70,000 units of Iron Ore.
That's equivalent to half of a Level 2 Iron Ore mine. As expected of a Level 4 Train, it yielded far more Iron Ore than when he devoured Master Kun's train engine back then.
The "Geothermal Furnace" yields different amounts of Iron Ore when devouring various components.
For example, devouring one of his own ordinary carriages could yield 50 units of Iron Ore, which is equivalent to getting half back. But devouring some ruined carriages or other components would yield much less.
Still, it was essentially free loot, and it was more than enough.
Especially since...
This train was also stocked with plenty of resources.
"120,000 units of Iron Ore, 40,000 units of Copper Ore, 3,700 units of Wood."
"120,000 units of Spider Silk, one special item, two blueprints, several rifles and bullets."
"Sixteen packs of cigarettes, two bottles of baijiu, three cured pork ribs, and even a several-hundred-pound pig frozen in the refrigerator."
"Various daily necessities scavenged from city ruins."
"As the ancients said, it's indeed true."
Standing outside the train in the cavern, Chen Mang listened to the sound of the underground river flowing nearby. The train's headlights illuminated the entire cavern space. He took the inventory list handed to him by Biao Zi and let out a long, contemplative sigh.
Killing and looting really was a great way to get rich.
Of course.
The amounts of Iron Ore and Copper Ore weren't huge. After all, these resources were necessities, and no one would stockpile too much of them on their train. They'd use what they had bit by bit, always trying to improve their train's capabilities.
At most, they'd keep a few tens of thousands of units to maintain the train's daily operations.
He had dug up two Iron Ore mines, and in terms of resource yield, it was definitely more than what was on this list.
But... the sheer variety was overwhelming!
There was a bit of everything.
Even Spider Silk—120,000 units of it. This guy didn't even have "Spider Leg" components on his train, so why did he have so much Spider Silk? Who knows where he got it from—probably slaughtered an entire nest of "Man-Eating Spiders."
His "Spider Legs" hadn't been upgraded in a long time, and now the food was practically being served to him on a platter.
He had no choice but to eat it.
As for the rifles and bullets, he tossed them all into the "Geothermal Furnace." The special items and blueprints were placed in the train's control room, and he'd take a closer look at them later.
"Hmm..."
After pondering for a while, Chen Mang turned to Lao Zhu with a smile. "Go ask the people below if there's any skilled cook among them. Keep this pig for now. In a few days, we'll head to Sand River City to see if we can find some vermicelli and cabbage. Let's treat everyone to some pork stew with vermicelli."
"Back in the Doomsday Abyss, I promised everyone I'd make them chicken soup."
"But that chicken's been laying eggs like crazy, so I can't bear to kill it. We'll eat this pig instead."
"Everyone's been eating bread every day. It's time for a proper meal."
"No need to use any Meat Coupons. Everyone gets a share—consider it a train benefit."
"Oh, and—"
Speaking of Meat Coupons, Chen Mang paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. "When we first designed the concept of 'Meat Coupons,' their only function was to buy meat. The whole 'store' idea came later. Since 'Meat Coupons' have essentially become a form of train currency, the name doesn't fit anymore."
"Let's change it to... 'Stellar Coupons.'"
"And take those daily necessities we scavenged, sort through them, and put them in the store."
"Got it. I'll arrange it right away."
Standing nearby, Lao Zhu nodded earnestly and quickly jotted down notes in his little notebook.
After giving these instructions, Chen Mang glanced at the residents who had already started mining with pickaxes in hand. Without lingering further, he strode toward his train's control room. The Stellar Train would be mining here for the next few days.
But right now, he needed to check out those special items and blueprints to see what effects they had, as well as upgrade the train to Level 4.
"Pork stew with cabbage and vermicelli..."
As Lao Zhu watched Lord Mang's retreating figure, he couldn't help but swallow hard, his mouth watering slightly. His food rations on the Stellar Train were among the best, but even he had been eating Roujiamo for every meal.
In the apocalypse, being able to eat like this was something to be grateful for.
He was quite content.
But it did get a bit monotonous. Hearing the words "pork stew with cabbage and vermicelli"—both familiar and unfamiliar—made his mouth water instinctively.
He could almost smell the aroma already.
"So good..." Biao Zi, standing nearby, also grinned dazedly. "And with a steamed bun to soak up the broth, soft and fluffy, the cabbage, vermicelli, and pork all mixed together in your mouth... the taste..."
"Damn, I can't think about it anymore. I can't wait to get to Sand River City!"
"If I can't find cabbage and vermicelli there, I'll die there!"
"You're really going to jinx it like that?" Lao Zhu gave Biao Zi a strange look. "Alright, let's get to work. Go investigate the backgrounds of those survivors. Lord Mang didn't say to kill anyone this time, so the Deputy Train Conductor and the thugs can stay. Find out the relationships between the rest of the people and the Train Conductor."
"After you're done interrogating them, I'll handle their arrangements."
"I need to check on how the statistical report is coming along. Damn, without a computer, compiling data for over a thousand people is a massive headache."
Biao Zi glanced at Li Shiji in the distance. "Why don't you ask that kid? He's pretty sharp. Maybe he has a solution."
"I already asked."
"What did he say?"
"He said bugs are inevitable, and we just have to make do. Even with a computer, there'd still be bugs."
"..."
"Alright, I'm done talking about this." Lao Zhu waved his hand and walked off. "I already have a rough idea. Time to get busy."
My name is Li Yi.
Before the apocalypse, I was an executive at a company, earning a million a year—ten times what an average person made in a year.
I considered myself highly skilled in management, especially at the middle-management level, where I had ample experience. After the apocalypse hit, I was captured by several trains and turned into a Slave.
In Master Kun's Slave carriage, I had already lost all hope for the future.
The cities were gone.
The wilderness was almost devoid of any fellow survivors. Even if a train temporarily protected my life, I had no idea where to go or what to do next. I had no home, and the world had abandoned me.
Only when mining did I feel a faint sense of purpose.
Then...
I saw a man whose aura was completely different from mine. This man showed no despair for the future, and he was unlike the other Slaves who wandered aimlessly. His eyes were fierce, his expression cold, as he claimed the only straw mat in the train.
This man didn't seem to be crushed by the apocalypse.
I felt a spark of curiosity toward him.
When I saw a burly man try to pick a fight with him and get killed in just a few seconds, I looked away. For some reason, when my eyes met his, they burned as if I were staring directly at the sun.
He was wild.
And he had an unshakable sense of purpose. Even in the face of the apocalypse and the loss of his home, he didn't despair.
I considered myself part of the educated class, but it took me a few seconds to find the right word to describe him.
Then...
It felt like time sped up. Master Kun's train was suddenly destroyed, and this man established the "Stellar Train." I was among the first Slaves to join this train. I watched as this newborn train grew at an astonishing rate.
I saw the number of carriages increase, and various firepower components were added.
I saw the number of Slaves on the train grow rapidly. Before I knew it, the Stellar Train had become a behemoth in the wilderness.
I saw the Slaves' rations go from two moldy slices of bread a day to twenty soft, filled slices. Life on the train kept getting better.
I saw the train go from Level 1 to Level 2, then to Level 3, and even reach the advanced region of the "Shahe Plain."
I witnessed the Stellar Train's growth.
I tried many ways to stand out from the Slaves, to become a middle manager on this train. I believed this train would go far, perhaps even become a Noah's Ark in the apocalypse, carrying the remnants of human civilization through this hopeless, despair-filled world.
Maybe this train was humanity's last hope.
I wanted to contribute to the Stellar Train's development, to join its construction process, and to follow that man.
Working with someone like him made me feel a glimmer of hope for the future.
I tried many ways to stand out.
I even pre-selected my own loyal subordinates for when I became a middle manager. I wanted to prove my worth by suppressing rebellious Slaves, to make a name for myself at the reform meeting when we left the wilderness, to...
But—
All of it failed.
The kid next to me often pressured me, making me regret telling him my plans and aspirations. If I hadn't told him, no one would've pressured me, and I wouldn't feel embarrassed when my plans failed.
I questioned myself countless times, wondering if I really had no talent. I even considered just staying as a Slave on the train.
Oh, wait—a resident.
The train underwent reforms.
But... I never expected that I'd eventually become a middle manager on the Stellar Train. The plan had succeeded.
Except, it wasn't my plan that succeeded—it was that kid's plan.
My name is Li Yi. That kid calls me Uncle Li.
Standing on the cavern floor, Uncle Li was still in a daze, staring at the excited young man beside him and Lord Mang, who stood leaning on his cane.
This was the first time he'd been this close to Lord Mang.
He even felt his breathing quicken.
And there, walking toward them, was Train Conductor Zhu, whom he rarely had the chance to be near.
"Lao Zhu."
Chen Mang waved at Lao Zhu as he approached, then casually draped an arm over Uncle Li's shoulders. "The kid just came to me and said his Uncle Li used to be an executive at a big company, even worked as a financial director. He's got strong management skills and a good head for numbers."
"Your statistical work must be giving you a headache."
"Here, take him. Let him handle it for a few days. If it works out, give him Level 3 talent treatment."
"Oh, and this kid—he'll assist Uncle Li. Same treatment."
At that moment, Uncle Li finally snapped out of his daze. Bowing slightly, his voice trembling, he said, "Lord Mang, you can just call me Xiao Li..."
Chen Mang didn't say anything, just patted Uncle Li's shoulder before turning and heading back to the train's control room. No one stopped him this time.
After Lord Mang left, Lao Zhu gave the two men holding pickaxes a strange look. "You've got some guts, wandering around during mining hours and even stopping Lord Mang. Pretty bold!"
"But we do need you two right now."
"Follow me."
"My head's about to explode from all the statistical work. If you do well, you'll both get Level 3 talent treatment. You'll move into the high-talent carriage and get two 'Stellar Coupons' every day."
"Come on."
"Perfect."
In the 7th Guardian sleeper carriage, Lao Zhu looked at the charts and statistical methods Uncle Li had handed over, grinning with satisfaction. "With this cross-referencing method, the error rate will drop significantly. It's a lot of work, but it'll be worth it. You'll have to keep at it."
"You'll stay in the 6th male high-talent carriage. It's a sleeper carriage, just like mine."
"No more mining for you—just focus on this task."
"Right now, only Li Shiji lives in that carriage. In the 5th female high-talent carriage, there's only Ji Chuchu. Don't look where you shouldn't, don't eavesdrop, and don't wander around."
"That's about it. You've got skills."
"Why've you been hiding your talent and just mining? Did the pre-apocalypse life wear you out, and now you just want to relax and retire early?"
Lao Zhu teased before walking out of the carriage.
"Alright, go on. I've got work to do."
In the 6th male high-talent carriage.
"This is amazing!"
The young man who'd been following Uncle Li immediately threw himself onto the bed as soon as he entered the carriage. He pressed the pillow to his face, inhaling deeply, and muttered in ecstasy.
"It's been so long since I've been able to stretch out like this to sleep. And it's so soft! A dedicated pillow, mattress, and blanket!"
"So much space!"
"This is heaven!"
"Uncle Li, why don't you look happy?"
Standing in the carriage aisle, looking out at the mining residents, Uncle Li was silent for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice. "Even though the result is exactly what I wanted, the path to get here wasn't what I expected."
"Is this right?"
"Isn't it?"
The young man stretched lazily, lying comfortably on the soft pillow, a look of contentment on his face. "This isn't a school exam where the teacher grades you on your process."
"As long as the answer's right."
"Who cares how you got there?"
(End of Chapter)