Chapter 7

After dinner, Su Han made a special point of saying, “I’m just staying for one night, I’ll handle everything else myself, so don’t go out of your way for me.”
Old He still wanted to say something, but Su Han cut him off. “Keep going like this and I won’t be able to stay any longer.”
That finally shut Old He up, though he didn’t look happy about it.
To avoid bothering anyone else, after dinner, Su Han simply locked herself in her room.
She slept soundly all night.
The next morning, after a breakfast of thin porridge, Old He pedaled off on his tricycle. Su Han followed beside him on a bike, moving around like this was surprisingly easy.
Just before they left, Grandma Jiang went on and on. “The neighbor, Auntie Wang, she’s so smart! When inflation started, she stocked up on rice and pickled veggies, could probably eat for over a year! I’ll find a chance to chat with her today, maybe trade some tofu for food.”
Rice and pickled mustard? Su Han couldn’t help but be impressed. Easy to store, filling, the real survivalists were always hiding in plain sight.
As they rode along, suddenly Old He spotted something that startled him into stopping. He muttered to himself, “What’s that guy doing? Trying to get himself killed?”
Su Han stopped too and looked over. Sure enough, someone was inching along the narrow edge of a shed. She vaguely remembered, “If I haven’t mixed it up, there’s a nest up there, a bird laid eggs, probably planning to hatch them.”
The only reason she’d noticed the bird before was that she’d considered hunting, but then she found decent work and fishing went well, so hunting had slipped her mind.
“Still, that’s way too risky…” Old He trailed off. If he hadn’t met Su Han and there was nothing to eat at home, for his granddaughter, if he’d been desperate enough, he probably would have climbed up there too. It all sounded crazy, only because he hadn’t reached that point yet.
Realizing this, Old He looked suddenly bleak. He shook his head and said quietly, “Forget it. Let’s just go.”
Before leaving, Su Han cast one last glance at the man risking his life for a couple of eggs, totally unprotected. Her thoughts drifted, if people are willing to risk death just for something to eat, real chaos isn’t far off.
They walked for ages before finally reaching Old He’s “perfect spot”, a valley out in the suburbs, empty and wild. Su Han could finally fish here in peace.
The valley’s fish were fewer than the park lake, but by day’s end, she’d caught fourteen. Su Han was more than satisfied, a smaller haul, maybe, but no people meant safe fishing.
Old He was practically giddy. He hauled the bucket of fish onto the back of his tricycle and grinned, “If only we could take these to the black market, we could eat and dress well and never worry again!”
That’s why he’d brought the tricycle today, to make it easier to haul their loot.
Think you can survive on just food and water? Su Han didn’t buy it. But she didn’t want to burst Old He’s bubble, so she just changed the subject: “Let’s head back.”
“Right behind you,” Old He replied, high spirits undimmed.
The trip home was uneventful. When they got there, Grandma Jiang already had basins filled and started keeping the fish alive in freshwater.
Old He said eagerly, “You know the way to the valley, right? I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon. In the morning, I’ll hit the black market for some essentials. You want your share traded for instant noodles, right?”
“That’s right.” Su Han nodded.
Day 9 brought another good haul: ten fish. Just as Old He was beginning to think life was turning a corner, disaster struck, their fishing valley had been discovered. That morning, a hundred people crowded around, all casting lines.
Old He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard. “How could this happen? How did everyone find this place? It was supposed to be a secret!”
Su Han was silent for a long time, then finally asked, “Are you sure no one followed you after the black market run?”
Old He’s heart sank halfway to the floor.
Su Han shrugged. “That’s probably how they found it.”
Old He groaned. “I should have been more careful. Damn.”
“Forget it.” Su Han didn’t seem bothered. “It’s already pretty good we kept it secret for three days. The fish in all the city lakes are nearly gone, of course anyone desperate to survive would go searching for new spots. Honestly, it was just a matter of time.”
“Every extra day counted,” Old He muttered, still blaming himself.
Su Han smiled, a weary, helpless smile. Now that the valley was found, what else could they do but let it go?
Day 8, prices jumped another 100%.
Day 9, another 100% rise.
Day 10, yet again, prices soared another 100%.
At this rate, prices climbed faster than a rocket launch.
A simple bowl of noodles now cost over 3,000 Bei.
Hungry people were losing it. Even the animals at the zoo, according to the news, had been poached to extinction! It was only a matter of time before society snapped for good.
Thanks to Su Han’s insistence, the two went home early that day.
Grandma Jiang was puzzled when they got back. “Why are you home so soon?”
“Don’t even start,” Old He sighed, telling the whole story about the lost fishing spot in detail.
Grandma Jiang scolded him for being careless. “How could you mess up like that?”
“I…I…” Old He stammered, unable to defend himself.
Su Han hefted the fishing rod. “I’ll be leaving soon. Mind if I buy this rod from you?”
Grandma Jiang hastened to apologize. “He didn’t do it on purpose, please don’t be mad.”
Su Han shook her head and said offhandedly, “I’m not leaving just because the valley got found out. It’s simply time. As long as there’s fish in the water, people will swarm in, but what happens when all the fish are gone?”
Before they could react, she added, “Once even the bark and grass roots are gone, people left outside will do anything for a scrap of food. I need to find a hidden spot to lay low.”
“Why not stay?” Old He looked genuinely confused.
Su Han could only offer a resigned smile. If she stayed and something happened, she’d probably end up helping, even if it cost her. But in a world this chaotic, she could barely keep herself afloat, how could she take care of anyone else?
Better to just be a passing stranger in each other’s lives. No one owed anyone here.
Seeing Su Han’s mind was made up, Old He let out a long sigh. “Forget about paying. Keep the fishing rod, it’s yours. You’ve helped us so much these last days. I’m truly grateful.”
Su Han considered for a moment. "Alright, that's fine."
Once they'd agreed, Old He tried warmly to persuade her. "Stay another night, leave tomorrow morning instead."
Su Han accepted with a smile.
On the morning of Day 11, Madam Jiang noticed Su Han hadn't left her room for a long while. She couldn't help but knock on the door.
There was no answer for quite some time.
"Anyone in there? I'm coming in, alright?" She waited a bit longer, still nothing. Finally, Madam Jiang pushed open the bedroom door.
That was when she realized, the room was already empty. On the table, several loaves of dark bread, cartons of milk, soap, and packets of instant noodles sat in a pile, worth far more than the fishing rod Su Han had taken when she left.
"See, there really are good people in this world after all," Madam Jiang said with feeling.
Su Han sat on a bench, lost in thought. Money meant nothing now, little more than trash; theft and robbery were everywhere. How was she supposed to keep herself safe?
At exactly 9 o'clock, the system's robotic voice echoed again: "Day 11. Prices have risen 100%."
But this time, after the price hike announcement, it didn't stop, it continued, "There isn't much left in the supermarkets. From today onward, the government will enforce purchase limits."
Suddenly, someone snuck up behind her.
Su Han sensed it, immediately pulled out her slingshot, and aimed without hesitation.
"Whoa, calm down! It's me!" Wei Minzhe cried out in alarm.
Su Han held her stance, only frowning slightly. "It's already Day 11. Why are you still here?"
Surviving 10 days meant you'd cleared this instance and could teleport out whenever you wanted. Why was this guy sticking around?
Wei Minzhe declared heroically, "The longer you survive, the faster you level up! No way I'm leaving early! Besides, there's a bonus if you make it to Day 20, I have to at least give it a shot."
Su Han pretended she was about to let go of the slingshot.
Wei Minzhe panicked. "Can we talk like normal people?!"
"Last chance." Su Han couldn't shake the sense that something was off about him.
Wei Minzhe had no choice but to spill, "I'm after the survivor rewards, obviously. It says it all in the rules: Survivors ranked 1,000 to 10,000 get 10,000 yuan, 100 to 1,000 get 100,000, and the top 100 walk away with one million. Even if I can't snag a top 100 spot, I can at least squeeze into the top 10,000!"
Su Han released the string and put the slingshot away. "Ah, so that's it."
She'd known there was prize money for making it to the end, but honestly, she'd never cared much about it.
Wei Minzhe looked her over carefully, then suddenly asked, "Did you get robbed or something? You look pretty down-&-out."
Su Han waved him off. "The game gets tougher every day. Who has energy to keep up appearances?"
The truth? Everyone on the streets looked filthy and ragged. If she walked around spotless and well-fed, she’d stick out like a neon sign, begging someone to come along and cut her down.
So, Su Han had deliberately dirtied up, blending right in with the crowd.
Wei Minzhe thought "The game gets tougher" was a line straight from his own heart. Ever since this started, he’d been scammed by everyone and hadn’t caught a single break.
Suddenly inspired, Wei Minzhe grew impassioned. "Hey, don't say I never look out for you. There’s a big job coming up, are you in or out?"
Su Han: "…"
Why did that sound like he was recruiting her to a bandit gang?
"What kind of job?" Su Han asked, more curious than wary.
Wei Minzhe lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Rob from the rich, give to the poor."
Su Han thought bitterly, What's wrong with having money? Is that a crime now? If anyone found out about her stash, would she be next on their Robin Hood hit list?
Outwardly, she stayed calm. "Where are you hitting?"
"Supermarkets, hospitals, and restaurants!" Wei Minzhe rattled off his targets without hesitation.
Su Han refused without a second's doubt. "You go right ahead. Count me out." Robbery had never been part of her playbook.
Wei Minzhe could only sigh, why act so serious? It's just a game, not real-life crime.
So, with no consensus, the two split up. Su Han sat for a bit longer, then headed into the city park, planning to hunt.
She’d explored the park in the early days: birds everywhere, chirping and squawking, full of life. But now, as she slipped back into the trees, Su Han wasn't the least bit surprised to find it lifeless, so quiet it seemed every last bird had been wiped out.
"Probably not even a single egg left," she muttered, shaking her head as she walked away.