Chapter 130: Lunar New Year

If Fang Xia and the women around him were not eliminated in one stroke, Chen Gang would face endless trouble in the future.

"Ten tons of meat, ten tons of green vegetables and melons, one ton of seasonings, and one ton of salt."

Chen Gang had never encountered someone so shameless as to use tons as a unit of measurement.

"Give me these supplies, and after the New Year, I will leave Dawn City."

This statement caught Chen Gang off guard. Leaving Dawn City? With these supplies, Fang Xia could afford to take even more people with him; at the very least, he could take the three thousand or so members of Guo Yu’s regiment.

"You are leaving Dawn City?" Chen Gang was puzzled. Why leave when one could stay in the future, living like a local king with plenty of food, drink, and security? Was he planning to abandon human territory for the lands infested with zombies?

"I have no interest in Dawn City. I plan to go to the Magic City after the New Year." Fang Xia stated it bluntly.

As expected, Chen Gang recalled what he and Zhuge had concluded when they first analyzed Fang Xia. It wasn't that Fang Xia lacked ambition; his ambition was simply much greater. He looked down upon a tiny place like Dawn City; he wanted to conquer a major metropolis like the Magic City.

It was a pity. If he were younger, Chen Gang thought, perhaps he would have made the same choice to keep moving forward. But Chen Gang was already forty. His rise in this apocalypse was entirely due to finding a top-tier airdrop crate on the very first day. Why did the apocalypse occur? He had pondered this before, but he had stopped thinking about it now. Resignation was the only way; he couldn't change it, and since he was living well, why dwell on such things?

"City Lord Chen, what do you think?" Fang Xia’s question interrupted his train of thought.

After a moment of hesitation, Chen Gang replied, "If you truly intend to leave... consider this my sponsorship. I am getting old, and I no longer wish to seek answers. I hope you succeed."

Fang Xia finally understood why Chen Gang had become the ruler of Dawn City.

"Release Chen Xingde."

Two female bodyguards immediately brought Chen Xingde over. Reunited with his father, Chen Xingde finally broke down and wept.

"City Lord Chen, a word of advice: if your son continues like this, he will inevitably invite disaster sooner or later."

Chen Gang carefully examined his son and breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering that it was only a fracture. With upgrading crystals available, such injuries would heal quickly.

"I will arrange for the supplies you requested to be delivered. I hope Commander Fang is not a man who goes back on his word; otherwise, I believe no one wants to see the consequences." If Fang Xia was as good as his word, Chen Gang would be more than willing to part with these supplies. But if Fang Xia was merely trying to swindle him, then Chen Gang’s property would not be so easy to take.

"Safe travels, City Lord Chen."

Fang Xia heard Chen Gang’s inner thoughts clearly and believed he would not renege. However, if he did go back on his word, Fang Xia would simply have to pay a visit to his bedside. Teleportation that ignored all obstacles—he would love to see the look on Chen Gang’s face then!

January 31, 2041, New Year’s Eve.

Yesterday, the people of Dawn City had still been rushing to and fro, as if they had completely forgotten the most important day of the year. This should have been a time for family reunions and joy, but in just over two short months, the world had undergone a cataclysmic change. It was hard to say if there were even any families of three still intact in Dawn City, let alone compared to the previous year, when three generations and a host of relatives would gather to ring in the New Year.

Even today, countless people habitually opened their eyes in various places—be it a tent or some corner of a street—and prepared to numbly repeat the only thing they had been striving to do: survive. They didn't know the meaning of life; perhaps they were merely guided by instinct, their souls long since departed.

But today, everything suddenly changed. Red lanterns, their origins unknown, were visible everywhere in the city, and many places were even decorated with spring couplets. Many people froze in their tracks, staring intently, tears welling up in the corners of their eyes.

Yet, this lasted only for a fleeting moment. Soon, they wiped away that deep-seated softness with their own hands and resolutely headed toward the city gates. If they didn't go out today, they might not have the strength to do so tomorrow. If they didn't go out today, there was a wife waiting at home. If they didn't go out today, their children would go hungry.

But when they reached the city gates, they were stunned. A huge crowd had gathered, but the guards refused to let anyone pass.

"Why won't you let us out? Are you forcing us to die?"

The crowd at the front had already begun to clamor, but the guards showed no anger; instead, they patiently urged everyone to wait a little longer. Resistance was out of the question—that would be no different from seeking death—but they wanted an explanation.

A day was short, and no one dared to stay outside the city alone at night. The less time they had outside, the smaller their haul would be. After nearly half an hour of noise and commotion, the city guards remained calm and polite, leaving the people feeling helpless.

Suddenly, a figure came running from afar.

"The City Lord’s Mansion, the Harem Regiment, the Blood-Cloaked Regiment, and the Lone Wolf Regiment have joined forces to send you New Year’s greetings. Today, everyone can go to the City Lord’s Mansion to receive supplies!"

The entire city gate erupted in an instant. Was this true? The population of Dawn City was in the hundreds of thousands. Even if it were just a rice ball for each person, that would be hundreds of thousands of portions—would they really give away so much? Many found it hard to believe. Besides, weren't they afraid people would claim double portions?

"What are you standing there for? Go! There’s only a forty-minute window to collect. Go early and there will be some left; go late and there will be nothing."

As the man shouted, the majority of the crowd surged toward the City Lord’s Mansion. Since they couldn't leave the city anyway, they might as well go and see. Soon, a massive crowd had gathered on the open ground in front of the City Lord’s Mansion. Along the way, they saw Dawn City personnel stationed at every intersection.

"City Lord, except for those inside the buildings and tents, almost everyone outside has arrived."

Chen Gang sat on the second floor of the City Lord’s Mansion, watching the movement in the plaza through the glass. There were a few familiar faces here: White-Robed from the Blood-Cloaked Regiment, Lone Wolf from the Lone Wolf Regiment, and finally, Fang Xia.

"Then let the distribution begin."

The crowd below began to stir. They hadn't expected it to be real, and it wasn't just rice balls.

"You can only choose one between the self-heating hot pot and the self-heating rice. Do not push; you know the consequences if anyone tries to take more than their share."

Many people looked at the packaging and couldn't help but lick their lips.