Chapter 136
“Ti-Time travel?”
Hearing Old Li’s words, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered.
“That’s right!”
Old Li’s gaze turned nostalgic. “Do you know this theory? Or maybe just the concept?”
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi both shook their heads.
Old Li then gave them a brief explanation of the concept of time travel across worlds.
“When I was a kid, there were so many novels and TV dramas about time travel and world-hopping. I can’t recall the specific plots anymore, but the concept has stuck with me.”
The old man looked at the faucet before him, his aged eyes filled with heavy emotions.
“In the past, I often daydreamed. If only I could go back to the era before the apocalypse…”
“Grandpa…”
Tang Yu’an looked at him with a trace of sadness, but Old Li waved his hand. The sorrow and pain on his face were quickly suppressed.
Instead, he smiled with a hint of relief. “But now, I can look forward.”
Old Li turned his gaze to Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi. Watching these two youths, he felt a glimmer of hope that the future of this wasteland might not always be so grim.
“As for your proposal, I can reluctantly agree. But it will only apply to children under three years old. For those aged three to ten, as well as the elderly, they will still need to exchange labor for clean water.”
Old Li’s expression was resolute, showing no intention of compromise.
Tang Yu’an furrowed his brow. “But Grandpa, this policy might make it hard to achieve the results we’re aiming for.”
The people of the wasteland already had no habit of drinking clean water. If it were given for free, they might comply out of convenience. But if labor were required, they might direct their energy elsewhere to exchange for more food.
“There’s no other way.”
Old Li sighed. “We can lower the labor requirements, but we must never give unconditionally.”
“A small favor brings gratitude; great charity breeds resentment. That’s an ancient truth passed down by our ancestors—it’s human nature!”
Even in the era of a civilization that spanned thousands of years, such occurrences were common. Let alone here, in a wasteland where civilization had collapsed, human nature was even more unkind.
Hearing Old Li’s heartfelt reasoning, Tang Yu’an calmed down a little.
A break in cultural continuity?
His gaze shifted to Zhou Qi, who silently took out a pen and paper.
At first, Tang Yu’an was confused, but then his eyes lit up.
“How about this!” Tang Yu’an looked at Old Li and asked, “Grandpa, you know how to read, right?”
Old Li nodded, looking at him with some confusion.
“Then why not have them learn to read!” Tang Yu’an proposed excitedly.
“Wha-what?” Old Li was baffled. “Teach them to read?”
“Exactly! Let the kids learn to read. If there are elderly people who can read, they can teach them!”
Tang Yu’an clapped his hands, delighted by his idea. “Only by completing the task of teaching and learning literacy can they receive free clean water from you.”
Old Li stared at him in astonishment, never expecting the boy to propose such a condition.
“But in a world like this, what’s the use of literacy?”
He had lived in the wasteland for decades and had rarely encountered a situation requiring written words. While he could manage basic literacy, writing complex characters would be difficult.
Of course, if this was just a barrier to make obtaining water more challenging, it might work…
“How could it be useless? Writing is one of humanity’s greatest achievements!”
Tang Yu’an was passionate. “We can start small—teach the children arithmetic, basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.”
This would also lay the foundation for promoting the use of salt notes.
“Then, people can record the survival experiences they gather on the wasteland into written guides.”
“Moreover, knowledge from before the apocalypse can also be compiled into books.”
“As long as books are widely distributed, more people can learn these valuable lessons, increasing their chances of survival on the wasteland!”
Old Li was moved as he listened to Tang Yu’an’s vision.
The boy’s earlier statement—that “children and the elderly represent hope and continuity”—was not just empty words. These two young men were genuinely working to make it happen.
They didn’t just want these elderly and children to live better lives—they wanted them to truly take on the responsibility of preserving civilization.
And literacy was the simplest first step.
“I understand,” Old Li finally nodded. “But the kind of book promotion you’re describing will take a very, very long time to achieve.”
After all, universal literacy was an ambitious task.
“That’s fine! We can start small. Let’s begin with a single seed at the grocery store in Desolate City. Perhaps, one day, it will grow into a forest.”
Zhou Qi looked at Tang Yu’an, his eyes reflecting a smile.
“Grandpa Li, I once heard a saying,” Zhou Qi began.
“‘A single spark can start a prairie fire.’”
“We’re just doing what we can within our limits. But perhaps, in the future, this will become the spark that reignites civilization.”
Old Li stared at them, his heart deeply touched. He thought he had steeled his heart over the years, but lately, his eyes often welled up involuntarily.
Looking away, he shook his head with a wry smile.
“I haven’t read much. All this talk of civilization and continuity—I barely understand it.”
“But…” he said, “if this is what you want to do, give it a try.”
Based on what he had seen, Old Li felt that even if these two decided to build a small fortress in Desolate City, they’d probably manage just fine.
And that fortress… would certainly be different from the ones he had seen before.
“Thank you, Grandpa!”
Tang Yu’an beamed with joy, then generously allocated 1,000 credits to Old Li for water purchases.
Currently, there were only three children who met the conditions at the grocery store: Kang Kang, Jin Lili, and Huo Qiu. Among the elderly, there was Granny Guo and Grandpa Li. Together, they would need no more than five credits daily.
That meant the 1,000 credits could last for more than half a year.
Old Li glanced at the notification of credits being added to his account and raised an eyebrow slightly. “Hmm, the mysterious merchant just allocated me some funds.”
Tang Yu’an’s heart skipped a beat.
Oh no! He’d been so caught up in the moment that he had forgotten the system’s notifications would reveal his identity!
While Tang Yu’an panicked, Zhou Qi remained calm.
“Yes,” Zhou Qi said matter-of-factly, “I just submitted the proposal, and that mysterious merchant approved our decision.”
“Exactly, exactly!” Tang Yu’an quickly chimed in with an earnest nod.
Old Li scrutinized them closely. “That mysterious merchant… seems rather benevolent?”
“Yes,” Zhou Qi said seriously, “To us, He is like a savior.”
“Absolutely!” Tang Yu’an echoed with sincerity.
In the end, it seemed that Old Li’s suspicions were genuinely eased. He nodded thoughtfully and moved on from the topic.
Tang Yu’an kept his composure outwardly, but inwardly, he heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
Opening the message board in the admin channel, he sent Zhou Qi a thumbs-up. Thank goodness for Zhou Qi’s quick thinking—he totally saved the day!
Zhou Qi glanced at the old man but wasn’t as optimistic.
Did Grandpa Li really not figure it out?
Yet, as he watched Old Li walk out of the kitchen, Zhou Qi realized that perhaps the answer to that question didn’t matter much anymore.
“Grandpa, do you know how to build stoves?” Tang Yu’an asked. “Granny Guo needs one.”
Aside from stoves, they also mentioned needing kitchenware and kang beds. Old Li listened carefully.
“I’ve got it,” Old Li replied. “I’ll handle those.”
Now that they had access to iron and Ba Shi’s earth-element, producing such items wouldn’t be difficult—it would just take some time.
“If making bricks turns out to be too challenging, we can handle it.”
A brick wall measuring one meter wide and three meters tall only cost 50 credits. Dismantling those bricks should be enough to build the stove and the kang beds, right?
Hearing Tang Yu’an’s suggestion, Old Li was a bit surprised.
He hadn’t expected such a convenient solution. However, after thinking it over, he shook his head.
“If you hadn’t cleared that yard last night, I might’ve accepted this plan,” Old Li said. “But now, I’ve got another idea.”
“What idea?” Tang Yu’an asked.
“A brick kiln.”
The entire grocery store building was unfinished, and renovating it would require a lot of bricks anyway. Plus, Old Li thought it would be best to install a kang bed in every room.
“As the floods persist, nighttime temperatures will drop lower and lower. Once it hits below zero, we might even see snow and ice.”
Nights like that could be fatal.
Although Old Li wasn’t one for sentimentalities, he knew that ensuring the residents’ survival was crucial to maintaining their business long-term.
“After the kang beds are built, we could earn credits by selling charcoal.”
Everything Old Li said made sense to Tang Yu’an. He nodded in agreement but couldn’t help asking curiously, “Grandpa, do you know how to fire bricks?”
“Of course. It’s not that difficult—just clay and water.”
“Well, that’s impressive!”
“There wasn’t enough space before, so I didn’t consider it,” Old Li explained, but as he did, he frowned. “By the way, is the fence you put up sturdy enough? If the fence gets damaged, will the floodwaters break through and pour in?”
“With the protective barrier in place, it should stop any mutant creatures. Besides, the outside is all water—human tampering seems unlikely, right?”
As he spoke, Tang Yu’an’s confidence began to waver. Zhou Qi frowned as well.
“It might be fine from the outside, but what about from the inside?” Old Li asked. “What would happen if it were damaged from within?”
Tang Yu’an shook his head. They hadn’t tested that.
“Let’s go take a look.”
Since it was still early and the residents hadn’t come downstairs yet, no one had noticed the new yard behind the building.
The three of them climbed up to the top of the wall. Tang Yu’an then removed a one-meter section of the fence with careful control.
Instantly, the protective barrier began to recede, and floodwaters surged back, covering the entire yard.
Tang Yu’an was stunned.
If there were crops planted or structures built on the yard, just one incident like this would destroy everything.
“The fence itself hasn’t been damaged,” Zhou Qi suddenly pointed out.
He approached the connection between the fence and the concrete wall. There, he saw that the protective barrier had left a two-finger-wide gap, shielding the fence within it.
According to the protective barrier’s logic, only parts directly connected to the general store were considered part of its territory. If the connection wasn’t closed, the barrier would only protect the extended portion.
Tang Yu’an reassembled the one-meter section of the fence.
Almost instantly, the floodwaters and creatures on the yard retreated again, leaving behind damp, muddy land.
“For the outermost sections, we need to use the sturdiest materials possible,” Old Li said. “Otherwise, any breach would be extremely dangerous.”
The fence was still too fragile. It wasn’t just about deliberate damage—it could easily break due to accidents during regular activity.
The consequences of such accidents were too severe for them to bear.
Old Li couldn’t help thinking about the future. The protective barrier didn’t mean complete security, as it couldn’t stop humans. If they were to build a fortress one day, the outermost walls would need to be heavily fortified.
Otherwise, if someone with malicious intent sabotaged the walls, the results would be catastrophic.
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi exchanged a look. They both understood the gravity of the situation.
If that was the case, then perhaps the most critical area to protect wasn’t the outer wall.
“Then where is it?” Old Li asked in surprise.
Tang Yu’an hesitated before answering, “The parts connecting to the building.”
If those sections were broken, the fenced-in area would no longer be considered part of the grocery store’s territory. Of course, there were ways to prevent this, like building extended eaves from the rooftop, similar to how the Peace General Store had its rain canopy. That idea was initially discovered through exploiting a loophole in the territorial mechanics.
“These things will need to be included in the next phase of planning,” Old Li noted.
“Understood.”
Looking at the row of fence walls, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but sigh.
He had thought he could save some credits by using the fences. But now, it seemed like they would have to spend credits after all.
A one-meter section of a concrete wall cost 100 credits. Even with the increased balance, they couldn’t afford to waste credits. Thus, frugality was key, and the existing wall sections had to be reused.
The three of them jumped off the wall. Tang Yu’an moved the existing 30-meter concrete wall outward by 20 meters, then added two side walls. The total cost was 4,000 credits.
As for the previous fences, he relocated them into the yard for Granny Guo and the others to use for planting.
Old Li went off to call others to help clear the yard, while Tang Yu’an cast two purification spells over the open area, removing all the filth brought in by the floodwaters.
Soon, the residents who had come downstairs to prepare meals noticed the changes in the yard.
“When did this happen?” Jin Guang and the others were stunned.
Even Granny Guo, who had come downstairs with the intention of planting potatoes, widened her eyes in disbelief.
She had only mentioned to the two kids yesterday that she wanted to plant something in the yard today, and they’d already prepared the land?
Besides the newly available land, the residents quickly noticed new gates on the surrounding walls.
“Can these gates open?” Huo Qiu asked curiously as he ran to check them out.
“They can,” Old Li replied. “From now on, when you need to fetch water, you can open the gate. The floodwaters outside won’t come in.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Qiu eagerly pulled open a gate. Staring at the curtain of water beyond, he exclaimed, “Dad, come look! This is amazing!”
After the residents had had their fill of excitement, Old Li cleared his throat.
“Boss Tang has already cleansed this land, but the rocks, branches, and other debris left by the flood still need to be cleared away by everyone.”
“Anyone who helps out will receive a portion of food from me today.”
“In the future, you can plant crops on this land, but you’ll need to pay rent. If you need help, come to me. I’ll arrange for assistance at a fair price.”
This latter part was directed mainly at Granny Guo and Tie Mu Hua, the two plant-element ability users. Both of them nodded in agreement.
“Additionally, as the weather grows colder, and considering most of you don’t have proper heating, the boss has decided to install kang beds in your rooms,” Old Li continued.
The mention of kang beds brought smiles to everyone’s faces, even Lang Ya couldn’t hide his joy.
The nighttime chill was becoming unbearable, and having kang beds would be a game-changer.
“However, building kang beds requires fired bricks. So, we’ll also need to construct a brick kiln, and your cooperation will be essential for that.”
Old Li paused for a moment after finishing.
Someone quickly asked, “How much will all of this cost us?”
“If you’re willing to work together, it won’t cost you anything,” Old Li shrugged. “Of course, if anyone wants to freeload, they’re welcome to talk to me. My door is always open.”
“So you’ll teach us how to fire bricks and build kang beds, right?” someone asked.
“Of course.”
Jin Guang and a few others exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with joy.
Firing bricks was a technical skill, something they didn’t know how to do. If they could learn it, the benefits would go far beyond just having kang beds for themselves.
“Son, you’d better learn properly this time!” Shu Gen said, vigorously ruffling Huo Qiu’s hair.
“Don’t worry, Dad! I’m a fast learner!” Huo Qiu replied confidently.
Once the discussion died down, Old Li cleared his throat again. When the scene quieted, he announced the final policy.
“The boss has a kind heart. In addition to letting you use the water purifier, he has also authorized me to produce a limited amount of purified water for free, exclusively for children and the elderly living here.”
Before the crowd could burst into noise again, Old Li raised his hand in a calming gesture.
“However, free doesn’t mean unconditional.”
Free, but with conditions?
Everyone froze for a moment and then listened intently.
“Elderly individuals who want free drinking water will need to contribute knowledge or experience,” Old Li explained. “Of course, in the wasteland, knowledge is a precious resource. For now, all we ask is for written annotations—of things you think might no longer be useful.”
“Written annotations?” Tiejin asked with interest.
“That’s right.”
Old Li glanced at Granny Guo. Among the current residents, she was likely the only one who could meet this requirement.
“Write down the characters you still remember, annotate their pronunciation, and give a simple explanation. Even if it’s just one character a day, that’s fine.”
Granny Guo looked at him, her heart trembling slightly.
She wanted to ask the reason behind this, but someone with children beat her to it.
“And what about the kids? What do they have to do?” Shu Gen asked.
“The kids need to learn characters,” Old Li said. “Only by completing the daily writing tasks I assign can they get clean water for free.”
The crowd looked puzzled, and Huo Qiu turned to his father, even more confused.
“Dad, what are characters?” he asked, his face filled with curiosity.
Shu Gen opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
“Why are you making the kids do this?” Tie Mu Hua asked curiously.
Meanwhile, Jin Guang turned to Old Li. “Does it have to be the elderly and children? Can’t I learn to read too? Will I get free purified water if I do?”
Old Li rolled his eyes.
“If others want purified water, they can exchange something for it. The free benefit is only for the elderly and children.”
He continued, “Also, water distribution is strictly at noon every day—no exceptions.”
Old Li had plenty of work to do every day and couldn’t afford to spend all his time waiting in Room 501. He could only hope these three kids wouldn’t be too hopeless at learning.
Jin Guang looked disappointed, while Tie Mu Hua shrugged indifferently and dragged a thoughtful Lang Ya to start clearing the rubble from the yard.
Shu Gen and his son still seemed bewildered, but Tie Jin’s face was filled with joy.
“So, my Lili can learn to read?” He approached Old Li eagerly. “Isn’t Lili too young for this?”
Old Li ignored him. He certainly wasn’t about to admit in front of everyone that he might turn a blind eye to the younger ones struggling.
“Can I sit in on the lessons too?” Tie Jin shamelessly asked.
“Aren’t you supposed to be producing metal?”
“Oh, I can spare a little time around noon. It’s not a big deal.”
“Do whatever you want!”
Seeing Old Li about to leave, Tie Jin quickly stopped him. “I’d like to trade for another quilt. One isn’t enough!”
While the quilt’s length was fine—it barely managed to cover both him and his family—the width of 1.2 meters was only enough for Lili. He and A’Lian had to sleep with their arms and legs sticking out.
Old Li took the metal bar Tie Jin handed him and promised to give him a quilt by noon, chalking up another profitable transaction.
“All right, I’m off to clear the yard now.”
Tie Jin, eager for a kang bed, was brimming with enthusiasm. He wanted to finish the brick kiln as quickly as possible.
At this point, Shu Gen and Huo Qiu approached him.
“Tie Jin, do you know what ‘learning to read’ means? What’s it good for?”
Shu Gen had overheard the conversation between Tie Jin and Old Li. It sounded like something worthwhile—otherwise, Tie Jin wouldn’t have been so eager to join.
“You don’t know what writing is?” Tie Jin asked.
Shu Gen and his son shook their heads in unison.
“Have you ever scavenged anything before the apocalypse? Like packaging with those printed symbols on it?”
“Oh, oh! You mean those little square patterns!”
“Exactly! Those are words,” Tie Jin explained. “Once you learn words, you can gain lots and lots of knowledge. And knowledge is wealth!”
“Learn to read, and you’ll strike it rich!”
Shu Gen didn’t quite understand how learning to read and gaining wealth were directly connected. But he did grasp that his son could go learn from Old Li.
And once he learned, they’d get free purified water.
If that wasn’t striking it rich, what was?
He clapped Huo Qiu on the shoulder excitedly and said, “Son, did you hear that? You’re going to strike it rich!”
