Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.80 第80章 偷井贼 -3
第80章 偷井贼 –3
Chapter 80: The Well Thief – 3
第二天，睡醒的杨子藏吃过这里最普通的灰馒头，这些是棚主去中型棚区换回来的食物。每个月壹半以上时间大家都吃它们，中午晚上壹共三个。
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.
「等咱们这儿成为中型以上的棚区，大家的日子就会好很多。」
“Once this place becomes at least a medium-sized Peng Zone, everyone’s life will get much better.”
房门外路过的人道。
A passerby said from outside the door.
没多久，大门外传来热闹的喧嚣声。
Before long, lively clamor came from beyond the main gate.
「卖衣服了啊，夏天要来了，材料换衣服，换凉席了啊。」
“Clothes for sale! Summer is coming; trade materials for clothes, trade for straw mats!”
洪亮的咬喝穿透喧嚣传入人们耳朵。
A loud, piercing shout cut through the noise and reached everyone’s ears.
大门口的这支货队人不少，拉车板车的副队长看著从门口出来的人中，好几人都穿著干净完好的各款式外套，略显诧异。
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.
「哟，没想到咱们聚集地人不多，但大家伙儿有这么多新衣服。」
“Well, I didn’t expect that though the people in your settlement are few, you’ve got so many new clothes among you.”
门口的牛娃昂起胸膛道：
Niu Wa at the entrance puffed out his chest and said,
「那是当然，咱们这儿的人可不穷。」
“Of course. The folks here are far from poor.”
「妳们这儿有商队来过了？」
“Has a trading caravan come by your place?”
货队老板铺开自己的货板，让人边选边问的道。因为是失念引擎统壹制造出来的东西，所以他车上的衣服款式只有普通的货色。
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.
「这个嘛，本月妳们是第壹支过来的队伍。」
“Well then, you lot are the first crew to show up this month.”
贾队长领著几个小伙子在旁边维持秩序。
Captain Jia led a few lads to maintain order nearby.
由不得货队的人这么想，因为这些复杂款式的衣服，只能从枢纽镇换到。
The Cargo Crew couldn’t help but think this way, because these complex styles of clothing could only be obtained from Hubville.
「咱们棚区真是藏龙卧虎啊。」货队人恭维地说道。
“Our Peng Zone really is full of hidden talents.” The Cargo Crew member flattered.
没多久，杨子藏出来看热闹，忽地队伍中壹人惊喜的道：「欸，是妳。」
Before long, Yang Zicang came out to watch the commotion, when suddenly someone in the line exclaimed joyfully, “Hey, it’s you.”
杨子藏擡头，那青年瘦脸长发，发尖还有搓缺乏维生素导致的枯黄。
Yang Zicang looked up. The young man had a thin face and long hair, with a tip tinged yellow from lack of vitamins.
这模样自己并不认识。
Yang Zicang didn’t recognize this person.
「不记得我了？我是忞池高中的，妳是我学弟吧！要是能找到篮球，咱们倒是可以在这里玩玩。」
“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.”
「喔，噢！是妳呀，好巧。」
“Oh, oh! It’s you, what a coincidence.”
有了提醒，杨子藏的确觉得眼熟了点，或许是因在学校中喜欢打球，对方认得自己的样貌吧。
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.
「我们互相投资下？」那人道。
“Should we beide Invest each other?” the man asked.
[因为已被超过十人认同我的名号为「甲子间」，因此我，伟大的四边形，决定以此为外号。]
[Since I’ve been acknowledged by more than ten people as ‘Jiazi Term,‘ I, the great Quad, hereby adopt this as my nickname.]
[我为他投资了1R.]
[I Invested 1R for him.]
[李尚响返回了我的1R，并为我投资了1R.]
[Lee Shangxiang returned my 1R, and Invested 1R for me.]
[我返回了李尚响投资的1R.]
[I returned the 1R Lee Shangxiang Invested for me.]
「甲子间？」李尚响来到杨子藏身边，自来熟似的将手搭在年轻人肩膀上。
“Jiazi Term?” Lee Shangxiang approached Yang Zicang, casually placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder as if they were old friends.
「是啊，我给自己取的名字。混得不错嘛，都进商队了。」
“Yeah, it’s a name I came up with myself. Not bad, made it into the merchant caravan.”
「运气好罢了，害害，往事不堪回首。」
“Just luck, heh heh. Those old days aren’t worth recalling.”
体型干瘦的李尚响希嘘不已：
The gaunt Lee Shangxiang sighed deeply:
「反正现在的生活相对来说勉强还行，我们的棚区有被枢纽镇商户选中的商品，所以有资格跟镇中人联系。怎么样，这边的生活还习惯吗。」
“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?”
李尚响的言辞虽然谦虚，但脸上不由得露出股自豪。
Although Lee Shangxiang’s words were humble, a hint of pride involuntarily crept across his face.
在这里，能给枢纽镇供货，意味著能得到只有枢纽镇才能轻易搞到的生活用品，相当于拥有了对镇内与镇外双重供货的资格。
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.
两人正闲聊著，棚区内传出喧哗。
As the two chatted leisurely, commotion erupted from within Peng Zone.
「什么，新水井？」
“What, a new water well?”
「哇，好漂亮的失念引擎。」
“Wow, what a beautiful Shin Engine.”
「我就说，咱们左粪大师不是盖的！」
“I told you, our Chief Dung Master is no joke!”
听到里面传出的阵阵欢呼，用绳索勒紧衣服垛的浓眉队长目光壹斜，对身旁的人使了个眼色。
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.
队伍内的人识趣地跑到贾队长身前，客气道：「兄弟，我听里面在闹什么新水井，怎么著，妳们这儿有好水井了？」
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?”
贾队长已经让牛娃进去看怎么回事。
Captain Jia had already sent Niūwa in to see what was happening.
这会牛娃壹脸喜色的出来道：「是左粪，呸，是左神大师弄出个超级超级棒的水井失念引擎！」
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!”
贾队长有点蒙：「左粪这小子终于成功了？」
Captain Jia was a bit stunned: “Has that Zuo Fen kid finally succeeded?”
「摸过的都说能感觉到甘泉在心中流淌。」
“Everyone who touched it said they could feel a sweet spring flowing in their hearts.”
「哦哟，恭喜恭喜。」商队的人凑上前道贺：「我们能进去见证下它的诞生吗？」
“Oh, congratulations, congratulations!” The merchants from the caravan gathered around to offer their praise: “Could we go in and witness its birth?”
「这恐怕不行。」
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
身材魁梧，露出领下肌肉的货队老板从后方走出，笑道：
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:
「我们可以免费提供份‘试用装‘的运用资格。想必妳们应该听过这东西吧，能让镇中商户试用失念引擎能力的物品。」
“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.”
闻言，贾队长脸色壹喜：「等下，我这去给我兄弟做做思想工作。」
Hearing this, Captain Jia’s face lit up with joy: “Hold on, let me go talk some sense into my buddy.”
听到有试用装，原本还在犹豫是否直接将失念引擎放入之前水井的宁洋，立即打消了这个念头。
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.
他大喜的道：「还不快请。」
He said delightedly, “Well, by all means, please invite them in!”
屋内，宁洋双手牵过左非闲的手落座：「好兄弟，咱们真是双喜临门，免费得壹次试用资格。」
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!”
「试用装？好像用不了两天吧。」
“A trial version? It probably won’t last much more than a couple of days, will it?”
「至少可以检测这水井的质量，我感觉啊，它是大棚区也做不出来的好货。那些大棚区的水我尝过，没这么清洌甘甜。」
“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.”
犹豫了下，宁洋低声在左非闲耳边道：「如果它的品质非常高，其实我们可以换成普通井水的。」
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.”
「妳…」
“You—”
不待左非闲发作，宁洋赶紧道：
Before Zuo Feixian could erupt in fury, Ning Yang quickly added,
「咱们现在应以发展为重不是吗，那些大棚区才支撑得起的享受之风，咱们还得忍忍。这枚引擎，我们能从大棚户区换到很多珍贵的配方。」
“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.”
左非闲咬紧牙关，左右扫了眼，屋内还有阿雅以及闻讯赶来的张远信。
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.
「可是，这引擎是别人…」
“But, this engine belongs to someone else…”
「等我们获得了枢纽镇的订货函，到时候就是聚集地脱胎换骨的时候，那以后咱们再考虑享受生活的事。」
“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.”
在两人身旁坐著喝水的张远信心情复杂。
Sitting nearby, Chang Yuanxin drank water, his emotions tangled and heavy.
见早先被自己看不起的左粪大师今日壹飞冲天，再次得到棚主赏识，他心中迫切能早点研制成功自己的御寒壁炉。
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.
忽然，他听到了左非闲的声音。
Suddenly, he heard Zuo Feixian’s voice.
「这引擎不是我制作的。」
“This engine was not made by me.”
他震惊的转头看向左非闲。
He turned his head in shock to look at Zuo Feixian.
「不是妳？」宁洋疑惑的看向他：「那是谁。」
“Not you?” Ning Yang looked at him doubtfully. “Then who was it?”
「他不让我说，反正，这是别人做的。」
“He won’t let me say. Anyway, it was someone else’s doing.”
想了想，宁洋哈哈大笑道：「左师傅，以后妳就是这里的主人之壹，怎么样？配方妳自己收著，谁也不说，但妳也别想著离开，咱们共同努力给大伙儿带来更好的生活。」
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.”
张远信恍然，随后不屑地噘了噘嘴。
Chang Yuanxin suddenly realized the truth and then pursed his lips contemptuously.
装什么装，原来是不想交配方。
Playing all high and mighty—when it came down to it, he just didn’t want to hand over the recipe.
「害。」左非闲拍了自己膝盖壹手，不知咋解释。
“Ah well.” Zuo Feixian slapped his own knee, unsure how to explain himself.
货队的赵启到来，人们闹哄哄跟著棚主壹行人来到棚区北边唯壹壹口浑水的水井旁。
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.
它里面的水无论沈多久都有著泥土味儿，但这已经是左大师做出的最好的井了。
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.
……
试用装是枚镶嵌著金丝魔纹的平整铜板，通过魔晶石提供能量后，放在上面的失念引擎出现凝固在铜板上的倒影。
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.
赵启对这引擎爱不释手，自己还从未见过如此高质量的引擎。
Zhao Qi was absolutely enchanted with the engine; he had never before seen one of such high quality.
他有些不舍的将引擎还给了宁洋。
Somewhat reluctantly, he handed the engine back to Ning Yang.
瞧见对方那毫不掩饰的羡慕眼神，宁洋内心别提有多神气，自己的棚区终于有吸引人的东西了。
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.
「好了，这下将这铜板放入水井内就行了。」
“Alright, now all that’s left is to drop this coin into the well.”
铜板被赵启用绳子拽住往下放，随著Moexl闪动，大地轻震能量翻涌。
The coin was lowered by Zhao Qi with a rope, and as Moxel flickered, the ground trembled slightly, energy surging forth.
「好清凉的气息。」
“Such a refreshing aura.”
「我听到水声了！」
“I can hear the sound of water!”
看著这壹切的杨子藏几人喜笑颜开，王翀几人对杨子藏的选择很是佩服。
Watching all this, Yang Zicang and the others beamed with joy, while Wang Chong and his group admired Yang Zicang’s decision greatly.
几分钟后，这里五色光华散去，之前看上去破破烂烂的岩石井口已经成了造型敦厚的青石井口。
A few minutes later, the five-colored radiance scattered, and the once dilapidated rock wellhead had transformed into a solid slab of bluestone.
「成功！」宁洋喜道。
“Success!” Ning Yang exclaimed delightedly.
不等他说，已经有人送来了水桶。
Before he could say more, someone had already brought over a bucket.
啵啪~
Gurgle-plop~
提著木桶的宁洋将手伸进凉爽井口内，桶底在水面左右晃荡，然后被手臂按进水中，清澈甘泉涌进桶内。
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.
「我尝口。」壹提上来，左非闲便拿著只陶碗冲上去。
“Let me have a taste.” The moment it was hauled up, Zuo Feixian rushed over with a clay bowl in hand.
「我也尝尝。」宁洋笑道。
“I’ll have a taste too,” Ning Yang said with a smile.
壹口喝下去，磬人心脾，他们不由自主闭上了眼，仿佛胸膛内淤积的浊气都得到清扫。
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.
左右望了望，左非闲毫不在意旁人的目光，端著碗推开人群到杨子藏跟前。
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.
「来，尝尝咱们的水。」
“Here, take a sip of our water.”
众人不明所以的看著左大师，以及他身前的年轻人，数十双目光落了过来。
Everyone looked at Grandmaster Zuo and the young man before him in confusion, dozens of gazes falling upon them.
宁洋的眉头动了动，深深看了杨子藏壹眼。
Ning Yang’s brows twitched slightly; he gave Yang Zicang a deep glance.
「太，太好喝了。」
“So… so refreshing.”
另壹边的赵启举著碗，不可思议的转头看向左非闲道：「这是妳做出来的？」
On the other side, Zhao Qi raised his bowl, turning incredulously to Zuo Feixian, asking, “Did you make this?”
旁边的人们都起哄的道，「左大师失败了几十次，终于造出来了这么好的水井。」
The people around clamored, “Grandmaster Zuo failed dozens of times, but finally built this wonderful well.”
难怪，这是实验了几十次才成功，赵启点点头。
No wonder—It took dozens of experiments to succeed. Zhao Qi nodded.
杨子藏尝了口水后，竖起拇指：「左大师干得漂亮。」
Yang Zicang took a sip of the water, then gave a thumbs-up: “Well done, Grandmaster Zuo.”
「我，去妳娘蛋的。」左非闲没好气的瞪了他壹眼。
“Oh, bugger off.” Zuo Feixian rolled his eyes at him in frustration, still not over their grudges.
他想到，这人还真是低调。
He thought to himself—this guy really knows how to keep it low-key.
不过这种地方，在有实力保护自己前，隐藏自身才能也是无可厚非的事。
But in a place like this, before having the strength to protect oneself, hiding one’s true abilities is only prudent.
多好的孩子啊。
What a good kid.
就让叔叔替妳扛著先吧，以后会告诉大伙谁才是真正的创造者。
Let me, uncle, take the burden for him now. Someday, I’ll tell everyone who the real creator is.
「我也尝尝。」
“Let me have a taste.”
人群争先恐后。
The crowd surged forward with eagerness.
「给我也来壹口。」
“Give me a sip too!”
忽地，杨子藏若有所感的擡头看向天际，似乎有道目光跨越时空，落了下来。
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.
[妳已诞生名气，于失频之地。]
[You have gained fame in Shibin Wastes.]
抱著双臂的杨子藏懵了。
Yang Zicang, arms crossed, was dumbfounded.
这样也行？我不是没暴露自己吗。
How is this possible? I didn’t expose myself, did I?