Chapter 186: Jin Tao

Their leaves looked healthy, and there were no obvious signs of heat damage.

Ni Mengxue stared at the scene in amazement. ’They actually sprouted?’

She had clearly underestimated the capabilities of the system-generated farmland.

Even without a greenhouse, the crops were growing successfully.

The nearby residents were equally astonished.

Several people had gathered beside the fields, staring at the fresh green shoots.

One of them whispered, "Our base leader is truly amazing."

Another nodded enthusiastically.

"To think she managed to grow vegetables successfully in this terrible heat!"

A third resident suddenly remembered something.

"Speaking of growing vegetables, didn’t Burning Star Base recently announce something similar?"

The others immediately turned toward him.

He continued, "I heard that Burning Star Base also claimed to have successfully cultivated vegetables."

Someone in the crowd nodded.

"Well, Burning Star Base has also succeeded in growing vegetables. It’s not as if Fair Shallow Land is the only base capable of doing that."

The speaker was a man named Wang Xiuhai.

He glanced around before continuing, "Besides, let’s not forget that the electric fence surrounding this base is still rather makeshift."

He pointed toward the surrounding buildings.

"We don’t even have a proper law enforcement system here. And don’t get me started on the electricity supply. Everything feels poorly organized. Compared to Burning Star Base, this place is still far behind."

The surrounding residents immediately frowned.

Wang Xiuhai noticed their displeased expressions and smiled. "What? I’m only telling the truth."

He spread his hands. "Is there really a need to look at me like that? I’m offering constructive criticism."

Just then, Ni Mengxue, who had been listening to the conversation, smiled.

"Constructive criticism is one thing. Deliberately making people look down on their own base is another."

She looked directly at Wang Xiuhai. "And what you were doing just now was much closer to the latter."

The crowd exchanged glances. A moment later, several residents nodded in agreement.

Some even began clapping. "She’s right! Your way of speaking is too condescending."

"There’s nothing wrong with pointing out problems, but why compare everything to Burning Star Base?"

"Our base is still developing!"

Hearing their reactions, Wang Xiuhai’s face turned red. He glared at Ni Mengxue.

"I seriously don’t understand how someone like you became a representative of this place."

His voice grew louder. "You haven’t even registered as a resident here!"

The crowd suddenly fell silent. Several people turned toward Ni Mengxue.

However, she remained completely calm. "How do you know that?"

Wang Xiuhai was momentarily speechless.

Before he could answer, Ni Mengxue continued, "I had a registration card long before most of you arrived."

She smiled faintly. "In fact, I was among the first people to discover this settlement. I’d already obtained the pass three months ago."

The surrounding residents exchanged surprised glances.

Most of them had arrived relatively recently.

They had never met the earliest residents, so they had no way of knowing whether Ni Mengxue was telling the truth.

However, Ni Mengxue’s confidence made them reconsider their doubts.

Just as several people were about to question Wang Xiuhai further, a sudden commotion erupted near the entrance.

Everyone turned around. A large group of men was marching into the base.

There were approximately fifty of them.

Most carried weapons, and their expressions were openly hostile.

They moved through the entrance without showing the slightest concern for the residents around them.

The man leading the group suddenly shouted, "Whoever is in charge of this base, come out!"

His voice echoed across the street.

"We’re here on behalf of Eagle Base, and we want to have a little chat!"

The moment the residents heard the name Eagle Base, their expressions changed dramatically.

"Eagle Base? Why are those people here?"

Several residents immediately retreated. Others hurried toward their homes.

Some even rushed to find their wives, daughters, and children, wanting to keep them away from the newcomers.

Fear spread rapidly through the crowd. It was obvious that Eagle Base had a terrible reputation.

Meanwhile, Ni Mengxue frowned slightly. She hadn’t expected visitors from Eagle Base to appear so suddenly.

Nevertheless, she calmly stepped forward. "Yes? What can I do for you?"

The leader turned toward her. He was a tall, bald man with an exceptionally bulky build.

His broad shoulders and thick arms made him look physically intimidating.

Unlike most apocalypse survivors, he appeared remarkably well-fed.

His clothes were relatively clean, and his healthy complexion suggested that he rarely struggled to obtain food.

When he saw Ni Mengxue, he raised an eyebrow. "Are you the base leader?"

Ni Mengxue shook her head. "I’m a representative hired by the base leader."

The bald man studied her for a moment before smiling. "Is that so?"

He straightened his posture. "Then allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jin Tao. You can call me Mr. Jin."

He gestured toward the men standing behind him.

"We’ve come from Eagle Base to establish a trade route between our settlement and yours. Naturally, Eagle Base is prepared to offer a very generous reward."

Ni Mengxue smiled politely. "Really?"

She tilted her head. "What kind of generous reward are we talking about?"

Then she gestured toward the surrounding residents.

"Since you’re proposing a trade agreement, why don’t you explain the terms publicly?"

Jin Tao’s expression changed slightly. For a moment, he stared at her.

Then he let out a cold laugh."Originally, I was planning to give you some face. But since you don’t seem interested in maintaining appearances, I suppose there’s no need to hide anything."

He raised one finger. "Eagle Base wants ten thousand kilograms of food."

The surrounding residents immediately stiffened.

Jin Tao continued, "It can be compressed biscuits, rice, or any other food products currently sold in your cafeteria. We’ve already investigated your base."

His expression became smug. "We have a fairly good estimate of how much food you’re producing and selling every day."

He paused before adding, "Of course, we’re not asking you to hand everything over for free. We’re willing to pay ten System Points for everything."

The crowd fell silent.

Ten System Points? For ten thousand kilograms of food?

Several residents stared at Jin Tao in disbelief.