Recaps

Shang Dayuan learned that Shang Bao had gone to Bai Jing’s shack to visit a young girl and went to look for him. Meanwhile, Song Xiaozhu sold axes to Luo Liuzi and Tian Man, gave them inferior axes to secure their friendship and reliable customers, and earned 32 yuan.

• Shang Dayuan asked Luo Tong where Shang Bao had gone, and Luo Tong said Shang Bao had likely gone to Bai Jing’s shack to see a young girl.
• Shang Dayuan angrily headed for Bai Jing’s shack after learning Shang Bao had been gone for two days.
• Song Xiaozhu reserved a first-grade axe for Qiu Shuyu and refused to sell it or the inferior axes.
• Song Xiaozhu offered inferior axes to Tian Man and Luo Liuzi in exchange for friendship and introductions to reliable buyers, advancing her quest to 2/3.
• Luo Liuzi bought one second-grade axe and two standard-grade axes, while Tian Man bought one second-grade axe and two standard-grade axes.
• Song Xiaozhu collected 32 yuan from the sales.

Song Xiaozhu revealed to Tian Man and Luo Liuzi that she was an Awakened Craftsman, explaining how she had made the axes. She defended her choice to stay on Garbage Mountain rather than return to the Fortress, leaving Tian Man and Luo Liuzi pondering why Bai Jing had stayed there as well.

• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi asked Song Xiaozhu where the axes came from, and she said she had made them.
• Song Xiaozhu revealed that she was a Craftsman, an Awakened class, and the two men reacted with shock and reverence.
• Song Xiaozhu considered how her status gave her authority on Garbage Mountain and reflected that Bai Jing might have been protecting her.
• Luo Liuzi asked why Song Xiaozhu had not returned to the Fortress, and she asked why Bai Jing had stayed on Garbage Mountain.
• Song Xiaozhu said her class was not outstanding in the Fortress and that she wanted to do something meaningful outside the city, leaving Tian Man thoughtful.

Song Xiaozhu prepared for the Shang family’s arrival while Tian Man decided to back her, imagining she could build a faction on Garbage Mountain. Shang Dayuan reached Bai Jing’s shack looking for Shang Bao, but found Tian Man and Luo Liuzi guarding the entrance instead.

• Tian Man mistook Song Xiaozhu for an ambitious faction leader and resolved to support her.
• Song Xiaozhu hid the axes and readied her weapons when footsteps approached, while Qiu Shuyu recognized that the Shang family had arrived.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi stood guard outside the shack, fearing the visitors might threaten Song Xiaozhu or take her axes.
• Shang Dayuan arrived with his sons-in-law, intending to find Shang Bao and angry that his son had stayed away from home.
• Shang Dayuan found Tian Man and Luo Liuzi at the entrance and accused them of trying to rob Bai Jing’s shack.

After Shang Dayuan failed to find Shang Bao at Bai Jing’s shack, Song Xiaozhu invited Tian Man and Luo Liuzi to stay for dinner. As they discussed the Shang family’s behavior, Xiaozhu cooked a large meal whose fragrance surprised them.

• Shang Dayuan and Kang Laifu questioned Song Xiaozhu and Qiu Shuyu about Shang Bao, but they said he was not at the shack.
• Shang Dayuan left with his sons-in-law to continue searching for Shang Bao, worried that something had happened to him.
• Qiu Shuyu admitted to Song Xiaozhu that the confrontation had frightened her, while Xiaozhu calmly watched the Shang family leave.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi stayed at the shack, and Luo Liuzi described how Shang Dayuan and his five sons-in-law bullied others in the scavenger community.
• Song Xiaozhu cooked ten portions of food with wild vegetable powder, and Tian Man and Luo Liuzi were surprised by its fresh aroma.

Song Xiaozhu served Tian Man and Luo Liuzi wild vegetable powder she had made with her Craftsman abilities, impressing them with its taste. She gained enough repair points to advance her repair quest and moved closer to becoming a level-one Synthesizer, while Qiu Shuyu felt guilty about the meal being offered on her behalf.

• Song Xiaozhu explained that her Craftsman abilities let her produce high-quality wild vegetable powder, and Tian Man and Luo Liuzi tasted it.
• Luo Liuzi and Tian Man praised the meal, while Song Xiaozhu played down its quality and served Qiu Shuyu and herself.
• Song Xiaozhu completed growth quest 3, received 5 Quantum Coins and 10 repair points, and advanced her repair quest progress to 2/3.
• Luo Liuzi asked to buy the powder, but Song Xiaozhu invited him and Tian Man to come back and eat more the next day.
• Qiu Shuyu stayed silent, feeling guilty that Song Xiaozhu had used her Force to provide the meal for free.

Song Xiaozhu reassured Qiu Shuyu that they had to conceal Shang Bao’s death and grow strong enough to deter the Shang family. They agreed to keep the secret and discussed whether Luo Liuzi and Tian Man could be trusted as allies.

• Qiu Shuyu worried that Shang Dayuan would retaliate if Shang Bao remained missing and offered to claim responsibility herself.
• Song Xiaozhu stopped Qiu Shuyu and insisted they both act as though nothing had happened.
• Song Xiaozhu urged Qiu Shuyu to build strength with her, while she made connections, improved the Synthesizer, and accumulated wealth.
• Qiu Shuyu agreed never to discuss Shang Bao’s death again, and Song Xiaozhu reminded her they had to go to the logging camp the next day.
• Song Xiaozhu described Luo Liuzi as well-meaning but impulsive and Tian Man as cautious and potentially useful, while Qiu Shuyu warned Tian Man might betray them for profit.

Song Xiaozhu went into the forest to check her planted crops and was chased by a creature burrowing underground. A young man killed it, but when he lifted her off the ground, she angrily told him to put her down.

• Song Xiaozhu told Qiu Shuyu that people and things could change, and that the person wielding a sword determined where its blade pointed.
• Qiu Shuyu brought Song Xiaozhu to the logging camp, where they met Tian Man and Luo Liuzi; Song Xiaozhu declined to join them and went to check her crops instead.
• Song Xiaozhu gathered stray wood and stones on the way, hoping to earn enough experience to complete her task and become a level-one Synthesizer.
• As Song Xiaozhu bent down to pull out thornheads, a creature surged through the soil toward her, and she swallowed honey candy to boost her speed and ran for the logging camp.
• A young man streaked past Song Xiaozhu and killed the creature with a blade and three small explosions.
• The young man lifted Song Xiaozhu off the ground, and she shouted at him to put her down.

Song Xiaozhu was brought to a logging camp by Fan Cang, where she learned he had rescued her from an Acidic Crawler and recognized his powerful affiliation. Fan Cang warned her about the danger beyond the isolation belt and left after provoking Mu Qing over his retreat from Fortress.

• Fan Cang carried Song Xiaozhu to the logging camp and she recognized his badge as belonging to the financial group behind Ink City.
• Mu Qing emerged from the camp building, and Fan Cang identified the creature on his sword as an Acidic Crawler that had nearly contaminated Song Xiaozhu into a Crawler.
• Fan Cang told Mu Qing that contaminated beasts were attacking the isolation belt, while Mu Qing said its weak point had been repaired and reinforcement would be completed in a week.
• Fan Cang asked Song Xiaozhu what would happen if the isolation belt failed, then warned that she would die horribly.
• Fan Cang mocked Mu Qing for leaving Fortress and departed, while Song Xiaozhu pretended to be frightened by his threat.

Song Xiaozhu learned that Bai Jing was safe in Liu Family Village and gained work at Mu Qing’s logging camp, but Fan Cang’s remarks about the isolation zone left her fearing worse danger beneath Garbage Mountain. After discovering she could not trigger a Growth Quest while her Repair Points were full, she focused on gathering materials to level up.

• Mu Qing reassured Song Xiaozhu that Liu Family Village had been cleared and that Bai Jing would return in a few days, then gave her ten dollars and offered her work at the logging camp.
• Song Xiaozhu asked about Bai Jing and used the conversation to learn Mu Qing’s view of him while concealing her concern about the isolation zone.
• After leaving the camp, Song Xiaozhu worried that Fan Cang’s words implied the isolation zone was gone and decided she needed to level up quickly.
• Song Xiaozhu learned that her 20 Repair Points prevented a Growth Quest from triggering, then gathered branches and stones to prepare for leveling up.

Qiu Shuyu, Tian Man, Luo Liuzi, and Liu Mu went into the forest to fell trees with their axes. Luo Liuzi sold Liu Mu one of his stone axes, and Liu Mu discovered its chopping power when he tried it.

• Tian Man found a suitable tree and paired Qiu Shuyu with himself and Luo Liuzi with Liu Mu.
• Luo Liuzi eagerly chopped with his first-grade stone axe, delighting in how smooth and effortless it felt.
• Liu Mu questioned whether the stone axe was truly special and asked Luo Liuzi to let him try one.
• Luo Liuzi refused to lend the axe but sold Liu Mu an inferior-grade one for ten yuan.
• Liu Mu swung the stone axe at the tree and cut much deeper than he was used to.

Luo Liuzi sold Liu Mu a second-grade stone axe for ten yuan, while Liu Mu decided it was not worth the price. The chapter revealed Tian Man had coached Luo Liuzi to impress Song Xiaozhu and build ties with her, and Luo Liuzi then offered Qiu Shuyu ten yuan to try her first-grade axe.

• Liu Mu tested the stone axe and concluded it worked better than an iron axe but was not worth ten yuan.
• Luo Liuzi offered Qiu Shuyu ten yuan for ten swings with her first-grade axe, while Liu Mu called him an idiot.
• Tian Man's advice to Luo Liuzi was revealed: he had urged Luo Liuzi to cultivate a connection with Song Xiaozhu, a Craftsman who might become a powerful faction leader.
• Luo Liuzi had used Tian Man's sales advice to persuade Liu Mu to buy an axe that Song Xiaozhu had given him for free.
• Qiu Shuyu considered Luo Liuzi's offer acceptable, though she had been reluctant to use the valuable axe.

Qiu Shuyu tested Song Xiaozhu’s first-grade axe and impressed everyone with how quickly she felled a tree, but refused Luo Liuzi’s offer of 10 yuan for ten swings. Liu Mu then learned that Luo Liuzi had sold him an inferior-grade axe, and demanded his money back.

• Qiu Shuyu accepted Luo Liuzi’s offer to test the first-grade axe before deciding whether to let him use it.
• Tian Man had Luo Liuzi switch to a standard-grade axe so he could compare it with the better one.
• Qiu Shuyu swung the first-grade axe with such power that she felled a tree alone, then praised it.
• Qiu Shuyu refused Luo Liuzi’s 10 yuan because she felt ten swings were not worth that much and expected more first-grade axes to appear.
• Liu Mu learned that his axe was inferior-grade, exploded at Luo Liuzi, and demanded a refund.

Song Xiaozhu used the day’s raw materials to gain synthesis experience and reached the conditions to repair her Synthesizer. The repair would take 20 hours, but the system offered to cut the time by ten hours per Quantum Coin as she prepared for the threat of the Shang family.

• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi’s plan to sell stone axes left Liu Mu upset that everyone but him had one.
• Song Xiaozhu improved her synthesis success rate and gathered three stacks each of raw wood and raw stone material.
• At the logging grounds, Song Xiaozhu synthesized tools to gain experience, ending up with four skinning knives, two simple hoes, and one simple pickaxe.
• Song Xiaozhu reached 100 experience points and started repairing the level-one Synthesizer, which the system estimated would take 20 hours.
• The notification told Song Xiaozhu that one Quantum Coin could reduce the repair time by ten hours.

Song Xiaozhu upgraded the Synthesizer to level 2 and discovered new recipe categories, including medicine, weapons, armor, and customization. After exploring the recipes, she switched the pegboard back to its level 1 recipes, leaving the Workbench ready for her to use either set.

• Song Xiaozhu spent 2 Quantum Coins to repair the Workbench, which became a level 2 Synthesizer.
• Song Xiaozhu found new recipe categories for medicine, weapons, armor, and customization, along with a larger selection of tools.
• Song Xiaozhu discovered that the food recipes included clean water and a hearty simple meal.
• Song Xiaozhu asked to view level 1 recipes and swiped the recipe panel, restoring the row of ten level 1 recipes.

Song Xiaozhu explored the level-two Synthesizer and learned that upgrading an existing recipe cost two Quantum Coins, while unlocking a new one cost ten. The Synthesizer revealed fixed quests and exchange rates for earning Quantum Coins, and Song Xiaozhu decided to spend her three coins on upgrading an old recipe.

• Song Xiaozhu discovered that upgrading the Professional Axe recipe cost two Quantum Coins, but unlocking a new medicine recipe required ten.
• Song Xiaozhu reviewed the level-two Synthesizer panel and noticed that some level-one achievements remained unactivated.
• Song Xiaozhu opened the quest panel and found fixed quests for earning transaction value, leadership value, and slaughter value.
• Song Xiaozhu learned that one hundred transaction value could be exchanged for one Quantum Coin at the current rate.
• Song Xiaozhu considered the Synthesizer’s new features and resolved to upgrade an existing recipe with her three Quantum Coins.

Song Xiaozhu unlocked the raw iron material recipe and learned what she needed to make a professional axe, while a Transaction Value notification hinted that someone had sold an axe. She went to meet Qiu Shuyu and the others, where Luo Liuzi’s missing axes suggested he had sold them.

• Song Xiaozhu chose to unlock the professional axe recipe, then discovered that unlocking basic raw material recipes cost only one Quantum Coin while other new recipes cost ten.
• Song Xiaozhu unlocked the raw iron material recipe and received a Transaction Value point after Luo Liuzi sold a third-grade axe to Liu Mu for twenty yuan.
• Song Xiaozhu inspected the professional axe recipe and learned it required a simple axe and one raw iron material, with a 60% success rate.
• Song Xiaozhu decided to seek out iron scrap at the community recycling station and headed to the logging site to meet Qiu Shuyu and the others.
• Song Xiaozhu noticed that Qiu Shuyu and Tian Man still carried their axes, while Luo Liuzi was missing two, suggesting he had sold them.

Song Xiaozhu considered Luo Liuzi’s sales tactics and agreed to work with him and Tian Man under stricter limits. After the two brought wild vegetable powder as a gift, she invited them to eat and told them they could come again without bringing anything.

• Luo Liuzi asked Song Xiaozhu to make wild vegetable porridge, and Tian Man persuaded him to bring her wild vegetable powder as a gift.
• Song Xiaozhu learned from Qiu Shuyu that Luo Liuzi had sold two items and reasoned that Transaction Value counted transactions involving synthesized products.
• Song Xiaozhu explained to Qiu Shuyu that Luo Liuzi’s aggressive sales tactics were unsustainable and could make enemies, then decided she was willing to work with him and Tian Man under stricter limits.
• Luo Liuzi and Tian Man arrived with wild vegetable powder, and Tian Man suggested they call Song Xiaozhu Master Song in private.
• Song Xiaozhu accepted the powder, told them not to bring more, and invited them to eat; Luo Liuzi eagerly ate the porridge.

Song Xiaozhu explained that Tian Man and Luo Liuzi’s high-priced axe sales carried hidden costs because Liu Mu could retaliate and damage their future sales and reputation. Tian Man took the money and left with Luo Liuzi to deal with Liu Mu, while Qiu Shuyu asked how they could mend the relationship.

• Luo Liuzi handed Song Xiaozhu the 27 yuan earned from selling the axes, but Song told him and Tian Man to keep it.
• Tian Man worried that Song Xiaozhu was dissatisfied, and Song explained that the axe sales had hidden costs beyond the purchase price and labor.
• Song Xiaozhu warned that Liu Mu could retaliate over the high prices, harming their reputation and future sales.
• Tian Man understood the risks, took the money from Luo Liuzi, and left with him to handle the matter with Liu Mu.
• Qiu Shuyu asked Song Xiaozhu how Tian Man planned to make amends with the petty Liu Mu.

Song Xiaozhu used Shang Bao’s old axe to synthesize iron raw material, then failed to turn it into a professional axe. The failure earned her a level 2 “Unlucky Player” achievement and 10 Quantum Coins, leaving her wondering how the achievement was triggered.

• Song Xiaozhu asked Qiu Shuyu for the axe that had killed Shang Bao, and Qiu Shuyu brought it over.
• Song Xiaozhu dismantled the iron axe and successfully synthesized its head into [Iron Raw Material].
• Song Xiaozhu used a second-grade simple axe with the iron material in another synthesis attempt, but the synthesis failed and consumed both materials.
• Song Xiaozhu unlocked the level 2 “Unlucky Player” achievement and received 10 Quantum Coins.
• Song Xiaozhu wondered whether the achievement depended on her synthesis failures or the Synthesizer’s level.

Song Xiaozhu unlocked the anti-inflammatory tablet recipe, synthesized ten tablets, and earned two Quantum Coins. Meanwhile, Bai Jing went to treat the many wounded in Liu Family Village, where his antibiotics had run out.

• Song Xiaozhu weighed whether to unlock the medicine recipe or upgrade her water recipe, then chose the medicine recipe.
• Song Xiaozhu synthesized ten anti-inflammatory tablets and unlocked the level 1 “Pharmacist” achievement, earning two Quantum Coins.
• Song Xiaozhu stored the foul-smelling tablets in her little box, worried they might keep her and Sister Shuyu awake.
• Bai Jing surveyed the wounded in Liu Family Village and worried that his supply of antibiotics had run dry.
• Bai Jing entered the Golden Temple, where the villagers prostrated themselves before him, and approached a badly festering patient.

Bai Jing used his Physician ability to end the suffering of a dying girl, while Song Xiaozhu upgraded her water recipe and successfully synthesized drinkable clean water. The chapter left Song Xiaozhu with a new source of safe water but no further information about the recipe.

• Bai Jing injected antibiotics into a patient, then went to treat Xiaohua, whose lower body had rotted beyond recovery.
• Bai Jing promised Xiaohua she would stop hurting and killed her with his needle-tipped finger; her mother accused him, and the guards dragged her away.
• Song Xiaozhu stopped synthesizing anti-inflammatory tablets because she lacked ingredients and feared the tablets might be dangerous.
• Song Xiaozhu upgraded the clean-water recipe and learned it required three units of lightly polluted water with a sixty percent success rate.
• Song Xiaozhu synthesized clean water from water kept in the shack, and the Synthesizer confirmed it was drinkable.

Song Xiaozhu synthesized unusually good clean water for herself and Qiu Shuyu, then reunited with Tian Man and Luo Liuzi after they returned Liu Mu’s money. She demonstrated her stone-axe crafting to Tian Man, whose ambition flared as he watched.

• Song Xiaozhu shared her newly synthesized clean water with Qiu Shuyu, and both enjoyed its refreshing taste.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi returned early and told Song Xiaozhu that Liu Mu’s money had been returned.
• Luo Liuzi complained that Tian Man had made him con Liu Mu and then come along to return the money.
• Song Xiaozhu decided they could discuss selling axes that night and begin grinding Transaction Value sooner.
• At Tian Man’s request, Song Xiaozhu summoned her Workbench and synthesized a second-grade stone axe in front of him and Luo Liuzi.
• Tian Man watched the crafting with fervent ambition, while Luo Liuzi stared in awe.

Song Xiaozhu made graded stone axes and planned to sell standard-grade ones while seeking a discreet source of iron for better tools. Tian Man and Luo Liuzi pointed her toward Old Chen’s workshop, and the chapter ended with the story of why Old Chen cherished his daughter.

• Tian Man became convinced Song Xiaozhu was an Awakened and imagined becoming her capable right-hand man, earning her a point of Leadership Value.
• Song Xiaozhu made a dozen or so axes, mostly standard-grade, and recommended selling those first to build a customer base.
• Song Xiaozhu explained that stone axes were only temporary and said she would make longer-lasting iron axes once she found a steady source of materials.
• Tian Man suggested scrap iron from recycling stations, but Song Xiaozhu said they should avoid drawing attention in the community.
• Luo Liuzi suggested Old Chen’s family workshop, whose business had suffered after Old Chen’s younger daughter married into Liu Family Village against the community covenant.
• Luo Liuzi recounted that Old Chen had once hoped for a son but cherished his daughter after his wife nearly died giving birth to her.

Song Xiaozhu learned how Old Chen's family had fallen into hardship and saw a chance to buy their scrap iron, but decided to build capital and establish stone axe sales first. She set a five-yuan price ceiling as she planned how to bring her axes to market.

• Luo Liuzi told Song Xiaozhu how Old Chen's younger daughter married a man from Liu Family Village and how Old Madam Hu punished the family by making the recycling station buy their scrap at half price.
• Tian Man explained that Old Madam Hu's watchers and the recycling station's records had stopped others from helping Old Chen's family sell scrap.
• Song Xiaozhu realized she could buy their scrap iron without using the recycling station, but decided to wait until her stone axes were selling and she had more capital.
• Song Xiaozhu told Tian Man and Luo Liuzi not to sell the stone axes for more than five yuan, and Tian Man asked whether they could set their own wholesale resale prices below that limit.

Song Xiaozhu arranged for Tian Man and Luo Liuzi to sell her axes at tiered wholesale prices, aiming to earn money and gather Transaction Value while preparing to buy timber. After learning that the Synthesizer would unlock Batch Synthesis at level three, she began fulfilling orders at the logging camp with Qiu Shuyu nearby.

• Song Xiaozhu set cumulative wholesale prices for axes, and Luo Liuzi and Tian Man agreed to take 10 and 50 axes respectively.
• Song Xiaozhu reassured Qiu Shuyu that she had a plan and revealed that she was selling the promise of future production rather than intending to make every axe by hand.
• Song Xiaozhu learned from the notification voice that the level-three Workbench would unlock Batch Synthesis.
• Over the next two days, Tian Man and Luo Liuzi carried axes into the forest to sell to loggers, while Qiu Shuyu stayed with Song Xiaozhu at the logging camp.