"Phi Phi, this is from Uncle for you. Uncle also specially selected the "Fifth Grade Math Olympiad Competition Practice Problems Encyclopedia" for you. Grandma Luong said your math is a bit weak, but as long as you diligently do the practice problems in this book, you will definitely make rapid progress."
"Be happy."
Lam Pham said with a smile.
Never mind Phi Phi, even Grandma Luong looked towards Lam Pham.
Olympiad Competition Practice Problems Encyclopedia?
Phi Phi?
Grandma Luong had a thought, and also a question she wanted to ask.
Little Pham, do you perhaps misunderstand something about this?
But she didn't say it.
She knew this was also Little Pham wanting the best for Phi Phi.
Grandma Luong smiled, "Well bought. I think if Phi Phi can do all the problems inside, then her math will become very good."
"That's what I thought too," Lam Pham agreed strongly, then handed the practice book to Phi Phi.
Phi Phi looked at the practice book before her, her hands trembling as she received it.
"Don't be agitated. After finishing the problems inside, Uncle will buy you more." He naturally saw Phi Phi's trembling hands. In his view, this was a sign of agitation, just like in wuxia films, the expression of a young person obtaining peerless martial arts – moved, excited, various emotions overwhelming, definitely manifesting physically now.
Phi Phi wasn't just trembling with her hands; hearing that, even her legs started shaking.
Dinh Dinh said enviously, "Phi Phi sister, Uncle is so good to you! Mine are just normal practice books; many problems inside aren't difficult at all."
The aggrieved Phi Phi wanted to shout loudly at Dinh Dinh... We are good sisters! Can you please not be like this, making things so competitive?
I'm really suffering!
Lam Pham patted Phi Phi's head, then looked towards Grandma Luong, "Today I brought back a grandfather and grandson. The child is only twelve, very sensible, very filial. I want him to study with you. I saw at his home, his walls are covered in award certificates; he studies exceptionally well."
The suffering Phi Phi felt even worse.
Is another top student coming?
Is the competition really going to ramp up again?
Grandma Luong said, "Okay, bring him over tomorrow for a look."
In the apocalypse, being able to teach children knowledge made Grandma Luong very satisfied, extremely satisfied.
...
...
Nighttime.
Tan Thanh Community. (Assuming Tân Thành tiểu khu -> Tan Thanh Community)
Ha Minh Hien was free. He had encountered setbacks, but under his奋起 (fènqǐ - vigorous) resistance, returned everything to the opponent. Today, he was already the master here, no longer needing to face those encounters, no longer needing to suffer unimaginable torture.
Nham Nham and Nham Giai Le's corpses were thrown out the window by him. After a thump, he saw surrounding zombies rushing this way. The number wasn't large, but for Ha Minh Hien, any single zombie wasn't something he could handle.
He was currently waiting.
The food inside wasn't as much as imagined.
According to his rationing, could last seven days at most. Luckily, the resistance was quick; otherwise, when supplies ran out, his own life would definitely be threatened.
Nham Nham and Nham Giai Le, this pair of siblings, definitely wouldn't let him go. In absolute danger, having no food is very terrifying. When hunger reaches a certain degree, he suspected this pair might eat him.
Not alarmist talk.
Movies have depicted it.
At this moment.
He stood before the balcony, looking at the pitch-black night, observing the surrounding situation. He didn't want to sit here waiting for death. Relying on his own ability, wanting to survive in such a dangerous apocalypse was very difficult, really extremely difficult.
What he thought was, could he encounter a survivor team? For example, one better equipped, follow them.
Before meeting Nham Nham, what he thought most was becoming survivor bait. Now he thought not just about bait, but also whether survivor teams had special hobbies.
Doesn't matter.
Some things, once experienced, even if unacceptable, can be faced calmly.
Even if encountering that kind of situation later.
He could perform even better, no need for the opponent to hit, but obediently take the initiative.
"Seven days at most. Hope to encounter a survivor team, the kind that needs bait," Ha Minh Hien looked at the quiet night, murmuring to himself.
He had already abandoned the thought of survivors helping each other.
Also abandoned impractical assistance.
People have to rely on themselves.
Without strength, without backing, the beginning is often hell difficulty. But he wanted to gamble, bet on that chance of survival.
...
Early morning.
Lam Pham's life was very regular, always consistent. Although needing to coax the crying Manh Manh every night, his physical quality was very strong, utterly unaffected by sleep deprivation.
Knock knock knock!
Suddenly.
Sound came from outside.
He puzzledly walked towards the balcony, looked up towards the sky, actually saw a helicopter. This was the first time seeing a helicopter since the apocalypse began.
Now the apocalypse descended, seeing moving vehicles was already difficult, let alone helicopters flying in the sky.
Survivors in Hoang city seeing the helicopter might regain hope, but at such altitude... clearly not for rescue.
Watched for a while, returned to the room, washed up, cooked, fed Manh Manh, then filled his own stomach.
The first thing he did going out was to find Co Tu Thanh. Didn't go into the residence, just saw him pushing the wheelchair, accompanying his grandpa chatting with the two old gentlemen in the community area.
Co Tu Thanh stood aside, watching his grandpa chat with the two old gentlemen.
He went over to greet. For Co Tu Thanh, he was extremely grateful for the help of this uncle before him.
"Hello, Uncle."
"Mm, Tu Thanh, come with me to find Grandma Luong. She is a retired teacher. You are still young, need to learn knowledge."
Co Tu Thanh instantly understood.
Why Uncle Lam wanted him to wear the schoolbag.
Didn't expect that even in the apocalypse, still needed to study. But he wasn't resistant to studying. He knew studying was beneficial, could understand many, many principles, many, many pieces of knowledge.
Just that, if he studied, what about grandpa?
Old man Vuong saw Co Tu Thanh's worry. Your grandpa is here with the two grandpas, what could happen? Thus dispelled his worries, allowing him to go with Lam Pham to Grandma Luong's place to study.
Lam Pham gave Old man Vuong a thumbs-up.
Good old man, truly understanding.
Old man Vuong also gave Lam Pham a thumbs-up, as if saying, You've arranged everything clearly for the children.
...
Security Room.
Lam Pham casually flipped through the brokerage registration information, which contained the grandfather and grandson's personal details. These were things that definitely needed to be done; renting a room without registering information was definitely against the rules.
"Ah."
He looked at Phi Phi's ID number, then took out the phone with no signal to check the date.
"Phi Phi's birthday! That means it's her tenth birthday. This is a very important day."
If this were the peaceful times before, Sis Li would definitely take her daughter to a restaurant, invite relatives and friends to celebrate Phi Phi's birthday together.
Unfortunately, it's the apocalypse now.
Phi Phi's first tenth birthday since birth should be celebrated. He had an idea, but didn't think about telling Sis Li. With Sis Li's mindset, definitely wouldn't want to celebrate. Today isn't like the past; why bother with the trouble?
Passed through the iron gate, leaped out easily, landed softly, went to the brokerage.
"Handsome boss, borrowing your electric scooter for a bit."
No reply meant the boss agreed. He was already very adept at this kind of communication method. Just a superficial inquiry; he knew the boss wasn't a stingy person.
Riding the electric scooter, flying through the desolate streets, leaving behind a handsome figure.
His destination was precisely the cake shop. Originally wanted to give the other party some buffer time, but he felt the buffer time should be enough. More importantly, he wanted to buy a cake; without a cake, it's hard to celebrate.
Arrived at the cake shop, parked the electric scooter well.
A few zombies followed behind.
All encountered on his way here. When the electric scooter passed by, he nodded to the zombies as a greeting. Who knew the zombies seemed to fixate on him, following him all the way from the meeting point until now.
"Probably all unfriendly," Lam Pham grasped Frostmourne slung on his back, waited quietly. As the zombies approached him, baring fangs and brandishing claws to attack, in an instant, unsheathed, casually swung and slashed.
Phwok!
Phwok!
Not the imagined fierce scene. Several zombies fell to the ground, motionless.
The number of zombies wasn't large. He moved the zombies into the trash can. Leaving corpses here wasn't good. People open doors for business, still a cake shop, very particular about environmental hygiene. Didn't want to bring trouble to others.
...
To Tieu Hieu lay on the soft carpet, woke up, opened her eyes, blankly staring at the ceiling. This was a habit she developed since the apocalypse: just staring blankly. She didn't know what she was looking at, just wanted to look.
How she hoped everything was a dream.
Hoped one day opening her eyes, besides the bright sunlight, could also see laughing city dwellers. Just a pity, all this was real; the apocalypse still enveloped everything.
Dong dong dong...
Crisp tapping sound on glass came.
Startled, To Tieu Hieu suddenly sat bolt upright, fearfully looking at the window.
She didn't dare make a sound, didn't even dare breathe heavily.
A face appeared in her mind.
That's right, the guy who previously stood across the street like a pervert, revealing a perverted smile towards her side.
"Excuse me, is anyone here?"
A polite inquiry.
But in To Tieu Hieu's eyes, this was the tone of a perverted devil. Countries she used to enjoy watching had filmed similar movies: perverts often use perverted expressions while speaking the most polite words.
To Tieu Hieu covered her mouth with both hands, eyes wide, a voice in her heart kept telling her, don't answer, don't answer...
"No one home?"
"Impossible. I see her every day. And indeed feel her inside now. Could it be a sudden illness? Fell on the ground unable to move, life breathing its last? Then I can't sit idly by. Seems I can only smash the glass and rush in."
The murmuring words reached To Tieu Hieu's ears without missing a single character.
Smash the glass and come in.
Thinking of this, To Tieu Hieu suddenly grabbed the knife on the table, went to the window side, placed the knife behind her back, lifted the curtain, bravely looked eye-to-eye with the pervert outside.
First glance saw the pervert raising a brick.
He really intended to break the window.
Lam Pham put down the brick, revealed a smile. He originally intended to punch the glass, but seeing a brick underfoot, since there was a tool, why use fists?
"Hello."
His voice was very soft. The opponent's mood was unstable, mentally impacted by the apocalypse, definitely sometimes stable, sometimes irritable.
Could see from the opponent's eyes, she was very anxious.
"What do you want?" To Tieu Hieu gripped the knife in her hand tightly, ready to fight at any time.
Lam Pham said, "There's a ten-year-old little friend over at my place. Today is her tenth birthday. I want to order a custom cake for her. Don't know if you have any."
Ten years old?
Little friend?
Cake?
To Tieu Hieu didn't speak, remained silent, seemingly dazed, but actually, her mind was constantly thinking.
She was analyzing what the opponent meant by these words.
And how should she reply?
This was what troubled To Tieu Hieu.
Tell the opponent, I don't have cake here.
The result might only be one kind: the opponent doesn't believe, insists on coming in to see. At that time, definitely very dangerous. Don't just look at the knife in hand, but a woman's physical strength has a gap compared to a man's; might not be able to protect herself.
"Yes."
To Tieu Hieu could only reply like this; there was no other way.
The materials in her shop were plentiful, also the basis of her survival during this period. Making a cake wasn't a troublesome matter. Replying like this now was to stabilize the opponent.
The opponent wanted food, then she would give it. But wanting to come in was absolutely impossible.
She wouldn't trust anyone.
"How much?" Lam Pham asked.
To Tieu Hieu thought again.
Opponent asking her how much, what kind of trick was this again? Thought back and forth, from beginning to end couldn't figure it out, "Just give whatever you want."
Money?
It's the apocalypse now. She just wanted to know what use money could possibly have. If money could return to the past peace, she was willing not to want a single cent, give it all away.
"Okay then. I'll come pick it up this afternoon."
After Lam Pham finished speaking, jumped down from the second floor. For To Tieu Hieu, she kept staring at the opponent's figure until seeing that figure disappear into the distance.
She violently collapsed sitting on the ground, taking deep breaths.
The pressure was really immense.
For a weak woman like her, facing the current unknown encounters, not collapsing into sobs already showed her inner strength was very formidable.
She decided to make a cake for the opponent. No other meaning, just wanting to think of things in a positive direction.
...
"Just give whatever?"
Lam Pham thought about cake prices. The opponent didn't state a price, wanted him to give whatever. Thinking about it, cake prices actually aren't cheap. Tens of yuan is impossible, at least over a hundred, two or three hundred is considered cheap.
Took out seven hundred yuan from his pocket. This was the commission fee from renting the housing to the grandfather and grandson. Originally thought about returning seven hundred yuan to Old man Vuong first, now seems impossible.
Suddenly.
Riding the electric scooter, he passed by a fishing gear shop. Seeing the things inside, instantly had some thoughts.
Fishing?
This is an extremely good method, provided there are fish in the river.
Should be, right?
Vegetable markets deserted, fish category lacking, can't buy fresh live fish anymore. Perhaps really only by fishing oneself can one catch fresh live fish.
Entered the shop.
"Boss, are you there?" Lam Pham called out towards the inside.
This is everyone's habit. Regardless of whether someone is there, always this kind of opening line.
The shop was extremely quiet, not a single sound.
Besides the displayed fishing gear, nothing else.
Looked at the fishing rod prices. First glance saw several thousand, scared him into quickly rubbing his eyes, shifted gaze to other rods, saw one or two hundred yuan rods before finally sighing in relief.
Good, good.
Almost blinded my eyes.
He didn't know what to prepare for fishing. Saw a booklet on the counter; this was a fishing manual, should say fishing equipment manual.
Flipped through, read very carefully.
Fishing requires the first piece of equipment: fishing rod...
Nonsense, even idiots know this.
The next sentence immediately made his favorability towards this shop multiply.
Beginner fishing, a rod around one hundred yuan is fine. One-time perfection doesn't exist; progressing step-by-step is best.
Conscientious advice, happily accepted.
He thought carefully, whether he really decided to fish. Once purchased, might not be returnable. Things might just sit at home collecting dust.
Pondered for a moment.
Finally made the decision.
Buy.
Selected, finally spent over two hundred yuan. Tools prepared very thoroughly, price also acceptable. The fishing rod chosen cost eighty-eight yuan.
Chao River, also known as Yang River, formed by lake water scouring a natural channel, passes through many areas, total length over three hundred kilometers, basin area over seven thousand square kilometers, finally draining into the sea, the largest natural river.
He had seen many anglers fishing here.
Now, he came here again, looking at the surrounding environment, no one around, silent. The once equally lively fishing spot now didn't even have a single figure.
"Let's start from here."
He didn't know if he could catch fish, but still had some confidence in himself.
Holding the fishing rod, stood by the riverbank fishing.
A long time passed, still no movement.
But just then, he saw a boat appear in his line of sight. A person stood at the bow. That person saw Lam Pham standing on the bank, clearly stunned, then seemed to say something to the cockpit.
The boat changed direction, heading towards Lam Pham's side.
"Survivors..."
This was the second group of survivors he saw existing on the river.
Soon, the boat gradually approached the bank, but maintained a distance of three or four meters, not getting too close, clearly vigilant.
"Hello."
Lam Pham waved towards the person standing at the bow. As they got closer, two more young people walked out from the cabin, age similar to his. The one always standing at the bow was the oldest, looking about forty-five.
The middle-aged man asked, "What are you doing here?"
Very shocked.
A city overrun by zombies.
Yet a young person dared to come out here? This kind of behavior was no different from seeking death.
"Fishing." Lam Pham shook the fishing rod in his hand, "Where are you guys going?"
For the three survivors, they felt the survivor before them acted very strangely. That calmness wasn't faked, but truly very calm.
Somewhat unclear.
The middle-aged man said, "The city is occupied by zombies, already unable to survive. We want to follow the current downstream, enter the sea, go to that nearby island. There shouldn't be zombies there."
He didn't hide it; very normal matter. Wanting to go to the island definitely requires a boat, and also good wilderness survival skills. They had all these.
Staying in the city is just waiting for death.
Too dangerous.
Unnecessary.
"Do you want to come with us?" the middle-aged man asked.
He wasn't being kind-hearted, but wilderness survival requires manpower, preferably male. They had four people here in total. Even if this young person before them had any ideas, couldn't stir up big waves.
"Thank you for your kindness. I'm doing well here," Lam Pham thanked.
Under apocalyptic conditions, still able to extend a helping hand, he felt these few people before him were not bad.
"Ugh ugh... Roar."
Just then.
Zombie growls came.
The middle-aged man exclaimed in shock, "Zombies! Quick! Hurry and jump into the water! We'll pull you up! Otherwise, you only have death awaiting!"
They had witnessed the formidability of zombies.
Ordinary people are fundamentally no match for zombies.
Lam Pham smiled.
"It's okay. I'm very strong. You don't need to worry about me."
As the zombies approached.
The survivors on the boat were helpless. They couldn't possibly risk saving Lam Pham, could only watch helplessly. Ai... seems this city is about to have one more zombie.
This, for the living, adds another layer of danger.
They were already prepared to drive the boat away.
But soon...
The scene before them thoroughly stunned them.