Chapter 200: The New Land
“Someone wants to take revenge on me? Who?”
Su Tao was momentarily stunned as she tried to recall who she might have offended.
Zhuang Wan was anxious. “I don’t know. The people from Shou’an said that if we sell them supplies, they’ll tell us who it is. From their tone, it sounds like you’ve offended someone important.”
Su Tao couldn’t help but laugh in anger.
“They’re using this as a bargaining chip? Go and tell them that if they don’t want to say it, then forget it. Whoever wants to come after me, let them try.”
After all, she rarely left Taoyang, and even when she did, she was always accompanied by people and dogs. Plus, with her ability to teleport, there was almost no chance anyone could capture her.
After saying this, Su Tao completely put the matter aside.
She had just spent five crystal cores to gain management rights over the Old Station, an area of 1,000 square meters.
But considering its prime location, with many passing trade convoys, she spent two more crystal cores to expand the area by another 400 square meters.
With this, 1,000 square meters would be rented to Leopard Path, while the rest would continue to be used for Old Station’s business.
However, she needed to rebuild it to be as high-end and decent as Panliu Mountain.
The only headache was naming the place.
The Old Station originally had no name. Since it had been around for a long time, people had just called it “Old Station” for years.
Su Tao opened the map and saw that within the 1,000 square meters, there were only three buildings.
One looked like a small office building, likely used by Tan Yong and other management personnel.
Another was a row of residential buildings, looking newer, sturdier, and more aesthetically pleasing—obviously private residences built by Tan Yong and his people.
The last building was in a more remote location, looking dilapidated and long abandoned.
Su Tao zoomed in on the map and saw seven faded characters hanging on it: “Fengchi Express Transfer Station.”
She immediately understood—it was a pre-apocalypse building.
So the Old Station was originally a courier transfer station.
After thinking for a while, she decided to take a bit from both names and called it “Taochi Transfer Station.”
With the name settled, it was time to “invite” the current residents to leave.
To be polite, Su Tao didn’t immediately bulldoze their residential buildings. Instead, she sent Ma Dapao to contact the second-in-command, Qu Jingwen, offering them two choices:
Leave quietly and cause no trouble, or face the consequences.
Stay and work for her, but with reassigned roles. Any hidden ill intentions would also have consequences.
Ma Dapao was beyond excited when he got the task. He couldn’t believe it.
“Boss, the Old Station is ours now?”
Su Tao replied, “Yes, but most of the land will be leased to Leopard Path for now. A small portion will be used for our own operations, and later, as the area expands, you’ll be in charge. If you need more people, talk to Zhuang Wan.”
Ma Dapao’s eyes widened, and his breath quickened.
Half a year ago, he had barely scraped by at the Old Station, constantly worrying about his next meal.
Now, in a blink, he was in charge of the place!
He could even order Qu Jingwen around—the same person he wasn’t even qualified to meet back then!
It was unbelievable.
His heart raced with excitement, and he looked at Su Tao with the reverence of someone worshipping an ancestor.
Su Tao felt creeped out by his gaze and waved him off. “Go, go, go! Stop wasting time.”
Ma Dapao responded enthusiastically and ran off.
After he left, Meng Qian came to report on the new housing rentals.
The five three-bedroom, two-living-room luxury apartments were all rented out, bringing in 500,000 federal credits.
The ten two-bedroom, one-living-room units had also been rented out that morning, generating 800,000 federal credits.
Currently, only ten double rooms and twenty single rooms were still being screened for tenants.
With these new funds, their total assets reached 4.22 million federal credits.
Only 800,000 more to reach the 5 million needed to buy the protective shield!
Su Tao was very satisfied with the progress. Noticing the dark circles under Meng Qian’s eyes, she felt a bit guilty and said, “You’ve worked hard this month. I’ll give you three extra days off next month.”
Meng Qian, though visibly tired, still looked energetic. She smiled and shook her head. “I don’t even feel tired. I actually enjoy interacting with the tenants.”
Su Tao recalled how Grandma Cen had once mentioned seeing the office lights still on past eleven at night. The next day, she found out it was because Meng Qian was working overtime.
It wasn’t just her—everyone in Taoyang was working hard.
The next day, bad news came from Dongyang: Shuifu District had fallen.
Even worse, Guan Zining was critically injured, barely hanging on to life.
Pei Dong immediately contacted Su Tao and rushed to send her over.
When Su Tao saw Guan Zining, her soul nearly left her body. Her hands trembled as she called for Zhong Gaoyi.
Seeing the bloodstained military flag draped over her, Su Tao hesitated before trying to lift it.
Pei Dong grabbed her hand and shook his head. “Don’t.”
Her stomach had been pierced, with a large section of intestines hanging out.
It was too brutal—a sight Su Tao shouldn’t see.
And for someone as proud as Guan Zining, she wouldn’t want her friend to witness her like this either.
Realizing this, Su Tao retracted her hand, but she kept calling Guan Zining’s name. The person on the stretcher showed no sign of life.
Su Tao’s tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Is this the price of protecting this land?
Zhong Gaoyi rushed over, checked her breathing, and shouted:
“Quick! She still has a pulse—get her inside! Hurry!”
Su Tao stayed awake all night, staring at the light above the medical room.
Guan Zining, barely clinging to life.
Ye Xiaqing, buried in a horde of zombies.
Shi Zijin, even with prosthetic limbs, still rushing to the front lines.
This was their reality.
The admiration she once had for these people was now replaced with a deep sense of helplessness.
If even sacrificing their lives couldn’t protect this land, was it really worth it?
Su Tao lowered her head and softly asked Pei Dong beside her,
“Sister Pei, you’ll be safe, right?”
Pei Dong didn’t answer.
From her silence, Su Tao understood the truth.
“You’re all the same kind of people… Forget it. I won’t ask you to stay safe anymore. Just promise me you’ll at least have enough breath left to make it to Dr. Zhong, okay? Look at Guan Zining…”
She couldn’t even finish the sentence.
Guan Zining had been brought in too late. Dr. Zhong wasn’t a miracle worker. If…
“I worry about you all too much, Sister Pei.”
Those words hit straight at the softest part of Pei Dong’s heart, making her nose sting for the first time in her life.
At that moment, the door to the medical room opened, and Zhong Gaoyi walked out, wearing a mask.
Su Tao and Pei Dong immediately stood up in tension.
Zhuang Wan, unable to hold back, threw herself into Zhong Gaoyi’s arms, clutching his clothes and asking in a trembling, tearful voice,
“How is she? How is she?!”
