NOVEL SIMPLE CHAPTER 64
Chapter 64: A Time for Repairs
Free attribute points were a valuable asset, offering flexibility and the ability to address weaknesses. The Resistance Stance, a source of these precious points, was a true gem, rewarding Lu Ming with a generous 1 or 2 points per level, unlike other skills that offered a measly 0.1 or 0.2.
Eager to reap the rewards, Lu Ming practiced the Resistance Stance relentlessly until a gnawing hunger forced him to stop. It was already 9 p.m., and Zhao Yongchun and Zhao Honglei, who had been training alongside him without a break, were equally famished.
They had been impressed by Lu Ming's rapid progress but were also relieved when he finally called it a night. After expressing his gratitude to the Zhao father and son, Lu Ming returned home to prepare a late dinner.
By the time he finished eating and cleaning up, it was past 11 p.m. Exhausted but unable to rest, Lu Ming forced himself to take inventory of his supplies. The sight of the cracked walls, however, dampened his mood.
"I must fix it," he muttered as he drifted off to sleep. "It must be fixed."
The following day, Lu Ming awoke at his usual time of 6 a.m. After completing his morning routine of exercise and breakfast, he sought out Li Zitong.
"If you have the time, could you help me fix my house?" he asked. The damage from the zombie wave had left his home drafty and uncomfortable, a constant reminder of the gathering place's vulnerability.
Li Zitong readily agreed. Brother Lu's needs were paramount in the Guangping Street gathering place.
"Let's start now," Lu Ming urged.
The afternoon's skill training session was replaced with a house repair project. A crowd gathered to watch as Lu Ming and Li Zitong surveyed the damage. Lu Ming couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at the sight of his once-impregnable fortress now marred with cracks and holes.
"So, Brother Lu," Li Zitong asked, "how do you want to fix it?"
"Just patch up the cracked areas," Lu Ming replied.
Zhang Lixin, who had joined the gathering, interjected, "I have a better idea, Brother Lu."
Zhang Lixin, ever the architect, saw an opportunity. "Brother Lu," he suggested, "since you're already repairing your house, why not go all out? We could expand it, make it even more secure. If you have any specific ideas or requirements, let us know, and we'll work on it together."
Lu Ming considered the suggestion, intrigued by the possibilities. But a crucial question remained. "Can you guys handle the plumbing and electrical work?" he asked.
Zhang Lixin's smile faltered. The water and electricity had miraculously remained functional since the apocalypse, a blessing for the survivors. However, a major renovation like the one he proposed would inevitably raise the issue of utility connections, something he wasn't equipped to handle.
After inquiring amongst the crowd, Zhang Lixin shook his head in disappointment. "No one in our gathering place has that kind of expertise," he admitted. It seemed a major renovation was out of the question.
"But we could definitely set up an outdoor kitchen," Zhang Chengcheng interjected, her eyes twinkling.
Lu Ming turned to her, and she continued with a smile, "Brother Lu, cooking for yourself must be time-consuming, right?"
Lu Ming nodded. As his appetite grew and his meals became more elaborate, cooking had indeed become a chore. Yet, he couldn't entrust this task to anyone else. He wouldn’t allow anyone into his house, nor did he want to eat communal meals.
Zhang Chengcheng had a solution. "We could set up an outdoor kitchen using gas cylinders instead of relying on the natural gas pipeline. We could also find someone to help you with the cooking. That would save you a lot of time."
Lu Ming was conflicted. The time-saving aspect was appealing, but the thought of someone else preparing his food… he couldn’t trust just anyone. What if they tried to poison him?
Zhang Chengcheng, sensing his hesitation, offered a solution. "I don’t have much to do these days," she said, "so I could cook for you. I’m quite a good cook."
The idea of Zhang Chengcheng cooking for him put Lu Ming at ease. After all, he owed her a great deal for her help in his training. He wasn’t worried about her poisoning his food.
But still, he felt hesitant. "I can't ask you to do that," he protested. "You already help me with my training. It would be too much of a favor."
Zhang Chengcheng chuckled. "Brother Lu, why are you being so formal? How about you take care of my meals from now on? We'll call it even."
Lu Ming readily agreed. "Deal!"
With that, the matter was settled. However, Lu Ming didn’t notice the knowing glances exchanged amongst the others. Zhang Chengcheng was subtly maneuvering closer to Lu Ming, weaving her way into his life.
The unspoken exchange between Zhang Chengcheng and the others didn’t escape Lu Ming’s notice, but he wasn’t bothered. He was content with the arrangement, knowing that his relationship with Zhang Chengcheng was built on mutual respect and trust.
With the plan in place, they set to work. Li Zitong's earth manipulation proved invaluable for the repairs. He not only reinforced the damaged walls of Lu Ming's house but also constructed an outdoor kitchen and dining area nearby, a dedicated space for Lu Ming and Zhang Chengcheng to enjoy their meals.
While some might have viewed this as preferential treatment, Lu Ming didn’t care. He was using his own resources for his meals, and having a separate kitchen was a matter of practicality, not privilege.
Within two hours, the repairs were complete. After thanking Li Zitong, the others dispersed, leaving Lu Ming, Zhang Chengcheng, and Zhao Yongchun alone.
"Will you continue training this afternoon?" Zhao Yongchun inquired.
Lu Ming nodded. "It's only three o'clock. I can train for another two hours."
Zhao Yongchun couldn’t help but admire Lu Ming’s dedication. Despite his already formidable strength, he continued to train tirelessly. It was no wonder he was so exceptional—a combination of hard work and natural talent.
Zhang Chengcheng, too, was filled with admiration. "I’ll start preparing dinner then," she said with a smile.
"Thank you, Chengcheng," Lu Ming replied, his gratitude sincere.
The afternoon training session focused on spear techniques. Under Zhao Yongchun’s expert guidance, Lu Ming’s skills improved rapidly. By dinnertime, he had reached Level 3 in Basic Spearmanship (35/300), and his attributes had increased once again.
Lu Ming’s updated attributes were now:
Name: Lu Ming
Age: 25
Strength: 86.2
Physique: 86.9
Agility: 108.6
Free Attribute Points: 1
[Skills]
- Fitness: Lv2 (1150/1200)
- Slingshot: Lv21 (1081/2100)
- Archery: Lv15 (788/1500)
- Gun Shooting: Lv5 (45/500)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat: Lv20 (259/2000)
- Cold Weapon Combat: Lv10 (621/1000)
- Basic Spearmanship: Lv3 (35/300)
- Throwing: Lv6 (152/600)
- Resistance Stance: Lv1 (32/100)
After enjoying a delicious meal prepared by Zhang Chengcheng, Lu Ming rested briefly before resuming his practice of the Resistance Stance. Every exercise, every bead of sweat, brought him closer to his goals. He had no reason to slack off now.
End of Chapter 64