Chapter 25: The Test (Book friends, hurry up and follow-up read)

Zhang Su intended to examine Zhong Xiaoshan's ability. If she met his expectations and could create enough value, taking one more person wouldn't be out of the question.

He would absolutely not make an exception just because the other party was a good-looking beauty. In the apocalypse, a good figure and a pretty face could only serve as bonus points after one's ability met the standard!

Seeing the inexplicable smile on Zhang Su's face, Zhong Xiaoshan's heart tightened suddenly, and she asked with slight nervousness: "How to prove it?"

Clatter.

Zhang Su took a set of keys out of his pocket and extended them to Zhong Xiaoshan: "The zombie that Zheng Xin and I killed yesterday was the owner of 902. This is the door key. Go see what useful things are there and bring them back!"

Zhong Xiaoshan looked at the stained keys in astonishment. She struggled in her heart for three to five seconds, then slowly reached out to take the keys from Zhang Su's hand, asking tentatively: "Is there anyone else in 902?"

Zhang Su felt surprised again. He had originally thought Zhong Xiaoshan would decline and refuse, but he hadn't expected her to agree after only a slight hesitation.

It seemed he had underestimated this woman's desire for survival in a desperate situation.

"As far as I know, Brother Li's family of five all lived together, but... his son must be gone already. As for the two elderly people and Brother Li's wife, it's unknown!"

"The child must be gone?"

Zheng Xin muttered softly on the side, seemingly thinking of something. She covered her mouth and gasped, saying: "That arm?"

Zhang Su nodded silently. He remembered that three months ago, Brother Li's child had an accident while playing in the complex and was scratched by an iron landscape decoration. It caused a huge stir at the time, and the property management company paid for the medical expenses. The scar from the stitches on the little guy's arm was exactly the same as the one on that severed arm.

Zhong Xiaoshan also had a vivid memory of that arm. After all, she had just dragged the zombie corpse to the stairwell. Approaching thirty, she was at the age of being a mother. Although she wasn't married, knowing this truth still made her feel uneasy.

"There are too many people being chased and gnawed by zombies outside. I can't be sad for everyone. That's just how it is. Don't think about it." Zhang Su comforted the two and looked at Zhong Xiaoshan again: "Do you have any problems?"

Zhong Xiaoshan frowned and thought for a while, looked at Zhang Su's arm, and said firmly: "I need protective measures like yours, and also, also a weapon."

"No problem!"

Zhang Su readily agreed to Zhong Xiaoshan's reasonable request. Letting someone else go to open up new territory without giving them equipment would be too unreasonable.

Soon, Zhong Xiaoshan was armed. Her arms were wrapped in discarded magazines and plastic bags, and her hands were clutching a large iron wrench tightly!

The wrench, more than a foot long, was also a self-defense weapon Zhang Su had entrusted someone to make. Although the shape was a wrench, anyone who really used it as a tool would curse, as no screw size would fit. It was purely to deal with inspections.

Zhang Su watched Zhong Xiaoshan holding the large wrench like a Japanese soldier entering a village, feeling both amused and uneasy. Could a woman with absolutely no combat experience really deal with zombies alone?

He didn't know...

But he knew this was a challenge Zhong Xiaoshan had to face. Out of responsibility, he taught Zhong Xiaoshan how to use the wrench for effective attacks.

Watching Zhong Xiaoshan walk out of the security door, Zhang Su gently closed the main door.

"Brother Su, letting her go alone, wouldn't that be a bit inhumane?"

Sticking to the peephole, Zheng Xin watched Zhong Xiaoshan's back disappear into the security door and asked Zhang Su with some unbearable heart.

"Inhumane? Human civilization is almost finished, and you're talking about being inhumane? Then according to you, me going alone to search for supplies is you being inhumane, and letting you go to search for supplies is me being inhumane?"

Zhang Su didn't stay idle. He rummaged through the wardrobe, took out several large backpacks, and carried them toward Zheng Xin's room.

"If it were just the two of us, if you asked me to go, I would definitely go. But if there were others, I wouldn't want to go alone..."

Zheng Xin answered seriously.

Zhang Su's footsteps paused, a bit surprised by Zheng Xin's answer, but he didn't say much, only saying: "You keep watch, if there's a situation, call me."

After speaking, he squatted down and started packing supplies into the backpacks.

After a night, Zhang Su had thought a lot. He felt that having these supplies scattered around wasn't right. If there was any situation that required relocation, they wouldn't have time to carry them. So, he packed several backpacks full according to the priority of survival needs.

If everything was fine, taking things out of the bags every time wouldn't be too much trouble. Once there was an emergency, they could immediately take the bags and relocate!

When he finished his work, he used his gaze to ask Zheng Xin, who was keeping watch, and saw the other party shake her head.

"If there's a situation, come back. If there's no situation, take the things and retreat quickly. Dawdling—I guess she doesn't know what to take..."

Zhang Su spent about twenty minutes packing the backpacks. If one knew what to do, this time was enough to loot supplies.

"No movement. Surely nothing happened. Maybe there's too much stuff?"

Zheng Xin bit her lip, wondering if Zhong Xiaoshan brought back a pile of supplies, would her status be threatened?

Just as she thought of this, she couldn't help but curse herself inwardly. What time was it, and she still had the mind to be jealous? How stupid!

"I'll keep watch for a while, you go exercise."

Zhang Su replaced Zheng Xin.

Another ten minutes passed, and it was still quiet, not even a fly flew by.

"This guy... could it be that she took the things from Brother Li's house and ran away?"

Zhang Su muttered softly.

"Hoo."

Zheng Xin finished a set of equipment exercises, her face flushed. Hearing Zhang Su's muttering, she shook her head and said: "Impossible, there's no telling how many zombies are hiding in the building. Zhong Xiaoshan would never run away alone!"

Zhang Su nodded slightly. The logic was sound, but the time was wrong. More than half an hour had passed. Even if she had looted a convenience store, one person could only carry so much.

Unless she was a patient with decision-making paralysis, wanting this and wanting that, or was she possessed by a logistics soldier?

"Not waiting anymore, I'm going up to see!"

After speaking, Zhang Su quickly put on his arm guards, picked up the axe and hammer, and gently pushed open the door. Brother Li's supplies couldn't be lost. Of course, Zhong Xiaoshan's safety was also one aspect.

However, just as Zhang Su opened the door and was about to step out, the security passage door was pulled open, and Zhong Xiaoshan returned.

Seeing Zhang Su fully armed and ready to go out, a look of relief appeared on Zhong Xiaoshan's terrified face: "I'm back!"

"Come in first!"

Zhang Su's gaze swept across Zhong Xiaoshan's body quickly, finding no signs of fighting, and he hurriedly opened the door.

"I... hoo, I only brought back this much. There's still a lot, I didn't have a chance to take it just now!"

Thud!

Zhong Xiaoshan put the heavy bag on the ground, bent over, and leaned on her knees, her chest heaving violently. The exercise wasn't very heavy; it was mainly the extreme tension that caused her rapid breathing.

According to relevant channels, the most critical data during the recommendation period is follow-up reading, with a weight of about 80%. This is too important. I implore book friends to help me!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 26 =====