/
After dinner, Su Han reminded the old couple, “I’m just staying here for a night, I can take care of my own needs so you don’t need to go out of your way to prepare anything for me.”
Old He wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Su Han, ” If you’re being too courteous, I’d feel bad about staying here.”
…Old He choked back what he was going to say.
In order to avoid causing inconvenience to the old couple, Su Han locked herself in the bedroom after dinner. She had a good night’s sleep.
The next morning, after drinking some porridge, old He set out on a tricycle. Su Han followed behind riding a bicycle.
Before leaving, old lady Jiang was still chattering, “Sister Wang from next door is so smart! When the inflation started, all she bought was rice and pickled mustard. She could survive with just those for more than a year! I’m going to look for a chance to talk to her today, to see if she’s willing to exchange some of her food with our tofu.”
‘Rice and pickled mustard?’ Su Han thought while sighing, ‘Those things are very filling and easy to store. Sure enough, the master is among the people.
*****
The two were moving along the road when old He froze, he muttered shockingly, “What is that person doing?! Did he want to die?!”
Su Han also stopped and looked around. On the other side of the road, a person had climbed to the narrow space on the edge of a work shed’s roof. She vaguely recalled, “If I remember correctly, there should be a bird’s nest up there, he might be trying to take the eggs inside.”
The reason why she noticed the bird nest was because she also considered hunting birds before. But since her fishing career was sailing smoothly, there was no need for her to hunt birds or collect eggs anymore.
“That’s too dangerous…” After speaking, old He fell silent. If he didn’t meet Su Han by chance, right now, there would be nothing left to eat at home. For his granddaughter, he also wouldn’t mind risking his life. Thankfully, he was not forced to that point.
After contemplating about it, old He looked sad. Shaking his head, he whispered, “Never mind, let’s go.”
Before leaving, Su Han glanced at the man who didn’t care about putting himself in danger just to get a few eggs. She had a feeling the world may be descending into chaos soon.
*****
After pedaling for a long time, she finally saw the perfect fishing spot old He talked about. It was in a valley in the suburbs and was really deserted. Su Han felt relieved to fish here.
Although there were fewer fishes in the valley than in the lake back at the park, in one day, Su Han still caught 14 fish. Although she caught less fish, she felt much safer fishing here than in the park. All in all, Su Han was very satisfied with this fishing spot.
Old He was elated. He put the iron bucket full of fishes in the back seat of his tricycle and said happily, “If we bring these to the black market for trading, then we wouldn’t have to worry about food and clothing! We might be able to persist till the end.”
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Today he specifically rode out on a tricycle to transport the fishes easier.
‘You can wait this out as long as you have food and drink?’ Su Han didn’t think so. But she didn’t want to discourage him, so she just said, “Let’s go back first.”
“Let’s go!” Old He was in a great mood.
It was a safe journey home. Old lady Jiang had already prepared basins to put the fish in the water when they got home.
Old He took the initiative to ask, “You should know the way to the valley now, right? I will go to the black-market tomorrow morning to trade these fish and then come pick you up in the afternoon. You want instant noodles for your share, yes?”
“That’s right.” Su Han nodded.
*****
On the 9th day, they got another bountiful harvest, a total of 10 fish were caught. Just when old He felt that fortune is smiling upon his family, something terrible happened.
Their fishing spot was discovered by others. When they got to the valley the next morning, they found hundreds of people gathered around the lake fishing madly.
Old He broke down when he found out, he agitatedly said “No!!!How could this be? How did they find this place? It’s obviously very well hidden!”
Su Han was silent for a long time. She then asked the old man “Are you sure no one followed you from the black market to this place when you picked me up yesterday?”
Old He froze immediately.
Su Han shrugged, “That’s how it should have been discovered.”
Old He was very distressed, “I should have been more careful, aye…”
“It’s okay. The fact that we had this place to ourselves for three days was already a miracle. at this point, people might have caught almost all fish from the lake inside the park. Those who don’t want to wait around to die will, of course, find other fishing spots. They would’ve discovered this spot sooner or later.” Su Han said with a shrug.
“But still, one less day they knew about this place meant one more day we have this place to ourselves.” Old He is still blaming himself.
Su Han smiled helplessly. The fishing spot has already been discovered, what else could she do beside cheer herself up.
On the 8th day, the price of goods rose by 100%.
On the 9th day, the price of goods rose by 100%.
On the 10th day, the price of goods rose by 100%.
The price of goods soared faster than rockets.
One would have to pay more than 3,000 coins for a bowl of noodles now.
Hungry people have gradually lost their minds. According to news reports, all the animals in the zoo have been hunted and killed by lawbreakers. The government system is not far from collapsing.
At Su Han’s insistence, they returned home early.
Old lady Jiang confusedly watched them enter the courtyard. She questioned her husband, “Why are you already back so soon?”
“Don’t mention it.” Old He sighed and told her what happened at the valley.
Old lady Jiang hated that iron could not become steel, she scolded old He, “Old man, how can you be so careless?!!”
Iron could not become steel: To feel resentful towards somebody for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvements.
“I…I…” Old He struggled to reply.
*****
Su Han gestured at the fishing rod in her hand, “I’m afraid I have to leave now. Can you sell this fishing rod to me?”
Old lady Jiang hastily uttered an apology, “Miss Su, don’t be angry, the old man didn’t do it on purpose.”
Su Han shook her head and explained, “I know. I want to leave not because others found out about the valley, but because it’s time for me to go. I don’t mind losing our fishing spot, but what do you think is going to happen after they caught all the fish?”
She continued before the two of them could say anything, “After gnawing on tree barks and roots, those people outside can probably do anything for the sake of food. I have to find a hidden place to take shelter from all the looting and robing that’s going to happen soon.”
Old He was puzzled “Why don’t you just stay here then?”
Su Han smiled weakly. If she stayed, she might be tempted to help out if something happened to them. She could hardly look after herself, how would she have extra energy to take care of others…
It’s better to be passers-by in each other’s lives. That way, they don’t have to be responsible for one another.
*****
Old He could see that Su Han had already made up her mind to leave, he let out a sigh and said, “Don’t talk about buying, I’ll give you that fishing rod for free. You helped us a lot during this period, our family is indebted to you.”
Su Han thought for a while before nodding.
After chatting, old He enthusiastically persuaded her, “The sky’s getting dark, just stay here one more night and leave tomorrow morning, okay?”
Su Han agreed with a smile.
The next morning, old lady Jiang finished cooking breakfast and saw that Su Han still hadn’t come out of her bedroom, so she went knocking on the door.
She knocked for a long time, but no one answered.
“Are you inside? I’m coming in.” There was no answer, so old lady Jiang opened the bedroom door after waiting for a while.
Only then did she realize there was no one inside the room. Instead, she found some brown bread, milk, soap, and instant noodles on the table. The total value of these things was much higher than the fishing rod Su Han took.
“So, there are still good people in the world.” The old lady murmured with gratitude.
*****
Su Han sat on the bench at the side of the road in deep thoughts. Money is no different from waste paper now. Thefts and robberies are becoming common occurrences. How should she protect herself? What can she do to ensure her own safety?
At exactly 9 am, the mechanical voice of the system sounded again, “On the 11th day, the price of all goods rose by 100%.”
After announcing the increase in price this time, the system didn’t stop, but continued to say, “The supermarket inventories are running low. The government will implement a purchase restriction policy, effective immediately.”
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*****
All of a sudden, Su Han felt someone approaching her sneakily.
She swiftly took out the slingshot and aimed it at the incoming person.
“Don’t be impulsive! It’s me!” The one yelling nervously was Wei Minzhe.
Her posture remained unchanged. She asked with a frown, “It’s already the 11th day, why haven’t you left the instance yet?”
‘After you’ve survived for 10 days in an instance, you can already request the system to transfer you out, so why is this guy still not leaving?’
Wei Minzhe awe-inspiring declaration started, “The more days you survive, the faster your level goes up, so of course, I can’t give up so easily! Besides, there are extra rewards if you successfully stayed in the instance for 20 days, which is why I have to try my best.”
Su Han looked like she wanted to let the steel bead fly right towards his face.
Wei Minzhe was anxious, “Wait! Wait! Let’s all calm down and talk nicely!”
“I’m going to give you one last chance.” This Wei Minzhe is acting weird.
Wei Minzhe had no choice but to come clean, “Of course it’s obviously for the final rewards. The survivors ranked 1000-10000 will be rewarded 10,000 yuan, those who ranked 100-1000 will be rewarded 100,000 yuan, and the top 100 will get 1 million yuan. Even if I can’t get into top 100, I have to at least get into the top 10,000!”
She lowered her hand and put away the slingshot. She knew that the players lasting until the last round of the competition would win cash rewards according to their ranks, but she wasn’t too interested in that.
Wei Minzhe carefully observed the person in front of him, he asked perplexingly, “Did you get robbed or something? Why do you look a little shabby?”
Su Han lied with a straight face, “The game is getting harder and harder, it’s hard to look neat.”
In fact, wherever she looked, the pedestrians were all unkempt and dirty. If she looked too clean and neat in this situation, she might look like a cash cow inviting others to come and rob her.
So, Su Han turned herself into a dirty mouse and integrated herself into the mass.
Wei Minzhe only felt that the phrase “the game is getting harder and harder” resonated with his heart! Since entering the instance, he has been pitted all the way, living miserably this whole time.
Wei Minzhe’s blood surged and he passionately said to Su Han, “Don’t say I didn’t take care of you. Someone asked for my help with a huge business opportunity, I can tell them to take you, do you dare to come with me?”
Su Han: ‘…Why did he sound like he’s luring her into a bandit’s den?’
“What kind of business?” Su Han asked curiously.
Wei Minzhe told her with a profound gaze, “Robbing the rich and helping the poor.”
…
Su Han was really annoyed, ‘What did the rich ever do to you? What’s wrong with having money?’
If he and his companions knew about the supplies in her warehouse, would these ‘righteous heroes’ also rob her using this excuse?
On the surface, she calmly asked, “Where?”
“Supermarkets, hospitals, restaurants!” Wei Minzhe reported three places in one breath.
Su Han refused without hesitation, “Go if you want to, I’m not going.” There was no robbery in her survival plan.
Wei Minzhe felt very helpless, ‘It’s just a game, why are you taking this so seriously? It’s not as if we’re committing robbery in real life.’
Because their goals were different, the two parted ways after the conversation. Su Han continued to sit for a while, then walked to the wooded area in the park, planning to hunt some birds.
She had been to the park once, when she first entered the instance. At that time, the park was filled with sounds of animals chattering noisily. Unsurprisingly, the park was completely silent at this moment. “I guess that there’s nothing left here.” Su Han shook her head and left the park.