Finally, to the surprise of the five people, Su Ge did not ask for too much. She didn’t even open her mouth and generously told everyone the method for getting rid of mosquitoes: “I know a lot of plants that can repel these mosquitoes, so it’s okay. I will look for them when we go back. If there are too many, I will share them with everyone.” 

For Abing and the others, who were encountering Su Ge for the first time and knew nothing about her, hearing her words only reinforced the notion that this Earthling was quite adept at pleasing higher-ranking planetary beings. 

But for the other aliens who had been with Su Ge for two days, this was simply unbelievable. 

The same Earthling who made them help build shelters even for the smallest tasks, and who would lecture them even for taking a sip of her water, was now being so generous? Impossible! 

There must be some conspiracy, definitely! Earthlings wouldn’t just give things away so easily! 

【Wow. This cunning Earthling is unexpectedly generous this time? My goodness, did something happen while I wasn’t paying attention? Have her cells been reprogrammed? 】 

【Yeah, I find it strange too. Last time, it was just about starting a fire, and she made Rong Shi and the others build shelters for her. And now she’s suddenly so generous? 】 

【If I’m not mistaken, the two words that summarize what Su Ge is doing are—investment. 】 

【Investment? You mean she expects something in return? 】 

【What would you do in her place? Think about it. 】 

… 

【What is a mosquito? 】 

【We don’t have such a thing on our planet. 】 

【I think the mosquito they’re talking about sounds similar to the *&@#(alien language) on our planet. I wonder if it’s the same thing? If it is… there’s actually a way to deal with that thing on Earth! It’s incredible!】 

【They said your planet also has this kind of creature, etc., we have it too, it’s too painful. Our planet has conducted several campaigns to eradicate this species, but there hasn’t been much change! I hope the Earth’s method works! 】 

… 

【Oh dear, realizing that many planets have mosquitoes, I suddenly feel very fortunate that our planet doesn’t. Just now, seeing the scars on Abing’s hand was really terrifying. I can’t imagine having such a thing appear on my body! 】 

【Wait, why are you all talking about mosquitoes? Haven’t you noticed that the Earthlings being so generous might be a setup for a conspiracy? 】 

【You, who said Earthlings might be plotting something, stop right there. Is this interstellar racial discrimination? What’s wrong with Earthlings? What’s wrong with Class V planets? Does being a Class V planet mean they’re out to deceive people? What kind of logic is that? Did Earthlings harm your ancestors in their past lives? 】 

【I’ve noticed that there are many sick people in the Interstellar Alliance, or maybe they’ve forgotten the pain after their wounds healed. How many people in the previous generations were impoverished to the bone, so backward that they fell into pit after pit? Now that things are slightly better, they’re flaunting their power here, acting like rotten old heads. It’s really despicable! 】 

【Earthlings are an inferior race. What’s there to be proud of for being a Class V planet? Your technology, economy, civilization are all in shambles. Instead of humbling yourselves and developing your own planet, why come here to roam around? 】 

【Have you ever had any understanding of the Earth? Apart from knowing the word “Earth,” what else do you know about it? If you claim to understand the Earth, that means you have your own independent thinking. But if you don’t have even the slightest understanding of the Earth and yet rashly criticize everything about it, calling Earthlings a lowly race, that in itself is blindness, it’s inferiority, it’s garbage behavior! 】 

【What can Earthlings do? Besides engaging in verbal battles here, what practical actions have you taken? What contributions have you given to the Interstellar Alliance? None. Even your joining of the Interstellar Alliance was merely through a lottery draw. Heh, a planet that entered the Interstellar Alliance by luck dares to talk to us about technology, about equality? You really don’t know your own place…】 

The bullet comments in the live broadcast room have always been lively. No matter what the topic is, it will eventually turn into a battle between several factions. Of course, these verbal battles do not affect any changes by the organizers, nor do they change the content of the live broadcast. Instead, they add a lot of heat to the liveliness of the broadcast room. 

The organizers looked at the continuously rising ratings over the past few days, and their mood was exceptionally good. 

Unlike the organizers and all the viewers, Su Ge’s mood at this moment was not very good. 

Her main purpose in going out today was to find water and incidentally find food, but she only completed half of her goal. She found water, but there was still no sign of any food. 

Whether it was intentional by the organizers or for some other reason, or maybe it was just her luck, anyway, so far, all the aliens she encountered had nutrient solution in their supplies, except Su Ge. 

Although Su Ge was really not interested in nutrient solution, it could at least fill her stomach. Right now, besides a backpack and water that she couldn’t even boil, she had no food at all. This is just… 

How could she end up in such a situation? 

There was indeed prey today; at least the giant python was a good prey, but Su Ge really couldn’t control her disgust for creatures like snakes. Let her eat snake meat… Forget it, she would rather go hungry. 

On the way back to the base camp, Su Ge carefully looked around. There was a bit of mugwort growing on the edge of the camp. Although it wasn’t much, it was enough to temporarily smoke away mosquitoes. Keeping her promise, she took a bunch and, after giving everyone a bunch and explaining how to use it, she carried the remaining mugwort back to her camp. 

However, when she handed the mugwort to the group of five, none of them dared to reach out to take it. They all looked at Su Ge as if she was harboring some incredible conspiracy. 

Finally, Rong Shi spoke up, “Are you just giving this away for free?” 

Su Ge raised an eyebrow, feeling that the aliens were quite savvy. She flashed a meaningful smile, “There’s plenty of time ahead.” 

After hearing this, the group of five actually let out a long sigh of relief. Only then did they take the things with a clear conscience: Oh, that’s more like it. If Earthlings don’t ask for compensation, we wouldn’t dare to take this stuff!! 

Watching Su Ge’s figure as she returned to the base camp, the group of five looked at the four people who had just entered the camp, seeing them carrying the mugwort with quite a bit of disdain. They watched as these people took Su Ge’s things without any psychological burden and didn’t even say thank you. The eyes of the five involuntarily revealed a kind of pity. 

It was as if they had already foreseen the other party’s tragedy, yet the other party was still cluelessly inviting them… 

Despite having a meaty meal in the morning, after all the hustle and bustle of the day, Su Ge was already starving. But now, besides the mugwort in her hand, she only had a bag of water that hadn’t been heated or disinfected. She couldn’t just eat the mugwort directly… 

Things must always be done one step at a time. Since childhood, Su Ge has been taught to stay clear-headed and rational in any situation, to prioritize tasks effectively, and not to be overwhelmed by trivial matters. 

She sat calmly for a while, allowing her thoughts, which were scattered due to hunger, to calm down before systematically analyzing the current situation. 

The most important thing for survival is water, followed by food. As long as she can ensure hydration, she could go for three to five days without eating. Right now, she has water; she just lacks a means to heat it. 

The reason why humanity on Earth has been able to rapidly develop astonishing civilizations ultimately isn’t because humans are particularly intelligent, but because humans are better at using tools than other organisms on Earth. In simple terms, it’s the use of tools that distinguishes humans from other earthly organisms, allowing them to rise above being ordinary creatures, to become intelligent beings, and to create their own civilization, dominating Earth and becoming the only intelligent species recognized by the interstellar alliance. 

Su Ge conducted a rational analysis of her current situation. In short, if there are no other extraterrestrials, she can survive on this planet. Long-term survival is uncertain, but she could manage for a month. 

After all, there are prey, water, and meat here. At most, she could explore the forest to see if there were any edible fruits to supplement her health. 

Unfortunately, there are many extraterrestrials here, which has directly disrupted Su Ge’s rhythm of survival. Not only has it been disrupted, but serious deviations often occur, just like what happened today. She not only felt that she gained nothing from this trip outside but instead lost a lot… 

To change this chaotic situation, there are a few things she needs to do. First, she needs to try to preserve food for a long time. Second, she needs clean water at home to sustain her survival for a period. 

The fundamental thing to achieve these two tasks is to have containers. 

The only thing Su Ge has that could be used as a container is that plastic bottle. As for the backpack, it’s fine for carrying water, but it’s not suitable for storage. 

Su Ge doesn’t know if people from other countries on Earth or people from other planets in the Interstellar Alliance have this problem, but for people from China, containers are not a difficult thing. After all, many children in China spend hours playing with mud by the sandpit when they are young. 

After selecting her residence, Su Ge carefully inspected the surroundings and made sure all the supplies in her residence were clearly organized. 

Overall, the location chosen by the organizers was quite good, except for the lack of a water source. The soil quality was excellent, with minimal sand content and high fertility. As a result, the area was covered with green low-growing grass and some shrubs, with a few large trees in Su Ge’s area. 

Although there was a small slope in Su Ge’s residence, the soil was excellent for planting seeds. Most importantly, the soil near the mountain side was clay, perfect for making pottery. 

To make pottery with clay, a kiln was needed, which was the most challenging part. 

Standing beside her house, Su Ge roughly planned the positions for the things she would need in the next year living there: a table here, a stove there, and racks for drying… 

After confirming the location for the pottery kiln, Su Ge began working. Using the pile of soil leftover from building the house foundation the previous day, along with some rocks and clay, she easily constructed a simple kiln near the corner of her house. 

Within three or four hours, Su Ge had built the kiln and started a fire inside to strengthen and shape it. 

While building the kiln, Su Ge didn’t let the campfire go to waste. She rolled the clay into strips and formed them into the shape of an open-mouthed pot. After smoothing the inside, she placed the pot in a pit under the campfire for drying and firing. By the time the kiln was finished, the pot was nearly complete. 

Pulling the pot out from under the campfire, Su Ge held a steaming, red-hot, and simple-looking pottery pot in her hands. It wasn’t decorated, but it was functional. 

Because the campfire wasn’t very large, the pot wasn’t very big either, just slightly larger than a large bowl. Su Ge estimated that it could hold about two liters of water. 

As the night fell and the red-hot pottery pot turned black, completely cooled down, Su Ge picked up the first pottery pot she had ever made in her life. She tapped it lightly with her fingers and patted it gently, listening to the pot make a dull sound. She can’t suppress her laughter. 

She felt a sense of accomplishment she had never experienced before. It reminded her of when she was a child and wanted to learn a difficult move, but her master, parents, and brothers thought it wasn’t the right time for her. So, she watched in secret, practiced in secret, and eventually succeeded. Finally, she showed off her skills in front of everyone, stunning the adults and her brothers. She felt an indescribable joy. 

No, it was a joy that felt even more intense and exhilarating. 

Before today, Su Ge had never done such a thing. Her knowledge of pottery was limited to occasional glimpses on TV or videos. She had no concept of whether she could succeed, and it turned out she could. 

This success undoubtedly boosted Su Ge’s confidence in her future survival. 

She could do it, she thought. Living here for a year, as long as she was willing to use her hands and brain, she could really do it. 

When Rong Shi arrived at Su Ge’s camp, this was the scene he saw. 

Su Ge had taken off her outerwear and was wearing a close-fitting gray work tank top (a term she had only learned today), and she had also removed her outer pants, leaving her in tight shorts that reached mid-thigh. Her hands and feet appeared to have been washed, yet there were still noticeable dirty marks on them. 

Her long hair was tied up in a big bun on top of her head, and she was holding a dark, strangely shaped container in her hands. 

“What are you doing?” Rong Shi greeted Su Ge while asking her. 

Su Ge looked up at Rong Shi. His appearance had clearly been tidied up; compared to his disheveled look during the day, he was now very neat. Su Ge found it strange that he had come to her camp. Do aliens have so much free time? 

“What brings you here?” Su Ge gently stroked the container in her hands as if she were caressing her child. 

Rong Shi lowered his eyelashes slightly, concealing his unease, then looked up at Su Ge and said, “When I went to submit the task this afternoon, we received a new task. I wanted to ask if you had any suggestions.” 

After submitting the task in the small tent, they were indeed given a new task. Compared to the previous task of finding a water source, this one was simpler: “Find all the participants.” 

Su Ge didn’t suspect anything and honestly shared her thoughts: “We went to the wilderness today. The places we haven’t been are behind the northern mountain and inside the forest. Tomorrow we can decide whether to split up or go together.” 

Listening to Su Ge’s voice, Rong Shi’s unease intensified. He actually didn’t come here to ask such a simple question. There was no need for him to ask her at all. He tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, clutching a bottle of nutrient solution in his right palm, unsure of how to offer it to her. 

In fact, they were all teammates, and helping each other was natural. Just like Su Ge teaching everyone how to start a fire and leading them to find water, it all felt so natural. So, it should be natural for him to give Su Ge a bottle of nutrient solution, right? 

Since it was the right thing to do, he couldn’t understand where this strange sense of unease was coming from. All he could think about on his way here was that Su Ge might be out of food today and would be hungry tonight. 

This was a common situation. He often went hungry during military exercises, so it shouldn’t have been a big deal. But for some reason, the thought of Su Ge being hungry today really bothered him. 

Although Su Ge seemed strong, he knew that Earthlings had weak constitutions. Without nutrient solutions, relying solely on those unhealthy foods to sustain her energy was already a stretch. If she didn’t even have those foods… 

This feeling was strange. Rong Shi rarely paid attention to the people or things around him, but now he was concerned about a weak Earthling, and he couldn’t understand why. 

Usually, if Rong Shi couldn’t figure something out, he wouldn’t act on it. But today was unusual. Even though he hadn’t figured out his concern for Su Ge, he found himself standing in front of her camp. The moment she looked at him curiously, he heard himself asking a very unremarkable question. 

Fortunately, Su Ge didn’t seem to notice Rong Shi’s unease and candidly shared her thoughts, though Rong Shi was a bit distracted. 

Su Ge spoke at length, but she didn’t hear a single word of response from Rong Shi, which puzzled her. “What do you think?” 

It was only then that Rong Shi seemed to snap out of his daze. He paused noticeably, lifted his eyes to look at Su Ge, and saw those clear black and white eyes and her slightly dirty face. Her head tilted slightly, her eyes seemed to sparkle with light, and as she looked at him, Rong Shi suddenly felt his heart race. 

As a soldier, Rong Shi was very aware of his physical indicators. Having faced numerous sudden situations, he had never experienced anything like this. Why was his heart suddenly racing? Was… was he ill? 

Su Ge found the expression on Rong Shi’s face both stiff and somewhat blank, which was very strange. This alien seemed very off. As she pondered this, she stepped closer to Rong Shi, stretching her neck to examine his face closely. He had drunk quite a bit of unboiled water today. Could it be… diarrhea? 

Heavens! What if it’s diarrhea? She’s never dealt with an alien having diarrhea before! And the alien’s body structure is different from that of a human! Where would it come out from? Is it the same part as a human? What if it’s not? What should she do then? 

Oh, so panicked, what should she do? It’s best to get rid of him quickly and let him fend for himself back at his own base! Anyway, he can’t have an accident at the human base. He’s a Royal Major General of the Milky Way Galaxy. If something goes wrong here, Earth might not even get a chance to blame her because the Milky Way Galaxy will be after her first!  

(ㅠ‸ㅠ) 

With these thoughts of avoiding responsibility racing through her mind, Su Ge spoke to Rong Shi very seriously: “You…” 

Rong Shi hadn’t expected Su Ge to come so close all of a sudden. He only felt his already accelerated heartbeat go completely out of control, beating wildly. His mind went blank, unable to think, and he instinctively pulled out a nutrient solution from his pocket, the bottle already sweaty from his grip, and handed it directly to Su Ge: “This is for you.” 

Su Ge’s words were cut off by Rong Shi’s action. She paused, looking down at the item Rong Shi handed her. 

In his slender, slightly glowing white palm was a small transparent bottle containing a light green liquid, looking much like a 10ml oral solution from Earth, but it was obviously not just any oral solution. 

“What is this?” Su Ge, facing something she had never seen before, expressed the appropriate curiosity. 

“Nutrient solution.” It was only at this moment that Rong Shi’s somewhat dazed mind cleared up. Although his heart was still beating fast, it seemed to help him make a decision he usually found difficult. He took a deep breath and, with a slightly nervous smile, said to Su Ge. 

Ah! Nutrient solution? 

Su Ge was genuinely surprised. From what she had learned in the past two days, nutrient solutions were essential for the survival of most aliens, akin to food for humans. Moreover, these nutrient solutions were limited and extremely precious, considering that the first round of supply drops to each planet was scheduled to be a month, no, twenty-seven days away. 

It’s a question whether the nutrient solution the aliens have will last until then. 

So, even if she was hungry, Su Ge never intended to ask the aliens for their nutrient solution, considering it was their most crucial resource for survival. It would be just like someone asking her for food now; she wouldn’t be happy about it. 

But she never expected Rong Shi to give her a bottle of nutrient solution at this moment!! 

A sudden, indescribable joy surged above the happiness of successfully making the clay pot. Su Ge wasn’t stingy about sharing this joy with the alien. She patted the clay pot and said, “How about I offer you some boiled water?”