“Let’s take a look first. We’ll stay cautious, and if anything seems off, we’ll leave immediately,” Chen Xu replied in a low voice.
“I think that young mayor doesn’t look like a bad person,” Han Wei’s wife said after glancing at her.
While they discussed things inside the vehicle, Su Qingqing had already walked up to Miao Suisui. There was a hint of embarrassment on her face. “Mayor Miao, I’ve caused you trouble. I brought these people with me, but they’re not bad people. There’s even a pregnant woman and children among them. Could you let them stay here?”
Miao Suisui’s eyes lit up. Just yesterday she had been worrying about how quickly she was spending crystal cores, and now here they were. How was this trouble? These were clearly her beloved future residents.
“Of course. The more residents our town has, the better,” Miao Suisui said.
After speaking, she hurried over to the vehicle, putting on her most friendly and welcoming smile. “Welcome to Hope Town. I’m the mayor here. Our town guarantees absolute safety, comfortable housing, delicious bread, and abundant water. Would you consider settling down here?”
“What do we need to pay?” Chen Xu asked cautiously.
“Crystal cores. As long as you have crystal cores, that’s enough,” Miao Suisui replied, the sparkle in her eyes growing even brighter.
“How many crystal cores? We haven’t saved much, and we have even fewer high-level ones…”
Before Han Wei could finish, Miao Suisui interrupted him. “No need, no need. Housing costs twenty Level 1 crystal cores per night, or five hundred and eighty Level 1 crystal cores per month. Flour is ten Level 1 cores per bag, rice is also ten. Bread varies in price, but it’s usually around ten Level 1 cores. The items in our general store are also inexpensive.”
“We’d like to take a look first before deciding,” Chen Xu said. Although he was momentarily overwhelmed by the offer, he did not lose his composure.
Miao Suisui nodded eagerly. “Of course.”
Chen Xu and Liu Dong got out of the vehicle, while the others waited inside.
As she led them into the town, Miao Suisui began introducing everything along the way.
“When I left, I don’t remember there being these buildings,” Su Qingqing said uncertainly.
“Yes, the town will keep improving over time. It’s all thanks to your crystal cores,” Miao Suisui replied vaguely.
Su Qingqing already knew the town was somewhat extraordinary, so she did not press further.
“Look, this is our bakery. The flour is ground from our own wheat, it’s really delicious.” The sweet aroma of bread filled Chen Xu and Liu Dong’s noses, making them swallow involuntarily.
Through the glass, they saw a robot baking bread in the back, while the display case in front held all kinds of tempting-looking loaves.
Su Qingqing’s younger sister, Su Lanlan, pressed herself against the glass and let out a soft “wow,” her nose flattening against it.
Miao Suisui took out a slice of bread from the plastic bag in her hand and handed it to Su Lanlan. “Here, this is for you. I bought it this morning.”
Su Lanlan did not take it immediately. She looked at her parents, then at her sister.
Her mother quickly refused. “We can’t accept that. Such precious food, Mayor Miao should keep it for herself.”
“It’s fine. There’s a lot in this bag, I can’t finish it alone. Think of it as me helping promote the bakery,” Miao Suisui said as she gently placed the bread into Su Lanlan’s hands.
“Take it,” Su Qingqing said to her parents with a nod, and they did not refuse further.
Su Lanlan held the bread, first sniffing it. The fragrance made her eyes widen in amazement, as if she could not understand how something could smell so sweet.
Although she desperately wanted to take a bite, she still offered it to her parents and sister first. “Dad, Mom, Sister, you eat first.”
Her thoughtfulness was heartbreaking.
Looking at the thin, frail little girl, Miao Suisui’s heart softened completely.
“No need, everyone has some,” she said, firmly dividing the bread among Su Qingqing and her parents as well, leaving no room for refusal.
Chen Xu and Liu Dong each received a piece too. They only took a small bite, saving the rest to bring back to their parents and the other children.
Further ahead was the Hope General Store.
“Hello, Mayor Miao,” the robot greeted her in a surprisingly human-like manner.
“Hello,” Miao Suisui replied with a smile.
“This is the general store. It has seasonings, toilet paper, and even sanitary products for women.”
Chen Xu and the others were even more shocked. These everyday items had disappeared long ago. There were people who had offered Level 5 or Level 6 crystal cores in exchange and still could not obtain them.
Yet here, a roll of toilet paper seemed to cost only two Level 1 crystal cores.
Chen Xu and Liu Dong exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other’s eyes.
When they reached the farm, they were even more shaken.
Dozens of chickens roamed under the management of robots. A vast field of golden wheat swayed in the wind, forming waves of grain. The heavy heads of wheat signaled a bountiful harvest.
Robots were harvesting crops.
They could also see potatoes as large as fists, and bright yellow corn.
“By the way, since we don’t have a dedicated agricultural store yet, you can buy flour, eggs, or chicken directly from me. Flour and rice are ten Level 1 cores per bag. Eggs are two cores, chicken is a bit more expensive at fifteen per bird, and potatoes and corn are two cores per jin,” Miao Suisui explained.
Each hen could lay seven or eight eggs per day. After reserving some for hatching and supplying the bakery, she still had plenty left in storage.
After tasting chicken once, she had fallen in love with its tender, flavorful meat and had purchased dozens more for the farm.
She had also discovered that anything produced by the town tasted far better than anything she had eaten before.
Finally, she brought them to the thatched huts.
When Su Qingqing had left, there had only been two huts. In just two days, there were now four.
“Would your family like one house or two?” Miao Suisui asked after explaining the prices.
“One will be enough,” Mother Su quickly replied.
Miao Suisui nodded, then remembered there was only one bedroom. “The robot in the lobby can also provide blankets if you need them.”
As they spoke, they entered the hall on the first floor.
“This room was reserved by Miss Su. Please register it for her, she has already paid for a month.”
The robot nodded and began registering Su Qingqing’s family, recording each person’s facial information.
For those encountering it for the first time, it was fascinating. Even before the apocalypse, there had not been robots this advanced.
“That’s done. Would you like to purchase toiletries?”
Su Qingqing handed over a handful of crystal cores. “Please prepare four sets of toiletries and two thick blankets.”
The robot accepted the required amount. “Understood. They have been placed in the room.”
After thanking Miao Suisui and nodding to Chen Xu and Liu Dong, Su Qingqing led her family to their room.
“Come on, I’ll show you the available houses. There are seven rooms left, you can choose freely,” Miao Suisui said to Chen Xu and Liu Dong, who had been granted temporary access.
The two followed silently, no longer knowing how to describe what they were feeling.
They even began to wonder whether this was reality or a dream.
When the door opened, even they, who had seen much of the world, were deeply shaken.
Especially when they heard that the house provided hot water twenty-four hours a day.
Liu Dong rushed into the bathroom and turned on the tap. After a moment, his voice trembled. “Old Chen, it’s real… it’s actually hot water.”
“So, what do you think? Our town is great, right?” Miao Suisui said with a smile.
“This place… what exactly is it? These things… why?” Chen Xu struggled to find his words, but Miao Suisui understood.
“This is Hope Town. Its purpose is to bring hope to this apocalypse.”
“Hope…”
This word had once been spoken by everyone, as if repeating it could make life better. But everyone knew how distant it truly was. Now, Chen Xu felt he understood it a little.
“Let’s go back and find Han Wei,” Chen Xu said.
The people in the minibus were waiting anxiously.
“Why aren’t they back yet? Did something happen?”
“It shouldn’t have…”
“They’re back!” Han Wei shouted excitedly.
Chen Xu and Liu Dong walked quickly and soon returned.
Miao Suisui did not follow them, because she had just realized she was still wearing her pajamas. As the mayor, that was hardly appropriate, so she hurried back to change, her face slightly flushed.
“Well? How is it?” Han Wei asked impatiently.
Chen Xu and Liu Dong exchanged a look, then broke into wide smiles. “It’s even better than we imagined. We can settle here.”
Han Wei let out a breath of relief. His wife was about to give birth, and if they could not settle soon, it would be extremely dangerous.
“I’ll stay here for now, then go out later to look for my daughter. She would definitely love this place,” Liu Dong said.
“Mayor Miao said the vehicle can’t be driven further inside. Let’s all get out here. I’ll move the vehicle to the entrance so it doesn’t block the way,” Chen Xu said, his tone lighter than ever before. “Mom, Dad, go find Mayor Miao and choose a house first. I’ll join you shortly.”
The group got out of the vehicle and walked along the road. On both sides were green grass and blooming flowers. The breeze carried not the foul stench they were used to, but fresh air they had long forgotten.
When Miao Suisui came out after changing clothes, she saw them approaching, a mix of young and old, including a pregnant woman.
She quickly jogged over, her face lit with a sweet smile.
“Welcome to Hope Town. I’m the mayor, Miao Suisui. Let me take you to choose a house first. You must be exhausted after the journey, you should get some rest.”
Her gaze lingered briefly on the pregnant woman’s noticeably large belly.
Han Wei’s wife, Yu Juan, nodded. She already had a favorable impression of this cheerful young girl.
“There are currently seven available houses. How many would you need?” Miao Suisui asked, unsure of their relationships.