CHAPTER 365: CHAPTER 344: EAST ISLAND SPECIALTY, MAKING IT RAIN

After finishing the dry rations, Lu Xi’an carried the rattan box they harvested yesterday, placing Gou along with a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of wine inside, and then carrying a diesel generator in hand, together with Yao Wei, followed Hu Xiaodong to the early market.

The rattan box proved to be sturdy and practical; placing Gou inside not only freed up their hands but also reduced attention.

After communicating with Hu Xiaodong yesterday, Lu Xi’an confirmed that cigarettes and alcohol on this East Island have surprisingly strong purchasing power.

Especially cigarettes, now on this island, are likely priced but not available. They might not even need to use wine at the early market; Lu Xi’an keeps it as a precaution.

He even opened a pack of cigarettes, pocketing loose cigarettes so he could take out a single one from his pocket, avoiding drawing too much attention by taking out an entire pack.

Walking half the distance from yesterday’s path, Hu Xiaodong greeted many along the way—

Early in the morning, people had already started working in the fields, and previously on the boat, Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei heard some noise. Now watching them facing the soil, even while greeting Hu Xiaodong, their actions didn’t pause for a moment.

"It’s really tough work."

Lu Xi’an remarked.

Yao Wei replied, "At least they are better off than people elsewhere."

"Indeed."

Lu Xi’an nodded. At least here, people are self-sufficient, working for themselves, while elsewhere, most people labor in fields, producing things they rarely get to enjoy, which all go to the Neo-Humans.

The Type D-1 gene modification ordinary people underwent to survive harsh environments has now become a fundamental tool for Neo-Humans to exploit them.

The innermost section leads to an upward slope, and Hu Xiaodong pointed at the slope, saying, "Follow this path up. We’ll go directly to the third tier—the middle tier. The early market’s there."

Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei followed Hu Xiaodong up the slope, asking while climbing, "Do you also sell things at the early market?"

Hu Xiaodong, with a slightly proud smile, replied, "Not us. Our family’s sweet water reputation is well established. Those wanting water come directly to us, no need to squeeze through the early market.

"There are also many others, like the blacksmiths, potters, and carpenters, who don’t need to go to the early market. Though the potter’s house is right by the early market, and the blacksmith’s house is adjacent."

"Blacksmiths and potters?"

Lu Xi’an was intrigued by these households. "They can craft things? There are still people on East Island making pottery and forging iron?"

"Yes."

Hu Xiaodong replied, "The potter’s house got its name because of their surname, so we always call them the potter’s house.

"It’s said long ago, when our ancestors arrived on the island and distributed land, the potter’s household wanted to do something besides farming. Someone suggested, ’You’re surnamed Tao, why not try making pottery bowls and pots?’

"The potter’s household really tried, slowly figuring it out over a long time, even sought advice from others, and eventually succeeded.

"Now every household on the island has pottery bowls, pots, cups, basins—all made by the potter’s house.

"——And they found the person I mentioned earlier, who developed the potatoes, sweet potatoes, and barley we now grow on East Island."

"I see."

Lu Xi’an nodded, then queried, "And the blacksmith’s house? Are they also surnamed Tie?"

Hu Xiaodong explained, "No, they’re surnamed Yuan. The current head is Yuan Jianshui. All their names include water, claiming that after generations dealing with fire, they must lack water in their elemental chart, hence incorporating water in names.

"We all like calling Yuan Jianshui Yuan Old Iron.

"Their ancestors were the strongest, able to endure physical labor, which led them to this occupation.

"Though iron is scarce on our island, they can’t obtain much; they can only forge farm tools and kitchenware.

"Nowadays, it’s mostly custom work, when something breaks, people take it to his place to melt and reforge."

Lu Xi’an nodded; that meant the likelihood of gaining something from the blacksmith’s was lower. But visiting the potter’s might yield some needed items.

Getting a set of pottery bowls, pots, cups, basins could be very useful in the future.

As they talked, they reached the second tier; the slope to the third tier was right ahead. Seen from outside the island, the slope between the first and second tiers forms a large zigzag.

Every upper tier is similar.

"Here."

Hu Xiaodong spoke up, leading Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei through the field paths, naturally greeting people in the fields and briefly introducing Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei.

Someone clever among the fields immediately understood: "Big Hu, the grain you bought earlier, was it for these folks?"

Hu Xiaodong replied, "Yes. We may need to buy plenty in the future."

The field workers laughed, "Then we must make an effort and plant more potatoes/sweet potatoes/barley."

Living in isolation on this island for years, the locals were only curious about Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei, distinctively different Neo-Humans, without much fear.

Perhaps only Hu Xiaodong, Hu Dong, and similar individuals who venture beyond the island and understand the Neo-Humans’ power and actions truly fear Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei.

Lu Xi’an also laughed, responding, "It’s a deal, you plant well, and I’ll prioritize buying from you."

They traversed the field path and climbed the slope, finally reaching the third tier.

By now, Hu Xiaodong was slightly out of breath, while Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei showed no signs of fatigue.

Hu Xiaodong panted lightly twice and pointed to the east, saying, "Look over there, there’s the morning market. The goods are already on display by now.

"We have a morning market and a night market here. The morning market is open daily, but the night market only happens when the tide is out, during the full moon.

"Compared to the morning market, the night market is more fun. If you two want to see it, you can stay on the island for a while longer."

Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei both looked eastward and saw that a market had formed there. The houses on both sides had set up canopies, and in front of the stalls were scattered stalls of various sizes, all filled with goods.

People came and went among the market, and outside the market, people occasionally gathered from above, below, left, and right, heading towards the market.

Although the crowd wasn’t as dense as in the bustling places of their past lives, it was indeed quite lively.

Lu Xi’an became interested, took Yao Wei’s hand, and said, "Come on, let’s go shopping."

"Okay."

Yao Wei responded briefly, letting Lu Xi’an lead her and keeping pace with Lu Xi’an.

Hu Xiaodong also followed along, feeling a bit envious as he rarely saw people like this on the island. These two Neo-Humans suddenly made people envious.

As they walked into the market, there were breakfast stalls, snack stalls, and grocery stalls, all sorts of them, just like the markets Lu Xi’an had seen in his past life.

"We’ll keep an eye out, and if you see anything good, give us a heads-up."

As Lu Xi’an held Yao Wei’s hand and walked into the market, he said this to Hu Xiaodong.

Hu Xiaodong immediately nodded and agreed, "Oh, okay."

The two quickly found a stall that interested them.

The stall was connected to a house at the back, with windows propped up to form a canopy and two tables and benches set outside.

A person was sitting at one of the tables, eating a bowl of meat soup, which was milky white and looked temptingly fragrant.

The shops here didn’t have signs, but Hu Xiaodong explained, "This is the Hao family’s pork soup place.

"Their family collaborates with the Lao Zhu family—the one that sells pigs on the island—so they can get pork and pork offal cheaply.

"This pork soup is expensive; we usually can’t afford to drink it. The person drinking the soup now is also from the committee."

The committee person had just finished the soup, stood up to wipe the sweat off, and turned to see Lu Xi’an and the others, saying, "These two... I haven’t seen them before."

Hu Xiaodong quickly explained, "Mr. Yang, they’re from the west side of Caiyang Mountain, here to buy things from us."

Mr. Yang frowned and asked, "Did you bring them up? Have they been reported yet?"

Hu Xiaodong hurriedly said, "Not yet, but they’re good people, not dangerous, I can assure you. I’ll go report it later."

"Hmm."

Mr. Yang agreed and left.

Once he left, Hu Xiaodong curled his lips disdainfully and quietly told Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei, "Did you hear what he said? The reporting place is under his control. If you report to him, he definitely won’t approve!

"If he does approve and something happens with newcomers on the island, he’ll definitely be blamed for it.

"It’s impossible. None of the committee members will agree, and for so many years, besides you two, no outsiders have been allowed on the island. One reason is no one can find this place, and another is they won’t approve it."

Lu Xi’an said, "You’re really taking a risk for us, taking responsibility like this."

Hu Xiaodong said, "It’s nothing, you two are good people, who knows this better than me? Besides, when I report it later, it’s just giving him some water.

"In any case, I have to deliver it every month when I’m off the island."

Wow, even on an island without Neo-Humans, things like this still happen.

Lu Xi’an pulled out two cigarettes and handed them to Hu Xiaodong, saying, "Here you go. I didn’t know you’d be taking on such a burden for us. Now that I know, I can’t let you do it for nothing."

Hu Xiaodong repeatedly said, "How can I accept this?" but he reluctantly took the two cigarettes, in the end, hesitatingly.

Lu Xi’an asked Yao Wei and Hu Xiaodong to sit on the bench outside the pork soup stall, took off the rattan box from his back, placed it on the table, and called, "Boss, three bowls of pork soup, please."

Hu Xiaodong quickly declined, saying it wasn’t necessary, but Lu Xi’an told him not to worry.

He just asked Hu Xiaodong whether it was more appropriate to trade cigarettes or Small Coin for the pork soup.

Hu Xiaodong said Small Coin would do, the cigarettes were too valuable, one could buy a whole pig.

So, Lu Xi’an paid for the pork soup with Small Coin.

The owner of the pork soup stall was also familiar with Hu Xiaodong, and when receiving the money and bringing out the pork soup, he greeted Hu Xiaodong and exchanged a few words.

After the small talk, Hu Xiaodong still asked the owner of the pork soup stall, "Hao, could I get a bowl to share? I’d like to save half and bring it back for my family’s Hu Xiaodong to taste. I’ll return the bowl afterward."

It seemed that this pork soup was indeed a luxury for him, one he usually couldn’t afford. Now that he had some, he was still thinking of his family’s grandson.

Seeing this, Lu Xi’an took out a few more Small Coins and said, "You just enjoy your meal, boss, please prepare another bowl of pork soup for us to take when we leave."

Hu Xiaodong was suddenly moved, saying, "You two... are really good people!"

Lu Xi’an suddenly felt a kind of rich man’s thrill of giving freely.