Chapter 302: You Think You’re So Powerful, Jing Shu?

Unfortunately, the excited Wang Chao was pulled back halfway by his handcuffs. The one wailing loudly was bespectacled Shi Lei—his high-pitched cries were almost a waste of his singing talent. Usually quiet and reserved, Shi Lei’s screams were terrifying.

Jing Shu covered her ears. The noise instantly drew everyone’s attention. Hearing a possible savior nearby, if they weren’t shackled in groups of ten along the warehouse’s iron pillars, these people would have swarmed over.

They all shouted to be let out.

“Comrade, can we move to a quieter place? It’s too noisy here; we can’t hear anything.”

“I’ll go ask Squad Leader Li.”

Xia Liu left. The prisoners’ eyes finally showed hope. Liang Xin excitedly said, “Jing Shu, you’re here to save us, right? You can get us out? We’re really innocent!”

Nima whispered to the silent Zhang Lingling, “I don’t know what Su Mary means by sending her. Does she really have the power to save us?”

“Didn’t you hear? She’s just here to check the situation. Su Mary will save us,” Zhang Lingling’s joy quickly faded. She and Jing Shu had a grudge. Being seen like this by Jing Shu was humiliating. Zhang Lingling stepped back, wiping the filth off her face, biting her lip, not wanting Jing Shu to see her like this.

Soon, Xia Liu returned with keys. “The leader said we can move you to the next office area.” He dragged the few who had been roasting meat outside, causing a stir. Others questioned why some were allowed out.

“Really? That’s great! We can go out?!” Shi Lei cried with joy. “My newborn son is waiting for me at home.”

Jing Shu sighed, “Quiet, just moving you to talk somewhere else.”

Shi Lei’s shout angered others. Jing Shu’s group awkwardly escaped and moved to a lit office area. They stood in a line, looking disheveled. Though the last gathering was miserable, it wasn’t this bad. Their bodies were smeared with unknown filth. Jing Shu stepped back several paces, unable to escape the stench.

“Since the officers are here, why not tell us how you’re innocent?” Jing Shu asked. Without special reasons, she wouldn’t help these people. They had no close ties, and she wasn’t generous enough to save those who once insulted her.

Looking at the classmates, Zhang Lingling busied herself wiping off grime. Nima, knowing her grudge with Jing Shu, kept her head down playing with her hands, silent. Wang Chao and Shi Lei were overly excited.

Shi Lei said, “Last month, red worms went extinct. Zhang Lingling said in the group chat she’d make up for last year’s losses caused by the ‘water collector.’ There was a money-making project. She said if it didn’t make money, she’d eat shit. She said we wouldn’t pay a cent.”

Jing Shu glanced at Zhang Lingling. “And then?”

Wang Chao added, “So a few of us high school classmates bought from her—1 virtual coin for 6 cakes. We sold them for 1 virtual coin for 5 cakes, making 20% profit. We took the cakes first, paid after selling. We calculated it was a sure win, so we sold together.”

Shi Lei sniffled and cried, “Yeah, we were just sellers, knew nothing. Zhang Lingling said the cakes came from leftover canteen food, cheap. We didn’t think much. Who knew the zombie disease was spread by these worm cakes? I got caught buying early this morning. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have sold. My son was just born. I wanted to earn more to feed him nutritious food!”

He was only 24, already a father in the apocalypse. Jing Shu suddenly felt time was flying. Wait, no—though she was 24 this year, adding her previous life, she was actually 35. Scary.

“That’s all?”

“That’s all,” Wang Chao said, surprised. “Isn’t that unfair?”

Xia Liu sneered, “The cakes were rotten. Didn’t you fear eating them would kill people?”

Nima rolled her eyes, “We’re starving. What’s there to fear? We eat them sometimes.”

Jing Shu nodded and asked, “So in this incident, you all played the role of cake sellers?” She had thought they were involved in some big money-making scheme, but it was just this?

Shi Lei pointed at Zhang Lingling, “She bought the cakes for us. The rest of us just sold them.”

Jing Shu asked, “How many cakes did you buy for 1 virtual coin?”

Zhang Lingling lowered her head, whispering, “Not many. No big profit. We’re classmates, just passing through to earn a little.”

Xia Liu couldn’t help but pull out his phone and show big data. Pointing at the list, he said, “Zhang Lingling was the middleman, buying 8 cakes for 1 virtual coin. Secondary dealers buy at 7 cakes per coin. You sold to your classmates at 6 cakes per coin. After costs, you made 3,000 virtual coins this month. The other four made 500 each.”

Zhang Lingling’s mouth dropped open. She pointed at Xia Liu, “How do you know all this? You didn’t even ask.”

Xia Liu sneered, “With chat records and virtual coin transactions, big data reverse analysis is easy. No need to interrogate you. Got it?”

“You! Zhang Lingling, I knew you were venomous last year. You swore an oath and proved it. I never should have trusted you. You can make money, but pretending it’s all compensation for classmates—I despise you!” Shi Lei pointed at Zhang Lingling’s nose, cursing.

Liang Xin shook his head, “Zhang Lingling, I’m so disappointed in you.”

Nima shook off Zhang Lingling’s hand, “You’re so close, yet you show no mercy.”

“Jing Shu, you must expose Zhang Lingling in the class group. People like her don’t deserve to stay.”

Zhang Lingling gritted her teeth, feeling wronged. “I know I was wrong. Sorry, everyone. But shouldn’t we first figure out how to solve this? Anyway, everything’s confiscated. Whether much or little money, it’s all gone.”

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore!” Shi Lei glared at Zhang Lingling, then turned to plead with Jing Shu, “Jing Shu, what should we do? The government’s taken all our virtual coins. I don’t want any money. I just want to go home.”

“I understand how you feel now, but the decision hasn’t come down yet. You’re not in immediate danger. Let’s wait for Su Mary to see what she says. She asked me to check first and make sure you don’t get killed.”

“Bah, after all this, you’re still here to save us? You act like you’re interrogating criminals. Who do you think you are? And we still have to wait for Su Mary,” Nima rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, I thought you were more capable. So this is it?” Zhang Lingling agreed with Nima, cautiously pulling her to her side. She needed an ally.