Quiet street.
A glance around revealed only zombie corpses.
The gentle morning sunlight shone down, illuminating the street. Te Thinh watched, unable to recover his senses for a long time. The scene before him, like a tidal wave, crashed against his heart.
Zombies' mutilated bodies, savage, terrifying, bloody.
"The hopeful Duong Quang Apartments... Bro Chu said this is the place. Just why is it like this? Did something happen last night?" Te Thinh murmured to himself.
He came bearing hope, didn't want such hope to be shattered.
Turned his head to look at his two sleeping children, he smiled. These were the people he had to protect even if it meant risking his life; even if sacrificing himself, wouldn't frown.
"If I go now to ask them to take us in, will they?"
Te Thinh thought to himself.
Shook his head.
No, surely they won't.
Now is the apocalypse. Those who cannot contribute to a survivor team are unlikely to gain others' approval, even less likely to receive protection.
Since the apocalypse arrived, he had witnessed many dark things: abandonment, betrayal, conspiracy, etc., all frequently occurring.
He was somewhat timid, somewhat scared.
Afraid of being rejected.
Just as Bro Chu said, this was the only hope. He had already arrived here; this was also his last hope. If rejected, then truly no hope left.
Te Thinh thought about how to speak when meeting them, lowered his own posture, because he understood he and his children were ordinary, begging others to take them in.
Humble, must be humble to succeed.
Thought about his own strengths; in the apocalypse, must have a skill.
Driving?
Not considered a skill. How many adults nowadays don't know how to drive?
Pondered.
Finally, he had figured it out: that is to give his all. Under the current apocalyptic situation, supplies are most important. Wanting the opponent to take them in, then he must proactively step forward.
If there are actions to search for supplies, surely must proactively participate. Only then can make people feel he is useful, willing to take him in.
At this time.
He saw Duong Quang Apartments' gate open. A young man carrying a sword walked out. He is a survivor of Duong Quang Apartments. The moment he saw the person, Te Thinh's heart suddenly relaxed, like being trapped on a deserted island for a long time, then seeing an approaching ship.
Lam Pham looked at the current situation, scratched his head, a faint melancholy.
Last night's affairs needed to be handled now.
He was very familiar with the process of cleaning up zombies: simply transport to the garbage dump, also use a water truck to wash the dirty ground.
Saw a car parked over there, saw people inside.
Lam Pham walked towards the vehicle. Survivors came here again. Want to know if the opponent encountered trouble. Survivors in the apocalypse should unite. Encountering some small problems, he is very willing to help.
Te Thinh saw the opponent walking towards him, his breathing slightly rushed. Calmed his heart, opened the car door, got out. He knew whether the opponent would take them in depended on how he conversed with them.
He looked anxiously at the approaching Lam Pham.
A feeling of not knowing how to communicate.
"Hello, did you encounter some trouble?" Lam Pham smiled, asking gently.
He felt the opponent was a bit nervous.
A gentle tone could alleviate the opponent's tense mood.
Te Thinh didn't expect the opponent would say "Hello" to him, making him somewhat unexpected. Hurriedly said, "Hello."
"Did you encounter some trouble?" Lam Pham, through the open car door, saw two more children in the back seat. Instantly understood: this family of three must be fleeing the apocalypse, seeking living space in the end times.
Damn apocalypse! He hated the apocalypse! A perfectly beautiful society destroyed by the apocalypse, causing countless people to lose their homes, families torn apart. Truly damn it!
Te Thinh cautiously said, "It was Bro Chu who told me, if there's nowhere to go, can come to Duong Quang Apartments. That place is the place of hope. So I brought the children to take a look."
He spoke very carefully, not daring to say too much, just afraid of misspeaking.
"Bro Chu? You mean Chu Minh?" Lam Pham thought for a bit; surnamed Chu, also that family of three he met yesterday.
Te Thinh nodded, "Yes, it's Chu Minh. My car had problems on the highway; it was Bro Chu who helped me fix it, said I could come here. The children and I fled from Hecheng city, truly have nowhere else to go. Can you let me and the children join your team? Rest assured, don't just look at me seeming a bit thin and weak; actually, I'm very brave. Later, if there are jobs searching for supplies, you can let me go. I just hope to give the children a place to stay."
Finished speaking, Te Thinh kneeled before Lam Pham.
He wasn't afraid of his own death, but worried about the children.
Lam Pham helped him up, stared into his eyes, then looked at the children in the car, couldn't help but smile, "Bring the children and follow me."
"Thank, thank you!" Te Thinh was grateful, thinking this meant they agreed to let them stay in Duong Quang Apartments. Hurriedly pulled the children out, followed Lam Pham.
Lam Pham smiled. Life truly is full of surprises everywhere. Proactively running errands to search, very hard to find business. Didn't expect business would actually come knocking on the door now.
Sensible business should proactively find a broker.
Duong Quang Apartments is the residential area of hope. As long as diligently building it, can spread hope out. He hoped in the cold apocalypse, could let desperate yet unwilling to harm others survivors feel warmth, let them know the brilliance of human nature exists at any time.
He wasn't a savior, just one among ordinary people.
Inside the residential area.
Te Thinh lowered his head, dumbfounded looking at the promotional flyer before him, Lam Pham's chattering introduction still in his ears.
"Our Duong Quang Apartments' facilities are all very complete. Also your two children can receive high-quality education..."
Lam Pham babbled on. He was a very conscientious broker, had to make the opponent understand the advantages and disadvantages of Duong Quang Apartments. The only disadvantage was the residential area was a bit old, the elevator would occasionally break down.
Beside him, Old man Vuong watched with a smile on his face. He just liked watching Little Pham introduce the residential area to people, also liked seeing the opponent's dazed appearance.
"Young man, what are you dazed for? Pick one. We are all like this. I, this old man, live in Room 603. When you have nothing to do, can come knock on my door."
He knew newcomers might be confused for a while, so he was willing to say a bit from the side, so the opponent could accept it faster.
Te Thinh looked at Lam Pham, then at the old man. When he first entered the residential area, thought he would see fully armed survivors. But the scene before him thoroughly dumbfounded him.
Two old gentlemen pushing an old man in a wheelchair chatting downstairs.
An old grandma and a woman carrying hoes, walking towards the distance.
A dog walked to a tree, lifted its leg, peeing.
These images impacted his vision.
Gave him an unrealistic feeling, felt like living in a dream.
Everything was so unrealistic.
Is this really a survivor shelter?
Is it really a safe point capable of resisting zombie threats?
Various doubts swirled in his mind.
Pat!
Old man Vuong patted his shoulder, startling him awake, "Young man, what happened? Our Little Pham is Duong Quang Apartments' security guard, also a part-time staff member at Tan Phong Brokerage. I think you should just choose the 304 Little Pham introduced to you. Two bedrooms, one living room, monthly rent just over a thousand, very fair, really not bad."
"Bank card on you, right?"
Te Thinh still stared blankly, then reacted, "Yes, it is."
Apocalypse descended, his wallet was still there.
Old man Vuong said, "Work hard. Our Duong Quang Apartments always maintains a normal life rhythm. Money is very important. Find a job to earn money. As long as you work hard, you can live a good life. Look at that young lady called To Tieu Hieu, currently opening a cake shop at home, taste quite good. Also him, called Vuong Khai, water plant staff, has to go to the water plant for inspection every day. Everyone has their own thing."
"And our Little Pham is even more amazing. His main job is security guard, also part-time broker, water plant staff, will also take on some private jobs like running errands and cleaning shop environments, etc."
Hearing the old man say these things.
Lam Pham smiled, "Old Sir, yesterday I found another part-time job. I'm now considered a barber, can give haircuts to people in the community. I plan to charge ten yuan per haircut. What do you think?"
"Oh?" Old man Vuong was extremely surprised, "Aiya! Young people's minds are just clever! Actually thought of this profession! Good! Really good! No wonder I saw you looking much more spirited yesterday; turns out you gave yourself a haircut. No one is allowed to compete with me for this; I must be Little Pham's first customer!"
He really liked young people like Little Pham.
Being together felt very comfortable.
The young people living in the residential area were all very good, respected the old and cherished the young. Truly made him feel, being able to stay with this group of sensible children in such a chaotic era, he was truly very satisfied.
Already old, can't help much. The only thing he could do was be Little Pham's translator, see garbage dropped in the community, casually pick it up and put it in the trash can.
Not bringing trouble to those young people was the idea he had always adhered to.
Lam Pham smiled, "Okay, no problem. I'll arrange their accommodation, then give Old Sir a haircut."
Beside him, Te Thinh watched them chatting happily. That throbbing heart gradually calmed down. He felt this place seemed different from what he thought.
"Can I and the children really stay here?" Te Thinh asked.
Lam Pham said, "Yes, you and the children can also stay here. I saw friendliness in your eyes; you can stay."
Hearing such affirmation.
Te Thinh's eye sockets instantly reddened. That extreme sense of oppression instantly vanished without a trace. Pushing away the clouds, finally saw sunlight灑 (sǎ - sprinkle/scatter) onto his body. He thanked Chu Minh, thanked Lam Pham, thanked everyone here.
He felt a new life arriving, life full of vitality.
Old man Vuong looked at this newly arrived resident before him, could understand his current mood. Bringing two children to find this place in the apocalypse, truly very not easy.
For him, Little Pham was his and his children's hope.
Lam Pham said, "The street outside needs cleaning. I'll go get busy first. Later at noon, can eat with us. Life will slowly get better; everything will get on track."
"Mm." Te Thinh nodded.
Then, Lam Pham walked outside.
Old man Vuong looked at Te Thinh, "Young man, how old this year?"
"Thirty-five."
"Ah, thirty-five. Good age. Young is truly good. My name is Vuong Trung Quoc, considered one of the first batch of households in Duong Quang Apartments. Let me tell you about our situation here. Don't have any burden in your heart, nor need too much pressure. Here..."
Old man Vuong explained in a low, slow voice.
He was Lam Pham's spokesperson.
Work, earn money?
That's for sure. Living people must find something to do. So what if it's the apocalypse? Can you not work in the apocalypse? Then where does food and drink come from?
Definitely cannot rob; what's the difference between that and being a thief?
Te Thinh listened, very easily understood the old man's meaning. He looked at that receding figure. The civilized order of the residential area, from beginning to end, maintained the order of peacetime.
Meanwhile, he had an image.
This Duong Quang Apartments was like a safe zone of civilized order, while outside was a chaotic wilderness, already completely chaotic.
Street.
He chopped the zombies; he also did the cleaning work.
Arriving at the garbage dump, he looked at the already overflowing dump, fell into unspeakable contemplation.
He thought of another garbage dump elsewhere, could only send the zombie corpses over there. Troublesome, yes, a bit troublesome, but at least there was a place to store them.
...
Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Group. (Đằng hoàng dược mong đợi -> Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Prospects / Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Group)
This was a foreign pharmaceutical conglomerate. Its headquarters was in Hoang city. For a long time, many specific-effect drugs came from the hands of this pharmaceutical group. Those selling prices were very high, often not affordable by ordinary people.
Even if included in medical insurance, the selling price was also extremely high. The country bore high costs, just hoping ordinary sick people could afford the medicine.
On the internet, Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Group was very low-key, didn't have much heat. But once an expert said, must pay attention to Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Group's suppression and exclusion of Chinese medicine, gradually encroaching on Chinese medicine's influence in society, thereby completely monopolizing the domestic medical market.
This kind of comment was quickly deleted, similarly not causing any ripples.
Underground at Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Group was a research base. This was a research base secretly built under the decades-long efforts of Tenghuang Pharmaceutical Group's people in the country.
A group of foreigners were conversing. The sudden outbreak of the apocalypse also caught them somewhat off guard. Fortunately, the research base had many escape routes, basically all separate laboratories. Even if turned into zombies, if password not entered, cannot get out from the laboratory.
"Damn! F***! You group of dog bastards, let me out!"
A man was confined on the experimental table.
He roared, struggled. Said nicely before, said came to save me. But who knew, after arriving here, he was knocked unconscious. When opening his eyes again, already tied up here.
Looking at the surrounding situation, he was extremely panicked. This group of people actually treated zombies as specimens, placed in containers.
This group of foreigners, after seeing various explosive powers of zombies, had an idea: whether they could find special genes from zombies, thereby modifying them, creating the strongest weapon.
Staff wearing protective clothing pressed a red button. A syringe automatically advanced, an unknown green liquid slowly injected into the opponent's body.
Everyone observed various data on the screen.
In an instant.
Various data still showed serious problems.
Bang!
Bang!
The man injected with the unknown liquid convulsed violently. His entire skin showed high-temperature burns, red, as if flames were burning inside his body.
Sticky fluid continuously spurted from his mouth.
BOOM!
An explosion sounded.
The man's heart and chest directly exploded, blood splattering all over the ground.
For this group of people, the current situation couldn't satisfy them. Experiments until now always failed. But even so, they still hadn't given up.
Experiments are just like that; impossible to succeed immediately.
"Find! Continue finding survivors!" a blonde old man said gravely.
He was the manager of this experiment. Must find the secret from zombies. In his mind, could always think of those scenes from "Resident Evil". He truly didn't expect zombies, this kind of thing, actually existed. Even thought about finding the key to human evolution from zombies, find that key, open the path of human body evolution.
He swiped the tablet in his hand.
Inside, unexpectedly, were images of various mutated zombies.
"This is definitely a kind of evolution! When evolution reaches the extreme, can open the era of humans becoming gods!" The blonde old man's eyes glinted with madness.
He already knew this was a global disaster. Survivors indeed very few. At the very beginning, he tried to make contact, but always couldn't get through. When the first wave of zombies appeared, already caused incalculable disaster to civilized order.
...