Chapter25

By all means, Zhou You should have been terrified at this point, but he rather enjoyed watching the so-called 'mighty' struggle. Nonchalantly, he began discussing daily meals with Dr. Zhao, whose mouth watered at the thought.

"Great! I have a small pot and stove in my car. How about we cook for ourselves from now on? I can get them to deliver ingredients." One of the perks of being a doctor was indispensability to the group, so asking for some ingredients wasn't too much.

Shao Qi suddenly interjected, "I'm hungry."

Zhou handed him the last piece of roasted meat, advising solemnly, "This meat is beneficial for your health. As a patient, you should eat more."

Shao Qi's mouth twitched, suspecting mockery. He had initially been fond of Zhou's temperament, but now felt slighted.

Dr. Zhao chuckled, "Stop teasing him. Give him some rice. His expression when eating the roast earlier wasn't any better than mine. But you can charge a small fee."

Zhou handed over a bowl, jokingly asking, "How much is this bowl of rice worth?"

He had once stripped this man of his clothes and knew he had only a few trinkets left, all of which appeared invaluable.

After a bite of rice, Shao Qi assessed the culinary value, "I've promised Captain Li to follow the convoy for a few days, then leave after crossing the Yunlan mountains. If you take care of my meals, I'll give you ten points a day."

Zhou You explained, "Our group only has two meals a day."

"I'm a patient, so I can request special treatment."

Doctor Zhao hurriedly persuaded him to agree, whispering, "Ten points is quite a lot. If you accumulate a hundred, you can apply for a single apartment in the city and live there for free."

Zhou You was unaware of the current prices, but from Dr. Zhao's tone, it seemed that a single point had significant purchasing power. He nodded and said, "Alright, consider it a favor to a patient."

Shao Qi generously stated, "Nursing and medication fees are separate. However, each meal should have a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, and the portion should be double this."

Zhou You couldn't help but exclaim, thinking Shao Qi was quite the high roller. Now, without even an identity card and starting from scratch, he wondered if his pre-apocalyptic house still existed. As for assets and bank savings, he assumed they were now inaccessible.

"You're not going to default on the payment, are you? How about paying a 50% deposit upfront?" Zhou You asked, not doubting Shao Qi's ability to pay but rather curious about where he kept his money.

Shao Qi lifted his left hand, showcasing a plain silver ring on his middle finger. Zhou You was puzzled until Dr. Zhao whispered to him, "That's a high-end identity card, available only to those with over ten thousand points. It's said to be made of a new metal that can morph according to one's thoughts."

As a newcomer, Zhou You couldn't grasp the concept of 'morphing with thoughts' and curiously asked, "So, how does one transfer money with it?"

"Hand over your identity card," Shao Qi extended his hand and instructed.

Zhou You, realizing his predicament, coughed and said, "Nevermind, I was just joking earlier. Given Mr. Shao's esteemed status, I trust you won't default on such a minor amount." Without an identity card, not only did he lack legal status, but he couldn't even receive payment.

Author's side note: Zhou You: "Did you like the food I cooked?"

Shao Qi: "It's alright."

Zhou You: "Would you like to eat it for the rest of your life?"

Shao Qi: "Do you intend to be my chef forever? I can afford it."

Zhou You: "..."

Chapter 019: You Command, I Protect You

After a hearty meal, Shao Qi became more talkative, sharing his earlier conversation with Captain Li and their team, "I have a more detailed map of these mountains. The electronic map you're using is quite inaccurate. You've taken many unnecessary detours. Carelessness could lead you into the lair of advanced mutated beasts, which your team isn't strong enough to defeat."

"Didn't you mention leaving something crucial behind? Won't this delay your search?"

"No, the beasts won't be interested in it." Shao Qi would later deeply regret uttering these words. However, Zhou You thought to himself: Given the abrupt changes, Captain Li must have promised Shao Qi some benefits.

"So, how long will it take for us to get out of these mountains using the correct map?"

Shao Qi touched his earring, and an electronic screen appeared out of thin air. Zhou You, unfamiliar with such technology, circled the screen in astonishment, realizing that its display was consistent from all angles.

"I never realized that Mr. Shao's jewelry had such capabilities; it's very advanced." Thinking about the high-end identity card as a ring and the virtual computer as an earring, he wondered about the necklace and anklet. He realized it wasn't mere vanity but his own ignorance.

Shao Qi opened a map, zoomed in, and pointed, "We're currently here. The quickest route out of the mountains would take three days, but realistically, with potential issues, it'd take between five to seven days."

Pointing at the continuously changing terrains on the map, Zhou You inquired, "What are these?"

"As you can observe, the world's terrain is constantly shifting. The path you tread today might be completely different by tomorrow. This makes it incredibly challenging for humans to navigate the wilds. Many expeditions face dangers simply because they lose their way."

"Can such maps be purchased?" Zhou You pondered. He knew he'd need to travel in the future and such a map would be indispensable.

Shao Qi looked up at him with a neutral expression, responding, "Certainly, if you have enough points."

Hesitating, Zhou You inquired, "May I ask the price?"

"You can find out in any major base. It's no secret. The map software is controlled by an aerospace company, priced at 30,000 points."