"Aunt Zhen Ni, the energy box you found can be sold for at least 400 credit points, which is equal to the total of what you earned from selling scrap these past months," Xie Yi couldn’t help but step forward and examine the energy box together with Ji You.
A brand new Grade 1 energy box sells for 500 on the Star Network, and the one Grandma Jenny found, when taken to a second-hand recycling shop, the shop owner would generally press down the price to around 400 credit points.
However, Grandma Jenny was already very satisfied, hearing everyone’s envious voices, she modestly said repeatedly:
"Good luck."
"Good luck."
"Just good luck."
"The luck isn’t bad," said Lea, who was always calm.
Grandma Jenny’s significant find motivated others, particularly Ji You and Uncle Xie Yi; both of them searched more thoroughly through the trash, sparing no effort and not willing to miss even the smallest piece of garbage. Unfortunately, luck did not favor them that evening, and all they found were some low-cost scraps, which altogether were worth probably only about 2 credit points.
Lea, being strong and having a weapon for protection, could venture further into the trash heaps to look for scrap. He also had a twenty cubic feet Space Knot, allowing him to carry a lot of items; thus, his harvest was quite good.
After packing some discarded materials from low-level mechas into his Space Knot, Lea said with a steady expression, "It’s almost eight o’clock, the peak activity time for Carrion Rats is coming, let’s go back."
Hearing Lea’s words, Ji You, Uncle Xie Yi, and Grandma Jenny didn’t linger at all, they all stopped, gathered their things, and prepared to head back.
Before leaving, Ji You picked several Carrion Rat-eaten cores and stuffed them into her bag.
Uncle Xie Yi couldn’t help but make fun: "You, what are you picking up these useless grass seeds for?"
These cores came from a type of wild weed bearing fruit on planet 101 outside the protected areas, known as grass seed. The fruit tastes bitter, causes the throat to tingle and itch when eaten, and can also lead to vomiting and diarrhea...
However, it isn’t fatal.
Because the taste of grass seed fruit is so awful, even the indiscriminate Carrion Rats dislike eating it. They only bite into it when there’s absolutely no other food available and would spit out the seeds.
This type of wild weed grows in the wilderness areas of the protected zone where humans rarely enter. Since they have no value, no one bothers to pick them. To find grass seed fruits, you would need those pesky Carrion Rats to transport them.
Nonetheless, since no one wants these, they are also overlooked.
Ji You packed all the grass seed fruits and cheerfully said, "I think these grass seed fruits are round and plump, and even crystal clear inside. They can be used for bead turning!"
"Bead turning?"
"What’s that?"
Xie Yi didn’t quite understand.
Ji You raised her wrist showing the bracelet she was wearing, saying, "It’s this."
Seeing this, Xie Yi laughed and said, "You girls always like these fancy things. So impractical."
Hearing this, Grandma Jenny slightly disagreed, saying, "These plain grass seed fruits, see how beautifully You has polished them, they look so nice worn, how are they not practical?"
As a middle-aged man, Xie Yi couldn’t appreciate it and said, "What’s the use of being pretty? You can’t eat it, nor can you sell it for money..."
Ji You quickly explained, saying, "I plan to make more, open a little shop on the Star Network. What if I’m lucky enough to sell them?"
Grandma Jenny said, "That’s a good idea."
Xie Yi immediately threw cold water, saying, "These bracelets, made from commonly found grass seed fruits, have no other function or effect, nor can they nourish spiritual power, I doubt anyone would buy them."
In the interstellar era, humans value practicality above all else, even decorative items must be practical to be acceptable. In Xie Yi’s eyes, these grass seeds are just useless junk. No matter how beautifully Ji You carves and polishes them, it cannot change the fact that they are worthless grass seeds. How could anyone spend money on these?
Ji You said, "Well, I just wanted to give it a try, it would be great if someone is willing to buy them." In her previous life, she was a craft enthusiast and learned a bit of everything – knitting, bracelets, carving, Bead Turning...
After crossing over, she could find no way out and decided to pick up the skills from her past life. She opened an online shop to sell some handmade crafts but was immediately discouraged by Uncle Xie Yi’s coldwater.
But, why not give it a try? How can you know for sure it will fail?
Ji You ignored the advice and stubbornly packed her bag full of grass seeds, stopping only when she couldn’t fit any more.
During the conversation, Lea remained silent throughout, not participating in the discussion.
Soon—
Led by Xie Yi with the powerful Lea following behind, Ji You and Grandma Jenny in the middle, the four of them started their journey back.
This time, there were no obstacles, and they safely returned to the sanctuary without any trouble. As they entered the protective barrier, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Lea was the first to head back to his house.
Grandma Jenny immediately called out to him, saying, "Lea, wait a moment."
Lea paused and turned around.
Grandma Jenny looked at him with a warm, smiling face, "Lea, I’m very grateful you were willing to accompany an old lady like me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have such a good harvest. I made some delicious apple pies this morning, I baked a whole tray, just wait, I’ll get you some."
Lea shook his head, "Thank you, but no need."
With that, he walked away.
Grandma Jenny watched him walking further away and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh my! Why won’t you listen, child?"
Turning around, Grandma Jenny looked at Ji You and Xie Yi and said, "Ayi, You, you two wait a moment, I’ll get you some apple pies."
Ji You knew that Grandma Jenny’s granddaughter, Lea, would be returning from school tomorrow. Hence, she baked a few apple pies every week for Lea. Ji You was very poor, but she was alone with no family to feed, while Grandma Jenny also lived in poverty, and she had to take care of Lea as well.
Ji You shook her head, "Grandma Jenny, no need, I still have dozens of nutrient solutions stocked up at home, I’m heading back now."
Saying this, despite Grandma Jenny’s pleas, she hurried back home.
Similarly, Xie Yi also declined Aunt Zhen Ni’s kindness and went home.
Watching her neighbors, Grandma Jenny clasped her hands together, murmuring a word of thanks, feeling both amused and grateful in her heart.
Meanwhile.
As soon as Ji You returned to her small detached house, she collapsed from exhaustion. Touching her shriveled stomach, she thought about her refusal of Grandma Jenny’s kindness, and the claim of having ’dozens of nutrient solutions at home,’ made her want to burst into tears.
Dozens?
Dozens?
Dozens?
But—they are all just in dreams.
She wanted them so badly.
o(╥﹏╥)o