The two guards who had been pressing their ears to the door to sniff the aroma jumped in fright. One of them hurriedly said, “Hey, keep your voice down! Come over and smell this, what is it? Why does it smell like a big meat bun?”
“Oh, give it a rest,” the newcomer scoffed. “A big meat bun? Dream on. You are so hungry you are hallucinating.”
The two who had just arrived clearly did not believe it, but they were dragged to the door anyway. After only a couple steps forward, the scent hit them.
“Ah! I smell it! It really is the smell of a big meat bun!”
At the doorway, the few of them immediately started arguing about whether it was a meat bun or steamed dumplings.
Inside the room, the leader was already eating.
He took a bite and found it was exactly the kind with a thin wrapper and generous filling, the sort that burst with juice the moment you bit into it.
After swallowing, he let out a satisfied sigh. It seemed these people had not been lying.
Yes, this was a high ranking leader conquered by good food.
“Is that restaurant open every day?”
He worried that if people went all that way only to find the place closed, it would be too difficult a trip to make for nothing.
When Mu Qingfeng heard that, his lips curled into a smile. There was hope.
“Yes. The restaurant is open every day. You can send people with me to inspect it. There is a lot more inside, plain noodles, stir fries, roast duck…”
Mu Qingfeng listed dishes with ease. Even Fatty beside him swallowed hard, let alone the man who had only taken one bite of the bun.
“Good! It is decided. I will send a squad with you tomorrow to inspect it. If it is truly as you say, we can consider long term cooperation!”
Mu Qingfeng had not expected it to go this smoothly and was a little surprised.
But on second thought, it made sense. Over a year into the apocalypse, every nearby place that might still have supplies had likely been searched. A base this large needed food sources, and things would only get harder.
They could research methods to purify land and farm, but that would take time. Compared to that, the information Mu Qingfeng brought was far more explosive.
The leader stood up at once and opened the door to order a squad formed as soon as possible.
The moment the door swung open, four faces were right there, huge and close, each wearing a dreamy, squinting look that made a person want to punch them.
But at the instant the door opened, all four snapped to attention.
“What are your orders, sir?”
One of them chuckled at the leader. Thankfully their leader was not as terrifying as some others, otherwise they would definitely have been scolded.
The leader said helplessly, “Form a team. Tomorrow, follow these three to the restaurant and see whether long term cooperation is possible.”
Their eyes lit up. They knew it, the leader had been eating something good inside. He had even secured a cooperation opportunity with a restaurant. Incredible.
“Understood!”
The two guards who had just switched shifts saluted and ran off. This was a big deal, they had to compete for a slot. Maybe they would get to eat that fragrant meat bun too.
“Thank you for your trust, sir. We will not disappoint you,” Mu Qingfeng said as he rose, as if the matter was settled and they were about to leave.
The leader stopped him. “You do not have anything pressing right now, and you are not leaving until tomorrow. Why not let them show you around? After that, they can take you to the rest area. We cannot have guests who came from afar sleeping on the street. That is not how we treat visitors.”
Mu Qingfeng was tempted. No matter how much he walked around on his own, he would only see the surface. With a guide, he could see things he otherwise would not.
So he accepted. “Then we will trouble you.”
The leader nodded to the guards outside. One of them immediately stepped forward. “Please follow me.”
After the door closed, the leader, Sheng Ren, spread a sheet of paper on the desk and wrote something with a brush. Then he folded it and slid it into an envelope.
“Deliver this letter to…”
“Yes!”
Mu Qingfeng and the others were surprised. The guard actually led them to the training grounds.
But after thinking it through, they understood. The leader was showing them his strength and warning them not to harbor any improper thoughts.
Since this was an official military force, each soldier was equipped with firearms, and their strength was indeed formidable.
After touring the training grounds, the guard took them to the experimental fields. Several scientists were bent over in the soil, inching forward little by little, looking almost devout.
Mu Qingfeng held the highest respect for these people, brave and dedicated.
“These test fields are the result of more than half a year of research by our experts. They can already produce vegetables now. The yield is not very high yet, but it can already solve many problems.”
The guard’s face was full of pride. These were scientists from Jiaowo Base. Surely the visitors did not have anyone that capable.
What he did not expect was that the three merely nodded along politely, looking rather indifferent. Could it be that they really had someone even more remarkable?
How could the guard possibly guess that they did not have scientists, but they did have someone like He Lingyu, practically a walking cheat code?
After witnessing a kitchen that produced meals without staff and buildings rising from flat ground, they had reached the point where nothing could truly shock them anymore.
“Well then, you must be tired after traveling so long. I’ll take you to the rest area first. Tomorrow morning a squad captain will contact you about departure arrangements.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
The rest area was not fully separate. In terms of space, it was still connected to the civilian district. Yet no one crossed the invisible line, so the two areas looked clearly divided.
The rest area was almost entirely soldiers and ability users. After asking how many rooms they wanted, the guard arranged lodging.
Naturally, the three chose to stay together, so they could watch each other’s backs if anything happened.
…
[Side quest completed. Reward: Electric tricycle.]
He Lingyu instantly perked up. The reward was actually a vehicle.
And it was electric.
Had the game heard Fatty’s inner complaints?
Now, when they went out to gather supplies, they would not need to pedal by human power. It was just a pity it was not a four wheeled vehicle. A tricycle could only carry so much.
Maybe it was because Fatty and the others had brought back and used that donkey cart, so the game assumed this was what they needed.
Next time, she would have to test it. They could not keep picking up random things. At the very least, they had to think about future comfort.
While He Lingyu and Hua Yue were leisurely entertaining the child, they saw a large group approaching from afar.
At the front were the trio they had not seen in days.
“Auntie Yue, they are back, and they brought so many people!”
He Lingyu shouted excitedly. Beside her, Song Hongdou asked in confusion, “Sister He, who are you talking about?”
“The three in front,” He Lingyu said. “When they come in, I will introduce you to three big brothers. They are all very nice.”
Hongdou followed the direction of He Lingyu’s finger. “Wow! That big brother is so handsome!” She was pointing at Mu Qingfeng.
Hongdou was young, but her taste was not bad at all. He Lingyu and Hua Yue exchanged a look and laughed. “Our Hongdou already knows how to appreciate a handsome guy at such a young age!”
Hongdou’s face turned red from their teasing, and by then the group had reached the restaurant entrance.
“My goodness! After so many days, we are finally back! I have been craving food so badly!”
Fatty thought about the colorful, fragrant dishes and swallowed. “Xiao Yu, hurry and prepare food! I have gotten thinner from starving these past few days!”
He Lingyu smiled as she opened the door. “Welcome back!”
Then her gaze shifted to Mu Qingfeng, and then to the team behind him.
“Let me introduce them. Jiaowo Base ability user squad captain, Shan Zhi, and enforcement team deputy captain, Shi Hu.”
It was a brief introduction, but it made their importance clear. Whether the restaurant could establish ties with Jiaowo Base depended on these two.
“Hello, both of you. I am the owner of this restaurant, He Lingyu. Please come in!”
He Lingyu shook hands with both men, gave a quick introduction, and ushered everyone inside.
After the handshake, the two captains exchanged a subtle look. An ordinary person?
With their doubts, the group entered the restaurant.
The first floor still had only a few tables. This time, their team had fifty people, and there was no way it would be enough seating.
Fortunately, He Lingyu’s group had not been idle these past two days. Shang Da and Feng An had driven the electric tricycle to a nearby small town and brought back several folding tables.
“The shop is a bit small for now, so we set up some tables outside. I hope you do not mind. We guarantee you will eat to your satisfaction!”
Hua Yue was better at this kind of social finesse. Thankfully these people were easygoing. On missions, they had eaten outdoors, even in front of rotting zombie corpses.
“This is the menu. Please take a look.” On the way here, Fatty had already explained the restaurant’s procedures. Everyone had paid upon entering, and they had used cash.
This time, the leader had given them plenty of cash to test whether cash really could be used for meals.
The official side had it easier. They could withdraw directly from a bank, and they already had the keys. The bank manager had provided the codes and keys. Now they could be considered wealthy.
A subordinate glanced at the menu. “Wow, there really is roast duck!”
He had thought Fatty was exaggerating. Who knew it was real? But when they came in, they did not see any place for raising animals. Where were the ducks coming from?
Still, that could wait. Food came first.
“Captain, I want roast duck!” That shout immediately triggered several more voices.
“Me too, Captain!”
“Same!”
The captain asked Hua Yue uncertainly, “If we order a lot, is that alright? Do you have enough ingredients?”
“Order with confidence. I cannot promise everything, but when it comes to food, we will definitely satisfy you.”
Shan Zhi nodded. “Alright. Then start with twenty five roast ducks, and then…”
Once Shan Zhi confirmed, he ordered a long list without holding back. The team members behind him looked like their smiles might split their faces.
He Lingyu looked just as delighted. These were all main quest NPCs. She loved it.
Almost two minutes after Shan Zhi finished ordering, dish after dish began coming out from the kitchen.
That alone further proved the restaurant’s credibility.
Still, how good it truly was would depend on the taste.
Shan Zhi picked up his chopsticks, then gave the order. “Eat.”