Equipment was scarce.
Moreover, the value of equipment was significantly higher than that of food. Even the broken scraps of equipment taken from the orc mercenaries could sell for 10,000, while perfect adventure sets, sold as individual pieces, could fetch 30,000 or even 50,000.
The only issue was whether there would be enough people consuming them in large quantities. And more importantly, in a short period. If this opportunity could be seized, a substantial amount of resources could be accumulated. Immense wealth!
"This luck is coming in as fast as a tornado," Chen Yu couldn't help but whisper to himself. "Isn't this forcing me to leave everyone else far behind?"
In fact, Chen Yu's development was already like a rocket compared to others. With his food critical strike ability, Chen Yu had acquired a considerable amount of resources in the early stages. While he was thriving compared to ordinary survivors, the gap with aristocratic families like Jiang Yaqing's, who had hundreds or even thousands of black slaves providing resources, wasn't particularly significant.
However—
The current equipment situation was the best opportunity for Chen Yu to truly pull away from those young masters and ladies of the aristocratic families. Of course, Chen Yu was referring to the camp. If, as a whole, their black slaves were equipped, their strength and exploration efficiency would greatly improve, and their subsequent development would also rise accordingly.
But, this wasn't a major problem for Chen Yu. Everything was relative. His goal was to accumulate resources, and he couldn't be bothered to care if others became powerful. Besides, he wasn't making others powerful, but Jiang Yaqing! In terms of their relationship, they could be considered allies now.
"Hey!!!" On his wristband, Jiang Yaqing's shrewish roar reappeared. It was this almost deafening shout that jolted Chen Yu out of his calculations.
"Are you even listening to me, Chen Yu!!!" Jiang Yaqing, visible in the projection, gritted her teeth in anger. "Did you find an equipment blueprint?"
Logically, Chen Yu should have given a negative answer at this point. But facing Jiang Yaqing, he didn't hide anything.
"Yes."
As soon as he said this, Jiang Yaqing in the projection froze as if petrified by Medusa. For a full half a minute—
"You, you, you, you..." Jiang Yaqing, pointing a finger, stammered, her lips moving for a long time. "You, you, you, you..."
"Did you crash?"
Chen Yu tilted his head, his eyes showing concern as if for a patient.
"Did your brain short-circuit?"
"You, you, you, you're just incredibly lucky!" Jiang Yaqing stammered for a while longer before managing to speak, exclaiming, "Do you know how many equipment drawings I've been given? They're all consumable items, not blueprints! You... how many people do you have under you?"
No way! Jiang Yaqing's current thought was that Chen Yu had more black slaves than she did. More people meant a higher chance of getting blueprints. Otherwise—
Was it really just good luck? If that were the case, Jiang Yaqing would truly have to re-evaluate her life. She was a helpful person who eliminated evil and promoted good. If Chen Yu could get a blueprint, why couldn't she?
"Trade secret!"
"Hmph, if you're not going to say, then fine. Who cares," Jiang Yaqing pouted, then looked at Chen Yu, utterly speechless. "Chen Yu, you're going to get rich."
"I know," Chen Yu shrugged.
Seeing Chen Yu's calm expression, Jiang Yaqing stared at him intently for a long time.
"You're really quite composed."
"Hmph~" Chen Yu immediately let out a scoff. "What big storms haven't I seen? Do you think I'd care about this little bit of money?"
"Little bit of money?!" Jiang Yaqing exclaimed directly. "You actually think this is a little bit of money? Chen Yu, you don't have to pretend that hard. Do you know that with equipment blueprints, it's possible to earn a billion or two? As things stand now."
"A few small goals, I could cough them up with a shiver," Chen Yu said dismissively.
*Creak.*
Jiang Yaqing swore that in her entire life, she had never wanted to hit someone as much as she did now.
"It's infuriating." Jiang Yaqing muttered, unable to hold back.
"Infuriating?" Although her voice was very low, Chen Yu still heard it. Seeing that her whispered remark had been exposed, Jiang Yaqing no longer concealed it and retorted, "Yes, having equipment blueprints means you can mass-produce equipment. The demand for equipment on the market right now is astonishing. Aren't you going to make a fortune?" Jiang Yaqing said exasperatedly, "You're so wicked that you should have been struck by lightning already. How could you possibly get a blueprint?"
"..." Her mouth was truly venomous.
"Buddy, although we have a good relationship, could you please hold back a bit?" Chen Yu said softly. "If you talk like that, I..."
"What, does it sting?" Jiang Yaqing in the projection suddenly laughed gloatingly.
"Young man, don't be so impatient. I haven't finished speaking yet." Facing Jiang Yaqing's sarcastic remarks, Chen Yu chuckled with a calm expression. "I was going to say, if you talk like that, it's hard for me to... sell you equipment."
A complete reversal! Do you know statues? Right now, Jiang Yaqing was like a statue. One moment she was gloating, and the next, as soon as Chen Yu spoke, it was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, striking directly upon her head.
"Go ahead, keep hurting me?"
Now, it was Chen Yu's turn to gloat. He watched Jiang Yaqing with a smile, occasionally tilting his head, or waving his hand.
"Stab me, hurry, stab me with your little knife, attack me with your words, make me hurt with your little language?" Chen Yu stared, waving his hands incessantly. "Hey, classmate Jiang, are you there? Is there a network issue? It's the 5G era, and you're still using dial-up? Is the network data not transmitting? Did you disconnect?"
"I..." It was only now, with her sore spot poked, that Jiang Yaqing slowly moved her lips, her eyes filled with pleading softness.
"Chen Yu~~"
"Hey, don't try that with me. Are you testing cadres?" Chen Yu raised his hand righteously and said, "What are you trying to do? Don't tell me you want to submit to me, to act cute and coquettish to buy equipment from me. If that's the case, it's really quite laughable."
"What kind of internet slang are you spouting at me?!" Jiang Yaqing suddenly exploded in anger again.
"Oh really?" Seeing Jiang Yaqing's return to her spirited self, Chen Yu grinned. "Alright, looks like you're a surfer girl. Are you a GG or a MM?"
"Scram!!!" Jiang Yaqing cursed in anger. "Chen Yu, don't bully people too much. I, Jiang Yaqing, am not a pushover that anyone can bully."
"Oh, so you're saying you're tough?" Chen Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled, then directly waved goodbye.
"Well, good night~~" He tapped his finger. The video call ended.
"Silly girl." Chen Yu shook his head and smiled, stretching lazily. Hanging up the video call was because he felt he needed to think carefully about how to sell the equipment. Equipment sales were a big business, and he had to consider the issues thoroughly. Moreover— an old saying: never make any decisions at night. Important matters required a slow approach. Besides, even if he traded with Jiang Yaqing now, where would the resources go? Countless resources were still stockpiled outside the camp, and those orc mercenaries were still diligently transporting them. Chen Yu had to wait until the resources were mostly dealt with before considering resource accumulation. Right now, the most important thing was to have a good night's sleep! Walking into his camp room, Chen Yu collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep. Unfortunately—
"Chen Yu! Chen Yu!!!" Jiang Yaqing, whose video call had been cut off, gritted her teeth and yelled, her fists clenched. "Chen Yu, ah!!! You're making me furious!!!"
The joys and sorrows of humans are not shared. Right now, it was precisely like this.
--
Author's Note:
Good evening, everyone should have eaten. Sorry for being late, I got too absorbed in watching anime, hahahaha... There will be another chapter soon. Those who aren't sleeping, get some rest and check it out tomorrow morning. To those already asleep, I wish you good dreams. Love you, muah!