The Cat Who Farms in the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland – CH189

Chapter 189: Lifespan

The founding of New Seedling Base dropped like a bomb on the surrounding areas, shaking all the local powers.

The higher-ups at Black Gold Base and Yacheng were especially shocked.

They had anticipated this day would come, but when it finally arrived, they couldn’t quite put their feelings into words.

Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu, the leaders of New Seedling Base, had no time to think about other factions.

Small settlements scattered across the land began migrating en masse to their base.

A new surge of people flooded into their base, creating another wave of growth.

To accommodate them, Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu were busy day and night.

Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi helped out occasionally, but for the most part, Xia Lu Nong was preoccupied with tending to his plants.

With the help of Yan Ming Qing and others, Xia Lu Nong was handling his plants more efficiently.

He planned to work with his team to select another batch of high-yield crops suitable for their region.

It was grueling work.

After spending more than ten days in the fields, he didn’t take proper care of his sun protection and his skin started to peel.

That night, while applying ointment for him, Kong Zhi looked at his neck and said, “Tomorrow, wear something with a higher collar.”

Xia Lu Nong, lowering his head, replied, “It’s already spring, who wears high collars anymore?”

Kong Zhi didn’t look up, “Other people aren’t peeling.”

“…” Xia Lu Nong quickly promised, “I neglected it these past few days. I’ll make sure to apply proper sun protection from now on.”

Kong Zhi let out a soft snort, “You said the same thing last time.”

Xia Lu Nong coughed lightly, “Let’s not talk about me. How’s your work going?”

Kong Zhi, not being an agricultural specialist or having any abilities related to farming, wasn’t much help in that area.

Now that Xia Lu Nong had more professional assistance, Kong Zhi had shifted his focus to mechanical engineering.

The whole base belonged to them, so he was eager to learn. Having the engineering department’s experts guide him was as easy as Yan Xi Nian saying the word.

Kong Zhi was thriving in that environment, progressing by leaps and bounds.

Every day, Xia Lu Nong was thrilled to hear about the new things Kong Zhi had learned.

Although they were busy in different fields, they were both full of energy and drive, making their lives feel fulfilling despite the hard work.

“Engineer Guo recommended a few books today. I need to brush up on the basics,” Kong Zhi said.

Xia Lu Nong turned to face him, eyes shining. “Engineer Guo is personally guiding you? That’s amazing!”

A faint smile appeared in Kong Zhi’s eyes. “He just gave me a few tips, nothing too personal.”

“Still, that’s impressive!” Xia Lu Nong said. “We should celebrate tomorrow!”

“Where will we find the time tomorrow?” Kong Zhi held him by the waist, keeping him calm. “Let’s talk about it on a rest day.”

“It’s fine, I’ll come back early tomorrow,” Xia Lu Nong said. “The outdoor bread oven hasn’t been used in a while. Let’s bake some ribs tomorrow.”

Kong Zhi held him close, the faint scent of his shower gel lingering in the air, stirring the heart.

Kong Zhi was about to say something, but the scent in the air distracted him.

He lowered his head, inhaling Xia Lu Nong’s hair, and said, “If you still have energy, how about we indulge in a different kind of feast?”

Xia Lu Nong blinked, running his hand over Kong Zhi’s firm abs. “Seems like we could have a set of each?”

With young lovers, even the smallest spark could ignite the atmosphere between them.

As soon as Xia Lu Nong said that, Kong Zhi’s eyes darkened.

Swallowing, Xia Lu Nong opened the drawer and glanced down, whispering, “Let’s just do it once, though. I have to get up early tomorrow.”

Kong Zhi kissed his ear and whispered, “We’ll see after the first round.”

One round was never just one.

The next day, Xia Lu Nong woke up late again and faced teasing from the rose bush.

The rose softly teased, “By the way, do you think the honeysuckle can hear your voice?”

Xia Lu Nong blushed at the question and stubbornly replied, “They’re not like you. They know not to eavesdrop on private matters.”

The rose retorted, “Maybe they just choose not to comment?”

Feeling embarrassed, Xia Lu Nong put his hands on his hips and glared at the rose. “Do you still want today’s ability boost?”

The rose muttered, “Can’t we even joke about it?”

Xia Lu Nong huffed, “Maybe I’ll move with Kong Zhi to the foot of the mountain and leave you all here.”

“As long as you come up the mountain every day to give us energy, I don’t mind. Oh, and if you move, take one of my other bodies with you.”

Xia Lu Nong snorted, “I’m definitely not bringing you along.”

After their playful banter, they moved on to serious matters.

The rose asked, “Weren’t you going to leave a pit for the plum tree? The honeysuckle said that the plum tree had agreed. When do you have time to go check on it?”

Xia Lu Nong already had many mutated plants in his care—flowers, grass, trees, vines—the courtyard was nearly full.

The plum tree was the last mutated plant in the area they hadn’t met yet. It was also the most solitary, showing no interest in humans.

Xia Lu Nong had asked the honeysuckle and rose to negotiate for a long time, but the plum tree never agreed. Now that they were busy, the plum tree finally relented.

Xia Lu Nong thought for a moment. “I don’t have any time soon, but I really want to work with it. I’ll talk to Kong Zhi later, and we can go tomorrow. Help me pass the message.”

“Tomorrow then?” the rose confirmed. “I’ll have one of my other bodies pass the message for you.”

Xia Lu Nong smiled, “That’s fine, as long as the message gets through.”

The rose promised, “No worries. It’ll be done.”

Xia Lu Nong had been wanting to talk to that plum tree for a long time.

The next morning, he pulled Kong Zhi along, ready to head to where the plum tree grew.

The tree was at the top of a mountain.

The area was dense with virgin forest, with no path or road to reach the summit. They had to fly there.

Kong Zhi carried Xia Lu Nong from the base, flying for more than two hours before they reached the mountaintop where the plum tree grew.

The mountain was incredibly high, and standing at the peak offered a breathtaking view of rolling hills, endless forests, and waves of greenery as far as the eye could see.

The plum tree grew beside a giant rock, its trunk so thick that it would take two grown men to encircle it. Its branches formed a dense canopy.

Because it was early in the season, there were flowers but no leaves—just a tree covered in a blanket of white blooms.

Even though Xia Lu Nong had flown with Kong Zhi countless times before, he had never seen such a stunning view from a mountaintop.

Looking at the plum tree, he suddenly understood why it was so reluctant to leave its mountain home.

Sensing their arrival, the plum tree gathered its branches upward as if looking directly at them.

Xia Lu Nong jumped off Kong Zhi’s back and greeted the tree, “Hello.”

“Hello,” the plum tree responded in a surprisingly gentle tone. “You must be Xia Lu Nong, whom the honeysuckle spoke about? Thank you for coming all this way.”

Xia Lu Nong looked out over the landscape and said sincerely, “It’s no trouble. This place is beautiful.”

Kong Zhi retracted his wings and turned back into his human form, dressing as he approached.

Standing beside Kong Zhi, Xia Lu Nong complimented the plum tree, “You are beautiful too.”

The plum tree seemed a little shy and gently thanked him, “Thank you. You’re the first human to ever say that to me.”

“If you were to come to the human settlement, I’m sure many people would praise you the moment they saw you.”

The plum tree shook its branches, scattering white petals into the air.

Under the tree, Xia Lu Nong smiled and asked, “I have a guess, but I still want to ask—what’s the main reason you’re unwilling to come to our base?”

The plum tree swayed slightly, “There’s no particular reason. The terms you’ve offered just aren’t that attractive to me.”

“If that’s the case, we can discuss the terms further. Whatever conditions you have, we’ll try our best to meet them.”

The plum tree responded, “There’s nothing I particularly want. I’m happy growing here.”

Xia Lu Nong looked around and said, “There don’t seem to be any other intelligent mutated plants around for miles. Don’t you feel lonely here?”

“Not at all,” the plum tree replied. “I’ve started blooming and will soon bear fruit. In a few months, there will be plenty of plums to feed the birds and beasts.”

After a pause, the plum tree added, “If I leave, they’ll have a hard time finding food around here in the summer.”

Touched by its concern for the local animals, Xia Lu Nong immediately said, “If that’s your worry, I can nurture another plum tree here. If one isn’t enough, I can grow several.”

The plum tree hesitated briefly. “That could be a solution.”

Xia Lu Nong smiled. “If you have any other concerns, just tell us. We’ll see if we can resolve them.”

The plum tree gently swayed its trunk and said softly, “If that’s settled, then I don’t have many other concerns. The honeysuckle mentioned that life at your base seems interesting.”

Xia Lu Nong said, “There are many mutated plants in my courtyard, and honeysuckle is there too. You can chat together.”

“Alright,” the plum tree agreed. “Can I go with you in the fall? I’ve already bloomed now, and if I move with you, my roots will be damaged, and I won’t bear fruit this season.”

Xia Lu Nong looked at the plum tree, then at Kong Zhi, and nudged his shoulder, asking quietly, “Can you carry this plum tree? All the way down the mountain?”

Kong Zhi estimated the tree’s weight again and nodded. “No problem, I can carry it all the way to the base.”

Xia Lu Nong shook his head. “No way! The base is too far, I can’t bear to part with it.”

Kong Zhi smiled, his handsome face radiating charm.

Clearing his throat, Xia Lu Nong turned back to the plum tree. “We can carry you down directly and use my abilities to stabilize your condition, so you won’t lose your fruit.”

The plum tree, not entirely convinced, shook its branches, causing a flurry of petals to scatter like snow. “That might not work. Look, every time I move, my petals fly everywhere.”

Xia Lu Nong said, “Then let’s wait a few more days. I’ll come back to pick you up once the plums start to form.”

The plum tree hesitated, “The young plums are very delicate.”

Xia Lu Nong listened attentively, then suddenly reached out and pressed his hand against the tree trunk, transferring a small amount of his power into it.

The plum tree had heard from the honeysuckle and rose about Xia Lu Nong’s miraculous abilities, but when he actually infused his energy into the tree, it couldn’t help but tremble, sending more petals swirling through the air.

“Feel it,” Xia Lu Nong said. “My ability is really useful.”

The plum tree murmured, “So this is what it feels like for a mutated plant to receive your power? Now I understand why so many want to go with you.”

Xia Lu Nong smiled. “My ability is just part of the basic service. We also water you, fertilize you, remove pests, prune branches… You’ll understand once you come with us.”

The plum tree pondered.

Xia Lu Nong didn’t rush it and simply waited nearby.

After a moment, the plum tree suddenly shook its branches more vigorously, having made a decision. “If you can grow more plum trees that bear fruit, I’ll go with you.”

Xia Lu Nong happily patted its trunk. “Deal! I didn’t bring seeds today, and we didn’t arrange for transportation. Stay here for one more day, and we’ll come get you tomorrow morning.”

The plum tree replied, “No problem, I’ll wait for you.”

Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi said their goodbyes and left.

Xia Lu Nong made a trip to the White Building to request a large truck.

Only a big truck could fully accommodate the plum tree.

Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu heard about this right away.

Yan Xi Nian was pleased. “So, are we really going to build this medicinal garden?”

“All the intelligent mutated plants in the area have already come to us,” Xia Lu Nong said. “With them, farming anything will be easier. They’re as good as half an agricultural professor.”

Yan Xi Nian disagreed, “You’re underestimating them. They’re easily worth a full professor, maybe even a specialist.”

Xia Lu Nong laughed, “Either way, having them will greatly benefit our base’s agricultural development.”

Xia Huo Qu asked, “What time are you going to pick up the plum tree tomorrow? We’ll come with you.”

Xia Lu Nong was surprised. “Don’t you have other things to do?”

“Not much for now,” Xia Huo Qu replied. “The road is rough and the forest dense. Who knows if there are any powerful mutated creatures lurking around? We’ll go with you just in case.”

Warmth filled Xia Lu Nong’s heart. “Thanks, brother.”

Yan Xi Nian asked, “Once you bring back the plum tree, your botanical garden will be complete, right?”

“Yes. There don’t seem to be any more intelligent mutated plants nearby, though we can’t rule out the possibility of some we missed.”

Yan Xi Nian asked, “There are so many rare mutated plants there. Should we send a security team?”

“No need. Their attack abilities are pretty strong,” Xia Lu Nong said, glancing at his two brothers. “Though I’ve been thinking about starting a pharmaceutical company or inviting traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to manage the place.”

Xia Huo Qu gestured for him to explain further.

Xia Lu Nong organized his thoughts. “We’ve been getting more and more mutated plants with medicinal properties. There’s no way we can use them all ourselves. I’m thinking of letting professionals handle it.”

Xia Huo Qu nodded, signaling for him to continue.

“We’ve been trading more with other bases lately. Raw crops are just basic products and won’t get us much, but processed mutated plants are different. I think we could push these products toward medicine or health supplements.”

Xia Huo Qu agreed. “That’s a good idea.”

“Exactly,” Xia Lu Nong said. “We can’t sit on a treasure trove and stay poor. None of us have medical backgrounds, and the base population is growing fast. Getting a skilled traditional Chinese doctor and properly managing these plants should secure us for at least the next decade.”

Yan Xi Nian chuckled, “If you process it right and store it in your space bamboo tubes, it could last a hundred years.”

“No need for that,” Xia Lu Nong said. “We’d be too old after a hundred years.”

Yan Xi Nian replied, “Not necessarily. Scientists from the Fireseed Base recently reported that beastfolk have much longer lifespans than humans. A hundred years from now, we might still be young.”

Xia Lu Nong was surprised, “Really?”

“The paper is in the White Building. If you’re interested, you can check it out tomorrow. They said there’s been a breakthrough with telomeres,” Yan Xi Nian explained. “At the very least, our lives won’t be shorter than they are now.”

Xia Lu Nong nodded in agreement. “There are so many people with abilities nowadays. I can make space bamboo tubes. It wouldn’t be surprising if human lifespans increased too.”

Yan Xi Nian laughed, “Exactly, it means we’ll have a long life ahead.”

Xia Lu Nong sighed, “Does that mean we need to plan our base with a 500-year vision?”

“At least your botanical garden should be planned for the long term.”