From Apocalypse Boss to Farmer: My Vegetables Make Me Stronger!-Chapter 50 - 47: A Well-Deserved Reputation

Mr. Zhao was taken aback.

Something seemed to occur to him, and he gave Gu Xi a knowing look. "No. The Special Service Team was in too much of a hurry last time..." All their time and energy was spent on the specimen from that Mutated Locust Tree, so they hadn’t gotten around to Experiment No. 1 yet.

’Still... I should probably give the girl a heads-up about this.’

As Mr. Zhao led Gu Xi toward the experimental fields, he hinted obliquely, "You don’t have to worry about that issue. I’ve already submitted an application. The base will be sending someone from the Healing System over soon..."

Gu Xi nodded but said nothing.

They entered the experimental fields and were busy for the better part of the day.

When Gu Xi returned that evening, Wei Heng led her straight to the prettiest of the log cabins. "Go on, take a look. I’ve decorated the whole thing for you..."

Remembering Wei Heng’s peculiar taste for all things girly, Gu Xi fell silent for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile.

As they entered the house together, Gu Xi was surprised. ’Has Wei Heng’s sense of style actually improved?’

The large, solid wood bed in the bedroom, for instance... she was very pleased with it.

Gu Xi looked at Wei Heng in surprise, but he was frowning at the bed with a disgusted expression. "Qin Yi got that for you. I was originally planning to build you a princess bed..."

Gu Xi: "..."

That evening, when the Qin sisters and Shen Yue came over to bum a meal, Gu Xi thanked Qin Yi with heartfelt sincerity. "I really owe you one."

’Otherwise, I can’t even imagine what my bedroom would look like.’

Qin Yi, who was clearly aware of Wei Heng’s tastes, pursed her lips to hide a smile. She didn’t forget to shoot him a teasing look, as if to say, ’See? I told you a grown man has no business decorating a girl’s room.’

Wei Heng: "..."

With the new log cabins built, the original shipping container homes had been converted into a warehouse and a utility shed.

The kitchen, however, remained where it was.

This was mainly because energy was scarce, so they used a wood-fired earthen stove. Wei Heng was worried that all the smoke would damage their new log homes.

Gu Xi, on the other hand, didn’t mind.

’Earthen stoves are better anyway,’ she thought. ’The food tastes more fragrant!’

To celebrate their move, Wei Heng pulled out all the stops that night, preparing a massive table full of dishes.

Even though it was all vegetarian, everyone ate with great gusto.

After dinner, Gu Xi noticed that Shen Yue had moved into the cabin next to Wei Heng’s, and even Qi Xiang had moved into the one next to the Qin sisters.

’No wonder they built five cabins,’ she realized.

After cleaning up the kitchen, Wei Heng thought for a moment before knocking on Gu Xi’s door.

The two of them sat around a bowl of big, bright red strawberries, eating and talking—though it was mostly Wei Heng who did the talking.

He was telling her about what had happened in the few days since she had left.

First, the two professors’ research assistants had finally arrived late last night after a rough journey that took over half a month.

Gu Xi nodded. She had already seen them around when she went to help out at the experimental fields that afternoon.

This time, the two professors had brought over seven assistants—three men and four women—from the Central Base’s Agricultural University. It was too soon to tell what they were like.

Besides, Shen Yue was keeping an eye on things over there, so it wasn’t Gu Xi’s turn to worry about it yet.

As for the second matter...

Wei Heng hesitated. "About those sweet potatoes we sent to South City last time..."

Gu Xi raised an eyebrow in understanding. "Someone’s taken an interest?"

’The mutation index of those sweet potatoes was extremely low, so it was only to be expected that they’d attract attention.’

Wei Heng nodded, but what truly made him hesitate was something else.

Apparently, someone had contacted Wei Heng through Mr. Zhou. They had vaguely hinted at something along the lines of, "Since you have connections with the Abnormal Ability Research Institute, perhaps we could arrange a long-term partnership? Don’t worry, we won’t pry, and price is absolutely not an issue..."

Gu Xi knew then that this was likely Xv Yiyisan vouching for her.

In fact, the day she saw Xv Yiyisan at South City, a certain suspicion had already formed in her mind...

Wei Heng felt there was definitely more to this. Was it really okay to be so brazenly throwing the Abnormal Ability Research Institute’s name around like this?

But since it concerned Gu Xi’s secret, he couldn’t very well press the issue if she didn’t bring it up herself.

After a moment’s thought, Wei Heng opened his personal terminal and turned the Light Screen toward Gu Xi. "Here, take a look at this..."

Gu Xi glanced up. It was another message from Ye Junhan.

Wei Heng was clearly being cautious. He never forwarded the files from Ye Junhan to Gu Xi, always showing them to her directly on his own personal terminal, afraid that someone might be able to trace the connection through the network someday.

This time, the message from Ye Junhan was a follow-up regarding the Mutated Locust Tree...

Over at the Central Base, the people from the Abnormal Ability Research Institute were indeed very interested in the Mutated Locust Tree. They had originally planned to send more people over, but then, for some unknown reason, the matter was suddenly dropped.

But Ye Junhan hinted between the lines that the matter was far from over. The current silence couldn’t hide the turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm surface, and it would only lead to a more violent storm in the future!

Gu Xi was silent for a while after she finished reading.

’Even though I know Ye Junhan is probably revealing this information for Wei Heng’s sake...’

’...I still have to accept the favor.’

Gu Xi picked a large strawberry from the bowl and suddenly asked Wei Heng, "What do you think of Da Hong?"

Wei Heng had already learned from Qi Xiang that Da Hong was the name of the big black rooster.

Not expecting her to ask about that, he thought for a moment before answering tactfully, "Da Hong’s mutation index is very high. I’m afraid its meat won’t be very tasty..."

Gu Xi: "..."

Seeing her silence, Wei Heng thought for a moment and added, "If you’re really craving meat that badly, how about I head back to the camp tomorrow and see what I can find..."

Gu Xi refused flatly. "No, that’s not necessary." She hadn’t been asking about Da Hong because she wanted to eat him.

Although, it was true she was craving meat.

"What I mean is," Gu Xi said, looking at Wei Heng seriously, "don’t you think the energy fluctuations inside Da Hong feel a little... familiar?"

Wei Heng froze. He heard Gu Xi continue, "Da Hong... it’s also an Earth Ability chicken. And the X Energy inside it is very potent..."

Which meant that with a little guidance from her, Da Hong’s condition could very likely become just like Wei Heng’s.

Most importantly, a quantitative change leads to a qualitative one.

Just as mutant plants could turn malignant, once the X Energy accumulated inside a mutant animal reached a certain point, it would trigger their ferocity as well!

It was just that most mutant animals were aggressive to begin with, and the matter of mutant plants turning malignant was being deliberately concealed by the higher-ups, so ordinary people still hadn’t realized the issue. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

But clearly, the country’s leaders had long since considered this, which was why every base had such strict controls over mutant animals.

And in the past six months, they had tightened that control even further...

Wei Heng was silent for a long time after hearing Gu Xi’s plan.

To be honest, he had long since given up hope for his ability. But now, someone was telling him she could try...

Wei Heng refused to believe that Gu Xi didn’t know what her "trying" truly implied!

And yet, she had still brought it up without hesitation, willing to expose her greatest secret and attract the covetous gazes of countless people to do so!

For a moment, a storm of conflicting emotions raged within Wei Heng, leaving him feeling utterly conflicted.

On the one hand, he was already a cripple; he didn’t want to drag Gu Xi into danger because of him.

On the other hand, if he could live—truly live well—who would ever choose to die?

Besides, life was so good now. He had not only fulfilled his old dream of becoming a chef, but he also got to sleep in every day, eat and drink and bask in the sun, and only occasionally do a little work in the fields...

He had never even dared to dream of such a good life before.

So Wei Heng couldn’t bear to give it up...

But after a long internal struggle, Wei Heng still shook his head. "Forget it, Gu Xi. I know my own situation..." ’It’s hopeless,’ he thought.

"Wei Heng," Gu Xi suddenly cut him off. She looked up at him, her gaze serious and calm. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course," Wei Heng said, looking up without a second thought.

Gu Xi smiled. "Then I believe in you, too."

Wei Heng stared, stunned, at the small green sprout that had suddenly shot up before his eyes and was now swaying gently.

Then, he reached out and took hold of the little sprout.

But Gu Xi stood up. "Come on, let’s go check on Da Hong first..."

The two of them went out into the yard but didn’t see Da Hong.

Gu Xi raised an eyebrow. ’Did he run away? That can’t be right. During those few days on the road, Da Hong had clearly submitted to her...’

Just then, a strange sound suddenly came from not far away.

The two exchanged a look, followed the sound, and froze at the sight.

Under the pale, eerie moonlight, among the swaying shadows of the trees, Qi Xiang was squatting on the ground with a complete lack of decorum, her eyes gleaming as she stared intently at Da Hong’s... rear end, and the giant nest beneath it.

Gu Xi’s eyes fell to Qi Xiang’s hands. "Qi Xiang... what are you doing...?"

Qi Xiang, her back to them, stiffened slightly.

"Nothing." She quickly tossed aside the object in her hand, stood up, and pretended to be nonchalant. "I was just worried Da Hong might not be used to his new home at night, so I came to check on him..."

Gu Xi recalled the disgusted look this young lady had given Da Hong on their way back, shot her a glance, and said nothing.

It was Wei Heng who stared at the thing she had thrown on the ground and blurted out, "You weren’t trying to help Da Hong hatch an egg, were you?"

Having been called out, Qi Xiang slowly looked up, her face expressionless. "What? Is there a problem?"

Gu Xi: "..."

Wei Heng: "..."

Qi Xiang decided to just own it, saying with a deadpan expression, "Didn’t Gu Xi say we can’t eat any of the chickens we caught? And that if we want to eat good meat, we have to start from the egg?"

’What the hell is this "start from the egg" nonsense...’ Wei Heng thought.

He clenched his fist, coughed lightly, and tried his best to control the twitching at the corners of his mouth. "Um, well, I suppose you could, but as far as I know, hatching an egg isn’t something that happens in a day or two. You..."

Before he could finish, a CRACK! echoed from beneath Da Hong’s rear end, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

It was the sound of an egg cracking.

Gu Xi: "..."

Wei Heng: "..."

The two of them exchanged a look. This legendary Golden Carp Luck was truly no empty boast!