Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy! novel Chapter 211

The boy still had an ill father at home. He couldn't bear to eat the food and drink the water. His thoughts were clearly written on his face.

"That's an advance payment," Nanzhi said softly, ensuring only she, the boy, and the group could hear her. "After your job is done, we'll give you another payment."

The boy's reserve melted away. He eagerly wolfed down the food and finished the water in a matter of seconds.

The stares that had been fixed on him disappeared.

Perhaps it was because he had been starving for so long, but the food and water tasted better than he could have imagined. He was filled with so much energy that he felt he could run a lap around the base.

His innocent reaction tugged at the hearts of Yu Baoyin and the others.

"I'm Tao'er! I'll be your guide for today! A pleasure to meet you!" he said, flashing them a wide, toothy grin, as if he had practiced the greeting a hundred times.

The outer area of the base was a slum—makeshift tents, barrels of burning trash, and survivors huddled around weak fires to keep warm. But further in, it was a different world entirely.

Ancient buildings had been reinforced and repurposed—temples turned into storehouses, courtyards into marketplaces, and former residences into shelters.

"Over there—see that big building with the red pillars? That used to be a temple, but now it's a trade hall! If you have food, medicine, or weapons, you can exchange them there. But be careful! The traders inside like to jack up prices for newcomers!" Tao'er warned, his tone becoming serious.

"They're open to barter, but most shops only accept spars!" He noticed their lack of questions regarding spars and assumed they must have already known about it.

"Some stalls mix flour with chalk or sell moldy rice. If you're buying meat, always check the color. They also sell mutant meat, but those are expensive! You'd need a small fortune to afford them." The boy's tone turned bitter as he recalled the last time his father managed to find supplies—though it had been tough and gamey, it was better than the stale biscuits they'd been surviving on.

"If you really need something but don't want to get ripped off, go to the back alley behind the temple. Some sellers do quiet trades there, including information—but only if you've got something good to offer!"

Nanzhi listened intently. The layout of the base hadn't changed much from what she remembered.

They moved on, reaching a heavily guarded building at the center of the base. It was an old temple—older than the one used as the trade hall.

The guards saw them approaching and quickly redirected them. "What are you looking at? Be gone! This place is off-limits!"

The boy lowered his voice. "That heavily guarded temple is the armory."

Nanzhi gave it a thoughtful look, while Lin Weihao did the same, his eyes narrowing in interest.

Feng Ran, who had been observing their gazes, was startled. It's not what I think it is, right?!

"See that big courtyard? The one with the broken lions?" Tao'er continued.

Nanzhi's gaze followed his gesture—an old government building, its entrance now reinforced with metal plates and guarded by men wielding rifles.

If she remembered correctly, there had once been a small man-made lake inside, surrounded by a small bamboo forest.

"That's where the boss of Longmen stays. No one enters without an invitation." Tao'er whispered, his voice dropping in volume. "Boss, be careful around him. He's a powerful dual-power awakener. I heard he likes to snatch and kidnap women! He has a harem of beauties inside!"

Tao'er couldn't help but glance at Nanzhi and the others. This kind big sister and her friends were cleaner and prettier than most of the women he had seen. Surely, the tyrant boss would take an interest in them.