Chapter 7: Edible Rabbit

In the blink of an eye, Ruan Ming had been at the territory for over a week. She spent her days pulling weeds, occasionally walking the perimeter of the Cactus Field.

But at night, looking at the pitifully small pile of soil in the corner of her vegetable patch, she couldn’t help but worry. The current land, due to high pollution and radiation, was unsuitable for growing crops. Trying to sow seeds would either result in no germination at all, or the plants that did grow would be inedible—a waste of precious seeds.

Her thoughts turned to the place on the mountain where she’d dug up the bamboo shoots, and she fell into deep thought. Was the soil beneath that bamboo grove uncontaminated, or at least less contaminated? Otherwise, how could it have produced three thick, Edible bamboo shoots?

Speaking of bamboo shoots, she found herself craving the cold-dressed shoots she’d made again. She had divided the seventeen or eighteen jin of shoots into three portions: one pickled with vinegar, one dried into shoot jerky, and one saved to eat fresh these past few days. A couple of days ago, Ah Yuan had delivered vinegar and chili sauce. She’d made the cold-dressed dish again, and it was far more delicious than the first time.

Having long subsisted on dried Fairy Peaches and Nutrient Solution, Ruan Ming knew, after tasting such flavor, she could never go back to that old life.

I must farm. I must grow fruits and vegetables. I want fresh fruit to eat every day, cold cucumber salad to enjoy.

The more she thought, the more her mouth watered. Glancing at the sun, which was preparing to set on the horizon, she lost all motivation to continue weeding. She rushed home, grabbed her tools, hoisted a back basket, and headed straight for the bamboo grove on the mountain.

She intended to carry back the soil that had produced those Edible bamboo shoots and pile it into her new vegetable patch for planting. Unfortunately, she had no instrument to test the soil’s condition, nor did she want to send samples out for analysis and risk attracting outside attention.

She’d haul the soil back first and then plant some seeds in it. If the resulting plants tested as Edible with her detector, that would prove the soil was viable. It was the crudest method, but it was the only one she could think of right now.

The March weather was neither cold nor hot. Wearing her protective suit, Ruan Ming only had to dig for a short while before a fine sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead. But thinking that this soil might actually grow crops filled her heart with hope, spurring her to dig harder.

However, she hadn’t been digging long when her shovel suddenly sank downward. A hole rapidly opened up beneath her feet. She hastily dropped her tool and crouched down, using her hands to clear the soil away.

Soon, an earthen burrow as thick as her thigh appeared before her eyes, winding deeper into the ground. The inside was scattered with grayish-white fur and small animal droppings. This discovery made her heart race.

She immediately stopped all movement and listened intently, holding her breath to gauge the sounds around her. Her C-Rank Hearing Ability easily allowed her to determine that five or six small animals were likely hiding inside. Perhaps the noise of her digging had frightened the little creatures; they were now scurrying toward the other end of the burrow.

Ruan Ming wasn’t about to give up on a meal right at her fingertips. She first used a large rock to block the hole she had just opened, then immediately followed the sounds to the other exit, waiting to catch the rabbits as they emerged.

But her joy was short-lived. Just as she crouched down, ready to wait, a large creature weighing close to twenty jin suddenly burst out of the hole, squeaking loudly as it launched itself straight at her face!

Thud—

With a swipe of its sharp claws, a scratch appeared on her protective mask. Ruan Ming was knocked back, nearly falling over. Despite her strength, she hadn’t been on guard and hadn’t expected mutated rabbits to be this vicious, actively attacking a human. No wonder there was an Old Era saying: Even a rabbit will bite when cornered.

After regaining her wits, she snatched the fat rabbit right in front of her with a quick backhand grab. The creature was surprisingly hefty and bared its teeth at her, struggling ferociously even after being caught.

Without haste, Ruan Ming pulled out her detector and pricked its ear for a drop of blood, dabbing it onto the test strip.

Beep— A yellow light flashed!

Ruan Ming’s heart pounded. How long had it been since she’d last tasted meat? She no longer cared about the soil at this moment. Holding the rabbit in one hand, she dumped the half-full basket of soil, stuffed the rabbit inside, put the lid on, and fastened it tightly.

Next, she lit a fire at the other hole opening. Soon, the rabbits inside couldn’t stand the smoke and came dashing out from the main hole—all falling right into Ruan Ming’s hands.

Ten mutated rabbits in total: five were Edible, the rest had excessive Dark Uranium levels. One was too small, however; Ruan Ming let it go, releasing it along with the other red-light ones back into the burrow.

When she went to put the other three she’d caught later into her basket, she discovered a giant hole had been gnawed through the bottom. It was the work of the first rabbit she’d thrown in earlier. Rabbits naturally had sharp teeth. A bamboo basket was useless for containing them, especially mutated ones.

Thank goodness she’d noticed early; any later and these little critters might have all made a run for it. With the basket now useless, Ruan Ming had no choice but to carry the rabbits down the mountain, two in each hand.

At home, there was an iron cage. She didn’t know what her father had used it for previously, but now it was perfect for keeping these large rabbits.

The food shortage issue in the Safe Zone had been somewhat alleviated after the development of the new cactus variety. However, the livestock and poultry industry hadn’t developed. The only one or two breeding farms that existed were completely controlled by the base’s ruling authorities and the nobility.

For ordinary people, wanting to eat meat was practically impossible. Some daring, high-skilled Espers would venture outside the Safe Zone to capture Edible mutated animals. But those animals were nothing like they used to be; getting a successful catch was extremely difficult.

Ruan Ming could already imagine how much these rabbits of hers would make others drool with envy. She needed to deal with them quickly. Not caring what time it was, she immediately contacted Ah Yuan via her wristband.

Ah Yuan’s excited voice soon came through: “Sister Ming, got something good again?”

Pleased with her big haul today, Ruan Ming couldn’t help her own excitement and asked with a laugh, “How did you know I’ve got a big haul?”

“Contacting me this late… it’s gotta be something good.”

Ruan Ming: “It is. I caught four rabbits. Keeping one, selling three. You want them?”

“Rabbits!” Ah Yuan’s voice instantly spiked. “Yes, yes, yes! Man, how long has it been since I’ve had meat?! Sister Ming, I’m coming over right now.”

“It’s almost dark. Are you sure you want to come?”

“It won’t take me long from here. Our family hasn’t eaten dinner yet anyway. I can cook one up tonight to help my mom and Little Yu build up their health. Wait for me, I’m heading out right now.”

As he spoke, the sound of a door opening came through, as if he was indeed already leaving the house.

“… Little Yu, not today. It’s dark now. Next time, during the day, I’ll bring you along… Be good and wait at home. Your brother will be back soon. Tonight, our family eats meat—”

The words seemed aimed at Little Yu, and the call quickly disconnected.

Ruan Ming knew Ah Yuan was already on his way. Tired from the day’s exertions, she didn’t feel like dealing with rabbit meat and decided to save it for tomorrow. After tidying up the house for about twenty minutes, the jangling sound of a bicycle came from outside.

Ruan Ming had just stepped out when Ah Yuan, holding his hand scale, rushed in excitedly.

“Sister Ming, where are the rabbits?”

“In the iron cage by the back door. Their teeth are too sharp. I was afraid they’d chew through the wire if I left them any longer, so I contacted you right away.”

Ah Yuan grinned. “Mutated rabbit teeth are seriously sharp. Better to be cautious.”

Together, they weighed the rabbits. Three rabbits, totaling eighty-seven jin.

“They’re quite heavy. Without the mutation, raising one to ten jin would’ve been considered good. The market price is fifty Credits per jin, but meat is basically priceless right now—high demand, zero supply. I can sell these for a great price. Sister, how about I give you sixty Credits per jin?”

Ah Yuan would certainly sell them for more than sixty Credits per jin. However, being a middleman required letting him earn a cut, otherwise, who would bother running around? Besides, he was tight-lipped. Ruan Ming had absolutely no objections.

The Credits transfer was swift. Five thousand two hundred Credits, plus what she previously had, brought Ruan Ming’s total to 6,400 Credits.

In less than a week at the territory, she’d earned more than what she’d saved in the past five years of work. Ruan Ming pressed her lips together, suppressing the surge of excitement inside her. Outside the Safe Zone, there might be immense danger, but there were also opportunities everywhere.

While busy loading the rabbits into the iron cage strapped to his bicycle, Ah Yuan said to Ruan Ming:

“Sister Ming, Territories 31 and 33, right next to you—they both got new occupants. You know about this?”

Ruan Ming paused. Zhang Ci had told her that the mutated crocodiles hadn’t just invaded Territory 32; the two neighboring territories, forming a right angle with hers, had also suffered. It was partly because of this that she had temporarily suppressed her doubts about her father’s death.

“Territory 31 got some guy in his twenties. Forgot his name. No idea what Ability he has. That kind of unknown… if you run into him later, you gotta be careful,” Ah Yuan said. “Territory 33 went to a woman, named Huang Yu. I haven’t met her either, but I’ve heard this person has serious backing.”

“What kind of backing?” Ruan Ming asked.

After all, being immediate neighbors, naturally, she wanted to know more, just in case any future conflicts arose. Know yourself and know your enemy, as they say.

“It’s not her with the backing, it’s the person behind her. Ever hear of the Meng Family from Central City?”

Ruan Ming, of course, knew of the Meng Family. The City Lord of Central City was named Meng Tai. Base One and the other bases were all subordinate to Central City. Even Base Chief Qu Wanshan had to obey Meng Tai.

“She’s a Meng?” Ruan Ming asked.

Ah Yuan replied, “No, but she was recommended by Meng Xin, the youngest son of the Meng family. Even if she’s not a Meng, she’s definitely connected to them somehow. Sister Ming, if you ever run into that ‘yellow fish,’ you better steer clear.”

[T/N: “Yellow fish” (黄鱼 – Huáng Yú) is a pun on her name, Huang Yu.]

Whether it was the Qu Family controlling Base One or the Meng Family of Central City, these were powerful nobles that ordinary commoners couldn’t afford to offend. Ah Yuan, despite his youth, delivered goods regularly and interacted with many people. His street smarts were leagues beyond hers. Ruan Ming was grateful for his warning.

“I understand. I came to the territory to farm; there’s no need for me to get mixed up with them.”

“That’s true,” Ah Yuan said. “But that Young Master Meng Xin is known for his generous hand. Sister Ming, with your koi-fish luck, if you ever actually find Organic Food and trade it with him, you’d make a killing.”

Ruan Ming laughed. “I just got lucky a couple of times with some bamboo shoots and rabbits. It’s nothing as exaggerated as you make it sound.”

“Sister, trust me. I bet in just a few more days, you’ll be contacting me again to pick up something else.”

Ruan Ming just took it as a joke. After he left, she secured the remaining rabbit, took a shower, and headed upstairs.