During the food exchange, Jason didn't participate directly. Instead, Rick and Shane went to cooperate with Hershel on his behalf.
At first, Hershel was confused by the arrival of the two men. But when he learned they were there to exchange goods, he immediately grew skeptical. He feared he might be at a disadvantage in the trade.
However, after a brief conversation with Maggie, something changed in Hershel. He suddenly agreed to the exchange and even became quite eager to make the deal.
Rick and Shane were both puzzled but didn't press him for answers. All they cared about was securing the food they needed.
The farm had a vegetable garden with fresh produce, and Hershel and his team had been carefully cultivating these plants, which allowed them to eat without needing to venture out to search for resources.
Jason's group traded some canned food in exchange for a variety of fresh vegetables, including cabbage, tomatoes, radishes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
Meanwhile, over in the chicken coop, Hershel and Maggie were in the process of catching chickens. Suddenly, Hershel asked, "Did the man really say that?"
Maggie froze for a moment as she was holding a chicken. The one she had been about to grab darted away. She lifted her hair and nodded. "I heard it very clearly. I repeated it word for word to you. That's exactly what he said. I think he knows a lot—like..."
She glanced over at the barn in the distance.
"Alright, let's leave it at that," Hershel said, waving his hand dismissively as he grabbed a chicken and placed it into the cage. It was clear he didn't want to discuss this further, almost as if the subject was off-limits.
Maggie stood there, watching her father's retreating figure. She felt conflicted. Her perspective had changed somewhat, but after so long, it was still difficult for her to make a complete mental shift.
Back at the camp, after finishing all the food in the pot, Jason had a pile of chicken bones at his feet. He licked his fingers and puffed out his lips in contentment, though still a little unsatisfied. "This chicken's definitely not free-range. The meat's too tough. It must have been farmed."
Glenn, who was cleaning nearby, shot him an irritated look. "Are you seriously being picky now? No one's asking you to eat in a restaurant. It's just nice to have food."
Sometimes Jason was so funny, and other times so serious—it was like he was two completely different people.
Jason rolled his eyes at Glenn. He didn't have the energy to explain, so he stood up, dusted himself off, and decided it was time to have a word with old man Hershel to figure out what he was really thinking.
But before he could leave, Rick stopped him. "I've been asking around. There's a small town ahead with a car that needs some repairs. They don't have the parts here, so I'm planning to take some people to the town to look for what we need. What do you think?"
"Go to the town," Jason said after a moment of consideration. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, it's a good time to rest, and if the vehicle's damaged, it'll need to be fixed. It's better to do it now, in case something happens."
He nodded, understanding the importance of the situation. "Sure, I've got nothing else going on. I'll go with you guys. Who else is coming?"
In addition to Jason and Rick, Henry and Glenn were also coming along. Henry, the strong man, would be there to help carry things, while Glenn was mostly along for the ride and didn't play a key role.
The town was only about twenty minutes away, and the route was straightforward. Once on the road, it was a straight shot.
Some people in the group needed supplies, and since Jason and the others were already heading that way, they could pick up a few things for everyone.