Wasteland Survivalist: A Scientific Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Survival

"Okay, just name your price when you need how much diesel fuel."

Zhou Lei asked eagerly.

"Didn't you say during the day you wanted to save it for generating electricity?"

"The platform can generate electricity by burning the associated gas extracted from the mine."

As long as a certain level of production is maintained, there will be a continuous source of electricity here.

"Oh, I see."

"It's not appropriate to tell you in front of so many people during the day."

"Oh dear! Someone's here. I'll contact you later."

Gu Lang simply sat down in front of the car radio and tuned the frequency to the walkie-talkie range.

This is to facilitate possible "multi-party talks" in the future.

The third thing to come onto the deck was a tea canister.

After glancing at it, Gu Lang expertly switched the walkie-talkie to channel 18.

"Oh, Brother Ma Cheng, what brings you here so late at night?" Gu Lang asked jokingly.

"Brother Gu Lang, let's not beat around the bush, that gun of yours..."

"Sure, I only want to sell guns. As for who I sell them to, I don't care."

"Yeah, let me tell you, that Zhou Lei is no good."

He's trying to fool you. Actually, there's plenty of diesel on the platform, and you won't need it for the time being...

Another barrel of diesel fuel was poured into the fuel tank, and Gu Lang's smile grew even brighter.

He knew the outcome from the very beginning.

As soon as everyone learned of the gun's existence, the chain of suspicion began.

The prisoner's dilemma is an openly unsolvable dilemma.

Even if you didn't initially intend to do anything with the gun.

But in order to prevent others from getting the gun and doing something with it, we must seize it first.

This is what's called replacing "ban" with selection.

More than a month has passed since the outbreak of nuclear war, yet no final ruler has been determined on the platform.

This demonstrates that the difference in the military strength of the various parties is not significant, and a balance of power can be maintained.

A revolver may not be very powerful, but its deterrent effect is enough to break the critical point.

We were at their mercy, and no one dared to give up this opportunity.

As the last few packets of traditional Chinese medicine were being raised up with the rope, Gu Lang yawned.

"What is this?"

Even Gu Lang rolled his eyes when he heard the same question asked three times.

"These are all good medicines, I won't take your oil for nothing."

"Let's not talk about that anymore. How much for the gun? Just name your price."

Gu Lang wiped the barrel of his gun and pulled the trigger of the empty revolver.

"When we discuss the price tomorrow, I want to trade bear jerky for diesel."

"You want me to speak up for you?"

"Smart, just help me lower the price a little."

"Okay, I promise."

"Hmm? Aren't you worried that there might be viruses in the bear meat?"

"You probably didn't hear the broadcast from the capital."

Rabies does not infect animals; the synapses on the virus can only bind to receptors on human target cells.

"I see, I've learned something new." Gu Lang nodded repeatedly.

"What about the gun?"

"I'll leave it on the platform before I leave, you can pick it up yourself later."

How do I know if you will keep your promise?

"Bring me a few more barrels of oil, and I'll give you bullets. Once you hand over the bullets, I have no use for the gun."

"Okay, sure."

Next, Gu Lang traded 3 bullets for 3 small barrels of diesel fuel.

"Only three bullets?" Ma Cheng's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Found it on the road; it's lucky it even has bullets."

After saying goodbye to Ma Cheng, Gu Lang waited for an hour.

After confirming that no new customers had come in, they contacted Zhou Lei and the mystery man again.

After going through the same process twice more, the remaining 7 bullets were transformed into 7 small barrels of diesel fuel.

Gu Lang originally intended to divide the bullets into three portions and keep one for himself as a souvenir.

Unfortunately, the mysterious man was extremely wary and insisted that Gu Lang hand over the empty bullet casings.

After receiving three bullets and two empty cartridge cases, he pointed out that the revolver did not eject the spent cartridges automatically.

Insisting that Gu Lang must have kept a bullet hidden, Gu Lang had no choice but to hand over the last bullet to him as well.

Fortunately, he finally figured out the man's identity; the mysterious person turned out to be the platform manager.

He was originally the highest-ranking person in charge here, with a senior management team including senior team leaders and drilling supervisors.

After the disaster, due to its small number of members and the resulting hatred, it has lost its leadership of the platform.

Gu Lang learned from him that Zhou Lei is currently the leader of the technical team.

His team consists of engineers and drilling workers who maintain the normal operation of various equipment.

Currently, they have the largest number of members and the strongest overall strength.

Having gained control of the equipment storage area, his subordinates were all geniuses with ideas, and they even manufactured quite a few weapons themselves.

As the boatswain, Ma Cheng controlled the ship's operations team and logistics support team.

Although weaker than Zhou Lei, they have important members such as a chef, a doctor, a crane operator, and a communications technician.

They also possess a considerable number of weapons and effectively manage the most important living platform.

Both parties need each other's cooperation to maintain the normal operation of the platform.

Therefore, Zhou Lei and Ma Cheng are currently the main decision-makers on the platform.

The platform manager's team became lowly handymen, mainly responsible for cleaning up the environment.

He usually doesn't have much of a presence, and he just sits in on meetings as an observer.

All three parties had the idea of ​​leaving the platform and heading to the mainland to find their families.

But they were all afraid that once they left the platform, they would find it difficult to return to this doomsday shelter.

Currently, the situation remains one of competition without outright conflict, presenting a stable tripartite balance of power.

Gu Lang exchanged 10 bullets for a total of 200 liters of diesel fuel.

With the addition of the 60 liters of diesel fuel obtained through a deception using traditional Chinese medicine, the yacht now has over 400 liters of diesel fuel remaining.

After adjusting the yacht's position and activating sentry mode.

Gu Lang switched the walkie-talkie back to the default channel 1, then put on his sleeping bag and pretended to doze off on the sofa.

The sleeping bag is designed in the shape of a human with limbs, and the hands have Velcro openings.

Emergency situations will not affect the activities.

In my dream, I seemed to have arrived at a strange park.

He kept making phone calls, as if he hadn't completed his task properly and was being punished by being hung up and whipped.

When Gu Lang woke up the next day, he hadn't had breakfast yet.

Then I heard Zhou Lei calling from the walkie-talkie.

"Gu Lang, can you hear me?"

"I can hear it, the sound is very clear."

"Captain Ma, Manager, shall we begin?"

Zhou Lei's use of the word "manager" was full of sarcasm.

"Well, after discussion, we agree to exchange diesel for tobacco and alcohol."

"Tobacco and alcohol are not sold separately; a certain proportion of dried bear meat must also be purchased at the same time."

"How can they force a sale like this?"

"Have you heard of the tobacco company's 'quota system'? If you want to buy best-selling cigarettes, you have to buy some slow-selling items as well."

"How much do you plan to sell the bear jerky for?"

"One kilogram of dried bear meat can be exchanged for 50 liters of diesel fuel."

"Oh, this seems a little expensive?" Zhou Lei pretended to be puzzled.

"It is indeed a bit expensive. Although the meat on the platform has been used up and everyone wants to improve their meals, the cost must also be taken into account."

Ma Cheng immediately began his performance.

"I've eaten bear meat abroad, and it's really delicious; most people say it's good. It's just that not everyone likes it."

The manager, who declined to be named, echoed this sentiment.