Title: A Fake Holy Mother in the Zombie Apocalypse
Translator: Little Bamboo Spirit
Chapter 156 - Who was "it" ? (3)
Old Hu was in charge of taking inventory of the new people brought onto the island. All the people brought back had to be registered with him.
Old Hu asked Bei Nuan and the others for their names and ages, recorded the information in a notebook, and then he turned around, unlocked the cabinet beside him, and took out a wooden box.
Bei Nuan stuck her head out to look. The box was filled with thin circular metal tags hanging on strings. The workmanship was rough. Each tag was about four to five centimeters in diameter, and there was a large letter engraved on each tag.
Old Hu rummaged through the box for a long time before finding a metal tag engraved with the letter A. He gave the tag to Lu Xingchi. And then, he searched through the box for a while, took out a tag engraved with the letter F, and gave that one to Bei Nuan.
He ordered, "Wear these tags."
They were like dog tags.
These lettered tags hadn't been mentioned in the novel, but Bei Nuan understood their meanings.
Lu Xingchi got an A, and she got an F. She was pretty sure these tags were symbols of their physical fitness. With Lu Xingchi's physique, he deserved an A. Bei Nuan was so weak. That she got an F was fair.
Jiang Fei came over to get his tag. Old Hu looked him over. Although he was thin, his tight muscles could be seen under his clothes, and he got an A tag too.
Old Hu picked out a C tag and gave it to Tang Tang.
Du Ruo had waited on the side for a long time. He eagerly rubbed his hands and enthusiastically looked at Old Hu.
Old Hu critically looked him over like he was checking over produce. He rummaged through the tags and found a B tag.
Du Ruo immediately exploded. "Why did I get a B when they got an A? I've never gotten a B in my life!"
Old Hu had probably never met anyone that contested with his rating. He was stunned for a while before finally recovering and explaining, "It's already very good to get a B."
Even the head conman, who was beside him, said, "When you go out, look around the island. You'll see that it's rare for someone to get a B tag." He pulled out his tag. "Look, I'm a C. C is already good enough."
Tang Tang also said, "Big Bro Du, I'm only a C too."
Bei Nuan also comforted Du Ruo. "Look, I got an F."
"You're too complacent," Du Ruo replied in a tone that was sympathetic for their misfortune, but also angry at their lack of awareness and initiative to fight for a better ranking. He continued to try to wear down Old Hu.
Old Hu insisted on his assessment and absolutely refused to change Du Ruo's tag.
One of the poker players called out to Old Hu, "Are you done yet? It's just registering a few people. Why are you taking so long?"
Old Hu was at his wits end with Du Ruo's entanglement. He could only seriously inspect him again. Suddenly, he saw something that stunned him. He went back to the box of tags and picked out an A tag.
Du Ruo finally got an A tag. Satisfied, he hung his hard-earned tag around his neck like it was treasure.
The head conman sneakily whispered a few words with Old Hu, and then he politely discussed with Lu Xingchi and the others, "You guys have tents, so we won't give out blankets, alright?"
After Lu Xingchi and the other two had gotten A tags, the head conman spoke to them in a polite tone. And yet, he still wanted to embezzle the blankets that were normally issued to the newly brought laborers.
Perhaps, he was feeling a bit bad for taking their blankets, so the head conman added, "Your tents are pretty good. No one would dare to rob you outright, but be careful that they don't get stolen when you're not looking."
Those words were the truth. According to the novel, there were no laws on this island, and the strong preyed on the weak. No one cared about theft. It was only when the trouble became too much that the island management would come forward to settle things. The island management didn't allow for explanations and would simply tie up both sides and throw them into the lake.
Or, if the laborers formed a group, the island management would come forward to kill the laborers' leader in order to maintain the chaos and disorder that was most beneficial to them.
It was already deep in the night when they left Old Hu's place.
The island was quite big, and they were free to go anywhere. They found a place that was far from the crowds and the night market and pitched their tents.
Lu Xingchi came over to help Bei Nuan set up her tent and quietly asked her, "Aren't you going to ask why I want to come here?"
Bei Nuan was still tying the tent down. She naturally answered, "No need. No matter where you go, I just need to follow you."
Lu Xingchi was startled. Her answer caught him off guard. He reflexively looked down to look her in the eye.
Bei Nuan noticed it. She raised her head and smiled at him. Her eyes were as clear as water in the moonlight. Her gaze was calm without the slightest avoidance or hesitation.
These words came from her heart. It didn't matter where he went, she just had to follow him. She had to stay within his vision to increase her Holy Mother value.
She had nothing to be guilty about when she was speaking the truth.
This time, it was Lu Xingchi that had a guilty conscience.
Lu Xingchi had prepared a bunch of reasoning to say to her. They were waiting at his lips. He had rehearsed in his mind how he would answer various questions that she might ask. But now, looking into her eyes, he forgot all about that empty rhetoric.