Chapter 91 - 90: Exchange Conditions

Words : 1170 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Exchange ConditionsThe private shelters are the same; there are always things you have that I don’t, and things I have that you don’t. Trading and exchanging are the keys to everyone’s survival. It’s just that Chen Xin has connections with the SWAT team, allowing him to trade for more and a greater variety of supplies, so he hasn’t needed to trade resources with other shelters. But now, knowing that helping others improve their survival conditions can also earn survival points, Chen Xin naturally won’t miss the opportunity to communicate with other shelters. During the evening’s routine communication time, Chen Xin first brought up the oxygen issue again. This was an issue he had informed Mo Qingyan about earlier, and he had simultaneously notified other group members, so as Chen Xin mentioned it again, others naturally responded. "It’s a good thing you reminded us, Writer. I almost suffered from oxygen deficiency because I went out searching for supplies without an oxygen tank." "But even knowing about it, there’s not much of a solution, right? At my home, I rely on the photosynthesis from the few plants in the greenhouse for oxygen, and I don’t even dare to turn off the grow lights now." "I heard that in the official shelters, the state seems to have oxygen machines ready, so now the city hall is transferring people from smaller shelters to larger ones. Should we also...?" The group member didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clearly expressed. If you can’t make it, go to the official shelters. This isn’t an unacceptable or last-resort choice; several companions who couldn’t hold out had already chosen this path, so it was only natural for someone to suggest the same idea now. For Chen Xin, this was exactly the effect he wanted, so he hurriedly spoke up: "I have a solution for the oxygen problem! I can make a simple oxygen machine, and I’ve already traded one to Long Mei. If anyone else needs one, I can help you make it." "You can make an oxygen machine, Writer?!" "Really? If you can make it, I’ll take one!" "I need one too! What do you want in exchange, Writer?" "With you saying that, from today, you’re my brother from another mother!" "Writer, what materials do you need to make an oxygen machine?" Chen Xin’s words immediately sparked a strong reaction, because for these survivors, getting an oxygen machine would undoubtedly help them survive better in this apocalypse. Although going to the official shelters was an option, being able to stay comfortably in a private shelter was preferable. Who would want to struggle to survive in the official shelters? Before the apocalypse, they already had some understanding of the conditions in the state-constructed shelters. While the conditions provided by the state weren’t bad, if given a choice, they wouldn’t want to live in the official shelters. Even though no one said it out loud, thanks to pre-apocalypse disaster films, everyone had some understanding of the darkness of human nature in an apocalypse. In a sense, the more people there are, the more likely problems will arise in this apocalypse. At first glance, this seems to contradict the idea that only through unity and cooperation can you better survive, but in fact, the two do not conflict. With fewer people, the main threat is from the external environment, while with more people, it primarily comes from internal conflicts. Facing threats from the external environment, if there are too few survivors or only one or two people, there is very little they can do. Not to mention, it’s hard for one person to build a sturdy shelter. If there are enough people, they can even gather resources while building the shelter. But more people also bring more problems; everyone has their own ideas. With fewer people, you can discuss and agree. However, with more people, there are naturally more ideas, and if you can’t get most people to focus on the same thing and work together, having more people is more dangerous than having fewer. So, at the beginning of the apocalypse, when Chen Xin and the others discussed building a shelter, they actually concluded that the most reliable and suitable method to maximize the chances of survival was to establish a community-like existence, gathering everyone together with a small team model forreasonable division of labor, unity, and cooperation to face the threats brought by the apocalypse. Unfortunately, Flame Country is not like the Federation, where you can sell abandoned missile silos to be converted into shelters by the wealthy. Their plan was scrapped from the start, and everyone could only build private shelters on their own. And private shelters, while more comfortable than large official shelters, obviously lack the basic infrastructure. Chen Xin hadn’t decided what to exchange for the oxygen machines, because for him, giving an oxygen machine to others and earning survival points was his biggest gain. But obviously, he couldn’t just tell others he needed nothing and give them an oxygen machine for free. The story of "grains of gratitude, pecks of enmity" is ancient wisdom in Flame Country. "To make an oxygen machine, I mainly need glass, a vacuum pump, and grow lights. I still have materials here, so don’t worry." Chen Xin didn’t plan to ask others to provide materials, but he didn’t intend to give them away for nothing either: "As for what to exchange it for, see what you have. If it’s useful to me, I’ll trade. I can’t just let everyone suffocate." "Don’t worry, Writer, we won’t let you suffer. I have some fresh fish here. Do you want some fish?" "Just a few fish for an oxygen machine? That’s too stingy! That SUV of yours was bought from my shop, right? With the environment so harsh now, I’ll do a full maintenance for you!" "The weather’s getting colder; do you need a heater, Writer? I have a spare heater." As soon as Chen Xin finished speaking, everyone began to talk about their exchange terms, eager to impress Chen Xin and get him to make them an oxygen machine first. After all, even if Chen Xin could make oxygen machines, he’s only one person, so production efficiency is low. If everyone wants one, some will get theirs sooner, and some later. No one wants to fall behind when it comes to life-and-death matters. Chen Xin could only feel a mixture of helplessness and amusement about this, but it had been a long time since he saw such a lively scene. After the apocalypse, Chen Xin had spent most of his time alone. The lively atmosphere gave him a sense of normalcy, making him feel he wasn’t living in isolation. But among all the offers, Chen Xin heard something that caught his interest. "I’ll trade a medical kit with you, Writer. It has all kinds of common medicines, medical supplies, and a set of basic surgical instruments that can handle most common illnesses and injuries."

Chapter 91 - 90: Exchange Conditions

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