Being carried onto an ambulance at the start? But this is America!

Night fell as expected, and the city's neon lights flickered in the distance.

He had over a thousand US dollars in his pocket, a cart full of supplies for two days, and a tent camp behind him that was just big enough for him to settle down in.

Life is getting better.

"Walk,"

Li Ping carefully put away his wallet, patted his younger brother on the shoulder, and said, "Buy some things to take back to camp. The welcome party is about to start."

Thinking he was about to make a fortune, he went to Domino's again, which is a relatively large American fast food chain.

The two brothers were starving when they were first released, and the aroma inside made them even hungrier.

Now that I have money, I have to go on a spending spree.

After looking around, I bought three 14-inch large pizzas—Mexican sausage, Super Supreme, and a barbecue trio.

There are probably about ten people at the camp tonight. Three large pizzas, plus what the others have prepared, should be enough for them.

As newcomers, it's understandable that they went to freeload a meal empty-handed.

But Li Ping's inherent Shandong spirit and the confidence he had just gained from making a windfall made it impossible for him to swallow his pride.

The cashier handed over the bill: $9.99 each pizza, Los Angeles County sales tax 9.5%, total $32.97.

Li Ping, clutching the change he received, smiled at his younger brother and said, "Well, now we're proper American taxpayers too."

As for tips?

The two brothers glanced at the tip jar next to the cashier, then pushed their cart away expressionlessly.

What a joke! You're asking a homeless person scavenging for food in a trash can for a tip?

By the time we returned to the bridge cave camp, it was nearly dusk.

The campsite was bustling with activity.

With the help of Fletcher and Devon, old Tom built a simple but sturdy long dining table using an iron frame and a few planks.

There were already quite a few things on the table: piles of bags of cookies, potato chips, canned food, hamburgers, fries, bottled water, and several lunch boxes that looked like they were relief meals received today.

A typical homeless people's dining style.

Camilla returned early today and is currently tending a portable gas stove, with a large pot of stew bubbling away, its enticing aroma filling the camp.

According to her, the main ingredients are supermarket meat chunks, potatoes, and onions, and the main selling point is that it is a large portion that is filling and high in calories.

Veteran Mike was sorting and arranging various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with a silent black man.

The drinks were also a competition, with cheap fortified wines, commonly known as "poor man's wine" or "slum champagne."

Cheap whiskey with fancy labels, canned beer, and a few bottles of vodka that look like they're in barrels.

Mike's red nose and the smell of alcohol on him indicated that he was already in the zone.

Roland hasn't returned yet, but the camp is already brimming with a unique energy because of this rare gathering.

Everyone is very happy.

"Hey, Li Ping, Li Fan, you're back!"

Mike, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot them, and waved his bottle of liquor in greeting.

Although the three of them had met yesterday while drunk, the veteran's ability to make friends was clearly unaffected by his sobriety.

"Mike, you're sure to have a great time tonight!" Li Ping greeted him with a smile.

Mike, 55, a veteran of the Iraq War, had neatly groomed short silver hair and beard, but his eyes always carried a lingering emptiness and wariness.

Those are the marks left by PTSD and war trauma.

After returning to China, his marriage broke down, and his wife left with their child. Later, his alcoholism caused him to lose his warehouse management job. Unable to pay rent, he joined the ranks of the homeless three years ago.

However, he was considered an aristocrat among the vagrants.

They receive about $1,000 in subsidies each month, plus over $200 in food stamps.

As long as he doesn't pursue a respectable life or pay various bills, this money is enough for him to get drunk every day and occasionally help out the poor guys in the camp.

Old Tom once said that Mike was the most dashing vagrant in the entire camp.

"OMG, did you guys raid a relief warehouse?!"

Camilla turned around with a spatula in hand and saw the mountain of supplies piled up on Li Ping's cart, especially the three boxes of Domino's pizzas that were still steaming hot and a large bag of hot dogs. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Or did you secretly participate in the event? This is far too lavish!"

Her tone contained both surprise and a hint of disapproval, as if she thought, "Are you wasting money?"

But her eyes were already honestly fixed on the box of Mexican sausage pizza, which was her favorite.

"Haha, Camilla, Tom, Devon..."

Li Ping smiled and pushed the cart to the long table. "The pizza was bought by us, and everything else was picked up today according to the form, including these hot dogs, they're still warm!"

As he spoke, he deftly placed the pizza box and hot dog bag on the table, and then took out several bottles of Dr. Pepper soda and snacks from the cart.

"Hey buddy, stop for a second!"

Mike let out a burp, exhaling a strong smell of alcohol, and gestured to stop them, "There's enough food already. This area is reserved for the Water of Life!"

Li Ping readily agreed and pushed the still fully loaded cart to his tent and parked it properly.

"I also inquired about some jobs for you today, but they were terrible and only hiring one person each, so they're not suitable for you."

Camilla told Li Ping about helping him look for jobs.

The two are brothers and both are minors. Li Fan's English is very poor, so it's not suitable for them to work separately. It's best for them to work together.

"Today I've changed my mind; it seems being homeless isn't so bad!"

With an income of over a thousand US dollars, Li Ping suddenly became less eager to work illegally.

The presence of cards that could bring good fortune and ward off misfortune showed him the possibility of making money through these cards.

"You can go to Chinatown and see. Although the Chinese are not united, as long as they don't have bad habits, they can all make a living in Chinatown," Camilla suggested suddenly after thinking for a moment.

"That's a good idea, I'd also like to go and see it," Li Ping readily agreed.

Of course, he wasn't there to work; he just wanted to travel around. When it came to working, he couldn't compete with his fellow villagers.

It's impossible for me to work. I worked in my past life, and I'll work in this one too.

That would be a wasted life!

When it was completely dark, Roland's figure finally appeared in the bridge arch.

She looked a little more tired than yesterday, her short brown hair was a bit messy from the night wind, but she was carrying a lot of food in her hands.

It was clearly a much more upscale affair than what Li Ping and his group had put together, with McDonald's fried chicken family bucket and such, costing at least a hundred US dollars.

"Boss Roland, we're just missing you as the main character!" Mike shouted, raising his glass.

In the camp, Roland was indeed the undisputed core pillar.

"Mike, you can drink as much as you want tonight."

Roland twitched the corners of his mouth and smiled, "With Li Ping and Li Fan joining us, we have plenty of manpower to carry you back to the tent intact."

As she spoke, she picked up a bottle of fortified wine labeled "Wild Rose" and took a large gulp.

It's obvious she's not in a good mood today.

"Boss, it's... Eloise again?"

Camilla leaned over, clinked glasses with her, and asked cautiously.

Roland shook his head and wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth: "Let's not talk about those trivial matters today. The main characters are Li Ping and Li Fan. Welcome to our Bridge Underground Family."

She walked up to Li Ping and Li Fan, raised her wine bottle, and said, "Bro, welcome. From now on, we're on the same side."

She didn't have the airs of an elite lawyer; instead, she possessed a straightforwardness that came from a rural family in the West.

This is one of the reasons why she was able to integrate and earn the respect of this group of homeless people.

"I want to thank you, Boss Roland!"

Li Ping immediately picked up the full glass of cheap vodka that Mike had just poured for him, which was at least 40 degrees.

The original owner of this body probably didn't drink much alcohol, but he had the talent of a "wanderer".

Alcohol?

It's nothing more than a high-calorie liquid, or perhaps a kind of toxin?

His body should be able to handle it.

He steeled himself and declared boldly, "I'll do it, you can do whatever you want!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and downed the half-glass of clear, strong liquor.

A burning sensation shot from his throat straight to his stomach, but almost instantly, a strange warm current rose from his abdomen, quickly breaking down and absorbing the burning sensation, transforming it into a purer heat that spread throughout his body.

efficient!

Seeing this, Li Fan, who was standing next to him, only dared to pick up a can of beer and gulp it down in one go.

"My God!"

Camilla patted Li Ping on the shoulder, both worried and amused. "Buddy, you're still a minor, right? Drinking like this, I'm afraid you'll be lying down before the hot dog even cools down!"

"Haha, I love this kind of straightforward young man!"

Mike's face flushed with excitement, and he downed his drink along with Li Ping, letting out a loud burp.

"NO, NO, NO,"

Feeling his body rapidly processing the alcohol, Li Ping was brimming with confidence and deliberately said loudly, "What I'm more afraid of is that in the end, I'll be the only one left standing in this camp!"

"Fuck, Bro, you're more arrogant than you are!"

Fletcher, the dreadlocked youth, was unhappy.

He felt his status as the young god of wine in the camp was being challenged, so he grabbed the bottle of vodka and poured Li Ping a full glass.

He raised his glass: "Come on, let me teach you what it means to respect alcohol! Tonight, I'll give this newbie a lesson, and then you'll know how dangerous alcoholism is!"

He said that, but his eyes gleamed with the excitement of finding a drinking buddy.

"Yes, let's teach this arrogant brat a lesson!" Old Tom chimed in with a laugh.

Li Ping's hearty, or perhaps reckless, drinking start instantly ignited the atmosphere of the gathering.