Friends who frequently buy items from the System Store know that while there are many goods available, due to limited funds, they can usually only afford cheap items.
Lu Chen was in the same situation at this moment.
With over three thousand in his pocket, Lu Chen immediately entered the System Store.
He had money now, so he had to go on a shopping spree.
However, when he saw the prices of weapons in the store, he couldn't help but shake his head repeatedly.
The cheapest standard pistol cost 1500 yuan per piece.
The cheapest rifle was even more expensive, costing 5000 yuan.
The money he had was simply not enough.
Then he would buy the supplies he needed most urgently first.
What Lu Chen lacked most at the moment was, of course, food.
So, what he prioritized buying was food.
Rice, he bought 200 catties, which was only 400 yuan.
Pork belly, only 10 yuan a catty, he bought 20 catties, 200 yuan.
Instant noodles, only 2 yuan a bag, he bought 100 bags, 200 yuan.
Cream bread, only 10 yuan a catty, he bought 20 catties, 200 yuan.
Filling and nutritionally balanced military rations, he picked 30 cheap packs, which were only 600 yuan.
...
When Lu Chen suddenly came to his senses, he found that the system funds only had 1500 yuan left.
"That's enough for now. I'll keep the remaining thousand-plus for emergencies."
Lu Chen lay in bed, holding a piece of cream bread, chewing slowly.
Although his body was more resistant to hunger after taking the Great Strength Pill, it could not replace food.
If he didn't eat, he would still starve to death.
So he had to eat something first.
Feeling a bit thirsty after eating the bread, he took some spring water from his space with a bowl and gulped it down.
"This spring water... so sweet!"
Lu Chen discovered that the spring water in his space was not only sweet and delicious but also had the effect of relieving fatigue and enhancing physical functions.
After a few sips of the spring water, he felt refreshed.
This made him feel like he had discovered a new continent.
"Perhaps this spring water has many other unexpected uses."
Full and satisfied, Lu Chen quickly fell into a deep sleep.
That night, Lu Chen slept very soundly.
The next morning, before Lu Chen had even woken up, Xie Qiao had already gone to the back mountain, carrying a small basket on her back and a small iron shovel in her hand.
When Xie Qiao woke up in the morning, although she was still suffering from hunger, she felt quite strong.
This was an experience she hadn't had in a very long time.
For the past six months or so, even if she occasionally managed to eat half-full, she always felt weak and listless.
Since she had strength today, she naturally couldn't waste it.
So, she decided to go to the back mountain to dig up some roots.
As for wild vegetables?
The wild vegetables on the nearby hills had long been dug up.
The tree bark around the village had also all been stripped.
Even digging for roots depended on luck.
Xie Qiao walked along the mountain path, searching the barren ground.
Years of drought had left the land desolate, filled with yellow earth and broken stones.
Suddenly, she saw something not far ahead.
She quickly hurried forward, took out her shovel, and dug a couple of times, unearthing a dark red plant root.
Xie Qiao was overjoyed and put the root, which was not much bigger than a bean, into her basket.
At least she hadn't come for nothing.
Suddenly, she vaguely heard human voices not far away.
She looked ahead and saw four or five people appearing on the ridge.
"Fifth Brother, let's rest. I'm practically dead from exhaustion!"
"Being exhausted is better than starving to death! Hurry up, maybe we'll run into a sheep!"
"Who would come into this mountain so early in the morning?"
"Sigh, I haven't eaten meat in days... That cub we caught the other day, though a bit thin, was really delicious..."
Listening to the words of the people ahead, Xie Qiao couldn't help but shiver.
While she was momentarily stunned, the people ahead had already discovered her.
"Look! There's a little fat sheep in front!"
When the few men saw Xie Qiao, their eyes all glowed with a terrifying green light, and they lunged at her in a rush.
Xie Qiao was so frightened that her mind stopped working.
She had heard countless times that the most terrifying things during years of famine were these devils who ate people without spitting out bones.
They would even chew bones into fragments.
These people roamed in groups of three or five, and they especially liked to target lone women and children.
Xie Qiao was instantly panicked when she saw the several burly men surrounding her like wolves and tigers.
Holding up her small iron shovel, she said with a trembling voice, "You... you all, don't come any closer!"
"Hahahaha..."
The tall, thin man leading the group revealed a wicked smile after seeing Xie Qiao's appearance clearly.
"Don't be afraid, little sister. You're really lucky to have met us today!"
"Tsk tsk... She looks pretty good! Brothers, we're in luck today!"
"Fifth Brother, how about I go first!"
"What are you talking about? Fifth Brother should go first!"
"Yes, yes, yes, with Fifth Brother leading us, we didn't starve to death, so Fifth Brother definitely goes first, and after Fifth Brother, I'll go. It's been a long time since we've encountered such a good catch..."
"This is truly..." A short fellow wiped the corner of his mouth, "This is both delicious and fun!"
"She looks like a virgin too. Today's really our lucky day!"
As they spoke, the men surrounded Xie Qiao.
Xie Qiao desperately swung her iron shovel to prevent them from getting closer.
But how could a small iron shovel deal with several strong men?
In the eyes of the men, this weak little girl, who looked only twelve or thirteen, was like a lamb to be slaughtered.
"Come, come, let Uncle pamper you..."
A bald man chuckled and reached out to grab the iron shovel from Xie Qiao's hand.
Xie Qiao's only weapon was this iron shovel, and she absolutely could not let him take it.
She could only swing the iron shovel with even more force.
At this moment, the man's hand was almost on the shovel.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound!
Immediately after, the bald man let out a heaven-shaking scream of agony.
"Ah!"
"My hand! My hand..."
The others looked and saw the bald man's hand dangling at his wrist at an unnatural angle.
"Br-broken...?"
All the men gasped.
Then they looked at Xie Qiao in astonishment.
How much strength could this little girl have?
How could she break a grown man's hand with a small iron shovel?
A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the man called Fifth Brother.
He gritted his teeth and said, "You little slut! You dare to injure my brother! Today, I will make you wish you were dead, make your life worse than death!"
Xie Qiao was stunned at this moment.
She hadn't felt anything just now, so how did that bald man's hand break?
Seeing the leading strong man approaching step by step, Xie Qiao had nowhere to retreat and could only swing her iron shovel again: "Don't come closer! You, don't come closer!"
"Give it to me!"
Fifth Brother suddenly lunged, grabbing for the iron shovel in Xie Qiao's hand.
Xie Qiao watched the man move, but she felt his movements were slow and lacked strength.
She aimed the shovel at the man's arm and swung.
"Ah!"
Fifth Brother screamed and retreated repeatedly.
When the others looked, they were all startled.
Their Fifth Brother's arm had actually been broken by the iron shovel too!
This time it was truly broken; it had snapped at the forearm, and half of his forearm along with his entire palm had fallen to the ground.
Blood gushed from Fifth Brother's broken arm like a torrent.
"Kill her! Kill her for me! Quick! Quick, kill her..."
Fifth Brother's face was contorted with pain as he roared repeatedly.
The remaining three hesitated for a moment, then swarmed forward, pouncing on Xie Qiao.
Xie Qiao was filled with doubts at this moment.
How did she become so powerful?
Was this due to the Great Strength Pill she ate last night?
At this moment, the movements of the three men pouncing towards her seemed incredibly slow in her eyes, full of openings.
"I'll kill you all! Kill you all..."
Xie Qiao swung her iron shovel, unleashing a barrage of attacks on the three men.
"Ah!"
"Oh my god!"
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts..."
Wherever Xie Qiao's iron shovel struck, the three men howled in pain.
One man's arm was cleanly severed by the shovel.
Another man's stomach was cut open, and his intestines were exposed.
The chest of the third man had a long wound from left to right, and his sternum was broken!
Fifth Brother and the bald man watched dumbfounded from the side.
What kind of monster had they encountered!
This was not a harmless little lamb; this was clearly a little devil!
A small iron shovel was comparable to the Green Dragon Crescent Blade!
It slaughtered their five grown men, leaving them utterly powerless to resist!
By the time they recovered their senses, Xie Qiao had already gone berserk.
"You all go to hell! Go to hell!"
The hardships and grievances she had endured since childhood, for over a decade, seemed to erupt all at once at this moment.
These dog-like creatures, worse than beasts, all deserved to die! All deserved to go to hell!
"Go to hell!"
As Fifth Brother, cradling his broken arm, tried to turn and flee, Xie Qiao smashed her shovel onto his skull!
"Puff!"
The watermelon ripened!
It burst open!
Red and white, with foul liquid flowing everywhere!
The bald man saw the horrific sight of his boss's death and turned to run, but his legs turned to jelly, and he couldn't move a single step.
"Go to hell!"
Xie Qiao plunged her shovel into his back, piercing straight through him!
Then, she pointed her iron shovel: "And you too!"
The remaining three who were not dead were all ashen-faced, not even having the courage to beg for mercy.
As arrogant as they were before, that's how cowardly they were now.
"All of you, go to hell!"
Blood splattered again!