Chapter 56: Chapter 54: Upgrade
Chapter 56: Chapter 54: Upgrade
“I’ve pondered coming to discuss this with you, but Wood Power Users are in such high demand that we might not be able to hire a long-term worker. I’m hesitant to hire soone with a family—I fear too many issues later on. Pan’er is an honest girl, and I worry she might be tricked or cheated.”
Xue Dong was unwilling for Pan’er to suffer the slightest grievance, so he only hired trusty brothers and comrades who had his back in life and death—all orphans, who had suffered and knew gratitude.
“There’s no chance of finding long-term workers anyti soon. Young and strong Wood Power users aren’t short of work, and they’re happy to stay at the base. There are few willing to endure the hardships on the farm.”
Despite the farm’s bountiful harvest, many Wood Power Users were acutely aware of how hard-earned that money was. Many were still unwilling to clear new land, which was not an easy task and involved significant hardship.
When Li Pan first started clearing No. 8 Farm, she couldn’t even afford a cow and had to pull the plow herself. After a whole day’s work, her shoulders would swell up so much she couldn’t even turn over in her sleep—hardships that went unseen.
“If it really won’t work, I’ll find you so short-term help or superpower users from other elents. I’ve got a surplus of those.”
The Base Commander was also short on Wood Power Users—adults did more work and were easier to manage; that’s why children could neither make enough money nor get enough food.
Yang Zhengfei’s kids worked extrely hard and never slacked off, but the reality was that their workload was worlds apart from the likes of Shi Lei. Yet Li Pan paid Yang Zhengfei’s kids the sa wages and contribution points as an average adult, which was clearly a loss.
However, the two of them didn’t calculate it that way. They had once been orphans too and had grown up relying on the kindness of others. Now that they were capable and could eat their fill, they were willing to pass on this kindness and help more people survive.
“Otherwise, hire a superpower user from another elent. This ti, get soone from the Gold Elent—I’ve seen that Gold can strengthen farm tools quite impressively. Get a Fire Elent one too, and with all Five Elents combined, the work will be less exhausting.”
Li Pan considered it and decided to settle for less; without a Wood Power User, other elents would suffice. The work was the sa, and Xie Ling’s Wood Power abilities were excellent, with her advancent only a matter of ti.
“Alright, Gold and Earth Elents then. I’ll also take my own brothers.”
Xue Dong naturally prioritized his own family. If there was money to be made, his brothers would earn it first and ensure they were well-fed.
“Got it, I’ll arrange soone reliable and steady, soone who won’t cause trouble.”
The Base Commander nodded in agreent.
That afternoon, Li Pan went to the dark room to treat newcors.
She had taken on ten patients, with diseases that looked serious, but for Li Pan, these were not difficult to handle, and she treated them quickly.
After the treatnts, the patrol team’s vehicle arranged by the Base Commander took them back to the farm.
This round of treatnts earned her five hundred thousand. The Base Commander charged a premium, and he had said, “If you advance to a high-level superpower user, I can charge three million to bring them back.”
As for how much the base would get, there were regulations in place to prevent favoritism, and it was open for inspection.
Li Pan was definitely not at a loss, and she also gained a significant amount of contribution points, which would give her priority when exchanging for Spirit Plants in the future.
Before leaving, she exchanged for so Wood Elent Crystal Cores and eight Second-level Fire Elent Crystal Cores—Xue Dong was about to advance.
Half a month later, Li Pan had knitted two more scarves and a sweater, and made three sheepskin coats.
The sweater was for Xue Dong, and the scarves were for Liu Qian and herself; the others already had theirs. The sheepskin coats were for Shi Lei, Qin Jianzhong, and Zhang Qi, who were freezing while working outside.
After absorbing the Fire Elent Crystal Core and striving overnight, Xue Dong finally advanced to a high-level superpower user.
He specifically went to the Wolf King’s cave to advance, as he and Li Pan were different. Being from the Fire Elent, his energy was violent during advancent and could burn a lot of things—he had learned this the hard way.
After all, it was their own house—if it burned down, would they sleep in the snow? Of course, he had to find a safe place to advance.
Xue Dong returned, full of vigor, lean and dashing, nonchalantly leaning at the door.
“I’m a high-level superpower user now. Want to show off a bit?”
“No, definitely not, don’t you dare. If you destroy anything, we’ll team up and beat you.”
Qin Jianzhong’s eyes bulged out as he imdiately objected.
What a joke—as a Middle-level Superpower User, he was already nearly on par with High-level superpower users. Now that he had advanced, his destructive power would be even greater.
Xue Dong pouted, “No fun, you guys don’t know how to appreciate.”
“Appreciate my ass. Last ti you advanced to Middle-level and burned down three dorms, I had to squeeze in a room with others. Three guys snoring, farting, slly feet—tortured for a month. You may have forgotten, but I haven’t. Just forget it.”
Shi Lei grumbled resentfully.
“Hahaha!”
Li Pan laughed heartily.
Xue Dong’s laughter was both smug and asking for a beating.
“Bro, congrats, you’re aweso.”
Li Pan quickly cajoled him, as his temper was like that of a child’s.
Only then did Xue Dong smile contentedly and leaned over, “Pan’er, now I can protect you and the farm.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll advance in at most half a year.”
Qin Jianzhong huffed in dissatisfaction, as if the world wouldn’t go on without you. Look at how full of yourself you are.
“Brother Jianzhong, when we went there were no Wind Elent Crystal Cores of Second-level or higher left, but I’ve spoken to them, and they’re saving one for you.”
“Alright, I know. Wind Elent Crystal Cores are scarce to begin with.”
Qin Jianzhong wasn’t surprised. Wind Elent Crystal Cores were hard to co by, and they’re more expensive to exchange than others.
In the afternoon, Liu Qian brought the children back and also two Middle-level Superpower Users.
They were the Gold and Earth Elent ones they were looking for, both teammates, and they were very familiar with each other. Cui Yanjun, a Middle-level Gold Elent, honest and simple, an orphan with no relatives, a Base Combat System soldier.
Jiao Ming, a Middle-level Earth Elent, straightforward in temperant, and part of the Combat System.
“Wow, you’ve advanced, you’re doing great, kid, your face has gotten rounder.”
Jiao Ming was cheerful and gave a hug to Xue Dong, Qin Jianzhong, and the others upon seeing them, punching each on the shoulder.
“I’m one step ahead of you. I’m treating tonight, to at.”
“If you’ve upgraded and you don’t treat, who will? I heard you’ve been eating well; I’ll stick with you from now on, no questions asked. I’ll follow your lead unconditionally.”
Jiao Ming declared his position right away, not taking advantage of his seniority and listening to Xue Dong’s instructions.
Cui Yanjun, a genuine and honest man, didn’t talk much. Hearing Jiao Ming’s words, he also nodded vigorously, agreeing to the arrangents.
“No problem, we’re all brothers. With you guys here, I can rest easy. There’s just too much to worry about with two farms. There’s endless work for the few of us.”
Xue Dong led his brothers inside to sit down, poured hot tea for everyone, served so fruits and snacks, and asked Pan’er to start cooking.
“What’s there to worry about? We’re not afraid of working; we’re afraid of being hungry. You just assign the work, now that we’re here.”
Jiao Ming patted his chest confidently, signaling they were here to work.
Their conditions and treatnt had all been agreed upon in advance and were the sa as Qin Jianzhong’s and Shi Lei’s. They were Middle-level, and Liu Qian was slightly higher, being a High-level superpower user.
The brothers hadn’t seen each other for a long ti and the room was lively as they talked. They teased each other but especially enjoyed the camaraderie.
For dinner, they had hotpot with beef and mutton rolls, along with streaky pork, smoked fish with bones, chicken chunks, fresh vegetables, and so on.
“Your food is too good, kid; you have the brains, starting to reclaim land early, and now living the good life. We’re all going to follow you.”
“It’s all thanks to my Pan’er. Without her, I wouldn’t have had the right to reclaim land. You don’t know how hard it was when we first arrived; this year hasn’t been easy. Several tis we nearly faced disaster, living each day with our hearts in our throats.”
“Yeah, that flock of Mutated Birds was like a dark cloud looming over us. If Pan’er hadn’t advanced early, we’d have been goners.”
Qin Jianzhong also felt lucky when he recalled the attack by the mutant animals. There were so many they couldn’t kill them all.
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