Starvation is prohibited (3)
The clown said, "If you don't have any more questions, the game continues. There are two questions left, and you can ask them at any time during the game. Oh, and one more thing: if someone dies, the remaining players will never be able to leave the game instance."
Auto mechanic Zhang Dayong asked instinctively, "What does this mean?"
The clown grinned at him: "This is the fourth question. I mean, if someone dies during the game, the rest of the people will be trapped here forever and unable to return to the real world. So, everyone has to complete this game."
Don't even think about killing your teammates, because the moment you do, your own tragic end is sealed. Finally, I wish you all a pleasant gaming experience.
After saying that, the clown paper gradually faded away and disappeared into the air.
After hearing the clown's words, everyone was stunned for a long time, unsure whether to feel relieved or worried.
Fortunately, these game rules can limit players' malicious intent to the greatest extent possible.
The worry is that this game is almost impossible to complete. Therefore, each person can only live for a few days at most. In this situation, to make the most of their last few days, people might still fight over food, even if they manage to get some, it will be a drop in the ocean.
Therefore, it is impossible to completely suppress the player's urge to kill.
After all, killing someone ensures that he can have enough to eat for the last few days of his life. Although there's no future in it, at least he can live well in the present.
Jian Tanxi felt that they should first determine a food distribution plan to at least get through these two days.
So Jian Tanxi said to everyone, "Everyone, one steamed bun and one cup of water won't last 10 days. I suggest we divide the steamed bun in half, eat one half today and the other half tomorrow. We'll figure out what to do on the third day. As for the water, you can take a small sip when you're really thirsty, but try not to drink it at other times."
Also, from now on, we should try to lie on the ground as much as possible, without talking or moving, to reduce physical exertion.
Huo Zimu asked, "Why not divide the steamed buns into ten equal portions?"
Jian Tanxi: "Dividing it into 10 portions is too small. Each portion would be further divided into six equal parts, and eating it would be like not eating anything at all. When everyone is extremely hungry, some extreme situations could easily occur. That's why I suggested dividing the steamed buns in half. This way, we won't go to our limit of hunger for the next two days, and we can still control ourselves."
Li Chuxia said, "And the most crucial point is: it's summer now. Although we don't know what the natural environment is like here, we can reasonably assume that food won't keep for very long. If we don't eat this steamed bun in the next two days, it might spoil on the third day. If we eat it then, we'll get food poisoning and could die on the spot."
Jian Tanxi nodded: "Yes, I've had that in mind too."
Qin Man also said, "I agree with this method of distribution. First and foremost, we need to ensure the food is edible, so this steamed bun needs to be eaten as soon as possible. However, I have a concern. Adults can endure hunger, but children cannot. My child also has autism, and his behavior is uncontrollable. I estimate that in a little while, he will go berserk. So, I think..."
Qin Man hesitated for a moment, a look of reluctance on her face. Then, she looked at Zhang Dayong: "Zhang Dayong, could you please do me a favor? After we finish eating today's food, could you please help me knock my child unconscious... otherwise, I'm afraid he'll lose control."
Zhang Dayong hesitated, then asked, "Knock him out?"
Qin Man nodded: "Yes, that way we can at least keep quiet for a few hours. Once he goes berserk, I'll have to work hard to hold him back, which will take a lot of energy. Of all the people here, I think only you have the ability to knock this child unconscious without hurting his body."
Zhang Dayong also felt a little reluctant, but he knew this was the only way, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry, I know how to knock the child unconscious. I will try to be gentle."
Qin Man: "Thank you..."
At this moment, Huo Zimu said, "I can also help knock the child unconscious."
Qin Man held the child protectively in her arms and gave him a wary look: "No need, thank you, please stay away from us."
Huo Zimu was a little angry: "What do you mean? Are you afraid I'll beat him to death?"
Qin Man: "No. My child has a problem; he's afraid of extremely intelligent people. He can sense who is smarter than him, and when these people get close to him, he gets stressed and cries. So please don't go near him. I appreciate your kindness."
Huo Zimu: "So that's how it is."
He walked to the side, his face beaming with barely suppressed smugness.
Jian Tanxi and Li Chuxia tried their best to suppress their laughter, afraid that if they laughed out loud, they would offend Huo Zimu.
Li Chuxia said to Zhang Dayong, "Uncle Zhang, you are the oldest among the sane people, and we all trust you. Please help us distribute today's steamed buns."
Zhang Dayong nodded: "Okay, please wait a moment."
Zhang Dayong walked to the bedside, took out the steamed bun from under the pillow, and broke it in half.
Then, he put one half back in, took the other half, and divided it into six equal parts.
While it's described as average, there are actually some differences. After all, half a steamed bun is too small, and since it was cut manually, unevenness is inevitable.
Zhang Dayong kept the smallest portion for himself and handed the others to his companions.
Jian Tanxi asked Zhang Dayong with concern, "Uncle Zhang, you're the biggest, but you got the smallest share of food. Is that alright?"
Zhang Dayong laughed heartily: "Anyway, we're all starving, so a little more or less doesn't matter. Normally, if I eat freely, I can eat more than a dozen steamed buns in one meal. Now everyone is starving, but I'm pretty resistant to hunger, so it's fine."
Jian Tanxi was deeply moved.
But now is not the time for sentimentality; the most important thing is to try to survive and find a way to clear the game.
Jian Tanxi ate a small piece of steamed bun. She would have been better off not eating, as the more she ate, the hungrier she became. But now she had no choice but to endure it.
Qin Man gave her share of food to the child.
The others also finished their daily serving of steamed buns, and everyone tacitly refrained from drinking water.
The little boy, Qu Chen, was a bit restless. He touched Qin Man's pockets, then ran to other people and touched everyone's pockets.
Qin Man quickly pulled him back and apologized to everyone: "I'm sorry, Xiao Chen was too hungry. He probably wanted to see if any of you had any food."
Jian Tanxi and Li Chuxia both said, "It's okay."
Huo Zimu said impatiently, "Keep an eye on that idiot! Why would I have food on me? If I did, I would have taken it out and eaten it myself!"
Qin Man apologized to Huo Zimu again.
Then, she took the child and walked up to Zhang Dayong: "Zhang Dayong, please help me... knock this child unconscious."
Zhang Dayong looked at Qu Chen, raised his hand, but only patted his head and asked, "Xiao Chen, can you bear with us? There will be good food soon."
Qu Chen didn't understand; he was just rummaging through Zhang Dayong's pockets, looking for something to eat. He had forgotten that he had just gone through Zhang Dayong's pockets.
Qin Man said, "Xiao Chen's comprehension and patience are not yet at the level of an average child. He can't endure it... so, the only option is to knock him unconscious..."
Zhang Dayong finally made up his mind and patted Qu Chen on the back of the neck. Qu Chen immediately fainted and collapsed into Qin Man's arms.
Qin Man looked at the child with some heartache and laid the child flat on the ground.
She wanted to find something to cover the child's body, but it was summer and she didn't even have a coat.
Jian Tanxi was wearing a silk scarf. She took it off and handed it to Qin Man: "Sister Qin Man, use this silk scarf to cover his stomach. Although the scarf is a bit thin, it's better than nothing."
Qin Man thanked Jian Tanxi and covered the child with the silk scarf.
Huo Zimu was somewhat dismissive: "What time is it? Why are you still covering the child's stomach? Can he even survive until tomorrow?"
Zhang Dayong retorted angrily, "Huo Zimu, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!"
Huo Zimu got angry too: "Zhang Dayong, what gives you the right to insult me? You're just a car mechanic!"
Qin Man said, "Stop arguing, everyone lie down. The more you argue, the more energy you'll waste."
Qin Man, Jian Tanxi, Li Chuxia, and Zhang Dayong all prepared to lie down.
However, Huo Zimu objected: "This game is completely unfair! Only Professor Pan can survive to the end; he has that damned nutrient solution! I think we can cut off his flesh and eat it, since he's unconscious and can't feel anything!"
Li Chuxia stood up firmly: "No, no one can eat Professor Pan's flesh! He is a hero of China!"
Zhang Dayong also said, "Huo Zimu, things haven't come to that point yet, why say such things? If it really comes to that, then cut off my flesh, I have plenty of flesh on my body."
Jian Tanxi said, "I will not eat human flesh, Uncle Zhang. Don't even think about cutting your own flesh. Let's all rest quickly. Maybe if we calm down, we can think of a way to pass the level."
For now, the conflicts between everyone have not escalated yet, and we can still get along harmoniously for a while.
So everyone lay down. Apart from breathing, they tried to avoid making any unnecessary words or movements.
Jian Tanxi lay in a white mist, experiencing a strange mix of emotions—despair, sadness, confusion, worry, and a sense of relief.
Now, she truly understands what it means to live in the moment.
Everything familiar had vanished from her; there was nothing in this space, not even enough food.
She was forced to lie down, silent and still, her mind constantly racing. All she could focus on was her own breathing.
Life seems to be like that, coming from nothingness and returning to nothingness.
She heard some long, drawn-out breathing sounds; it seemed someone was already asleep.
Li Chuxia lay down next to her, then suddenly patted her hand and whispered, "Sister Tanxi, are you asleep?"
Jian Tanxi responded softly, "No."
Li Chuxia said, "I suddenly remembered a sentence."
Jian Tanxi asked, "Is it 'a vast expanse of white, truly clean'?" [Note 1]
"Yes, that's what I was thinking too. We're on the same page."
"How about we figure out how to beat the game? We can discuss it further once we have a better idea."
"Um."
Jian Tanxi could do nothing but breathe. So, she simply let go of all her thoughts.
Not long after, she fell asleep.
She was awakened by a crying sound some time later.
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