Chapter 16

The storefront of the agricultural supplies company was not very large, facing the street with a row of glass display windows.

Su Hao held a thick, hard rebar, skillfully twirling it in his hand, and forcefully thrust the sharp end into the zombie's mouth, piercing through it and twisting it until the hideous creature no longer moved.

Xin Yan, as usual, wore a helmet and held a riot shield with both hands, pushing another zombie against the wall and pressing it tightly. Han Ying, standing nearby, swung an iron-clad baseball bat, gritted her teeth, and roared as she smashed the swollen, rotting zombie's head to pieces.

The sidewalk outside the shop was littered with the bodies of killed zombies. Their heads had all been severely battered, some still twitching slightly, but they would never rise again, let alone come back to life.

Su Hao had taken out six, while Xin Yan and Han Ying together had taken out nine.

The training in the trap yard proved very effective—they used the techniques Su Hao taught them, throwing stones to lure the gathered zombies away one by one. Once they were sure they wouldn't be surrounded, they quickly killed them. Each action had to be spaced two to thirty seconds apart to allow for physical recovery and to observe the changing situation, calculating the distance from the zombie group and accurately judging the best time for the next move.

Su Hao lifted his foot and kicked the already dead zombie's head. These mutated creatures had bones that were softer and more brittle than normal humans. This osteoporosis would improve as the virus evolved. In at most a year, the zombies would become stronger, changing from the current "—1" to "1," or even "—2" on the scale.

A year could bring many changes.

Inside the glass display windows, dozens of inverted conical bottles were arranged, containing various types of crop seeds. Su Hao memorized the labels and codes on the bottles, then walked directly into the warehouse connected to the shop, grabbed a bag of winter wheat seeds from the steel rack, and walked out, loading it into the back of the SUV parked by the roadside.

Rice, corn, pumpkins, sunflowers... The burlap bags filled with seeds quickly filled the car, and even the remaining space on top was stuffed with two pesticide sprayers.

The seeds in the shop were just samples, and the actual quantity was not much. For the survivors in the bank building, it was already sufficient.

As Su Hao gathered the scattered cabbage and carrot seeds and put them into a polyethylene bag, Xin Yan and Han Ying had also chopped up all the zombie remains on the street with axes, collecting about thirty milligrams of silver bones.

Su Hao did not swallow them directly. These silver bones needed to be cleaned to remove the rotten flesh stuck to their surface. Although he had taken the immunity agent and was no longer afraid of infection, he still found them dirty and hard to swallow.

Looking at the two girls, who were covered in blood, he smiled, patted their shoulders, and said in an encouraging tone, "Well done, you're stronger than many men."

Fighting zombies required courage, but collecting silver bones from dead corpses required endurance and perseverance. Most people in the civilized era lacked these qualities. When disaster struck, they often died the fastest.

Han Ying lifted the visor of her riot helmet and took a deep breath. Whether intentionally or by accident, when she put down her axe, it landed between the legs of a dead zombie, smashing the rotten male genitalia to pieces.

...

Hu He stood in a room on the 22nd floor of the building, holding a high-powered telescope he had obtained from a Russian specialty store. He peered through the gap in the thick curtains, intently observing the movements in the opposite small building.

The view through the telescope was very clear, showing the clothes drying behind the rooftop fence and the occasional figures moving in the corridor. Their protective measures were very strict, with all windows covered by curtains and a lookout post built at the top of the rooftop using bricks and sandbags. The guards worked in shifts, patrolling 24 hours a day.

"Damn! Where did they get the guns? Are these guys really police?"

Putting down the telescope, Hu He cursed, pulled over a chair, and sat down, scratching his head with his short, thick fingers and frowning as he thought hard.

Gouzi and two other strong subordinates sat nearby, enthusiastically playing cards. The floor was littered with empty beer bottles, cigarette butts, and a thick layer of ash.

All the zombies in the building had been lured outside, and the entrances and passages were guarded. As long as there was no loud noise, the zombies would not be interested in this cold, hard building.

Hu He had been observing for three days—the survivors in the small building went out every day, staying outside for no less than three hours. Sometimes it was two people, or four, and they usually returned at noon or in the evening. Although he wasn't sure how many people were left inside, Hu He had seen by chance yesterday afternoon: a young woman sitting in a room on the third floor, holding a baby.

Hu He was increasingly convinced that at least a few of the survivors in the small building with water and electricity were police. Otherwise, they wouldn't have a child at such a time. They clearly weren't a family. Only overly idealistic, self-proclaimed saviors would bring such useless burdens, which also explained why they had guns.

Regardless, this was good news—when chaos or accidents occurred, the survivors in the small building would have to assign someone to take care of the baby, significantly weakening their already limited manpower. This gave his side a greater advantage.

Water, electricity, and a very young baby... Hu He rubbed his hands with a sinister smile, eager to lead his subordinates into that small building and enjoy it. Since the virus outbreak, he had been eating instant noodles almost every day. Canned luncheon meat and other fast foods made him feel nauseous, and he longed for rice, soup, and other such foods. Even in his sleep, he often dreamed of stewed chicken, boiled beef, fish-flavored shredded pork, and mapo tofu.

It was said that newborn babies were tender and tasted like chicken.

Hu He didn't think of himself as evil; he just wanted to satisfy his desires. After all, he had already killed more than a few people, and once you start, it's hard to stop.

...

Everyone gathered in the first-floor hall of the gym, divided into two opposing groups by a prominent white line on the floor.

Behind Hu He stood over a dozen subordinates, including Gouzi. They were tall and strong, with bulging muscles visible through the sleeves of their sweatshirts. They carried javelins and sticks as weapons, and a few of the particularly strong ones even carried heavy barbells, flexing their muscles like toys.

The group on the opposite side was nearly twice as large. Most were thin and short, with seven or eight women among them, who looked fearful and lacked any real beauty.

Only those chosen by Hu He were allowed to live on the second floor, while the survivors on the first floor had to go out daily to find supplies. They wouldn't all go out at once; they had to leave someone behind who was either their closest relation or under the supervision of others. If anyone didn't return or if the supervisor escaped, the hostage left behind would be killed.

This method of collective responsibility was cruel but effective.

Du Tianhao and Liao Qiu stood in the crowd, their faces expressionless. The former's eyes burned with intense anger and hatred, while the latter, though equally hateful, was also somewhat fearful.

The fat man standing next to them was a close friend. It was because of this that the fat man had become a hostage for the people on the second floor. Otherwise, Du Tianhao and Liao Qiu would have long escaped this hellish place and found another place to live, rather than returning each time to hand over half of their food and water and live in silence.

"There's been a misunderstanding."

Hu He cleared his throat, stepped forward, and slowly walked to the center of the hall. He scanned the crowd with snake-like eyes and said with a dry laugh, "I admit that some people here have been treated unfairly. You work hard to find food, while others sit back and enjoy the results... Ha! I understand your thoughts and your resentment. Alright! This ends now. From tomorrow, everyone, including me, must work for the group. We need to unite and face all difficulties together. Of course, as a reward, those who work the hardest will receive enough food and water."

The crowd began to stir, and Du Tianhao and Liao Qiu were surprised. They had thought Hu He had called everyone to publicly execute someone who had offended him, to intimidate the living. They never expected to hear such a self-defensive speech.

"What is he up to?"

Liao Qiu frowned, leaned close to Du Tianhao's ear, and whispered, "Do you believe what he's saying?"

The fat man also leaned in, whispering, "Anyone who believes him is a fool. He's a bastard, a murderer. I bet there's no worse scumbag in the world."

Du Tianhao didn't comment; his eyes grew colder, and his head was held high.

Hu He's speech continued.

"We are a family. In times of difficulty, we must help each other. I'm straightforward and like dealing with people who are straightforward. I admit that I've done some things wrong, but you must understand that these are extraordinary times. Outside, there are monsters everywhere. Making some people support others is indeed harsh, but you must understand—every effort will be rewarded. When you're in the most danger, we'll stand in front of you."

He spoke with enthusiasm, but his voice was low. If he wasn't afraid of attracting a large group of zombies, he would have raised his voice to make his speech more powerful.

It must be admitted that his words were indeed persuasive. Some people were already swayed, and the cold expressions on their faces began to melt.

"We must face all difficulties together. We are friends, brothers, a family. I won't just talk; I'll show you my sincerity—"

As he spoke, Hu He cackled and waved to Gouzi and the others behind him. Several strong men carrying large cardboard boxes immediately came down from the second floor. They placed the boxes in the center of the hall, tore off the tape, and opened them, revealing neatly arranged cans, instant noodles, ham sausages, bread, and more.

"Go ahead and eat your fill! This is all yours. We will treat everyone fairly, every single one of you!"

Hu He's smile grew wider. He took a pack of cigarettes from Gouzi, broke it open, and threw it to the excited crowd. This action dispelled some people's doubts, and they began to step forward, rummaging through the boxes for their favorite foods. The onlookers quickly joined in, and the hall became chaotic and noisy.

"Don't worry, our supplies are ample. There's no need to fight; everyone will get their share—"

As Hu He's voice grew louder, more boxes of food were brought down from the second floor. He wasn't lying; the water and food were abundant, enough for everyone to have a full meal, with some left over.

People's eyes began to glow with enthusiasm. They crowded around Hu He, vying to flatter and praise him, hoping to gain more benefits. Hu He's face remained smiling, and he kept handing out more candy and cigarettes. These items had become luxuries, even on the second floor of the gym, where they were rationed.

Liao Qiu took a few cans and a loaf of bread to a corner of the hall and sat down with Du Tianhao and the fat man. He turned his head and looked at a man a few meters away who was loudly praising Hu He, shaking his head in confusion, "I don't understand. What's wrong with them? Just yesterday, that guy was beaten by the people on the second floor and lost his front teeth. But now..."

"The minds of lunatics always surpass the normal."

The fat man opened a can of sardines, adjusted his slightly sliding glasses, and whispered, "Hu He's actions clearly defy logic. I don't think he's suddenly had a change of heart. If I'm not mistaken, he's planning something. He needs more people, so he must win us over and use us."

Du Tianhao had just raised a can of beer to his lips when he heard the fat man's words, his movement freezing, and he turned to look at him.

"Don't be so surprised; I'm serious."

The fat man looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice and said seriously, "You've been out collecting supplies these past few days, but the people upstairs haven't been idle. Hu He has been going out with people every day but hasn't brought back anything useful. I bet he's planning something, but he's short on manpower. So, he must win us over and use us."

Liao Qiu's facial muscles twitched, "What does he want to do?"

"How should I know?"

The fat man picked up a fried sardine from the can and chewed it, "I'm just guessing."

Du Tianhao didn't join the discussion. He silently drank his beer, his eyes cold and deep, watching the noisy crowd in the distance.

...

The curtains gradually let in the morning light. Su Hao raised his right hand to shield his eyes, as if the sunlight had rudely awakened him. He lay on his back, his body wrapped in the bedsheet, slowly regaining consciousness from the haze until his body was full of strength and his eyes were completely clear. Then he sat up and began to get dressed.

Li Xiaomei had taken on the role of the cook. The porridge she made was fragrant, and the steamed buns were hot. Of course, the table also included fermented tofu and pickles from the store.

The sound of doors opening and people brushing their teeth came from the upstairs guest rooms. They greeted each other with "Good morning" and discussed the day's plans in familiar tones. The content was always the same—collecting supplies, surveying the area, extracting hormones, etc.—but the small building always exuded a warm and friendly atmosphere.

After breakfast, Old Song went to the rooftop as usual to stand guard. The large-caliber Barrett rifle had become his personal property, though it was heavy, he liked it very much.

Tao Yuan's equipment was an AUG rifle, a hunting knife, and an axe. The value of the fungal hormone would only become apparent after at least a year, and in a sense, it was more important than food and water. Of course, only Su Hao knew its critical importance.

Like all housewives, Li Xiaomei disliked violence. Her focus was on her husband and child. However, the dangers of the environment and her experiences were still vivid, and she almost forced herself to learn how to use firearms and operate these heavy, cold weapons. Tao Yuan made her a holster that attached to the outside of her thigh, where the pistol and magazine wouldn't interfere with breastfeeding, and the loose long skirt provided cover so no one could see the weapons she carried.

The baby's sense of smell seemed more sensitive than adults. For some reason, the little one in the crib liked the smell of gun oil and gunpowder. Li Xiaomei gradually discovered that whenever she placed the holster a bit further away, the baby would cry. When she put it back on, her son would smile again. This situation made everyone laugh and cry, and she had to remain armed 24/7, not for safety, but for the child.

Xin Yan and Han Jing had already put on their bulletproof vests, helmets, rebar, and hunting knives, ready to set out. In addition to these, they also carried pistols and police shotguns. Along with Su Hao's SA80, they were well-equipped to handle small groups of zombies.

As they left the small building and got into the SUV, Su Hao suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia.

He felt very happy—supported, respected, and trusted by these people.

They are my friends. Over time, he had even developed a closer bond with them.

Returning to this world from the future was the right decision.

But he didn't know how long this precious happiness could last.