Chapter 248: Warning Fatty Xu
Zhang Yi called Fatty Xu, who quickly came over and treated Zhang Yi like an elder brother. Fatty Xu was always eager to help because Zhang Yi rewarded him generously each time, whether with plush toys, collectibles, or snacks. All Fatty Xu had to do was help clear snow, which was an easy task for him, especially since Zhang Yi’s cautious nature ensured that Fatty Xu never had to worry about safety.
Zhang Yi drove to the riverbank, and soon, huffing and puffing, Fatty Xu climbed into the passenger seat.
"Whew, it's warm in here!" Fatty Xu unzipped his coat, enjoying the blast of warm air from the car’s heater. "Boss, where are we headed this time?"
Zhang Yi glanced at him and replied, "We’re going to a chemical plant to pick up some supplies."
"Sure thing, just tell me what to do!" Fatty Xu lost interest after hearing "chemical plant," but he was still willing to help. As they drove through the snowy landscape, Zhang Yi began discussing the West Hill organization members he had encountered nearby.
"That area’s been targeted by a big organization. You’d better be careful with Xu’s Town—it’s an obvious target and could easily be wiped out," Zhang Yi warned.
Fatty Xu scratched his head, confused. "Big organization? I haven’t noticed anything unusual around Xu’s Town."
When Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang visited Xu’s Town, Fatty Xu had been napping, and the villagers had kept his presence hidden, so he was completely unaware of what had happened.
"Boss, you’re too cautious! Xu’s Town is just a bunch of farmers and fishermen. Who would bother with us?" Fatty Xu said with a goofy smile.
Zhang Yi looked at him seriously. "But you do have a stockpile of food, don’t you? Are you that naive, or do you not understand how valuable food is in the apocalypse?"
Fatty Xu’s smile faded a bit. "Yeah, we do have a tradition of stockpiling food. But there are over a thousand people in Xu’s Town—anyone who tries to take our food would have to face all of us."
Zhang Yi continued driving, calmly explaining, "I’ve already said that ordinary civilians are not a threat to us Superhumans. But what if it’s a well-armed organization?"
Fatty Xu hesitated. "Weapons are tightly controlled in our country. Only a few people have access to them. And any well-armed force would likely be part of the government—they wouldn’t target ordinary people like us."
Zhang Yi’s expression darkened as he tried to explain the situation more clearly. "But with the collapse of law and order, every group is fighting for survival. There’s no one to represent the government anymore. Think of them as private armies, doing whatever it takes to survive."
"When they run out of food, Xu’s Town is like a giant pantry they can raid—‘requisitioning’ would be the polite term."
After hearing Zhang Yi’s explanation, Fatty Xu began to grasp the seriousness of the situation. His hands fidgeted nervously as he asked, "Boss, what should I do if that happens?"
Zhang Yi looked at him and suggested, "If you’re terrified, you could move to Cloud Manor. There’s an empty house beside mine, and I can arrange a place for you. I’ll also ensure you have enough food and heating, so you won’t have to worry about anything."
Fatty Xu was valuable, and Zhang Yi didn’t want to lose him. However, Fatty Xu hesitated. "But what about the people in my village? What will happen to them if I leave?"
Despite the potential danger, Fatty Xu couldn’t abandon his village, where everyone was family or close friends. He lacked the courage to leave the safety of the group.
Zhang Yi smiled slightly. "It’s up to you. I’m just giving you an option. Things might not get that bad."
Zhang Yi wouldn’t force him to move. While having Fatty Xu on his side would be helpful, Zhang Yi was confident he could handle any threats independently if necessary.
After collecting the materials from the chemical plant, Zhang Yi dropped Fatty Xu back at Xu’s Town, giving him some food and his favorite collectible figures as a parting gift.
"Stay alert, Fatty. I might not contact you for a while, but if you need anything, call me. And be careful," Zhang Yi said, offering a final caution before they parted.
Fatty Xu, grinning as he carried his haul, cheerfully agreed. But just as he was about to leave, Zhang Yi added, "One more thing, Fatty. If the West Hill organization or any other group comes to attack me, you and the villagers can choose to stay neutral. But if I find out you’ve helped them against me... Well, you can guess what I’ll do."
Zhang Yi’s smile remained, but Fatty Xu shivered with fear. "Boss, I would never betray you!"
Zhang Yi patted his shoulder, laughing. "I’m just joking—don’t take it so seriously. I know you wouldn’t betray me."
With that, Zhang Yi got into his car and drove away.