No closed means open?
Now that I have the King of the Garbage Can skill, even low-grade items can be worth quite a bit when multiplied tenfold, right?
Should be enough to support two people, at least.
My past self also had a grandfather and a second uncle, maybe I can ask them about going out to search for supplies.
Thinking of this, Su Lin tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a slight smile.
Hey, looks like there's still a way to survive.
"Brother Kirin?" Su Tongxi called timidly, her voice soft and sweet.
This girl has the kind of first-love face that middle-aged men can't forget, blending the qualities of a young girl and a grown-up, making Su Lin feel a warmth in his heart.
"I know, I'll find time to go out and look for supplies to pay the protection fee." Su Lin replied.
He now has the hang of it! His courage is a bit stronger too.
"For real, really?" Su Tongxi found it hard to believe his straightforward promise.
After all, my past self was full of disgust towards her, that scumbag mamma's boy always thought she took away the family's affection.
Moreover, my past self's preference was for those voluptuous mature women with a hint of Oedipal complex.
To this, Su Lin internally expressed:
Some taste there.
"Alright then, I'll head out now to ask what I need to prepare for exploration."
Leaving the words behind, Su Lin walked out the door under Su Tongxi's gentle eyes mixed with worry and hope.
At the same time, he had already selected the skill in his mind.
Actually, there wasn't much choice.
"Opening a stall" was akin to waiting for death, "a hundred push-ups" was even less realistic.
Though they're powerful skills, he simply couldn't do them.
Just with this weak, malnourished frame, can't even eat enough, doing a hundred push-ups and "opening a stall" is almost like seeking death.
The harsh realities thoroughly locked the options.
"Then I can only choose 'King of the Garbage Can'."
Su Lin confirmed in his mind, the King of the Garbage Can skill instantly became radiant while the other two unchosen skills quietly faded away.
...
Walking out of the family safe house, outside was the village camp.
This village was built under the bridge piers of an abandoned highway, with a collapsed road surface shielding half the village houses, like a half-hidden cave.
At this moment, the campground was empty and cold, with only two or three ignorant little human kids still in the mood to play.
The dim sunlight, like dust-covered copper coins, struggled through thick dust, casting a layer of bleak light over the camp.
In the distant wilderness, the skeletons of abandoned skyscrapers stood like silent tombstones in the wind and sand, silently narrating the prosperity that once was here.
Su Lin was uninterested in sightseeing, heading straight to his second uncle's house with a clear purpose, uncertain if his uncle would be home at this time.
Along the way, a tiny kid hopped up, sparkling big eyes, pointing at him and shouting loudly:
"Little Uncle! It's Little Uncle! You actually came out of the house! Were there monsters at home that scared you out?"
Su Lin's face immediately sank.
Even this little brat knew that his past self was a lazy bum disliked by everyone.
The child in front was Su Lin's cousin's daughter, five years old, named Su Yingying, born two years before the apocalypse arrived.
As for her father—Su Lin's cousin, he passed away two years ago, leaving this granddaughter for Uncle to bury his own son.
Su Yingying was scrawny, her hair dry and messy, clearly malnourished.
The other kids gathered around were pretty much the same.
In this world, being able to eat a full meal is already a luxury, let alone any other dreams.
Su Lin shook his head, stopping his thoughts.
He himself was as precarious as a clay statue crossing a river, in no position to worry about others.
"Is your Grandpa home?" Su Lin asked.
"Yes!" Su Yingying answered loudly.
Su Lin then strode toward his second uncle's house. Along the way he reached to touch Su Yingying's head, but she dodged nimbly.
The little one ran far ahead, turned back and made a face at him, sticking out her tongue:
"Not letting you touch! If I catch your lazy disease, mom will surely spank my little butt!"
I really am... Su Lin's mouth twitched.
His past self was so despised even the family niece avoided him.
Seeing the tip of the iceberg here gives a good idea of how he would be treated by other relatives.
Though, just asking a few questions, I should be able to get some answers, right?
Su Lin mentally reviewed the past self's memories regarding family.
Uh...
He found that his past self barely had any interaction with relatives.
Not to mention after the apocalypse, before it, his past self had a rather indifferent attitude towards kinship.
Not even really close with his Grandpa.
Thinking back, Su Lin felt a bit anxious, worried and unsure as he walked to the second uncle's house.
Getting closer to the door for a better look, he couldn't help but be amazed by the wild utilitarianism in the real wasteland architectural style, simple and durable at its core.
Compared with his own house, the difference was clear.
No need to mention, just his own house's walls were already peeling and cracked, probably capable of collapsing in a small quake.
While his second uncle's house, just the walls were extraordinary.
On either side of the door, the entire wall was densely covered with deep, dark holes, making one's heart tremble at the sight.
Deep within the holes, cold shimmering arrow tips could be faintly seen.
This is an arrow wall!
A mechanism building specially set to defend against night-time monster attacks.
Furthermore, huge crossbow mechanisms were set up on both sides of the roof.
The ground surrounding the house was coated with a layer of sticky black powerful adhesive traps. Presently a thick plank extended from the doorstep, like a drawbridge over a moat, allowing passage.
"This is what a well-prepared safe house looks like. Compared to this, my place is practically a danger zone." Su Lin felt uneasy.
Everyone else has such high-end mechanisms defending against monsters, what about my broken house tonight?
The more I learn, the heavier the unease in my heart grows.
Just hoping my skill is strong enough, don't want to "die before the battle even starts" in the first night.
With a load of worries, Su Lin stepped onto the wooden 'drawbridge' and walked inside.
This three-storey safe house had a spacious hall on the first floor.
One side had a build table and weapons rack, filled with long, rough-looking knives, spears, swords, halberds, and a few rifles and handguns.
In the center was an Eight Immortals Table, three people sitting around it.
"What? Finally willing to come out? Changed your mind and don't want to die anymore?"
Su Lin's grandfather Su Can glanced at him, his eyelid instinctively twitching, then asked in a deep voice, his gaze not lingering.
The old man had white hair but was extraordinarily robust, muscles bulging, breath like a crouching tiger, mighty like Lei Bao's cutlass head in Master Ye's movies.
Second Uncle Su Qi also looked over, speaking calmly:
"Are you starving? Yaxin, get him a bowl of porridge."
Su Lin's cousin's widow Zhao Yaxin rose gracefully, her red lips lightly parted: "Okay."
Her face was cool, not even glancing at Su Lin, but directly walking to the kitchen, slender waist swaying.
In the end, the old man couldn't resist lifting his head to look at Su Lin, the unmotivated Su Family scion, his gaze softened slightly, his voice also lowering: "Sit down and eat."
Su Lin slightly opened his mouth, surprised.
He had thought that due to "past self's" wild behavior, the relatives would despise him as portrayed in novels.
Unexpectedly, without even uttering a word upon entering, grandpa, second uncle, and cousin-in-law immediately wanted him to fill his stomach.
A warmth blocked from rising in Su Lin's heart.
Su Yingying slipped in behind him, cuddled up to great grandfather side, curiously eyeing this rarely-seen little uncle.
Su Lin steadied himself, then spoke:
"Cousin-in-law, no need for porridge, I've just eaten. I'm here to ask what needs preparing for going out to explore."
As soon as these words were out, Zhao Yaxin almost stepped into the kitchen stopped instantly.
The three at the table, grandfather, second uncle, cousin-in-law all looked up at him in unison, those eyes, as if they'd seen a ghost.
"Huh?"