Xu San San had no choice but to retreat to her room. Reluctantly setting down the folding bed, she left 7-4566 with frequent backward glances.
Before going downstairs, adhering to the principle of never wasting even the smallest possession of the original owner, she went to the water room and drank until she was full, then filled two plastic bottles before leaving satisfied.
Fortunately, the folding bed had been left behind in the room. After several trips back and forth, she managed to haul the handcart and its contents down to the first floor, panting heavily.
It was already 17:15, 45 minutes ahead of the landlord’s required moving time.
The sun past 5 p.m. still scorched the earth. As soon as Xu San San stepped out of the building, the blazing sunlight stung her face painfully.
She quickly dug out the small cloth she used for washing her face from her bag, wrapped it around her face, and tucked her hands into her sleeves. Only then did she feel slightly better.
Then, out of habit, she instinctively sought the shade of greenery.
It was only then that she suddenly realized: the streets of Z District had not a single trace of vegetation!
Well, in such extreme heat, even if anything were planted, it would likely wither quickly under the sun.
Xu San San didn’t dare linger. She zigzagged through the streets, sticking as much as possible to the shadows cast by the buildings.
Before long, she was drenched in sweat.
Well, today’s bath was completely wasted.
She had no choice but to take shelter in a shaded spot, pull out a bottle of water, and take small sips.
She didn’t dare guzzle it down recklessly now—she had no idea if the Refugee Camp provided water sources. It was better to be cautious.
Admittedly, Xu San San’s caution was quite justified. Although the Refugee Camp did supply water, it was mildly contaminated and required high-temperature disinfection before it met drinking standards.
Of course, she was unaware of this at the moment.
As she rested briefly and glanced around, her Bracelet sounded another alarm:
“Beep! 30 minutes until the city gate closes. Non-residents of the Base, please leave before 6 p.m., or you will be assigned to the Exile Zone!”
What?!
So the Base City actually closes its gates?
She had planned to find a suitable spot inside the city to pitch her tent!
Little did she expect her clever plan to shatter before it even began.
With no other choice, to avoid being sent to the Exile Zone, she wrapped her scarf tightly around her head, resignedly pulled her little handcart, and hurried toward the South City Gate.
Fortunately, the distance to the South City Gate wasn’t too far, and her handcart wasn’t overloaded.
Xu San San successfully exited the South City Gate with 15 minutes to spare.
Along the way, focused on hurrying, she didn’t notice that aside from her and a few Shantytown residents, the vehicles and pedestrians on Z District’s streets didn’t seem rushed or panicked.
That’s because the rule about closing the city gates only applied to those without residence inside the city.
Xu San San was completely unaware of this information at the time. Right now, she had more urgent problems to solve—
What to eat today?
Where to sleep tonight?
Standing at the city gate, she glanced toward the densely packed Shantytown in the distance.
Hmm, it’s vast.
Would she even manage to find an empty spot to set up her tent…?
She looked down at her little handcart again.
Sigh…
Without understanding the situation, it was better not to venture in recklessly.
Xu San San turned around, resolutely picked up the handles of her handcart, and headed back to the Refugee Camp.
As she passed by the barracks of Refugee Camp’s 1st District, someone suddenly tugged at the corner of her clothes.
“Hey! Little lady, heading home? Got dinner sorted? Want some Nutrient Solution?”
A overly familiar middle-aged man, flashing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, stood smiling obsequiously under a roadside stall, his gaze fixed intently on her.
Nutrient Solution?
What was that?
Countless question marks popped up in Xu San San’s mind, and she stared suspiciously at the middle-aged man before her.
The man seemed rather inexperienced in his trade, nervously rubbing his nose and winking at her repeatedly before launching into an enthusiastic sales pitch:
“This here is genuine high-concentration Nutrient Solution—one sip can last you three days! What do you say? Want a few tubes?”
As he spoke, he reached into his pocket, revealing the corner of a transparent plastic tube.
Whoa! At first glance, it looked strangely familiar!
Xu San San coughed, pretending to casually ask, “How much?”
Hearing this, the man sensed an opportunity. Leaning in close, he lowered his voice conspiratorially, his eyebrows dancing with excitement: “This is premium stock smuggled from inside—shelf life over three months. 50 Contribution Points per tube, how about it?”
Xu San San was first overwhelmed by his pungent breath, then sprayed with saliva. Unable to bear it any longer, she snapped angrily: “50?! You might as well rob me!”
With that, she shook off his hand and quickly backed away three meters.
The man hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. Hopping anxiously, he hissed: “Keep it down! Keep it down! If the main force returns soon, neither of us will leave here alive!”
What nonsense?
She was baffled.
Who was this “main force”?
Where were they?
Why couldn’t she leave alive if they returned?
Damn it, I’m leaving right now!
Though inwardly nervous—unsure whether this was mere intimidation or an imminent threat—Xu San San immediately turned and started sprinting toward the 8th District, pulling her cart behind her.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Don’t rush off, little lady!”
The middle-aged man chased after her for a few steps before stopping, watching her retreating figure as he called out:
“Name your price then! I need to pack up soon anyway…”
“No money! Can’t afford it!”
Xu San San was genuinely broke, so she tossed out a random excuse:
“Unless you’ve got some expiring today—then I might consider it!”
What the hell?!
The man’s face instantly stiffened.
Damn! This… this… this bitch actually knows her stuff!
How did she know the tubes in my pocket are all expiring today?!
When did I give it away?
Did I accidentally reveal the expiration date earlier?
But no—I clearly scratched off both the production and expiration dates…
While the man was plunged into existential doubt, Xu San San had already bolted away in great haste.
When he snapped back to reality and saw his hard-won big fish about to escape, he couldn’t just let her go!
If he didn’t chase her now, the stock in his pocket would be worthless!
Forgetting all caution, he rushed back to his stall, grabbed a large box from the ground, and started running after her, shouting:
“Don’t run… the kind expiring today… I have that too!”
Hearing this, Xu San San thought,
Huh?
Did I just stumble into luck by pure chance?
Xu San San quickly slowed her rapid, shuffling steps and rubbed her slightly hungry belly.
Her eyes darted around. Well, tonight’s rations…
Still hadn’t been secured…
Remembering the familiar plastic silhouette in the uncle’s pocket earlier, she slapped her forehead—wasn’t that the same thing the severely injured young man had given her to drink this morning?!
So that was Nutrient Solution!
No wonder…
Xu San San stopped in her tracks, turned around, and with a look that said “I see through your scheme,” declared:
“Don’t think I don’t know my stuff. One tube of that can last a day at most!”
The uncle, who had just caught up, hadn’t even caught his breath before receiving another blow.
How could she even recognize this?!
Are kids in the Refugee Camp this knowledgeable now?!
This was premium goods only circulated in the inner Base City!
The uncle was truly at his wit’s end. He had brought a whole box of high-quality goods with him today, originally scheduled for a trade at 4 p.m. Thinking he was already outside the city, he had also fished out a few expired tubes from the factory’s disposal bin to try his luck. Who would have thought he’d wait left and right, and by almost 6 p.m., the other party still hadn’t shown up.
He worried it was a trap and didn’t dare linger with so many important supplies after the scavenging teams returned.
If he were accidentally discovered, even with the patrol teams around, he could instantly become everyone’s target.
People driven by hunger are capable of anything!
But he didn’t want today’s trip under the scorching sun to be in vain. The roadside anti-radiation shelter rental cost Contribution Points!
He’d already rented it for nearly two hours!
All those shiny Contribution Points wasted!
Gritting his teeth, the uncle said, “10 Contribution Points per tube! Can’t go any lower!”
“5 Contribution Points!”
Xu San San fully employed her wholesale market bargaining tactics, slashing the price in half.
“If you don’t sell today, those things will be worthless!”
Xu San San had clearly grasped the uncle’s mentality of wanting to salvage whatever he could.
Cornered, the uncle sighed and resignedly said, “Fine, 5 Contribution Points it is. I have 6 tubes left—you have to take them all!”
Xu San San looked incredulous: “I’m just one person! I’ll take two tubes at most! Take it or leave it!”
With that, she made as if to leave again.
The uncle was completely thrown off balance. He usually dealt with private soldiers inside the city—most of them had some money and were straightforward. Today was his first time risking a trade outside the Base City.
Honestly, after being stood up, he was already uneasy. Now faced with such unconventional bargaining, he just wanted to finish this deal and pack up to go home.
So he stomped his foot and said,
“12 Contribution Points for 3 tubes!”
…
The uncle hurriedly ran back to his shelter and started packing. It was almost 18:00—he needed to get back to the Base City quickly, or he’d be in danger!