Chapter 147: Chapter 147: I Was So Stupid
After collecting the dried fish, Faye Yardley had someone help take them to the dock. Then she asked, "Do you have any live mudskippers? I’d also like to buy some vegetables. If you have any foraged goods, you can sell them to me too."
’They’re probably short on staple foods here, too. Since I have plenty, I won’t bring it up.’
Zachary Pierce’s group would take as many vegetables and other foodstuffs as she could get.
Fresh or not, as long as it’s edible, there were plenty of people who would snap it up on the trading market.
People who had been at sea for over a month, especially those who never got anything good from treasure chests, would definitely be craving the taste of other foods.
’The dried fish are for my cat, so selling them is out of the question. Besides, I’d lose out on every single one I sold. It’s a no-brainer.’
"We gathered some hazelnuts and pine nuts a while ago. Do you really want them?"
"Want some dried mushrooms?"
"How about the wild vegetables we dug up?"
"Yes, I’ll take them all." Faye Yardley thought for a moment. "Bring them all to the dock. That way, it’ll be easier for me to get them onto my raft after we trade."
Aside from the person helping with the dried fish, everyone else went home to rummage for extra foraged goods and vegetables.
Earning even a single copper coin was a good thing.
The village chief didn’t stop any of this. As long as every household kept enough for themselves, it was fine.
Faye Yardley had noticed the little girl watching her with a puzzled expression for a while. Once the others had left, she looked over at the girl, who then sidled up to her and asked, "Miss, you could conjure grilled skewers when you first came ashore, right? Why can’t you make the dried fish disappear now?"
"You’re very sharp, Annie, to have noticed that. But my Magic only works when I’m very close to my raft. It doesn’t work from farther away."
The little girl’s face lit up with understanding. "Oh, so you haven’t mastered your skills yet."
Just then, the village chief called out to the girl, and she ran off shyly.
When she got to the dock, quite a few villagers were already waiting.
Faye Yardley shouted to Willow Yardley on the raft, then tossed a large bag of dried fish over to her.
The foraged goods, vegetables, mudskippers, and oysters she bought afterward cost a total of only 2 silver coins—the price of just two small dried fish.
’So is there something special about those dried fish?’
’Of course, if they weren’t special, my cat wouldn’t like them.’
The eight hours of island time quickly entered the final three-minute warning.
Faye Yardley didn’t delay. Before jumping onto her raft, she gave the elderly village chief two large watermelons to express her gratitude, then hopped onto her raft and waved goodbye to them.
Back on her raft, Faye Yardley’s sense of security automatically returned.
When the time was up, the raft started on its own, leaving the dock at a high speed.
A short distance from the dock, a thick fog began to rise. The raft was soon swallowed by it, and when it emerged, it was back on the open sea. By then, it was deep into the night, the sun long since set.
Now changed into a fresh set of clothes, Faye Yardley was lying on the living room sofa, sipping milk tea and glancing at the TV screen from time to time.
"Sister, our brother was looking for you this afternoon. I told him you had gone to an island."
"Okay. Thanks. Have you packed up everything except for the fruits and vegetables we’re keeping for ourselves and for our brother?"
Willow Yardley nodded. "It’s all sorted. Here’s the list."
Taking the handwritten list, Faye Yardley looked it over carefully and said, "We have this much already, and it’s not even the next harvest yet."
"Yes, and I’ve already sent our brother’s share to him through a private trade."
Although Willow Yardley couldn’t send Red Envelopes, Faye Yardley had authorized her to use the trading market.
Faye Yardley sold a small portion of the surplus to her group chat members at a friendly price and traded the rest to Eleanor Jonas.
She wasn’t worried that Zachary Pierce and Eleanor Jonas would shortchange her. In fact, they definitely had more things than she did. Besides, asking them for help was the fastest way to find anything she needed.
’It’s just that right now, I’m not even sure what I need.’
Eleanor Jonas felt this shipment of vegetables, fruit, and Pure Water had come at the perfect time. The main issue was the soaring temperature, and people couldn’t go without vitamins for long. They actually took a loss selling these items on the trading market, limiting one portion per person, but even so, they could only help a small number of people.
’But at least they were trying. Every person they could save was a victory.’
As for what she owed Faye Yardley, Eleanor Jonas was starting to feel that when you have too much debt, you stop worrying. She was beginning to understand the debtor’s mindset: if you owe enough, it’s the creditor who has to worry.
Of course, she would never default on her debt. Her honor wouldn’t allow it, and neither would her leaders or partners.
Faye Yardley naturally wasn’t worried about the trades. To put it bluntly, even if she got nothing in return, it wouldn’t affect her life or survival in the slightest.
That was the source of her confidence.
Logan Langdon suddenly sent a message: "Gorgeous Yardley, do you have any extra fruits or vegetables? I can buy them at a high price."
Faye Yardley didn’t bother playing games and replied directly: "No, I only have enough for myself."
Logan Langdon: "Doesn’t your raft have a planting room?"
’He even knows about that?’ Faye Yardley couldn’t remember if she had built the planting room by the time she first met Logan Langdon. ’But it doesn’t matter whether he knows or not.’ Faye replied: "I do, but I also have to supply my brother."
This time, Logan Langdon didn’t send any more messages. He obviously knew who her brother was.
Faye Yardley sometimes couldn’t figure out Logan Langdon’s train of thought. ’I’ve never been anything but cold to him, so what makes him think I’ll cooperate just because he asks?’
"System, open the group chat interface."
As for the National and Regional Channels, they were already displayed simultaneously on the TV screen opposite the sofa, which was split in two.
The small group chat was also full of people heaping praise on her.
Faye Yardley just smiled and scrolled past it.
However, every channel was filled with complaints about the blistering heat. People were just trying to survive with every ounce of their strength.
Many people were even starting to have dark thoughts, wondering if it would be better to just die, since living day to day was so difficult.
It also showed, in a way, that they had been too well-protected by the authorities back in Aridia, leaving their personal resilience a bit weak.
Those who had managed to hold on this long were already doing quite well.
The atmosphere in the small group chat was much better than on the public channels.
So, Faye Yardley, still lying back, focused her gaze on the virtual screen in front of her.
Faye Yardley: "Alright, alright, that’s enough flattery. It’s not like I gave them to you for free."
Kyle Lewis: "Thanks for the fruit and vegetable support, Miss Yardley. I really needed it. I’ve been constipated for days from not eating any."
Wade Warren: "For real. You don’t get much from chests, and it’s not like you get them every day either."
Bonnie Callahan: "We’re all eating and drinking so well thanks to you, Miss Yardley. Our standard of living has gone way up."
RING RING RING~
"Bro, what happened to your face?"
Ethan Yardley touched the corner of his eye. "It’s nothing, just took a hit while sparring in the training room. I just got an Ordinary Island Entry Order. It’s for you."
"You don’t have to give it to me, you should use it yourself. Besides, your team members are all together. A whole team can use one Token, which is much more efficient than giving it to me."
"Alright. I’ll use an Invitation Card to invite you over then."
Faye Yardley gasped. ’I’m such an idiot,’ she thought. ’Why didn’t I think of inviting my brother and his team over when I was at the lake? What if they could have fished up something else?’
