Chapter 20: Middleman Merchant
The Monster Merchant took the Sachima and glanced at Yu Jiang’s tricycle, which looked somewhat fragile in the wind and rain.
Forget it, we’re all the same color.
“500 Crystal Coins, plus a high-density waterproof cloth and a Crafting Scroll for you. Can’t go any cheaper; my waterproof cloth has the advantage of being very easy to clean.”
“Deal!” Yu Jiang took the offer, opened the Light Screen scan, and paid.
“Do you have any umbrellas for sale here?”
The Monster Merchant looked at the waterproof and fireproof cloak on himself, his expression seeming to say, do you think I need something as low-level as an umbrella?
“There might be people here who want Wild Goose Down! Can you wait two minutes?”
The Monster Merchant nodded reservedly. “For the sake of the sweets, I have a total of 900g Wild Goose Down here. If you sell it all, I’ll give you a gift.”
It’s already annoying to go out working in the rain; selling it all is great! It’s rare to meet such a rich customer.
Yu Jiang quickly opened the Friend List and called ‘X’ and ‘Han Jiang Gu Ying’.
“Want Wild Goose Down? Comes with a waterproof fabric, 450g for 500 Crystal Coins. Opportunity Knocks But Once!”
[Received 500 Crystal Coins and Battery*2 from player ‘X’]
The gift notification came faster than the friend message.
X: “Thanks.”
Han Jiang Gu Ying waited two seconds before asking, “What is Wild Goose Down?”
Yu Jiang directly sent the picture of what she bought. “It’s said to be more comfortable and warmer than Duck Down, and can be used to craft Down Jackets.”
After all, it’s not a small amount; they just added each other as friends yesterday, so it’s normal to ask a couple questions.
Han Jiang Gu Ying had spent some on materials yesterday and only had 512 Crystal Coins left in total.
After hesitating for a while, she still sent over the Crystal Coins.
Such an expensive thing should have good warmth; it’s exactly what she needs right now. Buy it! Take a gamble!
Yu Jiang scanned over 1000 Crystal Coins, completing the mutually beneficial trade for all parties.
The Monster Merchant happily left behind a vehicle Incense and disappeared on the Road.
Encountering something good early in the morning put Yu Jiang in a great mood.
The Monster Merchant’s vehicle Incense not only adds fragrance but also has a certain anti-cold warming effect.
(When Warm Fragrance fills the vehicle, you’ll feel warm and cozy.)
It can be used for about a month.
Yu Jiang closed the car window and immediately opened the Crafting Bench.
The Down Jacket Crafting Blueprint from the Monster Merchant was better than the Warm Clothing level.
Besides crafting with Wild Goose Down, it could also be made with Monster Down or Cotton.
Crafting one piece added 15 Fatigue Value, twice that of Warm Clothing.
Three pieces crafted complete, Yu Jiang’s Fatigue Value reached 45.
The fabric from the Monster Merchant came in different colors: Dark Grey, Barbie Pink, Army Green.
Yu Jiang told them it would be divided by purchase order; she didn’t pick for herself either.
Han Jiang Gu Ying: “Color doesn’t matter, as long as it’s warm.”
After receiving it, Han Jiang Gu Ying: “This color is so pretty, I like it! This clothing is great; just touching it tells you it’s warm. I just crafted an Electric Vehicle Level 3 Component Card and sent it over.”
X: “How many Level 3 Component Cards are you short? I’ll provide them. Really can’t trade with me?”
He didn’t suspect she picked first; the Dark Grey fabric was visible in the photo she sent.
It was just this color that made Shi Xu sigh deeply; he couldn’t stand it at all.
Yu Jiang saw he mentioned Component Cards, so she wasn’t sleepy anymore. “Short 2 more. Actually, if you give me one, I can trade with you.”
Forget Barbie Pink; even red with green, if only given Batteries, she could still trade!
[Received Electric Vehicle Level 3 Component Card*2 from player ‘X’.]
“Thanks.” Yu Jiang happily traded a Down Jacket with him.
Now she had anti-cold clothing and all the Level 3 Vehicle Upgrade Materials!
Better to upgrade after the battery runs out.
Yu Jiang put on the Stormsuit Set, climbed into the Driver’s Seat, started the Vehicle, and set off.
The rain was getting heavier; even the wiper ahead felt like it couldn’t keep up.
Plus this weather, the difficulty of gathering Supplies on the Road was also increasing.
Originally, because of the heavy rain, afraid of affecting Health Value, Yu Jiang didn’t want to get out of the Vehicle on the Road to gather. But after realizing something, she directly draped the Plastic Cloth over her head and rushed into the rain without a word.
The previously most common and easiest-to-gather Dwarf Shrubs on the Road had decreased!
This wasn’t a good sign; while there were still some on both sides of the Road, she needed to gather more.
Yu Jiang’s speed slowed down as a result, but she didn’t forget to send a reminder to the Friend List.
After most of the day, Yu Jiang gathered over a hundred ‘Small Wood’ and found two Boxes.
One wooden, one iron.
The Wooden Box surprisingly had a debuff she never expected: a thorny vine that pricks whoever opens it.
[Unknown Thorny Plant: Extremely tough; can be made into Rope after dehydration.
Not dead yet! No poison, just a 5-minute Weakness status. Endure it and it’s fine; if you can’t, tough luck, hehe!]
Yu Jiang: .
[Player achieved ‘Seems Drained’. Wow, such a low-probability thing happened to you. Reward: double Critical Hit on your next Box!]
So even encountering a monster would be doubled?
Once the Weakness buff was applied, Yu Jiang felt completely drained! Listless, struggling to pick up two bundles of Wood.
After the time passed, she continued onward and encountered the first Iron Box she’d seen in the Game.
Obtained Supplies: Snow Tires*2, Snow Boots*1, Compressed Biscuit*5, Mineral Water*3
Not many things, but with double Critical Hit, it doubled; she now had 4 Snow Tires directly!
Later encountered another Box: Primary Backpack Expansion Card*2, Plant Insulation Cover*1
Great harvest. This was the second backpack slot expansion; needs two cards to add 10 more slots, and requirements get higher later.
The immediate slot crisis was resolved; by the time the tricycle battery was about to run out, she’d nearly run 100 kilometers.
[Level 3 Vehicle upgrade requires 10 minutes. Please confirm if player wishes to upgrade.]
Yu Jiang chose to upgrade in place while the rain was light and farmed two Normal Zombies for some Crystal Coins.
Experiencing the first day of ‘Nothing Gained’ Punishment, the Public Screen was full of wailing at this time.
[Help! Really no Boxes at all, rain so heavy, Vehicle only has a broken plastic canopy, haven’t stockpiled Vehicle upgrade materials yet, how to complete Weekly Mission ‘sobbing’]
[I just don’t get it. Wasn’t it agreed everyone cooperates to get 100 Points? Had to do it this way.]
[Caught a cold, Health Value still dropping, so cold and hungry, help wuwuwu]
Sicily: [What do you all need? It’s my Birthday today; I can trade with you. Have extra Level 2 Vehicle Upgrade Materials; 3 Bread for 1 Iron Block.]
Player 3479: [Get lost, Looting in a Fire, right? So expensive!]
Suifeng 220: [Others are just being kind; if the price doesn’t suit, don’t take it. Or how about this: before everyone resets to zero, send Supplies to those who need them to avoid waste.]
Player 3479: [You get lost too! Damn, your abacus beads hit me in the face. Been annoyed with you for a while, big idiot!]
Strawberry Candy: [From last night to today, someone’s been collecting Cotton. I didn’t dare go out. Is there some news?]
Kuang Kuang Kuang: [No idea. With this weather, Temperature might drop more.]
28-bar Bicycle: [If possible, try to run more Mileage these two days. Weather might get worse later.]
Indeed, Yu Jiang thought the same; 100 kilometers was the weekly average minimum requirement.
Completing the Mission early is more reassuring; can handle emergencies later.
Already equipped with Snow Tires, things didn’t feel right.
