Chapter 2: Dirty Thing
In the golden light of the setting sun, Lin and Peter stood facing each other on the farm. Lin, with a tone of cautious optimism, broke the silence. "Mr. Peter, your willingness to help is a golden opportunity. I'm confident that together, we'll reap significant profits in the future."
Peter responded with a hearty laugh, clearly in agreement. "Helping you is no trouble at all, Lin. But let's be clear - my interest rates are on the higher side, and I require solid collateral. You know my business methods."
Lin nodded, understanding the terms. "That's perfectly fine. I have a supermarket and two valuable real estate properties to offer as collateral."
Peter was already well aware of Lin's assets. The properties in question were located in prime areas, each worth a substantial sum. And the supermarket, situated conveniently close to residential zones, was a profitable venture in itself.
"How about this, Lin? I lend you eighty million dollars against these assets," Peter proposed.
Lin agreed without hesitation, recognizing the potential of the deal.
Peter, internally celebrating this lucrative arrangement, instructed Lin to formalize the agreement. "Alright then, Lin, I'll need an IOU from you, complete with your handprint, and the property documents."
"Okay," Lin complied, understanding the necessity of these formalities.
With this agreement, Lin managed to secure an eighty-million-dollar loan, on top of the two hundred million dollars from the sale of his farm. Peter left the farm with the contracts and a sense of satisfaction, oblivious to the turn of events that awaited him.
Lin, after their departure, stood at the farm entrance, wiping his hands with a white towel. He gazed thoughtfully in the direction Peter had gone, pondering what the future might hold for the unsuspecting developer.
The farm's sale marked a significant change in Lin's life. He began preparing for the next phase, planning to clear out the farm and then restock supplies at his supermarket. The supermarket housed not only raw meat but also essential items like clothes, towels, soap, and detergents. Despite his transformation into a zombie, Lin retained human reasoning and some habits from his previous life, such as his penchant for cleanliness.
His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. The message was from Linda, the popular girl at university, known for her pure and sweet demeanor. Despite Lin's orphan background and his tendency towards solitude, they had developed a romantic relationship.
Linda's message was light-hearted, asking about her upcoming birthday present. Lin responded coolly, his reply betraying none of the coldness in his eyes.
In his previous life, Lin, despite being a zombie, had braved a horde of zombies to bring food to Linda during a crisis. Yet, upon his arrival, he found her with others, and they brutally ended his life upon discovering his true nature. This betrayal left a deep scar on Lin, fueling his determination to act differently in this reborn life.
After responding to Linda, Lin focused on packing up the farm. He meticulously gathered generators, solar panels, an excavator, and even sentimental items, storing them in his special space. Among these was a photograph from his orphanage days, a reminder of his childhood and his friendship with Loy, a girl with her own troubled past.
Once everything was packed, Lin rode to his supermarket. There, the hustle and bustle of loaders and unloaders signaled the arrival of new supplies. Susan, the supermarket's warehouse manager and a college student working part-time, approached Lin with the purchase bill, her face showing signs of fatigue.
"Good work," Lin praised, noticing her tiredness. "It's getting late; you should head back and rest."
Susan, grateful but slightly confused, mentioned her class schedule for the next day. Lin, however, gently informed her that her services would no longer be needed, as he planned to temporarily close the supermarket. Despite her initial shock, Susan accepted Lin's decision, and he promised to compensate her generously for her dedication.
As Susan walked away, a mix of gratitude and sadness in her eyes, Lin turned his attention back to the task at hand. The supermarket's closure was just one of the many steps he was taking in preparation for the upcoming apocalypse, a future he was determined to face with all the resources and strategies at his disposal.