C134 All the Resources Were in His Hands and He Was Overjoyed!(2)

Flashlights are incredibly handy, useful in numerous situations, and can even be converted into miner's lamps or caps.

The net gun lacks lethality but can launch a large net, primarily for subduing criminals or rioters. It might also be a smart choice for capturing animals.

The high-voltage electric stun gun serves a similar purpose: incapacitating wrongdoers. A hit from this weapon leaves the target electrified and unable to resist.

For survivors with malicious intent, the net gun and stun gun are particularly effective. They're excellent self-defense options for girls who aren't adept with firearms or melee weapons or who are reluctant to take a life.

With these weapons, incidents like the previous survivor attack could likely be handled by them alone, without outside help.

"Excellent!" Tang Bing was thrilled with the find. "Load it onto the bus!"

"You got it!" Zhao Dagang chuckled heartily as he, Sun Meng, and Liang Hui began moving the equipment.

After stowing the gear, Tang Bing resumed dismantling the car. Sun Meng quickly joined in, rummaging through the interior and trunk for supplies or tools.

Meanwhile, Zhao Dagang and Liang Hui checked the parked cars' doors in the lot.

Sun Meng struck gold, uncovering several high-end designer bags and costly cosmetics, along with a bounty of tools like wrenches, crowbars, and screwdrivers.

Previously, Tang Bing had ignored such items, focusing solely on taking cars apart and letting resources go to waste. Sun Meng's assistance meant a bit less squander.

In the midst of their work, Zhao Dagang suddenly shouted with excitement, "Bing! Come quick!"

Startled by the abrupt call, Tang Bing and Sun Meng dropped what they were doing and dashed over to Zhao Dagang's location.

There, they found Zhao Dagang perched triumphantly in the driver's seat of a large truck, waving eagerly at them.

Liang Hui stood outside, watching him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Bing, I found a drivable vehicle!" Zhao Dagang exclaimed, brandishing a key, "And the keys are right here!"

"Oh?" Tang Bing was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected to actually find a vehicle with keys, let alone a medium-sized cargo truck they desperately needed.

He swiftly yanked Zhao Dagang out of the way and grabbed the keys from his grasp. With a turn of the key, the engine roared to life—it actually worked!

"How about that? Bing, did I lie to you?" Zhao Dagang beamed with pride.

"Good job!" Tang Bing was in high spirits. He had always struggled with large machinery and appliances; they couldn't be fully stowed in his virtual bag, only taken apart. But dismantling them left only a few components, impossible to reassemble. And those bulky furniture pieces, like the beds he'd eyed in the furniture store, had to be abandoned because they wouldn't fit on the bus. But this medium-sized truck was a game-changer—it could transport all those items home and carry even more supplies, especially loads of cement!

"I'm impressive, huh?" Zhao Dagang couldn't hide his smugness. "I knew this truck was the one the moment I saw it. Opened the door, and there were the keys, just like that!"

"Alright!" Tang Bing nodded in agreement. "You take the bus later. I'll drive this truck back. From now on, we'll use this truck for hauling our goods!"

"Got it!" Zhao Dagang grinned. "So, are we heading back now?"

"Not yet! I still have to strip down the remaining cars!" Tang Bing killed the engine, pulled out the keys, and got back to work dismantling the vehicles.

In a short time, he had stripped every car in the lot, save for the bus and truck. Tang Bing had amassed a hefty collection of scrap metal, assorted car parts, around fifteen or sixteen car batteries, and a dozen engines.

With these, he could build a couple more generators and still have parts to spare!

"Let's move out! Time to beat a hasty retreat! We need to get back before dark and haul our water supply home!" A bountiful haul had Tang Bing feeling great. "Dagang, you drive the bus! Sun Meng, Liang Hui, hop on quick! I'll lead with the truck. Make sure to keep up!"

"You got it! Let's hit the road!" Zhao Dagang hustled onto the bus, taking the driver's seat. "Huihui! Ms. Meng! Come on, let's go!"

Liang Hui and Sun Meng hurried over with a quick jog. At the bus stop, Liang Hui boarded immediately, but Sun Meng paused, then turned and dashed toward Tang Bing's truck. "I want to ride with Bing!"

Tang Bing was at a loss for words as Sun Meng opened the passenger door. "The bus is way more comfortable. What are you thinking?" he asked.

"I'm not being silly!" Sun Meng replied as she settled into the seat and buckled up. She turned to Tang Bing with a determined look. "Being by your side is the safest place for me!"

Tang Bing was left without a good comeback.

Zhao Dagang, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. Noticing Sun Meng skipped the bus for the truck, he simply smiled, shut the door, and started the engine.

With no other option, Tang Bing fired up his truck, took a spin around the spacious parking lot, and hit the road.

Zhao Dagang followed closely in the bus, trailing behind Tang Bing's truck as they began the journey home.

The two vehicles, one leading and the other following, sped along the open road, arriving back at the base by early afternoon.

Lin Leyan and Qin Mengli pitched in to move the electronics and gathered supplies, while Tang Bing, armed with water pipes from the city, headed straight to the water source.

"We'll haul the water heater upstairs first!" declared Zhao Dagang, who stayed back to oversee the task, enlisting the help of a few women.

Staring at the intricate framework and parts of the water heater, Lin Leyan was perplexed. "How on earth do we set this up?"

"Don't worry, Auntie Lin," Zhao Dagang reassured her. "We'll get these into our rooms, and once Bing hooks up the water, he'll take care of the setup. Let's get moving quickly; we might even enjoy a hot shower tonight!"

What could be more motivating than that promise?

Energized by the prospect of a hot shower, the women mustered unexpected strength, assisting Zhao Dagang in carrying all the solar water heaters upstairs.

"There's more!" Zhao Dagang then led them to unload the oversized LCD TV from the truck, bringing it into the living room along with the DVD player, TV stand, and other items.

Together, the four women helped mount the massive LCD TV on the wall and connected all the necessary cables.

"This is great!" Lin Leyan exclaimed, admiring the LCD TV with a contented smile. "Now it really feels like home!"

"Exactly!" Liang Hui, grinning, clung to her mother's hand. "Mom, even though we can't get TV channels, we can still use the DVD player to watch videos. It's like having our own home theater, so we'll never be bored at home!"

"And we've got computers!" chimed in Sun Meng, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "And so many video games! We can set up a LAN and play single-player games together!"

"I'm lost with all this tech talk," Lin Leyan laughed, shaking her head. "You kids enjoy your games. I'm just happy with a good book or a movie!"

"Auntie Lin, Huihui, let me set up the computers in your room first!" Zhao Dagang offered, lugging a computer upstairs.

"Hey! Zhao, that's not fair!" Sun Meng called out after him, half-joking. "Why aren't you setting up mine first?"

Zhao Dagang just laughed, a deep, hearty sound, without looking back.

"Never mind him!" Sun Meng said, tugging at Liang Hui. "Huihui, let's not bother going up. He can handle it. Let's divide up the loot!"

"What loot?" Lin Leyan asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Ta-da!" Sun Meng unveiled a treasure trove of cosmetics, gold and silver jewelry, and bejeweled necklaces from a cardboard box, her face alight with excitement. "The Sun Family Jewelry Store is open for business! Step right up and don't miss out! Diamond necklaces, diamond rings, gemstone necklaces, gemstone rings, gold necklaces, silver necklaces, jade, agate, gold and silver bracelets! Plus, all sorts of luxury handbags and imported cosmetics! These are the indulgences of the wealthy!"

"We all brought these back together!" Liang Hui said, pulling her mother closer. She noticed Qin Mengli's longing gaze from the sidelines, hesitant due to her current rapport with Sun Meng. Letting go of her mother, Liang Hui approached Qin Mengli with a warm smile and drew her into the fold. "Come on, everyone gets to pick something. There's enough for all!"