Chapter 221: A Little Bit Depressed
Group announcement:
Latest news: Nine Star Calculators have exhausted their efforts to deduce that the next Beast Tide may erupt in three months. All City Lords are requested to make preparations in advance.
Such a message suddenly popped up before Song Tiantian’s eyes.
The officials certainly hope that as many humans as possible can survive.
Due to the outbreak of the Secret Realm, many flight channels, high-speed railways, and highways have become obsolete. All City Lords are practically local emperors. While everyone still nominally belongs to the officials, they have actually begun to govern themselves independently.
Moreover, the internet is not very usable now, as the satellites were destroyed by meteors from the Secret Realm.
The current wireless network is intermittent and not very usable; the most useful is the local area network.
Qingshan City’s local area network has always been very good.
Song Tiantian also had Song Ranran film many short videos in Linhai City and purchased many similar short videos from there.
Linhai City is, after all, a large city, much larger than Qingshan City, and its communication signals are much better.
It’s generally about how miserable people outside are, living in dire straits.
Anyone playing on their mobile phone in Qingshan City will see these short videos.
It has to be said that these methods, once employed, are exceptionally effective.
Most people who have remained in Qingshan City are generally satisfied.
This is because Song Tiantian’s wages are not low; as long as one is willing to work and works hard, they can earn a decent income.
If one doesn’t want to form a Contract with a Pet Beast, they can basically live a comfortable life.
However, those who are alive have all experienced Beast Tides.
Especially those who came from behind Qingshan City have all experienced the destruction of their homes and families.
Without Strength, one can only watch their relatives being torn apart by Fierce Beasts.
Those who have experienced this have an unprecedented craving for Strength.
Qingshan City’s resources are very abundant. Cold Fragrance Number Two is even no longer limited in purchase; one person can buy many bottles.
As long as one can endure the disgust, they can become stronger.
The Pet Beast market has welcomed unprecedented prosperity, while the housing economy is somewhat mediocre.
Song Tiantian later launched a series of villas targeting the wealthy, but people’s purchasing desire is very general.
In fact, even people of ordinary class at the Pet Beast Center can afford a villa if they grit their teeth.
But no one has purchased them; Pet Beast consumption is the major expense!
Beast Food costs several Energy Stones per day, and one Energy Stone is roughly equivalent to ten thousand yuan in the past.
Several stones amount to tens of thousands. It’s not that one can’t feed their Pet Beast well, but doing so would significantly slow down the Pet Beast’s evolution speed.
Of course, there are cheaper options. The supermarket sells ready-made Fierce Beast Meat, which one can buy and feed to their Fierce Beast at home, although the taste is somewhat lacking.
Moreover, one also needs to eat well to speed up their cultivation.
Fierce Beast Meat made at home has a very ordinary taste, with a strong fishy smell that is difficult to remove. One-star Fierce Beast Meat is better, but the higher the star rating of the Fierce Beast Meat, the harder it is to handle. Even after cleaning, the Blood Qi and Spiritual Energy within are not that easy to absorb.
Furthermore, buying it yourself doesn’t save much money. After cooking it yourself, you realize how much the raw materials cost.
Therefore, most people buy Beast Food because it is more cost-effective.
The higher the star rating of Fierce Beast Meat, the more expensive it is. When all costs are considered, it’s more worthwhile to buy ready-made Beast Food.
Most of the Fierce Beast Meat sold by street vendors in the city is made from one-star and two-star Fierce Beast Meat.
These are slightly cheaper than Beast Food, and since they are served hot, they have always sold well.
They also use cheaper offal and less desirable parts of Fierce Beasts to make snacks.
Stalls with good craftsmanship have very booming businesses.
These stall owners are also researching Breakthroughs and trying hard to make three-star Fierce Beast Meat.
They all know that once they can make three-star Fierce Beast Meat, it will be extraordinary. They all know that if they can make three-star Fierce Beast Meat into delicious Gourmet Food, they will be the number one in Qingshan City’s culinary scene.
Therefore, these people are also purchasing three-star Beast Food to taste.
Some people have relatives working in factories and have revealed some of the processes, but the key ingredients require independent Research and Development. Some have also secretly taken away some ingredients and sold them at a high price.
Money moves people’s hearts.
Song Tiantian does not investigate this matter too strictly.
This is because Song Tiantian also hopes that someone can research a new product to replace her Spiritual Power, so she won’t be so tired.
She has plenty of money now; she only needs to spend money to purchase a Patent for a Recipe. She is not seeking a monopoly, and the other party can continue to use and sell the Patent. Song Tiantian believes that the other party will definitely agree to this.
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Mother Song is feeling a bit depressed. She dislikes Liu Ming, but since Liu Ming has truly gone missing, she still asked Song Ranran to help search for him.
She has lived for more than half her life and only now realizes that her daughter is much more reliable than her husband.
She has always respected Father Song in everything, but when something truly happens, it is her daughter she can rely on.
For example, regarding the search for Liu Ming, Father Song not only did not help but also blamed her for causing trouble.
He said she doesn’t work normally and doesn’t understand the hardships of work.
However, Song Ranran agreed without a second word and quickly found Liu Ming.
It was only Liu Ming’s corpse she found. Liu Ming had been dead for one or two days, and his body was not even complete.
Mother Song pities her elder brother, an old man sending off his son.
Liu Ming’s wife also voluntarily left the Liu family because of this.
Mother Song wants to investigate further; it’s clear Liu Ming did not die in an accident.
Liu Ming rarely leaves the city and seldom hunts Fierce Beasts. How could he suddenly go out of the city?
However, Father Song told Mother Song not to stir up this matter anymore.
Let the Liu family report the case and handle it themselves. Song Ranran is also very busy every day with many things to attend to, so they shouldn’t trouble Song Ranran anymore.
As Father Song spoke, Mother Song knew the truth.
She did not ask Father Song if he knew the truth.
She believes Father Song did not harm Liu Ming because Father Song had no conflict with Liu Ming.
Father Song would not harm Liu Ming.
But who would want to kill Liu Ming, who had an enemy with Liu Ming, and who could handle this matter so perfectly?
The truth is actually very simple; a reasonable guess does not require evidence.
Song Jun is Father Song’s nephew. Father Song would naturally favor Song Jun, which is why Father Song did not want Mother Song to ask Song Ranran to investigate further.
Mother Song does not have that much affection for Liu Ming.
She only feels sorry for her elder brother, who is old and has had a difficult life.
Mother Song can only ask Father Song for a considerable amount of Energy Stones. She no longer wants to investigate the real culprit; she wants to strive for more benefits for her brother.
Fortunately, Father Song is not heartless; he gave Mother Song ten thousand Energy Stones.
Mother Song did not expect that the bar could earn so much. Father Song received half the share, Song Jun only got two-fifths of the share, and another half-share went to Song Tiantian.
Mother Song also knows very well that it is because Song Jun manages the bar that it can earn so much.
If it were someone else, they might not be able to earn this much.
Mother Song took the Energy Stones and went to Father Liu.
“Sister, Liu Ming’s death must be related to that Song Jun. Liu Ming’s death was definitely not an accident. The only person he offended was Song Jun.”
Father Liu is not foolish; Liu Ming only offended Song Jun.
He easily connected the matter to Song Jun.
“Brother, perhaps we should let this matter go! You are already a Two-star Beast Tamer, and you are only a little bit away from becoming a Three-star Beast Tamer. Here are ten thousand Energy Stones. Take them, and you will surely break through to become a Three-star Beast Tamer.
There is no evidence for Liu Ming’s matter.
He kept pestering Song Jun and often caused trouble at Song Jun’s bar.
Sigh!
I know it’s hard on you, this immense injustice is hard to swallow.
But there is no evidence for this matter. Your restaurant’s business is not doing well either; most people have moved to develop near the inner city gate. The supermarket and Weaponry have also moved there, and the city center has become a less popular area.
I know these Energy Stones cannot replace Liu Ming’s life, but this is the most I could strive for for you.”
Mother Song sighed deeply and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Looking at the silent Father Liu, she said to him again, “Sigh! Those who have been possessed by Ghosts have their personalities greatly changed. Jiaojiao was like that back then. Before, she was just missing, and I could still hold onto hope, expecting her to be alive.
But in this world now, I know Jiaojiao definitely won’t survive.
Tiantian’s father has never even mentioned setting up a cenotaph for Jiaojiao.
No one in the family remembers Jiaojiao; they all act as if she’s dead. No matter how bad she was, she was still a piece of my flesh. I know the pain in your heart, and I feel it too!
I heard Liu Ming’s wife is pregnant. With these Energy Stones, I believe she will be willing to give birth to this child.”
“Sister!”
Father Liu wanted to say something but finally sighed and accepted the box of Energy Stones.
He didn’t know what to say.
He was somewhat disappointed in Liu Ming, but this was his only son; how could he not be heartbroken?
And now, he had to use his son’s life to exchange for his own prosperity.
How could he not feel distressed?
And he now had to accept a private settlement for this matter.
He also tried to comfort himself, telling himself that there was no evidence, and he was helpless. But was he truly helpless?
Father Liu could only hug the box of Energy Stones and weep bitterly.
“You useless wretch! You would forgive the murderer of your son for such a small amount of Energy Stones!”
Aunt Niu stormed in angrily.
She didn’t need to hear much; just seeing this scene told her what had happened.
She knew how booming Song Jun’s bar business was.
She also knew who Liu Ming had offended.
“Liu Xiaohua, you are a member of the Liu family. Your family’s lineage has been broken, and you still have the nerve to play the peacemaker.”
Aunt Niu had sacrificed everything for her son and husband throughout her life.
Ordinary people who are not yet Beast Tamers are now as rare as Giant Pandas.
But Aunt Niu is an ordinary person.
Facing Aunt Niu’s accusations, Mother Song felt guilty. For the first time, she did not retort. She simply took out a bottle of Cold Fragrance Number Two and a small tag and handed them to Aunt Niu.
“Sister-in-law, there is no evidence for this matter. Even if we investigate further, after making enemies, we might not be able to find the culprit.
I know you are heartbroken. This is Cold Fragrance Number Two, and this tag was given to me by Tiantian. Tiantian said that since I broke through to become a Two-star Beast Tamer, I should pick a Pet Beast for myself.
I never got around to picking a Pet Beast.
Actually, both you and I can guess who the culprit is, and I don’t want to shield them.
When we first came to Qingshan City, it was still a Pet Beast Center. Tiantian gave both our families the same things, a shopfront each. But Song Jun became very successful, and this shopfront became very valuable, with many people wanting it.
But no one dared to snatch it.
If you truly feel wronged, then cultivate diligently. Sell this shopfront, buy a House in the outer city, and start anew. Then I can ask Ranran to enlist you all into the City Guard.
Only with Strength can one have the ability to resist.
I have pleaded so many times about Jiaojiao’s matter, but it was useless.
They were all afraid of angering Tiantian, and they didn’t even dare to mention Jiaojiao’s name.
I have hated this matter, resented it.
But I have finally let it go.
Although I have let it go, my relationship with Tiantian, my daughter, has also become distant. She doesn’t listen to a word I say.
Only now do I realize that the one I should hate the most is the Ghost.
It was the Ghost that ruined the sisterly bond between Tiantian and Jiaojiao, and it was the Ghost that destroyed Jiaojiao’s disposition.
It was also the Ghost that ruined Liu Ming, and the Ghost has harmed many people.
If not for the Ghost, Liu Ming would not have offended Song Jun, and all these tragedies would not have happened.
Although Mother Song said she still blamed Song Tiantian, in her heart, Song Tiantian had clearly become her most important daughter.
She is also working hard to cultivate now.
Mother Song actually knows very well that as long as her relationship with Song Tiantian is repaired, Father Song’s attitude towards her will not be like this.
Her maternal family is not good; they lack Strength.
Her only promising daughter, due to her own actions, has a strained relationship.
Mother Song doesn’t know what to say; she initially disliked Song Tiantian.
Although Song Tiantian is her daughter, she has three daughters, and it’s hard to treat them all equally.
Until Song Tiantian became better and better, and stood higher and higher.
Now, she can only look up to Song Tiantian.
As she watched short videos and heard people praise Song Tiantian, her feelings slowly shifted from aversion to genuine pride.
Especially after that incident, she realized that the only one who could steadfastly stand behind her was Song Tiantian.
It was also Song Tiantian who suggested she cultivate diligently; before that, no one in the family thought she should become a Beast Tamer.
So now, Mother Song also wants to encourage Aunt Niu to become a Beast Tamer.
Only by keeping busy can one forget the pain.
Aunt Niu eventually accepted the Cold Fragrance Number Two from Mother Song.
Only by becoming powerful can she avenge her son.
And only then will she have the ability to investigate the truth of this matter.
Aunt Niu twisted open the bottle cap, intending to drink it all in one gulp.
But she did not expect that this Cold Fragrance Number Two was even more disgusting and harder to drink than what people had said.
