Chapter Thirty-Two: The Second Contact with Jiang Huan

“Without it, accidents are even more likely to happen.” Everyone knew that in a society falling apart, force was the only law, and a gun was more powerful than any fist.

Seeing Jiang Huan’s persistence, Lin Fang relented, realizing this was just another type of trade. “Alright, but while getting a gun isn’t hard, bullets are scarce. With a backpack full of goods, you’ll only get about ten rounds. If you want a gun, this still isn’t enough.”

“I want a handgun and twenty bullets. I’ll throw in two more bottles of liquor and two more cartons of cigarettes,” Jiang Huan bargained.

Lin Fang clicked his tongue again, eyeing Jiang Huan’s slight figure. “Fine, this one’s yours.” He pulled out a gun from his side. A few merchants nearby instinctively stepped back, thinking violence was about to erupt.

But Jiang Huan simply accepted the gun, checked the cylinder to count five bullets inside, and handed her backpack to Lin Fang. “I left the liquor in a scrapped car. I’ll fetch it now.”

“Alright, I’ll wait a bit for you.”

Jiang Huan took ten minutes to retrieve it. When she handed the liquor to Lin Fang, he gave her twenty bullets in return.

“This is…” She only needed to get fifteen.

“Building loyalty with old customers. Next time, you can come straight to me.”

“Alright. My surname is Jiang. You can just call me Xiao Jiang, Mr. Lin.”

“Mm,” he replied indolently.

The deal done, Jiang Huan suppressed her urge to fire a few celebratory shots and left the market.

She wasn’t blinded by excitement. Instead, she took a winding, half-hour detour before releasing one of her stored delivery vans and getting in. It was one of the vehicles she’d collected earlier; driving the off-road vehicle back was out of the question, and this one was perfect for transporting a load of parcels back to her residence.

The journey home was uneventful, and after submitting a portion of her supplies, Jiang Huan received another message from the technician named Xiao Yi.

“I heard that Miss Jiang has a fondness for gold and silver objects. An old friend of mine was once the deputy curator of a museum and still has keys to several secret vaults. If you’re interested, please come to Building Two, Room 404.”

This time, Jiang Huan didn’t brush it off.

A museum.

In most people’s eyes, museums were places for old exhibits locked behind glass for admiration. Most didn’t display authentic treasures, or dared not to; for safety, the most valuable items were often replicas, with the real ones hidden in secret vaults.

She remembered taking her younger brother to a geological museum before the apocalypse. It housed a dazzling collection—hundreds, perhaps thousands, of gemstones and jewels from around the world, making it a paradise for any girl.

One should never underestimate a museum’s reserves. Beyond their cultural and spiritual value, each museum had its own collection of treasures.

Jiang Huan had the delivery van unloaded on the fifteenth floor, then turned and walked to Building Two, Room 404.

Knock, knock.

There was movement inside, but the door didn’t open immediately. Half a minute passed before it finally did. “Hello, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Huan acknowledged with a nod. The man, a slender, weary-looking youth, let her in. She paused at the door.

The living room had been converted into a workshop: wires snaked across the floor, materials and spare batteries piled alongside tools. The only comfort was the warmth.

Jiang Huan didn’t even catch a whiff of burning or smoke.

With a guest present, the older technician, Li Yupeng, finally looked up from his work. “Hello.”

“Hello. I’m here to see Mr. Xiao Yi. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

Li Yupeng waved her off, as if preparing to leave, but Xiao Yi stopped him. “Teacher, there’s nothing we can’t discuss in front of you. In fact, I want to secure a better life for my colleagues.

He used to be a deputy curator. His only skills are authenticating antiques and some knowledge of history. But since the world went to hell, what use are those skills? Before we left, Senior Xu’s family was already running out of food. Two children and two elders depend on him entirely. The base rations only keep people from starving outright.

With the climate requiring stored energy and the barest amount of food keeping us alive, something is bound to happen sooner or later. That’s why, without asking you, I privately contacted Miss Jiang. Miss Jiang, I’ve heard of you since you arrived at the base. I know you’re straightforward, so I’ll come right out with it.

I’d like to make a trade: the keys and the secret passage to the underground vaults, in exchange for two hundred pounds of grain—just grain and oil. If you agree, I’ll borrow a car and go to the base right away.”

Two hundred pounds of grain wasn’t difficult for her, but handing it over all at once… “That might be hard to supply immediately. If you trust me, we can do it in installments, to be paid in full within a month.”

“I trust you! Absolutely! This is wonderful, Miss Jiang. Thank you!”

Jiang Huan preferred straightforward business to endless gratitude. “If the goods meet my expectations, I’ll raise the price. If they’re just worthless scrap, then I’m afraid this is all I can offer.”

“I understand. I’ll explain everything to my colleagues.” Xiao Yi immediately went to arrange transport.

Jiang Huan walked with him part of the way, and before he left, she handed him two packets of instant noodles, a handful of candy, and a small bottle of strong liquor. “This is your deposit.”

Xiao Yi had wanted a deposit but felt too awkward to ask. He accepted the items gratefully, bowed to Jiang Huan, and climbed into the back seat. Wu Gang, seeing this, decided to take some supplies to trade with the authorities as well. Before they left, he asked if Jiang Huan wanted to come along.

“No need, Captain Wu. But if you see any martial arts instructors or veterans with combat skills, I’m willing to hire at a high salary. And if you come across any weapons, please keep an eye out and let me know.”

“Will do. I’ll bring back any news.”

“Safe travels.”

The property management vehicle slowly pulled out of Star City Complex, the gate closing behind it, manned by two young men on duty.

A gust of wind blew, icy and biting. Jiang Huan hunched her shoulders and exhaled a cloud of white breath. “So cold.”

Better hurry back for something warm.

She was craving sweets today—after her meal, she ate half a mango mille crepe before stopping.

That afternoon, she practiced with her gun, aiming and firing into the air.

Night fell.

Jiang Huan glanced out the window—snow was falling.

Wu Gang and the others returned the next day, bringing back well-preserved potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins.

Strangely, everyone seemed dispirited. Jiang Huan noticed it after a workout outside the complex.

“Didn’t you just go trade with the officials? Why the long faces?”

“Ah, Sister Jiang, you have no idea…” One of the young men who’d gone with Wu Gang complained. They had gone to the official base with the greatest trust and goodwill.

But what they saw there was disheartening. The huge base, converted from a military facility and stocked with the best resources and fighters, held few people with any spirit left. Some were so weak they collapsed while walking…