50: Chapter 50 The Fatty Got Scolded!

"What, Chengdu? Isn't it Shanghai?"

Fatty was stunned by the question. Seeing the lewd and playful expressions on the three men's faces, he instantly realized what kind of twisted thoughts were running through their heads.

"Damn it! What kind of filthy things are you three idiots thinking about? I'm talking about signing a Survival Contract with my boss! A contract, get it? The kind officially bound by the system!"

"A contract?"

Brother Lu, Yellow Hair, and the other man looked at each other in confusion. They were all ordinary low-level survivors who had never come into contact with high-level items like contract scrolls. They were completely baffled and didn't have a clue what he was talking about.

Fatty sighed helplessly at the sight. He couldn't be bothered to explain the ins and outs to them; it was too much trouble.

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you more. Anyway, just remember one thing: from now on, I am a trusted aide by my boss's side. Once I make something of myself following him, you guys will definitely be the first ones I think of when there are benefits. I won't let you brothers down!"

Brother Lu nodded, seemingly understanding, and spoke up.

"Since you've already made up your mind, brothers won't try to persuade you otherwise. But remember, contract or no contract, your life is the most important thing. If you really can't make it, just sneak back. As long as I, Old Lu, am still alive, I'll always be able to save a bite for you to eat."

"Yeah, Fatty, we people who get by on the streets value loyalty the most. If you're in trouble, just say the word!"

Yellow Hair patted his scrawny chest, making a thumping sound.

Upon hearing this, Fatty stopped laughing and joking, and nodded with a solemn expression.

"Alright, brothers, I'll remember that!"

What the few of them didn't know was that their every word and action happened to be seen by Chen Ze.

"It seems this kid Fatty's character is actually quite good!"

Chen Ze muttered to himself, feeling even more certain that recruiting Fatty into his team was the right choice.

There was no other reason; in this other world, being able to make others willingly "save a bite for you to eat"—this kind of commitment must have been earned with his own sincerity.

He grinned, no longer deliberately lightening his footsteps, and spoke up teasingly.

"Fatty, you've got quite the presence, not bad!"

As his voice fell, the few of them turned their heads in unison upon hearing the sound, only then noticing Chen Ze.

Previously, Fatty had only traded and messaged Chen Ze online; this was their first time meeting in person. Seeing him in the flesh, he was stunned for two seconds, then his eyes lit up. He immediately left the others behind and hurried forward, puffing out his round belly.

"You... are you Boss Li Yunlong?"

"What? Is the real person not as cool as the name?"

Chen Ze smiled and spread his hands.

"Haha, how could that be? Boss, you're so dashing and handsome, jade tree... jade tree what was it again?"

Fatty scratched his head, struggling for a long time before suddenly slapping his thigh.

"Jade tree in the wind! Right, jade tree in the wind! I didn't feel it just looking at messages online, but seeing you in person, your aura completely commands the scene!"

"You guy, you clearly didn't study hard in school!"

Chen Ze teased.

"Heh, hehe!"

Fatty scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward laugh.

Brother Lu and Yellow Hair on the side looked at each other, only just realizing what was going on.

The young man in front of them was the very boss Fatty had talked about, the one who could go head-to-head with the Hongxing Society. He had come to pick up Fatty.

"Fatty, who is this?"

Brother Lu took a half-step forward, his tone carrying a hint of probing, clearly wanting to gauge Chen Ze's depth.

"This is my boss. From now on, I'm following him!"

Fatty patted his chest and introduced him loudly. The answer was simple and straightforward, saying everything and nothing at the same time, without revealing the slightest bit of Chen Ze's background.

Chen Ze saw through Brother Lu's intentions at a glance; he was worried that his "boss" wasn't strong enough and was afraid his brother would be scammed.

It seemed it was necessary to reveal his identity.

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Chen Ze, and my ID on the communication channel is: Shanghai Li Yunlong!"

Upon hearing this, Brother Lu's pupils contracted slightly, his whole body jolted, and the cigarette he was holding nearly fell to the ground.

Yellow Hair gasped, his scrawny body subconsciously shrinking back, his face full of disbelief.

Shanghai Li Yunlong!

A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree!

This ID had been broadcast as a region-wide top announcement three times recently; what survivor in the entire area didn't know it?

They never in a million years expected that the young man in front of them, who spoke so calmly and looked so unremarkable, was that legendary boss who dominated the region.

Brother Lu hurriedly raised his hand to steady the cigarette that was about to slip, quickly straightened his posture, and all traces of probing vanished from his face.

"So it's you! I've long heard of your great name; you're a celebrity in our region!"

After saying this, Brother Lu turned directly to look at Fatty.

"Wang Dun, you dog, why didn't you say it was Boss Li Yunlong before? You made me worry for nothing for so long!"

"Exactly! Fatty, you're really not playing fair! Hiding it so deep!"

Yellow Hair pointed at Fatty's nose, his saliva flying in his excitement.

Fatty wasn't annoyed at all; he rubbed his round belly and chuckled foolishly for a long time before happily explaining.

"We're brothers, why mention those things? Hahaha!"

Chen Ze could see that their relationship was genuinely good.

But at the same time, he hadn't chosen the wrong person in Fatty.

Even though Fatty was usually carefree and had no filter, he hadn't even revealed his identity to such close friends, which was enough to show that he had discretion and knew his boundaries.

"Fatty, are these all good friends you met after the apocalypse?"

Chen Ze asked.

"Look at me, I forgot to introduce you!"

Fatty stepped forward and put his arms around the two of them.

"This is Yellow Hair and Brother Lu. We've been old neighbors for over a decade. We often drank together before the apocalypse, and we've been fighting zombies together these past two days to survive."

Chen Ze nodded and exchanged a few more pleasantries with the two of them.

Through their conversation, Chen Ze learned that they all had families; Brother Lu was with his wife, and Yellow Hair had his parents at home.

(If a property is jointly owned, multiple people will be assigned to one Fortress.)

Just then, the door of a nearby house opened with a creak.

Chen Ze looked over at the sound and discovered it was a woman in her 30s. As soon as she came out, she shouted in their direction.

"Lu! Are we going to live like this or not!"

She put her hands on her hips, strode over to Brother Lu, and reached out to grab his ear.

"It was fine hanging out with them before the apocalypse, but you're still doing it now? You're all dirt poor, and you haven't even gathered half the materials to upgrade the Fortress yet. What's the point of hanging out with them!"

This sharp, shrewish reprimand instantly made the atmosphere freeze.

Brother Lu's face turned bright red. Was it painful? Not really; it was mainly embarrassing.

For a grown man to have his ear pulled by his wife in front of his brothers and an outsider, his face burned, and he felt completely uncomfortable all over.

"Say less. Wang Dun is leaving today; I'll go look for materials after chatting for a bit."

Brother Lu lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of pleading as he hurriedly raised his hand to pry her fingers off.

Hearing this, the woman turned and rolled her eyes at Fatty, her gaze filled with disdain.

"Randomly assigned to a stinky toilet, no matter how much you struggle, aren't you still just a dung beetle?"

Upon hearing this, the smile that had been on Fatty's face instantly froze.

The way she said that, how was it any different from spitting in his face in public?

But he couldn't lash out.

First, she was Brother Lu's wife; he couldn't just give her a couple of slaps across the face, could he?

Second, he was truly poor; if he had been able to help Brother Lu gather the upgrade materials, would this woman dare to talk like that?

Fatty's face turned shades of green and black. He held it in for a long time without letting out a peep, and in the end, he could only pull on Chen Ze's arm and speak awkwardly.

"Boss, let's go!"