"Are the capsule rooms very expensive?"
"Not really. The housing prices here are still within an acceptable range, it's just that we're assigned based on head count."
"Capsule rooms are considered single rooms, but you need at least three people to apply. The rooms here aren't something you can get just by having supplies; they are allocated based on need."
Lin Zhuoran silently added in her mind that this was also why, despite this base having the most issues, people flocked to it in endless streams.
In the apocalypse, who wouldn't want a place to settle down, even if the person in charge was nitpicky? As long as they could survive, what did it matter?
Arriving at the entrance, Lin Zhuoran saw two burly men standing before her, their smiles fading slightly.
"Brother Liu, the boss asked me to bring them to pay the tax."
"Three catties of grain per person, so six catties for two people, right?"
Lin Zhuoran was about to have Xu An pay the grain to them.
The burly man called Brother Liu snorted dismissively, exhaling a puff of stale air through his nostrils.
"Three catties of grain? Sister Zhuoran, you're an old resident here. The city entry fee changes daily, surely you know that."
Not only Lin Zhuoran, but even Xu An's expression turned cold.
"Then how much do you want?"
"Hahahaha," the burly man sneered lewdly. "For Sister Zhuoran's sake, it'll be five catties of grain per person."
"You!" Zhou Haimi was the first to lose her temper and stepped forward. Just as she was about to speak, Xu An pulled her back.
They were on someone else's turf now and had to yield.
Times were tough, and three catties of grain were already expensive. It was important to remember that the surface world was different from the Lighthouse; there were no official channels to control grain prices.
With stable grain production, prices would also be relatively stable.
But this place was different. They didn't know if they'd have food for the next meal, living day by day, with no prospect of tomorrow. Forget about farming; living in the damp and dark underground, they didn't even get a sliver of sunlight.
Five catties of grain, if eaten sparingly, would last for more than half a month.
"Brother Liu, can it be cheaper?" Lin Zhuoran thought Xu An hadn't brought out much supplies this time and seemed troubled, so she stepped forward to negotiate.
She mentally calculated her own stores. If it really came down to it, she would use her own rations to cover for Xu An and the others.
"Lin Zhuoran, you know the rules. If I give you a discount, it sets a precedent. Then anyone who comes can ask me for a discount, and my rules will no longer be rules."
Seeing that the man was unyielding, Lin Zhuoran could only give up.
Just as she was about to tell Xu An to wait and that she would get the grain herself.
She saw Xu An step out from behind her, holding what seemed to be a small, box-shaped item.
"An'an, it's okay. I have some more rations. I'll make it up for you. Please don't be angry. Causing trouble here will get you kicked out."
Xu An chuckled after hearing this. Did Lin Zhuoran really think she would fight or cause trouble?
Although it was the apocalypse, she wasn't a brute who would fight wherever she went?
But Lin Zhuoran's gaze clearly conveyed two words.
"You're!"
Helpless, Xu An gently pulled away Lin Zhuoran's arm and whispered, "Trust me."
After speaking, she took out the square box from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
"I wonder if this item's value is enough for both of our entry fees?"
The man, who had been looking disdainful, immediately changed his expression upon seeing the item on the table. He stood up instantly and snatched the small, square box.
"An'an..." Lin Zhuoran looked at Xu An.
The only one unfazed in the entire scene was Zhou Haimi.
"Do you have any more of this!" the burly man stood up, looking at Xu An with greed in his eyes.
What Xu An took out was none other than the famous "Huazi."
This item was now rare and hard to find.
Sometimes, you couldn't get it even if you offered supplies in exchange.
But Xu An actually casually took out a pack of Huazi and used it as an entry fee.
For those who didn't have this habit, it might not be much, but for those who did, it was like finding a treasure.
The burly man was like a parched land finding rain, his greedy eyes casually scanning Xu An's backpack behind her while he tightly clutched the precious item in his hand.
"No more. I only obtained this by chance. Neither my sister nor I are fond of this. Can this be used to cover our entry fees?"
The man seemed to disbelieve her and asked tentatively, "This can only cover one person's share. If you have more, then both sisters can enter."
After speaking, his eyes fixated on Xu An without blinking.
Xu An looked composed, showing no sign of embarrassment. "Brother Liu, this is all I have. See if it's acceptable, and let us in. Otherwise..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but her gaze kept lingering on the square box in the man's hand.
Her meaning was quite clear: if we don't get in, you won't get even this pack.
Seeing that Xu An wasn't lying but still unwilling to part with it, the man hesitated.
"Brother Liu, my sister doesn't understand the market. She's being forced into this. Don't push your luck too far. If I take this inside and resell it, it's not ten catties of grain, but twenty catties someone would be willing to buy. If you're still hesitating, just give us the item back."
Upon hearing Lin Zhuoran's words, the man dared not hesitate any longer and immediately processed Xu An's fingerprint and facial recognition.
It was a joke; while Lin Zhuoran could trick others, how could she be tricked herself? Having gained such a great advantage, he couldn't possibly return this item.
Then, he efficiently processed the procedures for Xu An and Zhou Haimi. After finishing, he gave Xu An an identity card, making her a formal resident of the bunker.
"From now on, you will not need to pay entry fees for entering and exiting. However, you must surrender thirty percent of any supplies you obtain each time you go out. You must also participate in at least three patrol missions each month. Here is your identity card; take good care of it. Replacement for a lost card requires payment with supplies."
Xu An nodded and said thank you, then left with Lin Zhuoran.
It seemed Lin Zhuoran hadn't told the people here that they were only staying temporarily. That made sense; after all, they would leave once their mission was completed.
There would be no further interaction, so there was no need for such honesty.
As for that pack of "Huazi," Xu An had quite a few more in her space.
On the Lighthouse, she had used this item to gather a lot of intelligence and exchange for a considerable amount of contribution points.
She never expected that this item would be so valuable, whether before or during the apocalypse.