Snip!
Snip!
Downstairs, Lam Pham held scissors and clippers, trimming Old man Vuong's hair. After finishing, he put down the tools, held up a mirror, and swayed it in front of the old man.
"How is it? Isn't it cut very well?" he asked expectantly.
Old man Vuong looked left, looked right, smiled, "Good, cut very well, quite decent."
Lam Pham extended his hand before Old man Vuong, grinned, "Ten yuan, thank you for your patronage."
"Good, this skill is well worth ten yuan."
Now Old man Vuong carried small change with him.
Keeping small change on him had become a habit.
Lam Pham took the ten yuan, hurriedly ran to To Tieu Hieu's place, bought two small cakes, gave one to Old man Vuong, kept one for himself.
"Old Sir, eat cake."
Old man Vuong took the cake, "I say, Little Pham, you just earned this money and immediately bought cake. Isn't this a losing business?"
Lam Pham smiled, "First order of business opening, a complimentary small cake."
Old man Vuong smiled, secretly hid the cake in his pocket, "I, this old man, want to bring this cake back for my old companion to enjoy. Little Pham ah, you're not young anymore. I think you should find a girlfriend. I see those two girls, To Tieu Hieu and Nhan Ny Ny, are not bad."
Lam Pham said, "Old Sir, you really think too highly of me. I only have one apartment in Duong Quang Apartments, monthly salary only five thousand, don't even have a car. Not suitable. At my age, I feel falling in love is like chronically poisoning myself. I think with the current situation, should strive hard."
Old man Vuong: ...
Afternoon.
Lam Pham, as usual, was out looking for clients.
He looked up.
Saw two figures on a balcony.
The distance was a bit far, but still could see clearly. They were two elderly people; one sat in a wheelchair, the other accompanied beside, quietly looking into the distance.
He thought for a moment, decided to go take a look.
Entered the residential area, registered, walked towards the building he saw. The elevator was broken, could only take the stairs. He heard a noise at the top of the stairs; turned out to be a zombie wandering around. Startled him, thought it was something else.
Cleaned up the zombie, continued climbing the stairs.
Stood before the security door.
Knocked gently.
"Hello, my name is Lam Pham. Is anyone home?" Lam Pham said softly.
Waited a moment, no answer.
He waited at the doorway.
Creak.
The security door opened. Opening the door was an old grandma with a full head of silver hair. Her turbid eyes looked at Lam Pham, not with the panic imagined in the face of the apocalypse, but instead appeared very calm.
"Who are you looking for?"
Lam Pham said, "Hello, Old Grandma. I was walking on the street, saw you on the balcony. Now is the apocalypse, many zombies outside, so I came to see if you need help."
The old grandma looked at Lam Pham, then invited him in, "Come in and talk."
"Thank you."
The room area wasn't large, tidied very cleanly. The floor shone, looked like it was just mopped not long ago. Flowers arranged in a vase on the coffee table, colors still fresh and beautiful. Gave the feeling this was a home full of warmth.
"Grandma, is that Grandpa on the balcony?" Lam Pham asked.
The old grandma smiled, walked towards the balcony, evidently wanting to bring that old grandpa over. During this time, he looked at the furnishings in the house, saw a black and white photo album placed there. This was a portrait of the deceased. An apple was displayed before the portrait.
The person in the photo smiled, very young, wearing a police uniform, already had a sense of an era, seemed very long ago.
The sound of a wheelchair, also a cat's meow.
The old grandma pushed the wheelchair over. An old man sat in the wheelchair. In the old man's lap was a chubby orange cat, listless, curled up on the old man's legs. Seeing a stranger like Lam Pham, the orange cat meowed once.
The old grandma saw Lam Pham looking at the photo, "This is my son. Passed away more than forty years ago. He was an anti-drug police officer, shot and sacrificed while pursuing drug traffickers."
Lam Pham looked at the photo, silent. More than forty years ago, he hadn't been born yet. But he checked online; drug trafficking at that time was extremely rampant. Many anti-drug police officers sacrificed themselves in the process of capturing drug traffickers.
That group of drug traffickers back then was extremely rampant. The country paid a huge price to eradicate them, to ensure the safety of that place.
"He is a hero," Lam Pham said.
The old grandma said, "Yes, we both are very proud of him. Sacrificing him alone could save countless families, countless lives. His death was worth it."
Lam Pham felt the old grandma's mood was a bit sorrowful, didn't want to continue on this topic, but changed the subject, "Grandma, you and Grandpa... this."
When he saw the old grandpa, suddenly felt this old grandpa's breath had dissipated. Eyes closed, face serene.
"Just left not long ago, very peacefully." The old grandma touched her old companion's face, eyes full of love.
Lam Pham had an indescribable feeling. He didn't particularly like seeing such things, but often this was reality. "Old Grandma, now is the apocalypse, very chaotic outside. Why don't you let me take care of you? My place is relatively safe."
Son is a martyr. Cannot let a martyr bleed and then shed tears. His ability wasn't strong, but taking good care of this old grandma was no problem.
He didn't mention the brokerage, pitching housing or anything.
Not appropriate.
The old grandma said, "Young man, although I don't know what you do, but I can see, you are a true young lad, a true young person. Alright, no need to bother. This is my home, my old companion's home, also my son's future home to return to. I can't leave. I have to accompany them. Why don't you take it away? Its name is Thuy Hoa. It's the bond between me and my old man."
Lam Pham looked at the orange cat Thuy Hoa, then at the old grandma, as if thinking of something. He had many words to say, but in the end... hesitated.
The old grandma turned and walked towards the kitchen. When she came out, carried a bag in her hand; inside was some cat food. "Okay?"
Lam Pham nodded, "Okay."
He carried the cat food, held the orange cat Thuy Hoa. As if possessing a kind of affinity, the orange cat didn't struggle, instead very much liked Lam Pham's stroking.
The orange cat Thuy Hoa looked at the old grandma, as if understanding something, meowed once.
Doorway.
The old grandma, face smiling, closed the door.
Clack!
The security door closed tightly.
Lam Pham stroked Thuy Hoa, the orange cat in his arms, mood somewhat heavy, walked downstairs.
In the room.
The old grandma placed her old companion on the bed, arranged his clothes neatly, covered him with a quilt. And she held her son's portrait in her arms, quietly lay beside her old companion, turned her head, softly.
"I'm coming to accompany you and child."
Finished speaking, slowly closed her eyes.
The quiet room became even quieter. A petal slowly fell from the flowers in the vase on the coffee table.
Street.
"Thuy Hoa, Old Grandma entrusted you to me. I will take good care of you. Back at the residential area, you should be able to become cat-dog friends with Doggi." Lam Pham stroked it, looked towards that building's balcony. The two elderly figures were gone.
In the apocalyptic world, makes people see despair. But some things make people feel helpless. He could understand. For the old grandma, her old companion and child were her everything. Without child, then without old companion, her world also collapsed.
Walking, walking.
Heard the sound of a car.
A car carrying people drove past him. The survivors in the car and Lam Pham looked at each other. Everyone expressionless, as if seeing survivors appearing on the street, already felt no discomfort. Even if he was tackled and bitten by zombies, also wouldn't cause screams.
"It's him."
Lam Pham saw a familiar person in this car; it was that former client, Thu Dao Tram Ngu Ha Minh Hien. He was among the survivors, indifferently looking at himself.
Ha Minh Hien was clearly somewhat shocked, as if not expecting this fellow would still be alive, moreover swaggering on the street. Evidently didn't expect.
Indeed, he is still living well.
Smiled, waved towards Ha Minh Hien. Meaning very clear: Work hard, live diligently like me.
Survivors in Duong Quang Apartments were slowly gathered together by him.
That group of survivors just now, all holding wooden sticks and such, should also be a group of survivor teams. Everyone gathering together, being able to live is good.
His impression of Ha Minh Hien wasn't very good. Duong Quang Apartments indeed wasn't suitable for him. Seeing him still alive, also mixed in with a survivor team, he, as a former client, just gave a friendly nod.
In the truck.
"What the hell was that guy just now?" Someone spoke, breaking the silence. They were all survivors forced out to find supplies. The prison system had pushed them to a dead end. Wanting to continue staying in prison meant having to come out to participate in activities. If not participating, would be thrown out.
"I think he's like us."
"Anyway, he won't live. Without transportation, encountering zombies is a dead end for him."
Ha Minh Hien didn't speak. He had learned silence is golden. Prison was currently what he considered the safest place. Past temperament also had to be restrained.
His physique was a flaw, his biggest problem. Facing zombies, with his physique, even wanting to run couldn't escape. Later when searching for supplies, must be careful. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but tighten his grip on the baseball bat in his hand.
...
...
At this time, end of the street.
Lam Pham, holding the orange cat, after dispatching a zombie, looked at the zombie standing in the distance staring at him. Very strange, just like the zombie seen last time. It didn't move, didn't go crazy charging towards him.
"Is it monitoring me?"
Couldn't help but have this suspicion.
Since the apocalypse until now, he had seen many strange zombies. Some with immense strength, some with very fast running speed, also some that would self-destruct. Now appeared a zombie that liked to monitor. In his view, also very normal.
He walked a few steps towards the monitoring zombie.
The monitoring zombie didn't move, still stayed in place.
As he continued to approach.
The monitoring zombie, as if feeling the distance too close, already a threat, actually retreated quite far, then continued to look around.
Orange cat Thuy Hoa's fur seemed to stand on end.
"Don't be afraid, zombies are very weak." Lam Pham stroked, comforted.
With his stroking, orange cat Thuy Hoa calmed down a lot.
Towards this kind of zombie that liked to follow and monitor.
He gave up.
Didn't want to interact with the opponent.
Continued walking, searching for survivors still holding onto hope. Such survivors might be few, but surely exist. As long as found, he wouldn't let them down.
On the path of part-time brokerage, running further and further.
Hoped to rent out all houses in Duong Quang Apartments, also rent out surrounding residential areas, forming a place of hope, letting everyone live in joy.
Thwack thwack thwack!
At this time.
Sound of helicopter rotors.
"Dear survivors! We are the Giai Long Hotel survivor team! Currently gathering survivors from all over the city! Hope you can join our team! Our location is Giai Long Hotel! Here there is ample food, ample supplies, safety can be guaranteed! Awaiting your arrival! Our Giai Long Hotel survivor team takes in suitable survivors!"
The voice was broadcast from the helicopter above.
"Ugh ugh..."
Huge commotion.
Surrounding zombies were all howling.
That monitoring zombie looked up at the helicopter in the sky, followed, ran quickly, no longer paying attention to Lam Pham. Perhaps it felt, this was the Big Fish, Lam Pham was just Small Fish. Still had some thoughts in terms of choices.
"Survivors possessing a helicopter, really very good. Can go wherever they want, also don't need to encounter zombies."
Lam Pham watched, noted down Giai Long Hotel in his heart.
Didn't expect there would be such a survivor organization.
Moreover, even notified survivors living in Hoang city. Seemed like not bad.
Crash!
Crash!
Sound of glass shattering. Zombies jumped down from tall buildings. Clack! Heavily fell before Lam Pham, head exploded, already thoroughly dead.
This scene made Lam Pham somewhat doubt zombie IQ.
Looked up.
Saw zombies continuously jumping down from balconies of tall buildings.
He held the orange cat, hurriedly left, not wanting to be surrounded by this group of zombies. They were truly very impulsive.
Behind him, like dumplings being dropped, thump thump sounds continued. Hearing it felt very terrifying.
Some wanted to chase the helicopter, but seeing delicious flesh and blood like Lam Pham, also changed direction, rushing towards Lam Pham.
"You group of people..."
Lam Pham held Frostmourne, could only swing and slash, killing zombie after zombie, leisurely leaving. Towards unfriendly zombies, never held back.
Duong Quang Apartments.
As Lam Pham returned, the crowd saw him holding an orange cat in his arms, all somewhat surprised, not knowing where he found another cat.
Put down the cat.
Doggi, seeing the cat, eyes lit up, wagged its tail, briskly ran towards the orange cat. First action was to sniff the orange cat's butt. Just as it was about to happily sniff the orange cat's butt, the orange cat's fur bristled, swung its paws, a flurry of chaotic slaps rained down on Doggi.
Slapped Doggi's eyes round, whimpered once, tail between legs, ran towards the distance. Orange cat clearly didn't want to let this lecherous dog go, desperately chased behind.
Everyone seeing this scene, couldn't help but laugh out loud, evidently not expecting it to be so comical.
But very quickly.
The crowd all discussed matters.
"Heard the helicopter broadcast just now, right? Giai Long Hotel survivor team. As far as I know, Giai Long Hotel's general manager is called Tan Bon. Used to be a fierce character on the streets, later whitewashed, became a businessman, even Hoang city Chamber of Commerce vice-president. I think there's a problem here," Tran Hac said.
He knew some inside information, or rather, anyone from Hoang city should know a bit.
Co Hang said, "You mean, the broadcast just now very likely is a bait?"
Tran Hac said, "Mm, I have this suspicion. After all, under the current apocalyptic situation, not many people can be like Little Pham. If the one controlling Giai Long Hotel now is still Tan Bon, I think absolutely one hundred percent problematic. Either recruiting soldiers and buying horses, or there are other reasons."
Old man Vuong said, "In chaotic times, some capable people like to occupy mountains and become kings. Under no binding circumstances, form their own forces, thereby forming greater power. This is a very common situation, ai..."
Lam Pham, listening to everyone talk.
Understood a bit.
This Giai Long Hotel might be a bait.
"I'll go take a look tomorrow," Lam Pham said.
Everyone, hearing Lam Pham say go take a look, deeply broke into a cold sweat for those unknown survivors. After all, if Lam Pham encountered bad people, his method was to send them to the police station. As for the result, no need to think much.
Absolutely done for.
Old man Vuong said, "Little Pham, then you be careful tomorrow."
"Mm, I have it under control," Lam Pham nodded.
After chatting with everyone ended.
Lam Pham walked towards the fish pond, to see what Doggi and orange cat Thuy Hoa were doing.
Saw from afar.
Orange cat Thuy Hoa was by the fish pond, using its paws to dabble in the water, as if trying to catch fish. And Doggi was squatting to one side watching. In an instant, the scene seemed somewhat warm.
Lam Pham watched from afar, didn't have the heart to ruin such a scene.
Doggi was lonely.
Orange cat Thuy Hoa also the same.
Harmony between cat and dog can spark different kinds of fire.
...
...
Steel Behemoth. (The name of the armored truck group)
The four survivors were still reorganizing.
Tu Trach Duong said, "Big Sis Leader, whose helicopter is that? Are they really crazy, or pretending to be crazy? Actually hope survivors will go join them? Who the hell doesn't know Giai Long Hotel's boss is Tan Bon? Even if whitewashed, still a fierce character."
Sis Van said, "If only we had a helicopter, how good would that be? Could think of places to go. However, them looking for survivors now, maybe many survivors will go join them. Even if the road is relatively dangerous, but for many survivors, this is hope."
Big Sis Leader looked at their eyes, pondered for a moment.
"What are you all thinking? I know everyone has been very tired running around during this period, encountered many dangers. If you trust that side, then go. But I won't keep you."
When there's a safe room to rest, everyone can have a moment of relaxed mood. But now, dodging east and hiding west, has already made spirits somewhat fatigued. Especially Old Mao, driving, his mental state even worse. He always thought about remaining fuel, also always thought where to drive.
Also had to occasionally collide with zombies.
Various situations, poured into a mess, enough to make a person's spirit collapse.
Old Mao was silent, turned his head, looked at everyone, sincerely said, "Everyone, I am truly very tired, always feel can't see hope. However, I listen to your opinions. Being able to live until now, all thanks to everyone working together, mutually trusting the result. I don't want to see separation."
Tu Trach Duong shrugged his shoulders, "I was just saying. I don't want to go. That Tan Bon, I know a bit. Anyway, not a good person."
Sis Van said, "I'll listen to you guys."
Finished speaking, he looked at Big Sis Leader. Meaning very clear: Big Sis Leader decides.
"You always leave the choice to me. I'm very helpless. Every decision I make concerns, besides myself, three people's lives. My pressure is very great," Big Sis Leader had never felt leading a team so anxious. Before, at the company, no matter what matter faced, could handle it skillfully. Who knew, in the apocalypse, she truly felt fatigued.
Tu Trach Duong said, "Trust Big Sis Leader's sixth sense."
Sis Van: "I also trust."
Old Mao: "Same here."
Big Sis Leader smiled bitterly, shook her head, "How about this: tomorrow we go take a look, but don't go in. If the situation is slightly wrong, immediately leave. If encounter tradable supplies, we can exchange a bit. But the only requirement is, cannot get out of the car, otherwise our safety cannot be guaranteed."
"Received."
"Received."
"Received."