16: Chapter 16 Greenhouse Carriages and Fresh Vegetables

The Black Iron train continued its tireless journey across the wasteland.

The scenery outside the window was monotonous: withered yellow weeds, grayish-brown rocks, the occasional skeletal remains lying by the roadside, and that perpetually dim, oppressive yellow sky.

Staring at these colors for too long could make one's heart grow restless, turning as desolate as the wasteland itself.

But inside the train, a "green" revolution was quietly underway.

At the rear of the train, the empty flatbed carriage behind them was currently being enveloped by layers of blue holographic construction grids.

Lin Xiao stood at the connecting section, holding the [S-Rank Greenhouse Carriage Blueprint] that emitted a faint green glow, performing the final confirmation.

[Loading Construction Module: Greenhouse Cultivation Carriage.]

[Materials Consumed: Refined Steel x100, Special Glass x50 (replaced with Bulletproof Glass), Nutrient Soil x10 tons (System gift), Tier-1 Water Attribute Crystal Core x5.]

[Confirm construction?]

"Confirm!"

Lin Xiao pressed the button without the slightest hesitation.

"Buzz—"

With a soft hum, countless blue light particles began to dance and reorganize.

It was as if the hand of God was assembling building blocks.

Atop the originally simple flatbed chassis, a futuristic, fully transparent glass building rose from the ground. It featured a semi-circular dome structure made of double-layered vacuum-insulated glass, which could perfectly isolate the external severe cold and heat while maximizing light intake.

Inside, rows of neat soilless cultivation racks automatically unfolded, covered with dark, rich nutrient soil that gave off an earthy fragrance. Overhead, several rows of plant growth lights mimicking the solar spectrum lit up, casting a soft and warm glow.

A few minutes later, the light dissipated.

A "Crystal Palace," which seemed out of place in the apocalypse yet was breathtakingly beautiful, appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Wow..."

The girls watching let out a collective gasp of amazement.

In this world filled with the smell of rust and blood, this clean, bright, and warm glass house was like something out of a fairy tale.

"Alright, we have the house; now we need a gardener."

Lin Xiao turned around, his gaze searching through the crowd.

"Tian Yuanyuan, step forward."

The girl whose name was called was a slightly chubby girl with a round face and black-rimmed glasses. She usually had very little presence in class, always shrinking into a corner to read books about plants and not caring much for her appearance. Hearing the Class Monitor call her, she was startled like a frightened rabbit and slowly shuffled out.

"Cl... Class Monitor, you called me?" Tian Yuanyuan nervously pinched the hem of her clothes, not daring to lift her head. She thought she had done something wrong and was about to be punished.

Lin Xiao walked up to her, looking into her eyes which, though timid, were very clear.

The system panel displayed:

[Name: Tian Yuanyuan]

[Talent: Plant Affinity (B-Rank)]

[Description: A natural-born planting master. Any plant in her hands will gain double the growth speed and will not easily wither.]

"Don't be nervous." Lin Xiao smiled gently and reached out to help her straighten her slightly crooked glasses. "I heard your family ran an agricultural base? Are you good at growing vegetables?"

Tian Yuanyuan froze for a moment, then nodded. She stopped stuttering when it came to this subject. "Yes... I grew up in the greenhouses with my grandfather. I know how to raise seedlings, graft, and fertilize."

"Very good."

Lin Xiao took her hand (which made Tian Yuanyuan's face turn as red as a tomato) and led her directly into the newly built greenhouse carriage.

As they entered, a long-lost moist warmth hit them, mixed with the fresh scent of soil.

"From today on, this is your territory."

Lin Xiao pointed to the rows of empty planting racks and solemnly announced:

"I appoint you as the first 'Minister of Agriculture' of the Black Iron. Your task is simple: fill this place up so that we can all eat fresh vegetables."

"Minister... of Agriculture?"

Tian Yuanyuan stared blankly at everything. She never dreamed that someone like her, who was usually mocked as "rustic" by fashionable girls like Zhao Ji, could one day become a Minister.

Like a magic trick, Lin Xiao pulled several small paper packets from his pocket.

These were the [Fast-Growing Lettuce Seeds] and [Mutant Tomato Seeds] he had received from his sign-ins over the past few days.

"These seeds have been genetically modified, so their growth cycle is extremely short. Especially this lettuce; as long as the water and fertilizer are kept up, a crop can be harvested in three days."

Tian Yuanyuan's hands trembled as she took the seeds.

Looking at those seeds, which were more precious than gold, her eyes instantly reddened.

In this apocalypse, a girl like her with no combat power and no talent for singing or dancing to please others had thought she was the most useless burden.

But now, the Class Monitor had given her priceless seeds, a dream-like greenhouse, and a sacred position.

"Class Monitor... I... I definitely won't let you down!"

Tian Yuanyuan looked up, and for the first time, a light called "confidence" appeared in her eyes.

"I promise you, as long as I'm here, not a single one of these vegetables will die!"

...

Over the next few hours.

The greenhouse carriage became the liveliest place on the entire train.

Although no one but Tian Yuanyuan could enter to work (for fear of bringing in bacteria), the girls were all pressed against the glass wall, watching eagerly.

Tian Yuanyuan seemed like a different person.

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms that weren't slender but were very clean, and skillfully loosened the soil, sowed the seeds, and watered them.

The moment her hands touched the soil, her timidity vanished, replaced by a focused and sacred aura.

Her B-Rank talent, [Plant Affinity], activated.

A faint green light flowed from her fingertips, seeping into the soil.

A miracle happened.

After only two hours.

On the surface of the originally dark soil, tiny, tender green sprouts actually emerged!

Those were lettuce seedlings!

"They sprouted! They sprouted!"

Luo Yao, pressed against the glass, shouted excitedly, "Look! It's green! It's really green!"

"Wuwuwu... I'm reminded of the flower bed downstairs at my house..."

"I want to eat salad... I want to eat hotpot vegetables..."

Several emotional girls even burst into tears upon seeing that touch of tender green.

In a wasteland of nothing but gray, in days spent eating expired canned food and hard compressed biscuits.

This touch of tender green represented more than just food.

It was civilization, it was order, and it was the hope to keep living.

Standing behind the crowd, Lin Xiao was also somewhat moved by the scene.

"This is the essence of the farming lifestyle."

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"Don't cry anymore; save your tears to dress the salad later."

Lin Xiao made a joke to lighten the mood.

"I promise you all: this batch of lettuce will be mature in three days. At that time, we will hold a 'Vegetable Banquet.' Everyone will get a portion of fresh garden salad, and you can eat your fill!"

"Long live the Class Monitor!"

"Go, Minister Tian!"

Cheers echoed through the carriage. Even the girls who usually looked down on Tian Yuanyuan were now looking at the newly promoted "Minister of Agriculture" with flattering expressions, hoping to snag a couple more lettuce leaves during the harvest.

Tian Yuanyuan stood before the planting racks, listening to the cheers outside. Her face was beaded with sweat, but her smile was brighter than the sun.

She stole a glance at the tall, handsome figure standing in the crowd.

It was the Class Monitor who gave this wasteland its only green, and it was the Class Monitor who gave her a new life.

She secretly vowed in her heart: this vegetable garden was her life. From now on, if anyone dared to touch a single blade of grass here, she, Tian Yuanyuan, would fight them to the death!

...

Having settled the vegetable garden, Lin Xiao did not remain idle.

He returned to the front of the train and began researching the next major project.

The [Infinite Water Cycle System] had already arrived, with the blueprints and components lying in the warehouse.

This was a divine artifact related to the grand undertaking of all the beauties on the train taking baths; he couldn't afford to be careless.

"System, empty carriage 02 (formerly the storage room) and convert it into a public shower room."

[Ding! Conversion in progress... Estimated time: 30 minutes.]

While waiting for the conversion, Lin Xiao called Shen Man to the driver's cabin.

"Shen Man, there's something I need you to do." Lin Xiao handed her a list.

Shen Man took it and looked, then was immediately stunned.

The list didn't contain strategic supplies but a bunch of personal items for the girls:

* Collect the remaining perfume, shower gel samples, and skincare products from all the girls on the train.

* Survey everyone's favorite shampoo scents.

* If anyone is still hiding pretty pajamas or bathrobes, try to requisition them (exchange for contribution points).

"Class Monitor, what is this..." Shen Man looked at Lin Xiao with a strange expression. "Are you opening a bathhouse?"

Isn't this a bit too... much? It's the apocalypse, and you're still worried about this?

Lin Xiao leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette (well, he was actually sucking on a lollipop), and spoke nonsense with a straight face:

"Comrade Shen Man, you need to look through the surface to see the essence."

"Bathing isn't just for cleaning the body; it's for cleaning the soul."

"Think about it. Everyone is killing zombies every day, facing blood and death. How much psychological pressure are they under? If they don't relax a bit, they'll go crazy sooner or later."

"And for girls, a fragrant hot bath and a pretty pair of pajamas—that sense of ritual can greatly alleviate anxiety and increase happiness."

"Only when they're in a good mood will they have the strength to work and the spirit to fight monsters."

This set of fallacious reasoning left Shen Man completely dazed.

She thought about it and actually found it quite reasonable!

Indeed, although everyone was alive these past few days, that sense of oppression had always been there. If they could take a fragrant bath and change into clean, pretty clothes, even if it was hell outside, they would still feel like human beings inside.

"Fine, I can't win against you." Shen Man smiled helplessly. "But... your last line says 'especially lace styles have priority.' Is that also to alleviate anxiety?"

Lin Xiao's face turned red, and he coughed dryly. "Ahem, that's a personal aesthetic preference. It can be ignored, ignored."

Shen Man gave him a pretty eye-roll but still put the list away.

"Alright, I'll go do it. But let me be clear: if they aren't willing to give them up, I won't take them by force."

"Don't worry, I have a trump card."

Lin Xiao was full of confidence.

"Just tell them: anyone who turns in high-end toiletries gets an extra 5 minutes of bath time. Anyone who turns in pretty pajamas for public use will be rewarded with a 'milk bath' opportunity (which is actually just pouring two cartons of milk into the water)."

"I don't believe they won't be tempted."

After hearing this, Shen Man was completely convinced.

What kind of Conductor was this? He was simply a devil who knew how to manipulate a woman's psychology!

"Milk bath... I can't believe you thought of that." Shen Man shook her head as she left, but her steps were clearly much lighter. Actually, she was even considering taking out her own treasured bottle of rose essential oil.

...

Half an hour later.

Carriage 02 was finished being converted.

Lin Xiao stood at the door to inspect the results.

It had to be said, products from the system were always top-notch.

The originally dark and cramped storage room had now become a bright and spacious large bathroom.

The floor was covered with non-slip tiles in warm colors, and the walls were made of waterproof composite materials. The middle was partitioned with frosted glass into ten independent shower stalls, ensuring privacy without feeling oppressive.

The most important part was that circulation system.

A huge water storage tank was connected to a filter and a heater; even if dirty water was poured in, what came out was crystal-clear warm water.

"Perfect."

Lin Xiao nodded with satisfaction.

He even hung a small sign at the door: [Spring of Forgetfulness].

Although the name was a bit cheesy, it was very appropriate for the occasion.

At this time, Shen Man also returned with the spoils of war.

A large basket of various brands of shampoo and shower gel samples, and even a few unopened bottles of high-end perfumes.

Clearly, under the temptation of "extra bath time," the girls had contributed their most prized treasures.

"Class Monitor, they're all here."

Shen Man set the basket down and wiped her sweat. "Everyone was very enthusiastic. Especially Zhao Ji; for those 5 minutes, she even took out her limited edition Chanel toiletry set."

Lin Xiao picked up a bottle of shower gel and sniffed it; it had a rich milky scent.

"Not bad. Tonight, we'll let this Black Iron turn into a fragrant kingdom of women."

He looked at Shen Man, his gaze suddenly becoming deep.

"Shen Man, you're the administrator tonight."

"But as a reward... you can try it out ahead of time."

"And, I can help you scrub your back."

Shen Man's face instantly turned red to the roots of her ears.

She looked at the "administrator's room" that didn't actually have a door (which was just a chair Lin Xiao had placed at the entrance), and then at Lin Xiao's mischievous smile.

"I... I can wash myself!"

She grabbed a bottle of shampoo and rushed into the bathroom as if fleeing, closing the door behind her.

Lin Xiao looked at the closed door and listened to the sound of splashing water from inside, a wicked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Silly girl, this door... is transparent (though it's one-way glass)."

Of course, he didn't actually go to peek.

As the Conductor, he still had some shred of decency.

He just sat back in the driver's cabin and turned on the train's surveillance system (avoiding the bathroom, of course).

Looking at the screen, everyone was working hard to earn contribution points—some were wiping windows, some were helping Tian Yuanyuan move soil, and some were giving Zhao Xiaotang a massage to relax her muscles.

Something called "order" was being re-established on this train.

And all of this was because of a bucket of water, a single seed, and him—the somewhat improper but absolutely reliable Conductor.