After dinner, Su Han reminded the old couple, âIâm just staying here for a night, I can take care of my own needs so you donât need to go out of your way to prepare anything for me.â
Old He wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Su Han, â If youâre being too courteous, Iâd feel bad about staying here.â
âŚOld 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 nightâs 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, âSister 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! Iâm going to look for a chance to talk to her today, to see if sheâs willing to exchange some of her food with our tofu.â
âRice and pickled mustard?â Su Han thought while sighing, âThose 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, âWhat is that person doing?! Did he want to die?!â
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 shedâs roof. She vaguely recalled, âIf I remember correctly, there should be a birdâs nest up there, he might be trying to take the eggs inside.â
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.
âThatâs too dangerousâŚâ After speaking, old He fell silent. If he didnât meet Su Han by chance, right now, there would be nothing left to eat at home. For his granddaughter, he also wouldnât 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, âNever mind, letâs go.â
Before leaving, Su Han glanced at the man who didnât 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, âIf we bring these to the black market for trading, then we wouldnât have to worry about food and clothing! We might be able to persist till the end.â
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Today he specifically rode out on a tricycle to transport the fishes easier.
âYou can wait this out as long as you have food and drink?â Su Han didnât think so. But she didnât want to discourage him, so she just said, âLetâs go back first.â
âLetâs go!â 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, âYou 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?â
âThatâs right.â 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 âNo!!!How could this be? How did they find this place? Itâs obviously very well hidden!â
Su Han was silent for a long time. She then asked the old man âAre you sure no one followed you from the black market to this place when you picked me up yesterday?â
Old He froze immediately.
Su Han shrugged, âThatâs how it should have been discovered.â
Old He was very distressed, âI should have been more careful, ayeâŚâ
âItâs 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 donât want to wait around to die will, of course, find other fishing spots. They wouldâve discovered this spot sooner or later.â Su Han said with a shrug.
âBut still, one less day they knew about this place meant one more day we have this place to ourselves.â 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.
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 Hanâs insistence, they returned home early.
Old lady Jiang confusedly watched them enter the courtyard. She questioned her husband, âWhy are you already back so soon?â
âDonât mention it.â 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, âOld man, how can you be so careless?!!â
Iron could not become steel: To feel resentful towards somebody for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvements.
âIâŚIâŚâ Old He struggled to reply.
*****
Su Han gestured at the fishing rod in her hand, âIâm afraid I have to leave now. Can you sell this fishing rod to me?â
Old lady Jiang hastily uttered an apology, âMiss Su, donât be angry, the old man didnât do it on purpose.â
Su Han shook her head and explained, âI know. I want to leave not because others found out about the valley, but because itâs time for me to go. I donât mind losing our fishing spot, but what do you think is going to happen after they caught all the fish?â
She continued before the two of them could say anything, âAfter 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 thatâs going to happen soon.â
Old He was puzzled âWhy donât you just stay here then?â
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 othersâŚ
Itâs better to be passers-by in each otherâs lives. That way, they donât 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, âDonât talk about buying, Iâll give you that fishing rod for free. You helped us a lot during this period, our family is indebted to you.â
Su Han thought for a while before nodding.
After chatting, old He enthusiastically persuaded her, âThe skyâs getting dark, just stay here one more night and leave tomorrow morning, okay?â
Su Han agreed with a smile.
The next morning, old lady Jiang finished cooking breakfast and saw that Su Han still hadnât come out of her bedroom, so she went knocking on the door.
She knocked for a long time, but no one answered.
âAre you inside? Iâm coming in.â 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.
âSo, there are still good people in the world.â 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, âOn the 11th day, the price of all goods rose by 100%.â
After announcing the increase in price this time, the system didnât stop, but continued to say, âThe supermarket inventories are running low. The government will implement a purchase restriction policy, effective immediately.â
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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.
âDonât be impulsive! Itâs me!â The one yelling nervously was Wei Minzhe.
Her posture remained unchanged. She asked with a frown, âItâs already the 11th day, why havenât you left the instance yet?â
âAfter youâve 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?â
Wei Minzhe awe-inspiring declaration started, âThe more days you survive, the faster your level goes up, so of course, I canât 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.â
Su Han looked like she wanted to let the steel bead fly right towards his face.
Wei Minzhe was anxious, âWait! Wait! Letâs all calm down and talk nicely!â
âIâm going to give you one last chance.â This Wei Minzhe is acting weird.
Wei Minzhe had no choice but to come clean, âOf course itâs 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 canât get into top 100, I have to at least get into the top 10,000!â
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 wasnât too interested in that.
Wei Minzhe carefully observed the person in front of him, he asked perplexingly, âDid you get robbed or something? Why do you look a little shabby?â
Su Han lied with a straight face, âThe game is getting harder and harder, itâs hard to look neat.â
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 âthe game is getting harder and harderâ resonated with his heart! Since entering the instance, he has been pitted all the way, living miserably this whole time.
Wei Minzheâs blood surged and he passionately said to Su Han, âDonât say I didnât 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?â
Su Han: ââŚWhy did he sound like heâs luring her into a banditâs den?â
âWhat kind of business?â Su Han asked curiously.
Wei Minzhe told her with a profound gaze, âRobbing the rich and helping the poor.â
âŚ
Su Han was really annoyed, âWhat did the rich ever do to you? Whatâs wrong with having money?â
If he and his companions knew about the supplies in her warehouse, would these ârighteous heroesâ also rob her using this excuse?
On the surface, she calmly asked, âWhere?â
âSupermarkets, hospitals, restaurants!â Wei Minzhe reported three places in one breath.
Su Han refused without hesitation, âGo if you want to, Iâm not going.â There was no robbery in her survival plan.
Wei Minzhe felt very helpless, âItâs just a game, why are you taking this so seriously? Itâs not as if weâre committing robbery in real life.â
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. âI guess that thereâs nothing left here.â Su Han shook her head and left the park.