Others try to survive on an island, I try to survive on a raft?

Chapter 142 The Tragedy of the Weak

Chapter 142 The Tragedy of the Weak

Although Mu Qing changed her mind, she still did not let her guard down.

In a time of scarcity, if you put yourself in their shoes, why would they come to trade?

It's a very simple principle: do what's profitable, especially when it's extremely profitable!

She knew the principle behind industrial scissors differential; she knew it the moment Su Jin mentioned tools.

Selling technology at minimal cost to achieve high profits—that's what they're trying to do now.

The key point is that this is an open conspiracy, and they simply have no way to refuse it.

Sure enough, the next second the man in front of them said a condition that was extremely outrageous to them: "We are very interested in sugarcane. Ten units of sugarcane can be exchanged for an iron tool from us."

"Then potatoes are also an option, but that would require 15 units, since they're not that important."

"We can accept fruits and vegetables, but it's only 15 units for a tool. In the apocalypse, that's just a small snack."

"Of course, if you don't need so many tools, we also have sea monster meat here."

Su Jin paused, then added, "Just in case you don't know, in this world, sea monster meat can increase human attributes. You can see it on your character panel. The powerful ones can become like Captain America, like me."

As he spoke, he casually grabbed Lin Xuan and Li Yuanyuan by the collars with both hands and lifted them up with great ease.

"Ah, let me go!"

When Li Yuanyuan was lifted up, she flailed her arms like a frightened kitten, but it was all in vain.

Because she is a British Shorthair, only 1.55 meters tall, she is very petite. Her struggles are futile and rather cute.

Lin Xuan, on the other hand, had already given up. When she was picked up, she reacted slightly and then started to relax.

In mid-air, she was even holding a shovel and a sickle, which added to her weight.

This scene was witnessed by Mu Qing and the others, and their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

That's right, it was everyone, so they all heard the conditions Su Jin mentioned earlier.

Just as Su Jin used the loudspeaker to explain that it was a merchant ship, the people on the cliff stronghold began to boldly come down one by one, and even repaired the ladder.

It was as if he believed everything people said, which almost made Mu Qing have a stroke.

But there's nothing she can do; she can't worry about that now.

Seeing that the crowd was about to rush forward, she raised her hand to stop them, saying, "Everyone, stay back and listen from the back. I'll handle the negotiations."

Her status as leader finally came in handy this time; everyone stopped and stood a little further away.

The main reason was that some middle-aged and older people held the younger ones back; they still had some sense when it mattered.

Although it wasn't much, just a tiny bit, it was actually because they weren't good at negotiating.

Mu Qing breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, then turned to Su Jin with a frown and said, "Captain Su, as you can see, we live in an extremely primitive era. We really want your tools, but we cannot accept your conditions."

Are you kidding me? These 15 units of potatoes are enough for them to eat for two days.

They're not stupid; they'd trade two days' worth of rations for a tool.

Sugarcane is barely acceptable, but it's still too much, however—

If possible, she would still like to trade some sugarcane for a couple of iron tools, since to them, these are fashionable little treats.

Aside from providing some nutrition, it's not filling at all; potato starch is a more practical option.

Su Jin had anticipated her response, so he offered a suggestion she couldn't refuse: "The price won't change, but I can extend credit to you, and it won't be interest-free."

Buying on credit?

Mu Qing looked at Su Jin with suspicion; she found it hard to believe that this man could be so good.

Are there any conditions?

As she spoke, she subconsciously shielded Chen Yao behind her, fearing that the other party was lustful.

To her surprise, Su Jin shook his head: "There are no conditions. If I had to say, it would be that you have to pay off your debt within two days. I don't like deadbeats."

As soon as these words were spoken, the group of people behind Mu Qing immediately erupted in an uproar.

Although they tried to keep their voices down, their excited whispers still drifted into Mu Qing's ears on the sea breeze.

"Two days? Two days is no problem at all! With the iron axe, I can chop enough to pay back in a day!"

"Yeah, yeah! With a shovel, digging potatoes is a piece of cake! I could dig up 30 units, let alone 15!"

"This deal is incredibly lucrative! We use the tools to do the work first, and then pay off the debt once the output is high. That's what you call 'borrowing a hen to lay eggs'!"

Even Chen Yao, who had been standing behind her, couldn't help but tug at her sleeve and whisper, "Sister Mu—I think it's possible. As long as we work hard, we can definitely pay it back. With the tools, we won't have to work so hard—"

Hearing the cheers behind her, Mu Qing's heart sank little by little.

These idiots.

This isn't borrowing a hen to lay eggs; it's clearly boiling a frog in lukewarm water.

Su Jin's move was too ruthless.

He doesn't need to use force, nor does he need to actually conquer the island.

He only needed to throw a few metal objects at them to turn this group of people who were struggling to survive into debt-ridden laborers.

What happens if you can't pay off your debts?

Mu Qing looked at the dark cannon muzzle on Su Jin's ship, and her mind was perfectly clear.

That would be a ready-made pretext for war.

At that time, whether the other side forcibly seizes supplies or directly takes the island, they will be morally justified.

In fact, Su Jin didn't even need to fight.

As long as he maintains this trade relationship, these people will continuously send him resources from the island in order to pay off their debts and obtain better equipment.

They didn't want to be slaves, so they worked desperately to pay off their debts.

But the result?

They had essentially become unofficial laborers on the ship, and the kind who didn't need Su Jin to provide food and lodging, but were responsible for their own profits and losses.

Is this the tragedy of the weak?

Mu Qing clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh.

The other party was clearly trying to take advantage of her, but she couldn't refuse.

Because they were refused, they could only continue digging with sticks, which was inefficient, and eventually they slowly died in the cold wave.

To accept is to be exploited; to not accept is to die.

This is not a multiple-choice question at all.

Su Jin clearly saw through Mu Qing's thoughts. He simply said, "Don't think of the situation as so bad. If I don't give you tools, like iron, you simply can't increase productivity."

, 7

"In the end, it will only turn into an ice sculpture on the island when the cold wave comes — oh, right."

He pursed his lips, and finally offered Mu Qing a deal she couldn't refuse.

"I still have black coal in my possession, you know what that means, right?"