Chapter 325: Where to Go First?

After hearing Qi Xiaoshuai's words, Jie Ge and the others asked a few more questions, and since he answered them all smoothly, they stopped doubting him.

"Your camp isn't small—why send just you out alone? Earlier I saw you observing the zombies—what's the trick?"

Jie Ge asked, his expression thoughtful.

He remembered clearly how they'd secretly watched Qi Xiaoshuai from afar for a long time, seeing him wander aimlessly outside a designated area for large vehicles to rest; only after watching a while did they realize he was carefully counting the zombies.

Something strange happening always means trouble—he didn't believe anyone in the apocalypse would do something so pointless.

"Big trucks, fuel, looking for fuel."

Qi Xiaoshuai thought on his feet and gave a reason that couldn't be faulted.

Jie Ge recalled—the compound did have Siwu large trucks parked there; finding fuel made sense, but the way he'd been so meticulous still felt odd—he'd ask again later.

"Kid, how much are you worth in supplies? I saw your rifle just now—it's decent. I'll trade you for five rifles plus five hundred jin of grain. Your camp won't mind, right?"

Jie Ge was already weighing the ransom price.

"No, impossible… we, our camp only have three rifles total. Grain—grain's no problem."

This was Qi Xiaoshuai's answer after his mind raced—he mentioned three rifles to show low firepower, yet he carried one himself, proving his status in camp and making him worth rescuing, while generously declaring grain wasn't an issue!

When cornered and chased, he'd been furious—but at this life-or-death moment, anger vanished, replaced by cold calm; the closer he got to success, the more easily he could fail—hatred buried deep, reason overcoming impulse.

Hearing his halting reply, Jie Ge and the others all smiled in satisfaction.

"If we can get a thousand or so jin of grain, maybe some medicine too, then my truck getting wrecked was worth it!"

"Haha, didn't expect trading with the Qinglong Army would also net us a lucky find!" Jie Ge waved to his companion. "Come on, tie him up good, lay him comfortably on the truck—don't shake him to death. He's rifles and grain now, got it?"

"Got it, Jie Ge, don't worry, totally safe."

"Uh… Jie Ge, which way first—Qinglong Army or Caopo Township?"

Jie Ge walked toward the Camry, paused at the question, thought a moment, then said: "We're passing the army gate anyway—let's go there first. They've got too many rules—who knows if their traders even work past noon? Don't want to make a wasted trip."

"Haha, no trip's wasted—not with him around!"

"This bastard's worth a fortune—get up!"

"Aren't you the shark arm? He calls us Grandpa, you call him a bastard—then what are we?"

"Fuck, enough talk—get to work!"

The two men bickered as they tied Qi Xiaoshuai's hands and helped him stand.

Qi Xiaoshuai, held between them, had no interest in their insults—all his thoughts were fixed on their plan to go to Qinglong Army first!

He exhaled deeply in relief—he believed his comrades were still at the camp, head bowed, blood and saliva dripping from his lips, forcing himself not to smile.

Soon, they returned to the truck, strapped Qi Xiaoshuai to the seat to keep him from bouncing around and getting hurt—his condition looked too fragile to endure rough handling!

Before leaving, they searched his minivan thoroughly—except for the rifle, they found only a thermos of hot water and a few frozen squid snacks turned to ice blocks…

Inside the camp, Zhang Su pushed open the cockpit door and jumped to the ground, patting the steel beast with lingering satisfaction—he'd never so seriously felt the power of the land's king, but couldn't drive it properly; if he ran out of fuel halfway to Tianmayu, it'd be hilarious—there'd be plenty of chances to drive back.

"Su Ge, how was it?"

Lu Yu and the others gathered around him, envious and eager to try.

Bang bang.

Zhang Su slapped the rigid armor and grinned: "Sole ruler!"

"Master Zhang, you drove that thing beautifully! Uh… mind telling us—what's wrong with that tank? You're not using it?"

Meng Changwei and the others also approached, pointing to the other tank.

The moment they spoke, Zhang Su knew what they were thinking—he clicked his tongue: "That tank's engine is gone. Only good as a fixed artillery platform. You interested?"

"Ah…"

Meng Changwei was deeply disappointed upon hearing this.

In today's world, a tank's greatest use isn't firing—it's crushing. No shells aren't fatal, but no engine? That's disastrous!

The other Daqiao Fortress villagers were equally stunned—engine broken could be fixed, but completely gone? That's hopeless…

Zhang Su shrugged: "You're interested? I'll swap you that tank."

"No no—fifty tons of junk with no engine? How am I supposed to haul it? No thanks!"

Meng Changwei was crestfallen—he'd thought the tank had a minor fault, fixable with some tinkering; he never imagined the core was ruined beyond use.

"Then Master Zhang, we're leaving. Hope we meet again!"

With the tank deal dead, Meng Changwei had no reason to linger.

"You said 'hope we meet again'—who knows, maybe I'll visit you someday. Don't kick me out then!"

Zhang Su waved with a smile.

"Say that again? Even if I didn't want you eating and drinking here, I'd never show it on my face—haha, we're off!"

With that, Meng Changwei waved, and the Daqiao Fortress villagers climbed into their vehicles, driving off toward the camp's south gate.

Watching the convoy disappear, Zhang Su turned: "Where's Dachao?"

"Over there—what's up?"

Lu Yu Bo pointed toward the warehouse, where Guo Dachao and Duan Wu were carrying a crate out together.

Zhang Su strode over and waved to Guo Dachao: "Dachao, come here."

"What's up, Su Ge?"

Guo Dachao ran over, wiped his nose, face red from cold—no scarf wrapped.

"That tank has no engine. Based on your expertise—what parts wear out fastest? Let's strip them and take them. Leaving them here is a waste!"

Zhang Su couldn't bear to let such a big machine go unused—he wanted to extract some value.

"Strip parts?"

Guo Dachao scratched his head with his gloved hand, frowning: "Su Ge, even without an engine, that tank fired shells that night—so the wiring and other systems should be fine. We could try installing a new engine—might even get it running!"

"Really?"

Zhang Su was stunned—his idea was bold. Tank engines were highly specialized—after all, they had to move over fifty tons; ordinary engines couldn't handle it!

"It should work, but stability would be poor. Still, dragging it back to camp should be doable. Problem is… finding an engine's hard. Best bet's a truck diesel engine—but those are heavy, over a ton each. Lifting one's no easy task!"

Zhang Su didn't know how to repair vehicles, but he'd seen maintenance scenes—without lifting gear, installing or removing an engine was nearly impossible. He waved his hand: "Plan's possible, but too hard to execute now. Note it down—we'll study it later."

"Got it! Once we find lifting gear, trucks won't be hard to find—leave the rest to me!"

Guo Dachao turned and walked back toward the warehouse, confident in his skills.

"So much to do—and damn, it's freezing…"

If there was hope to save it, Zhang Su wouldn't abandon the tank—but right now, too many tasks piled up, and he couldn't handle them all.

Dozens of new people flooded the camp—needed proper housing and assignment; the toxic zombie issue also weighed heavily on him. If he could choose, he'd trade a tank for one toxic zombie.

Thinking of the toxic zombie, Zhang Su glanced around—but still saw no sign of Qi Xiaoshuai. He muttered: "How long's he been gone? Did he find something?"

He pulled out his walkie-talkie: "Xiaoshuai, Xiaoshuai, respond!"

Waited a moment—no reply.

Qi Xiaoshuai was currently tied in the back of a pickup truck—his walkie-talkie had fallen onto the wasteland when his minivan was rammed…

(End of Chapter)