Starvation is prohibited (2)
Qin Man said to Zhang Dayong, the auto mechanic, "Zhang Dayong, I'm not doubting you. I believe you definitely want to keep this food right now. But once you get extremely hungry, can you guarantee you won't eat the steamed bun and water in one gulp? You're the strongest among us, and no one will be able to take it from you then."
Zhang Dayong sighed, "Actually, as soon as the clown finished explaining the rules of the game, I guessed that someone would come to steal the food and water, so I kept my attention on the food. That's how I managed to stop Huo Zimu in time and save the only food."
Look how quick I am! If my first thought had been to eat the food all by myself, I would have grabbed it and eaten it before you even realized what was happening. Why would I have waited until now?
I didn't eat it all by myself just now, and I won't do it again. I can even say that I will definitely eat last, and I will eat less than everyone else.
If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. After all, I can't just give food and water to one person. If I did, the others certainly wouldn't agree.
I can only keep guarding the food and water without touching them. In time, you will naturally understand my intentions.
If you're worried, keep an eye on me.
That being said, everyone knows in their hearts that everyone gets tired at times.
Even if Zhang Dayong keeps his promise and never keeps the food for himself, someone can take advantage of him to steal the food when he gets tired, such as Huo Zimu.
Of course, before Zhang Dayong gets tired, it's likely that others will get tired first. No one can keep an eye on Zhang Dayong with full energy forever.
After all, logically speaking, Zhang Dayong, the auto mechanic, should be the most energetic one.
At this moment, high school girl Li Chuxia spoke up: "Uncle Zhang Dayong, you can actually entrust the food to someone for safekeeping, and we can all trust that person."
Zhang Dayong was somewhat confused: "Who are you referring to? Is it that little boy Qu Chen? I believe that autistic children don't have bad intentions, but he is still a child. When a child is hungry, eating is an instinct, and you can't stop him."
Li Chuxia shook her head: "No, I was referring to Professor Pan Xian in the hospital bed."
Upon hearing Professor Pan Xian's name, everyone thought it was a good idea.
Professor Pan Xian has been in a coma and couldn't possibly be up to any tricks.
Even when he wakes up, he will be in a very weak state, but he won't feel hungry immediately. This is because the IV drip he's on contains nutrients that will replenish his body's needs.
Moreover, as long as he isn't told that there's food there, he won't find out for a while.
Jian Tanxi felt that Li Chuxia was intelligent and rational, and always got straight to the point, which was very admirable.
Jian Tanxi spoke first: "I agree to put the food with Professor Pan. I think we can put steamed buns under his pillow. As for water, we can put it by his bedside."
Qin Man: "I agree. At this time, we shouldn't worry about hygiene. If we put the steamed buns under the pillow, even if Professor Pan wakes up now, he won't think there's food under his pillow."
Zhang Dayong thought for a moment and said, "That works too, that might be the best idea. Then I won't have to worry about watching the food."
However, Huo Zimu disagreed: "I disagree. What if Professor Pan is faking it? He may have already woken up, but just hasn't opened his eyes. If we give him the food, he might eat it right away."
Li Chuxia was somewhat dissatisfied: "Professor Pan is a good person, he wouldn't do such a thing. He studied in country A when he was young, and later wanted to return to China to serve his country, but was intercepted by country A. He went through many life-threatening situations before returning to China, and made great contributions to China's biological community. Would such a great person fight with you for a steamed bun? Don't be ridiculous."
"Times have changed. Now there are seven of us with only one steamed bun. Can you guarantee he won't steal it?"
Jian Tanxi said, "Stop arguing, we'll know once we try."
Jian Tanxi walked to the bedside and unexpectedly tickled Professor Pan's feet.
Professor Pan showed no reaction whatsoever. He did not wake up, nor did he frown, turn over, or pull his legs back.
After resting for a while, Jian Tanxi said, "I'm going to tickle his armpits later."
Qin Man, Li Chuxia, and the others all found it strange that Jian Tanxi would say it out loud.
At this moment, Jian Tanxi suddenly leaned close to Professor Pan's ear and shouted.
Professor Pan still did not respond.
Now everyone understood that Jian Tanxi had said that on purpose.
If Professor Pan were conscious, he would be wary of Jian Tanxi tickling his armpits.
However, what Jian Tanxi really wanted to do was shout in his ear. If he wasn't on guard, he would definitely give himself away.
Now, after two tests, Professor Pan has remained completely still, which is enough to prove that he is indeed in a coma.
Everyone was relieved, and Zhang Dayong placed the steamed buns and water on Professor Pan's bedside.
Then, Zhang Dayong came back and said to the others, "Now, none of us should go near that hospital bed until we come up with a reasonable plan for distributing the food."
Huo Zimu complained, "Is it necessary to distribute just one steamed bun and one cup of water? If it's all given to one person, they won't even have enough to eat."
Zhang Dayong said, "Everyone should try to eat sparingly; maybe we can last a few more days."
"Even if you can last two or three days, you definitely can't last ten days."
Everyone looked at Huo Zimu with some dissatisfaction. However, everyone knew in their hearts that Huo Zimu was right.
Just then, the clown paper floated over, as if it wanted to speak.
Zhang Dayong suddenly reached out and tried to grab the paper.
But the paper seemed to have eyes; it floated away and ended up in another place.
The clown's mouth didn't move, but its voice came out: "Human, don't try to grab or threaten the referee, it won't work."
Zhang Dayong asked, "Are you the referee?"
Joker: "That's right."
"What gives you the right to be a referee? What gives you the right to treat human lives like a game? What gives you the right to lock us up here and force us to play a game of killing each other?"
The Clown: "This player, you have a lot of questions. Considering this is your first time participating in the game, I'll allow you to ask five more questions. From now on, every question you ask will receive a correct answer; I won't lie to you. However, if you have more than five questions, I won't answer any more. So, think carefully about what you want to ask."
"Zhang Dayong, the clever auto mechanic, are you sure you want to ask that question?"
Zhang Dayong frowned: "I...I won't ask about these...I need to think about it..."
Qin Man asked, "Let me confirm, the rules of the game are that the seven of us have to survive for 10 days with only this one steamed bun and one cup of water?"
Clown: "Yes. To be precise, it's six people sharing this food. Because Professor Pan Xian is in a coma and is being kept alive by IV fluids, he doesn't need to eat."
It turns out that Professor Pan was on an IV drip of nutrients; everyone had assumed it was just regular saline solution and medicine.
Since there is nutrient solution, Professor Pan can actually survive without eating while in a coma.
The problem is, the nutrient solution will eventually run out. After it runs out, Professor Pan might wake up hungry in a day or two.
The clown seemed to sense their thoughts and added, "Oh, and one more thing: since Professor Pan was on an IV drip when he entered the game, that drip will remain indefinitely. That means the nutrient solution in his IV bag won't run out within these 10 days."
However, please don't even think about injecting his nutrient solution into your own bodies. If you do that, it will be considered a violation and you will be immediately eliminated.
Everyone: "..."
The clown's voice was cheerful: "Any other questions?"
No one dared to waste the opportunity to ask a question, so they hesitated to ask it before thinking it over carefully.
Seeing that no one spoke, the clown said, "Since there are no more questions, then—"
At this moment, Li Chuxia asked, "Wait. I want to ask, is there a way for everyone to complete this game?"
Joker: "Of course."
Li Chuxia: "Could you give us more water and food?"
The clown: "Wow, you're really clever, asking me for more water and food. But the answer is—no."
Li Chuxia: "..."
Li Chuxia pursed her lips, feeling both angry and annoyed.
She just asked two questions, and she felt she shouldn't have asked the second one; it was a waste of an opportunity.
Jian Tanxi patted her shoulder, silently comforting her.
At this moment, Huo Zimu said impatiently to Li Chuxia, "Li Chuxia, what did you just do? You wasted two opportunities to ask questions! You're a minor, don't try to show off in this kind of setting! We're all older than you, and we've experienced more than you. Do you think we wouldn't have thought of the questions you asked? But we felt we shouldn't have asked those questions, and it was you who asked two stupid ones..."
Li Chuxia lowered her head, her face showing even more regret.
Jian Tanxi retorted, "Mr. Huo, you're mistaken. Chu Xia's question is clearly very useful. At least now we know there's definitely a way for everyone to clear the level. That reduces the possibility of infighting. And everyone will have more confidence."
As for the second question, what if we just ask the clown for food, and he actually gives it to us? Then wouldn't we have an easier way to get through this? How will we know if we don't ask? Before asking, who can guarantee he'll refuse?
Huo Zimu snorted, his eyes full of disapproval.
Qin Man said, "I don't blame Li Chuxia. I think she should have asked those two questions. I was very worried that my child wouldn't survive. Now that there's a way for everyone to pass the level, I'll try my best to find a solution. At least there's a glimmer of hope. Chuxia, thank you."
The unease and shame on Li Chuxia's face lessened considerably, and she looked at Qin Man happily: "Sister Qin, thank you for your understanding."
Auto mechanic Zhang Dayong also said, "I think Li Chuxia's two questions were correct and very skillful. I don't blame her. Besides, didn't she have two more opportunities to ask questions?"
Seeing that everyone else was standing with Li Chuxia, and that the two remaining silent were Qu Chen, an autistic child who couldn't speak, and Professor Pan Xian, who was unconscious and unable to speak, Huo Zimu felt isolated. He stopped criticizing Li Chuxia and instead glared at everyone with resentment.
But he doesn't even consider why others are isolating him.
No one paid any attention to his unfriendly gaze; in fact, they looked down on him.
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