Chapter 44: Transaction

"I am a vagrant, but my dog isn't a stray dog."

The old man said this with a smile on his face, but he was unusually serious.

This dog was very important to him. He found it fifteen years ago.

Back then, his wife passed away.

His son, being unfilial, emigrated abroad with the money he won from the lottery, leaving him alone.

During those dark times, only this dog accompanied him, making him feel a little better.

For the old man, this dog had long become his only family.

He knew very well what it meant to take a dog to a shelter.

Even though his dog was skinny.

But in the eyes of some people, it would still be a pot of soup.

So the old man didn't dare to go to the shelter.

And because the old dog's health was deteriorating day by day, he didn't dare to leave the dog's side either.

Afraid that the dog would pass away as soon as he left.

Fifteen years of living together.

Made the old man very familiar with his dog's temperament.

He knew that once he left, the dog would become afraid and restless, barking and calling out.

But that was definitely not an option because it would attract zombies.

So the old man had no choice but to stay, stay by the dog's side.

He had already prepared to die with the dog in this remote area.

As for that bag full of cigarettes and alcohol?

It's ridiculous, really.

It was something he subconsciously collected.

But the old man wouldn't take these cigarettes and alcohol to the shelter to exchange for food.

Why?

Because he wasn't stupid.

He knew his own situation.

Even if he went to the shelter to exchange for food.

It would all be taken away by others on the way back.

And worse, he might be killed directly in the struggle.

That's the old man's current predicament.

---

When Baiyin realized this.

He understood how naive his question just now was.

He just smiled bitterly, hesitated for a moment, and said:

"I'll go to the shelter and exchange your stuff, when I come back, I'll give you half..."

He didn't linger after saying this, he left with the bag on his back.

The old man behind him was a little surprised, quickly wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, repeatedly muttering softly:

"Good person... Good person..."

---

"Bam!"

When Baiyin left, he closed the door completely. When closing the door, he tried to be as gentle as possible.

"A good person..."

As he walked downstairs, the words of the old man's evaluation of him echoed in his mind.

Baiyin questioned himself inwardly.

Was he really a good person?

Then, he looked at the dagger and axe around his waist, revealing a self-deprecating smile, murmuring to himself:

"How can an assassin be a good person?"

---

When approaching the shelter, Baiyin didn't want to attract too much attention, so he deliberately rolled on the ground a few times.

After making sure he looked disheveled enough, similar to the others, he approached.

"Woo woo woo..."

As soon as he approached, he saw several people crying at the door of the shelter.

These were all people who couldn't afford the rent and had just been kicked out.

At this moment, tears were streaming down their faces, full of unwillingness and helplessness.

They consisted of men, women, old, and young, probably about a dozen people.

When Baiyin approached with his backpack, several people immediately noticed him.

Baiyin quickened his pace and approached the young man at the door of the shelter, asking:

"Um... can I exchange things here?"

He had a pleasing expression on his face.

The young man in charge of the door looked at the newcomer and asked:

"Haven't seen you before, new here?"

"Um... yes, just arrived yesterday!"

"Do you have anything with you? What do you have?"

"Some cigarettes and alcohol!"

"Oh~"

The young man's eyes lit up suddenly, and his tone resembled that of a veteran:

"These cigarettes and alcohol... we don't have much here recently..."

"I understand, I understand, brother..."

Baiyin hurriedly took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and secretly handed it to the young man.

The young man chuckled, put the cigarettes in his pocket, and showed an appreciative expression:

"Not bad, kid, you're smart! Follow me!"

With that said, he led him to the room of their leader.

The leader of the shelter was a middle-aged, strong man.

There was a long scar on his face, and the people here called him Scar.

When Baiyin was brought in by the young man, Scar was playing cards with three other men.

"Boss, someone wants to exchange things!"

The young man said, but Scar didn't even lift his eyelids.

"What junk is it this time?"

"Not junk, it's cigarettes and alcohol!"

"Cigarettes and alcohol?"

Everyone was stunned, then they turned their gaze to Baiyin.

Scar reached out directly:

"Kid, let me see what you've got!"

Without hesitation, Baiyin opened the bag and took out the backpack full of cigarettes and alcohol:

"Boss, take a look!"

"Hmm, quite decent."

Scar took the bag, opened it, and immediately showed a look of joy on his face.

Then he quickly opened a pack of cigarettes

Lit it, took a big puff, exhaled smoke, and had a very enjoyable expression on his face.

And the others all subconsciously leaned over to smell the second-hand smoke Scar exhaled, all with eager expressions.

In fact, these people hadn't smoked for a long time.

So the cigarettes at this moment in the shelter were definitely a scarce resource.

"Boss, how about these things, how much food can they exchange for?"

Baiyin rubbed his hands, looking like a small-time businessman.

Scar's eyes rolled, and he coughed lightly:

"Cough, the cigarettes are good, the alcohol is good, um... I'll be generous and give you five catties of food!"

When this was said, everyone was stunned.

Five catties?

Isn't that a bit too much?

But no one dared to say anything, after all, they weren't foolish enough to offend the boss for an outsider.

---

From the expressions of the people, Baiyin could guess something.

But he didn't have the mood to waste time here.

Five catties were better than nothing.

After all, he didn't plan to exchange for much food from the beginning.

"Thank you, thank you, boss!"

So he could only pretend to be grateful, then, while others cursed him a fool in their hearts, he was taken to the storage room by the young man in charge of the door to pack his things.

---

The key to the storage room was with Scar.

So the young man took the key directly from Scar.

On the way to the storage room.

The young man took the initiative to speak:

"Buddy, you just arrived, you may not understand the situation here, do you have any plans for the future?"

"This... not yet..."

"I knew it, you didn't have any!"

The young man looked like he expected it, then said:

"Considering that you just brought a pack of cigarettes, I advise you to stay here directly.

Then take out half of your things for my brothers, let us cover for you.

It's much safer than you going out alone with so much stuff.

Just now you saw it too, so many beggars outside.

Believe me, as soon as you step out, they'll snatch everything from you!"

"Thanks for the reminder, big brother, but I have no choice.

My younger brother is still outside, I can't just leave him..."