102 A love gone dead (1/2)

If Ren Xiaosu went out into the town now and shouted, ”The wolves are coming, the Experimentals are coming, the face bugs are coming, and maybe even that monster in the volcano is coming too!” probably half of the people in town would stare at him dumbfoundedly like they were looking at a fool, while the remaining half might be skeptical of what he had just said.

But Wang Fugui was different. He felt that if he didn't believe someone who had personally experienced what had happened, then who else could he believe?

Ren Xiaosu looked at Wang Fugui seriously for a moment. He suddenly understood why Old Wang had managed to live safely up til now.

Wang Fugui was neither a capable person, nor was he ruthless enough. All he knew was how to act in front of those important people from the stronghold by behaving slickly, but that shouldn't have been enough to keep him alive for so long.

In the past, some esquires enjoyed a good relationship with the important people in the stronghold too, but didn't they also get harmed or killed all the same?

It had to be said, Wang Fugui possibly had a peculiar survival instinct that allowed him to make the most correct of choices in the face of danger.

Wang Fugui reiterated, ”Perhaps no one else believes you, but I do. I'm going with you.”

To tell the truth, Ren Xiaosu was also thinking about it. Most people would be a burden to Ren Xiaosu if escaping. But Wang Fugui was different. Old Wang was still a businessman at heart, but he had shown enough goodwill to Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liuyuan.

Being the shrewd businessman he was, Wang Fugui noticed Ren Xiaosu's hesitation. He said, ”I won't go with you and add nothing. First of all, I have money and medicine. Second, I'm better at dealing with people than y'all are, so I'm not going to be a drag.”

At this critical juncture, Wang Fugui made his value known. Only by having value would someone else want to bring you along with them. He did not pin his hopes on depending on their previous friendship to convince Ren Xiaosu because he didn't think that friendship was worth much in times like this.

Ren Xiaosu gave it some thought before saying, ”I don't care about your money. Go and come back quickly!”

Ren Xiaosu wasn't a devout person. If it had been someone else, he definitely wouldn't allow that person to leave at such a time. What if that person reported his presence to the Qing Consortium?

But the goodwill Wang Fugui had shown to Ren Xiaosu made him trust Wang Fugui this one time. Moreover, the Qing Consortium was probably too busy to do anything about Ren Xiaosu. The people keeping watch outside were nowhere near enough to take him on.

Yan Liuyuan and Xiaoyu quickly packed their belongings. Yan Liuyuan handed a copper coin to Ren Xiaosu and said, ”Mr. Zhang said that if we have no place left to go, we can head to the Northern Frontier to look for him. But if we still have a chance of survival somewhere else, don't go there. He says that the Northern Frontier is a very tough place to live.”

Ren Xiaosu looked at the coin and asked, ”What happened here?”

Yan Liuyuan proceeded to relate the events of that night, including Luo Lan's attitude towards Zhang Jinglin and also some of the things Zhang Jinglin said.

He concluded, ”Uncle Fugui was also the only one who stood up for us that night.”

”OK, I understand.” Ren Xiaosu asked again, ”Did Mr. Zhang mention what his identity was?”

”No.” Yan Liuyuan shook his head. ”I don't know what his identity is, and he didn't answer me either when I asked. But one thing's for sure; he's definitely an important person in Stronghold 178.”

”Mhm.” Ren Xiaosu said, ”If we really have no place to turn to, we'll go look for him at the Northern Frontier.”

Xiaoyu said, ”Our belongings are packed. There isn't actually a lot to bring.”

Ren Xiaosu took a look and saw that Xiaoyu and Yan Liuyuan had basically only brought along foodstuffs. Even the cabbage that was planted by Zhang Jinglin in the school's backyard had been picked. They were quite similar to him, very practical.

”Bring the buns and cornbread.” Ren Xiaosu said, ”But the cabbage is unnecessary. We can always pick wild vegetables along the way while we're escaping. Eh, what's in that bag?”