Chapter 179 - 170: A Pack of Cigarettes

Chapter 179: Chapter 170: A Pack of Cigarettes

Dinnertime was the combat team’s most relaxing time of day.

After a full day of intense zombie-killing operations, the entire team would head back as soon as it got dark.

Their workday ended around 6:30 p.m., clocking out at the same time as Sun Shan and his group.

Sun Shan’s "off-duty" culture had finally spread to the combat team.

Of course, the main reason was that it was simply too dangerous after dark.

At night, the zombies, with their more sensitive hearing and smell, held the absolute advantage. Humans, who relied primarily on sight, were at a major disadvantage.

The combat team had a special supply of alcohol for the evenings. They could choose from beer, baijiu, red wine, or vodka... Although it was rationed, it was enough to let their minds, wound tight all day, finally unwind.

HISS... EXHALE...

After dinner, Officer Wang liked to have a smoke on deck.

In fact, besides Yu Dong’s own student team, many members of the combat team enjoyed a cigarette.

"Officer Wang, can I bum one? I quit for two years, but the craving’s back."

On the deck, Yang Ze stood beside Wang Dingbei and asked for a cigarette. After lighting it, a faint wisp of smoke drifted away.

"Wife won’t let you smoke?"

"Yeah... said it shortens your life. No one’s around to boss me around now."

"If you like to smoke, then smoke. If you don’t drink or smoke, what’s the point of living so long..."

"Then give me the rest of the half-pack."

"Huh?" Wang Dingbei nearly choked, quickly grabbing his pack of Yuxi and stuffing it in his pocket.

"Go ask for some downstairs yourself. Isn’t Qiao Ping in charge of the supplies?"

"That’s so embarrassing..."

"What’s there to be embarrassed about? You fight all day, and you can’t even have a few cigarettes? From World War I to the Russo-Ukrainian War, who doesn’t give soldiers cigarettes? That’s just wrong. If Yu Dong’s people won’t give you any, just tell them I sent you."

"Well... alright."

Yang Ze knew Yu Dong wouldn’t deny him a pack of cigarettes. After all, he was technically on Yu Dong and Lin Mo’s side. His military superiors had ordered him to support Yu Dong, and he was determined to do so.

When the apocalypse began, his first thought was to report to the army immediately. However, circumstances didn’t allow for it, so he reported to Officer Wang instead.

On the day he was discharged, he had sworn an oath, just like all the veterans before him.

"If the nation calls, I shall return!"

But as it turned out, he was summoned away that very night by Second Lieutenant Lin Mo and ended up with Yu Dong and Lin Mo’s group.

At first, he was a little uneasy, afraid he might eventually have to do some dirty work to stabilize the situation. He had already prepared himself for it...

Fortunately, that scenario never came to pass. The leaders of both sides got along extremely well and were even growing closer. This made things much easier for him, caught in the middle.

At least he didn’t have to worry about waking up one day to a mission: take out Wang Dingbei.

He actually quite admired Wang Dingbei. Not only was the man capable and a good fighter, but he also had an air of righteousness. He was the kind of person who could curse people out, get into fights, and act like a hardass, yet everyone still believed he was doing it for the good of the group.

After finishing his cigarette, Yang Ze took the elevator to the fourth level of the ship’s interior.

Here, there was a promenade called the ’Royal Avenue,’ the cruise ship’s main shopping area, which had all sorts of things.

Qiao Ping, who was in charge of supplies and storage, had recently created an on-board points system. This area was set to become the core trading hub for all the survivors on the cruise ship.

Of course, there were cigarettes here, and plenty of them.

Qiao Ping’s people were still here organizing the goods.

There were six people: Xia Yao, Wang Xiuying, Huang Henian, Lin Cong, Huang Zhiqiang, and Lin Zhixue.

"Oh? Huang, you haven’t gone to rest yet?" Yang Ze called out.

Huang Henian and Huang Zhiqiang both turned their heads. "Huh?"

Yang Ze cleared his throat. "The younger one... I was calling for the younger Huang."

Huang Zhiqiang laughed. "Just call me Zhiqiang. Otherwise, I’ll be stealing the nickname my old man’s had for years."

"Right. You’re working all night after such a tiring day... you’ve got great stamina."

"Well, I..." He subtly glanced at the nearby Lin Zhixue, whose skin was as smooth as fine jade. "I just came to chat with my dad. I’m heading back in a bit. Brother Yang, what brings you here?"

"Oh, I came to ask for a pack of cigarettes. Hope it’s not an inconvenience. The... pressure’s been a bit much lately."

"Pfft, just go ask Sister Qiao. We’re all family here."

Hearing this, Qiao Ping, who was directing people nearby, called out, "Over here. The cigarettes are stored over here. What brand do you smoke?"

"Yuxi."

"Here."

Qiao Ping tore open a carton of Yuxi and handed Yang Ze a pack from inside.

Nearby, Huang Henian was displeased. "Sister Qiao, don’t be so stingy... Just give Brother Yang the whole carton."

"No, no, a pack is enough to last me several days. My craving isn’t that strong." Yang Ze waved his hand dismissively and left with a smile.

After he left, Qiao Ping shot Huang Zhiqiang a look. "Huang, stop playing the big shot. We have supplies, but we can’t just hand them out freely. I have to keep count of everything here. You ask for a carton, he asks for a carton, and before you know it, they’re all gone. How am I supposed to explain the books to Dongzi?"

"Just say I took them. And enough about Dongzi... I scavenged more than a carton of cigarettes from outside today alone. If I were a smoker... none of them would have even made it to you."

"Then don’t turn them in. Once you turn them in, they’re my responsibility. Hmph."

Qiao Ping rolled her eyes at Huang Zhiqiang. Beneath her gold-rimmed glasses, she had a certain charm unique to a young married woman.

Huang Zhiqiang was taken aback for a moment. ’Maybe... Dongzi wasn’t lying after all.’

’If Qiao Ping gets her figure back after giving birth, she’ll definitely be a real knockout.’

"Ahem, you’re in charge, so you call the shots. I’ll get back to work."

Huang Zhiqiang shook his head and quickly turned his gaze to Lin Zhixue, his eyes brightening even more.

’This big star’s skin is amazing... so fresh and dewy.’

"Um... Miss Lin, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve seen the TV shows you’ve been in... your acting left a real impression on me. I never thought we’d end up on the same ship after the apocalypse. I was wondering, have you been settling in okay on the ship?"