The shed Jiang Linhai and the others had built for mixing concrete was torn to shreds, leaving a complete mess.

As the temperature rose, these Snow Monkeys were getting more and more brazen.

Shen Baoying was a little annoyed. "These monkeys are so obnoxious!"

Jiang Si smiled. "We didn’t lose much. It’s just like when we go to their territory to pull up radishes and catch fish. They’re just returning the favor."

Shen Baoying chuckled at Jiang Si’s logic. "Well, if we stop going, then they’d better not come over here anymore."

Jiang Linhai couldn’t help but chuckle. "A bunch of monkeys, and you think they’ll listen to you? If you ask me, now that they’ve had a taste, they’ll definitely be back for more."

Zhang Qingfang looked at the snowy ground where they had previously planted radish seedlings. "They dug up all the seedlings that didn’t make it. If we’re going to clear a new plot to plant radishes, we have to find a way to stop these monkeys from wrecking everything again."

Jiang Si glanced at Big Black and Little Black, who were well-adjusted to the cold. "Once the greenhouse is finished, Big Black and Little Black can stay inside and stand guard."

Hearing Jiang Si say their names, Big Black and Little Black wagged their tails happily, their bright eyes seeming to say, ’You can count on us.’

Zhang Qingfang patted their heads, saying happily, "Good dogs. We’re counting on you."

They rebuilt the ice house and the shed.

The men resumed construction on the greenhouse, while Jiang Si went with Zhang Qingfang and Shen Baoying to prepare the fields and plant radishes.

The frozen earth was extremely difficult to till.

Luckily, they had the Icebreaker. After clearing the snow, they used it to break up the ground, turning up soil mixed with crushed ice.

But this wasn’t enough to ensure the seedlings would have sufficient nutrients to grow.

Zhang Qingfang eyed the trees that had collapsed under the weight of the snow.

If burned, they would produce natural wood ash.

When he heard Jiang Si and the others were going to move the trees, Jiang Linhai told Qin Shen to put his work on hold and go help them.

Qin Shen was incredibly strong; moving a few trees was a piece of cake for him.

In no time at all, the transport vehicle was nearly full.

And he hadn’t let Jiang Si lift a single finger.

If Qin Shen had joined them for selfish reasons, it certainly didn’t look that way. So far, it seemed they were the ones getting the better end of the deal.

Even if Qin Shen left them, he would be perfectly fine on his own.

After they unloaded the wood, Qin Shen looked at her and asked, "Should I chop this?"

Jiang Si shook her head. "No need. We can just light it as is."

Qin Shen grunted in acknowledgment and, without even pausing for breath, turned to head back to the greenhouse construction.

Jiang Si glanced around, grabbed his hand, and stood on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Don’t work too hard. Take your time."

Qin Shen gazed at her for a moment, then suddenly pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear, "Okay."

His deep, magnetic voice, like the serene, melodious wind in a valley, sent a jolt of electricity through her.

The corners of Jiang Si’s lips curled into a smile as she watched him go.

Shen Baoying and Zhang Qingfang exchanged a glance and smiled.

The logs were covered in ice, making them difficult to light.

But Jiang Si had plenty of fuel in reserve. She casually poured two barrels over them, added some kindling, and soon the pile of wood was burning.

The roaring fire melted all the surrounding snow.

The fire burned until evening, by which time the wood had been completely consumed.

The remaining wood ash was the best kind of natural fertilizer.

Moreover, the high concentration of saline minerals in the ash would make the soil less likely to freeze again.

The next day, Jiang Si once again went with Zhang Qingfang to till the fields.

The soil was much looser and softer than before.

They dug some holes and transplanted the radish seedlings from the greenhouse on the Icebreaker.

Fresh from the greenhouse, the radish seedlings wilted almost immediately, looking like eggplants hit by frost.

But Zhang Qingfang didn’t give up.

The seedlings Jiang Linhai had casually transplanted before had survived without any tending.

She was certain these meticulously tended seedlings could only grow bigger and stronger.

Afraid the monkeys would return to cause more trouble, Zhang Qingfang proposed that she and Jiang Chengwu sleep in the ice house. "The ice house has everything we need, so your grandpa and I will be fine. Besides, we’ll have Big Black and Little Black to keep us company."

She was so determined to successfully grow these radishes because she wanted humanity to have a food source to rely on in the extreme cold.

If more people arrived in their area in the future, they wouldn’t have to resort to frenzied acts for the sake of resources.

As long as people had food to eat and clothes to wear, they would stop killing one another.

At least, this was how Zhang Qingfang and Jiang Chengwu saw it.

But in any era, unequal distribution of resources always leads to conflict.

It would all depend on whether they had the strength to suppress it.

Still, Zhang Qingfang’s thinking was sound.

With Qin Shen there to watch for danger, Jiang Si didn’t object to them sleeping in the ice house. She only said, "If there’s any danger, fire a warning shot immediately, you hear?"

Zhang Qingfang nodded. "Mm, of course we will."

Jiang Si then went into the ice house and made it comfortable, ensuring they wouldn’t be cold during the night.

After dinner, Zhang Qingfang and Jiang Chengwu went to the ice house to sleep.

Everyone was a bit worried. Staring at the faint glimmer of firelight from the ice house, Jiang Linhai said, "Sisi, how about I take the night watch tonight?"

Ever since they had confirmed there was no one else for miles around, Jiang Si and the others had stopped keeping a night watch.

Only Big Black and Little Black would occasionally hear something in the night and let out a few barks.

Most of the time, Jiang Si relied on Qin Shen’s judgment.

Only during severe blizzards, when the storm interfered with Qin Shen’s hearing, would Jiang Si have everyone on high alert.

Jiang Si said, "If you’re worried, Dad, you can take the watch."

’If I don’t let him, he won’t sleep well anyway. It’s better to let him stand watch and see how things go tonight; then he’ll be able to relax.’

Jiang Linhai grunted in agreement. He told the others to get some rest and went to the lookout window with a cup of coffee.

Back in their room, Jiang Si snuggled into Qin Shen’s arms. "Any sign of the monkey troop?"

Qin Shen smiled. "Not for the moment." Fearing she would worry, he added, "I’ll keep a close watch. Go to sleep."

Jiang Si kissed his cheek. "But if you have to split your focus to keep watch, will it affect your sleep?"

Qin Shen’s gaze dropped to her chest as he said meaningfully, "Actually, you’re a bigger distraction to my sleep."

Jiang Si followed his gaze, and her breath hitched. She shot him a glare. "Go to sleep!"

The night passed, and Jiang Linhai appeared with two huge dark circles under his eyes.

Everyone asked him, "How was it? Did anything happen?"

Jiang Linhai shook his head. "I didn’t see a thing. Let’s go ask Mom and Dad in a bit."

Shen Baoying and Niu Niu went to the kitchen to make breakfast, while Jiang Si and Qin Shen went to get Zhang Qingfang and Jiang Chengwu.

When they reached the ice house, they found it empty.

Jiang Si followed the footprints and found Zhang Qingfang and Jiang Chengwu out in the field. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Zhang Qingfang told her happily, "With the two of us staying out here last night, the monkeys didn’t dare approach. All the radish seedlings survived, and they’re growing quite well! In about a week, we’ll see if they need a top dressing of fertilizer."