Intruder!
Upon hearing these three words, Lin Fan immediately became alert. His farm was now his last stronghold, and he couldn't afford any mishaps. If someone tried to force their way in, he had to eliminate the threat at its inception.
"Scanning intruder's appearance..."
Soon, the patrol guards transmitted the intruder's data.
"Intruder: Male, 42 years old, unarmed, threat level 3!"
"Displaying intruder's image!"
A visual appeared in Lin Fan's mind, clearly showing the intruder's identity and facial features.
At the farm's main gate, a middle-aged man with a cigarette in his mouth paced anxiously outside the iron gate. He appeared hesitant, wanting to knock but pulling back each time.
"Uncle Nan?"
Recognizing the figure, Lin Fan raised his eyebrows in surprise. Uncle Nan was a farmer from a nearby town and a distant relative. During busy farming seasons, Lin Fan had hired him for work. He was diligent and hardworking, leaving a good impression on Lin Fan.
"Why would he come here?" Lin Fan wondered, then walked toward the gate.
Soon, he reached the gate and called out, "Uncle Nan, is something wrong?"
Uncle Nan, still pacing anxiously outside, was startled by the sudden voice, his expression turning awkward. He took a deep drag of his cigarette, discarded it, and approached, gripping the gate's bars.
"Boss Li, I... I need your help with something..." Uncle Nan stammered, as if summoning great courage.
At this moment, Lin Fan noticed Uncle Nan's poor condition. His eyes were bloodshot, eyelids swollen as if he'd been crying, and he looked as though he'd just recovered from a severe illness, exuding a lifeless aura.
Despite feeling a pang of sympathy, Lin Fan didn't open the gate. In apocalyptic times, trust was a luxury. Close friends could become enemies overnight.
"Go ahead," Lin Fan nodded.
"Boss Li, do you have any stored food on the farm? My home was robbed, and all our food was stolen! Food prices in the market are exorbitant, so... could you lend me some food on credit?" Uncle Nan's voice grew quieter, his head lowering further.
It's often said that an adult's breakdown begins with borrowing money. Uncle Nan deeply felt this now. But to survive, he had to set aside his pride. His family had been without food for two days, and instant foods like noodles had long been snatched up from supermarkets.
He was already starving for two days! Now, he could barely walk!
Uncle Nan understood that with the world's drastic changes and soaring food prices, Lin Fan would likely keep any food for himself or sell it at high prices. Food had become the most crucial resource. After failing to borrow from several relatives, he came to Lin Fan as a last resort. Though he knew the chances were slim, he still held onto a glimmer of hope.
What if?
Lin Fan's earlier joy from harvesting high-grade medicinal crops diminished upon hearing Uncle Nan's plea. The world's transformation had begun to reveal the fangs of famine. Cases like Uncle Nan's were likely widespread globally. Famine would sweep across the planet, leading to countless deaths from starvation.
"Uncle Nan, I'm sorry... I don't have much in storage either. The previous batch of crops was destroyed in the mutation." Lin Fan shook his head, then after a pause, said, "I can give you some rations, but not much."
Uncle Nan's eyes lit up with a hint of joy. A grateful smile spread across his face as he repeatedly said, "Thank you! Thank you!"
Soon, Lin Fan brought out half a box of instant noodles, opened it, and passed it through the gate's gap.
Uncle Nan expressed his gratitude profusely, but the worry on his face remained. The reason was simple: this food would only last him three to five days. After that, he'd face starvation again.
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes. He wasn't short on food and wasn't unwilling to help Uncle Nan. However, in apocalyptic times, assistance had to be given wisely. One had to know how to keep some for oneself. Being overly generous without self-protection could lead to one's downfall.
"I'll secretly deliver the regular vegetables stored in the freezer to him tonight..." Lin Fan thought silently.
Now that he and Xin Xin had radiation-resistant vegetables, the previously stored regular food had become redundant, merely waiting to spoil in the freezer.
"This is all I can do." Lin Fan took a deep breath.
"Uncle Nan, good luck."
He had past ties with Uncle Nan and could offer some help, but he couldn't distribute large amounts of radiation-resistant food to others. His current strength wasn't enough to protect his assets. If targeted, he might not only lose his farm but also be captured and forced to produce continuously for others' benefit.
One must not harbor ill intentions, but also must guard against others. This was Lin Fan's survival principle.
"No," Uncle Nan shook his head after hearing Lin Fan's words, a trace of desolation in his eyes. "Good luck to us."
Nightfall
Night finally descended. Since the sun extinguished, Lin Fan had thought there would be no more distinction between day and night. But unexpectedly, some stars in the sky had completely taken over as new light sources. Though lacking ultraviolet rays and heat, their brightness wasn't much less than the sun's. Moreover, with the planet's rotation, day and night still alternated.
Lin Fan loaded the regular vegetables and some meat from the freezer into the vehicle, then placed Xin Xin and Xiao Hei in the passenger seat.
"Big brother, are we going out?" Xin Xin blinked and asked.
"Yes, I want to see how bad things have gotten outside," Lin Fan nodded, starting the vehicle. "And deliver some supplies to Uncle Nan, who used to work for us."
"That Uncle Nan..." Xin Xin clearly remembered him, pouting. "His family has no food? That's so pitiful..."
Lin Fan smiled, turned the key, and the truck's engine roared as it drove out of the farm gate.
Before leaving, Lin Fan instructed the farm's combat guards to remain on automatic alert. During his absence, if any creatures attempted to breach the farm's walls, they were to be eliminated immediately!