Building 4, Unit 202.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room.
Zhang Bo sat with his back to the window, facing Zou Jianghe.
Zou Jianghe leaned back against the sofa. "Have you thought it over?"
Zhang Bo raised his head, a look of frustration on his face. "Boss Zou, I understand your thinking. You want more residents of the complex to live well. I'm actually a kind person myself, you know? I often have thoughts in that direction and frequently help others."
Hearing this, Zou Jianghe couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
He pointed at Zhang Bo. "The 'help' you're talking about is sneaking into people's homes at night to give paid lessons, right?"
Zhang Bo nearly jumped off the sofa. How did he know about something so private?
Zou Jianghe sat up straight, leaning forward with his hands clasped. "I'm not asking you to supply salt to everyone at that price. That preferential price is only for members of our Alliance Mutual Aid Society. You can still sell to others at your original price, no problem."
Zhang Bo gritted his teeth. "But Boss Zou, your Alliance Mutual Aid Society wants to trade two pounds of coarse salt for one pound of meat. My salt well's daily production capacity is limited. If you all want it, my well simply won't produce enough to sell."
Zou Jianghe feigned sudden understanding. "Oh, so that's it. It seems I misunderstood you, Boss Zhang. Alright then, how about this: Boss Zhang, you set aside half of your daily production output. Our Mutual Aid Society will purchase it collectively at the agreed price. How does that sound?"
Zhang Bo let out a long, heavy sigh and said with difficulty, "Fine. My salt well can only produce 20 pounds of coarse salt per day. I'll trade a 10-pound share."
Zou Jianghe spoke slowly, "Boss Zhang, that's not very honest of you. If I recall correctly, isn't your salt well capable of producing 40 pounds of coarse salt daily?"
Zhang Bo's expression froze, his fingers digging into his palms.
Only a very few people knew about the salt well's production capacity. How did Zou Jianghe know? Had someone betrayed him?
Zhang Bo's eyes kept darting to the black-clothed man and the white-clothed man flanking him.
Finally, Zhang Bo took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his anger. "Alright. A daily share of 20 pounds. But don't forget what you promised me, Boss Zou."
The black-clothed man suddenly spoke up, "Brother Zhang, I'm planning to join Boss Zou's hunting team. I might not be able to help out at the salt well for the time being."
......
The journey down the mountain was faster than the climb up.
As dusk fell and the moon rose, Qin Ziwen, standing on the hillside, finally saw the residential complex below.
Qin Ziwen said, "Finally back. Tomorrow we'll continue going to the mountain altar. Everyone's contributions are accumulating."
Zhao Pu nodded. "Good."
Although there was no hunting harvest today, he had touched that Function Card and heard the voice in his mind.
Moreover, according to what Mr. Qin said, he had earned 1/4 of a contribution share this time. He just needed to accumulate a full share to apply for the next card on the altar.
This filled him with immense motivation.
Who knew how many families in the complex still hadn't obtained a single card to this day.
And he only needed to go up the mountain four more times to get a card of his own! To activate his own Home!
As for food, with the gains from the last wild boar hunt, his family currently lacked nothing.
The four of them walked upstairs together.
After Zhao Pu returned home,
the other three continued up one more flight of stairs. Only then did Deng Guang speak to Qin Ziwen, "Brother Qin, when I went to get the card today, I noticed that altar was a bit different from the one we saw down the mountain before."
"How was it different?"
Deng Guang explained, "The altar was bigger, and it wasn't square but round, like one of those big round tables in restaurants that seat twenty people. After I climbed up, I had to walk a few steps to reach the center."
Qin Ziwen pondered. "Maybe there are different types of altars. The one we went to this time was probably a higher-level altar."
"Probably. When I came out, those bats overhead kept squeaking incessantly." Deng Guang gave a bitter smile. "To be honest, I was still a bit nervous."
Qin Ziwen teased, "Haha, seeing how bold you were at the time, I thought you weren't scared."
Deng Guang said, "Tomorrow when we go, we can wear helmets to protect our heads, put on gloves, and wear a couple extra layers of clothes."
"I'll go get two motorcycle helmets later."
Returning home, the living room was pitch dark.
Entering the expanded area behind the bathroom, a faint light similar to moonlight spilled onto the floor.
In the nearby field, rows of Gray Sweet Potatoes had already sprouted from the soil, and the vegetables looked much greener than before.
Light shone from the Blacksmith's window, accompanied by the sound of metal striking.
Pushing the door open, a wave of heat hit him.
Li Tieshan was drenched in sweat, hammering an iron ingot. Seeing Qin Ziwen, he said happily, "Sir! I tried following the recipe you gave me and discovered a new type of iron ingot. It's harder than before and still quite tough."
Qin Ziwen glanced at the small stack of Wrought Iron Ingots piled on the nearby table.
"You've been busy working here all day?"
Li Tieshan grinned sheepishly. "Well, I had nothing else to do, so I just tinkered with the craft."
Qin Ziwen was quite pleased with Li Tieshan's work ethic.
But such high-intensity work still worried him, so he couldn't help but advise, "Remember to rest early. Your health comes first. I want you to still be able to swing a hammer decades from now, not burn yourself out and damage your foundation in just these two months."
Hearing these words, Li Tieshan was immediately moved to tears of gratitude.
The sir is truly too good to me.
After checking the Beast Cage, adding water, feed, and hay, Qin Ziwen took out the red Function Card.
The card felt like warm, smooth jade. It looked like crimson crystal, with an eye symbol carved on the front.
Qin Ziwen silently thought 'use' in his heart.
The Home's little glowing ball automatically appeared. The red Function Card shattered with a pop into a shower of red starlight, which then merged into the white little glowing ball.
【Function Activated: Level 1 Insight】
【New function activated, authority level upgraded】
【Current Authority: Level 1 Authority】
...
【Level 1 Insight: Can be used on card buildings to perceive their basic rules】
With a thought, Qin Ziwen looked at the nearest Beast Cage.
【Level 1 Beast Cage: Level 1 Reproduction Boost, Level 1 Calming Taming】
He looked at the field next.
【Level 1 Field: Level 1 Growth Acceleration, Level 1 Fertility】
Scanning the entire area, he looked at all the buildings in this expanded space.
【Level 1 Restroom: Level 1 Cleaning, Level 1 Deodorizing】
【Level 1 Blacksmith: Level 1 Furnace High Temperature, Level 1 Quenching Boost】
No wonder the crops in the field grew at an abnormally fast speed. And the rabbits and field mice in the Beast Cage felt much tamer than when they were first caught.
These buildings indeed had special effects.
He had sensed it before, but now it was finally confirmed.
Exiting the Restroom, he returned to the master bedroom.
He looked at the Cellar.
【Level 2 Cellar Granary: Level 2 Low Temperature, Level 1 Ventilation, Level 1 Dehumidification】
Does it gain an extra effect when upgraded to Level 2? And it seems not all boost effects can reach Level 2 upon upgrading.
Withdrawing his gaze, there were too few reference points. Later, when other buildings are upgraded and there are more examples, he could probably understand the pattern.
He went to the expanded area outside the balcony.
This time, Qin Ziwen looked at the Tavern. He wanted to see just what this thing was for.
【Level 1 Tavern: Level 1 Attracting Customers, Level 1 Recruitment】