ATPnovel Chapter 011 What is that world like?
Chapter 011 What is that world like?
Getting off work and receiving your salary—this should be a double celebration.
When Lu Chen received his salary, he did experience a brief moment of joy.
But at this moment, walking side by side with Miner No. 2 on the street, Lu Chen's expression grew increasingly grim.
Equipment purchased in 6 hours can only be sold for 30 minutes!
They're absolutely ruthless!
In the morning, Lu Chen had to go to work at the mine, so he had to buy it!
Tomorrow night, Lu Chen needs to accumulate enough funds for the remaining 65 days, so he has no choice but to sell!
That's only secondary.
The key point is that Lu Chenben is still 1 hour and 46 minutes short of the 65-day target set by Yu Ding.
Originally, Lu Chen was hoping to make up for the shortfall by selling equipment.
Even now, including the 30 minutes gained from selling equipment, there is still a shortfall of 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Expenses have already been reduced to the bare minimum.
— A rope hotel that's only 12 minutes away is the cheapest way to stay.
[4 minutes] A slice of black bread. Lu Chen skipped a meal this morning and endured hunger for most of the day.
They already have little nutritional value, and they only eat two meals a day. If they cut back any further, they probably won't have the energy to mine coal.
So, tomorrow's two meals...
"It's for tomorrow night, you don't have to eat it now!"
"Let's go see Yu first!"
"That reduces the gap by another 4 minutes!"
Lu Chen was overjoyed when he unexpectedly came up with a way to save money!
But soon, Lu Chen's eyes, which had just lit up, dimmed again.
Even if we save these 4 minutes, the shortfall is still 1 hour and 12 minutes.
And now, it's the evening of August 1st, a little past 7 PM.
There are only three hours left until the 23 p.m. curfew.
After the curfew, Lu Chen had no choice but to stay at the Rope Hotel;
I'll wake up at 6 a.m. tomorrow and go to the mine, where I'll work until 19 p.m.
After getting off work, Lu Chen still had to walk for more than half an hour to get to Yu.
Therefore, Lu Chen only has the next three hours or so to make up for this 1 hour and 12 minute gap...
Do you have any connections that could help me earn time?
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Chen turned his head slightly to look at the No. 2 miner beside him.
However, Lu Chen's words seemed not to be clear enough.
Miner No. 2 frowned, looking puzzled.
"A mine?"
"Haven't you already entered the mine?"
Seeing that the second miner did not understand his meaning, Lu Chen simply shook his head slightly.
Just as he was about to speak again, he saw Miner No. 2 chuckle.
"You've finished asking your questions, now it's my turn."
Lu Chen choked slightly, then nodded with a wry smile.
"Are there parasites in the old year 2025?"
...
"Are they also mining coal in the mines?"
...
"Do they also eat dark bread and stay in rope hotels?"
...
"How much do they earn?"
"Is it a little more than ours?"
……
In just a few moments, Miner No. 2 fired off several questions in quick succession, like a machine gun.
Under the expectant gaze of Miner No. 2, Lu Chen was speechless for a moment, not knowing where to begin.
Lu Chen wants to say that in 2025, there will be no parasites.
But the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he swallowed them back down.
I also want to say: They don't mine coal in the mines;
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.
Eating black bread and staying in a rope hotel?
It doesn't seem so;
But it's not entirely true...
As for income...
...
"No parasites in 2025."
"There were no survivors or scavengers either."
In the end, Lu Chen decided that, while trying not to lie, he would not ruin the beautiful ideals of Miner No. 2.
"In 2025, everyone will be able to choose what kind of job they want to do."
"Most people don't have to mine coal, nor do they have to work as hard as mining coal."
"The income isn't much, but it's enough to eat good food and live in a nice house."
"If you get sick—as long as it's not too serious, you don't have to worry about not being able to afford the treatment."
...
"Um."
"At least that's the case in the country I live in."
Lu Chen wasn't exactly lying.
In that era, people did have the freedom to choose their jobs—although they might not get what they wanted, they could at least choose their industry.
People do experience a lot of pressure in their lives and they are indeed very tired.
But it's definitely not as tiring as mining, and the pressure is definitely not as great as that of the parasites in the City of Time.
—After all, that's the pressure of 'life', not the pressure of 'survival'.
A single word makes all the difference.
Even the worst food is miles better than black bread;
Even the worst accommodations are hundreds of times better than the Rope Hotel.
If you get sick, the majority of the expenses are covered by public funds, with only a small portion paid by the individual.
But this scene—a scene that Lu Chen himself was somewhat embarrassed to mention—made the No. 2 miner's gaze wander and reveal a look of longing.
"How wonderful!"
"No need to mine coal, enough food, and houses to live in."
"The illness is still treatable..."
Muttering to himself, a strange, almost ethereal look began to appear on the face of miner number 2.
After being captivated for a while, he unconsciously asked, "What is a nation?"
Lu Chen smiled and shook his head.
"You've already asked four questions."
"Now it's my turn to ask."
Upon hearing this, Miner No. 2 snapped out of his reverie and reluctantly returned to his senses.
I desperately need time.
"I need to earn [1 hour and 20 minutes] before tonight's curfew."
Do you have any ideas or connections?
As he spoke, the faint smile on Lu Chen's face was once again replaced by a heavy expression.
This time, Miner No. 2 finally understood Lu Chen's intentions.
After frowning and thinking for a moment, he tentatively asked, "You went to the factory to inquire about the income?"
Lu Chen nodded slightly.
Miner No. 2 immediately stopped in his tracks: "Then there's no need to go, I know."
"Working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. can earn you [30 minutes a day]."
"You need to buy a set of insulating clothing, which costs [8 hours], and it's very difficult to find used ones."
"The work is easier than in the mines."
Upon hearing this, Lu Chen slowly nodded, excluding the factory from his plans.
Lower wages, more expensive equipment, just to "make things easier".
Lu Chen is not in a position to pursue "relaxation" right now.
Miner #2 added, "If you want to earn [time] before curfew, neither mines nor factories will do it."
"Scavenging isn't something you can just do on a whim."
His casual remark startled Lu Chen slightly.
"Scavenging?!"
"—You even know about scavenging?!"
Miner No. 2 shook his head.
"I wouldn't say I know."
"I've only heard people talk about scavenging. It requires a lot of preparation and you need an experienced scavenger to guide you."
"And once you leave the city, it takes a long time before you can come back."
"In short, there's no way to gain 'time' before curfew."
Lu Chen's face darkened, and he frowned.
Miner No. 2 also frowned.
"bet?"
Lu Chen shook his head: "No betting."
Miner No. 2 pursed his lips.
"Um……"
"In that case..."
Muttering to himself, Miner No. 2 slowly turned to the side, looking at Lu Chen with a hesitant expression.
After a long while, he sighed helplessly, "Those who have recovered."
"Go to the place where you've recovered and try your luck."
"If there happens to be a rehabilitated person who has been abandoned by their scavenger because of debt problems, you can lend a helping hand to them."
"Then, ask him for a reward."
...
"It's not certain."
"There may not be any recoveries who have just finished the recovery process."
"Even if they exist, they might not necessarily be abandoned by scavengers."
Even if someone abandons you, they might not accept your help or pay you for it.
"But besides this, I can't think of any other way to earn even 1 minute before curfew."