Chapter 14

The sun was already hanging on the horizon, and it was probably quite late. Returning now would definitely be too late.

Chu Guang would rather stay in Bet Street for the night than travel on the dangerous night roads.

He had had a few unpleasant experiences and knew all too well how dangerous it was. Being alive was a matter of divine intervention.

Chu Guang wrapped the iron pipe rifle he had bought in a plastic bag and tied it to the sharpened pipe behind him. No one could tell from the outside that it was a gun.

Although Bet Street did not restrict survivors from carrying weapons, Chu Guang did not want the mayor's informants to discover his private transactions with the outside trading caravans.

50 grams of blue umbrella mushrooms for just 1 point of chips.

It was amazing how these blood-sucking leeches could come up with such ideas!

Chu Guang passed through the gate of Bet Street.

He saw a crowd of people, men and women, old and young, gathered at the entrance of the recycling station.

They were ragged, pale, and thin, carrying woven bags or baskets on their backs, and holding plastic buckets or other containers in their hands.

Their daily routine was simple.

They would exchange the garbage they collected for chips, and then use the chips to buy necessities.

"New shipment of soap! Produced by the Giant Rock City Chemical Factory, just 3 points of chips to wash away those disgusting odors. Buy one for your wife, only 30 available, first come, first served."

"Edible oil, no matter what it's made from, it's fresh and good, transported from Brown Farm, 10 points of chips per liter... a bit expensive, but there's a reason for the price. You'd better team up with someone."

"Let me see, right, coarse salt! A thumb-sized piece for 5 points of chips... don't ask where it comes from, do you want to eat better? Come and buy it."

"Tobacco leaves, good for smoking or for smoking meat, also from Brown Farm... forget it, pick what you want, I'll take a break."

Old Charlie lazily called out at the entrance, his attitude not at all like that of a businessman.

In fact, this was not business, but more like a master's charity to his servants.

Not just Bet Street.

Within a five-mile radius, many things could only be bought here, and the people living here had no choice.

And don't think five miles is short.

Although Clear Spring City is located on the Southern Great Plain, it has already turned into a more dangerous concrete jungle than a forest...

Old Charlie wiped the sweat from his brow, handed the money collection to a shop assistant, and sat down to rest, eyes half-closed.

At this moment, a thin young man in a gray coat, waving a wooden sign, walked to the front of the crowd.

"Mobilization Order! The mayor's mobilization order!"

"By the end of the month, each household must submit 100 kilograms of firewood and 2 square meters of fur."

"Spread the word!"

The crowd was in an uproar.

Complaints were heard, but no one dared to resist.

After all, this is how it has been in the past.

Bet Street does not collect taxes, but that doesn't mean living here is free. Besides the soft exploitation in trading rights, the mayor always finds ways to collect resources.

The mobilization order is one of them, issued every August or September.

As for what happens if you refuse to pay?

The punishment is straightforward.

All men and women over 16 in the settlement, whether living alone or not, are considered a household. After marriage, they are counted as one household.

If the resources are not submitted, the registrar will strike the household's name from the register, seize their shack in Bet Street, and expel them from the survivor's camp.

In this world where life is as thin as paper, losing shelter is no different from death.

Especially in the cold winter.

Although Bet Street is not rich, it is better than the neighboring Brown Farm. At least the survivors here still have a bit of pitiful freedom.

"It seems the mayor plans to make one last profit before the last trading caravan arrives this year, using the collected resources to have a fat year."

Chu Guang thought to himself but did not take the mobilization order seriously.

He would leave before winter.

When the time comes, he would leave on his own.

Avoiding the recycling station, Chu Guang walked straight to his shack. However, before he reached the door, he saw Yu Xiaoyu and a man arguing at the entrance.

The man was about 17 or 18, not very tall, a teenager. Chu Guang didn't know him well, but he remembered he was the third son of the Wang family, named Wang Defu.

His shack was in the far corner of the settlement, diagonally opposite the Yu family, and then the Wang family. He rarely visited them.

He didn't know what had brought the third son of the Wang family to his place.

"Move aside."

Wang Defu, impatient, pushed Yu Xiaoyu, who stumbled backward but still spread her arms like a mother hen protecting her chicks, refusing to move.

"No, this isn't your house!"

"It's not yours either."

"But he asked me to help watch the house!"

"What's there to watch in a dead man's house."

"He's not dead." Yu Xiaoyu glared at him, her eyes wide like a goldfish.

"Stop lying, the outsider hasn't been back for four or five days."

Wang Defu, impatient, continued, "Your Yu family just wants a share, I don't plan to take it all. The crossbeam and the door are mine, the rest is yours."

A dead man's house, if left unoccupied, would usually be divided among the neighbors.

There was no set rule for how many days of absence meant death, but if someone didn't return for several days, everyone assumed they were either captured by slave traders or raiders, or eaten by mutants.

No one could survive outside for several nights.

Even experienced hunters found it difficult.

Yu Xiaoyu's lower lip turned blue from biting, her eyes wide like a goldfish, but she didn't move, though she didn't take any other action.

Wang Defu, unwilling to wait, was about to push her aside when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Who said I'm dead?"

Wang Defu's hair stood on end, jumping to the side, his eyes wary like a wild animal, looking at Chu Guang. Yu Xiaoyu quickly hid behind Chu Guang, whispering.

"He came yesterday, trying to tear down your house."

"Thank you."

Chu Guang looked at Wang Defu with a half-smile, then said,

"Are you leaving on your own, or do I have to help you?"

Wang Defu, knowing he was in the wrong, glanced at the blood-stained steel pipe on Chu Guang's back, and silently walked away.

He wasn't afraid of the Yu family or the outsider, but no one wanted to offend a strong man.

Especially one who was alone and had no weaknesses.

Watching Wang Defu's back, Chu Guang felt a bit of sadness.

Some people, though alive, were no different from the hyenas and vultures outside.

He had once seen a mutated hyena bite the neck of an injured companion, tearing it apart. At the time, he didn't think much of it, considering it a natural law. Now, he felt a bit of empathy.

He had only been gone for a few days, and these people were already stirring.

Yu Xiaoyu, hiding behind Chu Guang, didn't leave. She thought if she waited a bit longer, she might get the candy she had tasted before.

She had never eaten anything so sweet, almost chewing on the plastic stick.

Noticing the big eyes watching him, Chu Guang was initially surprised, then realized what was happening, and smiled, pulling a lollipop from his pocket and giving it to the little girl.

"Thanks for the trouble these past few days."

"No trouble!"

Xiaoyu happily tore the plastic wrapper and put the lollipop in her mouth, mumbling, "I don't have anything else to do anyway, I can watch your place when you go out."

At this moment, the men of the Yu family, carrying their spoils, returned from the recycling station. The bulging bags showed they had a good harvest.

Seeing her older brother, second brother, and father, Xiaoyu quickly slipped back into the house.

Earning candy was a side job; watching the outsider was the main task assigned by the elders. She didn't forget the elders' instructions.

However, her quick movements couldn't escape the hunter's eyes.

The head of the Yu family, a robust old man with deep wrinkles, glanced at Chu Guang, said nothing, and entered the house with his eldest son, who carried two bags of green wheat.

Yu Hu, the second son of the Yu family, stopped in front of Chu Guang.

Chu Guang recognized him.

Most people here didn't talk to him, but this 18-19-year-old boy was one of the few who would speak to him.

However, he was straightforward, just like his name.

"These past few days, I thought you were dead."

Chu Guang said.

"Looks like your intuition isn't very accurate."

Yu Hu, taken aback, scratched his head.

This outsider was interesting, speaking in a way different from others, always with a twist.

Not minding, he continued.

"I have to tell you, the mayor just issued a mobilization order. By the end of the month, each household must submit 100 kilograms of firewood and 2 square meters of fur."

The Yu family had three adult males, needing to submit 300 kilograms of firewood and 6 square meters of fur, making them one of the "big taxpayers" in Bet Street.

The firewood was manageable; the city was full of vegetation, and the northern suburbs had large forests. Even without the mobilization order, they would cut some for winter.

But the fur was more challenging, requiring at least four, or even five, mutated hyenas.

"I heard about it when I came back."

"That's good."

Yu Hu, straightforward, continued.

"We were just discussing with the Li family, planning to go to the northern forest. There are rumors of deer migrations. If we catch a couple, we'll get both fur and meat. Want to join us?"

"Maybe not, I'll think of something else."

Chu Guang politely declined but mentally noted it.

The scavengers of Bet Street planned to hunt in the north, and the Linghu Wetland Park was slightly to the west. He hoped they wouldn't meet.

Yu Hu, not knowing what Chu Guang was thinking, assumed he was embarrassed and continued to persuade.

"I can see you're capable, but even the best can only do so much. The Wang family's kid dared to bully you because of their numbers."

"Here's a deal, my sister will be of marriageable age next year. Why don't you marry her, then we'll be family."

"If you're in a hurry, we can have the wedding tonight."

Chu Guang almost choked, coughing and said,

"No need."

What was this?

How did the conversation jump to this?

Moreover, the marriageable age for these survivors was far from what Chu Guang, from a civilized society, could accept.

He was still young, and marriage was too early.

"Alright, then."

Yu Hu didn't push further, but felt a bit disappointed.

People from the shelters were smart, like the old man Charlie, who had been helping the mayor since he was young, a big figure in the neighborhood.

Old Charlie said Chu Guang was also from a shelter, so he must be smart too.

If he could have a son with his sister, the Yu family might produce a big figure like Old Charlie.

He had even planned to convince his father.

But now, it seemed he was overthinking.

Carrying his things back home, Yu Hu stopped his sister.

"Xiaoyu, if I marry you to the neighbor, Chu Guang, would you agree?"

Xiaoyu, with a lollipop in her mouth, mumbled,

"Sure."

It was just next door, not far.

In her eyes, marriage was just a change of sleeping place, nothing special. Maybe she could get more candy.

Yu Hu, who had almost given up, said happily,

"Then I'll try to persuade him again."

"Okay."

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