The savory tang, spiked with perfect heat, danced on her tongue. The dried tofu, plump with sauce yet chewy, paired with the chili's crisp zing. Better than half the restaurants in her old life.
The flavor burst left Cheng Shuili's eyes stinging. Four days in, and fresh-cooked food felt like a dream from another lifetime. Because it was.
Her heart raced, hands shaky. No chopsticks, even—she scowled, ripping open a self-heating hotpot pack for its flimsy utensils, diving into the feast.
The rice's sweet steam hit her, misting her vision. Blinking hard, she piled chili-fried dried tofu onto the snowy grains, the amber sauce bleeding in. With chopsticks, she sculpted a neat mound and shoveled it into her mouth.
She clamped a hand over her lips, the warm bite rolling across her tongue. Soy's depth, starch's silk, chili's spark—her taste buds sang.
Hell yeah. Pure joy. This is life.
She demolished half the bowl, then froze, eyeing the remaining dish. A sly urge hit. She flicked on the system camera. Gotta flex this. Plus, the officials were likely snooping—misdirection could scam those last 50 vehicle upgrade fragments.
[Crow Takes Flight: [Photo] Tonight's dinner, chili-fried dried tofu with rice.
[Crow Takes Flight]: Some folks still chugging mineral water with compressed biscuits? Tsk.
She cranked the channel's notification volume, grinning as she dug back in.
Replies flooded faster than she'd bet.
[Xu Lingqi]: ??? Am I blind? That plate… stir-fry?! One bite, big bro, I'll grovel! Just one!
[Little Panda]: Holy crap, that rice! That shine! Freshly made?! Crow boss, I'll trade!
[To Grapefruit or Not]: @Crow Takes Flight boss, need a leg accessory? College grad, knows coding!
Cheng Shuili bit her chopstick, chuckling, and scooped the last saucy grain. The channel erupted, pings deafening, friend requests flashing. She ignored them, checking only known IDs.
[Liang Shanbo & Pig Charge]: Boss, one bite, name your price!
[Wan Yi]: Good?
She pinged Wan Yi first.
[Crow Takes Flight]: Unreal. Your skills could run a restaurant.
[Wan Yi]: Was a head chef before crossing over.
Jackpot. Her grin widened, then she hit Berzhu.
[Crow Takes Flight: Bring a container.
"You received a gift from player [Liang Shanbo & Pig Charge]: Half Paper Cup x1."
A half cup—cute. She stuffed it with tofu and rice, sending it back.
[Liang Shanbo & Pig Charge]: Crow! Can't repay this! Need anything, I'm your guy!
"You received a gift from player [Liang Shanbo & Pig Charge]: Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments x3."
[Liang Shanbo & Pig Charge]: Saw you collecting these, take 'em.
She pocketed them, a warm glow spreading. Popping the last rice, she sighed, content. The cart's LED bathed the cabin in soft light, a quiet haven in the dark.
She tidied up, sank into the sofa, and drifted off fast.
Morning came with the system's ping.
[Fifth Day Journey Requirement: 90 km.]
[Survivors, keep pushing.]
Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Cheng Shuili splashed her face at the sink, downed Wan Yi's porridge, and hit the gas.
The morning was smooth but chest-light. She prayed for afternoon luck.
The gods listened—her cart barely rolled a mile when a green-glowing chest gleamed roadside. Bronze chest.
"Luck's turning."
She floored it, then paused, clutching a baseball bat and steel dagger. Cautiously, she nudged the chest open with the bat…
A black shape exploded out!
She dove back, a roar shattering the air. A boar—meter-long, tusks flashing—materialized, hooves churning gravel that lashed her face, stinging like fire.
No time for pain—it charged. She rolled toward her cart, a tusk grazing her calf, shredding her pants.
Scrambling for the door, the boar wheeled for round two. Bang! She crashed into the driver's seat, barely up, as its tusk pierced the door.
Metal screamed, the cart rocking. A bloody, rancid stench flooded in—the boar's wild eyes glared, tusk stuck, pinning it.
Her heart thundered. Now!
Cranking the window, she gripped the dagger, plunging it into the boar's side with all her might, yanking it free. Instinct took over—her arm burned, stabbing again.
The boar's squeal echoed, blood spraying as she ripped the blade out. Grimacing, she drove it in, out, in, until it stilled.
Her hand cramped, blood coating everything, the stench choking. Gasping, she steadied her trembling arm, wiping the dagger. The tissue turned crimson.
If it hadn't stuck, she'd be gore. Not today.
Reality hit. I killed a boar. Meat. So much meat.
Alive with glee, she snapped a corpse pic and pinged Wan Yi.
[Crow Takes Flight]: Chef, can you handle this?
[Wan Yi]: !!!!
[Wan Yi]: Too badass, boss! Crow! I'll cook for you forever! Can I process this pig? Also, if possible, spare some drinking water?
[Wan Yi]: Leave it to me, no waste! Know Ding's ox-carving? Watch Wan Yi carve a pig!
Wiping blood from her face, Cheng Shuili grinned, the thrill of survival igniting her core. She was alive—damn alive.