Chapter 356: Settling Accounts

Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Settling Accounts

In the Third Territory, inside a small cabin by the farmlands, Lord No. 3, Xiaqing, and the captain of the Green Dragon Team, Yang Jin, sat across from each other at a table. Two account books lay between them.

One book detailed the supplies the Green Dragon Team had acquired from the Third Territory, primarily divided into four major categories.

First was the amount of Pollution-free Spring Water the Green Dragon Team had taken from the Third Territory from July until now, following the completion of Luo Pei’s first phase of detoxification. The water used before July was not included in the calculation, as Yang Jin had exchanged it for items such as weapons, saplings, Protective Suits, farm machinery, a year of bodyguard services, and firearms training.

Second was the quantity and point value of the Special Level Nutrient Liquid and Green Light vegetables taken from the Third Territory between the end of August and October 15th, when Luo Pei’s condition worsened.

The remaining two items were the migratory birds Xiaqing had shot and sold to the Green Dragon Team during the migration season, and the two Pangolins the Wolf Group had carried into the Third Territory.

In total, the Green Dragon Team owed Xiaqing 637,392.4 points.

The other book listed the supplies Xiaqing had obtained from the Green Dragon Team. This included engine oil, diesel, a generator, a Grenade Launcher, Bullets, grenades, the locator from the Red Squirrel, the labor and medicine used to mask the Wolf Group’s scent as they passed through Mountain No. 49, and the cost of surgery and medication provided by the No. 1 Territory’s team doctor for the wolves...

There was also an old debt: the 800,000 points Xiaqing owed the Green Dragon Team for purchasing Mountain No. 49.

With old and new debts combined, Xiaqing owed the Green Dragon Team 1,275,845.6 points.

After reconciling the accounts with Xiaqing, Yang Jin continued his calculations. "According to our last trade agreement, you already agreed to use 2600 spinach seeds to cover 261,352.4 points. Therefore, you now owe the Green Dragon Team 377,100.8 points."

Owed to the Green Dragon Team, not to him personally. Captain Yang was very clear about that, but to Xiaqing, it made no difference.

After more than half a year of hard work, the Lord of the Third Territory still owed the Green Dragon Team over 370,000 points. Right now, she desperately wanted to slap the long bill right onto Yang Jin’s smiling face.

’What’s with that smug smile? Do you expect me to pay you back right now?’

’In your dreams! I didn’t rush to invite you over and serve you my best Chrysanthemum Tea just to settle debts and pay you back. I’m here to talk more business.’

Xiaqing took a sip of her Chrysanthemum Tea and began by showing her "sincerity." "Besides what’s on the bill, you missed an item: the two Qiangwu Grass Leaves that were cut to save the Head Wolf after it was poisoned by a Qiang Snake. The antidote from Qiangwu Grass comes from the juice in its leaves, correct?"

Yang Jin, who hadn’t intended to charge Xiaqing for the Qiangwu Grass, could only nod when she brought it up herself. "Correct."

"I counted carefully. That Qiangwu Grass plant has a total of 20 leaves. Based on a price of 1 million points per plant, two leaves are worth 100,000 points. We previously agreed to a fifty-fifty split, so I should pay you 50,000. Therefore, my total debt to the Green Dragon Team is..."

Xiaqing stared at the number Yang Jin had written on the paper and added another 50,000. "427,100.8 points. But I don’t have that many points right now. When you came over, you saw how the High Yi Element Green Light Spinach is growing in the terraced fields. As long as nothing goes wrong, I should be able to harvest the spinach seeds within half a month. Can I use the spinach seeds to clear the debt?"

High Yi Element Spinach was the main ingredient for making Special Level Nutrient Liquid, and its seeds were a high-value commodity in short supply. Of course, Yang Jin agreed. "Yes, you can just give me 4,271 spinach seeds."

’Over 420,000 points, and he drops the 0.8, acting like he’s being generous. Truly an Iron Rooster.’

However, it was precisely because Yang Jin calculated the accounts so clearly that Xiaqing felt at ease. It meant that their dealings with the Green Dragon Team were a fair trade.

The Green Dragon Team was a very, very ideal trading partner.

Xiaqing’s expression relaxed. "Thank you, Captain Yang. Including the previous 2,600 spinach seeds, I will give you a total of 6,871 spinach seeds after this batch matures."

After settling the old debt, Xiaqing began to discuss a new deal. "Captain Yang, do you remember the Chestnuts I mentioned to you on the phone?"

Seeing Xiaqing’s serious expression, Yang Jin also put on a stern business face. "You mean the batch you want to propagate and sell as saplings? The No. 1 Territory has already set aside a greenhouse for seedlings. Last time, you said you had over six hundred pounds of Chestnuts?"

Because she had already traded a portion to Zhang San, Xiaqing didn’t have as many Chestnuts as she had reported at the Lords’ meeting. Furthermore, she had changed her mind. She no longer intended to give all six hundred-plus pounds of Chestnuts to Yang Jin to be propagated and sold as trees.

The refugees were coming soon, adding another element of instability to the territory. Unless it was absolutely necessary, Xiaqing would not trade food for supplies again. Only by holding onto a large food reserve could she feel secure.

"The total quantity is about that much, but only about twenty-eight pounds of them are Green Light Chestnuts. I think it’s better to use the Green Light Chestnuts to cultivate the saplings, because Green Light Seeds are more stable and the resulting saplings will sell for a higher price." Xiaqing first explained her intentions before starting to discuss the partnership with Yang Jin.

"I counted them. There are a total of 750 Green Light Chestnuts with intact, undamaged seed coats. Assuming a 50% germination rate, we could grow 375 Green Light Chestnut saplings. Even if only 300 survive to be sold, at 1,000 points per sapling, that’s 300,000 points. I provide the seeds, you provide the personnel for cultivation and sales. We split the profits forty-sixty—forty for me, sixty for you. I’ll also purchase 20 of the cultivated saplings at the public selling price. What do you think?"

Yang Jin wanted a fifty-fifty split.

However, proactively offering a better deal didn’t fit the tight-fisted Iron Rooster image he had cultivated. It would make Xiaqing suspect he had ulterior motives. So, Yang Jin didn’t give a direct answer. "I need to have Hu Zifeng go to the chestnut forest to take samples first. We need to understand the growing environment and soil conditions, determine the cost of artificial cultivation, and also confirm whether the Green Light Chestnuts can even germinate."

’As expected of the captain of Hui San Base’s second-strongest team. He’s so thorough.’ Xiaqing, who hadn’t considered this, immediately nodded. "Of course. If the cost of artificial cultivation is too high, I can lower my share."

After reaching a preliminary agreement, Xiaqing revealed her true reason for calling him over yesterday. "Captain Yang, I’m in urgent need of points right now. If you have the funds, would it be possible to prepay for the spring water for the next four months, from November of this year through February of next year?"

Yang Jin directly confirmed the transaction amount. "We agreed on 300 liters of spring water per month, at 144 points per liter. Are you asking me to prepay 172,800 points right now?"

Xiaqing, who still owed him over 6,000 spinach seeds—equivalent to more than 600,000 points in undelivered goods—forced herself to nod. "If you can pay today, I can give you a discount on the 1,200 liters of spring water."

’She needs this many points... It must be the refugee settlement policy and the actions of the Second Territory that have made her feel insecure. She’s desperate to improve her territory’s security.’

’Her urgent need for points means she already has a trading partner lined up. Is it Zhang San, or Xin Yu?’

Yang Jin stated his terms. "No need for a discount on the water. But I want to take a portion of the spinach seeds that can be planted now, today. How many can you give me?"