Mobile Shelter

Dong Qi didn't know whether the driver's words were a reminder or a warning, but since Dong Qi hadn't come here to cause trouble, he didn't pay much attention to what the driver said.

While Dong Qi was chatting with the driver, the group of people who had gotten out of the car earlier had already walked to the vicinity of the barrier not far away.

Not long after, a submarine of considerable size suddenly approached the barrier separating the seawater from the water.

Unlike the Starfire Spaceship, which crudely forced its front end directly into the barrier, the submarine extended a connecting channel as it approached the barrier.

Only the connecting passage leads into the barrier, while the entire submersible remains submerged in the seawater.

As Dong Qi watched those people walk into the connecting passage, he casually asked the driver beside him, "I've just arrived in the safe zone and I'm not familiar with the situation here. Could you give me a brief overview of the current situation in the safe zone?"

Perhaps because Dong Qi had just generously given the driver a pack of cigarettes, the driver didn't refuse when Dong Qi asked him. Instead, he walked towards the driver's seat and said to Dong Qi, "Okay, just consider this a casual chat. I'll give you a brief introduction to the situation here when we get in the car."

Perhaps in order to carry more passengers, the seats inside the vehicle were not arranged like those on traditional buses, with many seats on both sides. Instead, they were arranged like those on the subway, with only one row of seats near the sides and a large open space in the middle aisle.

Fortunately, the front of the car is relatively wide, and there is a passenger seat opposite the driver's seat.

As the vehicle started moving, the driver casually said while turning the car around, "I'm not very clear about the situation in other safe zones."

However, although the safe zone we are in now is flooded, there is actually a barrier overhead that can block the seawater, so life is not much different from before the flood.

Or rather, life in the safe zone now may be more comfortable than it was in second- or third-tier cities.

Firstly, regarding communication, after you get your ID card, there are shops selling mobile phones nearby, although the mobile phones sold in these shops can only be used within the safe zone.

However, mobile phones now have the same functions as before in the safe zone, so whether you plan to settle in the safe zone long-term or not, a mobile phone is an essential item.

Combat is completely prohibited in the safe zone. This prohibition is not like in the game, where you are completely unable to attack the other party. Instead, if someone makes a move, their entire skin will be stained red.

The redder the skin is in the city, the more times you have violated the rules. As for the consequences of violating the rules, it seems that you will be unable to enter the safe zone for a certain period of time.

Just a quick reminder: whether you actively attack others or incite others to attack you, it's considered a rule violation within the safe zone, and your skin will turn red.

After hearing what the driver said, Dong Qi felt a great curiosity about those who violated the rules in the safe zone. He really wanted to see what it looked like when their skin turned red after breaking the rules.

Throughout the journey, Dong Qi and the driver mostly talked about the gossip in the city. Dong Qi didn't know if the driver had ever worked as a taxi driver, otherwise how could he have developed such a strong ability to chat?

As the vehicle approached the city center, the surrounding environment was indeed not much different from what it used to be in the city center.

Although it was Dong Qi's first time here, the city felt very familiar to him, both in terms of its architecture and layout.

On the way back to the city, other passengers boarded the bus one after another. However, this bus seemed to be a free shuttle bus, so after others boarded, they did what most people used to do when taking the subway: if there was a seat, they sat down; if not, they just stood somewhere to the side.

The other passengers in the car glanced at Dong Qi with curiosity as he sat in the passenger seat chatting with the driver, but then paid him no further attention.

To these people, Dong Qi's behavior at this moment made it clear that he was a newcomer who had just entered the safe zone.

After the car arrived in the city center, perhaps because the two had been chatting quite happily along the way, Dong Qi threw the driver an unopened pack of cigarettes when he got out of the car.

Although Dong Qi did not know the price of cigarettes in the city at this time, given that the land had been submerged by seawater and it was impossible to grow crops on a large scale, cigarettes were very likely to become a luxury item.

However, it's hard to say for sure, since most people's physical condition has been greatly improved now, and prohibited substances that used to cause serious harm to the body can now only serve as a stimulant.

Therefore, once better alternatives become available, who knows whether the value of cigarettes will change dramatically?

Upon entering the Civil Affairs Service Center, Dong Qi felt a bit overwhelmed by the densely packed crowd.

Fortunately, there was a familiar smart guidance service station nearby, so the ID card application process was much simpler than Dong Qi had imagined.

When the unmanned self-service machine dispensed a card that resembled an ID card from before the natural disaster, Dong Qi only picked it up with some curiosity and looked at it. After feeling that it was not much different from the ID card from before the natural disaster, he casually threw it into the farm warehouse.

After leaving the Civil Affairs Center, Dong Qi did not follow Dong Hao's instructions to buy a phone to contact Dong Hao. Instead, he went to the official recycling station not far away to check the current recycling prices of materials here, so as to learn about the prices of goods in this underwater city.

Before Dong Qi could even step into the official recycling station, he was stopped by others.

Seeing the other person's smiling face, Dong Qi instantly guessed the other person's purpose in stopping him. So before the other person could speak, Dong Qi said directly, "You really have guts, daring to steal business in this place. Aren't you afraid of being reported by others?"

Upon hearing Dong Qi's words, the other party did not show any worry on his face. Instead, he still smiled and said, "Brother, you're wrong. The people inside are all permanent employees. They receive a fixed salary, and they don't get bonuses regardless of how much they work. Therefore, those people inside are actually hoping that no one will come to them."

Although Dong Qi didn't show any reaction on the surface to the other party's convenience, he inwardly scoffed at it.

Dong Qi wasn't stupid; he could guess the shady dealings within the purchasing station. Although the amount they acquired didn't affect their wages, they could directly cut costs when they came across good items during the acquisition process.

Don't underestimate those purchasing agents. They may not be able to earn as much extra money as regular buyers, but anything that comes to them will pass through their hands first. Therefore, this position is always a lucrative job, and you can't stay in it for long without connections.

However, since they could see through each other's lies, they remained good friends. Therefore, even though Dong Qi knew in his heart that what the other party had just said was a lie, he would not expose him directly, but would quietly wait for the other party to continue.

Upon seeing Dong Qi's calm demeanor, the man instantly realized that Dong Qi knew the intricacies of the situation and was not easily fooled.

Therefore, the other party decisively stepped aside from the path that had been blocked, and then said very seriously, "Go in and take a look around, see the prices for items that are recycled inside. We'll talk again after you find out the recycling prices for items in the city."

I can't guarantee anything else, but I can tell you directly that anything I set my sights on will fetch at least 10% more in buyback than the official buyback price.

Upon hearing this, Dong Qi immediately abandoned any thoughts of future cooperation.

The other party was still trying to fool him, treating him like a fool. Even though Dong Qi didn't know the prices in the city, the official recycling points would never sell items for more than 50% of the market price.

Under normal circumstances, the recycling price of mainstream items is generally around 70% to 80% of the selling price. Only for special items that are rarely sold will the recycling price differ greatly from the selling price.

What Dong Qi could sell directly at this time were indeed ordinary items in the eyes of ordinary people.

As for those rare items, Dong Qi does have them, but he has uses for them all and cannot sell them directly.

However, before Dong Qi could even step into the official recycling station, his steps suddenly stopped, and he thoughtfully changed direction instead of entering the station.

The man who had stopped Dong Qi earlier looked rather embarrassed when he saw that Dong Qi hadn't gone directly into the official recycling station but had instead left quite decisively.

His ability to openly intercept newcomers entering the safe zone for the first time, attempting to steal their kills ahead of time, naturally indicates collusion with those in the recycling bin.

Some of the things involved are more complicated than Dong Qi had previously guessed.

As long as Dong Qi enters the official recycling station, whether he sells items directly there or leaves the station to sell them to him, he can make a profit by taking advantage of the information gap.

However, Dong Qi's behavior of not even entering the official recycling station and simply turning around and leaving inadvertently deviated from his plan.

Fortunately, for him, this was just losing a lucrative business opportunity, but it didn't cause him any real loss.

Dong Qi did not go into the nearby mobile phone store to buy a phone, but instead walked away from the area.

Just like the reason why things near the train station are not only expensive but also of poor quality, Dong Qi didn't want to spend more money here and not be able to buy good things.

For example, the ten-yuan power banks sold near train stations actually contain only two or four batteries. They might be okay for emergency phone startups, but they're not meant for repeated use.

Dong Qi wasn't just wandering around aimlessly; by observing the surrounding shops while walking, he was able to get a general understanding of the prices in the city.

After strolling around for about half an hour, Dong Qi roughly learned that the prices of most things in the city were not much different from those in second- and third-tier cities before the natural disaster. A bowl of hand-pulled noodles cost about ten yuan, and an egg cost about two yuan.

Logically speaking, given the current situation, especially since the city is underwater, prices shouldn't be this stable.

But through careful observation while strolling around, Dong Qi finally discovered the reason why prices were so stable: the implementation of a rationing system.

Buying things requires not only money, but also corresponding receipts.

Although transactions are now mostly paid for directly with mobile phones, mobile wallets contain not only electronic currency but also electronic receipts.

Dong Qi only learned from other people chatting on the street that only those with urban household registration would receive the corresponding receipts on the first of each month.

The so-called price stability in the city was actually due to the implementation of a dual-track system. With a ticket, goods could be purchased at the guide price, but without a ticket, one had to pay a higher price to buy items.

Furthermore, the number of high-priced items in each shop is limited, which is why prices in the city are so stable.

Of course, ration coupons are only required for purchasing essential goods, while some luxury goods or non-essential products do not require ration coupons.

After Dong Qi got a general idea of ​​the situation in the city and the current prices, he searched the streets for a long time but couldn't find any shops selling mobile phones.

It was only then that Dong Qi realized that although this place looked the same as the old city, this city did not actually produce any goods, and most items did not have a stable source of supply.

Therefore, the streets here are similar to those in the 1960s and 70s, with snack shops and handicraft shops everywhere, but it is very difficult to find the kind of mobile phone repair shops and home appliance repair shops that are ubiquitous in modern times.

Having no other option, Dong Qi had to ask around. Fortunately, there was a mobile phone shop nearby, which prevented him from backtracking and returning to the vicinity of the Civil Affairs Center to buy a mobile phone.

Compared to the small private shops that were ubiquitous before the natural disaster, the shop's decor clearly shows that the owner is very wealthy.

Upon entering the store, even though I was mentally prepared, I was still surprised by the prices of the phones.

This store only has two models of mobile phones, but the difference between the two models is huge.

The basic model only has call, SMS, and wallet functions, and is priced at only one thousand.

The full version is not much different from previous smartphones. It can make calls, send text messages, read novels, listen to music, and play games, but the price is 20,000 yuan with no room for negotiation.

After seeing the full price of the phone, Dong Qi figured that if he called Dong Hao with this phone, Dong Hao would transfer the money to him without hesitation.

But if Dong Qizhen does this, a crack will definitely appear in the relationship between the two.

But if Dong Qi were to choose the basic model, he certainly wouldn't be willing.

Although Dong Qi doesn't have any money right now, he has supplies in his warehouse.

When the store manager heard that Dong Qi wanted to exchange supplies for a phone, he wasn't surprised at all; on the contrary, he was quite happy.

After thinking for a moment, Dong Qi knew why the other party had reacted this way. The supplies Dong Qi took out were slaughtered and processed chickens.

Putting aside the question of whether there's a purchase limit for meat within the city, exchanging for Light Chicken from Dong Qi would at least save a considerable amount of meat coupons.

In the end, Dong Qi used some chickens and a lot of chicken and duck eggs to not only exchange for a mobile phone, but also to have an extra 10,000 yuan in his account.

With the other party's patient instruction, Dong Qi quickly became proficient in using the mobile phone.

After getting the phone, Dong Qi did not contact Dong Hao immediately, but instead went to the free market that he had learned about from the shop assistant.