Chapter 92 - 91, Are We Really Going to Swap? _i
The value of food at this time is no less than that of the guns, and moreover, the journey to the prison isn’t an easy one.
Prisons are typically built far away from populated areas.
Getting there by foot would take days, and if they drive, they would have to consider the congested roads and the zombies they would attract along the way.
Li Yahong had a thought and suggested subtly: “We have the food right now, we can trade it anytime. The journey is long, we can take our time with the gun trade.”
The radio had said that bullets had a certain level of damage, but these zombies had lost their sense of pain and life, and bullets hitting them would just keep attacking.
Not that they were useless, but it was hard for guns to have the same level of lethality on them as they had on humans.
Moreover, currently, the skeleton army can completely ensure the safety of their surroundings, and it’s unlikely you’ll see zombies nearby.
There’s no need to exchange food for guns.
Wu Heng said directly, “You just handle the exchange as I tell you, make sure the ratio is fair, and that we don’t lose out.”
Li Yahong wanted to continue persuading, but she held back.
Although she thought her consideration was more closely aligned with the current situation.
But the food was provided by the other party. How to exchange it, or what to exchange it for, is not her decision.
Speaking too much might even annoy the other party.
So she could only agree, “Alright, I’ll attempt to contact the other party after I return.”
“Hmm.”
After discussing the important matters, the two chatted about the recent radio situation.
The main station was still spreading survival knowledge every day, as well as some ‘don’t give up’ and ‘unite together’ encouraging words.
They had also disclosed some cases of changes in survivors’ bodies.
There were enhancements to hearing and vision, and also physical improvements.
In Wu Heng’s view, these were essentially the enhancements brought upon by the Corpse Core.
Enhancements in hearing, vision, and other senses would be enhancements in perception, and physical quality would be strength and constitution.
Wu Heng had an attribute panel, which allowed him to perceive changes in himself more clearly.
Others would have a vaguer measure.
Sharing these things on the radio was also a form of encouragement.
It informed the rest of the survivors that humans were also getting stronger and that they weren’t at a dead end yet.
After chatting for a while, Li Yahong left with the food, heading towards the direction of the auto repair shop.
Accompanied by ten bone skeletons.
Just arriving near the auto repair shop,
People came out from inside.
When they saw the ten skeletons following Li Yahong, they all stopped.
Sister Hong, these guys… are they here to escort you?” Qiangzi asked, looking at the skeleton.”
Li Yahong glanced at the skeletons beside her and said, “They were arranged to come over from there. From today onwards, in addition to teaching them how to use the generator and several tools, we also need to teach them how to drive and fix cars.”
“What the hell!” The others’ eyes widened.
What does this mean?
Last time two were arranged to come over to learn about generators and welding, and this time they’re learning how to drive and repair cars.
Are they treating this place like a vocational school?
“Can they learn? Skeletal fingers… won’t they slip on the steering wheel?” If they get on the road, they won’t scare a few people to death, right?”
“That person really has some ideas.”
The people gathered in a circle and whispered to each other, avoiding the skeletons.
Li Yahong’s thoughts were similar to theirs. She felt it was strange to have a bunch of skeletons learning these things.
But since they were requested from the other side, there was no reason to refuse on her part.
“Alright, teach them whatever they want us to teach them. Lend a helping hand occasionally and whether they can learn is up to them.” said Li Yahong straightforwardly.
The others also nodded in agreement, they understood.
The more they interacted with the skeletons, the less afraid they were. At most it was a sense of oddness.
Everyone pushing the cart inside, discussing whether or not they should improve the food for dinner.
Qiangzi followed on the side, thought for a moment, and said, “Sister Hong!”
Hmm?” Li Yahong looked at him.
“Do you think, once these skeletons have learned everything, there will be no need for us? I mean, the skeletons can replace us at work.”
Once his words were said, everyone froze.
Damnit, that can’t be right!
After seeing off Li Yahong, Wu Heng returned to the community.
The number of spear-wielding skeletons was not small.
Looking at them, with spears standing like a forest, they had a bit of the look of an army.
But an even larger number of the remaining skeletons were armed with kitchen knives.
Apart from the disadvantage of the kitchen knife’s length, its effectiveness in killing enemies was not bad.
At least among the weapons that could be scavenged, it was much better than fruit knives or hammers.
“Close the doors on this side, block off all the holes here.” Wu Heng, accompanied by Big Head Skeleton, took a tour around the residential area, issuing orders for reinforcement.
There were now quite a few Skeletons.
There were at least too many to pile onto the rooftop.
Moreover, with many Skeletons reaching the fifth level, they require a training ground. Hence, the plan was for all the Skeletons in the residential area to either stand by or train.
That being said, Wu Heng commanded the Skeletons to find some iron wire mesh, iron poles, and raise the fences of the residential area.
The four gates were to be kept closed during normal times and only opened when needed.
Under Wu Heng’s order, a swarm of Skeletons sprang into action.
The sky began to darken.
Little East Auto Repair.
The wooden boards blocking the windows had all been taken down.
Allowing the room to not be so stuffy.
Li Yahong and Wang Ke were sitting around the radio, chatting while listening to the news filtering through the device.
After waiting for a while,
the radio conveyed that City South Prison had announced it could provide shelter for survivors.
Li Yahong picked up the microphone and spoke directly, “This is the auto repair shop. Are there people from City South Prison there?”
After a brief silence, a voice came back from the other end.
“This is City South Prison, are you planning to come over?” said a man with a deep voice.
Recalling the task Wu Heng had given her, Li Yahong asked directly, “Can guns be exchanged for food over there? What’s the exchange rate?”
The Prison didn’t respond immediately.
The numerous people listening to this frequency seemed to have heard something astonishing.
The auto repair shop was planning to exchange guns for food, which means they had abundant food supplies.
“A thousand jin of rice for a pistol, five thousand for a submachine gun,” said the man on the other side.
A large bag from the supermarket contains about one hundred jin of rice.
This means a pistol will cost ten large bags of rice.
A submachine gun, on the other hand, would cost one hundred bags. Given the present circumstances, a person can survive on one hundred bags for quite some time.
Li Yahong continued, “Guns are of not much use against zombies, rather, food
is the current essential. I feel this exchange rate is unfair.”
“Let’s not waste time, how much do you want to exchange?” the man on the other end continued.
Li Yahong thought for a while, then said, “Three hundred jin of rice per submachine gun, that’s our final offer. If you feel it’s not worth it, we can’t give any more.”
She set the price very low.
But she thought it was the fair price.
What’s the use of having a gun?
Even if you go out to scavenge supplies, who dares to shoot? A single gunshot will draw a herd of zombies, leading to a faster death.
Food is way more crucial.
After a while, they responded, “Okay, how many would you like to exchange? How about the bullets?”
Li Yahong replied, “We need to discuss, and we’ll contact you in advance.”
“Okay, you can also come directly. We have defensive walls here to provide a safe life.”
“Thanks, we haven’t considered it yet.”
Ending the call, Li Yahong heaved a sigh of relief.
Three bags of rice in exchange for a submachine gun, that should satisfy ‘King Yama’s’ side.
After all, even the iron spears produced from their side could be exchanged for a bag of rice, not to mention cans, beer and the likes. No matter how you think of it, exchanging three bags of rice for a submachine gun seems a better deal.
It seemed like she’d managed to complete an arduous task.
As for the proposition to live in the prison, Li Yahong had not given that a single thought for now.
They assumed she had ample food, but the fact is, that food isn’t hers. If she went, she wouldn’t be able to provide food and would have to endure starvation herself.
She definitely won’t go.
The two stopped communicating, and more voices came over the radio.
“This is the train station. There are Mutated Zombies wandering outside. Can anyone rescue us?”
On the other hand, City South Prison.
The stuffy room was filled with an unpleasant stench.
A few burly men, topless revealing a large swath of tattoos, were gathered playing cards.
“Is Brother Long really planning to trade the submachine guns?” One man tossed his card down and asked.
The man, called Brother Long, sitting in front of the radio with a crewcut and a robust physique, turned around and said, “I’m just luring her over. Once she gets here, we’ll keep her and the food. Won’t it all be ours?”
“Haha! We all heard Brother Long deceive her, you’re the only one who didn’t get it.”
Right, your IQ, man, it’s not even as good as a zombie’s.”
“Cao, I heard it, of course, I was just asking.”
“Haha-!”
The man known as Brother Long glanced at everyone and continued to say, “Tomorrow Laosan will lead a team out, same old method. Locate a few unlucky folks to draw the zombies away, and then scavenge for food.”
“Understood, Brother Long..”