20: Successful transactions

On a red Train, Jiang Zhi was constantly scrolling through the chat room messages.

For the past few days, he had been diligently collecting supplies and searching for treasure chests, all to gather 200 star coins as soon as possible to get his wife back.

His wife had unexpectedly become a puppet two days ago.

However, star coins were a rare commodity at the moment, and very few people were willing to sell them.

In the past few days, he had exchanged some daily necessities at a low price, only getting about ten coins. Adding the two common iron treasure chests he had opened earlier, he only had a total of 72 star coins.

That evening, he was originally looking for someone to trade supplies with, but after hearing the Train broadcast, he immediately set his sights on the merged zone reward.

His Train was currently Level 2, and two carriages would give him 100 star coins, but he was still short 28 star coins to reach 200.

To get another 28 star coins, there were only two methods available.

Either trade using rare items like food, water, and cores. But after all this time, he had very few of these supplies left.

As for trading other materials for star coins, it wasn't impossible, but it was almost never seen.

Not many people were willing to exchange these rare items for things that could still be collected.

The remaining method was to trade in the merged zone. If the Train leveled up one more time, he would get another 100 star coins.

He glanced at the materials needed for the Train upgrade.

He was currently only short 128kg of gravel to upgrade the Train to Level 3, but after searching the trading center for a long time, he couldn't find anyone willing to part with gravel materials.

Most trades involved exchanging daily necessities for upgrade materials, and the prices were very high.

Unless he didn't consider his future survival, it would be difficult for him to gather the materials needed for the next upgrade given his current situation.

He continuously scanned the constantly refreshing messages on the screen, one after another.

Hard work pays off, and soon he saw Luo Chen's message offering to trade gravel for wood. He happened to have extra wood, so he quickly sent a friend request... [Train Conductor ECB01333 has sent a friend request, do you accept?]

Luo Chen, who was browsing messages, saw a friend request pop up at the top of the screen and casually clicked accept.

Clicking on the avatar details, a character page appeared.

The other party was a middle-aged man named Jiang Zhi, who looked somewhat thin, with a tanned, bronze complexion.

Looking at that dark yellow face, Luo Chen felt a bit familiar; he seemed to often see him posting messages in the chat room to exchange supplies for star coins.

However, star coins were a relatively important resource, and few people were willing to trade them with him.

There were also rumors that he was collecting star coins to buy back his wife from the puppet shop. Luo Chen wasn't sure about this, but he admired him; he was a person of deep affection and loyalty.

[I'll trade 180kg of wood for 106kg of gravel, and then 12kg of metal for 12kg of gravel. The remaining 42kg of wood, consider it a debt I owe you, and I'll pay you back next time I collect it. Is that okay?]

Jiang Zhi quickly sent another message.

“The remaining 42kg of wood, consider it a debt I owe you?” Looking at the message in the chat box, Luo Chen frowned slightly: “For such a small business, why are we already talking about IOUs?”

Seeing that Luo Chen didn't reply immediately, Jiang Zhi grew anxious.

He had finally found a customer, and he couldn't let him get away. He quickly edited and sent another message.

[Big Brother, these are all the upgrade materials I have left, please, I'm begging you. I urgently need star coins to get my wife back. I know it's inappropriate to owe you upgrade materials at a time like this.]

[But I really have no other choice; only if the Train levels up one more time can I gather 200 star coins. If my wife gets bought by someone else because I don't have enough star coins, I honestly can't live on!]

Luo Chen was about to agree when his gaze caught the newly popped-up message. He clearly felt that the middle-aged man's tone was already anxious due to his extreme concern.

180kg of wood was already enough for his Train to level up, and an extra 42kg wouldn't be of much use, so Luo Chen thought for a moment and agreed.

[Okay. Just remember to pay it back when the time comes!]

Looking at the words on the screen, Jiang Zhi's joy was evident. He had expected the other party to refuse, but unexpectedly, he agreed in the end.

In a world without legal constraints, someone was still willing to grant his request, and he was deeply moved.

After quickly sending a designated trade request in the trading center, he immediately messaged Luo Chen to express his gratitude.

[Thank you, Big Brother! As soon as I collect wood in the future, I will immediately return it to you.]

Luo Chen clicked to agree to the trade, then replied simply.

He opened the Train module.

The Train upgrade materials were now only short 115kg of metal.

Luo Chen once again posted a request in the chat room to trade gravel for metal, and this time he also posted it directly in the trading center.

If anyone saw his message, they could click on his avatar to jump to the trading center and complete the transaction.

Next, Luo Chen continuously browsed the chat room, trying to find someone to complete the transaction. The chat room was also filled with nothing but trade information.

Although each person was limited to ten messages, with so many people, the screen would quickly be flooded, so Luo Chen had to send a message at intervals.

By ten o'clock, he had finally gathered enough upgrade materials.

After upgrading the Train to Level Four.

The upgrade materials once again became... [Current Train Level: 4 (Bronze)]

[Metal: 33 / 500kg]

[Wood: 125 / 500kg]

[Gravel: 1235 / 150kg]

He didn't continue trading; everyone was in a competitive state now, so he couldn't provide materials to strengthen others... The next day, at seven in the morning, Luo Chen gently pushed Luo Wan Ning's hand off him and climbed out of bed.

Opening the door, he went to the bathroom for a quick rinse.

The cold water hitting his body made him shiver involuntarily.

His previously groggy eyes immediately widened, and all traces of sleep vanished.

If only he had a water heater.

He thought, looking up at the showerhead continuously spraying water.

However, such an item could only be obtained by luck through opening cores, so he shouldn't think about it for now.

Fortunately, the interior temperature of the Train was suitable, so it wasn't particularly cold.

After showering with shivers, Luo Chen changed into clean clothes and went to carriage 0-2.

He planned to make fried wild eggs with rice for breakfast, as there was still some leftover rice from last night.

Entering the carriage, he found that someone had already arrived.

The curvaceous figure, coupled with the cheongsam stained with dirt, immediately made Luo Chen recognize who it was.

Looking at Chen Yujun, who was busily working in front of a makeshift stove made of several cardboard boxes, Luo Chen walked up and asked, “Sister Yujun, why are you up so early?”

Chen Yujun had just turned to look at Luo Chen, but before she could reply, Chen Tianxiang, whom she had completely blocked, poked her head out from her side and called out, “Uncle Luo Chen, good morning!”

“Good morning, Little Tianxiang!” Luo Chen waved and replied with a smile.

“Children always get up early every morning, I’m used to it,” Chen Yujun smiled slightly at Luo Chen, her hands not pausing for a moment as she continuously added noodles to the pot.

Seeing this, Luo Chen also smiled. He gave a thumbs-up to Tianxiang on the other side, praising, “Little Tianxiang is so well-behaved!”

Chen Tianxiang, hearing Luo Chen's praise, laughed happily, revealing her two gapped front teeth.

Luo Chen turned and picked up the induction cooker from the other side, preparing to use it to make fried egg rice.

Chen Yujun, seeing Luo Chen's actions, quickly called out, “Don't bother, I've already made our breakfast!”