"After the solar panels and walkie-talkies are installed, someone will pick them up. It's dangerous in the territory, but there are many benefits too." Tiger carried the solar panels towards the isolation zone of Plot One.
Just as Xia Qing was about to return, she suddenly heard footsteps about two hundred meters away from Plot Two. Judging from the sound, there were six people, but Tiger was alone.
Xia Qing stopped and hid behind a tree.
Soon, Tiger also heard the footsteps and placed the large wooden crate containing the solar panels on the ground.
Six Tang family employees residing at Plot Two climbed the hillside and rushed into the safety barrier, calling out to Tiger, "You're here to install solar panels, right? This way, we've cleared a path."
Tiger calmly replied, "Plot Two doesn't have a buffer forest; it doesn't meet the installation requirements."
A slightly overweight man jumped up in anger, "Why? Aren't our lives worth anything? What does your military mean by this?"
Another man spoke up, arguing, "Plot Two may lack a buffer forest, but we're adjacent to Plots One and Three. If a dangerous evolved creature were to cross the safety barrier and buffer forest, it could reach Plot Two in less than five minutes. The caterpillars from Plot One a few days ago, if they hadn't been discovered, would have quickly reached Plot Two."
Tiger nodded, "I'll report what you've said. The incident at Plot One happened because they underestimated the caterpillars' toxicity and didn't wear protective suits. Everyone must adhere to outdoor work standards and wear appropriate protective clothing." Seeing that Tiger wouldn't budge, the people from Area Two tried a compromise: "Even if we can't install solar panels, can't we at least get a walkie-talkie? We need to report any danger immediately."
Tiger's face darkened. "The base headquarters just gave this order this morning. You already know that, which means you have instant communication equipment and don't need walkie-talkies."
"Even so..."
The people from Area Two were still trying to argue, but Tiger, impatient, picked up his box and left.
The people from Area Two were furious. "Captain, are we just going to let him go like that?"
The captain of Area Two, who had been silent until now, also spoke in a harsh tone. "He has weapons. Even if he doesn't, if we touch him, the army will have us pinned to the ground and riddled with bullets within an hour."
Another person complained, "They're deliberately targeting the Tang family. This lousy place has nothing. I don't want to stay here another day!"
"Anyone who doesn't want to stay can get out!" the leader cursed and walked back, the rest immediately following.
The same angry voice rang out again, "Captain, we're all itching to get some fresh air. Can we go find that little wench in Plot Three and relax a bit? Heh..."
Relax? Sure. Xia Qing drew his machete, lightly blowing on the sharp, gleaming blade.
"Go if you don't want to die." The leader's voice grew even more impatient.
Those who had designs on Xia Qing weren't intimidated. "That little wench is just a power-evolved human. We can handle her."
The leader scoffed, "Even if she doesn't kill you, she'll report it to base."
Another man chimed in, "Shall we capture her?"
The leader was even angrier. "Go back and copy the Territory Law! You think you can fool the noses of advanced evolved military dogs? A bunch of brainless idiots, if you want to die, don't drag me down with you! Go back and weed and till the land!"
"So annoying, I regret it so much." Their voices lowered considerably as their hair turned red, but Xia Qing could barely make them out.
"Didn't you hear how many Tang family members died this time? If we were still in the safe zone, we'd all be finished. Come on, let's throw the seeds in the ground and go hunting in the Evolution Forest. I haven't smelled meat in days."
After they walked away, Xia Qing emerged from behind a tree and retraced his steps down the mountain. After Xia Qing left, the Tang family squad leader in Plot Two stopped and twitched his ears.
Xia Qing checked the buffer forest for evolved caterpillars while thinking about the group in Plot Two.
Those team members were no problem; he could be dealt with openly when the opportunity arose. But that squad leader was a bit of a problem; he was intelligent.
The lord system, introduced to expand the area for grain cultivation, prioritized the safety of lords who left the safe zone.
Therefore, the Territory Law not only stipulated the various rights enjoyed by lords within their territories but also stipulated severe punishment for all crimes that infringed upon the personal safety and property of lords.
If anyone harmed a lord, the base would immediately dispatch an enforcement team of advanced evolved humans and advanced evolved dogs.
Although the ubiquitous surveillance equipment is gone, the advanced law enforcement team is far more effective than cold, impersonal cameras. As long as they detect the scent of a stranger within the territory, they can apprehend the criminal within two hours.
Unless the criminal is reduced to ashes or escapes the base by plane.
Therefore, no one who doesn't want to die will easily provoke the lord. Xia Qing isn't worried about her own safety; she's worried about Boss Sheep.
If the people of Land Two knew of Boss Sheep's existence, they wouldn't dare trespass on her territory to capture the sheep, but they would definitely try to lure Boss Sheep outside their territory to capture him.
Although Boss Sheep is strong and stubborn, a single piece of rations would be enough to lure this glutton away.
The most thorough solution would be to fence off her territory. However, her 7,500 acres of territory have a perimeter exceeding 9 kilometers, and she currently lacks the ability and resources for that. Therefore, the best approach at present is to keep Boss Sheep with her as much as possible, staying within the territory.
If only Boss Sheep were smarter and could understand what she was saying.
Xia Qing returned home, gathered her tools, and headed to the new territory with Sheep Boss. Although the new territory had already been checked, Xia Qing still dared not underestimate the potential dangers, spraying Sheep Boss and herself with insecticide and repellent several times.
Upon arriving at the new territory, Sheep Boss's first stop was perilla.
Xia Qing had already harvested a considerable amount of the evolved perilla, and after the rain, another batch had been killed, leaving only half remaining.
Xia Qing didn't harvest the perilla, continuing towards the higher slopes of the terraced fields.
Along the way, she constantly cleared away any evolved creatures obstructing her view. Animals were killed, and plants were pulled up and left to dry in the sun, to be burned the next time she returned; otherwise, they would become a plague.
The top of the slope was only a few acres in size, where five families used to live. Further north was a buffer zone, a fifty-meter gentle slope separating the area from the remaining evolved forest, where the slope increased, and the forest became denser and higher.
Xia Qing stood in the buffer forest, looking north. She wasn't worried about any large evolved creatures threatening her in this area of the evolutionary forest, because beyond this mountain pass lay Tan's team's base. So, although this was nominally an evolutionary forest, they must have thoroughly searched it; otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to place the wild boar breeding center on the eastern side of their hillside.
Xia Qing lingered for a moment, her eyes lingering on the sturdy barbed wire fence of the breeding center, before beginning her search of the hillside again for edible plants and usable supplies.