Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy!-Chapter 246: Buzzbane Plant

"Where are we going, Sister Nan?"

"I’m searching for something..."

"What does it look like?"

"I forgot... but it’s a plant." Nanzhi didn’t know its exact appearance and couldn’t give a clear description.

As they neared the river, Baoyin could only see dead trees and debris, overturned boats and cars, broken furniture, and remnants of houses half-buried on the earth. The ground was uneven and treacherous. Could they really find the plant here?

The sound of flowing water reached their ears.

"I found it." Nanzhi handed Little Snowball to Baoyin. She kept her mental exploration active, carefully scanning for threats before moving closer.

"Chi Chi!"

Baoyin spotted shards of broken glass from windows and car doors. "Be careful! Watch your step, Sister Nan!" Seeing the river reminded her of the resort where they had encountered the enormous carps, and worry tightened in her chest.

Nanzhi knelt carefully beside the trunk of a dead tree, brushing away splintered planks to reveal the resource point.

[2-star Buzzbane Plant] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

[Its leaves contains volatile oil that naturally repels and causes temporary debuffs to Tier 2 and below insectoid monsters.]

Recalling possible future events, Nanzhi’s eyes lit up. Even if it couldn’t directly kill mutant insects, it’s effects is good. The trip had been worthwhile!

The buzzbane plant had slender, silvery leaves that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, tipped with tiny pale-blue blossoms. The leaves emitted a subtle, sweet-citrus aroma, sharp, refreshing, and delicate.

Nanzhi carefully dug the fragile roots from the soil and transferred them to her virtual garden, managing to harvest five bundles. The moment the small plants sensed the rich energy, they swayed their leaves gently.

[2-star Buzzbane Plant]

[Time before maturity: 12 hours 29 minutes 59 seconds]

Nanzhi remembered the bingdi lotus had matured. She had been constantly experimenting with its seeds. Since it could improve plant quality, she tried applying some to her specially cultivated plants; the rest were replanted.

After trial and error, she succeeded in raising the rank of mutated salacca, doubling the number of seeds it produced. With its improved quality, the mutated salacca could now be used against Tier 2 to Tier 3 alien beasts for EXP grinding.

Other special crops still needed more bingdi lotus.

She had even tried using the seeds to upgrade the bingdi lotus itself, but the system, ever watchful, interrupted her happiness.

[Save it. There’s no such loophole.]

Nanzhi had no choice but to give up.

To create the plant booster from the lotus seeds, she removed the hard husk, soaked the seeds in bingdi lotus tea for a day, then ground them into powder before mixing it into the soil.

She still had some of the powder left. Nanzhi instructed the system to sprinkle it around the buzzbane plants.

Once the soil absorbed the powder, the buzzbane plants’ rating upgraded from 2-star to 3-star. They now affected Tier 3 and below!

Nanzhi could barely contain her excitement. She couldn’t wait to make serum from it.

As she prepared to return to Baoyin’s side, something caught her eye on the hull of an overturned boat. Her brows furrowed deeply.

"Baoyin, let’s go back," she said seriously.

"Oh... alright!"

A little later, inside the administrative office, the door opened. The older guard entered, carrying two bowls of piping-hot congee. Steam curled upward, carrying a gentle, comforting fragrance.

Wang Ziqing inhaled sharply. "What smells so good?" A bowl of watery noodles couldn’t possibly smell like this!

"It’s today’s lunch, Madam Wang!" The older guard placed the bowls on the clean desk with a smile.

Uncle Wang and Wang Ziqing froze, momentarily forgetting how to speak.

Their eyes fell on the bamboo shoots, peas, corn, and ham floating among the soft grains of rice.

Wang Ziqing swallowed. No urge to vomit, only increased her appetite.

"This... where did this come from? Didn’t we only have noodles left?" Uncle Wang asked, shocked.

"It’s from Miss Lu," the guard explained, laughing heartily. "Madam Wang, I put extra ham and vegetables in your bowl. See if it’s to your liking! Hahaha!" He had been troubled by Wang Ziqing’s morning sickness, and seeing her looking at the meal expectantly lifted his spirits.

From Xiao Nan? Uncle Wang murmured in his head while listening.

"That’s too much. Just keep a small portion and send the rest back. We can’t take advantage of the younger generation," He said.

"I tried, Boss Wang, but Miss Lu wouldn’t accept it again," the older guard sighed helplessly.

Uncle Wang’s eyes moistened. He had promised Xiao Nan and her friends a meal, but now he was the one being treated.

"Who is this Miss Lu, Father-in-law?" Wang Ziqing asked.

"Miss Lu is the one wearing a brown trench coat. One of my previous tenants. She’s the girl I often told you about. Thanks to her, I stocked up some supplies in advance..." Without Nanzhi’s kind reminder, Uncle Wang might not have survived. He had to properly thank her later.

Wang Ziqing caught a brief glimpse of the woman wearing brown trench coat earlier. Still water, clear and calm on the surface, unfathomable beneath, just like her husband. Nothing like the girl her father-in-law had always talk about.

Uncle Wang scooped a spoonful of congee and blew off the steam. "Daughter-in-law, come and eat before it gets cold."

Wang Ziqing opened her mouth obediently. The first spoonful went down smoothly.

No retching. No dizziness. Only warmth spreading through her body. "The baby likes it," she murmured.

This time, Wang Ziqing ate on her own. Uncle Wang watched, his tense shoulders slowly relaxing. "Eat slowly."

After she finished, Uncle Wang took the bowl and spoon from her. His brows furrowed, worried. "Daughter-in-law... you’re already eight months along. My grandchild could arrive at any moment. We can’t stay here. If you give birth, we’ll need a doctor... or at least a midwife. And this place isn’t suitable for delivery."

Wang Ziqing’s eyes flicked with worry. "I know, Father-in-law. But how? We don’t even have a car, and the roads are full of monsters."

Uncle Wang was helpless. Waiting longer only increased the risk. "I’ve been thinking. Your uncles and I will try to fix the broken cars we left. Then we’ll ask Xiao Nan if she knows a place with a midwife or doctor—"

Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through Wang Ziqing’s lower abdomen. She gasped, clutching the desk’s edge.

Another contraction hit, stronger and faster. She doubled over, sweat beading her forehead, hands flying to her belly instinctively.

A puddle of water formed on the floor beneath her.

Uncle Wang’s worst fear had come true. Panic took over.

When Nanzhi and Baoyin returned, they were shocked to see a flustered Uncle Wang running frantically.

"My grandchild! My grandchild is coming!"

Recalling what she had seen near the river earlier, Nanzhi’s heart sank.