Chapter 414: After Binding the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 415: Wasteland Gathering Daily Life (43)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Before long, everything taken out was sorted, and the three of them climbed onto the cargo truck and set off again.

They drove for three days straight before finally seeing signs of people; although there were few, it confirmed their route was correct, which was also good news for them.

Stopping the truck, Shen Yao ran over to ask about the situation, paying with a grass-flavored nutrient agent for the information.

"This counts as the base periphery; drive along the main road for about two more hours and you'll reach Base No. 25.

The base interior has no clear zoning, only inner and outer residential districts.

Because there are so many people, those who can't produce points settle in the slum districts around the base."

Shen Yao got back in the truck and mentioned that Base No. 25 recruits outside personnel year-round with free information registration.

However, because outside personnel have unclear identities, even with money they cannot purchase inner district housing, and can only reside in the slum district or outer district.

The two of them currently still have a child with them; the slum district is definitely out of the question, so they can only choose the outer district.

"We'll live in the outer district first and get through this year's cold season; when the mild season arrives next year, we'll think of other ways to move into the inner district."

Cheng Qi spoke as he started the vehicle; with the steering wheel turning, the family of three headed straight for Base No. 25 dozens of li away.

Wanting to arrive as soon as possible, Cheng Qi drove fast; in under two hours they saw gray-black city walls dozens of meters high.

Compared to Dawn Base's silver-white walls, Base No. 25's walls appeared grand and imposing, lacking a trace of cold metal coolness, carrying more historical weight.

The cargo truck stopped before the base gate; Cheng Qi got down to negotiate with the staff at the gate, after which the truck was diverted and led to an empty space.

"Name, age, whether gene awakened, brief family situation."

The staff member handed a thin white card to Cheng Qi, finger pointing at a brown-yellow building behind him, "That's the base's registration department; you go enter your information first, then purchase the base's universal contact wristwatches; any questions will be answered by relevant personnel."

Finished speaking, the staff member left first, leaving the family of three standing there looking at each other in blank dismay.

Shen Yao and Cheng Qi looked up at each other, then strode straight toward the brown-yellow building not far away.

Don't be fooled by the somewhat rustic exterior; the building's public area inside is very large, the first and second floors are all offices, and they can even directly sell supplies here to exchange for points to buy contact wristwatches.

The two entered carrying only a back basket, inside which was some still fairly fresh wild goat meat.

They simply sold a little over half a carcass, nearly two hundred jin, obtaining 5000 points.

"During the mild season, purchase prices for meat and wild vegetables are relatively cheaper, while fruits are more expensive; if you have fruit you can choose to sell it."

The staff member took out two high-grade wristwatches, deducted 1000 points, and handed them over.

Next came various registration procedures; by the time Shen Yao and the others finished, over half an hour had passed, yet the most important matter — buying a house — had no leads at all.

For housing they'd have to inquire at the Housing Administration Bureau, but as everyone knows, where there are many people, housing is always in short supply.

Base No. 25 has hundreds of thousands of ordinary people alone; when they drove over they passed through the slum district, where low, crowded buildings packed densely from the city gate outward for a full kilometer — one can imagine how many people are inside the base city.

Shen Yao looked at Cheng Qi, pointing at the cargo truck they'd brought, "Want to try?"

For now they can only trade the truck for a house; because the vehicle is an essential tool for going out gathering, its importance is on par with a house.

Shen Yao and Cheng Qi currently have no way to purely rely on points to buy a house inside the base, so they must seek other channels, see if there are other avenues.

…………

Qian Jinbao lately likes to hang around the base gate when he has nothing to do.

Who knows how it happened, but compared to previous years, this year's incoming population has obviously increased, and even he, as a middleman, has gotten a share of the soup.

The young couple before him is a target he's had his eye on for a while.

Moreover, the couple is holding a child; they definitely need a house inside the base city even more.

"Brother, there's an independent courtyard in the outer district; want to consider it?"

Qian Jinbao hurried over, carefully asked a question, eyes fixed on the surroundings.

He was already the fifth person to come find them; the first four each had their own schemes, and Cheng Qi flatly refused them all.

This person before them, "What's the price? Don't recommend inner district houses?"

Qian Jinbao grinned, "Brother, inner district houses are good, sure, but the key is with your identities you fundamentally can't buy them.

I have more outer district houses on hand, priced one to two tenths higher than the Housing Administration Bureau.

After all, this is how I make my living; I naturally have to earn a little extra."

Finished speaking, Qian Jinbao introduced himself, claiming his reputation in Base No. 25's outer district isn't small; if they don't believe it they can ask around.

Cheng Qi: ……

Cheng Qi didn't speak; instead Shen Yao stated their housing preferences, "If Big Brother has a suitable one, just take us there directly."

Qian Jinbao gave a thumbs-up, "Sister-in-law is straightforward; this way please."

Both parties walked on foot; front and back they walked for roughly two hours before Qiuye finally took a liking to a house.

It was an ordinary two-story small building; the only special thing was the front and rear courtyards were very large, and the courtyard interior could even be expanded on their own.

"How many points?" Cheng Qi asked the price, displaying the cargo truck they'd driven via picture on the wristwatch.

Indicating barter was also acceptable, on condition of free repair for a severely damaged car, and that their family would need practical assistance from the car-swapper when buying a house in the inner district in the future.

"One cargo truck for one outer district house — who gets the better deal goes without saying."

It was also because they'd just arrived and shouldn't be too high-profile; the truck was gotten for free, keeping it would bring endless future trouble, otherwise they'd never make a losing deal no matter what.

Qian Jinbao: ……

Heart pounding with excitement, hands trembling — never expected this trip out would land a big order!

A cargo truck?!

Struck it rich, struck it rich!

Let's see what Eldest Young Master can scold him for this time — he's made a huge contribution to the Qian Family!

"Brother Cheng, let's go straight to the front. Eldest Young Master has better houses than this one in hand." This building wasn't their Qian Family's property; selling it wasn't worth it. They still had to steer the good things into their own bowl.

Qian Jinbao smiled even more radiantly. Cheng Qi and Shen Yao saw it in their eyes: the bait had been cast, and the big fish had taken the hook.

Go!

How could we not go!

Who would willingly live in a poor house when there's a good one? The truck can't be kept anyway, so they should squeeze out as much benefit as possible for themselves — they still have children to raise.

In the end, the two of them chose a three-story small building just dozens of meters from the Inner District.

Although the small building's back courtyard wasn't large, its front courtyard was a full half larger than the previous one.

There was even a small garden in the front courtyard, where they could grow vegetables and raise chickens and ducks in daily life (all varieties specially supplied by the base; wild species must not be raised without authorization).

Qian Jinbao introduced things seriously without paying attention, or rather, even if he had some small thoughts, it didn't affect the big picture.

Cheng Qi and Shen Yao discussed it and both accepted Qian Jinbao's proposal, only it was already late outside, the Housing Administration Bureau staff had finished work, and anything would have to wait until tomorrow morning.

"Ai, even if it doesn't work out, we're still friends. If there's anything useful in the future, just come find me," Qian Jinbao patted his chest until it shook the heavens. Anyway, the big talk had already been spoken.

Cheng Qi smiled and called Qian Jinbao brother, promising to handle the transfer and hand over the vehicle tomorrow morning. Besides, they were new here and understood nothing, with many places needing Qian Jinbao's guidance.

Several people dispersed in front of the Base Hotel. The family of three used points to rent a family room, hastily took a perfunctory bath, then fell into a deep sleep.

As for what to eat for dinner? Nutrient Agents were enough.

When they opened their eyes in the morning and checked out of the hotel, Qian Jinbao was waiting outside with a middle-aged man.

"Brother Cheng, sister-in-law, this is my Eldest Young Master," Qian Jinbao led the middle-aged man forward, smiling as they introduced each other.

"Hello to both of you. I'm Qian Zhuang. The houses Jinbao showed you before are under my name," Qian Zhuang said the Housing Administration Bureau transfer procedures needed him to handle, and although Base No. 25 allowed private vehicles, there would be restrictions on vehicles.

"Both of you just came to Base No. 25, so I wouldn't want to cheat you in this regard."

"The base doesn't care about the origin of vehicles, but for safety's sake, it's still better to pay for a license plate. Consider it insurance that can reduce the probability of being attacked and robbed in the wilderness."

Qian Zhuang and Qian Jinbao looked somewhat alike, especially when they smiled — the two seemed carved from the same mold.

Cheng Qi sincerely expressed that they didn't understand some things and asked Eldest Young Master Qian for guidance.

Qian Zhuang waved his hand. "Guidance is too strong a word. Everyone just wants to get by."

"Since Brother Cheng doesn't dislike it, I'll just handle this aspect of things, mainly..."

Qian Zhuang was rather talkative when speaking, and Qian Jinbao occasionally helped add a couple of sentences. On the way to the Housing Administration Bureau, Shen Yao and Cheng Qi just listened to these two brothers talk.

Because the price offered was fairly reasonable, Qian Zhuang might also want to recruit Cheng Qi into the team. After all, Qian Zhuang himself had a private Mercenary Team with dozens of people inside, considered a small-to-medium scale.

"Brother Cheng, we still need to go out of the city to hunt and gather supplies in a little while. The rest can only be left to Jinbao to help with. Please understand."

Qian Zhuang felt a bit embarrassed, feeling he was a bit like a scoundrel who uses and runs. Actually, he really had no choice — hundreds of mouths in the Mercenary Team depended on him for food and a living. He truly couldn't afford to delay.

"Eldest Young Master Qian is too courteous. We can handle the rest. Besides, Jinbao Eldest Brother has been generous and reliable these past couple of days handling matters. We shouldn't delay you any further."

Compared to Qian Zhuang, this busy man, Qian Jinbao could be said to be so idle he was looking for trouble.

Qian Jinbao hastily waved his hands to shoo away his own elder brother who was delaying him, then rubbed his palms together, indicating that they still needed to move house afterward. The three of them definitely couldn't manage alone, so he'd call people to help for free.

Help for free?

Cheng Qi said they could pay points — how could they let people come over and work for nothing?

Survival in the Mutated World was difficult. Wherever they were, everyone relied on their own abilities.

"We're family, no need for two-household talk. You'll also make a living in the Qian Family Mercenary Team in the future," Qian Jinbao explained that newcomers to the Mercenary Team would enjoy some preferential treatment. Helping move some luggage was no trouble.

Words had come to this point. If Cheng Qi refused again, it would be somewhat ungrateful.

Besides, what Qian Jinbao said wasn't wrong at all. Cheng Qi agreed to join the Qian Family Mercenary Team.

Only, considering Cheng Qi had been busy with family matters recently, Qian Zhuang didn't let him go out hunting with the team. Once things at home were settled, Cheng Qi wouldn't be idle like this anymore.

Cheng Qi first had Qian Jinbao drive over the truck parked in the public parking lot, then bit by bit moved the supplies from the truck into the house that had already been changed to their names.

Including the car and the cars inside the truck compartment, Cheng Qi took photos and uploaded them via his wristwatch, finally completing the insurance steps Qian Zhuang had mentioned before.

"The car needs to be sent to the Mercenary Team for repairs. I'll help you get the license plate then."

"Just busy yourself with home matters for these couple of days. The Mercenary Team arranges people to go out hunting every day. Don't worry about not saving enough supplies for the cold season."

Qian Jinbao led people onto the vehicle, exchanged a couple more words about life inside the base, then drove the truck away.

Cheng Qi turned around and locked the gate, then brought Shen Yao into the room to rest together.

"There are furniture and appliances in the space, but we can't buy nothing at all."

They could muddy the waters to cover themselves, but that didn't mean the people in the base were stupid. Taking out items they didn't originally had in broad daylight would show there was a problem with them.

"I'll make a trip to the base's Exchange Center. You and Manman stay at home."

Their wristwatch still held the points left from selling the car and supplies. Given current prices at Base No. 25, it was more than enough.

"Go ahead. I'll tidy up the space and see if there's anything inconspicuous I can take out." Manman in her arms was already snoring softly. Shen Yao secretly switched arms to relieve the numbness in her elbow.

Cheng Qi and Shen Yao split up — one frantically bought things at the Exchange Center and sent them back, the other picked inconspicuous small items from the space to decorate the room.

Once they got busy, they stayed busy for a full three days.

The originally empty rooms were completely renewed, more luxurious and grand than the houses at Dawn Base.

Cheng Qi went to the Qian Family Mercenary Team early in the morning and drove back the repaired car with its license plate.

Because the area they currently lived in was basically full of wealthy people, the car was eye-catching but didn't attract as much attention as imagined.

Cheng Qi felt relieved. Spending more money really was useful. If they were in areas near the base's periphery, this car of his might well be a source of disaster.

"Let's go out to the wilderness for a spin today. There's still over half a month until the cold season. Qian Zhuang told me to prepare first, and in two days I'll go hunting with them."

The family needed some visible income on the surface. Although there were quite a lot of supplies in the truck originally, they were a family of three. Not counting the two adults, there was also a small child who needed careful care. They couldn't afford not to have enough supplies stored.

Shen Yao carried Manman, who was full of energy after eating and drinking her fill, onto the vehicle.

"Eldest Sister-in-law Qian recommended a few good collection points, very close to the base."

The Qian Family people had high emotional intelligence in dealing with others. Shen Yao didn't interact with them much, but the other side could anticipate what they needed in advance.

Including the contact information on the wristwatch and some daily life matters, all were handled by the Qian Family's wife.

Causing Shen Yao to have already developed a favorable impression before she had even met this Qian Eldest Sister-in-law.

"Less than five kilometers west of the Base there is a large Pomelo Grove, another five kilometers further, the Ground/Earth grows edible sweet potatoes, another three kilometers further, there is……"

Shen Yao lowered her head reading as she went, and with the car underneath starting up, slowly left the Residence, a family of three formally embarking on a new gathering journey.