Chapter 353: Planning

Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, and Genavawho had split up againarrived at Wolfs Den near West Por.

These are the introductory Red River language textbooks for all of you. Spend a few days to familiarize yourselves with the content; someone will teach you in the future. Bai Chen found a place to print out Genavas scans as drafts and handed them to Su Na, Li Qiong, and the others.

Su Na was surprised. Thats fast. Arent there no ready-made ones?

How do you know? Long Yuehong blurted out a question.

Su Na revealed her shallow dimples and raised the translation device in her hand. I used it to ask from th-those servants mouths.

This is from the teaching materials we used when learning the Red River language. We only made some revisions. Besides, we have a robot assistant. It saved us a lot of time. Bai Chen was mostly telling the truth.

Su Na and company didnt quite understand why having a robot assistant saved time, but since these magical, capable, and nice people said so, they believed them.

After distributing the textbooks, Su Na and the others eagerly flipped through them and chatted. How do I read this?

Arent there characters to indicate the tone?

I-I cant read

Sigh, Ill teach you.

Upon seeing this, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong realized that they had made a mistake yesterday because they had been in a rush when writing the textbooks.

Unlike the students who had begun learning the Red River language in Pangu Biology, a large number of the women in Wolfs Den hadnt even grasped Ashlandic. A small number of them were even illiterate.

Fortunately, Su Na, Qin Zhen, and Du Yumeiwho were barely literatecould teach the others.

It seems like we still have to make an introductory Ashlandic textbook Long Yuehong muttered softly and subconsciously cast his gaze at Genava.

Smart bots were really better than carbon-based humans in certain aspects.

Genava nodded, indicating that it wasnt a problem.

After Su Na and the others quietened down, Bai Chen asked, Is there enough food?

Yes. Li Qiong nodded first. Boss, uhOgre got a lot of food in the building. Its enough for about half a month. Also, the marijuana business is very good, and its especially profitable

At this point, Su Na interrupted her. However, we wont continue that business once we gain a foothold. Those people are no different from lunatics, especially those who inhaled the new product from Paradise Island. Once they run out of money and fail to get a hit on time, even I feel terrible for them. If it werent for the fact that we have guns and could scare some of them, they might have used their guns on us!

She spoke haphazardly, having lingering fears from what happened yesterday evening.

Thats right.

Yes.

Many women present echoed.

Bai Chen nodded. Thats good.

Su Na hesitated and asked, If we dont sell them in the future, will those people go crazy from their withdrawal symptoms? Will they rob us? Will we die because of this?

Its times like these that you require good marksmanship, Bai Chen replied calmly. Those who can quit will naturally quit. As for those who cant, its also a good thing for them and their families that they die early.

Bai Chen didnt continue the topic and said, What do you plan on doing in the future? What are your thoughts?

Su Na revealed a reminiscing expression and quickly said, We plan on renovating the first floor, but we wont be running a hotpot restaurant. Instead, well be opening a fast-food restaurant. The hotpot you mentioned requires too many spices and ingredients. The price definitely wont be low. The target audience will only be directed at sailors and businessmen. The people in the nearby few blocks have a high demand for very cheap fast food. Most of them work at the port or in the factories. Couples can be very busy from work, so they return home late and tired. They also have to use coal, wood, or electricity to cook their own meals. As long as the price is appropriate and the supply of food is stable, I think it should sell quite well

We will also consider a hotpot restaurant in the future. It will be on the second floor, but its scale wont be too large

We also plan on using one floor as a bathhousethe simplest public bathhouse. There are many low-income citizens living in the surrounding few blocks. They are all eager to shower, and theres no independent bathhouse where they live. They can only shower in public places; its very inconvenient

The nearby bathhouses often have water stoppages, and they are about to go bust. This building has never suffered a water stoppage As she spoke, a faint smile appeared on Su Nas face.

Although Li Qiong, Qin Zhen, and the others already knew of this plan, they still listened with great anticipation as if they would be very happy just by listening to it.

Long Yuehong was stunned. He couldnt believe that this was a plan that a group of former slaveswho didnt understand the Red River language or First Citycould come up with.

Isnt this analysis too detailed?

Upon sensing the change in his gaze, Su Na said in embarrassment, For the past two days, weve been using the translation device to speak to the servants and ask them questions. They actually know a lot.

Bai Chen nodded slightly and said, Well done.

She then gave some of her suggestions, such as opening a grain shop or attempting to cooperate with some merchants at the port after they accumulated some resources.

Finally, she emphasized, Remember to train your body and practice your marksmanship.

Yes! Su Na and the others nodded heavily.

After leaving Wolfs Den and going down to the first floor, Long Yuehong looked back at the seventh and eighth floorswhere Su Na and the others livedand said with emotion, They sure are motivated. Furthermore, they know whats good and bad, and they know what to do and what not to do.

Bai Chen looked at the jeep not far away and said, They always have beautiful hopes for the future in the beginning. When they experience more difficulties and setbacks, I hope they can still remember their feelings and thoughts today.

In the Ashlands, very few people could persevere with their original intentions.

Long Yuehong fell silent, not knowing what to say.

Genava said, In Tarnan, there are actually many people who can at least do so without harming others.

Thats because the robot guards are watching. Bai Chen smiled and glanced at Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong had been extorted by the locals previously.

As they spoke, they returned to the jeep.

At this moment, several sheriffs in grayish-blue uniforms ran over from the corner of the street with pistols.

Upon seeing Long Yuehong and the others, the short, fat man in the lead slowed down and asked, Did you see anyone go over? Wearing a thin black coat and has brown hair and green eyes. He wore a scarf like you, but it covered his mouth.

He pointed at Bai Chen.

Bai Chen tugged at the elegant thin scarf around her neck and frankly replied, No, we just came out of the building.

The short, fat man didnt ask any further. He led his subordinates and ran again.

Long Yuehong looked at the sheriffs backs and muttered, Did that fellow commit a crime?

Maybe. Bai Chen opened the door and sat in the drivers seat.

Golden Apple Zone, 18 Citizen Street, General Phocass residence.

On the way here in the gray SUV, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao underwent at least three spot checks. Fortunately, they didnt bring any military exoskeletons or heavy weapons. They acted like Ruin Hunters that knew their place.

Who are you looking for? The guards at the door stopped them.

Phocas was First Citys most senior and most famous general. Back when Oray died and First City fractured, he firmly stood on the Senates side and commanded the army to suppress the rebellion. After that, he repeatedly purged the Heartless, mutated creatures, and other factions, opening up many settlements for First City.

He was in his fifties now, and he was already past his prime. His age in the Ashlands categorized him as having one foot in the coffin. He gradually faded from the list of commanders and was only in charge of a portion of the city defense forces. Of course, he was a Senator as well.

Faced with the guards questions, Jiang Baimian smiled. We have an appointment with the general to discuss a partnership regarding a batch of books.

After asking for instructions, the guards made way. Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian entered Phocass study under the butlers guidance.

Phocass house was paved with marble, and different statues lined the stairwell railing. The walls were decorated with exquisite murals, making them look very luxurious.

His study was the samerows of books were bathed in golden sunlight.

The moment she saw Phocas, a word surfaced in Jiang Baimians mind:

Lion!

Be it his appearance or aura, this general was like a lion that was staring at its prey. But perhaps because of his age, his earthen-yellow hair was relatively sparse. This inexplicably made him look a little comical.

Phocaswho was wearing a well-ironed military uniformstood by the window. His yellow eyes flickered as he glanced at Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao and asked in a deep voice, Are you the Ruin Hunter team that discovered the Anti-intellectualism Churchs tracks?

Shang Jianyao nodded first. Yes, they also sponsored us with 50 Oray.

Phocas frowned, a little confused.