America: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 3 - : Receiving Initial Supplies

Walking along, stopping occasionally, Allen Zhang was learning more street survival tips from Dominic.

Before they knew it, they arrived near the Bari food truck on Maki Street, seeing a long line of people waiting.

Dominic was sharing his two and a half years of experience roughing it on the West Coast.

"See, Allen? If you're gonna get relief food, you better go where the crowd is thick 'cause it tastes better. In those quiet places, the bread's hard, the drinks are astringent, and the chicken's like cardboard—it's downright inedible! I even suspect they're just dumping their inventory waste, making it to feed us hobos."

No need to doubt, buddy.

It's enough for a bum not to starve.

Do we really have the liberty to be picky?

Within the United States, the deal's set. Even the taxpayers' soda is sweetened with lead, let alone us, the scrap heap of society.

They haven't dosed your drink with chemicals to snip your fertility, increased your chances of getting heart disease or cancer by 200%, or caused you to suddenly cough up blood and drop dead while walking down the street—and that's decent of them!

Be grateful for the magnanimity of our dear councilmen while we can still catch our breath on the streets.

[Urban Street Survival lv.1 (Common): The comprehensive street survival skills and scavenging techniques that a hobo needs to master to avoid trouble. Mastery of these life skills affects the focus of intelligence gathering.]

"Man, I already smell the beef. It might just be some zombie flesh that's been in a freezer too long, but who cares—as long as it fills the belly."

Allen Zhang smiled optimistically, not one to be picky with food.

Generally, as long as it wasn't so awful he couldn't swallow it, he could deal.

Could it possibly taste worse than boiled chicken breast?

I don't buy it!

I can chomp down on bitter melon, black garlic, and century eggs without batting an eye; can't I handle a tad of hardship from across the ocean?

Those who haven't really starved can't fathom the desperation of shaking and shivering from hunger at night, feeling like you could eat anything; it might also be because his blood sugar was a bit low at the time.

It's come to this; just eat whatever's given. At least being taken care of means not starving to death.

After all, without money or status, you don't get good food in any country.

"Bari's food truck is a charity vehicle funded by a top-500 global food corporation headquartered in California. It shows up at many homeless camps in California and the food is fairly decent. They sometimes distribute daily hygiene items too."

Dominic offered his two cents.

The Bari food truck's relief meals were endorsed by the hobos of Fifth Street in Los Angeles.

A heavyweight welfare spot you could rate four and a half stars out of five.

The drawback being the unpredictable times of aid, without prior notice, and the crowds too massive to queue up for the better goods.

After two and a half years of scavenging in the streets, Dominic had only eaten Bari's food truck meals a few dozen times.

He'd received a few towels, some thermal cups, and a pack of low-grade, off-brand "cigarettes."

He then sold them straightaway—after all, there were plenty of Black guys on the streets who wanted them.

After half an hour's wait, Allen Zhang had successfully received his meal.

Beef spaghetti, a box of freshly squeezed juice with a straw, and a frozen fruit platter.

Allen gave a thumbs-up to Black, the man handing out the meals, said a word of thanks, and received a smile and good wishes in return.

When Black asked where he was from, Allen firmly replied:

"I come from Japan!!"

"Germany? Good! Very very good!!"

It was as if the man had bad hearing; despite Allen telling him he was from Japan, he heard it as Germany.

He even believed it and, stuttering in broken German, said, "Ich mag deutsche Schönheiten!!" (I like German beauties!!)

Damn.

What do I care whether you like German girls or not.

I don't like them anyway.

After randomly picking a spot on the street, Allen Zhang took a seat on the curb to savor the Bali relief meal and nodded in agreement, "Tastes pretty good."

So it turns out "Freshly Squeezed" is actually the name and brand.

The chilled fruit platter, it turns out, consists of fruit chunks and ice cubes in a plastic bag.

It only came with a white foam tray and a plastic fork as extras.

The fruit even has a bit of a tooth-exploding crunch to it.

No wonder Bali's food cart could appear in the E-class information of the "Daily Intelligence."

The food is quite healthy, and the quality is high.

Of course, saying it tastes good is just in comparison to other relief meals – at the very least, it's nutritious and won't kill you.

Bali Food Company donates goods to the homeless, which not only allows it to get tax deductions but also handles unsellable inventory of so-called 'zombie meat', earning a good reputation and greatly boosting sales. Why the hell not?

He quickly finished the beef pasta, downed the freshly squeezed juice, and proudly stuffed a piece of mango into his mouth with the fork; nutritionally balanced and full of energy.

Dominic also tossed his trash into the bin and asked, "Allen, do you want to come with me to get some daily essentials? I know of a very reliable shelter, and the staff on duty there is my friend. We're close, and I often ask for her help."

"Of course."

Allen Zhang readily agreed; he was in need of everything right now.

Following behind the guy like a newbie being led by a pro through challenges and levelling up.

After a series of twists and turns, they arrived at the back alley of the Green Word Shelter. Dominic first sent a text message on his phone and, after waiting for two minutes, knocked on the door.

The blue metal door was opened from the inside, revealing a tall, Slavic beauty in her thirties stepping out.

Seeing Dominic's handsome face, she too revealed a friendly smile.

"Hey, Dominic, haven't seen you for several days, what have you been busy with lately?"

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"Hello, Rena, same old, not much has changed. This is my friend Alan; he just got here today and wasn't able to get relief supplies in time. Could you please help him get some personal items and used clothes? And I'll need a bottle of water myself."

It turns out that as long as you're good-looking and eloquent, you're bound to have a good rapport with the opposite sex.

Rena's attention was mostly on Dominic, this high-level street charmer, and after only a quick glance at Allen Zhang that was briefly captured by his figure, she nodded and shifted her focus.

"Of course, sweetheart. Tell your friend to wait here for a moment, will you?"

She turned and went back into the shelter.

Dominic, feeling Allen Zhang's meaningful gaze, immediately explained, "Rena is a very good friend of mine. She's married, but due to relationship issues, she divorced a few years ago. She's a kind person, compassionate, living alone, and runs a car wash. She's independent and strong, and even pays her ex-husband alimony each month."

"But due to the economic recession, market industries have been impacted, a lot of companies have gone bankrupt and closed, and she had to shut down her car wash as she couldn't afford the high rent anymore. She found a relatively stable job at the shelter and lives here too."

"I sometimes spend the night here, you know, it's very cold in winter; staying out overnight could freeze you to death. Rena's place has hot water, the staff rest room on the upper floor has partitioned beds, and there are some old heating devices."

"I get it, dude, you don't have to explain so much to me," Allen Zhang immediately replied.

Keeping a tight-lipped, I'm-not-going-to-talk-all-over-town sort of strict demeanor.

With looks like yours, it would be surprising if your luck with women wasn't good.

Before long, Rena came out with some items in hand.

Allen Zhang received a large 2.5-liter bottle of wall-hanging water, a black backpack, and inside there were portable bottles of toiletries like towels, shower gel, shampoo, and skin lotion.

He even saw a few blue umbrellas.

Hidden perks – the street bum starter kit for newbies.