Chapter 63

While Chu Guang was talking with the head of the Yu family, the players gathered around were whispering to each other.

"Did you understand what the Administrator said just now?"

"No!"

"I got a bit of it. In short, he traded one kilogram of coarse salt for ten hides?"

"This one kilogram of coarse salt seems to have been traded for three kilograms of smoked meat!"

"Three kilograms of smoked meat for ten hides? Holy crap! That's a win! Ten hides can get you two guns, right? It's simply too much of a rip-off for the natives!"

"Too narrow-minded! Speaking of which... how many silver coins did the Administrator sell us the coats and leather goods for?"

"..."

"Huh?!"

"Holy crap???"

These cute little players seemed to have discovered a significant issue, but Chu Guang, who had already won big, didn't take it to heart.

Is this important?

Obviously not.

Would they still be NPCs if they didn't buy low and sell high?

Do you think you've traveled to another world?

Can't stand private servers, silver coin attributes, and equipment can be modified as much as you want, as much as you can.

Yu Hu, the second son of the Yu family, was still counting on his fingers, and arithmetic within one hundred was still a bit difficult for him.

One hyena hide for 150 grams of coarse salt, 150 grams of salt in Bet Street costs 3 tokens, which means... one hyena hide for 3 tokens?

One more token than selling to Old Charlie?

But the quality of this coarse salt is much better than what Old Charlie sells...

It doesn't even have sand mixed in!

Finally, he figured it out, and Yu Hu turned to look at Chu Guang, saying with unease.

"How can that be? You're losing out on this deal. How about 100 grams, just like this time?"

Looking at this innocent child, Chu Guang suddenly didn't know how to face him, so he looked up at the sky and patted his shoulder.

"Have you heard of the term 'win-win'?"

"Win, win-win?"

This outsider always says things that are hard to understand. Yu Hu had just figured out how much one hide was worth, but now he was confused by this term he had never heard before.

He just felt...

Chu Guang's expression looked very profound and mysterious.

"Exactly," Chu Guang nodded and continued, "You profit, and I profit. We are now in a win-win situation."

Yu Hu looked excitedly at his father.

"Dad! Let's sell all our hides to Brother Chu from now on! This way, we will be in a win-win situation!"

"Shut up."

The head of the Yu family was clearly thinking more deeply,

But it wasn't because of the price. After all, the son follows the father in education.

Looking at Chu Guang, the old man still had concerns.

"I understand what you mean, but the mayor doesn't allow us to do business with outsiders. If we are discovered..."

Once or twice is fine.

But in the long run, it will definitely be discovered.

After all, the slaughtering and tanning are done in Bet Street. If the hides disappear and aren't sold to Old Charlie, someone will start to suspect.

Hearing this, Chu Guang smiled indifferently.

"Am I a merchant? Obviously not. My home is here! We are neighbors and friends. Is there a problem with visiting a friend's house? Obviously not."

"As for that old leech... cough, I mean the mayor of Bet Street, if he forbids you from interacting with us, it's fine. You don't need to bring anything out of your house. Just bring the hunted animals directly to me."

"Our people can even help you skin and butcher the animals for free, right in front of you, ensuring no cheating!"

"When the time comes, you can keep the hides and take the meat and the salt back. Or you can sell the animals to me directly. Not only can you exchange for salt, but you can also get grains and smoked meat, which is definitely more cost-effective than using tokens to buy from Old Charlie!"

Hearing these assurances, the old man's frown finally relaxed, and he said excitedly in a low voice.

"That won't do... We can't let you help us skin the animals for free. According to Bet Street's rules, the butcher takes 30% of the animal, and we will also give you 30%!"

Holy crap?

Is running a slaughterhouse in Bet Street so profitable?

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Butchering is a skilled job.

Chu Guang sighed.

Indeed, he was still too kind.

"You're too polite."

"30% is too much, let's make it 20%!"

...

Chu Guang didn't want to argue too much about whether it was 30% or 20%.

After all, no matter how it was calculated, he would still win more.

Of course, for these scavengers of Bet Street, doing business with him wouldn't result in a loss.

After all, he was different from merchants.

Those vampires are even more ruthless than leeches, making one-time deals, trying to suck the bone marrow out. After all, whether they will be alive tomorrow is unknown, who cares about the day after?

As for himself...

He definitely had more than just a few hides and pieces of meat in mind.

If operated properly, Bet Street might not take long to change its mayor.

At the very least, once both sides have built enough trust, a group of people will choose to leave their homes and come to join him.

He needed an opportunity.

The old and young of the Yu family thanked Chu Guang, finally accepted the one kilogram of coarse salt, and prepared to leave.

However, at this moment, Little Fish, who had been hiding behind Yu Hu, suddenly came out from behind her brother, her big, black eyes looking at Chu Guang, and said in a clear voice.

"Are you going back?"

Back?

It had only been two weeks, but hearing this question, Chu Guang suddenly felt as if it had been a lifetime.

Seeing that Chu Guang didn't speak, Little Fish continued.

"Brother said you weren't taken by the hyenas and are still alive, but you won't be coming back. But he can bring me to see you, so I came. Little Fish just wanted to ask if you still need that shack?"

This child still spoke in a way that was hard to break into sentences, trying to cram all her words into one sentence and finish it in one go.

But Chu Guang roughly understood and felt a bit touched.

Originally, in his plan, the shack in Bet Street was just a fallback, a way to get some supplies during the early stages, and Little Fish could guard it for two or three days.

If he didn't return after three days,

It meant he didn't need to come back.

"Have you been watching it for me all this time?"

"Uh-huh!"

Nodding like a garlic pestle, Little Fish proudly lifted her nose, looking very confident and no longer shy.

"Little Fish promised to watch it for you and won't go back on it. Brother said the dust on your door means you won't come back, so I swept it for you."

"Although that little brat from the Wang family always has his eye on your door, trying to sneak in and pry it open when I'm not paying attention, Little Fish's ears are very sharp, I can hear the slightest sound! He doesn't dare to mess with me, Brother used to beat him up."

The more Chu Guang listened, the more he felt guilty.

In his past sales job, he hadn't cheated anyone, but he had certainly misled people and taken advantage of their greed. But with such a straightforward, innocent, and kind customer, he really couldn't bring himself to do it.

How to put it...

Sigh!

Forget it.

Maybe this is why, despite having a face as handsome as Yanzu, he never became the top salesperson or hooked up with a rich woman.

"Thank you for watching my home for so long! But you don't need to anymore..."

"That shack, consider it a coming-of-age gift from me. If there's anything you can use, feel free to take it, no need to ask me."

Little Fish nodded, seemingly understanding.

"Aren't you coming back?"

That was the only question she really wanted to ask.

"Uh-huh, my companions need me, so I'll stay here from now on." Chu Guang used a gentle way to say it.

"Okay."

Thinking about not getting any more candy, Little Fish felt a bit down but still perked up.

"Thank you for the gift! Can Little Fish give it to my brother? My little nest is fine, but my brother needs a bigger one for his wedding, so he doesn't have to move too far and can visit often."

"Cough, your brother... that should be called 'marriage.' Anyway, it's yours now."

Chu Guang patted her little head and then took out three lollipops from his pocket, handing them to her.

"Take them and eat them... remember to remove the wrappers."

Then he added, worriedly,

"And don't put them all in your mouth at once. Only eat one at a time, or they'll get mixed and taste too sweet."

"Wow, thank you!"

Finally getting the lollipops she had been longing for, although a bit reluctant, Little Fish still followed her family back.

It would be dark soon, and the monsters would crawl out of the tall buildings to hunt on the streets.

She had heard this from a young age...

...

Evening.

The north gate of the outpost base was bustling.

It seemed to have formed a makeshift market.

Players stuck wooden signs in the ground, engraved with their identity numbers and IDs, and marked a small area to indicate their fixed stalls.

Those who were here yesterday were still here today, and no one would tear down their stalls.

There were few people in the game now, and they all came through word of mouth, so they were generally friendly and well-mannered.

After all, what's the point of hindering others?

Everyone here is part of the first wave, even the least successful are second-tier powerhouses, and the least successful are third-tier big shots.

If they don't care about their reputation now, how will they survive in the future?

Seeing the players so orderly, Chu Guang, the Administrator, was happy to be idle and posted a notice at the north gate.

"From today, the area 100 meters outside the north gate is the 'Market.' Residents of the shelter can freely set up stalls and trade."

"Consignment shelves are located in the residents' hall of the shelter. A 1 silver coin rent is required to consign items. If no one buys them, they will be taken down after seven days. After being taken down, the rent can be renewed to extend the period."

After the notice was posted, the players all came to see it, and after reading it, they cheered.

"Administrator is awesome!"

"Great! Is this an in-game update? The market function is finally here! Yay!"

"Anyone buying hyena tusks? With the market function, how long will it be before enchanting, drilling, and inscribing are available? Now is the time to stock up on materials! How else will you get stronger?"

"Anyone buying mushrooms? Fresh, big mushrooms! Waa, come buy, I promise I won't raise the price again, it will be 4 copper coins, really!"

"Mr. Crow, did your mushrooms go to college?"

"Can they lay eggs?"

"Can they be released?"

"Can they make Diona spit in my wine?"

"Holy crap, you're a freak!"

Looking at the noisy players, Chu Guang's face showed a fatherly smile.

Life is getting better day by day.

It's just that the night is getting darker earlier...

...

Before dark, the Yu family returned to Bet Street, but the atmosphere here was different from usual.

A cart was parked in front of Bet Street, and two men in fur coats, carrying iron-barreled rifles, and a ragged, unrecognizable slave stood beside it.

Old Charlie stood at the door, negotiating with the leader, a smile of flattery on his face.

The leader's face showed obvious impatience, blowing smoke in Old Charlie's face. Another burly man urged him to hurry.

Soon, Old Walter, the gatekeeper, led out a woman from the door.

She was wrapped in a long robe, her hands and feet in shackles, and the barcode on her ankle was faintly visible, her snow-white skin was so beautiful that even women would be attracted.

Little Fish had never seen such a beautiful sister, her big, black eyes blinking with curiosity and envy.

"Brother, who is she?"

Yu Hu whispered.

"Don't know, the old mayor bought her from outside, I heard she's a clone or something?"

"Clone, look at her eyes, they have no soul, don't look!" The father, who had seen more, pulled his son and daughter aside and whispered, "Don't make a sound, and don't make eye contact with those people. We'll wait for them here."

The two obediently followed their father, hiding in the shadows of the street corner.

The man in the fur coat inspected the goods, grinned, and patted Old Charlie on the shoulder, giving him a thumbs up.

Then Little Fish saw the rough man tie the woman's hand to the cart and call his companions to leave.

"Brother, where are they taking her?"

Yu Hu didn't know how to explain this. As a man, he could guess, but he didn't know how to say it.

Every winter, every household in Bet Street had to respond to the mayor's call and contribute supplies. Does the old mayor not have to pay tribute to others?

Obviously not.

It's like big fish eating small fish, and small fish eating shrimp.

"You're still young, don't ask so many questions."

"I'm not young." Little Fish said gloomily.

Yu Hu laughed at her words and ruffled her little head.

"Good, if you're not young, eat more meat, eating meat helps you grow... What's that plastic stick in your mouth? Is it good? Do you have more? Give me one to try."

"No way! Go ask Brother Chu yourself." Little Fish, like a little fish, skillfully dodged.

"It's time to go."

The old man carefully hid the salt in his chest, then reached out to take the plastic stick out of Little Fish's mouth, threw it into the corner, and, ignoring her disappointment, pulled the two of them towards Bet Street.

Old Charlie glanced at the three of them but didn't say anything, just chatting casually with Old Walter.

"Do you have such a beautiful girl in your old shelter?"

"No, the people in my shelter are at least normal."

"Is she not normal?"

"Clones come in two types. One type develops from infancy, growing naturally, almost indistinguishable from normal people. The other type is a quick product, staying in a growth chamber until fully developed, like livestock... this type varies widely in purpose and development time, you wouldn't understand."

Old Walter chuckled and handed a cigarette to Charlie.

"Since it's still early, tell me about it."

Old Charlie sighed, telling the story of his brief and beautiful time.

Little Fish wanted to stop and listen, but her father didn't want to, pulling her and Yu Hu hurriedly towards home.