Chapter 69: Important Discovery

Even inside the base city, the shortage of survival resources meant that items like food, water, and medicine not only required money to purchase but also various tickets.

In the slums, water had to be exchanged with water tickets. Water in the slums had previously been controlled by the Sewage Plant Gang, one of the seven major gangs. Except for neighborhoods like Guang'an, which had their own sweet water wells, other residents had to endure exorbitant water prices and other costs to get water.

Drinking water was always scarce within the base city. Many people in the slums had never taken a bath in their entire lives. Even in the rule-of-law district, many people resorted to washing their bodies and clothes sparingly.

In addition to the water issue, food was also in short supply. Most people in the slums had never tasted meat or vegetables, nor had they ever eaten white flour. They subsisted on cheap mixed nutrition porridge, a paste-like substance made from various so-called nutritional ingredients, produced by specialized companies. It had no taste but could fill their stomachs and keep them alive.

In the past, the monopoly on mixed nutrition porridge was held by the other six major gangs besides the Sewage Plant Gang. The lives of the lower-class people in the slums were very miserable. Even the people in the rule-of-law district were not much better off. In contrast, the members of the five major families indulged in luxury, without any worries about food or clothing. But all of this was built on the exploitation and oppression of the lower-class people.

The government had been committed to eliminating poverty and achieving social equity for many years. Unfortunately, the influence of the martial arts families and gangs had developed to such an extent over the years that they occupied important positions and industries in many places, making it difficult for the government to exert any control.

In comparison, the efforts and achievements of the Great Xia Republic government in this regard were among the best in the world. In many countries in other administrative regions, ordinary people truly lived in dire straits.

"Give a proper burial to our fallen brothers and take good care of their families." President Li solemnly gave another important order, "Anyone who dares to deceive me in this matter, I will send him to meet the old president and repent face to face... I mean what I say."

Everyone was in awe.

"President, there is another matter that needs to be reported to you alone." Chu Yuntian approached and said in a low voice.

"Come to my office, "said Li Xiaofei as he walked toward the small building. It seemed like there was something important.

***

In the office, Chu Yuntian could no longer contain his excitement. "President, we discovered a clean water source in the wilderness."

"What?" Li Xiaofei was shocked.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

A clean water source! These four words were enough to drive countless people in the base city crazy.

"Are you sure?" asked Li Xiaofei, finding it hard to believe.

How could the slum's hunting team, an amateur group, discover a clean water source that so many professional exploration teams and survey groups in the wilderness had failed to find? Moreover, the slum's hunting team only explored the outskirts, an area that should have been thoroughly explored by now.

"It's absolutely true." Chu Yuntian's excitement was palpable. "It's a newly opened spring, hidden deep within a cave. I stumbled upon it while chasing a Cloud Chaser Rabbit... Here, take a look."

He handed over a small vial filled with crystal-clear water. Li Xiaofei examined the vial, his heart racing. If this water source was indeed clean and abundant, it could change everything for the slums and potentially for the entire base city. The implications were enormous, from improving living conditions to gaining significant leverage over other factions.

"We need to secure this location immediately," Li Xiaofei said, his mind already racing with plans. "This could be the key to our future."

Chu Yuntian nodded vigorously. "I've already stationed some of our best fighters to guard it. No one outside our team knows about it yet."

"Good," Li Xiaofei replied, his expression serious. "We must keep this a secret until we fully understand its potential and can protect it properly. Inform only the most trusted members of our team. This could be the breakthrough we've been waiting for."

Chu Yuntian carefully took out a bottle, half-filled with clear water. Li Xiaofei took it, opened the cap, and sniffed it. The smell was normal.

"I've already tested it," Chu Yuntian assured. "I let some small animals drink it, used a water quality tester, and even drank a bit myself. It's absolutely clean, with no pollution."

"How much water is there?" Li Xiaofei asked.

Chu Yuntian's face lit up. "The spring is in a stone pit, and it's constantly producing underground water. There's quite a bit of it. If we have a covert transportation route, it would be enough to supply the entire slum."

"That much?" Li Xiaofei was stunned.

Chu Yuntian continued, "I've observed it carefully. This spring appeared recently, which is why it hasn't been discovered by others yet. President, we must act quickly. If someone else finds it, we might not be able to compete."

Li Xiaofei fell into deep thought.

From Chu Yuntian's description, the spring had a considerable and continuous flow of water. This could be a tremendous asset. Transporting this pure water to the base city could earn us a fortune. But the problem is, do the slums have the capacity to handle this?

A great person once said that if there is a 20 percent profit, capital will become restless; if there is a 50 percent profit, capital will take risks; if there is a 100 percent profit, capital will dare to risk being hanged; if there is a 300 percent profit, capital will trample all human laws.

Once this news got out, the five major families would definitely be tempted. At that point, what could the slums use to compete with them? The slums were no match in terms of power, resources, connections, and hard strength. Just a few Limit Breaking Realm experts could easily crush the slums.

"Old Chu, tomorrow morning, you need to select a group of loyal and reliable brothers, lead the convoy out, and bring back as much clean water as possible to store. Then, I will donate this clean water source directly to the base city government," said Li Xiaofe. He had made his decision.

"Donate it to the government?" asked Chu Yuntian as he felt a pang of pain. But after calming down, he immediately realized that this was the best choice.

One must not be too greedy. Otherwise, it could lead to a disastrous end. Once the news of the water source was exposed, the slums wouldn't be able to protect such a valuable resource. If it was donated to the government, they could receive some tangible benefits in return. Over the years, the government had been very fair, especially in rewarding those who first discovered and donated important resources.

"Alright, President, I'll get ready right away." Chu Yuntian turned and left excitedly.

Li Xiaofei rubbed his temples.

These matters are truly troublesome. Being a boss is really tiring. In comparison, being a student is much easier.

Li Xiaofei took out his portable light core, intending to call the principal. But after some thought, he decided it would be better to discuss it in person the next morning. If the call was intercepted, it could lead to big trouble.

After handling various affairs of the Cloudy Sky Gang, Li Xiaofei eagerly rode his heavy motorcycle back to Guang'an neighborhood. As soon as he entered his apartment, the aroma of food greeted him.

"Brother Xiaofei, you're back," Little Jie said with a smile, setting the table. "Dinner is ready."

There were four dishes and a soup on the dining table. There was meat, vegetables, and even a bottle of fruit juice.

"So lavish?" Li Xiaofei asked casually, "Is today a special occasion?"

Little Jie smiled happily and said, "It's to celebrate you being named the most valuable student in the first round of the league. This is a big event! Little Aunt and I prepared this together. Are you happy?"

"You already knew?" Li Xiaofei asked, smiling as he sat down.

Little Jie looked at him admiringly, "Of course, our school organized a watch party. Many classmates watched the match of Red Flag High School... Brother Xiaofei, you were so cool."

Li Xiaofei patted the little girl's head and said, "Study well, and you'll be even cooler in the future."

Perhaps it was due to the improved nutrition recently, but this once thin and dark little girl had gained some weight. Her cheeks had filled out, making her face round and cute. Her once sparse, light yellow hair had become black, shiny, and smooth. Although her skin was still dark, she now had a lovely and delicate appearance. Compared to a month ago, she exuded a healthy and confident aura.

"I will definitely study hard," Little Jie said, taking out a USB drive as if it were a treasure. "This is a video I downloaded of you, Brother Xiaofei..."

Li Xiaofei was puzzled. He didn't remember making any personal videos. After a while, Little Aunt finished preparing the herbs, washed her hands, and came to the dining room.

Little Jie plugged the USB drive into the TV. The old-fashioned 4K LCD TV started playing a highlight reel of Li Xiaofei's brilliant performances in the first round of the competition.

Whew.

Li Xiaofei breathed a sigh of relief. So it was that kind of video. The food at home always tasted exceptionally good. Li Xiaofei noticed that his aunt was also watching, or you could say, facing the video intently. For some reason, he enjoyed showing off in front of her, like a child excelling in school hoping for parental praise.

After the video ended, his aunt didn't say anything. Li Xiaofei then guided Little Jie in practicing cultivation breathing techniques before heading to bed. The next morning, just as he arrived at school, he received some incredibly good news.