Chapter 400: Chapter 400: Sun Exposure 5
Just as Evelyn Ford had suspected, after being subjected to both the sun poison and the medicine, she noticed a significant change in the physical condition of the women on the farm.
Aunt Crane walked past her carrying two buckets of water, her expression relaxed and her steps light. Not a single drop of water sloshed out of the buckets.
Wyatt Vaughn used to be in excruciating pain during her period, but this time, she felt nothing at all. Her stomach didn’t hurt, her back didn’t ache, her voice was full and strong, and her complexion was even a little rosy.
Although the intense light was still scorching, their bodies had developed a certain resistance, making it much easier to go out during the day.
To prevent the radishes in the greenhouse from becoming hollow, Evelyn led everyone to the greenhouse after sunset. They harvested all the white radishes and began making them into dried radish strips. Dried radishes could be preserved for many years and, like compressed biscuits, were very filling.
"It’s so cool at night. The wind is nice and chilly. During the day, it feels like we’re living on Flaming Mountain. The ground is practically smoking. I poured out a little dirty water at noon, and the sun dried it up in seconds. It’s terrifying."
"The temperature difference between day and night is just too huge. I always feel like the sun is getting hotter and the moon is getting colder."
"We used to see some birds, but these past few days, we haven’t seen anything. During the day, the sky is just a hazy white."
"Evelyn, now that we’ve harvested the radishes and cabbages, should we keep planting more vegetables?"
Evelyn shook her head. "We’re almost out of water. We’re not planting anymore."
There was still an acre of pumpkins left in the greenhouse. The pumpkin shoots and leaves could be cooked as vegetables, and the vines could be used to feed the horses. In these times, no one dared to waste even a scrap of food.
Wyatt Vaughn nodded. "We can till the fields again. We should be able to dig up some more sweet potatoes."
"Let’s dig before the sun comes up in the morning. It’s not hot then, and we won’t need torches."
They finished harvesting all the radishes, which amounted to nearly three tons. Evelyn had everyone wash them quickly. To save water, they only washed them twice. Some people washed, some cut them into strips, and others shredded them. Under Evelyn’s direction, everyone worked like an assembly line.
Aunt Crane stood by, directing the work. "We’ll dry a portion to make dried radish strips, and we’ll salt-cure another portion to make pickled radishes. The weather is hot now, so they’ll be a good appetizer."
"Master Ford, the radish leaves can also be made into dried or pickled vegetables."
"Do they need to be washed?" The water level in the pond had dropped drastically; it only produced a few buckets of water a day.
"One wash is enough. The vegetables from the greenhouse are quite clean. Besides, I’ve checked them—there are no bugs." Aunt Crane assured Evelyn that she would successfully pickle the vegetables.
"Then make more pickled vegetables, and turn the rest into dried vegetables."
Aunt Crane beamed. "You got it! Just you wait. I guarantee they’ll be delicious."
Everyone was busy all night. At dawn, Evelyn had them return to the cabins to rest while she and Ronan Kendrick left the farm.
Evelyn Ford put on two layers of sun-protective clothing, leaving not an inch of skin exposed. Although she had developed some resistance, the intense light was not to be underestimated. A few hours of sun exposure would still make her skin swollen and itchy.
The two of them went up the mountain. Evelyn observed the changes in the land. The ground had indeed begun to crack. Many trees were starting to wither from the lack of water, with only a few scattered leaves still clinging to their branches.
Evelyn noticed some tree blossoms on the trunks, so she took a bamboo basket from her space and began to pick them.
"A lot of the tree bark over here has been scraped off. Those refugees from before must have lived nearby. They’ve probably left already. We haven’t seen any footprints or signs of activity lately."
Ronan Kendrick nodded. "There is an unfamiliar scent here, but it’s very faint. Those people probably left after the temperature rose."
After circling a mountain, Evelyn couldn’t find a single pond or even a spring. However, halfway up the slope, there was a collapsed cave where the refugees had likely lived.
"Let’s go back. The water in the mountains has probably all dried up. Starting tomorrow, everyone needs to conserve water."
Ronan took the bamboo basket from Evelyn’s hand. After they descended the mountain, they ran into Ethan Dawson at the farm gate. He was bundled up tightly, yet he still looked sickly and listless.
"Master Ford, Ronan, you went up the mountain?"
Evelyn nodded. "To pick some tree blossoms. What are you here for?"
Ethan Dawson suddenly started coughing. "Everyone on our farm is sick. I can’t tell if it’s a normal cold or a viral infection. Master Ford, could I trouble you to take a look?"
Evelyn didn’t refuse. "Fine. Take off your hat so I can have a look."
Ethan nodded and removed his hat and mask. His face was a bit dark, which didn’t look like a common cold at all. Evelyn then took his pulse.
"Have you all been out in the sun every day?"
Ethan nodded. "I was worried about a drought, so I organized everyone to dig up the sweet potatoes and cassava from the fields. Several people got heatstroke."
Evelyn understood. "It must be from long-term sun exposure. The sun poison is in your bodies. After the extreme cold, everyone still has dampness built up. The combination of heat and cold is what’s making you sick. It’s not a cold, and it’s not a virus."
"Sun poison?"
Evelyn nodded. "The intense sunlight contains sun poison. It’s not just scorching; it also makes people irritable and agitated. You shouldn’t be exposed to the sun for more than two hours during the day. For your condition, drinking some Gold and Silver Flower or mint tea for a few days should relieve it."
Ethan Dawson let out a sigh of relief. "As long as it’s curable. Is this sun poison contagious?"
"No. Try to work at night and stay indoors during the day."
"Um, Master Ford... do you have any Gold and Silver Flower or mint?"
Evelyn looked him up and down. "Coming to ask for medicine empty-handed... Master Dawson, you’re getting more and more shameless."
Ethan laughed and quickly put his hat back on. "I have to be shameless. We can barely survive as it is."
"Ronan, give him a bag of Gold and Silver Flower."
Ronan nodded. "Follow me."
The three of them entered the farm. Evelyn went back to her cabin, while Ronan took Ethan to the warehouse to get the medicine.
By the time Ronan returned, Evelyn had already poured the tree blossoms into a bucket to soak.
"He’s gone?"
"Yeah. He said he’ll bring the payment next time."
Evelyn snorted and went straight to the bedroom. "Someone on their farm must have died."
Ronan raised an eyebrow and followed her.
"If someone hadn’t died, Ethan wouldn’t have bundled himself up like that. He must have thought it was a virus. Remember what he asked me just now? ’Is the sun poison contagious?’ When I said no, he was relieved."
Ronan closed the door and poured her a glass of water.
"That man is morally ambiguous, hard to figure out."
Ronan rarely commented on people, so Evelyn was a little surprised.
"Is he a threat to us?"
"I don’t sense any malice from him." Ronan reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Evelyn’s ear.
"Don’t worry. I’m here."
