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When Lou Yu came last time, Tao Qiu asked him how the crops were doing in the base's planting area, Lou Yu said there hadn't been any problems yet.

Lou Yu just mentioned two consecutive years of reduced production, and he included this second half of the season in that calculation. But judging from Lou Yu's words, does that mean this season will be fine? Otherwise, why plant the seeds he gave us next year?

To everyone's surprise, Lou Yu shook his head and said, "We haven't harvested yet, but the reduced production is already a fact."

"Then why did you say you'd plant tomorrow, in the spring? How are you going to survive this winter and next year? You'll have to borrow grain from the Central Base?"

Lou Yu shook his head. "It's already September, and we can't plant anything this year. The people at the base are very resentful about borrowing grain from the Central Base. Besides, the people from the Central Base didn't get any benefits from our visit, so they're even less likely to lend us grain easily."

"Reduced production and no grain loans..." Tao Qiu asked in surprise, "So, before the next harvest comes out, you... are you planning to starve yourselves through it?"

Lou Yu lowered his eyes, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "This is the only way..."

Tao Qiu took a deep breath and said helplessly to Lou Yu, "Little Fishy, look at me."

Lou Yu looked up at Tao Qiu.

Tao Qiu asked again, "Who am I?"

Lou Yu: "Qiuqiu..."

Tao Qiu reached out and cupped Lou Yu's face, saying seriously, "I am Tao Qiu, your lover, the father of your children, and the person you're asking for help with this time. You clearly know my capabilities, so why are you only asking me for seeds?"

Lou Yu understood Tao Qiu's unspoken words. He grasped Tao Qiu's hand and said, "The base still needs a lot of grain, and time is running out. Asking you to grow grain was just a matter of words, but it will take time and effort, Qiuqiu. I don't want to make things difficult for you."

Lou Yu isn't an idiot; he knows perfectly well that asking Tao Qiu to plant a new batch of grain before winter is the best solution to resolve the base's current predicament.

But as he said, winter comes very early here, and Tao Qiu doesn't have much time left. If Tao Qiu wants to grow the amount of food the base needs, he will definitely have to spend several times more time and use his special abilities than he usually does when growing these crops.

Lou Yu himself is a superhuman, and he knows better than anyone the pain of frequently overdrawing his abilities. He also knows that Tao Qiu's abilities are not inexhaustible.

Who chose to stay at the Yong'an Base? Whether the people at the base starve or die is actually not really Tao Qiu's concern.

Tao Qiu said she could indulge him indefinitely and also said she could help him.

But helping and exploiting are two completely different things. Lou Yu was unwilling to morally blackmail Tao Qiu into becoming his slave just because Tao Qiu loved him.

After Lou Yu finished speaking, Tao Qiu seemed to be deep in thought.

Almost half a minute later, he said, "If it's for free, it's indeed putting me in a difficult position, but if I'm paid properly, it's just a rather tiring temporary job."

"What?" Lou Yu didn't understand the meaning of his words for a moment.

Tao Qiu smiled and said, "What I mean is, I can grow the amount of food you need before winter comes, but on the condition that you pay me well."

It's not about helping, it's about making a deal.

Lou Yu's previously dim eyes suddenly lit up, bursting with intense hope, like a wilted plant regaining its vitality after drinking its fill of water.

What kind of reward does Qiuqiu want?

He hadn't considered this idea before, but at the time he didn't think the base could offer a return of equal value, so he didn't voice it.

Tao Qiu didn't answer Lou Yu, but instead turned her gaze to the three boys. "My darlings, is there anything you want at the human base? Just tell me."

The three kids had been listening to their two fathers' conversation and roughly understood the trouble Lou Yu's father was facing. Their father's question was meant to get them to come and ask for the reward they needed.

The kids didn't hold back and shared their thoughts one after another.

Eldest Cub: "I want to go and see the human base."

Second Cub: "I want to go to Lou Yu's dad's house and eat lots and lots of delicious food."

Third Cub: "I want to try what it's like to live in a human base."

In short, the three of them want to go to the Yong'an Base.

That winter, when Tao Qiu led them into the sky and they gazed at the human base from a great distance, they had this wish.

In recent years, they have come into contact with a lot of human culture. They themselves are also half-human, so it's natural that they are very curious about a place inhabited by many humans.

Tao Qiu Lou Yu, "Little Fishy, did you hear that? This is the reward I wanted."

The kids' request sounds simple—just take them to the base for a few days—but behind it lies a very difficult problem.

That's their identity.

If there weren't so many powerful forces involved in the Yong'an Base, given his and Lou Quan's status, they could easily arrange for Tao Qiu and the children to be identified as friends from the Central Base, allowing them to move freely without arousing suspicion.

But now the base is full of spies from several families. If Tao Qiu and the children go back with him, they will definitely be watched and investigated by them.

Tao Qiu and the children are considered "unregistered" in human society. If those people discover this and investigate further, they might uncover something.

So, to be precise, what Tao Qiu wanted in return was: to ensure the children could safely play to their heart's content at the Yong'an Base.

Given the current state of the base, this is undoubtedly a thorny request.

But if it can be done, it's enough to exchange for the grain that Tao Qiu worked so hard to grow.

Lou Yu thought for a few seconds and said, "I need to go back and discuss it with Lou Quan before I can make a decision."

Tao Qiu: "Of course, but we need to do it as soon as possible, otherwise there won't be enough time."

Tao Qiu didn't think Lou Quan would disagree. After all, Lou Quan was the controller and person in charge of the entire base. He must have devoted a lot of effort to the base over the years, and the base symbolized his ability and power.

Tao Qiu didn't know much about Lou Quan, but she knew he was a person who prioritized profit above all else.

With his rule hanging by a thread, and now a golden opportunity to save his base presented itself, how could he not be tempted? It would be a miracle if he weren't.

In order to obtain the food, he will certainly do everything in his power to facilitate this deal.

Lou Yu understood Lou Quan better than Tao Qiu, so he added, "I will do my best to clear all obstacles, but if we can't guarantee absolute safety in the end, then this deal will be canceled. We can't let you and the children face danger."

He is responsible towards his fellow tribesmen in the base, but he also cares deeply about his wife and children.

"Okay." Tao Qiu grasped Lou Yu's hand tightly.

The Second Cub asked, bewildered, "What kind of danger?"

Tao Qiu replied, "There are many bad guys in the base. If they find out we are birds turned into humans, they will capture us, lock us up, beat us, scold us, and study us."

The kids covered their mouths in fear upon hearing this.

Suddenly, Third Cub remembered something and asked Lou Yu, "Dad Lou Yu, there are so many bad guys in the base, have they bullied you?"

The kids had guessed before that Lou Yu was probably being bullied at the base, which is why he was crying and asking for comfort from his father.

Lou Yu wasn't the kind of person who would suffer for the sake of saving face. He felt that occasionally showing a vulnerable side in front of loved ones was actually more conducive to the growth of their relationship, a point he had already verified with Tao Qiu.

The kids, like Tao Qiu, are all self-reliant, strong-willed, and caring towards their families. They won't look down on him just because he shows weakness.

"Yes, they often bully Dad, and they even want to lock me up." Lou Yu put on a pitiful act.

"What?! That's outrageous!" Second Cub's eyebrows shot up in anger, his fear replaced by fury.

The Eldest Cub was also a bit angry. "The bad guys are the ones who should be locked up! Get up!"

The Third Cub was very worried. "Lou Yu, don't go back. Stay here with us. We'll protect you."

"Yeah, yeah, we're awesome!" Second Cub patted his chest and promised, "If any bad guys dare to come, I'll turn into a giant bird and peck them to death!"

The Eldest Cub also said earnestly to Lou Yu, "The human base is too dangerous, Dad, don't go back. We'll share our food rations with you, you won't go hungry."

The kids don't want Lou Yu with them for their father, so they see him as a rival. But since they've accepted Lou Yu as their father, they naturally have to treat him as family.

She's very protective of her family and children.

Just as Lou Yu had predicted, when the kids learned that he had been wronged, their first thought wasn't to look down on him, but to protect him.

Lou Yu's emotion materialized into tears, slowly gathering in his eyes.

Just as Lou Yu was about to cry, Tao Qiu suddenly appeared and exposed him.

"My darlings, you guys... didn't you forget to ask? Why did the bad guy lock you up, Lou Yu's dad?"

The kids were stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening.

Yeah, the bad guys want to lock them up? Is it because they're... Snow Bird turned into humans? It's very strange, just like how humans in TV dramas are curious about fairies and want to study them.

Could it be that the scoundrel who kidnapped Lou Yu's father was...?

"Lou Yu's father is actually a mutated monster, right?" Second Cub said what he thought was the answer, and he was sure that this answer was correct.

The Eldest Cub and Third Cub were also led astray.

Third Cub: "What kind of mutated monster is Lou Yu's father?"

Eldest Cub: "Are you a little bird like us?"

Lou Yu looked at Tao Qiu, Tao Qiu smiled slyly. "Let's see how you pull this act of playing the victim and trying to gain sympathy."

He said, "Why are you looking at me? Explain to the kids?"

Second Cub grabbed Lou Yu's hand and shook it, pleading, "Daddy Lou Yu, tell us quickly! Um, we? I'm so curious!"