noticed the strange look in his eyes but didn’t understand its meaning. After hesitating, she nodded, “Yes.”
That was indeed her plan.
Eggs are highly nutritious, and if a hen could lay one egg every day for several months each year, that would be an enormous asset! Whether for personal consumption or trading, it’s enough to make anyone’s heart race.
If those mutant chickens weren’t so fiercely powerful, she would have tried to capture a female mutant chicken herself.
“But Sister Lin, without a rooster, the eggs laid by the hen can’t hatch into chicks.”
“Huh?”
Lin Zhen was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Tang Yu’an. “Is that true?”
“Yes,” Tang Yu’an confirmed confidently. “A hen that doesn’t live with a rooster can lay eggs, but those eggs can only be eaten; they can’t hatch chicks.”
Lin Zhen’s expression immediately fell.
Of course, in the natural world, it takes a male and a female to produce offspring. If hens could reproduce on their own, what would roosters be for?
So wanting those ten eggs would be pointless beyond eating them…
Although eggs are very nutritious, she could go collect bird eggs from nests; no need to wait so long just to get ten eggs. Compared to that, sugar was rarer and more precious.
But then she thought of something and quickly said, “How big do these hens usually grow? If necessary, we can try to catch a mutant rooster!”
For the first time, Tang Yu’an sensed Sister Lin’s fierce determination.
He swallowed nervously and gestured with his hands, honestly saying, “They can grow to about the height of your calf if well-fed.”
“That’s no good,” Lin Zhen shook her head, sighing. “Mutant roosters are at least one meter tall. These little hens wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Indeed.”
Tang Yu’an nodded earnestly. He thought for a moment, then pretended to pull out two more fertilized eggs from his backpack.
“Sister Lin, how about this?”
Tang Yu’an proposed, “We’ll give you and A-Mu these three eggs. If you successfully hatch chicks, and among them, there’s more than one hen, you can have one.”
Excluding these three, Tang Yu’an still had 20 fertilized eggs in his portable warehouse. Giving up three wasn’t a significant loss for him.
But if in the end, he could get two chicks, he’d make a big profit!
Moreover, this would greatly motivate Lin Zhen. If all went well, she could get a hen in just over a month.
With such a tempting offer, she would certainly take great care of these three eggs!
Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, Lin Zhen’s eyes lit up.
“Are you serious?”
She looked at Tang Yu’an, then uneasily glanced at the older Zhou Qi. Clearly, she believed that Zhou Qi, who was taller and more mature, carried more weight in such decisions.
Without hesitation, Zhou Qi stood behind Tang Yu’an. “An An makes the decisions on this.”
“Great! Alright! It’s a deal!”
Lin Zhen was overjoyed, never expecting the boy to have extra eggs and to be so generous as to share a hen with her.
Of course, all this was based on the premise that A-Mu could successfully hatch the eggs.
She glanced at Grandpa Li, saw his brows slightly furrowed, and finally felt it wouldn’t be right to take such advantage without offering something in return.
“This matter does carry some risk; the eggs might not hatch. I can’t just waste your eggs for nothing!” She said, pulling out a paper packet from her pocket.
“Inside is a special medicinal powder I made. It can treat mosquito and insect bites; mix it with water and apply it to the wound, and it will heal quickly.”
Finally, Lin Zhen added, “If you apply it regularly, it can also repel insects. But if you’re unlucky enough to encounter mutant mosquitoes, you’d better run as fast and as far as you can!”
“Have mutant mosquitoes also become gigantic?”
“Yes.”
Hearing her affirmative answer, both Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi gasped in shock.
Just imagining mosquitoes as big as a palm—or even larger—was enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
“Alright, we understand.” Tang Yu’an accepted Lin Zhen’s medicinal powder. “Thank you, Sister Lin.”
“You’re welcome!”
Lin Zhen carefully put away the three eggs, handling them gingerly—they looked so fragile, as if they could break with a touch.
[You have completed a transaction with a regular customer and made a profit. Credits +20, Experience +1]
It seemed this packet of medicinal powder was highly valued by the system. After deducting the cost of the three eggs, he still made a profit of 20 credits!
Seeing the system prompt, Tang Yu’an beamed with joy.
Lin Zhen, holding the eggs, didn’t look relaxed. Next, she had to figure out how to hatch these eggs!
“By the way, aren’t you afraid I’ll run off with the eggs? Trusting others so easily can lead to losses, you know. This is the desolate city, not the fortress,” she cautioned.
Hearing this, Tang Yu’an smiled and said, “We’re not afraid. We believe Sister Lin wouldn’t do that.”
Even if they ended up trusting the wrong person, the loss would be minimal, well within what they could afford.
Given that, why not take a risk?
If in the end, his judgment proved correct, he would gain not just two chicks but also a trustworthy collaborator.
“Besides, how can you be sure that we’d be the ones at a loss?”
Lin Zhen had been momentarily dazed by his innocent smile, wondering if there were still such pure and kind fools in the world.
But his next sentence made her realize that perhaps she was the fool.
Yes, how could she be certain that they’d be the ones to suffer?
If she ran off, they would lose only these three eggs, but she would lose the opportunity to cooperate with them further—even her relationship with Grandpa Li might be strained!
After all, Grandpa Li had just been saved by them and was a witness to this deal. If she stole from them, someone like Grandpa Li probably wouldn’t side with her.
Moreover, even if she successfully hatched the chicks, she wouldn’t know how to raise them and would still need guidance from the two boys.
The more Lin Zhen thought about it, the more she felt that she might be the one at a disadvantage.
As expected from those who came from the fortress—they might be naive, but they certainly weren’t foolish.
“You’ve convinced me,” Lin Zhen said sincerely. “So our cooperation is settled?”
“Yes.”
Seeing that they had reached an agreement, Grandpa Li smiled and said, “As a witness, I should contribute as well.”
He took a woven grass basket from the corner and handed it to Lin Zhen. “You can collect some dry grass to line it. I noticed mutant chickens make their nests this way.”
Grandpa Li had only seen it from afar, but he vaguely remembered that chicken nests he’d seen on TV as a youth were also made with straw.
There’s no straw now, but perhaps dry grass would suffice.
“Alright.”
Lin Zhen didn’t stand on ceremony. She accepted the basket, carefully placed the eggs inside, and even used leaves to separate each egg to prevent them from breaking.
“I’ll come find you tomorrow. Anyway, what we discussed isn’t urgent.”
According to Grandpa Li, under suitable conditions, mutant lizard eggs would take at least three or four months to hatch, so they had time to prepare.
“Let’s go home.”
Lin Zhen greeted Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi, then climbed out of the window with the basket of eggs.
Tang Yu’an had been about to discuss clearing the giant lizard nest, but seeing her leave, he had no choice but to climb onto Zhou Qi’s back.
“Grandpa Li, we’re heading off now. We’ll come see you tomorrow!”
Tang Yu’an didn’t forget to bid farewell, and Zhou Qi, carrying him, had already leaped out the window.
Grandpa Li watched their figures disappear among the ruins, then silently withdrew his gaze and looked down at the fresh bandages on his leg.
Were these two children really just out for training? Was their sudden appearance in the desolate city merely a coincidence?
He fell into deep thought but couldn’t come up with an answer. Finally, he shook his head and sat down again, picking up his piece of wood and knife to continue carving.
*
After catching up with Lin Zhen, Tang Yu’an remembered that he’d forgotten to ask Grandpa Li about the blue crystal.
But with Sister Lin present, it didn’t seem appropriate to ask; they’d have to wait until tomorrow.
The effect of Zhou Qi’s Lightness Technique hadn’t worn off yet. With a few leaps, he easily caught up with Lin Zhen.
Seeing his agility firsthand, Lin Zhen couldn’t help but smirk.
She had initially wanted to compete, but recalling how even A-Mu had lost track of them yesterday, she decided to focus her attention on the basket of eggs.
These precious eggs must not be damaged.
A-Mu flew overhead, his yellow-green eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
He was Lin Zhen’s second pair of eyes. With his warnings and assistance, Lin Zhen could navigate the desolate city freely and comfortably.
In about ten minutes, they arrived at Lin Zhen’s residence.
It appeared to be a former residential complex, with several buildings collapsed haphazardly in the same area. The ground was lush with grass and flowers, resembling a small garden.
Unlike Granny Guo’s enclosed home or Grandpa Li’s orderly place, Lin Zhen’s residence wasn’t as fortified, but it was also situated at a high point without any ladders.
They spent some effort climbing up to her home.
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a faint herbal scent—fresh and pleasant, invigorating the senses.
Besides that, they saw jars and bottles filling the room. Recalling her homemade insect repellent powder, Tang Yu’an began to speculate about her skills.
However, upon seeing the brightly colored, oddly shaped mushrooms growing in the corner, he felt his guess might be a bit off.
These mushrooms… perhaps weren’t meant for consumption?
Sure enough, noticing his gaze lingering on the mushrooms, Lin Zhen warned, “Those mushrooms are poisonous. You’d better not get too close.”
Tang Yu’an solemnly nodded and asked, “Sister, why do you grow so many poisonous mushrooms at home?”
“For self-defense, of course,” Lin Zhen replied. “And they can be used to make medicine.”
She glanced at the innocent-looking Tang Yu’an and the silent Zhou Qi, then added, “Anyway, if you see such brightly colored mushrooms in the wild, absolutely don’t touch them.”
“Also, there are some mutant mushrooms that move around. They like dark, damp places, especially under rotting wood. Be cautious if you encounter such areas.”
“Alright, thank you for telling us,” Tang Yu’an responded earnestly.
He hadn’t expected that besides animals, other organisms could mutate. If they ventured into the wild in the future, they’d have to be extra cautious.
After all, their cat teasers and dog frisbees were only effective against animals; they probably wouldn’t work on mushrooms and plants.
After memorizing the features of the mushrooms, Tang Yu’an’s gaze shifted back to the numerous bottles and jars scattered around.
There were so many that it felt like a laboratory.
“Don’t touch those bottles either; I’ve collected them over a long time,” Lin Zhen reminded again. She then left the two boys, placed the eggs carefully, and ran outside.
Shortly after, she returned with an armful of dry grass.
“Is there anything I should pay attention to when hatching eggs?” She sat by the window, using the sunlight to build a nest, and asked.
Tang Yu’an went over to help, while Zhou Qi recalled information he’d learned and said, “Once incubation begins, the eggs’ temperature must not drop.”
Lin Zhen tilted her head. “So, A-Mu can’t leave the nest? He has to stay on the eggs all the time?”
“Yes! But you need to turn the eggs occasionally to ensure they heat evenly,” Tang Yu’an added.
Lin Zhen nodded, indicating she understood, then asked, “Anything else?”
Zhou Qi thought for a moment and said, “The nest should be placed in a well-ventilated area, avoiding rain.”
“Ah, I see.” Lin Zhen paused, seeming a bit troubled. She thought for a moment and then nodded. “Alright, I’ve got it.”
She then looked at her parrot companion, smiling slyly. “A-Mu, it’s going to be hard on you.”
A-Mu was perched on a wooden stand, preening his feathers. Upon hearing this, he rolled his eyes again and turned his head away arrogantly.
Only when Lin Zhen pulled out a nut and offered it to him did the big parrot reluctantly turn back and take it.
Watching the parrot, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but say, “A-Mu is so cute.”
Moreover, he was quite large, similar to a macaw. Incubating three eggs would be no problem.
Apparently unaware of human cunning, A-Mu puffed out his chest upon hearing the praise. “A-Mu is cute and smart!”
Amused, Tang Yu’an took out a small handful of yellow millet from his backpack—hulled and ready to eat.
“Sister Lin, can A-Mu come to my hand? He can eat this.”
Lin Zhen blinked. She hadn’t seen millet before but could tell it was some kind of grain, processed very finely.
As expected from someone from the fortress…
She thought to herself, then called to A-Mu. The parrot flapped over and perched on Tang Yu’an’s arm.
[You have completed a loss-making transaction with a regular customer. Experience +1]
The last experience point was secured!
Tang Yu’an happily looked at Zhou Qi and said with a smile, “Brother Qi, look, the parrot is so cute.”
“Yes,” Zhou Qi replied, patting his head.
A-Mu lowered his head to peck at the millet in Tang Yu’an’s palm, exclaiming, “Delicious! So delicious!”
After finishing the small handful of millet, the parrot flapped his wings and boldly declared his allegiance.
“A-Mu wants to go home with you! A-Mu is cute and smart!”
“Yummy food! Eat every day!”
His crest bobbed as he spoke enthusiastically, completely ignoring the exasperated Lin Zhen beside him.
Tang Yu’an chuckled, looking up at the parrot. “Sure, but you’ll have to incubate eggs for me every day.”
A-Mu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You’re bad!”
“A-Mu won’t play with you!”
He then flew back to the perch that Lin Zhen had made for him, looking down at the nearly finished nest on the ground with a melancholic and sorrowful expression.
It was the first time Tang Yu’an had seen such a spirited animal. He couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Lin, is A-Mu a mutant parrot?”
“Probably.”
Lin Zhen wasn’t entirely sure. “Aside from being smart and able to express his thoughts accurately through speech, he doesn’t have any other abilities.”
“That’s already amazing!” Tang Yu’an exclaimed.
“Don’t you have such mutant creatures in the fortress?” Lin Zhen asked curiously.
Tang Yu’an hesitated; since they weren’t truly from a fortress, they didn’t know.
“At least I haven’t seen any,” he said vaguely.
“I see.”
Lin Zhen smiled slightly. “Yes, I think A-Mu is quite amazing.”
Hearing this, A-Mu proudly puffed out his chest once more.
“When I found him, he was just this small.” Lin Zhen gestured with her hand—it was only slightly larger than an egg.
“He’d been abandoned by his flock, curled up in the grass looking pitiful, so I picked him up.”
“I didn’t expect that as I raised him, he’d grow so big. Not only can he talk, but he also likes to talk back, always making me angry.”
“But now I’m used to it, and it feels quite nice…”
The two boys quietly listened to her story about the parrot.
Even A-Mu flew to her shoulder, gently nuzzling her face. The bond between them was evident.
Watching them, Tang Yu’an glanced at the only golden light on the map—the other two green lights likely represented people Lin Zhen knew, but they were some distance from her home.
Grandpa Li was also alone. Perhaps in this apocalyptic world, those like Granny Guo and Kang Kang, who had family by their side, were the exception rather than the norm.
Thinking of this, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but look at Zhou Qi beside him.
He was fortunate to have Brother Qi with him; he was indeed very lucky!
Sensing his gaze, Zhou Qi turned to look at him, showing a questioning expression.
Tang Yu’an quickly shook his head, then affectionately took Zhou Qi’s hand, unconsciously playing with his fingers.
The doubt in Zhou Qi’s eyes faded, replaced by a subtle smile.
Soon, the nest was completed, and the three eggs were properly placed inside.
“Do you know how long it takes for the eggs to hatch?” Lin Zhen asked again.
“If all goes well, it should be around twenty days,” Zhou Qi replied.
“Alright, then I’ll make preparations.”
Since A-Mu wouldn’t be able to leave the nest, she needed to prepare enough food and find a warm, comfortable, and well-ventilated place.
“If you’re staying in the desolate city, feel free to visit anytime. If I’m doing something wrong, please let me know.”
“Okay.”
Before leaving, Tang Yu’an gave A-Mu another bag of millet, further endearing himself to the big parrot.
Of course, the system indicated he’d made another loss-making transaction.
Tang Yu’an didn’t mind. They had already earned 74 credits today, which could be exchanged for several kilograms of brown rice and wheat—they weren’t short on millet.
A-Mu wouldn’t be able to leave the nest for over ten days, and Lin Zhen would have to prepare all his food, which was indeed a burden.
Providing some food was a necessary investment.
“Do you need me to show you the way?” Lin Zhen offered as she saw them off downstairs.
“No need, Sister Lin. We want to explore the area.”
“Alright, be careful.”
After Lin Zhen left, Tang Yu’an climbed onto Zhou Qi’s back, and they departed.
With over half an hour left before the Lightness Technique’s effect wore off, they decided to visit Granny Guo and Kang Kang to gain today’s experience points.
Although the two green lights representing potential customers were closer, they decided to leave that for tomorrow, hoping to time it with their refreshed daily tasks and possibly save a refresh card.
*
The sun rose higher, and the weather grew hotter.
By the time they reached Granny Guo’s house, it was almost noon, but she hadn’t returned yet—only Kang Kang was home.
“Kang Kang, we’re here to see you!”
They climbed onto the platform outside the skylight but didn’t rush in. Instead, they stood outside, knocked on the wall, and called out.
There were sounds of movement inside.
After a moment, a pair of small hands struggled to push aside the stone slab covering the skylight. Kang Kang parted the vines that Granny Guo had used to conceal the skylight and poked his head out.
The child was very thin, his skin unusually pale from long periods without sunlight.
However, his eyes were exceptionally bright. He looked at Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi with joy, his eyebrows curved in happiness.
“Brother… Tang Brother…” he called softly.
“Hey, Kang Kang is so good!” Tang Yu’an reached out to rub his head, then slipped a small piece of rock candy into his mouth.
Kang Kang smiled sweetly, then suddenly turned and jumped down from the skylight, running inside. Soon he returned, holding something in his hands, which he offered to Tang Yu’an.
“Brother… for you…”
It was a fruit emitting a faint blue glow, like a small lantern. But when brought into the sunlight, the glow dimmed.
Tang Yu’an had seen that glowing plant yesterday—it seemed to be a mutant physalis. He found it fascinating and really liked it.
“Is this for me? Thank you, Kang Kang!”
Without hesitation, Tang Yu’an accepted the lantern fruit. Then the system prompt popped up.
[You have completed a transaction with a regular customer and made a profit. Credits +49, Experience +1]
Tang Yu’an: 0.0
