Chapter 197: Do You Have Medicine?

I truly hope there will never be human-on-human warfare again; let's unite and cooperate—you give me an 8x scope, I give you an extended magazine.

Lying in bed, Zheng Xinyu was exhausted but couldn't sleep. She had gone on the extermination mission with Zhang Su, yet in the end she hadn't killed a single person—she felt both regret and relief.

If you want to make a wish, look for a shooting star, not at the ceiling.

Zhang Su directly dismissed Zheng Xinyu's beautiful wish.

Nearly two months have passed since the disaster began; most survivors have gathered together, forming factions of varying sizes. Forget other regions—even within Qincheng, there are no fewer than thirty survivor groups like ours!

Every faction has its own way of surviving: some focus on agriculture and animal husbandry as "self-sufficient" groups, others rely on plunder as "take by force" groups, and there may even be worse "burn, kill, loot" factions! So never dream of peace, no matter when.

"Having a stable living environment and food and drink isn't enough—what's the point of 'burn, kill, loot'?" Zheng Xinyu blurted out.

Zhang Su smiled and said, "If you're just fleeing and have food and drink, that's enough. But once you have a stable living environment and survival is guaranteed, you start wanting a better life."

Simple things like clothing—upgrading from warmth to style, daily hygiene and skincare—you were complaining yesterday about hand cream, right? These non-essential items will gradually become targets of competition. Then there's tobacco, alcohol, snacks, medicine…

Survivors are people who lived through modern life; they will inevitably keep chasing the footsteps of the past. Only children born after the collapse can truly adapt to this harsh existence.

"What you're saying is very realistic, Brother Su…"

From the beginning as the core of their three-person escape team, Zhang Su had become the leader of the safe camp, and the things he needed to pay attention to kept growing. Even with help, he was exhausted—it was a responsibility he couldn't escape.

Zhong Xiaoshan curled up beside him and whispered, "Not every faction can be self-sufficient. Forget others—even we here can barely manage it."

The key lies in staple food—that's why Zhang Su always leads teams out to raid towns and villages. Staple food reserves determine how long everyone can survive.

Historical records frequently mention such cases: if another heavy snow comes, next year you'll find once-bustling villages and counties turned into dead cities.

But yields decline with the seasons, and population may increase as new survivors arrive.

"You're right—if temperatures drop another ten degrees, I don't even have a down jacket… Tomorrow, take a headcount and see what everyone's got—we need to prepare for winter!"

Zhang Su's group now lives in better conditions than ancient times, but he dares not underestimate this winter—it's the first winter since the disaster, and no one knows what it will bring. Preparation is essential.

This is just vegetable soil—the real issue is staple food. Currently, the Tianma Island guesthouse area has no space large enough to grow staple crops like rice, wheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, or corn.

If the staple food problem is solved, the Tianma Island safe camp could achieve a fragile self-sufficiency balance—enough only to sustain basic survival needs.

There are several greenhouse plots within Tianma Island, but none are large—they were built by former guesthouse owners to attract customers with "homegrown vegetables." Even if used entirely for vegetables, they barely meet the camp's current population needs.

In the past, all this was handled by national government planning—rice, flour, oil, and salt sat in supermarkets, always available. Now, everything must be planned manually—it's exhausting.

"No."

Winter is a season feared by all species.

"Speaking of food, we brought back over three thousand jin today—did you log it in?"

In ancient times, every winter was a challenge—even the imperial palace saw people freeze to death…

Zhong Xiaoshan rubbed her head against the pillow and said, "Counting the days, winter's officially coming. Temperatures have started dropping slowly—I checked last night during my watch with a thermometer: only two degrees. We need to bring back the supplies from Xiang Zhuang as soon as possible."

By then, Tianma Island will no longer be a tourist attraction—it will be a new kind of city-state under the apocalypse.

Below the mountain lie farmlands, vast areas where anything can be planted—but every day, zombies harass them, and other survivor factions might raid. Unless we build a much larger defensive system, it will be a massive project requiring far more manpower and resources.

Beyond planting, there are over a dozen chickens and ducks on the mountain. With some basic breeding knowledge, they can multiply to a stable population, providing vital egg supplies.

The lowest recorded winter temperature in Qincheng has reached minus twenty-eight degrees—a number that inspires awe. Thinking of this, all three felt a heaviness in their hearts.

While others still reveled in the victory over Beitaizi Camp, Zhang Su, as camp leader, along with his two trusted companions, couldn't help but feel dread for the future.

The next morning, those who had stayed up late gradually woke, two hours later than usual.

After washing up, Zhang Su picked up one of the three walkie-talkies on his bedside table and pressed the talk button: "Village Chief Ma, Village Chief Ma!"

He had issued a reward notice; now that Beitaizi Camp was destroyed, he needed to notify Ma Changshou.

After about half a minute, Ma Changshou's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Good morning, Boss Zhang! Don't worry—I didn't delay a second. I've already sent people out to investigate!"

Zhang Su smiled faintly and said, "No need to trouble yourself—I'm here to tell you directly: last night we took care of the Beitaizi Camp crew. This area is now peaceful."

"Took care of?"

Ma Changshou was startled—his walkie-talkie nearly slipped from his hand. His smile froze. "Boss Zhang, you ran into Beitaizi Camp? How… how did you handle them?"

"How else? You know exactly how—haha. Anyway, it's done. Keep the walkie-talkie; it'll be easier to contact you."

"Boss Zhang, wait—"

Hearing Zhang Su was about to end the call, Ma Changshou quickly called out: "Forgive me for asking, but do you have any heart medicine?"

"Heart medicine?"

Zhang Su didn't press the talk button. He turned to Zhong Xiaoshan, who was folding blankets: "Xiaoshan, do we have any heart medicine?"

He knew little about heart disease—he was still young.

Zhong Xiaoshan nodded while working: "We have several kinds—different ones for different conditions. Ask him which specific one he needs."

Zhang Su nodded and pressed the talk button: "I don't understand heart disease. Tell me the drug names—I'll write them down and look for them."

"Oh, oh, that's too much trouble, Boss Zhang… Nitroglycerin tablets and Su Xiao Jiu Xin Wan."

Ma Changshou named two drugs.

Zhong Xiaoshan said, "Both are very common heart medications. We have them—and plenty."

Earlier, they had raided two or three large pharmacies in Qincheng and made additional supplies in Niuziquan Town. The safe camp now has a very complete stock of medicines.

"Got it. I've noted the names. But Boss Ma, these drugs are precious now. If I can provide them, what will you trade for them?"

Zhang Su naturally began negotiating.

"Well, whatever you need—we've got a lot of stuff stored in Xida Ying Village, but nothing in large quantities. Sorry for the inconvenience, haha."

Ma Changshou gave a dry laugh.

Knowing Xida Ying Village's toll-collection business model, Zhang Su understood Ma Changshou's words. He teased: "I'll think carefully—and check the warehouse to see if I have what you need. I'll contact you later."

"Alright, Boss Zhang. I'll wait for your reply—but please hurry. Heart disease can't wait."

Ma Changshou replied quickly.

"Xiaoshan, how valuable are nitroglycerin tablets and Su Xiao Jiu Xin Wan?"

Zhang Su put down the walkie-talkie. He needed to understand the approximate value of these two drugs.

"Their value… before the collapse, they weren't expensive."

Zhong Xiaoshan shrugged. "But they're life-saving drugs! Brother Su, charge high. As long as they think it's better than going into the city, they'll agree."

Zhang Su's eyes lit up—this was good news. After learning the inventory status from Zhong Xiaoshan and lighting another cigarette, he picked up the walkie-talkie to Xida Ying Village: "Village Chief Ma, I just stepped out and ran into the warehouse manager—we've got your medicine!"

"Really? That's great! Boss Zhang, how much do you have?"

Ma Changshou replied instantly—he clearly hadn't put the walkie-talkie down.

"I don't have much of these niche drugs. I found a hundred nitroglycerin tablets and about two hundred Su Xiao Jiu Xin Wan pills."

Zhang Su gave Ma Changshou a number less than one-tenth of the actual stock. As he lied, he noticed smoke rising from the kitchen—the cooks had started preparing meals.

"Oh, that's plenty! More than enough!"

To his surprise, even his deliberately lowball number was still seen as sufficient. Zhang Su felt deflated—prices only rise when goods are scarce.

"Well, I've got this much, but I can't hand it all over. I need to keep some—our camp has elderly men with heart problems too."

Zhang Su lied effortlessly.

Yu Wen, passing below, looked up at Zhang Su by the windowsill, raised an eyebrow, pointed at himself, and silently asked: "Are you talking about me?"

Zhang Su had no idea it was so coincidental—he'd just mentioned the oldest person in camp, and now the oldest person himself had heard it. He waved frantically, signaling it wasn't true, embarrassed.

(End of Chapter)