Chapter 19: Not Accepting Scrap Metal (Seeking follow-up reads, seeking tickets)

Zhang Su felt that this woman named Zhong Xiaoshan was quite sensible, at least she knew about value exchange and didn't just open her mouth with "Have pity, have mercy on me."

"That Director Hu let you come here to have fun and didn't prepare any food? Wasn't he afraid you'd faint on the bed from low blood sugar? You guys are reckless!"

"It's not that... he didn't come back. I brought some water, but no food."

Zhong Xiaoshan said embarrassedly, "Handsome, beauty, I can see you two are good people. I don't need much food, just a few boxes of that self-heating rice will do. I'll give you all of these."

As she spoke, Zhong Xiaoshan took off her ring, earrings, and necklace all at once and placed them on the coffee table. To show her firm attitude, she even pushed them toward Zhang Su.

Zhang Su looked at the pile of gold jewelry on the table and shook his head slightly, saying, "Sorry, Ms. Zhong, answering your questions has already used up your money and gold jewelry. These already belong to me; you can't use them to trade for food again!"

Zhang Su was generous in daily life because supplies were abundant and he didn't lack food or drink. He used things he didn't lack to trade for favors and improve interpersonal relationships, but that didn't mean he was a charitable saint!

On the contrary, Zhang Su was a very selfish person. Everything he did was for his own benefit. For example, improving interpersonal relationships was purely for his own convenience.

Having come to a strange city alone just after becoming an adult, although he had plenty of money in his pocket, he was still walking on thin ice, which made him see clearly the warmth and coldness of human relationships!

"How can this be..."

Zhong Xiaoshan hadn't expected Zhang Su to say this, her face stiffening in confusion.

"Did you forget what you said?"

Zhang Su didn't show any sign of compromise, but he didn't go to collect the gold jewelry either, because in his view, these things were already worthless!

"No, I didn't forget, but I... I'm really hungry."

Zhong Xiaoshan showed a pleading expression.

Many slim people control their diet, giving the illusion that they don't have a high demand for food. Often, such people can't handle hunger at all because, due to long-term dietary restriction, many bodily functions are already in a dangerous state. Once they go hungry for two meals, they face collapse.

On the contrary, those fat people who usually eat a lot and shout that they'll starve if they miss one meal can actually go nine meals without eating for three days when they really have to, acting like nothing happened. As long as they have water, they can endure better than a camel!

"Ms. Zhong, do we look like people who can cook? Our stock is only enough for two or three days, and we don't know what to do after that. We really don't have the ability to provide relief."

Zhang Su remained unmoved. Before determining his own path, he would never offer help easily.

Zhong Xiaoshan felt very powerless seeing Zhang Su was impervious to reason. If Zheng Xin weren't sitting on the side, she would have loved to give Zhang Su a full-body nursing session right then and there, as long as she could eat a meal!

Thinking of Zheng Xin, Zhong Xiaoshan immediately turned her pleading gaze toward her. Since the man was a dead end, she would beg the girl who was easier to soften.

"Beauty, sister begs you. I'm dizzy just sitting here. If I don't eat, I really won't live much longer. Can you save my life?"

Zhong Xiaoshan had never thought that long-term hunger would be so painful.

"Ah, I..."

Zheng Xin's face was troubled. A moment ago, she had hated this woman for posing for Zhang Su, but when the other party begged her so miserably, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

But she wouldn't agree rashly either, because she knew very well who was in charge in the room. Even if most of the supplies belonged to her, she couldn't make the decision!

"He's right, we really don't have much left. Sorry."

Zheng Xin, who was sharp-tongued during live streams, hadn't expected that lying in reality would be so difficult, especially when facing life-and-death issues; deceiving the other party was even harder.

Her conscience hurt, but she wouldn't act on her own.

Zhang Su was very satisfied with Zheng Xin's reaction, but Zhong Xiaoshan's next words made him very dissatisfied.

"In the face of a great disaster, shouldn't we survivors work together? Why, why can't you sell me a little when you clearly have so much food? Don't your consciences hurt watching me starve to death?"

Zhong Xiaoshan pointed at Zheng Xin's room, speaking with a sorrowful expression, looking weak and powerless.

Zhang Su frowned slightly and glanced at Zheng Xin. He then remembered that just a moment ago, in order to quickly stop Zhong Xiaoshan's foolish screaming, they had left the room without closing the door.

"I, I... forgot to close the door."

Zheng Xin made a face.

"Ms. Zhong!"

Zhang Su suddenly stood up, his face cold: "Too many people have died outside. If there were vengeful spirits, the sky would be pitch black by now. Don't expect others to use their life-saving supplies to save you, unless you can provide value in exchange!"

"Useful value, not this scrap metal!"

Zhang Su pointed unceremoniously at the gold jewelry on the table.

Antiques in prosperous times, gold in chaotic times—but this "chaos" had its limits.

If human civilization itself had suffered a severe impact and the world was in great turmoil, then gold's value-preserving attribute would cease to exist, and it would likewise turn into a pile of dirt!

Because she was too agitated, Zhong Xiaoshan felt dizzy again, but she steadied her mind and said, "I have value. I, I really was a nurse. I know a lot of first-aid knowledge. At a time like this, the hospitals are overwhelmed. With me here, you can be much safer!"

Zhong Xiaoshan tried hard to sell her abilities.

Zhang Su shook his head sincerely: "Ms. Zhong, I admit your ability is useful, but I don't need it right now. Trading for a skill that I don't know when I'll use—are you planning for us to support you indefinitely?"

If conditions allowed, Zhang Su wouldn't mind having a nurse by his side, especially a nurse as easy on the eyes as Zhong Xiaoshan.

However, the current situation was very grim. What seemed safe was only temporary. There was no telling how many zombies were wandering in the unit alone; danger was everywhere!

"No, handsome, it's more than one skill. CPR, simple breathing, various injections, fixing broken bones, etc. There's a lot, a lot. I can handle some diseases, pharmacology, I know a lot!"

"Please, I'll only eat a little bit every day, just a little bit is fine. When rescue comes, I'll pay you back a thousand times over. I have savings, I have over 300,000 in savings, I'll give it all to you. Save me!"

Speaking excitedly, Zhong Xiaoshan slid off the sofa and knelt on the ground, looking up at Zhang Su with teary eyes, her face pale with fright.

Since beauty couldn't seduce him, it was useless. Cry, cry to your heart's content; maybe it could move the other party.

"Cough, um, I'll go close the door."

Zheng Xin found that hardening her heart was actually a very difficult thing to do. This was completely different from what she had imagined before.

In her mind, bad guys would come with knives and clubs to snatch food, and she would definitely fight to the death, not even minding killing the other party. But now, facing a woman who had no strength to truss a chicken, it was really hard to drive her away.

At this moment, she felt a bit lucky—lucky that she wasn't the one making the decisions, or she would be conflicted to death.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 20 =====