Chapter 49: Shearing Wool

Actually this number is already impressive.

On the last day of the Newbie Protection Period, the whole road is indeed filled with crates, but they contain only ordinary supplies—compressed biscuits and the like—intended to slow everyone's mileage rush!

Cheng Shuili couldn't help shaking her head.

Although today's supply crates increased in number, they yielded not only supplies but also trash and monsters.

Obviously a price increase.

The system's move is impressive.

She refocused on the chat box with Guang Hui, and although you can't keep catching the same sheep to shear.

But who gave Guang Hui such a big backend.

Cheng Shuili smiled and directly stated her request.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: I want 70 pieces of Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments.

Back then they were willing to spend 45 fragments for a piece of information; now it's solid proof that we can enter Shou Ren Xiao Zhen!

Cheng Shuili thought the price wasn't high at all.

But this number in Zhao Hong's eyes…

Again, 70!

He first took a deep breath, rubbed his eyes to be sure he hadn't misread, then relayed it accurately to the others.

The hot‑tempered one slammed the table and replied angrily: "Those are Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments! Not some roadside trash. He asks for 70 of them—do they think we're fools?"

"And now that the shield is up, everyone knows how crucial this is! Most of the fragments we squeezed out before were donated by oil‑car comrades. Where else can we get another 70? Do you expect us to merge the highway and raid for them?"

The remark was blunt, yet it carried some logic.

Zhao Hong actually looked down on him a bit; the man is impulsive and competitive, and when they worked together he often gave Zhao Hong a hard time.

But this time, Zhao Hong sincerely agreed.

No one knows when a Tier‑2 monster will appear, and at such times Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments become the most coveted supplies, not just now…

Zhao Hong had already foreseen that from now on, Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments would hold a very important place.

If he can think it through, the higher‑ups won't be clueless.

Zhao Hong sighed, waiting for the outcome.

Meanwhile, a few of the senior guys leading the organization were busy discussing.

"I think this Wu Ya isn't a good person; this time it might still be a scam."

"I actually think we can trade again. The info we got last time wasn't useless, and this time the information is completely genuine."

He paused, then sent another message: "Yesterday Qing Shan passed the Jiao Yi Zhan and saw clearly that there really is a store employee badge; its function matches exactly what he described. So his info is factual, at most he was a bit greedy, exploiting an information gap to earn us double the money."

"What do you mean 'at most a bit greedy'? That's a scam! That's fraud! In peaceful times, he'd be sent to prison for proper education."

The message just went out, and the speaker continued.

"Lao Li, you also said that if it were peaceful times, now the world's chaotic, we old guys might die in an accident tomorrow. He's a junior, alone. Unlike us, we have such a huge organization; food, water, electricity, energy are all allocated, so being cautious is normal."

The person called "Lao Li" shook his head hard; he knew the other's words were valid, but he still held back a breath of resentment.

After all these years, wherever he went things went smoothly; everyone saw him as proper and respectful. Being blatantly blocked by this unknown junior, he couldn't swallow that resentment.

He held the voice message, furrowed his brows and said:

"Don't tell me that. One thing: this time we can't swap! First, we don't have that many fragments! Second, I just don't trust him!"

The voice on the other side resumed quickly, apparently already decided.

"Lao Li, this time we can't listen to you. I think we just need to find out whether what he's selling is indeed a credential to enter Shou Ren Xiao Zhen!"

"If it is, we must get it. I believe the most core and hidden spot in this apocalypse game is Shou Ren Xiao Zhen; once we get in, we'll leap far ahead of other nations!"

"You're looking at the problem too superficially. You only think about how much we spent and only see the part we gain. You forget, our info isn't just for us or this sector; we can sync it to the whole Long Guo!"

"That junior definitely knows this; his price isn't high. Let Xiao Zhao negotiate with him; once settled, we'll just chip in."

Lao Li's firm gaze softened, and after a sigh he said nothing more.

Zhao Hong received the message, his eyes lingered on that line for a moment before opening the private chat with Wu Ya.

【Guang Hui Zhaoyao Lan Xing】: We can make this deal, but on one condition—we need to preview the goods first.

Cheng Shuili smiled; of course.

This time it's genuine material; she isn't worried about the other side finding any fault.

Cheng Shuili directly shared the detailed item information.

Zhao Hong's heart raced when he saw the message; he instantly understood that Wu Ya had no intention to deceive—they were offering a clear price, cash on delivery.

And this cargo…

At this moment, the absolute value of this price!

Zhao Hong immediately forwarded the message upward.

The two who had just confronted each other stared at the info in silence for a moment; Lao Li, who had planned to hold his ground, also relaxed.

"Since it's real, we can proceed as you suggested, but where exactly do those fragments come from?"

The other person also fretted over the question, the private chat fell silent for a moment.

Lao Li sent another voice message.

"How about asking that kid Qing Shan for a loan? He's already at Tier‑3 vehicle and probably won't need fragments soon."

"That could work, but Qing Shan's job must be done properly."

Lao Li furrowed his brows again at that remark, and after a moment said, "I'll go talk to him myself."

……

Cheng Shuili didn't know what happened over there; after the info was sent, Guang Hui never replied.

Cheng Shuili wasn't in a hurry; Wan Yi finally finished stewing dinner, ladling a bowl of soup for her, the spare ribs piled into a little point.

Cheng Shuili, seeing the situation, hurriedly contacted Liang Shanbo, handed her porcelain bowl to Wan Yi, filled it with pork rib soup, and then passed it to Liang Shanbo.

Liang Shanbo's hand, holding the porcelain bowl, trembled uncontrollably.

The pork rib soup in the porcelain bowl was as smooth and luminous as congealed cream, its color a tempting milky white. A thin layer of golden oil flowers floated on the surface, shimmering with amber‑like luster under the car's interior lights.