18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 234

Dealing with a wise and clear-headed person was always a breeze.

Stella was in high spirits as she returned to Building 5 after bidding goodbye.

Mark's house was out of salt, so he took an iron pot and toasted sea salt for half an hour before soaking it in warm water for a drink.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried, but knowing that the salt was from Jasper and Stella, he felt more assured than if he'd gotten it from elsewhere.

In his recent excursions, he'd seen a lot of salt, but none compared to the purity and crystallization of what Jasper and Stella had given him, which was free from impurities.

After consuming it for three days, his fatigue had significantly improved. Overjoyed, he turned on the walkie-talkie to contact them, hoping to purchase more.

"Mark, they don't have much either. They originally wanted to exchange a pound of salt for 12 pounds of sweet potatoes. Jasper bargained with them and even offered to owe them a favor before they finally agreed to compromise. We can only get a few hundred pounds at most."

Stella, being a woman of action, took charge. "I'll do my best to negotiate for you. If we go by 3 pounds per person, it should be manageable. The price will be set according to market rates, a pound of salt for 10 pounds of sweet potatoes. We can't go any lower."

Mark knew that there was a limit to how much you could ask of someone, so he gratefully accepted her offer. "Alright, I'll leave it to you."

Being able to secure over 500 pounds of salt made him ecstatic. Truly, Stella and Jasper had ways.

Mark felt a bit embarrassed, but for the sake of the residents of Eastwood Eden, he couldn't afford to be shy. "And one more thing, Stella. What about the seeds?"

"We have corn and vegetable seeds. We might be able to gather a few pounds, but given how long it's been since the disaster, we can't guarantee their germination rate."

Mark understood. Old seeds had a low germination rate. He was grateful to have seeds at all and promptly agreed to take them.

He was honest about the availability of the goods, openly announcing the news and accepting registration from residents.

Upon learning that they could get salt, the residents were extremely enthusiastic. Some even enlisted their children's names in order to buy more. There was no helping it. The lack of salt was unbearable.

Families with many members could hoard over ten pounds of salt, which, if rationed carefully, could last several years.

While there was a flurry of activity, Stella was equally busy. The seeds from Arcadia were too fresh to fool Mark. Jasper added some dust and mixed it in, rubbing it repeatedly until it looked old and worn.

On the day of the trade, the duo drove back from the outside, bringing back the salt and seeds in exchange for thousands of pounds of sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes grown in extreme heat were not of the best quality, but they weren't planning on eating them. They would be traded when the need arose.

As the residents came to collect their salt, Mark patiently explained how to toast it, ensuring everyone got some.

With the arrival of the third rainfall, the government finally announced a detailed plan for the new city. Construction wasn't a problem. The real issue was the severe shortage of materials.

The government had appropriated materials from Steel World and other construction material factories and stores. However, these supplies were far from enough to build the new city.

In these pressing times, they had to mobilize the power of the masses. Everyone had a role to play in building a better home.

If materials were needed, they could be found, even in the ruins.

The government had a detailed 30-page plan where each type of material had a corresponding point value, with different points for new and old materials. It would take days to go over the entire list.