Chapter 131: Zhang Bo’s Long Game |
"Then what price do you plan to use to trade for live fish?"
"One jin of coarse salt for ten jin of fish."
Zhang Bo blurted out, "You're kidding me."
Qin Ziwen was surprised, "This price is very cheap, Boss Zhang. Although there are two families in the complex with salt wells, my quality is the best. As the one with the best quality, I'm only asking for ten jin of fish per jin of salt. I think I'm being quite fair."
Zhang Bo felt this line of reasoning was strangely familiar.
But Qin Ziwen's price was absolutely impossible!
"This price is absolutely impossible! If you have even a shred of sincerity, then state a sincere price. If you have no sincerity, then we go our separate ways." Zhang Bo's face darkened.
"This price isn't sincere?" Qin Ziwen retorted.
"Of course it's not sincere!"
Zhang Bo's face turned pale, then flushed red.
He felt some regret. Perhaps he shouldn't have quoted such an exorbitant price back then, needlessly offending a powerful person.
In the end, he dejectedly lowered his head, "Please be magnanimous, Boss Qin. Give me a sincere price."
Qin Ziwen said, "Five jin of fish for one jin of coarse salt?"
Zhang Bo was troubled. At this price, he simply couldn't acquire it. If he agreed, he would have to cover too much of the loss himself. Losing that much would be worse than just letting Qin Ziwen join the Alliance. He might as well switch to a low-end strategy.
"Three jin of fish for one jin of coarse salt."
Hearing this price, Zhang Bo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This price was somewhat reasonable, but he didn't show it on his face, still looking very troubled.
Qin Ziwen said, "That's the bottom line."
Zhang Bo gritted his teeth and was about to nod when Qin Ziwen sent another sentence his way, "But I want live fish."
Zhang Bo coughed repeatedly. No way! Are you treating me like a wishing genie?
After these dramatic ups and downs, Zhang Bo was exhausted.
He remained silent for a long time before asking Qin Ziwen, "How much do you want to buy?"
"Three hundred jin of live fish."
Zhang Bo said, "One hundred jin of coarse salt, plus five jin of fine salt!"
Qin Ziwen paused for quite a while before nodding, "Deal."
The transaction concluded. The two men stood in place, looking at each other, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Zhang Bo proposed, "I also have a request."
"Go ahead."
Zhang Bo stared at him, "Only the two of us know about this deal. I will publicly claim I purchased the fish, and you cannot join the Alliance."
"Fine."
Watching Qin Ziwen's retreating back, Zhang Bo resolved in his heart that his products couldn't compete with Qin Ziwen's right now. He would endure this for now.
Even Goujian endured hardships by sleeping on firewood and tasting gall. Today, I, Zhang Bo, will yield this round to him.
Once I upgrade my salt well to level 2, I will definitely not suffer this humiliation anymore!
After walking some distance away, Du Yu reminded him, "Sir, I observe that Zhang Bo is still resentful. For now, he's only submitting to the circumstances, temporarily lowering his head."
"I can tell. He probably thinks it's because my salt well is a higher level than his, so the quality of salt I produce is better."
Qin Ziwen, however, understood that the higher quality of his salt well wasn't due to its level, but because of a rare treasure. Even if Zhang Bo upgraded his salt well to level 2, its quality still wouldn't surpass his own.
......
Returning home, Qin Ziwen found Deng Guang, Li Yue, Wang Yun, and others. After discussion, they decided to go up the mountain together first. While on the way up, they would search for traces of prey, aiming to hunt as much game as possible while obtaining the card.
A little over two hours later, the group arrived at the location where they had ambushed the Giant Toad the previous day.
The surroundings were a mess, with some scorch marks still on the ground.
It was quite strange, really. The gasoline had strong burning power, but in this forest, it had difficulty spreading, as if an invisible force restrained the flames' expansion.
At the bottom of the cliff valley, the Giant Toad's corpse had long since stiffened. A gust of wind blew, carrying an unbearable stench through the air.
Suddenly, the Home system's little glowing ball automatically floated into view.
【The number of households in the current complex that have awakened the Home system has reached 20% of the total survivor households. Cross-dimensional countdown initiated: 71:59:59】
With each passing second, the countdown decreased by one.
Not just Qin Ziwen, but Deng Guang, Wang Yun, and the others all simultaneously halted their steps.
"There are still three days until the crossing." Deng Guang murmured to himself.
"What?" Qin Ziwu, hearing the others' conversation, now understood that the number of complex residents who had awakened the Home system had exceeded one-fifth. The three-day countdown for the crossing had now begun.
Qin Ziwen said, "Xiao Wu, after we return today, you go upstairs first. Use a card in one of the empty rooms upstairs to see if you can activate the Home system."
Qin Ziwu turned his head, "Brother..."
Qin Ziwen frowned, his tone intensifying, "You're not listening to me?"
Qin Ziwu hurriedly said, "No, I'm listening."
After pondering for a moment and glancing at his younger brother, Qin Ziwen said, "I just think that since the requirement for our second crossing is the number of people who have awakened the Home system reaching a certain proportion, it means the Home system is important. At least in the eyes of whatever ghostly thing is making us cross dimensions, the importance of the Home system won't be low."
Pausing briefly, Qin Ziwen added, "I'm just telling you to first obtain the identity of a Home Master."
Qin Ziwu now understood his older brother's thinking.
Beside them, after hearing what Qin Ziwen said, those who had already awakened the Home system were fine.
Li Yue and Yuan Ming, however, lowered their heads, lost in thought.
They arrived at the mountainside cave.
A white card floated above the altar inside.
Soon, the group obtained it.
【Expansion Card】Blank Expansion Card (Micro)
Because the small Blank Expansion Card was priced at 8 Contribution Points, if calculated by area, this micro Blank Expansion Card would only be worth 2 points.
But obviously, it couldn't be calculated that way.
Even a micro expansion card could double the area of one's home.
After discussion among the group, they ultimately decided to price the micro Blank Expansion Card at 4 Contribution Points.
Both Yuan Ming and Li Yue wanted it. The two were somewhat conflicted, unwilling to let this card damage their camaraderie.
But whether in terms of value or cost-effectiveness, this 4-point card was indeed the most suitable card they could exchange for at their current stage.
Finally, after Yuan Ming and Li Yue discussed privately, Yuan Ming exchanged for this micro Blank Expansion Card.
The price he paid was giving his remaining one Contribution Point to Li Yue.
"You young people really..." Deng Guang had nothing to say about this. Directly giving away a Contribution Point just to secure the exchange opportunity... was that really worth it?
The main reason they had obtained so many Contribution Points this time was because the card dropped by the Giant Toad was high-value, so everyone got a larger share.
Yuan Ming said sheepishly, "It's mainly because my family back home doesn't know about our situation. There are some things I haven't told them. If I bring a card back this time, they probably won't say anything."
Wang Yun didn't offer an opinion on this. After all, these were other people's Contribution Points. How they used them was their own business, as long as there was no forced trading. "As long as you've decided for yourselves, it's fine."
......