June 13, 342, 11:00 AM.
"Sister Tang Li, I need to tell you something."
After returning to Jiangcheng, Tang Li shed her disguise as a middle-aged man. As soon as she got home, she was intercepted by Peng Yixuan.
She pulled Tang Li into a corner and whispered conspiratorially,
"Sister Tang Li, I've discovered that Sister Tang Guo might, possibly, perhaps... be falling for an old man!"
Tang Li: "(⊙ˍ⊙)"
Seeing Tang Li's disbelief, Peng Yixuan continued, "Yesterday afternoon, Sister Tang Guo and I took that 'all-purpose merchant,' Boss Li, to F City..."
As Peng Yixuan spoke, Tang Li also recalled yesterday's events.
Yesterday, in the car, just as she was drifting off to sleep, the vehicle hit a bump, nearly throwing her off balance.
Fortunately, her vigilance was high, and even in her drowsy state, her body reacted reflexively, preventing her from slamming her head into the seat in front.
Tang Guo, seeing this, quickly adjusted their speed and warned Peng Yixuan not to cause trouble.
Later, when Tang Li next woke up, they had already reached the F City camp, and the sky had begun to darken.
After having dinner at the camp's trading post, under the guise of the "all-purpose merchant," she discussed cooperation matters with Peng Yue and Zhong Heng.
Ultimately, the complete trading post was acquired for 100,000 universal vouchers, 50 modified vehicles, and 100 solar panels.
This price was, naturally, very cheap.
However, for the "United Squad," the salvageable items from dismantling the trading post might not be worth much more than this, and it would also be a hassle.
After the trading post was sold to "Boss Li," "Boss Li" would hire the "United Squad" to guard it.
Besides issuing missions to eliminate criminal organizations, the mercenary guild also accepted privately posted mercenary missions, provided they were compliant, for escorts, search and rescue, deliveries, or guarding.
"Boss Li" would have his agent, Tang Guo, post a guarding mission at the mercenary guild for the "United Squad" to accept.
While termed a guarding mission, it was essentially to provide the "United Squad" with a reliable stronghold.
Furthermore, they could purchase various supplies such as water, food, and fuel here.
As for the name of this stronghold, it would be called the "Apocalypse Mall."
At this stronghold, not only the "United Squad" but anyone could come to purchase supplies, and simultaneously, exchange junk for points.
Of course, these things could not be achieved overnight.
Apart from guarding, other tasks could not be entrusted to the "United Squad"; additional personnel would need to be recruited.
Tang Li was not worried about recruiting personnel.
As the shelters across the land collapsed and people migrated, the number of refugees would only increase.
As long as the "Apocalypse Mall" could provide supplies, it would undoubtedly attract a large number of refugees.
These refugees could reside in camps around the mall and collect junk from abandoned towns and villages in the vicinity, exchanging them for points and purchasing supplies from the mall.
And among these refugees, there would surely be many with management experience.
At that time, Tang Li could have Tang Guo recruit talent from these refugees to refine the mall's regulations and manage its daily operations.
The caravans arriving from afar could also exchange junk for points at the mall and purchase the mall's supplies.
This way, although Tang Li would need to replicate supplies from her spatial storage in large quantities frequently, many people would help her expand her influence.
There were still 3 months until the great earthquake began.
By the end of these 3 months, the "Apocalypse Mall" should have developed.
At that time, even if the buildings turned into ruins, as long as there were enough people, the mall's transactions could still continue.
And after the underground city was built, the refugees living in the camps around the mall could follow the vehicles traveling to and from the underground city, heading there.
After discussing business matters, Tang Li and Tang Guo rested for a night at the F City camp and returned to the Jiangcheng shelter the next morning.
By the time they returned, it was nearly 10 AM.
After dropping off Tang Guo and Peng Yixuan, Tang Li went to a secluded spot, shed her disguise as a middle-aged man, and then returned home.
This led to the scene at the beginning where she was intercepted by Peng Yixuan to "confess."
"Sister Tang Li, I've told you everything I saw."
"Although these are all my guesses and I can't be sure, I feel this is highly likely!"
"Sister Tang Guo is such a gentle person, yet she got angry at me because of that old man... I didn't dare to hide it, so I immediately told you."
"Sister Tang Li, Sister Tang Guo listens to you the most. You really need to pay attention and not let that old man steal Sister Tang Guo's heart!"
Hearing Peng Yixuan's words, Tang Li felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
This child had no idea that the "old man" she was referring to was standing right in front of her.
However, the child was genuinely trying to help.
Tang Li quickly soothed her and sent her home.
Upon returning home, Tang Li took out her phone from her spatial storage and found many missed calls and text messages from Song Pinxuan and Lin Xi, which immediately furrowed her brow.