Our neighborhood has been transported again.

Chapter 40 Guo Xiaochun

"What is this?" Deng Guang was seeing this strange thing for the second time. "I remember now, you also picked one of these yesterday. Can you eat this?"

"I don't know, but I can try it when I get back." Qin Ziwen broke off a gray sweet potato from the root.

Deng Guang found it rare, saying, "I've never seen this before."

Qin Ziwen put it into his backpack. "I found them all in the mud. Keep an eye out for them."

On the way back, we finally found seven gray sweet potato plants in the muddy ground in the wild. These plants were scattered, and the roots and tubers of two of them had been gnawed, indicating that there are animals in the area that eat gray sweet potatoes.

On his way back, he casually set up a trap, sprinkled some earthworm meat inside, and tied it to a tree on the bank with a rope.

Then three more hidden rope traps were set up, not far from the ground cage, for easy inspection tomorrow.

"Can this trap catch animals?" Deng Guang had never seen a rope trap before, but he thought it looked quite professional.

Qin Ziwu said, "Sure, we've caught field mice before."

Deng Guang's eyes lit up. "Then why don't we set up a few more?"

Qin Ziwen shook his head: "We don't have any rope. Setting this up requires a rope that is a little elastic and also sturdy, otherwise it's easy for someone to break free once they grab it."

Deng Guang replied without hesitation, "I think I have some at home. I'll bring some out tomorrow!"

The traps and snares were placed some distance from the residential area, outside the residents' "regular" search zone, which falls into the wild. The only concern is that large wild animals like crocodiles might be attracted to the prey trapped in the traps and damage them from the outside.

Outside the East Gate, a young man wearing glasses and a suit, with a friendly smile, had just finished talking with the people in front of him and handed them something.

Upon seeing Qin Ziwen approach, the young man quickly stepped forward. "Hello, my name is Guo Xiaochun. I used to work in industry consulting. This is my business card."

I took the business card, which read "Tianma Human Resources Service Co., Ltd.", and listed Guo Xiaochun as an intermediate consultant. On the back, I wrote the address in marker: Unit 2, Building 6, Room 201.

Guo Xiaochun spoke eloquently: "Brother, would you mind introducing what kind of work you do? It's okay if you can't say. I'm currently compiling a list of talents from various industries in our community. I think that technical skills can be better utilized if they can be shared."

If you have any needs in this area in the future, or even want to learn a certain skill, such as carpentry, bricklaying, or need a doctor for medical treatment, I can make connections with you. Moreover, if you have a skill and want to earn a living through your skills, I can also help you promote it.

And it's not just about professional skills; if you need supplies or want to sell them, I can help you connect with suitable buyers and sellers. Time is money, and sometimes it's too time-consuming to ask around one by one for what you need. I can connect you directly.

Qin Ziwen glanced at the business card, on the back of which was written the address in marker: Unit 2, Building 6, Room 201. "This is somewhat interesting."

Guo Xiaochun chuckled sheepishly, "My health isn't very good, so I'm not good at hunting. I used to do this kind of thing, so this is a good opportunity to go back to my old profession. Brother, all the talent and skills consultations I offer are free. If you have any supplies to sell, I won't charge you either. It's all free advertising. I'll only charge a tiny fee for information consultations, but it won't be much, so as not to make things difficult for you!"

Guo Xiaochun held up one tiny finger, "I just need to make a living and not starve. I'm not greedy."

Guo Xiaochun has a baby face, which makes him look harmless and very approachable.

"Hmm, what is information consulting?"

Guo Xiaochun chuckled and said, "Well, it's some rather special information that you might not be able to disclose in person. I'll handle it for you. Don't worry, I'll absolutely guarantee your privacy. You can also sell the information to me or list it here for sale."

Special information, not convenient for me to come forward
Qin Ziwen considered several possibilities, then jokingly said, "Alright, then I wish you booming business and ever-growing success. I'll keep your business card; I'll contact you if I need anything. You'll have to give me a discount then." Guo Xiaochun clasped his hands together and thanked him repeatedly, "Okay, thank you, brother, thank you, brother."

Qin Ziwen accepted the business card and was about to leave when he stopped, remembering something, and asked, "Mr. Guo, are there any places selling water in the neighborhood right now?"

Guo Xiaochun quickly replied, "I don't deserve to be called Boss Guo, just call me Xiao Guo. As for selling water, we do have some. A few neighbors have told me that they sell treated boiled water, which is all boiled water, but very few people are willing to buy it, mainly because there is a river next to the community."

The river water here is free from chemical pollution and heavy metals. It's drinkable after filtration and boiling, and the technology isn't difficult. Although filtering and gathering firewood are a bit troublesome, people have plenty of time these days and would rather go through the extra work than buy food. Besides, many people feel more at ease with water they boil themselves.

Qin Ziwen was aware of this.

After his family had more spring water, he also considered whether to sell the water to obtain supplies.

But it seems difficult to sell it now.

There are two problems.

First, you know the water from the spring is clean and safe to drink, but others don't, creating a trust gap between you, unless you voluntarily expose the spring.

Secondly, the water resources around the community are abundant. After the crocodiles were cleared out, it is much safer to draw water from the river.

He temporarily put aside this idea. It wouldn't hurt to store the water, since the farmland would need a lot of water for irrigation on a regular basis once it was ready.

Qin Ziwen was about to leave when Guo Xiaochun called him back, "Brother, I can tell you're both men of character. Here's a free message for you."

"You said."

Guo Xiaochun said, "This afternoon, a neighbor was bitten on the leg by a crocodile and dragged into the river while fetching water. Now the crocodiles in the river seem to have become more cunning. They won't be easily hooked onto the shore; they will only ambush people in the water."

"Did it happen today?" "Yes, this afternoon. You guys weren't in the neighborhood during the day, so you probably don't know yet."

"Okay, thanks."

After the three left, Guo Xiaochun straightened his sleeves and saw another group of people returning from the wilderness. He put on his standard smile again and warmly greeted them.

Deng Guang sighed, "The riverbank is unsafe now."

Qin Ziwen said solemnly, "It seems that our competition with the crocodile is not over yet. It's just that the crocodile has been quiet for the past two days, which has made many people lower their guard."

After parting ways on the fifth floor, Qin Ziwen planted the gray sweet potatoes at home, but there were too many of them and the soil he had dug up earlier was not enough.

He and his younger brother went downstairs to the entrance of the community and dug up several large bags of soil to carry home.

"I'm exhausted." Qin Ziwu put down the bag and rubbed his lower back.

Qin Ziwen said, "It's not over yet. Clean the soil again and pick out any bugs or anything else so they don't eat the sweet potatoes."

Qin Ziwu stretched his limbs, jumped around on the spot, took a few deep breaths, and became full of energy again, "Good!"

(End of this chapter)