C7 A Huge Queue!

"Bro, what are you getting yourself into? You know full well how treacherous people can be in these apocalyptic times. Folks have been killed over a hidden piece of bread. Why help them?" Gouza shook his head in dismay after learning about Shen Chen's plans.

"I'm aware of the risks. But I still have faith in the goodness of others, and I want to make a difference. I used to be afraid to even dream of a world like it was before the apocalypse, but now, I'm bold enough to try!" Shen Chen declared with unwavering conviction.

Yet, to the two listening, his words seemed impossibly far-fetched.

Not wanting to deflate Shen Chen's enthusiasm, Gouza conceded, "Offering ten thousand kilos of rice? Your backer must be pretty solid. If he's serious about shaking things up, maybe he can pull it off."

"Let's set that aside for now. Gouza, hurry up and tell all the scavengers around to come to my place for rice. Forget those corrupt bases. They can't provide enough food for everyone, but I can!" Shen Chen asserted with confidence.

"Alright, I'm on it."

Gouza refrained from trying to dissuade Shen Chen and simply followed his instructions.

"What? You can exchange a Level-1 Zombie Crystal Core for a kilo and a half of rice? Gouza, you've got to be joking."

"Yeah, Gouza, that can't be true."

"I stake my reputation on it—it's the real deal. The boss is my brother. If you don't believe me, come with me. I'll show you where to get it," Gouza insisted, thumping his chest in assurance.

"I'm not buying it. Since when does Gouza have a brother so loaded he's practically giving rice away? And he's out here peddling it himself? Sounds to me like there's a catch."

"You've got a point. It does raise suspicions. Gouza, who exactly is your brother?"

"Shen Chen!"

"Damn, I know that guy. Just a few days back, he got kicked out of Ocean Mountain Base during a trade—nearly didn't make it."

"It is Shen Chen. Man, what do I have to say to convince you guys?" Gouza pleaded, growing increasingly exasperated.

"Only if you bring the rice here and we make the exchange on the spot will I trust you."

"In these apocalyptic times, people's hearts can be treacherous. We've got to stay vigilant, Gouza."

"So, by your words, I'm the villain?" Gouza's expression darkened as he fixed a stern gaze upon him.

"That's not what I said."

"Gouza, if they don't want to trade, that's their choice. If they see us as the bad guys, so be it. Let's note down the names of those who doubt us and add them to the blacklist. If they come to the shop looking to trade for rice in the future, we'll refuse them!" Shen Chen's icy voice cut through the air as he emerged behind Yang Hanshuang.

"Shen Chen? Wasn't he riddled with infected wounds? How is he okay now?"

"Hold on, I never doubted you. I'm here to trade for rice."

"Count me in as well."

Ultimately, fewer than four of the dozen scavengers Gouza had rounded up chose to stand and follow Shen Chen and the others. Shen Chen provided them with a location and directed them to the shop themselves.

As for the rest, it was their loss if they chose not to go. Shen Chen couldn't care less. There were plenty of others eager to trade!

Why should he worry about losing a customer or two when he ran the shop?

After a series of twists and turns, they finally located the bank Shen Chen had mentioned. Following his orders, a sign was placed at the entrance, boldly proclaiming "Rice Exchange Station."

"Excuse me, is this where we can exchange for rice?" Three scavengers approached and inquired tentatively.

"Join the line for rice. Make sure you have a rice bag and a level-1 crystal core ready," the attendant at the door instructed.

"It really is happening? And with such a long queue, it must be legitimate," the scavengers murmured among themselves.

"I recognize some of these folks; they're from Cloud Mountain Base."

"If they're from Cloud Mountain Base, then it's unlikely they'd deceive us. Of all the bases, Cloud Mountain Base is known for the fairest and most conscientious resource exchanges. It's just that they've been having some liquidity issues recently and had halted external exchanges. I didn't expect them to reopen so soon, and on such a grand scale."

"You dummy, didn't you hear Gouza mention that Shen Chen is the boss here? He's really made it big, even getting support from the Cloud Mountain Base."

"He must be doing something right if he can dish out that much rice!"

"Attention, everyone in line: you're limited to purchasing only one and a half kilograms of rice per person per day. If we catch anyone queuing up and buying rice more than once, don't say we didn't warn you!" Amu scanned the crowd with a stern gaze, issuing a serious warning.

He wasn't concerned about the folks from Cloud Mountain Base—they were like family. But the outsiders, especially those hardened by the apocalypse, were a different story; they were notoriously greedy and had to be watched closely.

Amu was determined not to let his guard down, not when Shen Chen had entrusted them with such a critical job.

Every newcomer was subjected to a rigorous five-fold inspection.

Anyone suspected of having been here before would be promptly ejected and added to the blacklist, forever barred from returning.

"Wow, it's actually rice—pure, white rice!" The three scavengers had waited in line for over an hour, but the sight of the rice instantly soothed their frayed nerves.

"This is fantastic. We need to hurry back and spread the word so others can come get their share."

"Let's not bother. Remember what Shen Chen said about blacklisting?"

"Right. We shouldn't stir up trouble. Just bringing the rice back will make things clear enough; no need for extra chatter."

"Yeah, let's head back."

"My goodness, they really did bring back rice." The scavengers who had arrived earlier were kicking themselves with regret.

"Forget about them. It's obviously a setup. I bet they won't be able to get any more tomorrow," one of them grumbled bitterly.

"Did you all manage to get some rice?" Shen Chen, after making his rounds with Gouza and Yang Hanshuang, approached the three scavengers.

"Brother Shen Chen, we can't thank you enough. I never imagined I'd get to eat rice again in my lifetime."

"From now on, we're with you all the way, Brother Shen Chen. You say go east, and we won't even think about heading west!"

"If there's anything you need, just give the word. We're ready to go through fire and water for you."

The three individuals before him clutched their bags of rice, hands trembling uncontrollably, eyes brimming with tears—a clear testament to their overwhelming emotions.

All three were in their early twenties, one with a surprising amount of white hair, a sight that couldn't help but stir a sense of poignancy.

Shen Chen offered few words, instead gently lifting the bowing trio to their feet.

"Collect more rice tomorrow. Make sure you survive!" Shen Chen's voice rang with conviction.

"Understood!" The three in front nodded emphatically.

"What's this act? I'm curious to see just how long you'll last," sneered a voice laced with bitterness.

"Watch your backs. An innocent man can be blamed for possessing a treasure—beware of those green with envy," Shen Chen retorted, turning to face the critic with an unyielding gaze.

"You…" The face of the sour scavenger flushed crimson, nearly bursting with rage.