novelraw Chapter 177 130: Soaked by the Rain, Grown Stronger!
Chapter 177 130: Soaked by the Rain, Grown Stronger!
"That's right, haste makes waste. We'll wait for the rain to stop, and for the water to recede a bit before it's convenient for us to set out!"
Zhang Su made up his mind.
Even if the rain stops, it won't be easy to travel. Driving through close to half a meter of water means no control, and if an emergency arises, speeding up would be difficult, not to mention turning corners!
The road ahead is full of unknowns, with dangers lurking all around; staying put is the best strategy!
As if the heavens heard Zhang Su, the rain weakened rapidly, and within seconds, it completely ceased.
The sky was still gloomy and dark, but there were no raindrops hitting the windshield, only streams of water flowing on the road.
"Notify them!"
Zhang Su opened the car window and breathed in the refreshing post-rain air, feeling invigorated. He reached out and gestured to the drivers behind, and soon saw a few heads poking out.
"Brother Su, are we moving?"
Lu Yubo, driving the Prado right behind, asked in a voice devoid of tension, instead showing a hint of excitement, as the half-meter water level posed no problem for his Prado—it's the perfect time for a spirited drive.
But Zhang Su's single sentence doused his enthusiasm.
"No, we'll wait until the water recedes a bit before setting out! Everyone should stay active in their vehicles; we're looking at spending the night here, and I'll address night watch arrangements soon!"
"Ah..." Lu Yubo let out a frustrated groan, reluctantly shuffling back into his seat and lighting a cigarette, conveying Zhang Su's decision to Chen Hanzhou beside him.
Chen Hanzhou still maintained his quiet demeanor, but over the past days, he'd learned to smoke, joining Lu Yubo in lighting up a cigarette, a means of emotional release during the apocalypse.
The original driver of the Benz G-Class was Zhao Dezhu, but after the fiasco of driving into a greenbelt, he was dismissed, and now Zhao Xue was driving with Wu Lue in the passenger seat for support.
Upon hearing Zhang Su's remark, Zhao Xue and Wu Lue had no objections; staying put was exactly what they hoped for—the risk of driving through water was too great, uncertain when a car might malfunction.
The people aboard the Fukner Meifu had no issues either, as their environment was comfortable, supplies ample, and safety ensured at least for the moment, with no psychological burden.
The group in the trailing Tiguan relaxed as well; they'd been whispering worriedly in their car, fearing Zhang Su's group might forge ahead to the city despite the water level, but now Xiaohe could rest assured.
"Tao, Liu, what do you think of these folks?"
The tall man in the Tiguan's driver's seat asked the other two.
Glasses-wearing Liu Tianji blurted out, "A phenomenal survivor team, far more reliable than any we've encountered before!"
Zhou Litao nodded, muttering, "If I'm not mistaken, the lead driver's probably the leader of this group—so fierce, even catching his eye chills you to the bone, he's definitely had lives on his hands!"
"That's just absurd! With such a formidable setup, I'm sure they've been alright, but survival doesn't come easy. Liu Tianji scoffed at Zhou Litao's remark.
"Hey, hey, what do you think, if we ask to join them, would they agree?"
Driver Wang Xin pondered aloud.
"Join them? Does that mean we're canceling our plan?"
Zhou Litao asked in confusion.
"We don't even know how Boss Wu's place is now. Even if no one's taken over, it'll be tough for just the three of us to start from scratch. Teaming up with them seems pretty decent." Wang Xin expressed thoughtfully.
Liu Tianji handed out cigarettes to the others, saying, "Exactly, plans are adjustable, and when a better option presents itself, why not change?"
"But joining their team means we won't have much say, and we'll have to follow their lead, which isn't very comfortable. Think it through!"
Zhou Litao pursed his lips, apparently not keen on being constrained.
Wang Xin looked at Zhou Litao with surprise: "Tao, stop thinking you're some kind of leader! The priority should be whether they'll accept us now!"
Zhou Litao wasn't ruffled by Wang Xin's sarcasm and shrugged, saying, "We're three big men who can surely contribute labor—how could they possibly turn us away?"
"Hmph." Liu Tianji snorted, "Don't be so confident. Not just the men in that team, but even the women seem quite capable. Haven't you noticed? They never part from their weapons even in the car!"
"Really? I even saw a woman playing with a dog in there! We're at the zombie apocalypse, how can anyone be in the mood to fool around with pets, how capable is that..." Zhou Litao doubted Liu Tianji's words.
If Zheng Xinyu and Good Fortune heard that comment, they'd probably both explode on the spot, and Zhou Litao wouldn't stand a chance.
"Think about it from a different angle—if they can protect even their dog, isn't that capabilities?" Wang Xin said seriously, "In short, if we want to join them, we must show some skills."
"Indeed, we need to seize opportunities to demonstrate! No survivor team would keep slackers." Liu Tianji wholeheartedly agreed with Wang Xin's words, admiring strength is fine, but must also have one's own abilities!
Only Zhou Litao raised his eyebrows without commenting...
Despite Zhang Su's acute hearing, the thirty-meter distance and the well-insulated car cabin prevented him from perceiving the Tiguan trio's conversation, as Zhao Dezhu was chatting away with him, making even Lu Yubo and Chen Hanzhou's dialogues somewhat indistinct.