CHAPTER 139: SHARK SUBMARINE AMPHIBIOUS

If you were to call the landlord’s foolish son an emerging nouveau riche, then Su Malie would be the homegrown tycoon from a local gentry family, a fifth-generation scion of wealth.

Wu City, located in the Northwest of Huaxia, is known for its extensive lands and abundance of resources, especially natural gas, coal mines, and oil. Natural gas there is famous for the West-to-East Gas Transmission project. This project starts from Lun Nan in the Tarim Basin and extends to Modu, covering the Central Plains, East China, and the Yangtze River Delta. It provides natural gas to 400 million people in Huaxia. The region contains more than 30% of Huaxia’s oil and gas resources.

The Su Malie family is in the natural gas business, holding an unshakeable position in Wu City’s natural gas sector. For the construction of the Artificial Sun, the required resources, besides oil, are primarily natural gas, followed by coal.

In her past life, Jing Shu didn’t even know there was such an inconspicuously low-key, naïve, and foolish tycoon in her class. She only knew the family was wealthy and Su Malie was very generous, often getting ’scammed’. It wasn’t until the second year after the apocalypse that she heard Su Malie’s family’s house had been flooded. They then moved into the villa complex where Jing Shu lived. Of course, their family was formidable enough to forcibly convert three villas into a single mansion, and it was located right next to Jing Shu’s own villa.

This life, when Su Malie mentioned trading CNG (compressed natural gas), Jing Shu’s eyes lit up. Natural gas is a controlled resource!

Honestly, with electricity at home and a coal-fired boiler, not using CNG was just a bit more of a hassle. But CNG had greater uses; it was also essential for gas-powered vehicles. The taxis and buses people usually took ran on natural gas. Traveling one kilometer cost less than 0.1 yuan, whereas burning oil would cost around 0.5 yuan, so taxis were very profitable. A full 25-liter CNG cylinder could cover about 270 kilometers. Although its volume was less than liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas was the purest form of energy and excellent as cooking fuel. Su Malie’s cylinders, however, held 50 liters.

Jing Shu primarily wanted it for cooking in the villa before the migration; 50 liters could last about half a year. After migrating, it would be installed in the RV, still mainly for cooking. The UBC solar power would be for the RV’s other daily needs, such as heating. An induction stove with a 1,500W output would consume too much power for cooking, especially since the outside temperature would be at least minus 50 degrees. Prioritizing the temperature inside the RV was essential. Diesel and batteries would be used for the RV’s propulsion.

If CNG made Jing Shu feel tempted, then Su Malie’s second item really had Jing Shu itching for it: a Shark Submarine, amphibious, 2022 model.

It mimicked the appearance and habits of the great white shark. It was capable of submerging underwater and speeding on the surface like a speedboat, featuring dual-hand, 10-gear, 360° control that offered an extremely intense experience. Even its size was as large as a real great white shark, and it could reach speeds of 80 km/h. Initially, it was a super toy manufactured by a millionaire in the United States, later remodeled for amphibious use, priced at 740,000 RMB.

Su Malie said, "I had planned to enjoy some diving, but now even the rivers are dried up and it’s completely useless. I would trade for Detoxification Medicine at a low price; I urgently need medicine for carbuncles and cellulitis, be it Western or Chinese medicine. [Helpless]"

He Shouwu replied, "Don’t even mention it; my family doesn’t have any. Even if we did, trading for such a thing would get me killed! [Shocked]"

Xie Zihao chimed in, "@Su Malie, I’ve had my eye on this thing for a long time, but I couldn’t afford it. Now I definitely can’t."

Wang Chao asked, "Isn’t this just a motorboat? At most, it would cost fifty or sixty thousand, right?"

Xie Zihao posted: "[laughs but says nothing]"

Su Malie added, "I still have many other things I don’t need. Does no one really have any Detoxification Medicine?"

This time, Jing Shu learned her lesson. She secretly added Su Malie and struck a deal with her.

It was because this Shark Submarine would be perfect for... well, for some serious acquisitions and making a splash next year. Bah, never mind that line of thought. Next year, there would be a big flood, and half of Wu City would be submerged. Just imagine how many resources would be in the city center... You couldn’t possibly swim across with countless red earthworms. Even if you could, the houses would be underwater by then, and those who were poor swimmers or got lost would be done for. If there weren’t red earthworms, diving suits would be okay. But there would be leeches, rotten corpse insects, and all sorts of other insects swarming in the water; getting bitten really wouldn’t be good. Of course, it wasn’t just for salvaging resources. Usually, there wouldn’t be any need for driving. With this Shark Submarine, it didn’t matter whether it was land or a submerged city; she could truly traverse anywhere at will. Although this submarine could only be used for a year or two, the most crucial point was that Su Malie’s asking price was really low. She was genuinely getting rid of stuff she didn’t want, and it was very worthwhile to exchange some medicinal ingredients for it.

Yes, Su Malie had a mysterious good habit: she liked to trade away things she didn’t need at low prices. No matter how much she had paid for them initially, when she didn’t want them, they were worthless in her eyes. Yet, she wouldn’t just throw them out; she liked to trade them with others.

In Jing Shu’s and everyone else’s eyes, Su Malie was someone who "traded watermelons for sesame seeds."

But that "sesame seed" had to be something Su Malie needed or fancied. In high school, Su Malie once traded a watch worth tens of thousands for a rabbit-shaped hat.

Some people said Su Malie was foolish.

She, however, would retort, "Money can’t buy my happiness."

Later, Jing Shu realized this was probably just what it meant to be truly wealthy.

Truth be told, Jing Shu was envious of everything about Su Malie. With a personality like Su Malie’s, she shouldn’t have survived the apocalypse; she was like a golden, fat sheep ready for slaughter. Yet, contrary to expectations, not only did Su Malie survive, but she also thrived. Anyone who tried to target her would mysteriously encounter misfortune and meet a tragic end.

Jing Shu slammed on the brakes, stopping in front of the new district mall, where a crowd had already gathered. In the darkness, Jing Shu saw a group of old classmates bundled in thick clothes, stamping their feet and excitedly looking at a pile of items on the ground as tall as a small mountain. Among them, the most conspicuous was the amphibious Shark Submarine she had been longing for.

Standing in the middle was Su Malie, looking youthful with her welcoming smile, her eyes curved into crescents, and wearing a princess dress. She was laughing happily, explaining the pile of items on the ground to everyone.

"Can I have this? Since you don’t want it anymore."

"This is great, Su Malie, you really are rich."

Every time she saw this innocent, kind smile, Jing Shu felt that Su Malie was like a disguised White Lotus. What is beneath her veneer? How can someone possibly be so pure and kind? Just like Holy Mother Mary. No, she is the incarnation of the Holy Mother! In this life, I must stay far away from Saint Mary!