I can upgrade the shelter
Chapter 51: Qin Lan (Seeking recommendations, seeking favorites)

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Qin Lan (Seeking recommendations, seeking favorites)

As usual, Chen Xin was eating his meal, but today he treated himself to a can of pork, as a little improvement to his diet.

While eating, he was chatting with Mo Qingyan through the shortwave radio placed on the side, discussing matters related to supplies.

After a month of gathering, Mo Qingyan had already obtained all the supplies Chen Xin needed through Uncle Ding’s connections, and Uncle Ding also agreed to Chen Xin’s installment payment terms. These supplies had now been delivered to Mo Qingyan.

"The ingredients, should I deliver them to you tomorrow, or will you come over to pick them up?" Mo Qingyan seemed to be eating as well, as even through the radio, Chen Xin could hear Mo Qingxin and Ding Ning’s squabbling over food.

However, this didn’t disrupt Chen Xin’s thoughts, and without much consideration, he replied, "You help bring them over. My vehicle can’t carry that much stuff anyway, and you can also take this month’s vegetables."

Mo Qingyan found nothing unusual in Chen Xin’s choice and agreed readily.

"It was really hard on you to gather this batch of supplies so quickly, thank you, Dragon Maiden." Chen Xin was genuinely grateful to Mo Qingyan for her help. Although their relationship was indeed very good, a thank you was still necessary.

"Saying such things is too formal. Besides, Uncle Ding was the main one who helped with the supplies, I only passed on the message for you." Mo Qingyan responded as straightforwardly as usual but also reminded Chen Xin, "Though Uncle Ding agreed to your request to complete the rest of the supplies next month, he asked to send someone to see you, saying he wants to confirm whether you can afford so many supplies... Ah Xin, what do you think about this matter?"

"How do I think about it? How can I think about it? Either I sit and think or stand and think, unless I lie down and think?" Chen Xin joked, but he understood the implication in Mo Qingyan’s words, becoming wary.

Uncle Ding said he wanted to send someone to check it out, maybe just to confirm whether Chen Xin could pay as he claimed, but what if someone got greedy?

Chen Xin and Mo Qingyan were very close friends, one of those solid types of friendships, and he trusted her enough. Ding Ning was also an acquaintance of Chen Xin’s; they had survived in the wild a few times together, and their relationship had always been good, which was why Chen Xin had let the two of them come to his shelter last time.

But with Uncle Ding, Chen Xin had only interacted with him a few times because he was Ding Ning’s dad, and all he knew was that his surname was Ding, and he was the captain of the city’s special police unit.

Besides that, Chen Xin didn’t even know his full name and had always just called him Uncle Ding.

Perhaps a respectable special police captain wouldn’t covet Chen Xin’s supplies, but what about others?

Chen Xin owned a well-equipped, self-sustaining shelter, an asset that could easily incite envy in this post-apocalyptic world.

The reason most people don’t commit crimes is not because of their moral superiority and self-control, except for a small minority, but rather due to the deterrent force of the law, making them aware of the high cost of crime and thus fearful of the punishment it might bring.

This is the significance of establishing laws by a nation, not to punish you after you commit a crime, but to deter you before you commit one, preventing you from daring to commit the crime.

But with the onset of the apocalypse and the collapse of the old social order, the original surveillance system fell apart, crime costs dropped sharply, and crime rates rose accordingly.

The person with inappropriate intentions that Mo Qingyan encountered earlier is enough to illustrate the dark sides of human nature growing in such an apocalyptic environment.

Thinking of this, Chen Xin asked through the shortwave radio, "What does the person Uncle Ding sends want to see?"

"What else? The old man is just afraid I’ll be fooled; a little bit of supplies is a minor issue, but if someone tricks his precious daughter, he can turn the whole city upside down, believe it or not?" replied Ding Ning, her tone showing a lot of dissatisfaction with her own father, yet there was a touch of pride in there.

Chen Xin shook his head at this, understanding roughly what Ding Ning meant. She thought Uncle Ding merely wanted to send someone to check if Chen Xin could pay, or perhaps to ensure Ding Ning wasn’t swindled into handing over resources.

Such concerns are human nature, but for Chen Xin, it was a reminder that he needed to be serious about the security of his shelter.

After thinking for a moment, he asked Ding Ning, "So, who does your dad plan to send? Someone from his team? There’s nothing much to see here, you two already came to check last time, right? No need to have anyone else come. I don’t want strangers knowing where my shelter is."

"Don’t worry, I’ve talked to my dad about this, and you know the person he’s sending." Ding Ning’s tone carried a hint of laughter, clearly understanding what Chen Xin was worried about. "You know Sister Lan, right? Do you think she’d harm you?"

"Qin Lan? Your dad’s letting her come?" Chen Xin was somewhat surprised and a bit embarrassed, evidently not expecting the person Uncle Ding chose.

Qin Lan was one of the few female special police officers in the city’s unit, not the desk job type, but a real special police officer serving as a sniper.

As a rare breed within the police system, combined with her decent looks, Qin Lan naturally became the police beauty of the city police department, attracting many suitors.

However, Qin Lan wasn’t interested in finding a partner within the police system, having dated Chen Xin once through Ding Ning’s introduction.

"What’s the matter? You’ve broken up for so long and Sister Lan isn’t bothered by it anymore." Ding Ning had introduced Chen Xin to Qin Lan back then, so she was well aware of what went on between them, "Besides, in the entire special police team, Sister Lan’s your closest relationship; can you trust anyone else?"

Ding Ning’s words left Chen Xin speechless.

He and Qin Lan had only split due to incompatible personalities, no one’s fault really, but since they became exes, the relationship turned somewhat awkward regardless.

But it was indeed as Ding Ning stated, he didn’t have such good relations with other members of the special police.

The reason, after all, was because of Qin Lan, as there were quite a few in the special police team who were pursuing her.

"Alright then, what time will you guys come tomorrow?" At this point, Chen Xin could only acquiesce, as if it was Qin Lan coming, he felt reassured.

"In the morning, we’ll come over after breakfast," Mo Qingyan replied to Chen Xin, setting the time.