Qin Ziwen focused his attention on the two words: attracting customers and recruiting.
Attracting customers, if he wasn't mistaken, should be the ability to summon that scholar to the tavern.
Recruiting, presumably similar to the Recruitment Card, could recruit people to join his Home.
This tavern really was as he initially guessed, capable of obtaining new members.
But the recruitment of the scholar yesterday failed. He concluded the reason was that his words were too abrupt and reckless, scaring the other party.
If guests come again next time, he could communicate more first.
Thinking this, he entered the tavern.
The tavern at night was somewhat dim, moonlight from the window illuminating one corner of the room.
He sat on the bench for a while. No new guests arrived. Qin Ziwen finally left disappointed.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A knocking sound came from outside the door.
Following it was Deng Guang's voice, "Brother Qin."
Qin Ziwen opened the door a crack, "What's up?"
"After I went back, I only found out from my wife. A group of people calling themselves the Alliance Mutual Aid Society came looking for you during the day. They arranged to meet you at the south gate tomorrow morning at ten." Outside the door, Deng Guang relayed the day's events in detail.
"Tomorrow morning..." Qin Ziwen frowned. The time was set for ten in the morning. Couldn't it be in the evening?
If he participates tomorrow, how will he go get the cards?
Another day wasted. What if the altar refreshes with another red card?
Moreover, after obtaining a card, the daily settlement could be milked for another wave of rewards. Going and coming back would mean two cards.
"Brother Deng, do you think I should go?"
Deng Guang hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "I'll listen to you. But it probably isn't anything urgent, right? If it was truly urgent, they would have come to your door and waited for you. Using this method of relaying a message probably means they aren't very serious either."
Qin Ziwen nodded, "That makes sense. Tomorrow we'll continue going up the mountain. If they come again, have Sister-in-law and the others relay that I'll meet them tomorrow night."
"Alright, I'll head up then. I just went to trade for two motorcycle helmets. I plan to bring them tomorrow." Deng Guang shook the two helmets he was holding in his hands.
Watching him go upstairs, Qin Ziwen closed the door only after he had gone far away.
"Alliance Mutual Aid Society... is it about selfless mutual aid? If it really is, that would be good too." Qin Ziwen murmured to himself.
Returning to the bedroom, he went to the window and looked up at the bright, clear moon overhead.
The sun had long since set. The residential complex was quiet.
Through the windows, he could see that every household's balcony was fully planted with things.
Withdrawing his gaze, he summoned the Home.
【Current number of households in the complex that have awakened a Home exceeds 6% of survivor households. A 3-day countdown will begin after exceeding 20%】
【Next stage map: Gobi Desert】
【Next stage stay duration: Insufficient authority】
【Next stage supplementary personnel: Insufficient authority】
"Need to stockpile more water."
The next map is the Gobi Desert. The Gobi is extremely water-deficient.
Based on his past experience watching survival shows, the Gobi terrain isn't rainless, it's low-rainfall, and evaporation is fast. Shallow water can basically only be found near oases or fault zones.
Furthermore, most of this shallow water is stagnant and cannot be drunk directly.
Also, plants are very sparse, and animal numbers aren't high either. Both drinking water and food are major problems.
"Not only need to store water, but also need to store more food." Thinking of this, a sense of urgency arose in Qin Ziwen's heart.
The food he has stored now is only enough to eat for a while. If he goes to the Gobi, he can't guarantee it will be enough.
Night fell. Qin Ziwen lay in bed and quickly fell asleep.
The Crowned Eagle lay in the bird nest beside him, its head resting on the edge of the nest, staring fixedly at Qin Ziwen. As time passed, its big eyes slowly closed.
Morning. Sunlight spilled through the window.
「You have successfully survived safely in the wilderness for the seventeenth day. You discovered an advanced mysterious altar and obtained a card from it. Simultaneously hunted a Black Falcon. Comprehensive score: 104 points」
「You received rewards: 【Function Card】Arrangement, Yellow Wine*4」
Another Function Card!
Delight surged in Qin Ziwen's heart. It really was buy one, get one free.
But what is this 'Arrangement'?
He took out the new Function Card. Like yesterday's Insight card, this new card's appearance was also a red crystal card emitting a faint red glow.
Only, its front side had the shape of a hand, thumb and index finger lightly pinching, as if holding something.
He silently recited 'use' in his heart.
The Home's little glowing ball automatically appeared. Shattered red starlight merged into the little glowing ball.
【Activated function: Level 1 Arrangement】
【Activated new function, authority has been elevated. Current authority: Level 1 Authority (1/2)】
【Level 1 Arrangement: Can be used on any building or resource point within the Home to reposition it to any blank area within the Home. After repositioning, this building (resource point) cannot be moved again for 30 days】
Finally, he can reposition buildings!
Qin Ziwen planned to properly plan this out. The same building has a 30-day cooldown after being moved.
This made him temporarily calm down, deciding to wait a couple of days first. Because these buildings and resource points can only be moved to blank areas.
The existing blank areas aren't many. Some buildings with a large footprint aren't convenient to relocate.
After obtaining two more Expansion Cards, he'll plan the Home into several zones.
Mining Zone, Functional Building Zone, Resource Point Zone, Planting Zone.
Some buildings and resource points also have complementary effects. Their distances can be closer to save physical strength and time.
Besides that, there were four jars of... Yellow Wine?
He took out one jar. His hand sank.
He almost didn't hold it steady.
His palm supported a huge wine jar, weighing at least twenty or thirty pounds. The jar mouth was sealed with red cloth, and a faint aroma of wine wafted out.
Carrying this jar of wine to the tavern, he placed it at the bottom of the cabinet behind the counter. There happened to be an empty spot there.
Clapping his hands, just as he was about to leave satisfied, the door curtain was lifted.
"Innkeeper, bring some cooked food, and two jars of good wine!"
A group of four walked in.
Three of them wore constable uniforms like from TV dramas. The leader had a face full of bushy beard, thick eyebrows and big eyes, a broad face and a square mouth.
The two behind had short swords at their waists, were burly and stout, with shrewd eyes. Sandwiched between them was a long-haired man wearing prisoner's garb.
After entering the room, the four sat down at a table near the door curtain.
The leading bearded constable slapped his sword horizontally onto the table.
Qin Ziwen fell silent. Why were there so many people this time?
If he really were running a shop, earning a bit of money would be fine. The problem was he wasn't running a shop. These five people coming to eat for free, even if they paid, the money was useless, nowhere to spend it.
Seeing Qin Ziwen standing behind the counter not immediately serving food, the three men frowned, exchanging glances.
The leading bearded giant spoke, "Innkeeper, I, Di Wu, have traveled this road no less than seven or eight times if not ten. This is the first time I've seen a shop opened here. This remote wilderness, no village ahead, no inn behind, business must usually be poor, right?"
......