Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Chapter 143 Communication Equipment

Xu Xiaoyan nodded to indicate that she understood. After a moment of contemplation, she looked up at the man surnamed Shao and asked, "Excuse me, are there any portable personal devices in the base that can connect to the internet? Like cell phones?" In this world where order is being rebuilt, the importance of information and communication is self-evident.

The man surnamed Shao didn't seem surprised by her question. He pointed down and replied, "There are official counters on the first floor that provide this kind of equipment. You can go there and take a look."

"Thank you," Xu Xiaoyan said briefly, then turned and went downstairs along the way she came, rejoining the bustling crowd on the first floor.

Following instructions, she searched the lobby on the first floor and soon noticed a store that was significantly larger than the others. A prominent electronic sign hung at the entrance, displaying the words "Official Designated Sales Point for Communication Equipment." A large crowd had gathered in front of the counter, indicating that there were quite a few people who needed communication equipment.

Xu Xiaoyan squeezed forward and approached the counter for a closer look. Under the glass counter were several simple-looking, sturdy terminal devices.

Because there were too many inquiries, the salesperson obviously couldn't provide detailed one-on-one answers, so they had to raise their voice and give a unified explanation to the crowd: "Attention everyone! The equipment sold in this store is different from ordinary mobile phones! It comes pre-installed with a special program specific to our base, allowing you to directly connect to our Linchuan base's regional network through the device's built-in app!"

The salesperson's voice was clear and resonant: "Simply put, once you buy this device, the core app inside will meet most of your daily needs within the base's coverage area—searching for information, posting tasks, trading points, contacting other users, and so on! The device is optimized for long battery life, and connecting to the base's local area network is free; you don't need to pay any additional network fees!"

Next, the salesperson began to introduce the specific product models. Pointing to the devices at different price points on the counter, she said, "Currently, we mainly offer three models: the basic model costs 20 points and has only one core trading app. It is focused on its functions, cannot play games, and cannot download any other software. Its advantages are that it is cheap, durable, and energy-saving!"

The standard version costs 50 points and includes the core trading app, as well as app download permissions. Users can install various useful software and news reading tools provided within the base's local area network, which can meet the daily life and entertainment needs of most people!

The premium version, priced at 100 points, boasts the most comprehensive features! In addition to all the functions of the standard version, it features a more robust body and integrates a high-decibel alarm, a powerful flashlight, low-temperature operation technology, and an effective self-defense stun gun function ("the salesperson lowered their voice, but everyone around could hear them!"). It's perfect for those who frequently travel or live alone!

After the introduction, the salesperson emphasized, "Please purchase according to your actual needs! The official guarantee is that all equipment is reliable, and the system will be upgraded and maintained uniformly in the future!"

Xu Xiaoyan's eyes were almost immediately drawn to the high-end mobile phone. The anti-wolf stun function was far more practical than other fancy applications. For a woman who needed to survive on her own, it was not only a communication tool, but also a weapon that could save her life in critical moments.

Without much hesitation, she went straight to a waiter who had just finished dealing with other customers and clearly stated, "I want a premium one."

Seeing that Xu Xiaoyan had a clear goal, the waiter immediately put on an even more enthusiastic smile than before, leaving behind several customers who were still hesitating and comparing, and took out an unopened black mobile phone box from under the counter.

"The default color for the premium version is black," she said, then continued, "If you want other colors, such as silver or camouflage, you can pay an extra 8 points to customize it. Would you like that?"

Xu Xiaoyan shook her head and replied simply, "No need, black is fine."

The waiter stopped talking, deftly picked up a tablet, quickly entered the product information and deduction amount, and then turned the screen towards Xu Xiaoyan for her to verify. The screen clearly displayed the transaction summary: [Product: Advanced Communication Terminal (Black) | Quantity: 1 | Deduction: -100 points].

After reading it, Xu Xiaoyan nodded. Then, the waiter pointed the sensor area on the back of the tablet at Xu Xiaoyan's left arm. With a soft "beep", the screen interface changed and displayed a prompt: "[Deduction -100 points, please confirm with facial recognition]".

Before the waiter could explain the process, Xu Xiaoyan understood and brought her face close to the front camera of the tablet. Almost the instant she entered the recognition range, a green notification flashed on the screen: "Face recognition successful, transaction completed."

The whole process was smooth and efficient. From the moment she opened her mouth to buy it to the moment she received the product, it took no more than three minutes. The high-end mobile phone was already in her hand.

Her swift and decisive transaction stood in stark contrast to the many survivors around her who were still observing and asking questions.

Some people, clearly newcomers, were also tempted when they saw Xu Xiaoyan acquire what looked like high-end equipment so quickly. They eagerly surrounded the waiter, clamoring:

"I want one too!"

"Give me a regular one!"

"I want the high-end one!"

The waitress seemed to be used to this scene. She picked up her tablet and scanned the left arms of each customer who wanted to make a purchase.

"Beep—Insufficient points, transaction failed"

"Insufficient points, transaction failed"

"Insufficient points, transaction failed"

The continuous beeping sounds and the bright red failure message on the screen were like buckets of cold water, extinguishing the enthusiasm of these people. Some people stubbornly tried again and again, but the result was still the same.

"What are points? How do I get points?" A confused and anxious voice rang out from the crowd.

Seeing this, the waiter took out a stack of thin booklets printed on recycled paper from under the counter and began distributing them to everyone. Raising his voice, he patiently explained, "Please don't rush, everyone. Take a look at this 'Linchuan Base Points System' first. Points are the universal currency within our base, which you need to earn by working, completing tasks, or exchanging for supplies..."

Xu Xiaoyan also picked up a booklet. She didn't leave immediately, but instead leaned against the outer edge of the crowd and opened the booklet to read it. She needed to understand more systematically the rules that would determine her future survival.

Closing the thin booklet, "Linchuan Base Points System and Survival Guide," Xu Xiaoyan frowned helplessly. The regulations regarding property rights in the booklet were somewhat unfair. The clauses stated that property rights would be confirmed based on the military's first survey and statistics after the earthquake. This meant that people who originally lived in Linchuan City and held property certificates were very lucky; they could keep one property for their own residence.