(Due to a sudden illness this morning, I spent the entire day in the hospital, feeling like I was about to die, having vomited six times. I just got home and will need further check-ups in a couple of days, so updates might be less frequent.)
While Isabel was making the stew, Jiang Ye went to the base panel and opened the chat channel.
Cao County Citizen's message was waiting:
Business is getting worse, no orders for supplies today. With the blizzard, everyone can't harvest snow oil grass, and they've become poor again.
Jiang Ye: I understand, I understand.
Cao County Citizen transferred a sum of money, forty-two thousand three hundred, which was the profit share.
Jiang Ye's account balance rose to 2,797,100 yuan.
He opened the chat channel to do his usual lurking.
The channel was filled with lamentations again:
Brewster Monroe: Damn it, such thick snow, the base door can't even be opened! Are we going to be trapped and die in the base?
Zuo Banyan: So cold, the coal briquettes are gone, and the snow oil grass is buried under the snow. Please, kind souls, spare some firewood and coal briquettes. I don't want to turn into a zombie, sob sob sob.
Fukada Eimi: There are still twenty days left until winter ends, right? This is killing me, I'll still freeze to death!
Doll: So hungry, no money to buy food. The food prices at Cao County Citizen's place are so expensive.
Jiang Ye was stunned. Cao County Citizen was quite famous now; people were mentioning him just by casually lurking.
He immediately started typing to support his own people.
Jiang Ye: It's because food is so scarce. I've asked many people to buy food, and they're all outrageously expensive. Cao County Citizen's prices are still considered cheap.
After lurking for a while longer, Jiang Ye closed the chat channel.
The stew was ready. He and Isabel sat facing each other by the pot and ate heartily.
It was truly a "stew," with all sorts of colorful ingredients in the pot, almost everything imaginable, even watermelon. After being stewed thoroughly, all the ingredients tasted pretty much the same. It looked chaotic, but it was surprisingly delicious.
After eating, Isabel stood up, pulled the hem of her tight-fitting sweater, and took it off.
She was left with a pink lace bra, her waist slender, her ample chest threatening to spill out, and even the veins on her skin were clearly visible. Isabel's neck was long and graceful, reminiscent of a swan.
The sudden sensual scene stunned Jiang Ye, who felt an urge to get a nosebleed.
Late at night, a single man and woman, and a bikini-clad beauty – who could resist this?
It's too hot to sleep with clothes on, you don't mind, do you? Isabel crawled into the covers and turned back with a mischievous smile.
I don't mind. Jiang Ye swallowed.
I'm going to sleep now, goodnight. Isabel closed her eyes.
Goodnight, I have some things to take care of and will sleep later. Jiang Ye said.
He always felt this kind of conversation was like that of a married couple.
He got up, left the base, and headed straight for the warehouse.
First, he found a sack of coal briquettes, dumped the briquettes out, leaving only the sack.
Then, he took the sack to the grain storage and frantically loaded it with corn!
He loaded fifty ears of corn in one go and dragged them back to the base.
Opening the chat channel, he quickly typed and posted an advertisement:
Urgently need a batch of blood-filled blood grenades. For every canned grenade, I'll give you one ear of corn. Interested parties, please PM me!
Jiang Ye expected a flood of private messages after he posted.
However, to his surprise, almost no one responded.
There were a few private messages asking to increase the price to eight ears of corn before they would provide blood.
After all, everyone was much richer than at the beginning, and selling blood was no small matter. Exchanging a pile of blood for an ear of corn was simply not worth it.
Jiang Ye had no choice but to increase the price. Besides corn, he also offered three hundred yuan. They could also choose not to take corn and just take four hundred yuan.
The private messages finally increased.
Jiang Ye conducted frequent transactions, sending out corn or money, and shipping empty blood grenades, in return for filled blood grenades.
Grenades were truly good items, excellent for mining and killing enemies. Taking advantage of the impending famine, he quickly exchanged for a batch to stock up.
After working for over an hour, he had a good harvest.
The total number of blood grenades stocked in Jiang Ye's base had not decreased; instead, it had increased.
A total of four hundred!
After collecting the grenades, Jiang Ye also felt sleepy.
He got up and walked to the bed.
Isabel was sleeping inside, her back to him.
Jiang Ye carefully lifted the bear-skin quilt and crawled in.
Closing his eyes, he went to sleep.
After a few minutes of silence, Jiang Ye opened his eyes again.
He could clearly smell the fragrance of Isabel's hair.
He could also feel the warmth emanating from beside him.
This feeling was absolutely unbearable; he couldn't sleep at all!
Jiang Ye reached out and touched his face; it was burning hot, as if he had a fever.
His face must have been red all the way to his ears.
He glanced sideways at Isabel.
She lay motionless, facing the window, as if asleep.
Jiang Ye cautiously moved a few centimeters closer to her.
Isabel didn't react.
Jiang Ye's heart pounded like a drum, and he couldn't help but move a little closer.
His hand touched her leg.
It was quite smooth.
Jiang Ye was extremely excited and boldly moved closer, his entire arm pressing against her back.
You're quite bold. Isabel suddenly spoke, her voice very clear.
Jiang Ye was scared out of his wits. Damn, she wasn't asleep!
What do you want to do? Isabel was still facing away from him, her tone unreadable.
I, I, I'm a bit cold. Jiang Ye stammered.
And then?
I want to snuggle with you. Jiang Ye said, shamelessly pushing it.
Don't move around. Isabel said.
Then there was no more, just silence.
Jiang Ye's arm was still pressed against her back, the touch warm and delicate.
After waiting for a moment, Jiang Ye was pleasantly surprised. Did she mean it was okay to sleep while touching?
After patiently waiting for five minutes, Isabel showed no reaction.
Jiang Ye cautiously turned over and reached out to hug her waist.
Unexpectedly, Isabel immediately reached out and pushed his arm away.
Don't push your luck! Isabel's tone became a little impatient. I'm sleepy, go to sleep.
I'm really cold, you took the quilt. Jiang Ye, with unparalleled厚脸皮 (thick skin), reached out and hugged her waist again.
Isabel turned over, facing Jiang Ye.
Her face was flushed, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, and she glared at him fiercely.
Jiang Ye got scared and retracted the arm he had placed on her waist.
Can we sleep properly?
Yes, yes, yes, you sleep, I'll just be cold. Jiang Ye surrendered.
Isabel gave him a sideways glance, lowered her head, and closed her eyes.
Jiang Ye helplessly closed his eyes, focusing on his nose and his breath, his mind as still as water.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Are you asleep yet? Isabel suddenly asked softly.
Jiang Ye opened his eyes. No, what's wrong?
Are you really cold? Isabel looked up at him.
A little. Jiang Ye said.
Suddenly, a warm body snuggled into his arms.
Jiang Ye was startled, looked down, and saw Isabel clinging to him like an octopus, her thighs pressing on his waist.
If you're really cold, I'll warm you up. But if you dare to push your luck, I'll press your face onto the stove and brand it. Understand? Isabel said.
Understood! Understood! Jiang Ye was overjoyed and agreed repeatedly.