Because “Si Yan’s” business scope was narrow and specialized, with almost no overlap with Lao Qin’s second-hand store, the two had maintained a fairly good relationship as neighbors for many years.
“Si Yan’s” uncle held some authority within the Base, so despite his business structure being singular, his trade flourished. Thus, he had secured this VIP warehouse early on.
Tian Ji, also known as “Si Yan,” was the true owner of this warehouse.
Lao Qin directly transferred 100 Contribution Points as a one-time rental fee, took the key from him, and assured him, “I won’t touch any of the items you’ve inventoried in the warehouse. I’ll just unload the goods and leave them in the outermost section. Once the client picks them up tomorrow at 9 a.m., I’ll return the key to you.”
“Si Yan” adjusted his glasses, nodded, and left.
After so many years as neighbors, he still trusted Lao Qin’s character.
Just then, a “putt-putt-putt” sound echoed from nearby as a truck slowly pulled up to the warehouse entrance.
A burly man with a shaved head jumped down from the driver’s cabin, grinning to reveal eight teeth, one of which gleamed with a metallic sheen. He smiled and announced, “Hello, Shunfeng Security Firm. Your delivery has arrived!”
Lao Qin glanced at the truck’s cargo hold, then eyed the brawny man with his plastered-on smile.
Hmm, bald head, gold tooth—that matched the description.
But he still needed to confirm: “Your name?”
Jin Gui Feng gritted his teeth, mentally cursing the password ritual, but maintained his smile. “Gui Feng of the South City Gate, present!”
Lao Qin nodded and completed his part: “Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple!”
With their identities confirmed, Jin Gui Feng first unloaded several large crates of roughly butchered mutated bullfrog meat from the truck, followed by a glass jar containing mucus and poison sacs, and finally a large bag of frog skins…
Ten minutes later, inside the warehouse, Lao Qin circled a plump, perfectly round watermelon, taking photos and videos from every angle. Soon, a listing priced at a staggering 980 Contribution Points appeared in the Dark Web’s trading section…
Star Calendar 336, Flame Season, Day 72, 06:30 in the morning.
Xu San San, her belly prominently swollen, zigzagged to the far end of the Black Market and tapped rhythmically on a wall:
“Tap-tap-tap—tap,”
Three short, one long.
“Who is it?”
“Boss, got any new stock?”
“New stock isn’t available every year!”
“Then what’s available every year?”
…
The door opened and closed.
Lao Qin led Xu San San to the counter and pushed forward the frog-skin armor that had been hastily crafted overnight by the artisan.
“First, check if this fits. If it doesn’t, alterations will cost extra.”
Xu San San pulled out the outer armor, her face lighting up with surprise. She hadn’t expected the frog skin to be transparent; she’d braced herself for a head-to-toe green outfit. Holding it up against herself, she found it slightly oversized, but that was fine—she was only 15 and still growing. She nodded approvingly. “Not bad, not bad.”
Then Lao Qin pointed to a handcart in the corner.
“Over there, your new handcart. The bed is made from the latest high-hardness, lightweight, foldable metal sheet, fitted with four metal swivel casters. I’ve embedded a metal chain at the front, with a handle at the end. As you requested, there are two retractable straps on the underside of the bed that can be fastened to your arms. See if it suits you.”
Xu San San circled the new handcart, testing it out a few times—
The handcart panel folds up and can be attached to the left arm by threading it through two retractable straps;
When the panel is unfolded and the metal chain at the end is pulled, the universal wheels can glide smoothly back and forth on the ground.
Indeed, it was lightweight and flexible—she was quite satisfied!
“I also fixed up your old handcart on the side, replaced it with four universal wheels…”
…
“Watermelons, as agreed, with a 20% markup, total 580 Contribution Points;
The watermelon vines, I transferred to the researchers at the Base Agricultural Institute. After deducting my commission, it’s 120 Contribution Points;
The mutated bullfrog meat and mucus, total 230 Contribution Points—I’ll take it. The meat isn’t very useful, but the mucus can be used to make medical anesthetics;
And that piece of wood, it’s rare ironwood, I’ll also take it with a 20% markup, that’s 120 Contribution Points.
The processing fee for the outer armor and two pairs of gloves, deduct 180 Contribution Points;
Materials and labor for the new handcart, deduct 460 Contribution Points;
For the old handcart, I’ll only charge you for the four wheels, deduct 80 Contribution Points;
The two daggers, one hoe, and one backpack you picked, total deduct 260 Contribution Points…
580 + 120 + 230 + …
Finally, 70 points left.
Anything else you need? Oh, right, don’t forget that big bundle of firewood when you leave—it’s taking up space here.”
Actually, she had already shown these prices to Xie Yuan before leaving home, and there were no issues—Lao Qin was indeed giving her a fair price.
But…
Xu San San took a deep breath. She hadn’t expected this shopping spree to nearly wipe out all of yesterday’s earnings.
Ah, money flows like water, but earning it breaks your back!
Then she abruptly changed the subject and asked, “Lao Qin, how much does a detector usually cost?”
“What kind of detector?”
She gestured with her chin toward the black detector: “The kind that can detect nuclear crystal energy.”
Lao Qin waved his hand: “It’s not worth much now. Higher-end optical brains come with built-in detection functions.”
Xu San San was surprised: “Optical brains have different grades?”
Lao Qin looked at her as if she were an idiot: “What doesn’t have grades? Even plants and animals are classified as lightly, moderately, heavily, or non-polluted. An essential smart device like the optical brain definitely has good and bad versions too!”
So that’s how it was.
“Then how much does an optical brain with detection function cost? Um… a secondhand one!”
“Between 300 and 500, depending. What, you want to change your optical brain?”
Lao Qin narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xu San San:
“Wait, you have a nuclear crystal!”
Xu San San’s eyes widened—oh no, she’d slipped up:
“What kind of international joke is that! Me, someone like me, how could I possibly get my hands on a nuclear crystal!”
Lao Qin curled his lip. True, a young girl without even a heavy weapon was lucky just to stay alive—how could she possibly get a nuclear crystal?
Seeing that Lao Qin didn’t press further on the topic, Xu San San secretly breathed a sigh of relief and touched the item in her pocket.
Ah, she had been wondering whether to take it out for testing, but now it seemed better to forget it.
Xie Yuan was right—their recent harvests had been substantial and might have already drawn the attention of certain people in the Black Market. It was better to keep a low profile.
“Lao Qin, is there some kind of tool that isn’t an optical brain but can still add contacts and communicate with others?”
Lao Qin frowned. Why not just use an optical brain? “Do you want to use it outside the protective shield?”
Xu San San was startled and quickly waved her hands. “I wouldn’t dare leave the protective shield!”
“Then couldn’t you just use your Optical Brain…” Before he could finish, Lao Qin suddenly paused.
Right, Xie Yuan probably didn’t have an Optical Brain now. Could it be…
“If your Optical Brain has a local network transmission function, it could be paired one-on-one with an external adapter. These adapters are usually used for tracking or positioning, but with some modifications to add a communication transmission function, it should be possible. However, this modification is quite complex – the technician I know might not be able to do it. Otherwise, we’d have to find someone unfamiliar to do it… Maybe you should go back and think about it more?”
Xu San San understood Lao Qin’s implication – she needed to discuss this with Xie Yuan before making any decisions.
Actually, today’s conversation about Optical Brains had been spontaneous. When the topic came up, she suddenly remembered that Xie Yuan’s Optical Brain was broken, and he didn’t seem to plan on getting a new one.
Moreover, as a Guard member, why hadn’t he returned to his unit? Besides this Lao Qin, he didn’t contact anyone else.
There must be some secret involved. She could guess that Xie Yuan’s injury was connected to something significant – something that made him prefer hiding in the Shantytown as an “unregistered person” rather than returning to the organization.
But Xu San San wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs. After all, Xie Yuan was native to this post-apocalyptic world and understood better than her how to survive in these times.
Since he hadn’t said anything, she would pretend not to know anything. Still, it would be much more convenient if she had something like a mobile phone that she could use to contact someone for “Baidu-like” consultations whenever needed.
Just then, knocking came from outside the Second-hand Store. Several tall men in Black Combat Suits stood at the far end of the Black Market.