33 Agricultural Expert

The next day, Xiao Feng contemplated how to grow some vegetables around the restaurant.

The mutated seeds rewarded by the system were definitely different from regular seeds. What could be grown from these mutated seeds would surely have significant benefits.

However, the area around the restaurant had no suitable soil for planting. If he tried planting elsewhere, there was a risk of it being raided by others. So, the mutated seeds could only be planted inside the restaurant.

Xiao Feng knew that he had provoked Shelter No. 1, and those guys were not easy to deal with. They would surely return to cause trouble in the future. If he annoyed them, they might serve him a rocket launcher combo, turning the surroundings of the restaurant into ruins.

After some consideration, Xiao Feng followed a sewage pipe to reach the suburbs.

The suburban agricultural production base used to have greenhouses. It should be easy to find some soil and fertilizers for planting here.

He noticed that there were rows of orderly greenhouses scattered around. However, the elements had weathered the fabric on these greenhouses over time.

Suddenly, he saw what seemed to be an intact greenhouse at the center of the area. The fabric on this greenhouse was still new, with one side lifted, allowing sunlight to penetrate inside, indicating that vegetables were being grown within.

Curious, Xiao Feng approached it. The entire greenhouse was enclosed by a two-meter-high wire mesh fence, making it impossible for ordinary zombies to enter.

Xiao Feng quietly climbed to the top of an abandoned greenhouse and covered himself with a tarp, using the scope of his Barrett rifle to observe the interior.

Through the scope, he could clearly see a lush, colorful array of fruits and vegetables being cultivated inside the greenhouse, a remarkable sight in this post-apocalyptic world.

This agricultural production base covered a vast area and was located centrally, making it difficult to spot unless viewed from a high vantage point.

At that moment, Xiao Feng caught a glimpse of a figure moving inside the greenhouse. He focused his attention and saw an elderly man in his sixties or seventies, limping as he carefully tended to the vegetables.

Afterward, the old man lifted one side of the fabric, covered the entrance with an old piece of fabric, making them almost invisible, even when viewed from above.

Xiao Feng approached cautiously. He didn't have much knowledge about farming and didn't want to waste the mutated seeds. Perhaps he could learn some farming tips from the old man to make the best use of these unique seeds.

The iron mesh fence was robust, and it had barbed wire on top, making it a challenging obstacle for anyone trying to enter. After circling around, Xiao Feng realized that there was no entrance or exit in the fence. The old man had effectively locked himself inside.

With no other option, Xiao Feng carefully tapped on the iron mesh, hoping to get the old man's attention. The sound of his tapping immediately alerted the person inside.

Hearing the noise, the old man anxiously observed the outside commotion from a window.

Xiao Feng put away his Barrett rifle and quickly waved, calling out, "Sir, I'm a survivor. Can you let me in?"

Upon confirming that Xiao Feng was a fellow human, the old man cautiously walked out from his shelter.

"Are you truly a survivor?" The old man held a hunting rifle.

Xiao Feng was confident that he was indeed a survivor, and he believed this was why the old man had managed to survive until now.

"I am indeed a survivor. Look, there are no injuries on my body!" Xiao Feng turned around to prove it to the old man.

Seeing this, the old man visibly relaxed. "Come in through here," he said, pointing to a room in the adjacent greenhouse.

Xiao Feng entered the room, which left him speechless at the environment inside. It was filled with an abundance of food and vegetables. This greenhouse provided a year-round growing environment for various crops, and there was a cold cellar below for long-term food storage. The old man's resourcefulness and preparation had enabled him to survive in the harsh post-apocalyptic world.

The old man was extremely welcoming, as rare encounters with fellow humans in this post-apocalyptic era brought him unexpected joy. They chatted for a while, and Xiao Feng sighed, saying, "Sir, your warmth could potentially be your downfall in this post-apocalyptic world."

The old man didn't seem to believe this and said, "It's just a piece of bread. Is it really that serious?"

Xiao Feng continued to stress the point, "Sir, out there, where hordes of zombies roam, if people find out about this place, they might seize it from you."

Seeing that Xiao Feng was quite serious, the old man, who had lived for a long time, knew that human nature could be unpredictable, even in times of crisis. "If you believe me, you should take down the iron mesh outside."

"The iron mesh can defend against zombies, but not against humans. If someone sees it, they'll know there are people inside. You should reinforce this room instead."

Xiao Feng advised him, suggesting that connecting the neighboring greenhouses into a single area with locked doors would be a good strategy to safeguard their resources. "You can do this when you have free time, but ensure each connection point has a locked door and is not directly accessible."

Xiao Feng shared all of his experiences and ideas with the old man, who listened attentively. The greenhouse was somewhat dim, and the old man lit an oil lamp to provide better lighting. He took out paper and a pen and earnestly wrote down everything Xiao Feng told him.

This conversation lasted for three hours. During this time, Xiao Feng also learned a lot about farming techniques from the old man.

To his surprise, he discovered that the old man was an evolutionist with a life-related ability. He could sense the needs of every plant clearly. For example, he could feel when a tomato seedling needed more water or when a chili plant was infested with pests. The old man could use his evolutionary ability to accelerate the growth of plants, shortening their maturation period significantly. This ability contributed to his high crop yield and survival rate.

"He's quite a talent," Xiao Feng couldn't help but exclaim. If the old man helped him cultivate the mutated seeds, the harvest would undoubtedly be impressive.

"Sir, if you don't mind, how about coming to the town with me? I can guarantee your safety there, and in return, you can help me with farming. I'll even cook for you!"

The old man chuckled and replied, "Young man, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm fine here. Have you seen that wooden coffin by the door? If I ever feel it's not working out, I'll just lie down in it myself!"

The old man's stubbornness forced Xiao Feng to give up on convincing him.