166: Chapter 166 Pigs Mating Cows to Produce Milk! Then send people to collect coal crystals to make ammunition.

10:00 AM.

The communicator rang.

"City Lord Lu Chen," Han Zhengqing's voice came through.

"Speak."

"The fourth set of vents has been installed, and the sealing test passed. The intake temperature is 11.5 degrees, 0.5 degrees lower than the first three sets. This is because this set is located closer to the north side of the city wall, where the external temperature is lower."

"Is 11.5 degrees enough?"

"It's enough. After mixing the air, the room temperature will be above 18 degrees, and the carbon dioxide concentration will be controlled within 0.08. With all four sets of vents open, the levels won't exceed the limit even if the residential area is at its full capacity of three thousand people."

"Good, so all four sets of vents are finished."

"Completely finished," Han Zhengqing's voice sounded somewhat relieved. "It took three days and fifteen plumbers."

"What about the lighting fixtures?"

"All thirty-six lighting fixtures were installed last night. I walked through the residential area this morning; the dark zones have all been eliminated, and lighting coverage in the corridors and bunk areas is 100%."

"Good. Both the ventilation and lighting projects are concluded."

"Correct. Starting today, all plumbers and electricians will be reassigned to bunk bed welding."

"How much will production capacity increase?"

"With fifteen plumbers and six electricians added to the original Welders and novices, total production capacity will increase by forty percent."

"Based on the new capacity, when will the three thousand beds be completed?"

"Four days."

"That's one day faster than the estimate."

"City Lord, once we have enough hands, the speed picks up. Three thousand beds isn't a technical challenge; it's just manual labor."

"Han Zhengqing."

"Present."

"Your men have worked for eleven consecutive days. Give them a day off after the three thousand beds are finished."

"A day off?" Han Zhengqing's voice rose half a pitch.

"One day. Eat noodles, sleep, don't do any work. I'll arrange the tasks for the next phase the following day."

"Alright, I'll thank the City Lord on their behalf."

"No need for thanks. Just get it done first."

The communicator hung up.

Lu Chen wrote a line in his notebook.

All four sets of vents finished, all thirty-six lighting fixtures installed, three thousand bunk beds expected to be completed soon.

He closed the notebook.

The communicator rang again.

"City Lord," Liao Dacheng's voice came through.

"What is it?"

"The breeding was successful."

Lu Chen's fingers paused on the armrest.

"Which one?"

"Sow number ZM-04. She entered peak estrus early this morning. I put the breeding boar YM-01 in at four o'clock, and the mating was completed by 5:12. The whole process went very smoothly."

"What about the second one?"

"Sow number ZM-05 is still in early estrus. She's expected to reach peak tomorrow, so I'll arrange for YM-02 to breed then."

"When can pregnancy be confirmed after breeding?"

"Twenty-one days later."

"If the pregnancy is successful, when is the farrowing time?"

"A pig's gestation period is one hundred and fourteen days."

"That's too far off. The delivery of the first batch of three pregnant sows is more important."

"Yes, the expected due dates for the first batch of three sows are in eleven to sixteen days."

"Are the fetal positions correct?"

"All correct. I feel their abdomens every day; the fetal positions for all three are normal."

"What preparations are needed for the farrowing?"

"We need a clean farrowing area. I've already partitioned off three farrowing pens on the west side of the farm's piggery, and each pen is lined with clean straw for bedding."

"Straw bedding?"

"From the first batch of straw delivered yesterday, I kept some without shredding it and laid the whole stalks in the pens. Sows will instinctively carry straw in their mouths to build a nest before farrowing."

"What else is needed?"

"Midwifery tools. I have curved scissors, but the disinfectant needs replenishing. The greenhouse has concentrated disinfectant for dilution; I need two liters."

"Ask Lin Wan for it."

"Alright."

"Liao Dacheng."

"Present."

"What about the ewes?"

"I felt the ewe's abdomen today, and fetal movement is obvious. The due date is in fourteen days. I judge it to be twins."

"Twins?"

"The tactile sensations in the abdomen are distributed in two areas, one on the left and one on the right. The probability of twins is higher than a single birth."

"Will there be any problems if twins are born?"

"The twinning rate for Merino sheep is naturally high, about forty to fifty percent. Under normal circumstances, there shouldn't be any issues."

"Good. Has the breeding record been updated?"

"Updated. ZM-04 bred early this morning. It will be fully listed in next Monday's breeding progress report."

"Anything else?"

"Milk," Liao Dacheng's voice was raspy and deep. "The daily output from the four cows has risen to fifty liters today."

"Fifty liters, that's eight liters more than yesterday."

"The peak lactation period is approaching, and it's growing every day. In another three days, we should reach full production at sixty liters."

"Sixty liters is enough for three hundred people."

"Yes."

"The distribution plan remains unchanged: three liters for the medical bay, five liters for the Engineering Team, and the rest to the kitchen."

"Understood."

The communicator hung up.

Lu Chen added a line to his notebook.

ZM-04 successfully bred, ZM-05 expected to breed tomorrow, daily milk production 50 liters.

After writing, he put the notebook back in the drawer.

The time on the panel showed 10:35 AM.

Lu Chen pressed the communicator.

"Zhao Tiezhu."

"Present."

"Can your Patrol Car make another trip out?"

"Where to?"

"The Factory Ruins to the north. Last time you brought back twelve medium-grade coal crystals; there should still be some on the outskirts."

"When do we go?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Same rules as last time? Three people, don't go inside, return before noon?"

"The same. But take two more people this time—five in total. Three will get out to pick up coal crystals, and two will stay on the vehicle for security."

"Can five people fit in one Patrol Car?"

"It'll be a squeeze. Last time, the coal crystals on the outskirts were scattered over a large area, so three people were inefficient. With five people, you can split into two groups—one going east and one going west—to pick them up simultaneously, cutting the time in half."

"Fine, I'll pick five veterans."

"Battalion Commander Zhao."

"Present."

"If you can bring back more than ten medium-grade coal crystals this time, we can get about five hundred Truth Points after degradation."

"What is five hundred points enough for?"

"It's enough to replenish the interception reserves for the close-in weapon system. The current balance is four hundred and forty-seven; adding five hundred makes it over nine hundred. Nine hundred-plus interceptions are enough to handle a standard rocket attack."

"A standard scale... the Iron Hoof Legion's scale is anything but standard."

"That's why the more, the better. If there are plenty of coal crystals on the outskirts, you'll go again the day after tomorrow."

"Understood."

The communicator hung up.

Lu Chen leaned back in the driver's seat.

Four hundred and forty-seven plus five hundred is nine hundred and forty-seven.

Nine hundred and forty-seven interceptions.

Enough for conventional forces, but far from enough for the Iron Hoof Legion.

Better than nothing.