Qi Xiao opened a bag of rice and filled a used tin can with about half a box of rice.
After washing it clean, he layered slices of cured sausage on top.
He filled it with water and placed it on the upper level of the furnace.
The saplings he had put in earlier hadn't finished burning yet, and he wasn't sure if it would be enough to steam the rice.
While the rice was steaming, Qi Xiao hung Ren Laotaiye on the trading bar, freeing up his jie bracelet.
Qi Xiao used his jie bracelet to transport items from the second carriage to the refrigerated carriage.
Only twenty-eight boxes of mineral water and nineteen boxes of instant noodles remained untouched.
These items could still withstand the high temperatures for now.
Area two of the refrigerated carriage was piled high with food, some of it even spilling into area three, where he slept.
The rice hadn't finished steaming yet, so Qi Xiao summoned the light screen.
In the chat room:
"Seeking ice water, will trade supplies, price negotiable!"
"Haha, I passed out from the heat last night and didn't wait for the rewards to be distributed. I heard some big shot got a special treasure chest, right?"
"It must be Zhang Baobao, he was the only one at Level 4 yesterday."
"No, no, no, last night at eleven fifty-nine and fifty-five seconds, Qi Xiao leveled up to Level 4 right at the last minute! I saw the ranking change with my own eyes!"
"Both of them are Level 5 today, so whose special treasure chest is it, exactly?"
"It should be Zhang Baobao, after all, he was the first to reach Level 4."
"Not necessarily, the broadcast said it would be based on overall performance."
In the chat room, there were various opinions about who would receive the special treasure chest.
"@Qi Xiao You leveled up at the last minute and stole my reward, give me back my special treasure chest!"
"Folks, Zhang Baobao tagged Qi Xiao. It's confirmed, Qi Xiao got the special treasure chest!"
"Why aren't you talking? Know you're scared, do you?"
Qi Xiao ignored Zhang Baobao. He looked at the messages in the chat room and discovered a business opportunity.
Everyone had received train coins as a reward last night, so they were all quite well-off now.
Plus, with the heat, it was a good opportunity to harvest train coins.
Qi Xiao stroked his chin and sent a message in the chat room.
"One bottle of iced cola for one Train coin. Only five bottles, first come, first served. Don't miss out!"
"The big shot has spoken! Wait, is the big shot here to sell things?"
"Iced cola? Did I read that right? I want a bottle! Big shot, send the link!"
"The big shot is truly a big shot. To have iced cola, and for only one Train coin per bottle, I'm tearing up."
"How is this any different from being free? Brothers, the big shot has sent the link, I'm going for it first!"
The chat room instantly filled with requests for ice water.
The trades Qi Xiao put up were completed in seconds.
Five train coins were easily acquired.
You see, people are willing to spend when they have money.
"One bottle of iced black tea for one Train coin. Only five bottles."
"Oh my god, how are your hands so fast? It's gone in seconds again?! I'll offer two, Ice Water Bro, sell me a bottle!"
"So, did the big shot open a bunch of iced drinks from the special treasure chest?"
"No way, that would be awesome."
"Is there any more? I'm late, Ice Water Bro, put up another batch!"
Qi Xiao didn't reply again. He couldn't put up too much at once. With the carriage temperature so high, the price of ice water would definitely increase later.
"Was the special treasure chest really yours? Congratulations, congratulations. Can I get a discount on ice water today?"
"Today's iced drinks are sold out. Only mineral water is left."
"Ah? Then you have to give me two bottles."
A flash of light, and Qi Xiao received a Train coin, then gave Xi Jian a bottle of iced mineral water.
The steamed cured sausage rice was also ready. Qi Xiao took out a bottle of chili sauce and used its Bring Your Own iron spoon to scoop out two spoonfuls of chili sauce, pouring it over the rice.
The rice grains were chewy, the cured sausage was oily and savory, and with the chili sauce and ice water, he had a good lunch.
While eating lunch, Qi Xiao checked the station for tomorrow:
"This stop: Mushroom Garden (Single-person Station)"
"Some mushrooms in the Mushroom Garden are poisonous and inedible. A red-haired worm, danger level: 2, lurks in the treasure chest."
"Under the large ganoderma, there is a Level 1 treasure chest. It can contain: 3 train coins, 1 bottle of common antidote."
A red-haired worm hidden in the treasure chest, danger level two?
I wonder which is more dangerous, it or my gunshots.
In the afternoon, Qi Xiao added water to the water tank while doing push-ups in the carriage.
At the same time, he traded ice water for a bottle of shower gel, a bottle of shampoo, a box of pomelo-flavored toothpaste, and a brand new toothbrush.
At nine in the evening, Qi Xiao finished a set of squats, then quickly took a cool shower, conserving water.
...
The Mushroom Garden was indeed very dim, with no sun.
So dark that if the Black Wind Monster ran in, you wouldn't even be able to see where it was.
Qi Xiao watched it after it went to the bathroom, then turned around and locked it in the Train.
To prevent it from gnawing indiscriminately, it would be troublesome if it ate a poisonous mushroom.
Qi Xiao entered the Mushroom Garden, holding his rifle and accompanied by Ren Laotaiye.
Whenever he encountered a mushroom, Qi Xiao would take out his entrenching tool from his jie bracelet and try chopping it first.
With one chop, the injured part of the porcini mushroom turned indigo.
"Goodness, this must be the 'see-hand-blue' mushroom."
"This yellow one looks like enoki mushrooms."
"Blue? Green? Pink? Forget it, the stranger the color, the faster you die."
Qi Xiao only picked the gray, less strangely shaped mushrooms.
The deeper he went, the more varied the mushrooms became.
There were even glowing ones.
Under the glow of the luminous mushrooms, Qi Xiao saw a familiar figure.
The woman was still dressed like Ada Wong, but this time she was carrying a basket and bending down to pick mushrooms.
Qi Xiao immediately squatted down.
Damn it, is this haunted? Isn't this a single-person station? How is she here?
Looking at her graceful back, accentuated by the cheongsam, Qi Xiao swallowed and quietly retreated.
"Does it look good?"
The woman turned around, looking at Qi Xiao expressionlessly, "Come help."
Hiss, she still discovered him.
Qi Xiao stood up, scratching the back of his head: "Haha, we meet again, what a coincidence. Have you eaten?"
The woman threw the bamboo basket to Qi Xiao and instructed him to pick these specific types.
In between picking mushrooms, Qi Xiao spoke:
"Um, what's your name? I still don't know your name."
"You," the woman paused, "Kong You."
Kong You glanced at Qi Xiao:
"You're still keeping that dog of yours."
"Ah, I am. It just gave birth to a litter of puppies the day before yesterday."
"Kill them. I'll come sit in your carriage."
"No, don't. The dogs don't deserve to die."
"Then you come sit in my carriage."
Qi Xiao paused, then quickly followed:
"It would be my pleasure, You Jie."
Kong You's pink Train was parked right next to Qi Xiao's Train.
A door opened on Kong You's eighth carriage.
Qi Xiao's mouth dropped open. Was this a modification? To be able to open a door and enter any carriage at will.
"Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and come help."
Qi Xiao walked into the carriage and found that the floor was not metal plates, but soil.
The ceiling was transparent glass.
"Your carriage is so cool, mine is like a steamer."
Kong You inserted the collected mushrooms into the soft soil.
Qi Xiao also joined in inserting them.
"Can these survive?"
"This is my modified planting carriage, specially used for growing vegetables."
"No wonder. But you don't grow vegetables here, it's all mushrooms."
"I like to eat mushrooms, is there a problem with that?"
"No problem, no problem. I like to eat mushrooms too."
After planting the mushrooms, Qi Xiao got off the Train and followed Kong You to the third carriage.
This carriage was covered with a gray carpet. On the carpet were two pink single sofas, a round coffee table, and on the coffee table were a tea set and a book.