The Good Stuff Has Arrived

First Ridge, Shaomai Street, Wonton Alley.

In a private house, the woman carefully opened a tin box, then opened a wooden box from inside the tin box, scooped out two bowls of rice from the wooden box, and quickly closed both boxes.

The male homeowner was also in the kitchen, cautiously holding a fly swatter.

The woman quickly rinsed the rice and put it in the pot, and the couple finally relaxed a little.

The man wiped his sweat and said, "I haven't seen a mosquito for half a month. I think these things are truly extinct."

"Who can say for sure!" The hostess said skeptically. "Didn't Lu Dongjun say he'd wiped out the mosquitoes last time? But when the mosquitoes came back, where did he go? If I hadn't been quick enough to save this rice, you blockhead would have starved to death."

The man kissed the woman's cheek hard. "I knew you were so virtuous. You cook first, I'll go to the street to buy some incense and candles."

"Why would you buy that? Do you even have any spare money?"

"Buy a little bit, we have to worship the Seventh Lord. It's all over the place that the Seventh Lord has cured the Insect Plague, and every household is burning incense. If you're not sincere, the mosquitoes will still be coming to your house next year."

Upon hearing the word "mosquitoes," the woman shuddered. "Really? Who told you that?"

"It's true, it's all over! They've even built a temple for Seventh Lord at Third Ridge."

Third Ridge is indeed building a temple.

The Pancake Village was repairing a temple. Niu Fuzhi called over Niu Xiaoxian, the village's only repairman, and asked with a frown, "How was this statue of Seventh Lord repaired? You can't even see his face!"

Niu Xiaoxian scratched his head and said, "I don't even remember what Seventh Lord looks like. Do you remember?"

Niu Fuzhi didn't remember either. "Well, why don't you ask someone else? Isn't there anyone in our village who remembers?"

"I can't remember any of them. I've asked everyone, but there's nothing I can do!"

In Second Ridge, Helmet Town, Li Banfeng saw many people going out to buy incense and candles.

They can't even afford to eat, why would they buy incense and candles?

While most businesses in Second Ridge were in decline, the Incense Shop were thriving.

"Why don't we open an Incense Shop?" Li Banfeng bought two bowls of porridge and six guokui (a type of flatbread) from a breakfast stall, and he and Cui Tike squatted in the alley to eat.

This breakfast stall was the first food stall to open in Helmet Town. Although there weren't many customers, the owner put his heart into it, and the guokui (a type of flatbread) tasted very good.

As he ate, Cui Tike habitually placed his beggar's bowl in front of him.

Li Banfeng was very puzzled. "You're not short of money, why do you insist on begging?"

Cui Tike replied very seriously, "This is out of respect for the Dao Gate Ancestor. I will continue to follow his path of cultivation until the boils on my body heal."

Li Banfeng glanced at the beggar's bowl, then thought of Green Flower's appearance, and goosebumps rose on his skin. "Would your ancestor cure your boils?"

"No," Cui Tike shook his head. "Although I've only met him once, I'm sure he's a vicious man. The only person who could cure my boils is probably Peddler."

"Then why don't you follow the Peddler's path of spiritual practice, push a cart, and go out to sell your wares?"

Cui Tike pointed to his face. "I really want to go out and sell myself, but looking like this, would anyone buy me?"

I spent several days wandering around Second Ridge, and I couldn't see any mosquitoes on the streets.

Li Banfeng bought a newspaper, and the mosquitoes in First Ridge disappeared.

"Looks like we've got things done." Li Banfeng glanced at Cui Tike.

Someone threw a few Steel Coin into Cui Tike's broken bowl, and Cui Tike was thanking them.

Cui Tike put the Steel Coin into his pocket, took out some white rice, put it in a bowl, and waited for half a day, but didn't see any mosquitoes.

They conducted similar experiments several times, and it seems that the Insect Plague in Sea Eat Ridge was indeed brought under control.

Of course, the Local Earth God has the most say.

After lunch, Pan Dehai's voice reached my ears. "Young man, the Plague Mosquito are truly extinct this time. Although you are arrogant, you are a virtuous person. I'm going to give you something else. What do you want?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment.

Initially, he wanted money.

But Li Banfeng has ways to make money, and with such a good opportunity, he should ask for something more valuable.

Do you want another magic item to reforge the Copper Lotus?

The fan is still not ready; it seems Lotus is having some trouble.

After much thought, Li Banfeng came up with a good idea. "Old Pan, do you have any spare 'heart's flesh'?"

Pan Dehai roared in fury, "You're immoral! Unscrupulous! Shameless! I shouldn't have bothered with a madman like you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a worm appeared in front of Li Banfeng.

A thumb-sized, legless, white worm.

"What's the use of this insect?"

"This is a supreme treasure for Food Cultivator: the Intestine Roller Silkworm, a unique delicacy of Sea Eat Ridge. Once Food Cultivator swallows it, their appetite will increase dramatically, even more so than if they were in Sea Eat Ridge."

If you don't want to eat, you can carry this with you; it can help you find food in difficult times.

What does it mean to find food in distress?

"In places where there are no other ingredients, one can take what is difficult to swallow as food."

It was so obscure that Li Banfeng had to ask for a long time before he understood.

His meaning was actually quite simple: in places where there is no food, other things can be used to replace food.

For example, they can eat tree leaves, grass, or even chew wood, and even sand and stones can barely satisfy their hunger.

Li Banfeng held the insect and looked at it for a long time. The insect was motionless in his hand and had hardened.

"Isn't this a live worm?"

"It's a live worm, just not awake yet. If you eat it, it will live again, but since you're not Food Cultivator, it's best not to swallow it, otherwise you won't be able to withstand the hunger."

The gift is yours, and so is my sentiment. Young man, until we meet again.

Pan Dehai left, Li Banfeng took the insects with him. He got hungry soon after.

Just having it with you can have such a big impact?

This is truly a rare treasure.

Li Banfeng bought some more guokui (a type of flatbread), ate half himself, and gave the other half to Cui Tike.

Cui Tike looked at Li Banfeng and asked, "Are you leaving?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "The matter at Sea Eat Ridge is all done."

Cui Tike remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed and said, "If one day I cause everyone in this world to die from herpes, I hope one person will survive, and I hope that person is you."

Li Banfeng waved his hand and said, "That day will never come. If you really dare to do that, you'll be the first one to die."

Watching Li Banfeng's retreating figure, Cui Tike murmured, "Maybe that day isn't so far away."

Not long after Li Banfeng left, the sound of Pellet Drum gradually reached Cui Tike's ears, "I have some top-quality Snow Cream here, I'll sell you a bottle, do you want it?"

Cui Tike asked with delight, "Can you remove the power of the Ancestor from my body?"

"That's not possible."

Cui Tike's eyes dimmed. "Then what's the use of this Snow Cream?"

"It can transform the pus and blood of the Green Flower into a layer of cultivation."

Cui Tike him profusely. "I'll get four words tattooed on my chest tomorrow: I love Peddler."

The Peddler was silent for a moment before saying, "If you really want to do this, there won't be a tomorrow."

"The Insect Plague at Sea Eat Ridge has really been cured?" He Haiqin asked, looking at the newspaper with great surprise.

He had received similar messages before and thought it was the same as before, just that some mosquitoes had been temporarily eliminated.

He Haisheng had just returned from Sea Eat Ridge and confirmed the news. "Brother, this time it's different. The mosquitoes in Sea Eat Ridge are truly extinct."

He Haiqin put down his newspaper and said, "Quickly, hurry to Sea Eat Ridge and get our family's half of the business up and running."

He Haisheng shook his head and said, "Brother, you've sold all your business to Ling Miaoying."

He Haiqin slapped his forehead. "That doesn't count. We sold it to him for a pittance back then, but the price is different now."

He Yuxiu chimed in, "That's right, it doesn't count. I'll burn down his studio and get all the contracts back."

He Haisheng advised, "Brother, sister, the three Ling brothers aren't so easy to deal with. We haven't thought this through enough."

He Haiqin rubbed his forehead and said, "We killed Lu Dongjun, and the Ling family got the spoils. I have a feeling we were set up?"

He Jiaqing was lying in his hospital bed when he received a message from Ling Miaoying.

The Insect Plague at Sea Eat Ridge has been brought under control.

"Who did it?"

Ling Miaoying responded, "We haven't found any clues yet. We've only heard some rumors among the people that a deity called Seventh Lord saved Sea Eat Ridge, and a trend of worshipping Seventh Lord has emerged in Sea Eat Ridge."

"Seventh Lord?" He Jiaqing had never heard of this person. "How do you pay your respects? Do you offer incense or make offerings?"

"Depending on the location, on the First Ridge side, we only set up a memorial tablet and lit some incense."

Upon arriving at Second Ridge, one is required to offer sacrifices and erect statues of deities.

Upon reaching Third Ridge, the incense offerings flourished, and some villages even built temples for the Seventh Lord.

"What does the statue look like?"

"They come in all shapes and sizes, young and old, ugly and handsome, with all sorts of appearances."

"Do they have anything in common?"

"If there's one thing they have in common, it's that these statues all seem to have thick beards."

Beard?

After pondering for a long time, He Jiaqing said to Ling Miaoying, "Go and investigate the Local Earth God in the new areas around Sea Eat Ridge. If you find any clues, tell me immediately."

Ling Miaoying agreed, then asked, "The He Family has come to collect their business, saying that the half of the business they sold to us before was too cheap and they want to back out."

He Jiaqing sneered, "Do I need to teach you this? If soft methods don't work, try hard ones; if gentle methods don't work, try forceful ones; if open methods don't work, try covert ones."

"There are many ways, but that's your home."

"I've told you many times, there's no need to worry about this. Didn't Lao Wan go to Green Water Bay? If all else fails, have him go and pay another visit to my father."

That foreigner is nowhere to be found. If my father gets another rash, I wonder if he'll be scared.

Outside the ward, someone cast their gaze toward the hospital bed.

He Jiaqing immediately cut off contact with Ling Miaoying and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The person watching him was Chen Changrui, the Team Leader the Dark Star Bureau's Public Security Team.

At this moment, he is asking the attending physician about He Jiaqing's condition.

"We still don't know when he'll wake up?"

The attending physician shook his head.

After leaving the hospital, Team Leader Chen got into the car, and "Tangyuan" You Xuehan quickly took out her notebook, waiting for Team Leader Chen's instructions.

Team Leader Chen took out a cigarette and lit it. "We still don't know when he'll wake up. If he's alright, we'd better send him back to Pro State as soon as possible. It's unsettling to have him staying in Yuezhou."

The Light Bulb turned to look at Chen Changrui: "What kind of place is Pro State?"

Chen Changrui laughed and said, "You want to go and see? You really should go and practice."

Dumpling Town, Three Delicacies Village.

Li Banfeng unfolded the map that Yao Lao had given him and arrived at the entrance to the new land.

After finishing his business at Sea Eat Ridge, he prepared to return to Blue Poplar Village.

Just as they were about to step into the new land, the Wine Gourd suddenly spoke up, "Little brother, can I discuss something with you?"

"Go ahead and say it," Li Banfeng, smiling as he looked at the gourd.

"I want to go back to Medicine King Gully and tell Yao Lao about Sea Eat Ridge. I won't say anything more, just about the Insect Plague. Once this matter is settled, I'll have given him an explanation, and I'll follow you faithfully from now on."

Li Banfeng readily agreed, "Sure, I'd also like to meet Yao Lao."

The pendulum moved twice inside the pocket.

Li Banfeng touched the pendulum, indicating that she shouldn't worry.

Many thoughts have been arguing in my mind.

Li Banfeng's decision was the result of a consensus among many ideas.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to change direction, he suddenly heard the sound of Pellet Drum coming from nearby.

"Clang, clang!"

"Imported Soap, Snow Cream, a whole cart of good stuff for you to choose from!"

Peddler?

Li Banfeng turned around and saw the Peddler pushing his cart towards them.

"Hey regular customer, come take a look! We have a lot of good stuff today, and the price is negotiable. I'll cut it off if you break even."

"What good stuff do you have?" Li Banfeng asked with interest, and walked over to the truck.

"I have plenty of good stuff, how about this?" The Peddler picked up a huge locust head, its antennae still trembling.

Li Banfeng was taken aback. "What's the use of this?"

The Peddler chuckled, "This stuff is very useful. You can use it to make soup or porridge. It tastes delicious and goes well with rice. I'll sell it to you for twenty dollars. Do you want it?"

P. S.: I don't think 20 yuan is expensive, what do you guys think?