"We still need to conserve for now. Just go out for a two-hour patrol during the day," Ren Yuanyang said with a smile, looking at the astonished Qin Haonan. "And make sure to collect any plants you see."
Qin Haonan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Okay!"
Following Ren Yuanyang’s instructions, the patrol area was expanded to a three-kilometer radius. A two-hour trip would cover about twenty kilometers, so five patrols a day would total one hundred kilometers.
At that rate, the current gasoline supply would last five days at most.
’The boss is so confident. He must have a way to get more gasoline!’ Qin Haonan thought.
A source of gasoline was obviously critical, and even if he pressed the issue, Ren Yuanyang probably wouldn’t tell him.
So, he tactfully refrained from asking and continued his patrol, rowing with the paddle to save gas.
Night fell, plunging the world into darkness. The sound of the rain remained distinct.
After rowing for over two hours, Qin Haonan’s stomach began to protest.
’Don’t tell me the boss actually forgot about me!’
Qin Haonan rubbed his stomach and glanced toward the speedboat. He vaguely saw a sliver of light, but it was quickly obscured.
’That’s so extravagant. Using a light in this situation? Do they have power to burn?’
Just as Qin Haonan was grumbling to himself, Lu Jiamei emerged from the speedboat’s cabin.
"Haonan, come get your dinner!"
Hearing her, Qin Haonan immediately jumped up and replied, "Okay!"
He rowed his small boat over to the speedboat, where Lu Jiamei, holding an umbrella, handed him a stainless steel bowl.
"Be careful not to spill it!" Lu Jiamei couldn’t help but add, seeing how excited he was.
"Okay, Sister-in-law!" Qin Haonan blurted out, carefully taking the bowl.
Lu Jiamei froze for a moment, then chided with a laugh, "Don’t just call me random things. From now on, just call me Sister Mei!"
Qin Haonan was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes, Sister Mei!"
The aroma of the rice congee in the bowl made him swallow hard, and his stomach growled again.
Looking at the thick congee, Qin Haonan couldn’t help but ask, "Isn’t this a bit too wasteful?"
"Don’t worry, we have plenty of food," Lu Jiamei replied without further explanation. Instead, she brought out another small basin. "Here, take this. Be careful, it’s fish soup!"
Qin Haonan froze. It wasn’t that he hadn’t smelled the fragrant fish soup; he just never imagined he’d get to have any.
"This is for me?" Qin Haonan found it hard to believe.
"Of course. It’s from that black fish you attracted. Now hurry and take it, I need to go eat too!" Lu Jiamei urged.
Qin Haonan immediately took it.
Lu Jiamei handed him her umbrella. "Here, you use this. Keep yourself covered so you don’t get soaked!"
"Thank you, Sister Mei! And thank you, Boss!" Qin Haonan said gratefully.
Lu Jiamei waved her hand. "No need to be so formal. These dishes are yours to use from now on. Just wash them yourself when you’re done!"
"Okay, Sister Mei!" Qin Haonan nodded.
Lu Jiamei turned and went back into the speedboat’s cabin.
Qin Haonan returned to the shelter of his small boat’s awning and began to drink eagerly. The temperature was perfect!
After finishing the rice congee, his once-empty stomach felt wonderfully settled.
’I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to eat congee like this again,’ Qin Haonan muttered, then immediately picked up the fish soup and began to drink.
"Hmm?" Qin Haonan felt something solid in his mouth and pulled it out.
It was a shimmering slice of fish!
Qin Haonan’s eyes widened. He hastily grabbed the nearby chopsticks and fished around in the soup.
"One slice, two slices, three slices! And half a fish head!"
He was so moved he nearly cried. He hadn’t eaten a single hot meal since the great flood, and recently, he’d been constantly starving.
’The boss is just too good to me!’
He carefully placed a slice of fish into his mouth.
Tender, savory, and smooth!
Qin Haonan felt it was the most delicious slice of fish he had ever eaten.
He couldn’t bear to eat the rest!
After a moment’s hesitation, he actually set the rest of the fish soup aside.
’I’ll save it. I’ll eat it when I’m hungry again!’
Qin Haonan stood up, feeling content. Although he wasn’t full, a pleasant warmth spread through his body.
’Time to make another round.’
He rowed the small boat, navigating by feel as he patrolled around the shipping containers.
Hearing the sounds outside, Xin Wan spoke up, "Boss, it’s really dark out there. Should we give him a Fluorescent Cactus for light?"
Ren Yuanyang struggled to swallow a mouthful of crocodile blood congee, then nodded slightly. "Right. Jiamei, take a Fluorescent Cactus over to him in a bit."
"Yes!" Lu Jiamei replied. She followed it with a loud SLURP of instant noodles, then popped a slice of fish into her mouth, a look of pure bliss on her face.
"You make that bowl of instant noodles look like a gourmet feast," Ren Yuanyang remarked, pursing his lips.
"This is way better than any gourmet feast!" Lu Jiamei immediately shot back.
Beside her, Xin Wan nodded in agreement.
Ren Yuanyang quickly finished the crocodile meat on his plate, then got up and left.
If he stayed, all he could do was watch Lu Jiamei and Xin Wan eat their instant noodles and drool.
He could have eaten instant noodles too, but the crocodile blood congee and meat had already left him about seventy percent full. There was no need to waste food just to satisfy a craving.
It wasn’t a question of whether their food supply was sufficient; it was simply a matter of habit.
Seeing Ren Yuanyang struggle to resist before finally fleeing in defeat, Lu Jiamei and Xin Wan exchanged a smile.
"The boss has incredible self-control!" Xin Wan said, a little surprised.
Lu Jiamei nodded slightly. "If that were me, I’d at least have to steal a few bites before leaving!"
Xin Wan covered her mouth and chuckled. "You’d better hurry up and finish so you can take that Fluorescent Cactus to Qin Haonan."
"Right!" Lu Jiamei hastily shoveled down the rest of the food in her bowl and headed out.
Ren Yuanyang now had six Fluorescent Cacti. One was kept on the speedboat, while the other five were inside the shipping container. To encourage the rice to grow better, all five of those cacti were placed around the edge of the pond to provide illumination.
Although photosynthesis was weaker under the cold light source, it was still far better than no light at all.
"Boss, I’m here to get the Fluorescent Cactus!" Lu Jiamei called out.
"Alright, come in," Ren Yuanyang’s voice came from inside the container.
Only then did Lu Jiamei step inside.
"Just grab one and take it over," Ren Yuanyang said, pointing to the small pond built out of a waterproof tarp.
"Yes!" Lu Jiamei walked over. When she saw that the rice stalks in the pond were already heading, she froze and swallowed hard. "Boss, you’re way too fast!"
Ren Yuanyang was taken aback for a moment, then instantly realized her double meaning. He pursed his lips. "Actually, I’m not fast at all."
Lu Jiamei froze again, her face flushing red. "Can’t you be serious!" she huffed.
"I am being serious. I’ve been enhancing these plants for days and still haven’t finished them all. Wouldn’t you call that slow?" Ren Yuanyang shot back with a grin.
Lu Jiamei rolled her eyes at him and walked out with the Fluorescent Cactus.
Just as she reached the entrance of the container, she seemed to think of something else. Holding up the Fluorescent Cactus, she asked, "Boss, if Qin Haonan asks what this is, what should I say?"

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