Chapter 179: Eight Crystal Cores
Su Tao keenly noticed that Ji Caizhe’s gaze was somewhat off.
He was quite a handsome man, dressed in clean casual clothes, with neatly groomed hair, looking even more refined than his fiancée, He Mengkui.
Su Tao remained composed, leading them to their seats and politely offering, “Please have something to eat first.”
This hospitality made Ji Boda even more determined to establish a partnership with Taoyang. He was so focused on this that he barely paid attention to the food. Just as he was about to express his intent and sincerity, his son eagerly spoke up:
“Boss Su, you’re really considerate. I’ve been to many bases, but none are as comfortable as yours. It’s truly eye-opening. Boss Su, how old are you? You manage Taoyang so well, yet you look so young and beautiful—it’s quite impressive and intriguing.”
He Mengkui, sitting beside him, immediately became displeased. She didn’t say anything, but her face darkened, and her eyes filled with hostility toward Su Tao.
A woman’s intuition told her that her fiancé was interested in this woman.
Su Tao paused, ignored Ji Caizhe, and instead turned to his father.
“Mr. Ji, you were about to say something?”
Ji Boda, being a shrewd man, immediately followed her lead.
“We’re here mainly to purchase long-lasting food supplies and compact daily necessities from you. Also, bottled water and fuel. How does Boss Su intend to price them?”
Su Tao asked, “Are you referring to biscuits, bread, instant noodles, and sausages?”
Ji Boda nodded, showing a wry smile.
“Yes. Ever since the second zombie wave broke out, many bases have fallen. Initially, I wanted to buy home appliances and furniture from you, but considering that Hekang Base might not last long, it’s pointless to invest in immovable items. Instead, we’d rather stock up on food and essentials to distribute to our frontline soldiers.”
“Mr. Ji, I appreciate your concern for your people, but to be frank, I’m not particularly interested in federal currency. Do you have anything else to offer in exchange?”
Ji Boda immediately looked troubled.
“Boss Su, you’re putting me on the spot. If it were Dongyang Base negotiating with me, I could at least offer to support their private industries. But Taoyang is already far ahead of Hekang. I doubt there’s anything we could offer that would interest you.”
Su Tao hinted, “I heard your research team is quite advanced. Even Changjing hasn’t figured out the evolved zombie crystal cores, but your researchers have systematically studied them.”
Ji Boda immediately understood.
She wanted to trade for crystal cores!
What a sharp girl!
He hesitated. “Boss Su, if you already know the value of evolved zombie crystal cores, then you must understand how rare and precious they are. We don’t have many…”
Ji Caizhe, being reckless, interjected, “Dad, those crystal cores aren’t even usable by everyone. Only ability users who’ve reached the evolution threshold can absorb them. If they can’t use them, aren’t they just glass beads? Instead of hoarding them, why not exchange them for food and supplies? Live in the present, right? Am I wrong, Boss Su?”
Ji Boda was so furious that he wanted to smack his son with his shoe.
“You know nothing! Just because most people can’t use them now doesn’t mean they won’t in the future! In two or three years, more people will be able to use them! If we don’t stockpile them now, we’ll have none later!”
Su Tao smiled and said, “Mr. Ji, I really don’t lack anything else. Perhaps you should reconsider.”
Ji Boda looked like he was being strangled.
It was true—Taoyang lacked nothing. Other than crystal cores, He Kang had nothing that could tempt her.
Seeing Su Tao in complete control of the situation, He Mengkui couldn’t stand it anymore. She bluntly turned to her future father-in-law and said, “Uncle Ji, it’s not like Taoyang is the only place with food and water. We don’t have to be fixated on just them, do we?”
Before Ji Boda could respond, Ji Caizhe snapped at her.
“What do you know? If you don’t understand, don’t speak. Other bases may have supplies, but none of them are as good as Taoyang’s!”
He used to find He Mengkui attractive—young, beautiful, from a wealthy family, with a father who was a tobacco tycoon. He was quite satisfied with her.
After all, his future father-in-law was rich and generous to his daughter, which meant Ji Caizhe could enjoy the benefits too.
But now, he found her more and more annoying. Other than being rich, she was useless. In this wretched post-apocalyptic world, money had lost much of its value. Some things simply couldn’t be bought, no matter how much you had.
Living in Taoyang was a far better option.
He Mengkui had always been spoiled and never treated this way by him. She was stunned for a moment, feeling as if she had suddenly become insignificant to him—replaceable.
Her eyes welled up with tears, and she abruptly pushed back her chair and ran out.
Ji Boda was furious. “Get out there and chase her! NOW!”
Ji Caizhe shuddered at his father’s roar and hurried off to pursue his fiancée.
Once they were gone, Ji Boda sighed bitterly.
“Boss Su, my son is truly a disappointment. It’s my failure as a father. I thought that, in the apocalypse, he should be raised strictly to toughen his will, so I let him endure hunger and hardship from a young age. But maybe I pushed him too hard. It backfired—now he wants everything and refuses to put in any effort.”
Su Tao hadn’t expected this reason. She couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for the middle-aged man in front of her.
But business was business.
She said, “Mr. Ji, you care about your son, but he does have a point. Other bases may have supplies, but they don’t have as much as Taoyang, nor can they guarantee long-term provisions like I can.”
Ji Boda admitted defeat. “Boss Su, how many crystal cores do you need?”
“How many do you have?”
Ji Boda’s heart ached. “We can’t use all of them for trade. At most, I can give you eight. That’s my best offer, Boss Su. Any more, and I won’t be able to justify it to my people, and our cooperation will have to end here.”
Su Tao was ecstatic inside.
Eight cores!
If they were willing to give her eight, that meant Hekang Base had at least twenty in total.
Sister Pei was right—Hekang had a decent stockpile.
She remained composed. “Mr. Ji, how much of the first batch of supplies do you need?”
Ji Boda was overjoyed.
She agreed!
He had expected a drawn-out negotiation, but there was no point in bargaining further—he couldn’t offer more anyway.
“Our preparations weren’t sufficient this time. We only brought one truck. For the first batch, let’s start with two hundred boxes of instant noodles.”
Su Tao nodded and reminded him,
“Mr. Ji, the eight crystal cores are just to secure our long-term cooperation. The supplies still need to be priced separately.”
Ji Boda choked.
“…What are the prices?”
She wasn’t going to hike them up, was she?
Su Tao smiled. “Don’t worry, they’re reasonable. I’ll have someone send you a price list shortly.”
She wasn’t about to spend her own money buying supplies from the system.
