The next day, Yang Zicang woke up and ate the plainest gray mantou here, which were food exchanged by Penglord from a medium-sized Peng Zone. For more than half of each month, everyone subsisted on these, having three total for lunch and dinner.
–Once this place becomes at least a medium-sized Peng Zone, everyone’s life will get much better.–
A passerby said from outside the door.
Before long, lively clamor came from beyond the main gate.
–Clothes for sale! Summer is coming; trade materials for clothes, trade for straw mats!–
A loud, piercing shout cut through the noise and reached everyone’s ears.
The Cargo Crew at the entrance was sizable. The vice captain, pulling a cart, looked at the people emerging from the gate, several of whom were wearing clean, intact coats of various styles, and couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise.
–Well, I didn’t expect that though the people in your settlement are few, you’ve got so many new clothes among you.–
Niu Wa at the entrance puffed out his chest and said,
–Of course. The folks here are far from poor.–
–Has a trading caravan come by your place?–
The boss of the Cargo Crew spread out his goods on the cart, letting people pick and choose while asking. Since everything was mass-produced by Shin Engine, the clothes on his cart were all standard, run-of-the-mill stuff.
–Well then, you lot are the first crew to show up this month.–
Captain Jia led a few lads to maintain order nearby.
The Cargo Crew couldn’t help but think this way, because these complex styles of clothing could only be obtained from Hubville.
–Our Peng Zone really is full of hidden talents.– The Cargo Crew member flattered.
Before long, Yang Zicang came out to watch the commotion, when suddenly someone in the line exclaimed joyfully, –Hey, it’s you.–
Yang Zicang looked up. The young man had a thin face and long hair, with a tip tinged yellow from lack of vitamins.
Yang Zicang didn’t recognize this person.
–Don’t remember me? I’m from Minchi High School. You’re my junior, right! If we can find a basketball, we can play around here.–
–Oh, oh! It’s you, what a coincidence.–
With the reminder, Yang Zicang did find him a bit familiar; perhaps because he often played ball in school, the other party recognized his face.
–Should we beide Invest each other?– the man asked.
[Since I’ve been acknowledged by more than ten people as ‘Jiazi Term,’ I, the great Quad, hereby adopt this as my nickname.]
[I Invested 1R for him.]
[Lee Shangxiang returned my 1R, and Invested 1R for me.]
[I returned the 1R Lee Shangxiang Invested for me.]
–Jiazi Term?– Lee Shangxiang approached Yang Zicang, casually placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder as if they were old friends.
–Yeah, it’s a name I came up with myself. Not bad, made it into the merchant caravan.–
–Just luck, heh heh. Those old days aren’t worth recalling.–
The gaunt Lee Shangxiang sighed deeply:
–Anyway, life nowadays is barely decent. Our Peng Zone has been chosen by certain Hubville traders to supply goods, so we’re qualified to keep in touch with people in the town. What do you think? Getting used to life here?–
Although Lee Shangxiang’s words were humble, a hint of pride involuntarily crept across his face.
Here, being able to supply goods to Hubville meant access to daily necessities that only Hubville could easily provide, equivalent to holding the qualification for supplying both inside and outside the town.
As the two chatted leisurely, commotion erupted from within Peng Zone.
–What, a new water well?–
–Wow, what a beautiful Shin Engine.–
–I told you, our Chief Dung Master is no joke!–
Hearing the cheers coming from within, the bushy-browed captain, tightening the bundle of clothes with a rope, cast a slanting glance and gave a meaningful nod to the man beside him.
The sharp-witted members of the line promptly approached Captain Jia and politely inquired: –Brother, from all the commotion inside about a new water well, is it true this place of yours has a good water well now?–
Captain Jia had already sent Niūwa in to see what was happening.
Niu Wa came out with a beaming face and said, –It’s Zuo Fen—bah, it’s Master Zuo Shen—who created an absolutely fantastic, superbly perfect water well, the Shin Engine!–
Captain Jia was a bit stunned: –Has that Zuo Fen kid finally succeeded?–
–Everyone who touched it said they could feel a sweet spring flowing in their hearts.–
–Oh, congratulations, congratulations!– The merchants from the caravan gathered around to offer their praise: –Could we go in and witness its birth?–
–I’m afraid that’s not possible.–
The burly, broad-shouldered boss of the Cargo Crew, whose muscles were visible beneath his collar, stepped out from behind and said with a smile:
–We can offer you a free share of a ‘trial version.’ You’ve probably heard of it, right? The item that lets the merchants in town try out the capabilities of the Shin Engine.–
Hearing this, Captain Jia’s face lit up with joy: –Hold on, let me go talk some sense into my buddy.–
At the mention of a trial version, Ning Yang, who had been hesitating whether to just install the Shin Engine into the previous well, immediately abandoned that notion.
He said delightedly, –Well, by all means, please invite them in!–
Inside the room, Ning Yang took Zuo Feixian’s hands in both of his as they took their seats: –My good brother, truly, joy comes to us in pairs—we’ve earned a free trial qualification!–
–A trial version? It probably won’t last much more than a couple of days, will it?–
–At the very least, we can test the quality of this well water. The way I see it, it’s top-tier stuff that even the Big Peng Zone couldn’t replicate. I’ve tasted their water before, and it’s nowhere near as crisp and sweet as this.–
Hesitating for a moment, Ning Yang lowered his voice and whispered into Zuo Feixian’s ear, –If it’s really that high in quality, we could always swap it out with ordinary well water.–
–You—–
Before Zuo Feixian could erupt in fury, Ning Yang quickly added,
–Shouldn’t we focus on development for now? The culture of indulgence that only those Big Peng Zones can sustain—we still need to endure it. This engine, we can trade it in the Big Shack Zone for many precious formulas.–
Zuo Feixian gritted her teeth, sweeping her gaze left and right. Aya was still in the room, along with Chang Yuanxin, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
–But, this engine belongs to someone else…–
–Once we get Hubville’s purchase order, that will be the turning point for our settlement. Only then can we start thinking about a life of comfort.–
Sitting nearby, Chang Yuanxin drank water, his emotions tangled and heavy.
Seeing the once-despised Leftist Master take off like a rocket today, once again earning Penglord’s favor, he felt an urgent desire to successfully develop his own Coldward Hearth as soon as possible.
Suddenly, he heard Zuo Feixian’s voice.
–This engine was not made by me.–
He turned his head in shock to look at Zuo Feixian.
–Not you?– Ning Yang looked at him doubtfully. –Then who was it?–
–He won’t let me say. Anyway, it was someone else’s doing.–
After a moment of thought, Ning Yang burst into laughter. –Master Zuo, from now on, you’ll be one of the owners here, how about that? Keep the recipe to yourself, don’t tell a soul, but just don’t think about leaving. We’ll work together to bring everyone a better life.–
Chang Yuanxin suddenly realized the truth and then pursed his lips contemptuously.
Playing all high and mighty—when it came down to it, he just didn’t want to hand over the recipe.
–Ah well.– Zuo Feixian slapped his own knee, unsure how to explain himself.
The arrival of Zhao Qi from the Cargo Crew got the people all stirred up as they followed Lord Peng and his group to the only well with murky water on the north side of Peng Zone.
No matter how long it was left to settle, the water from it always carried a muddy taste, but this was already the best well that Master Zuo had managed to make.
……
The trial unit was a smooth copper plate inlayed with a filament-like magic circuit pattern. Once powered by magic crystal shards, the specimen engine placed upon it would produce a solidified reflection on the copper plate upright in a cast.
Zhao Qi was absolutely enchanted with the engine; he had never before seen one of such high quality.
Somewhat reluctantly, he handed the engine back to Ning Yang.
Noticing the other man’s barely concealed yearning gaze, Ning Yang felt an unparalleled surge of pride inside. His Peng Zone finally had something appealing to offer.
–Alright, now all that’s left is to drop this coin into the well.–
The coin was lowered by Zhao Qi with a rope, and as Moxel flickered, the ground trembled slightly, energy surging forth.
–Such a refreshing aura.–
–I can hear the sound of water!–
Watching all this, Yang Zicang and the others beamed with joy, while Wang Chong and his group admired Yang Zicang’s decision greatly.
A few minutes later, the five-colored radiance scattered, and the once dilapidated rock wellhead had transformed into a solid slab of bluestone.
–Success!– Ning Yang exclaimed delightedly.
Before he could say more, someone had already brought over a bucket.
Gurgle-plop~
Carrying the wooden bucket, Ning Yang reached his hand into the cool well opening. The bucket’s bottom swayed left and right across the water’s surface, then was pressed down by his arm, plunging into the water, and clear sweet spring surged into the bucket.
–Let me have a taste.– The moment it was hauled up, Zuo Feixian rushed over with a clay bowl in hand.
–I’ll have a taste too,– Ning Yang said with a smile.
As they drank it in one gulp, the crisp, refreshing liquid penetrated to their very core. They couldn’t help but close their eyes, as if the stale air stagnating in their chests had been swept clean away.
Glancing around left and right, Zuo Feixian, ignoring the stares of onlookers, pushed through the crowd with his bowl in hand to reach Yang Zicang’s side.
–Here, take a sip of our water.–
Everyone looked at Grandmaster Zuo and the young man before him in confusion, dozens of gazes falling upon them.
Ning Yang’s brows twitched slightly; he gave Yang Zicang a deep glance.
–So… so refreshing.–
On the other side, Zhao Qi raised his bowl, turning incredulously to Zuo Feixian, asking, –Did you make this?–
The people around clamored, –Grandmaster Zuo failed dozens of times, but finally built this wonderful well.–
No wonder—It took dozens of experiments to succeed. Zhao Qi nodded.
Yang Zicang took a sip of the water, then gave a thumbs-up: –Well done, Grandmaster Zuo.–
–Oh, bugger off.– Zuo Feixian rolled his eyes at him in frustration, still not over their grudges.
He thought to himself—this guy really knows how to keep it low-key.
But in a place like this, before having the strength to protect oneself, hiding one’s true abilities is only prudent.
What a good kid.
Let me, uncle, take the burden for him now. Someday, I’ll tell everyone who the real creator is.
–Let me have a taste.–
The crowd surged forward with eagerness.
–Give me a sip too!–
Suddenly, Yang Zicang, as if sensing something, looked up to the sky. There seemed to be a gaze spanning across time and space, landing on him.
[You have gained fame in Shibin Wastes.]
Yang Zicang, arms crossed, was dumbfounded.
How is this possible? I didn’t expose myself, did I?
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