#230 - Chapter 230: Chamber of Commerce Branch Opening
"Huatong Chamber of Commerce Baisha Branch Grand Opening: Apply for a membership card on the spot, get 10 in return for every 10 spent, and receive 110 points for every 100 points recharged."
"Spend and get a chance to win a prize. Every 100 points earns you one chance to win a prize. Luxurious gifts await you."
… …
People flooded into the department store area on the first floor, and various marketing sounds rose one after another.
Everyone seemed to return to the feeling before the apocalypse.
The difference was that the scene in front of them was a bit discordant.
The department store area was very clean, and under the illumination of various lights, it appeared magnificent. However, the people shopping in the mall were disheveled and ragged. Due to long-term malnutrition, they generally looked sallow and emaciated.
"This cake smells so good! I wish I could eat one!"
"It's actually steamed buns! My goodness! There are actually steamed buns!"
At this moment, people were not very interested in other things. They all gathered in the food and beverage area.
Although they couldn't afford it, it was good to smell it! If they were lucky, it would be even better to pick up half a leftover bun that someone else couldn't finish.
The staple food area was already overcrowded, and the meat area was so crowded that there was no room to stand.
"Damn it! This is actually chicken! There's still chicken these days?" Someone was shocked.
"Braised pork! Stewed ribs! My God! I can't take it anymore. If I keep watching, I'm going to bite my tongue off!"
"That's immoral! They're actually grilling lamb skewers! Can't you be less cruel?"
"Slurp ~" Many people watched while violently sucking the saliva flowing from their mouths.
"Hello, everyone, welcome to the Huatong Chamber of Commerce. All goods in the Chamber of Commerce will be traded using membership cards. Customers who need to apply for a membership card, please go to the service desk for consultation," an advertisement sounded on the radio.
However, most people just pretended not to hear it.
They also wanted to apply for a membership card, but the problem was that they had nothing in their pockets. What could they use to apply? They could only watch.
"Good news, good news! In order to restore the normal living order of the Baisha Settlement as soon as possible, the headquarters has decided to provide small, interest-free points loans to residents of this settlement who are between 16 and 60 years old. Those who need it can go to the service desk for consultation," another broadcast sounded.
In order to ensure that everyone could hear it, these messages were played in a loop on the radio.
"What? Points loan?"
"Interest-free?"
"Let's go take a look!"
People who heard this news began to gather at the service desk.
There were already many staff members on standby in the service area. They gave detailed explanations to the people who came to inquire.
The amount of the small, interest-free points loan varied depending on individual circumstances. It was mainly based on several aspects such as age, education, and marital status.
People between the ages of 30 and 50, with education, and who were married could get the highest loan amount, reaching a terrifying amount of 300,000 points.
In other cases, the amount decreased in turn, but the minimum was also 100 points.
After understanding the details, most people chose to apply.
Survive first, and consider the rest later.
Several staff members were operating at the counter at the same time, so the speed of processing membership cards was also very fast.
People who received their membership cards rushed into the food and beverage area without thinking.
Fill their stomachs first!
If everyone just watched, no one would be able to eat, and everyone wouldn't have any thoughts.
But now, more and more people were holding bowls, grabbing skewers, and eating with greasy mouths, which was unacceptable. Who could stand just watching?
Under this stimulation, more and more people flocked to the service area, vying to apply for membership cards.
As for whether there would be pitfalls or whether they would be deceived, no one cared. Anyway, everyone was applying, so they wouldn't be the only ones suffering.
Basically, this wave of small, interest-free loans emptied the settlement members' accounts.
However, the headquarters didn't care at all.
These points had to be circulated.
When people had points in their hands, they had the prerequisite for releasing productivity. In the process of circulation, the value of the points would be created, the settlement's tax revenue could be raised, and the market could be activated.
Compared with the crowds at the Huatong Chamber of Commerce, the Mercenary Guild seemed a bit deserted.
The person in charge of the guild was not worried and just waited.
People borrowed points from the headquarters, so they had to pay them back, right? To pay them back, they had to find something to do. At this time, the Mercenary Guild's business would become busy.
The situation in the Baisha Settlement was still good.
After all, combat equipment had already been popularized among security team members, so people were not unfamiliar with it. Therefore, intermittently, many people came to the Mercenary Guild to browse.
It's just that no one dared to rent the guild's weapons and equipment. They also didn't know what they could rent them for.
The situation in other settlements was not so good.
In some settlements, a morning had passed, and very few people had visited the Chamber of Commerce.
However, this situation had completely changed by noon.
People who went to visit first ate and drank their fill inside, and then spread the news everywhere. People around them saw the steamed buns and sesame cakes that the people spreading the news were carrying, and one by one couldn't help but head to the Chamber of Commerce.
One person told ten, and ten told a hundred. Under the lure of delicious food, in a few hours, the traffic to the Chamber of Commerce reached an exaggerated level.
