Chapter 11 The Little Man in the Bottle <TOC> Chapter 13 The Farming Dilemma
Translator: SumTLMan
Returning to Grub Grain Town, A Jin first sought out Cao Dayuan, the most skilled mushroom cultivator in the area.
The other party refused outright.
“A Jin, I can grow mushrooms right here in Grub Grain Town; why should I go elsewhere? As long as Grub Grain Town exists, I’ll be here. My family has been here for three generations, I won’t go anywhere.”
Cao Dayuan also reminded him: “This Chairman you speak of is just an outsider. How long have you known him? How much do you really know about him? Is his purpose here truly as he claims?”
A Jin told him that the injury left by bandits was healed by the Chairman. He rolled up his pant leg, revealing his scarred calf.
But the town’s top mushroom grower retorted: “Such a wound might have healed even without treatment.”
“You’re still too young and naive, putting too much trust in an unidentified outsider. Be careful not to be lured away as bait for monsters.”
“Young man, focus on growing mushrooms properly. Don’t let your mind wander. Life will get better. If you go out there, you might lose your life. Understand?”
A Jin wanted to retort.
He hadn’t seen the company’s luxurious above-ground cave, nor did he know how powerful the Warrior Crabs hired by the Chairman were, and he certainly hadn’t tasted monster barbecue.
If Uncle Cao experienced all this, he would understand. With the Chairman’s wealth, there’s no need for such tricks.
But no matter how much A Jin spoke, Cao Dayuan just shook his head.
“Trusting others is not as good as trusting oneself. I believe in the mushrooms I grow.”
…
A Jin then sought out Brother Feng.
Brother Feng lived among insects, residing next to the pit of Grub Grain Worms. He always looked as if he hadn’t slept.
“So there’s such a good place, with a master-level scavenger… I’m a bit tempted to go.”
He seemed quite interested.
But in the end, Brother Feng declined.
His reason was: “I promised the farming team of Chicken Head Town. Brother Bo over there told me that if I raise a Grub Grain Worm that’s two arm-lengths long, I can bring it to him and join the team directly, settling down there. A man must keep his word; I have to honor my promise.”
“Now my worm is very close to that length.”
Brother Feng happily showed him a long and plump Grub Grain Worm, which made A Jin very impressed.
In the end, A Jin could only seek out Mr. Gong.
Unexpectedly, he agreed as soon as he heard.
This time, A Jin was surprised: “Aren’t you going to ask if it’s a scam or if there’s any danger?”
Mr. Gong smiled and said: “Your description contains a wealth of detailed information. If it were a scam, there would be no need to create so many easily exposed details, including wound treatment methods, medication usage, and the above-ground cave.”
“That Chairman can make stubborn creatures like Warrior Crabs learn to use weapons and tools and fight in a well-trained manner… A Jin, you don’t understand how astonishing this is.”
“A person with such abilities wouldn’t care about a small place like Grub Grain Town, nor would he need to go to great lengths to create a scam. If he wanted, he could easily destroy this town and deal with the townspeople as he pleases.”
As expected from someone who can read and write, his words were very convincing to A Jin.
If only he knew that much himself.
“But give me a little time.”
Mr. Gong added: “Since we’re going to visit such an important figure, I need to prepare something to showcase my abilities. Give me three days, and I’ll go with you after that.”
…
After the signboard of the Wasteland Development Company was erected, Zhou Yi painted a crab on the container with a paintbrush.
All along his journey, he had relied on Warrior Crabs to start his enterprise.
They were the perfect choice for the company’s logo.
The Wasteland Development Company’s first project was to open up land nearby for farming.
What Zhou Yi didn’t expect was that despite offering very competitive local salaries, he couldn’t even hire two mushroom growers.
A Jin said he tried to approach a few more people, but since everyone saw that Cao Dayuan refused, they were unwilling to come. Additionally, there was the case of Missing Tooth and another townsman disappearing——which usually meant they were dead, making everyone a bit nervous.
Grub Grain Town was very closed-off, and the locals were less capable of accepting new things. They dared to go to places where monsters roamed to pick up branches and dung, fetch water, and find carrion because they knew what was there; it was familiar territory.
Regarding the Wasteland Development Company, a place they’d never heard of, generous treatment only made them more wary and fearful.
Zhou Yi was at a bit of a loss.
Fortunately, there was at least one person who came to apply.
Mr. Gong wore tattered clothes, had a pair of long socks on his feet, and leaned on a wooden-handled cane. He looked about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with heavy eye bags and a somewhat haggard expression.
Zhou Yi gestured with a wave: “Sit.”
With permission granted, Mr. Gong limped over to the table and carefully sat on the edge of the chair.
Zhou Yi smiled and said: “Is there anything you’d like to know about our Wasteland Development Company?”
Mr. Gong paused for a moment before speaking somewhat cautiously: “I just hope to have a place to settle. A Jin said you will ensure the safety of your employees, right?”
Zhou Yi nodded: “As long as you’re in the company’s premises——that is, here, your safety is guaranteed.”
“That’s enough for me. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
The other party looked relieved.
Zhou Yi asked: “What have you encountered?”
“I wouldn’t dare to hide it from you.”
Mr. Gong explained: “My name is Gong Zheng. I originally lived in ‘Little Smoke Ridge’ far to the west, a city that produces tobacco. At the age of ten, I became an apprentice alchemist and was assigned to work under Alchemist Wu Chen of the Alchemist Association. Due to my mediocre talent, I mostly did odd jobs.”
“When I was fifteen, the Alchemist Association conducted an inspection and discovered that Wu Chen was researching illegal drugs. Afterwards, I became the scapegoat. Wu Chen broke one of my legs, and the guild posted a notice prohibiting me from engaging in any alchemist-related work and banned me from entering Little Smoke Ridge for life.”
“Afterwards, I could only move around with merchant caravans, but the surrounding cities and towns all knew about this. I couldn’t find work, and my settlement applications were always rejected, so I eventually settled in Grub Grain Town, far away from there.”
“I’ve been here for ten years, very grateful that the townspeople didn’t shun me. Although my right leg isn’t good, the rest of my body is relatively healthy, and I try to help everyone as much as I can.”
“Unfortunately, my abilities are limited, and I’m only half-knowledgeable about many things. I made a big mistake in diagnosing A Jin’s injury and almost killed him. Fortunately, you corrected me; thinking back now, I feel truly ashamed…”
He spoke at a moderate pace, very orderly.
Zhou Yi asked again: “You were once an alchemist apprentice; what was your field of study?”
Gong Zheng paused before responding: “Wu Chen specialized in making Smoke Pills, which are potent drugs made by mixing tobacco with other special substances. They are one of Little Smoke Ridge’s specialties.”
“Smoke Pills are usually used for pain relief and treating severe injuries, but they’re also easily abused. After taking them, one experiences significant comfort and relaxation. The illegal Smoke Pills Wu Chen researched can cause addiction in both humans and monsters, even allowing for control… Many people came to him for those pills, including quite a few prominent figures.”
“I worked under him, and besides odd jobs, I participated in testing drugs on various animals and even monsters. I have a good memory, recognize some drugs, and understand some aspects of monster physiology.”
Zhou Yi understood.
Illegal Smoke Pills are potent psychoactive drugs that are highly addictive, involving many vested interests behind the scenes.
The Alchemist Association used Gong Zheng, the apprentice, as a scapegoat to downplay the incident.
“These past few days, I recalled and mapped out all the monsters around Grub Grain Town.”
Gong Zheng handed over a stack of somewhat yellowed paper.
On the first page was a drawing of a Claw Boar covered in stiff bristles, with a short snout, sharp fangs, and four limbs ending in hooked claws.
Below the picture were some illegible words.
Red Falcon carried out the translation.
…
[Claw Boar]
Strength: E
Skills: F
Vitality: E
Class: E
Habits: Social creatures with a certain level of intelligence; strong endurance and resistance to blows; skilled in group hunting and charges. Their hooked claws are highly lethal at close range.
Value: Claws, hide, meat.
…
Zhou Yi’s eyes narrowed.
He knew many Light Absorber species from the seabed but had little contact with land monsters.
Gong Zheng had actually profiled and drawn portraits of the monsters.
This was very valuable to him.
Chapter 11 The Little Man in the Bottle <TOC> Chapter 13 The Farming Dilemma