Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Chapter 128 Barter

Xie Yingtang's face was cold and stern. He didn't look at the old woman again. A short and forceful "Go!" came out from between his teeth. Before the words were finished, he had already taken the lead and walked past the wailing old woman without hesitation.

Xu Xiaoyan's reaction was almost simultaneous with Xie Yingtang's low shout. She tightened her right hand and almost forcibly gripped Wang Xiao's wrist. She didn't care whether she would hurt him or not; the most important thing now was to get out of the center of this vortex of right and wrong immediately.

"Hurry up!" she whispered, her tone urgent and firm. Without giving Wang Xiao a chance to break free, she dragged him along, following closely behind Xie Yingtang's back. They practically ran away. Behind them, the old woman's desperate cries did not diminish in the slightest as they moved away. Instead, they lingered like maggots, hovering and echoing in the deathly atmosphere of the temporary camp.

The camp was not deserted. Some early-rising survivors were drawn by the crying and peeked out from between tents or vehicles with numb or curious faces. Their eyes followed the young man who had obviously "reaped a lot" with complicated expressions, their eyes filled with speculation, but more than anything, a kind of indifference and self-protective alienation.

Wang Xiao was being dragged along by Xu Xiaoyan, his steps faltering, but he still couldn't help but glance back. In his line of sight, the old woman was pounding her hands on the cold ground. Wang Xiao's lips moved a few times, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he fell silent. He abruptly turned his head away and refused to look any further.

Looking at Wang Xiao's profile, still showing some dazedness and lingering pity, and glancing at Xie Yingtang walking ahead who showed no intention of offering any comfort, not even slowing down his pace, but instead appearing indifferent, as if to say "let him figure it out himself," Xu Xiaoyan sighed silently in her heart.

She knew that there were some things Xie Yingtang wouldn't say, nor would he bother to say, so in the end, she would have to play the role of the "villain" who exposed the reality.

She deliberately slowed her pace, walking alongside the distracted Wang Xiao.

"Wang Xiao," she called out, her voice low but deliberately calm, trying to draw his wandering attention back from the tragedy behind him.

"Listen," she said, her gaze fixed on the desolate wilderness ahead, as if stating a simple fact. "Stop having any unnecessary sympathy. Look at the world we live in. Order has collapsed, it's a dog-eat-dog world. Just surviving takes all the energy most people have. Kindness is a good thing, the most precious light in humanity, I never deny that, but it has its limits, and it depends on the situation. The things we find are for the sake of a more secure life. We don't have the energy to help others. Taking care of ourselves is the greatest responsibility we can have towards each other." She reminded them.

Wang Xiao listened silently, his profile still somewhat stiff. He nodded, his movements slow, replaced by a sense of helplessness and resignation at the realization of reality.

He stared blankly at the uneven ground beneath his feet, his voice dry and tinged with self-deprecation as he said, "I understand the logic... I understand the logic. Isn't that how it's portrayed in books and movies? In the apocalypse, kill the saintly first... It's just that, just seeing that old lady's appearance just now was really... It made me feel uneasy, like a stone was lodged in my throat. I thought that since we just harvested quite a lot, it wouldn't hurt to share some with her, at least it would give her some relief... At worst..."

He paused, his voice lower, almost as if he were muttering to himself, "At worst, I'll just eat one less bite and save the money. Now that I think about it, I was too naive and simple-minded." He had to admit his momentary impulse and untimely "good intentions," feeling a sense of defeat.

Xie Yingtang, who had been walking silently, suddenly turned around, glanced at Wang Xiao, and spoke directly and sharply, mercilessly piercing Wang Xiao's most painful past. "Heh," he let out a short, cold laugh. "I've never seen you so 'kind' before. You were always out there with your bunch of cronies, figuring out how to bully people and have fun at school. Why didn't you ever give a second glance to the poor souls on the street back then? Now, without all that messy stuff to deal with and without those bootlicking followers, you've suddenly started to pity others?"

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with even deeper mockery. "What's wrong? Have I been too strict with you lately, going to the other extreme and spoiling you? Are you starting to take the path of being a compassionate, saintly figure?"

Wang Xiao's face flushed red instantly at his words, feeling both ashamed and angry. The melancholy that had arisen from his sympathy was instantly ignited into rage. He suddenly raised his foot and kicked Xie Yingtang's solid calf with a dull thud, growling, "Get lost! Who the hell was corrupted by you! Stop trying to glorify yourself! I used to be... I used to be a bastard, but now... now..." He stammered "now" for a long time without being able to get to the bottom of it, the nameless fire stuck in his chest with nowhere to vent.

After uttering that curse, he seemed to have released all the awkwardness, grievances, and misplaced sympathy in his heart with that kick and that curse. He stopped talking and just kept his head down, deliberately quickening his pace, almost overtaking Xie Yingtang to walk to the front.

However, a closer look reveals that his expression is noticeably more relaxed than before. The thin mist of gloomy self-blame and hesitation that shrouded him seems to have been dispelled by this sudden, familiar, and roguish interaction.

Xie Yingtang took a solid kick to the calf, but his face remained expressionless, not even frowning, as if he had only been bitten by a mosquito. He calmly withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward without looking to the side.

However, if someone could catch the most subtle change deep in his eyes, they might notice a fleeting, almost imperceptible relaxation. He knew Wang Xiao too well; this young man, who had grown up spoiled and indulged, was sometimes far less effective in persuasive reasoning than in such a direct, even slightly humiliating, provocation.

Xu Xiaoyan watched the awkward yet strangely tacit interaction between the two, shook her head, a helpless smile playing on her lips, and said no more.

The three men, carrying sacks, had just reached the third-to-last dark green military vehicle they belonged to when, before they could even catch their breath, the other civilians who had been in the vehicle with them suddenly surrounded them.

Their eyes were fixed intently on the bulging sacks, filled with longing and curiosity. Clearly, they had noticed the three men's quiet departure the previous evening and their current return laden with spoils, a sight that held immense appeal in this time of extreme scarcity.

"You three are back? Look at what you've done... you've had quite a haul!" A middle-aged man with a dark complexion and large knuckles spoke first, a deliberately ingratiating smile plastered on his face as he tried to build rapport, but his eyes remained fixed on the sack. "What good stuff is in this sack? It looks quite heavy. We've all been in this together, so how about... we barter for something to try?" His words immediately drew agreement from the others around him, their gazes becoming even more eager.

Xie Yingtang and Xu Xiaoyan quickly exchanged a glance, both seeing the same judgment in each other's eyes: carrying so much perishable fresh goods on the road would make them too conspicuous and easily attract trouble. Moreover, their shelf life was limited. Rather than letting them rot or cause even greater trouble, it would be better to exchange them locally for some more durable or different kinds of supplies, which would not only enrich their diet but also diversify their risks.

"We can exchange," Xie Yingtang confirmed succinctly, placing his share of the burlap sack on the ground with a thud. However, he didn't fully open the sack, only loosening the knot, remaining highly vigilant. His gaze swept over the gathered crowd. "What are you offering in exchange?" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable aura, quieting the noisy scene slightly.

As soon as he said this, the people surrounding him immediately became lively, their faces showing joy, and they all began to take out their most treasured items, making the scene somewhat chaotic for a moment.

The middle-aged man who spoke first quickly pulled out two pumpkins from under his seat. The pumpkins were slightly wilted and yellowed, but still quite large, and he carefully presented them. "I'll trade these! Pumpkins are filling and keep well! They're good for soups and stews!"

A petite woman next to her took out a small bag carefully wrapped in layers of old clothes. She carefully opened it layer by layer, revealing some dark-colored, thick, and quite good-looking dried black fungus.

"I...I have dried wood ear mushrooms here," she said timidly. "They're all good stuff I saved up before the disaster. They're clean, sand-free, and can be eaten for a long time after soaking. They're delicious in stews and stir-fries..." she earnestly promoted.

Others brought out small, sealed bags of dried shrimp that looked fairly dry; a few wrinkled but still edible radishes; and a few sweet potatoes and potatoes covered in fresh soil. The variety of items wasn't extensive, but at this time of year, they were all relatively substantial foods that could fill one's stomach or add variety to one's diet.

Xu Xiaoyan stepped forward, her gaze quickly and accurately assessing the value of the supplies spread out on the ground and the actual needs of the three of them.

She stood very close to Xie Yingtang, exchanging a few words in a low voice. They nodded to each other, and then she looked up at the expectant crowd and gave them a clear exchange ratio. "Fresh vegetables, like the water bamboo we brought back," she pointed to the sack. "Exchanged one to one by weight. For example, one pound of water bamboo for one pound of pumpkin, or one pound of radish, potato, or sweet potato." This ratio took into account that both sides' items were fresh, and that water bamboo was even rarer, which was acceptable to the other party.

She paused, her gaze shifting to the bag of dried wood ear mushrooms and the small bag of dried shrimp. "As for dried goods, such as dried wood ear mushrooms and dried shrimp, they are easy to store and have high nutritional value. The exchange ratio is one to four, which means one pound of dried goods can be exchanged for four pounds of our fresh goods, which can be water chestnuts or water caltrops."

This plan takes into account the perishable nature of fresh goods and the need to sell them as soon as possible, while also balancing fairness and the value of the other party's supplies. After listening to it, everyone thought about it briefly, looked at each other, and felt that it was acceptable under the current circumstances. Immediately, a lively discussion broke out, with everyone calculating how much they could offer in exchange for how much fresh goods to try.

The transaction proceeded exceptionally quickly and smoothly. Apart from the water chestnuts and water caltrops they kept for themselves, the two sacks of water chestnuts they brought were quickly exchanged. The water caltrops, still carrying the scent of moisture and earth, attracted even more inquiries due to their unique shape and sweet taste. With Xu Xiaoyan's permission, someone tasted a raw water caltrop on the spot, and its sweet and powdery texture immediately won over everyone. They all expressed their desire to exchange for some to try, and in the end, only a small half-sack remained.

Looking at the remaining half-bag of water chestnuts on the ground, Xu Xiaoyan's heart stirred slightly. She bent down, picked up the bag, weighed it in her hand, and then turned to Xie Yingtang and Wang Xiao, saying, "We can't finish these remaining water chestnuts ourselves, and it would be a waste if we left them for too long. Why don't we... take them to Uncle Jiang to have a taste? Along the way, we are very grateful for his help, both overt and covert, and for the convenience he made in checking and letting us pass. We must remember this favor."

Xie Yingtang immediately understood her intention. As one of the military vehicle managers, Jiang Shan had his duties, but he had indeed been very considerate of them. Maintaining this relationship would only benefit them in the future.

He nodded. "Of course, you can decide." After experiencing the emotional ups and downs just now, Wang Xiao had no objection to these arrangements of "social etiquette" and simply nodded in agreement.

Seeing that neither of them had any objections, Xu Xiaoyan didn't linger any longer. Carrying the small half-bag of water chestnuts, she walked through the crowd of people, some sitting and some lying down, their gazes complex, and went straight to Jiang Shan, who was checking the tire pressure at the front of the convoy, near the lead vehicle. He was frowning and using a dagger to carefully remove the gravel embedded in the tire treads.

"Uncle Jiang," Xu Xiaoyan greeted him with a perfectly timed, respectful smile and a clear, crisp voice.

Jiang Shan looked up at the sound and saw that it was Xu Xiaoyan. His brows relaxed slightly, and his gaze fell on the familiar burlap sack in her hand, revealing a questioning look.

Xu Xiaoyan handed over the bag in her hand and said in a natural tone, "We weren't at the campsite last night. We went for a stroll around the area and were lucky enough to find a small pond. We found some water chestnuts, and they tasted quite sweet. Thinking that you've had a long and tiring journey, we brought you some to try and change your taste."

Jiang Shan was clearly surprised. He put down the dagger, wiped his hands on his work clothes, took the bag, opened it, and saw that it contained some plump, still damp, purplish-black water chestnuts. A genuine and hearty smile immediately appeared on his face.

He patted the sturdy sack forcefully, his gaze towards Xu Xiaoyan becoming even more amiable. "Oh! Xiao Xu, you're really... thoughtful! Good, this stuff is good! Fresh and juicy, a rare find! Then I won't stand on ceremony with you!" Xu Xiaoyan smiled and nodded, saying nothing more, politely taking her leave and turning away.