Chapter 88: The Elder Cull
Su Chen burning down the Green Forest Hotel didn't bother Gao Qiqiang much.
After all, he had just taken over Song Linfei's hotel—relocating wasn't a problem.
The real issue was the massive stockpile of supplies that had been stored in the Green Forest Hotel.
Whether those materials were taken by Su Chen or reduced to ashes, it was a tremendous loss for Gao Qiqiang.
"Boss Gao, please don't be angry. Song Linfei's place still has plenty of supplies," Zhao Xiong quickly offered some comfort.
Only then did Gao Qiqiang's face ease a little.
Luckily, by swallowing up Song Linfei's team, they had acquired a large stockpile of resources. Otherwise, with their home base gone and no supplies left, they wouldn't survive the coming extreme cold.
"Boss Gao, we've finished inventorying the people and the supplies," Lao Xu ran over, notebook in hand, to report the details.
Gao Qiqiang wasn't overly concerned about clothing or heating materials—what he cared about most was food.
Song Linfei's team had over ninety people, and their stockpile of food could have lasted them nearly two months.
But Gao Qiqiang had nearly a hundred people on his own team.
Now that the two groups had merged, the total headcount was nearing two hundred. The previously sufficient food was now only enough for a month.
That was a serious problem.
Gazing out at the icy wilderness, Gao Qiqiang's face darkened.
If not for that bastard Su Chen, this wouldn't have been a concern so soon. After merging with Song Linfei's team, they could've at least coasted for a while.
"Boss Gao, I've got a suggestion," Ah Biao leaned in, clearly sensing Gao Qiqiang's frustration. In a low voice, he said,
"There are quite a few old fogies in Song Linfei's group. Keeping them around is just wasting food. So why not…"
A brutal glint flashed in his eyes as he made a slicing gesture with his hand.
"That... doesn't feel right. A lot of them are someone's family, after all," Gao Qiqiang hesitated.
"Then take them and their families out," Ah Biao said coldly."Boss Gao, you've just taken over their team. If you want them to submit, you'll need to show overwhelming force."
"Fine. Let's do it your way," Gao Qiqiang finally nodded after a moment's thought.
Killing off the elderly and their families would both save a huge amount of food and send a strong warning to the rest.
"We'll strip off their clothes and throw them out into the snow. Won't take long for them to freeze to death," Ah Biao added with chilling detachment.
"Huh? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill them directly?" Gao Qiqiang asked, a little puzzled.
"This blizzard might last longer than the previous heat waves and rainstorms. Who knows when it'll end?" Ah Biao said."Our remaining food won't last forever. What happens when it runs out?"
"You mean…" Gao Qiqiang's heart skipped a beat as he grasped what Ah Biao was implying.
In this freezing weather, the outdoors was like a natural freezer. If those people were left to die in the snow, their corpses wouldn't rot.
And if food really did run out… they could be used as emergency rations.
A cold chill crept down Gao Qiqiang's spine. He swallowed hard.
He'd killed people before, but eating human flesh? Even he hadn't sunk that low.
Ah Biao, this guy was downright inhuman.
They hadn't even run out of food yet, and he was already thinking of cannibalism.
Now that he thought about it, that three-wheeled cart Ah Biao had when they met... it must've been carrying human meat.
Ah Biao seemed to sense Gao Qiqiang's thoughts and quickly added,"Boss Gao, this is just a precaution. Just in case, you know?""After all, survival is what matters most in the apocalypse."
Those final words struck a chord in Gao Qiqiang.
He was right.
If you couldn't even survive, then what use were morals?
It wasn't like cannibalism hadn't occurred in Chinese history.
"You handle it," Gao Qiqiang finally said with a nod.
The night passed quietly.
Early the next morning, Zhou Shixian was summoned by Gao Qiqiang.
Though he was still upset about not finding Lin Yingying, he remained respectful in front of Gao Qiqiang. After all, the man held his life in his hands now.
"Boss Gao!"
"I called you here to assign a task," Gao Qiqiang said casually, slurping up instant noodles.
"There are too many old fogies in your team. Keeping them is a waste of food."
"I plan to strip them of their clothes and toss them out into the snow."
Zhou Shixian's smile froze instantly.
"What… what do you mean by that, Boss Gao?"
"You promised us you'd treat our people well!"
"That was then, this is now!" Gao Qiqiang snapped, putting down his noodles."You want someone to blame? Blame that bastard Su Chen for burning down Green Forest Hotel!"
Zhou Shixian tried to speak up again, but Ah Biao placed a hand on his shoulder and said calmly,"Brother Zhou, don't make trouble for yourself."
Zhou Shixian caved immediately, heart sinking in despair.
"Fine… I'll follow Boss Gao's orders."
"Now that's more like it." Gao Qiqiang's tone softened, his face breaking into a smile.
"Have the remaining young men from your team handle the job. If they want to live, they better earn it."
Zhou Shixian understood all too well—this was Gao Qiqiang's way of forcing them to offer a show of loyalty.
He had no choice but to obey.
Once the survivors from Song Linfei's team learned of Gao Qiqiang's plan, they erupted in outrage.
They never imagined surrendering would result in this!
Had they known, they'd have fought to the death with Song Linfei.
But it was too late for regrets.
Disarmed and bound, they were powerless to resist.
Under the threat of death, many still chose to bow their heads.
Of the original 90+ people, more than 20 elderly were marked for execution.
About half of the remaining group chose to resist and were taken away.
Those who surrendered—led by Zhou Shixian—stripped the elderly and their family members, then dragged them out into the snow.
"Zhou Shixian, you bastard!"
"You'll die a horrible death!"
"Captain Song was good to you, and this is how you repay him?!"
"I'll haunt you even in death!"
But in subzero temperatures, standing naked in the snow, it didn't take long for the screams and curses to fade.
Within twenty minutes, every one of them had frozen to death.