That person completed the transaction but didn't seem to want to leave yet, grinning and continuing to say, "You really are a beautiful and kind-hearted woman, such a good person!"
He didn't forget to include Lu Xi'an: "The big brother is too."
Lu Xi'an smiled and responded, "You should be the big brother; you look older than me. You're also cool and friendly, which is rare these days."
The man waved his hand and said, "Traveling through the world, everyone we meet is a big brother. My name is Luo Ping. How should I address you two?"
Lu Xi'an said, "I'll tell you next time."
"Big brother is really cautious, huh."
Luo Ping laughed jovially, seemingly unbothered, and said, "It's hard to get in and out of this place, where are you planning to go?"
Yao Wei stood in front of Luo Ping, having already put the drone and remote control back in the car.
She saw Lu Xi'an speak and chose not to say anything further herself.
The transaction was complete, and she really wasn't skilled at such conversations. It was better to leave it to Lu Xi'an.
After all, Lu Xi'an was better at communicating than she was and could always find something to say.
If not for Lu Xi'an before, she probably still wouldn't know how to start a conversation with him, right?
Lu Xi'an didn't answer but threw the question back: "What about you, what do you plan to do?"
Luo Ping remained unbothered by Lu Xi'an's counter-question and said, "What else can I do? Of course, find a place to hide for a while.
"This place is so big, no matter how many people they have, it's not enough to watch. They can only guard the roads and wait for us.
"We endure it for a few more days, they can't afford to wait, they'll have to send people to search for supplies."
Lu Xi'an nodded, "Makes sense, and then?"
"Then, when the time is right, we leave quickly."
Luo Ping grinned at Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, baring his uneven teeth as if he always liked to use this method to express friendliness.
"Big brother and sister, what do you say we stick together?"
He suddenly added, "I have a secret base down south, an absolutely wonderful place with lots of treasures inside.
You can tell from my car and the things I brought you that survival there is no problem.
"Once we get away from here, you come back with me, and you'll definitely enjoy life!"
Lu Xi'an asked, "If it's such a good place, why aren't you staying there? Why come out?"
Luo Ping shook his head and said, "Can't say, can't say."
Lu Xi'an replied, "Sorry, we don't intend to partner with others."
After saying this, he called Yao Wei to get in the car.
Luo Ping hurriedly asked, "Really not going to reconsider? I'm telling the truth! No fooling!"
Lu Xi'an started to fib, "Forget it, we like to travel around and don't plan to settle down."
Luo Ping chuckled, "Big brother likes to joke."
Who loves traveling in these times? Not even a madman would dare have such a hobby.
"Alright, let's part here. Until we meet again."
Lu Xi'an mimicked, "Everyone met on the road is a big brother," and then shifted gear and stepped on the gas, ready to depart.
But Luo Ping suddenly called out, "Wait a minute." He quickly grabbed something from inside his car and tossed it through the passenger side window, saying, "You guys are nice people, let me gift you two more things for free.
"Four brand new AA batteries, enough for your remote control for a long time! And a good book, full of knowledge for you to learn some new tricks to pass the time."
The passenger side window was open, not rolled up, so the items Luo Ping threw landed right in Yao Wei's hands.
The batteries were indeed brand new, still wrapped in clear hard plastic packaging.
But as for the book, Yao Wei glanced at it quickly and threw it to the back seat without daring to look further.
Lu Xi'an caught a glimpse with the corner of his eye and laughed.
The book Yao Wei tossed to the back seat had lost its cover, but the content revealed it was a full-color comic.
The comic was divided into four panels per page, with handsome men and beautiful women fighting intensely, making Yao Wei's face blush.
This guy Luo Ping sure had a lot of risque stuff in his hands. The treasures in his secret base must primarily be these kinds of things, huh?
Yao Wei was always thrifty and didn't like waste, so even if the book she just held wasn't decent, she didn't choose to throw it out the window, instead tossing it to the back seat.
Lu Xi'an planned to take a good look at it later when they stopped the car.
In this world, there really were too few things for entertainment, so getting hold of one shouldn't be wasted, shouldn't just be kindling for lighting fires.
"So what should we do next? Head west to look around or listen to what Luo Ping said, find a place to hide for now?"
Lu Xi'an asked.
Yao Wei thought for a moment and said, "Hide first. Just in case what he said is true."
Lu Xi'an nodded: "That's right, better safe than sorry. Even if it's a one in a million chance, we shouldn't take any risks. If what that guy said is true, if we go back to the west again, it'll just attract fire to him."
Yao Wei couldn't help but glance at Lu Xi'an. This guy had been talking non-stop since earlier, like he was infected by that Luo Ping guy.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Xi'an said, "How about... we go back to the refuge? Lay low there for a few days first.
"It's not only safe there, but it won't drain our supplies, a perfect place to hold out.
"Though it lacks water, it's near a reservoir. Now with a drone in our hands, we can send it out to scout. After confirming it's safe, we can fetch water back.
"Luo Ping just got blocked now, and the county people and the ones Luo Ping mentioned from Liangshui Village aren't together. They probably won't get the news so quickly. If we're careful, we can still make it back to hide."
Yao Wei had no objections, nodded, and said, "Okay."
The two of them were in agreement, set their decision, and drove back immediately.
Yao Wei checked the map and found a country road to avoid the encirclement by Liangshui Village forces.
They did not head west, instead they returned east. Liangshui Village couldn't encircle the area quickly anyway.
After all, they had just left the county town not long ago. Going further east should be where the county people are, and until they reach an agreement, Liangshui Village shouldn't overstep too much.
Their car had enough fuel, so Lu Xi'an drove along the bumpy country road, not only avoiding Liangshui Village's people but also bypassing Fengcheng County and Gaojiazhuang Village.
Uncertain if the people from Gaojiazhuang Village are in cahoots with the county people?
Before long, they reached Tan Village, and like before, they first drove through the village, checked around, and after confirming it was safe, they turned into an alleyway between two houses at Tan Village's edge, stopping behind one of those houses.
After getting out of the car, Lu Xi'an glanced at the house and suddenly had a new idea: "What do you think about breaking a hole in the back wall of this house and driving the car inside?
"With the slope blocking behind, and nothing visible on either side, even if someone comes, they won't discover it."