A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

"This is a thank-you gift."

This time, Sun Dazhu didn't refuse; he knew it was rightfully his. He took the cloth bag, feeling its heavy weight.

But he didn't leave immediately; instead, he stared at Chen Mo with a gaze more focused than ever before.

"Chen Mo, I want to work with you."

"It's not about those two pounds of wheat, it's about finding a way to survive."

He gripped the cloth bag tightly in his hand.

Chen Mo nodded calmly.

"it is good."

Then he added, "But your father is still with the Wang family."

The light in Sun Dazhu's eyes dimmed instantly.

Yes, his father is still in that hellhole.

In the dead of night, the cold wind howled through the window paper.

Chen Mo lay on the bed with his eyes open, showing no signs of sleepiness.

He is waiting.

Waiting for that voice that can change my destiny.

Time slowly passed, and just when he was about to lose patience, the familiar virtual panel finally appeared before his eyes.

[Daily information has been updated, please select:]

[1. There is a three-acre plot of land near the hot spring on the back mountain. Buried underground are potato seed cellars left over from a previous dynasty's military settlement, weighing approximately 200 jin (100 kg). Some of the potatoes have already sprouted. (Low risk, but needs to be excavated for inspection. The potatoes have been stored for many years, and some may have spoiled.)]

[Second, in the valley west of Black Wind Ridge, there is a herd of wild goats, about fifteen in number, that overwinter. However, the entrance to the valley is narrow and blocked by heavy snow. (Medium risk; hunting is difficult due to the risk of wild animals escaping.)]

Thirdly, beneath the ice layer in the upper reaches of the Qingshui River lies an area where large schools of fish spawn in winter, where fish weighing 50 jin or more can be caught. However, professional fishing gear is required, and the ice layer is relatively thin, making it easy to fall into the water. (High risk, potentially fatal)

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat when he saw the first option.

potato.

Two hundred catties.

Even if it's stored for many years, even if some of it has sprouted, even if some of it has gone bad, it's still a gold mine.

In these times when even grass roots and tree bark are eaten clean, two hundred pounds of edible food can drive an entire village crazy.

More importantly, it's about the two words "seed potato".

This means that this is not a one-time food, but a hope that can be produced continuously.

He hardly hesitated.

"I choose one."

Instantly, a clear, three-dimensional image unfolded in his mind.

There was a familiar hot spring on the back mountain, with steam rising up. The scene was naturally magnified, and three red markers in an equilateral triangle pattern appeared on the ground. The system also marked the excavation depth and soil structure.

Below each marker, there were several old wooden crates piled up, filled with dried but still alive potatoes.

Treasure! This is a real treasure.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Chen Mo woke up Sun Dazhu.

"Come on, grab your gear, and come with me somewhere."

Sun Dazhu looked dazed, but he immediately woke up when he heard Chen Mo's tone of voice.

The two men, carrying the iron pickaxe they had dug out of the cave and two empty burlap sacks on their backs, trudged towards the back of the mountain in the biting cold wind.

The hot spring is located deep in the back mountains, a place rarely visited by people.

Because of the underground heat source, the snow on several acres of land around the site melted, revealing wet, black soil that contrasted sharply with the white snow next to it.

"Right here?" Sun Dazhu asked, somewhat puzzled.

Chen Mo did not respond. Following the map in his mind, he quickly found the first marked location.

The ground there has very small depressions that are almost invisible unless you look closely.

"dig!"

The outer layer of permafrost is hard, but it becomes softer as you go deeper.

The shovels pounded into the soil again and again, making a series of dull sounds. The two men took turns working, and soon their underwear was soaked with sweat. Then, a cold wind blew, and the feeling was quite chilly and uncomfortable.

After digging about three feet deep, the pickaxe hit a hard object.

It's a wooden board.

The two immediately perked up and quickly cleared away the surrounding dirt and pried open the badly rotten wooden planks.

Below are four large wooden crates stacked neatly.

Upon opening the lid of the first box, a smell of dirt and mildew wafted out.

The box was filled with shriveled, blackened potatoes, most of which had sprouted thin, weak white shoots.

Sun Dazhu picked one up, weighed it in his hand, and frowned.

"This thing is all black, can you even eat it?"

Chen Mo smiled, picked one up, and pinched off a small piece of skin with his fingernail, revealing the pale yellow flesh inside.

"Not only is it edible, it's also a treasure."

He pointed to the sprouts and said, "You see, these are called eyes. Sprouted potatoes are poisonous, but these eyes can be cut off and planted as seeds. As for the rest, as long as the sprouted and green parts are removed, they can still be used to fill our stomachs."

As Sun Dazhu listened, he would pause in a daze, finding every word Chen Mo said particularly interesting.

The two became even more motivated.

They excavated all three burial sites and found a total of twelve large wooden boxes. After weighing and estimating, the total weight of the boxes and their contents was estimated to be about 230 to 240 pounds.

Most potatoes become dry and brittle due to dehydration, but fortunately, not many actually rot into mush.

A new problem has arisen.

With so many items, it's impossible for just two people to transport them all in one trip. They would be too conspicuous and easily exposed.

Chen Mo immediately made a decision to transport them in batches, and then said: "First, transport two extremely intact boxes back. The rest, hide them in the cave where we found the pickaxe, and cover them with dry grass."

The process of moving the objects was more arduous than digging them.

Each wooden crate weighs several dozen kilograms, and walking on the rugged mountain path, every step feels like stepping on a knife's edge.

The two were so exhausted that they looked like they had just been pulled out of the water. By the time they got home, it was almost dark.

Sun Dazhu gently placed the two boxes of potatoes into the cellar. Looking at the pile of black lumps that resembled a small mountain, he plopped down on the ground, grinning foolishly.

"Chen Mo, we've struck it rich!"

Chen Mo leaned against the wall, panting heavily, and corrected, "No, it's the means to survive."

That night, for the first time ever, Chen Mo's family lit two oil lamps.

One lamp is in the house, and the other is in the cellar.

Chen Mo brought all the potatoes back and then began to sort them carefully.

It was completely rotten, weighing about twenty pounds, and had to be thrown away.

The plums are in good condition, have not sprouted, weigh about 80 pounds, and can be eaten immediately.

The ones that have slightly sprouted weigh about 100 jin (50 kg) and need to be processed before consumption.

The buds are plump and suitable for planting; there are about thirty catties of them, which represent the hope for the future.

He personally taught Sun Dazhu how to deal with sprouted potatoes: use a knife to deeply dig out the sprouts, and cut off all the green parts around them, leaving none at all.

"Eating this stuff by mistake can kill you, so be very careful," Chen Mo said seriously.