Chapter 197: Do You Have Medicine?

"I really hope there won't be any more internal human fighting in the future. Everyone unites and cooperates. You give me an 8x scope, I give you an extended magazine."

Lying on the bed, Zheng Xinyu was very sleepy but couldn't sleep. She followed Zhang Su to execute the extermination mission, but in the end, she didn't kill anyone, feeling regretful yet feeling fortunate.

"If you want to make a wish, remember to find a shooting star, not face the ceiling."

Zhang Su directly negated Zheng Xinyu's beautiful wish.

"It's been nearly two months since the disaster broke out. Most survivors have come together and formed forces of varying sizes. Not to mention other places, just in the Qincheng area, there are no fewer than thirty survivor teams like ours!"

Every force has its own way of survival. There will be a part of the 'self-sufficient' faction that focuses on developing agriculture and animal husbandry, and there will definitely be a 'plundering' faction that focuses on robbery. Maybe there's even a worse 'three-all' faction! So, don't ever dream of peace!"

"With a stable living environment and food and drink, isn't that enough? What is the 'three-all' faction after?" Zheng Xinyu asked out loud.

Zhang Su smiled and said, "If there's food and drink on the road of escape, that's indeed enough. But once there's a stable living environment and survival is guaranteed, one should consider a better life!

Simple things like clothes, upgrading from keeping warm to paying attention to style, daily washing and maintenance—didn't you mention hand cream today? These non-survival necessities will slowly become targets of competition, as well as things like cigarettes, alcohol, side dishes, medicine..."

Survivors are people who have experienced modern life and will inevitably keep chasing the footsteps of the past. Unless they are children born after the apocalypse, they can truly get used to this miserable life.

"What Brother Su said is very realistic..."

Zhang Su went from being the backbone of a three-person escape team to the leader of a safe camp, and he needed to pay attention to more and more things. Even with help, he was very tired. This was a responsibility he couldn't escape.

Zhong Xiaoshan curled up on the side and whispered, "It's impossible for every force to be self-sufficient. Not to mention others, it's very difficult for us to do that right now."

The premise lies in staple food, which is also the reason why Zhang Su always takes people out to sweep towns and villages. The reserve of staple food determines the time limit for everyone's survival.

Records of this kind can often be seen in various history books. If another heavy snow comes, by the next year, one would find that the originally lively villages and counties have become dead cities.

However, production will decline with the change of seasons, and the population may also increase due to receiving new survivors.

"You're right. If the temperature drops another ten degrees, I won't even have a down jacket... Let's take a count tomorrow to see how everyone is doing. It's time to prepare for winter!"

The environment of Zhang Su's group is much better than in ancient times, but he definitely wouldn't underestimate this winter, because this is the first winter after the disaster broke out. No one knows what the situation will be, so it's very necessary to take precautions.

And this is just vegetable soil; the staple food problem is the key. At present, there is no place in the Tianmayu homestay area where staple foods such as rice, wheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn can be planted on a large scale.

If the staple food problem can be solved, the Tianmayu safe camp can basically complete a fragile self-sufficient balance, but it can only maintain basic survival needs.

There are several planting greenhouses in the Tianmayu area, but the area is not large. They were built by the previous homestay owner to attract customers with the gimmick of self-grown vegetables. Using them all for planting vegetables can barely meet the needs of the current population in the camp.

In the past, these things could be completed by the state government's macro-control. Rice, flour, grain, and oil were piled up in supermarkets, and could be bought whenever needed. But now it's not possible; it needs to be planned by oneself, which is very exhausting.

"Not yet."

Winter is a season that all species fear.

"Speaking of grain, we brought back over three thousand catties today. Have you put it in storage?"

In ancient times, every winter was a challenge. Not only for the grassroots common people, but even in the imperial palace, there were cases of people freezing to death...

Zhong Xiaoshan rubbed her head on the pillow and said, "Counting the days, winter is about to officially arrive. The temperature has started to drop slowly recently. When I was on duty last night, I measured it with a thermometer, and it was only two degrees. I think we should pull the supplies from Xiangzhuang back as soon as possible."

When that time really comes, Tianmayu will no longer be a scenic spot, but a new type of city-state in the apocalypse.

There are farmlands down the mountain, and a large area can be planted at will, but there are zombie disturbances every day, and maybe they will encounter other survivor forces robbing them. Unless a larger-scale defensive fortification is built, that will be a massive project, which will inevitably require more manpower and material resources to complete.

Besides planting, there are more than a dozen chickens and ducks on the mountain. As long as there is a certain amount of breeding experience, they can be allowed to multiply to a certain number. The eggs produced stably are a very important supplement to grain.

The lowest temperature in Qincheng in winter has reached minus twenty-eight degrees since records began. This is a number that makes people awe. Thinking of these, the hearts of the three sank.

The others were still immersed in the joy of eliminating Beitaziying, while Zhang Su, as the leader of the camp, together with the two virtuous wives beside him, couldn't help but feel worried about the future.

The next morning, the people who stayed up late got up one after another, two hours later than usual.

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

He issued a bounty order. Since Beitaziying had been wiped out, he naturally had to notify Ma Changshou.

After about half a minute, Ma Changshou's voice came from the walkie-talkie: "Good morning, Boss Zhang. Don't worry, I haven't dared to delay the matter you entrusted to me for even a moment. I've already sent people out to investigate!"

Zhang Su smiled faintly and said, "No need to bother. I'm specifically notifying you that we already dealt with those guys from Beitaziying last night. This area of ours is peaceful now!"

"Dealt with?"

Ma Changshou was startled by Zhang Su's words. The walkie-talkie in his hand almost fell to the ground. His smile stiffened as he said, "Boss Zhang met the people from Beitaziying? How, how did you deal with them?"

"How else could I deal with them? Just like you think, haha. Alright, this matter is over. Keep the walkie-talkie, it's convenient to contact if there's anything!"

"Boss Zhang, wait a moment..."

Ma Changshou heard Zhang Su was about to end the call and hurriedly stopped him, then said, "May I ask, do you have any medicine for heart disease over there?"

"Medicine for heart disease?"

Zhang Su didn't press the talk button and looked at Zhong Xiaoshan, who was folding the quilt, with surprise: "Xiaoshan, do we have medicine for heart disease?"

He knew very little about heart disease, after all, he was still young.

Zhong Xiaoshan nodded while working and said, "Yes, several kinds. There are different ones for different situations. Ask him which specific aspect he needs it for."

Zhang Su nodded and pressed the talk button: "I don't understand heart disease, Village Head Ma, tell me the names of the medicine, I'll write them down, and then I'll go find them."

"Eh, eh, that would be too much trouble for Boss Zhang. Um, nitroglycerin tablets and quick-acting heart-saving pills."

Ma Changshou said two names.

Zhong Xiaoshan said, "These are very common heart disease medicines. We have them, and they are very sufficient."

At the beginning, they swept two or three large pharmacies in Qincheng and made some supplements in Niuquanzi Town. Now, the various medicines in the safe camp are quite complete.

"Okay, I've written down the names. But Village Head Ma, this medicine is very precious now. If I can take it out, what will you trade with me?"

Zhang Su naturally talked about the price.

"That naturally depends on what Boss Zhang needs over there. We have a lot of miscellaneous things stored in Xidaying Village, but not much of any one thing. It's laughable, hahaha."

Ma Changshou laughed dryly a few times.

Considering Xidaying Village's business model of collecting road tolls, Zhang Su could understand Ma Changshou's words. He sold a pass and said, "Then I have to think about it carefully, and by the way, go to the warehouse to see if there's anything you want, and then contact you later."

"Okay, Boss Zhang, then I'll wait for your news, but please be quick, heart disease can't wait."

Ma Changshou responded quickly.

"Xiaoshan, what is the value of nitroglycerin tablets and quick-acting heart-saving pills?"

Zhang Su put down the walkie-talkie. He first wanted to understand the general situation of these two medicines.

"This value... the price wasn't expensive in the past."

Zhong Xiaoshan spread her hands and continued, "But both are life-saving medicines! Brother Su, just ask for a high price. As long as they feel it's more cost-effective than going to the city to find them, they will definitely agree."

Zhang Su's eyes lit up. This was good news. He understood the inventory situation with Zhong Xiaoshan, and after smoking another cigarette, he picked up the walkie-talkie to contact Xidaying Village: "Village Head Ma, I just went out and ran into the warehouse manager. We have the medicine you want!"

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

Ma Changshou's response speed was extremely fast. It could be seen that the walkie-talkie had been in his hand the whole time.

"I don't have much of this kind of niche medicine here. I found one hundred nitroglycerin tablets and about two hundred small pills of quick-acting heart-saving pills."

The quantity Zhang Su reported to Ma Changshou was less than one-tenth. While fooling the other party, he saw that smoke had already risen in the kitchen, knowing that the few people in the cooking squad had started cooking.

"Oh my, that's enough, that's enough, this much is already enough!"

Unexpectedly, even though he deliberately reported a small quantity, the other party still felt it was very sufficient. This made Zhang Su feel a bit dry, because only when items are scarce can one better negotiate the price.

"Sigh, we have this much in stock, but I can't take it all out for trading. I have to keep a part. We also have uncles of a certain age in our camp, and their hearts aren't good either."

Zhang Su told lies as easily as breathing.

Yu Wen, who was passing by downstairs, looked up at Zhang Su by the windowsill, with surprise on his face, pointing at himself, asking with his eyes, is it me?

Zhang Su didn't know it was such a coincidence. He said this just as he was heard by the oldest person in the camp. He waved his hands repeatedly to indicate it was nothing, and couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 198 =====