"I, uncle, I don't mean that." The idle man who was slapped averted his gaze: "I really didn't have that idea, just asking..."

"You better not be."

The leader in the settlement responded indifferently: "Otherwise, I don't need the Coast; I'll hang you up on the power tower first, so when the Coast's collection team comes knocking, you're not the one who gets me killed!"

Everyone fell silent as if chilled.

"Alright, disperse, all of you."

Uncle Li waved his hand, cast one last glance at the restless young men, then turned and walked away.

Once back in his RV, he opened a bottle of beer and downed half of it without looking back: "Xiao Liu, keep an eye on those few. If they sneak out, let me know."

"Good words are hard to advise the damned souls."

The young man watching porn in the RV shook his head: "Rat Hui, that kind of trash, doesn't appreciate good intentions. You saved his life, yet he complains you blocked his financial path.

Pushing someone like him out sooner would be better for everyone."

Uncle Li said nothing, continuing to drink his beer.

After fast-forwarding, the young man waited a long while. Unable to hold back, he asked: "The logistics set up by the Coast, attracting too much attention, I don't think it'll last long.

Several bosses have let word out. Do you think we should..."

Uncle Li looked expressionlessly at him and interrupted: "You say they're bosses. Do I look like a boss?"

"No."

Xiao Liu shook his head regretfully, "You look like a poor bastard."

"That's it, then?"

Uncle Li snorted: "Why should a poor bastard worry about bosses' affairs?

If bosses want to do something, let them do it. When they're done, whether they die or win, won't they still come to us poor bastards for work?

Damn, if I could compete with the Coast, I'd have long been a boss myself, no need to risk my life for their paltry money?"

Xiao Liu was silent for a while, suspiciously looking over, for a long time, shaking his head:

"This really isn't like you, uncle. Back when you took me out with a weapon, you weren't afraid at all."

"I've aged, grown fearful."

Uncle Li picked up the bottle, tilted his head back, but found it already empty. After a long silence, he didn't fetch another; he merely clicked his tongue, letting the last drop rest on his tongue.

The beer ordered in bulk by the Coast wasn't rich or fragrant, at most a dining beverage with some alcohol and taste.

Bland taste.

But such beer, once chilled, in the bygone wilderness, was only available for the settlement's leader to enjoy at will.

Now, at the back of his vehicle, lay an entire row.

God knows how many hands that refrigerator had been through; it wheezed, cooling, while the cobbled-together air conditioner buzzed, blowing cool air, and after a few spins in the retired microwave, the pre-made dish emitted an enticing aroma with a ding.

"Let's eat."

Uncle Li tossed the flattened can into a box and picked up his chopsticks.

He tore open the packaging bag, dumping the green peppers, shredded meat, and oil onto a plate, scarfing it down with the sticky rice.

During gaps in gobbling rice, he would sometimes lift his head to look at the wilderness outside the settlement.

Grass green, sky blue, sunlight radiant.

The tarpaulins bought from the Coast have gradually been set up; once the temperature drops a bit more, they could attempt planting garlic and rapeseed.

More space could be saved, some people could be made to set up a chicken coop; if unsold, it could be eaten themselves.

Such days are actually pretty good.

He suddenly thought.

.

.

These days, visibly, aren't getting any better.

Under the same sky, across the same wilderness, people's sorrows and joys don't easily connect. Some dream of the future, while others feel they have no future anymore.

On the settlement's streets, no one spoke, with faces grave or gloomy, or perhaps curious, poking their heads around, peering at the most 'grand' building in the center.

The prevalent three-story building seen in the city.

In front, armored vehicles bore the Coast's logo, while armed-to-the-teeth 'security guards' stood around, coldly scanning each face.

Inside the hall, the warmth from previous pleasantries vanished, nearly edging towards confrontation.

On one side of the worn table, the neatly dressed, suit-wearing visitors remained easy-going, while on the opposite side, the weathered, dark-skinned locals were already incensed, faces flushed.

Plenty of young men were seething, just waiting for a command to swarm and tear these money-eyed outsiders to pieces!

"Is Mr. Ji trying to annihilate us!"

Feng Yao's hands trembled as he looked at the notice in his hand, bloodshot eyes: "Surely you won't leave us without any way out!

Is it only when we're forced to a dead end that you're satisfied?"

With his words, someone glanced back, giving the signal, and the atmosphere grew even more grief-stricken. Those gathered outside the hall began clamoring.

Some had already seized their guns.

Defend our homes! Protect the settlement! Rather die than be slaves!

Why not fight to the death with you!

"This isn't what was agreed upon earlier, Mr. Ji."

The collection supervisor, accustomed to the wilderness customs, sighed helplessly: "A month ago when we came, you said the Water Ghosts hadn't left and it was unsafe; half a month ago, you said there were too many injured still recovering. Now I ask for the third time, how can this count as forcing you to death?

Even outside the city, one must still speak reason and abide by rules, right?"

"Reason is reason, rules are rules; but this is just too harsh!"

Feng Yao's voice was hoarse, nearly crying: "Mr. Ji's terms are set so high; we also need to live, taking away so many people at once..."

"When you called for help, it wasn't like this."

The collector shook his head, took out his phone, and pushed it to the table's center: "In the wilderness, contracts aren't used, but the original recordings, videos, and electronic confirmations are all intact.

Mr. Feng, you want money, don't want to hand over people, and intend to default, but then want a way out; where in the world is there anything so cheap?"

Back in the rainy season, when the Water Ghosts rampaged, the Coast had already offered security services to all settlements in the Hai Province wilderness, providing round-the-clock fire support.

If any settlement faced attacks beyond their capacity or had a crisis, they could reach out for help at any time.

Whether weapons, equipment, or fire support.

Anywhere, anytime.

As for the price, it was equally open and transparent but didn't involve money or precious metals.

All supplies and fire support were priced in labor periods.

The price of a single missile was ten years, whether ten adult workers served the Coast for a year or one person signed a ten-year contract, it didn't matter.

With the end of the rainy season, 160 years of labor stood before Feng Yao.

Yet, after a period of comfort, Feng Yao felt the price was unreasonable, similar to countless others feeling the same after enjoying themselves.

If they went by this price, the entire settlement would do nothing else but work for the Coast for half a year.

Moreover, with so many people gone, whether they'd return was uncertain; how about the previous 'businesses'? Forget business, the settlement might not even be preserved!

Then what would the leader eat and drink?

Join the Coast's assembly line to screw bolts?

Thus, after perfunctorily dealing with several waves of collections, Feng Yao churned up a thought he shouldn't have...

"You know my character, Mr. Feng, I always keep my word like nailing spit, absolutely wouldn't default!" Feng Yao wiped away a couple tears, squeezed out a touch of sincere helplessness amidst his frowns: "But the rainy season has just ended, the entire settlement really can't afford to lose people, we're already out of food, please give us some grace, let me delay it... I... I..."

Speaking passionately, his tears couldn't be held back.

A great man, displaying genuine emotions, shockingly shed tears.

"Alright."

The collector across the table nodded, without hesitation.

"..."

Feng Yao froze in place.

Not just him, but all the furious, angry-looking atmosphere team members behind him fell into a daze, looking at each other.

This...

Is this right?

Is the plot supposed to be like this?

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