“Hey, kids, what are you two doing!”
Can Can and Wei Cheng turned around at the sound to see over ten tall boys standing outside the basketball court.
Can Can carried two plastic bags filled with bottles on his small shoulders, lifting his little face to say, “We’re picking up trash.”
Wei Cheng stood protectively in front of Can Can without making a fuss.
These older boys didn’t seem malicious, laughing heartily: “Picking up trash at such a young age? That’s impressive! So when will you finish? We want to play basketball!”
Can Can shook the plastic bags: “No more. Can Can go, pick up somewhere else.”
A boy wearing jersey number eight asked: “Is picking up trash required by your kindergarten?”
Can Can didn’t understand, simply saying: “Need to earn money.”
Wei Cheng chimed in from the side: “We’re children from the Warm Sun Home orphanage.”
The older boys exchanged glances. The leader in jersey number eight clicked his tongue, rubbing the back of his head: “Wait here!”
Soon, this boy returned carrying a case of mineral water, kicking the chubby boy beside him: “What are you standing around for? Drink! Who said they were thirsty earlier?”
The boys caught on and nodded repeatedly: “Right, right, we’ve been thirsty for a while!”
The boy in jersey number eight quickly drank a bottle of water and tossed the empty bottle to Can Can: “Here you go!”
Can Can held the water bottle, but no voice sounded in his head. He placed the bottle on the ground and picked it up again, immediately hearing the System’s voice in his ear.
[Congratulations on obtaining 1 Twisty Coin!]
Can Can widened his eyes, happily looking up at Gege.
Wei Cheng smiled, saying to the boys: “Thank you.”
Can Can also showed his little millet teeth: “Thank you, big brothers!”
“What’s the big deal! We were really thirsty anyway!”
“Yeah, drink up, drink up!”
The older boys actually seemed a bit shy, playfully pushing each other as they competed to drink water.
A case of mineral water contained twenty-four bottles. The dozen or so boys drank and even washed their hair with it, finishing everything in no time.
[Congratulations! Accumulated 64 Twisty Coins! Daily limit reached!]
After collecting all the bottles, Wei Cheng first took Can Can to wash their faces and hands in the court’s restroom.
Then he dragged the plastic bags ahead while Can Can obediently waved to the big brothers: “Bye-bye, big brothers!”
The kind-hearted boys smiled and said: “Bye-bye, kids!”
Wei Cheng knew there was an old residential area nearby that didn’t require crossing the street, inhabited mostly by elderly people living alone.
Can Can bounced along happily: “Gege, Gege, being helped feels so good!”
Wei Cheng smiled and said: “Right, so now we should help others too!”
As they reached the neighborhood entrance, they saw a hunched-over grandmother intently rummaging through a trash bin.
Despite the hot weather, she wore a thick wool sweater and a cotton hat.
Wei Cheng had some legal awareness. He placed several large trash bags beside the bin and whispered to Can Can: “Let’s go.”
Can Can also whispered: “Will Grandma find them?”
“She will.”
Just as they left the neighborhood, a voice sounded in their ears: [Congratulations! Little House Owner successfully helped a bereaved elderly person! Obtained thirty Twisty Coins! Today’s total: ninety-four Twisty Coins! Please continue stockpiling, enriching the safe house, and vigorously upgrading the escape wiggle car!]
[Please conduct the Surprise Big Wheel draw in a secluded location!]
“Gege, will Grandma be happy when she finds the bottles?”
“She’ll be happy. Although these dozens of bottles won’t improve her life, they’ll bring a little surprise to her stagnant existence.”
Wei Cheng bent down and patted Can Can’s head: “We earned almost a hundred thousand yuan today thanks to those big brothers. Since Gege has some money now, let’s buy some drinks and secretly give them to them, okay?”
Can Can obediently nodded: “Okay!”
Wei Cheng took Can Can back to the supermarket near the basketball court. There weren’t many people inside, only the shop owner’s wife who was fanning herself while watching short videos.
Can Can’s eyes were firmly fixed on the sausage grill on the counter.
“Boss, I’d like to buy twelve bottles of this energy drink.”
The shop owner put down her phone and quickly helped them pick out the drinks: “Anything else?”
Wei Cheng glanced at Can Can. Can Can swallowed some drool, stood on tiptoes, and pointed at the sausage grill: “Aren’t they hot inside there?”
The shop owner only noticed the adorable little child below the counter when she looked down.
“Oh my, this child is so beautiful.”
Can Can clasped her little hands together and smiled shyly: “Sister is very beautiful too!”
The shop owner touched her cheek, beaming like a flower: “What sister? Auntie’s child is already in university. I’m old, old.”
Can Can said: “No, you’re new.”
“Hahaha, do you want a sausage? Sister will treat you!”
The shop owner pulled out a plastic bag to pack sausages for them.
Wei Cheng said: “Boss, you don’t need to treat us. Please pack five sausages for me. There’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”
Hearing they wanted five, the shop owner knew she really couldn’t give them away for free. She asked: “What is it?”
“We were just helped by some big brothers at the basketball court, so we want to buy some drinks for them. But I’m afraid they won’t accept them. Could you help us deliver the drinks to them?”
The shop owner agreed immediately: “No problem!”
Finally, Can Can left the small supermarket contentedly, holding a split sausage in her mouth.
The summer breeze carrying floral scents brushed their faces as they walked along the shaded path toward the orphanage.
Can Can held Gege’s hand, devouring the sausage in big bites: “Gege, how can sausages be so delicious!”
Wei Cheng chewed as he replied: “Our secret Base has lots of sausages too. Gege will grill them for you then.”
Hearing this, Can Can’s eyes lit up: “Then Can Can will do missions every day!”
“Study characters every day and also do missions?”
Can Can nodded: “Do! Do super many missions!”
“Today was a beginner mission. I wonder what tomorrow’s mission will be.” Wei Cheng finished his sausage in one bite and threw the stick into the trash bin. “Do you want to draw prizes with Gege tonight, then go shopping at the Mall?”
“Yes, yes!” Can Can’s little mouth gleamed with oil. “Can Can wants to buy sausages!”
When they returned to the orphanage, they saw Wang Xiaotiao and Qi Qi playing on the Slide, with a quiet, thin boy sitting in the sandpile nearby.
This was only possible because the older kids weren’t around, giving the younger ones a chance to play.
“Ming Ming!”
Can Can trotted over: “Are you better now?”
Ming Ming looked somewhat pale but nodded, then curiously looked at Wei Cheng.
Can Can wrapped her arm around Wei Cheng’s: “This is Can Can’s Gege! His name is Chengcheng. He’s… he’s…”
She looked up: “Gege, how many years old are you this year?”
Wei Cheng said: “Gege is eight years old this year.”
Ming Ming had already been hospitalized for a long time when Wei Cheng arrived at the orphanage.
“Ta-da~”
Can Can brought her hands out from behind her back: “Xiaotiao, Qi Qi, Ming Ming, look what this is!”
Wang Xiaotiao and Qi Qi ran over from the slide.
Wang Xiaotiao said, “That’s grilled sausage! I’ve seen Zhou Zihao and the others eat it!”
“Go ahead and eat!” Can Can shared the sausages with them, proudly lifting his chubby little face. “Gege bought it for us!”
Wang Xiaotiao was practically drooling: “Thank you, Wei Cheng!”
The timid Qi Qi also whispered her thanks, but Ming Ming shook his head and didn’t take one.
“Ming Ming, why aren’t you eating?”
Ming Ming just shook his head quietly again.
Wei Cheng thought for a moment and said, “Are you afraid you’ll get sick again if you eat it?”
Ming Ming looked at Wei Cheng for a while, then nodded.
Wei Cheng asked, “Did someone scold you, saying you got sick because you ate the wrong things?”
Ming Ming’s eyes reddened.
Wei Cheng handed him the sausage and sighed, “Your illness wasn’t caused by eating the wrong things. Go ahead and eat it, you won’t get sick.”
After hesitating for a while, Ming Ming finally took the sausage.
The doctor had specifically instructed Uncle Chen to give him more meat, but during his entire hospital stay, he had only been eating millet porridge and steamed buns. He really hadn’t had any oily food in a long time.
Director Wang had returned, and the meals at the welfare home had improved significantly compared to the past few days.
Although Auntie Yun, who worked in the cafeteria, had her own little schemes, she didn’t dare pull too many tricks under Director Wang’s watchful eye. She knew her father-in-law was stubborn and stingy, but he wasn’t a truly wicked person.
Over the years, about ninety percent of the donations and subsidies the home received were spent on the children. There used to be many children in the home—food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and schooling all required money. It was only recently, with fewer children in the home and the Qiao family afraid the adoption return incident would blow up, that they donated a large sum to keep things quiet. This was also why Auntie Yun had begged her father-in-law to let her work in the welfare home cafeteria—she could occasionally skim a little off the top. Her father-in-law turned a blind eye for the sake of her husband.
Tonight’s dinner was braised pork over rice, and the children in the cafeteria were overjoyed.
Director Wang stood with his hands behind his back at the serving window, frowning as he said, “Give Ming Ming two extra pieces of meat.”
He glanced at Chen Sheng, the doctor working at the welfare home. “Haven’t you been buying meat for Ming Ming these days?”
Chen Sheng, who was helping serve the food, quickly smiled and said, “Director, the doctor said Ming Ming shouldn’t eat meat. But I bought him plenty of nutritional supplements, right, Ming Ming?”
Ming Ming shrank back under Chen Sheng’s gaze and nodded.
Director Wang didn’t say anything more, turning his attention to Can Can, who obediently approached with his little bowl.
“Give him two extra pieces too. A three-year-old shorter than a two-year-old!”
Auntie Yun said with a smile, “That’s right. I wonder if this child takes food but doesn’t eat it. Otherwise, why does he get so much food every day but still not grow?”
Her words insinuated that Can Can was wasting food.
Wei Cheng, standing behind Can Can, suddenly spoke up: “He can eat three buns in one meal, but Auntie only gives him two because she’s afraid the other children won’t have enough. No matter how good a child’s digestion is, they won’t grow tall like this.”
Auntie Yun’s face changed. “What do you mean by that, you brat! Is that why you have no upbringing and were sent to the welfare home?”
Can Can’s little face tightened, and he slammed his bowl down heavily. “Don’t scold my gege!”
“Li Yun, what are you saying!”
Director Wang said angrily, “How can you say such things in front of the children!”
Li Yun realized she had spoken out of turn. “Dad! This… this child is clearly accusing me of mistreating the children at the welfare home! How could I? In this scorching heat, I’ve been buying groceries and cooking!”
“Enough!” Director Wang was well aware of Li Yun’s actions. With his hands clasped behind his back, he said, “From now on, I’ll handle the cafeteria purchases. You just cook for the children as usual, and I’ll pay you your salary as always. If you’re willing to do it, stay. If not, go home!”
Li Yun had no intention of leaving. After all, the Qiao family had donated such a large sum of money, and as long as she stayed at the welfare home, there would surely be opportunities to skim off the top.
She said, “Dad, of course I’m willing to stay. Your eldest grandson is reaching the age to get married…”
Because of this incident, the children at the welfare home enjoyed a hearty meal of braised pork over rice that day. In the end, Li Yun and Dr. Chen had nothing to eat and had to settle for instant noodles.
Can Can ate with great relish, shaking his head and burying his face in the bowl. “So delicious, so delicious!”
“You ate a lot today, so make sure to play outside a little longer later,” Wei Cheng said with a smile.
Can Can’s mouth was covered in rice grains. “Gege, will we be able to eat lots of food every day from now on?”
Wei Cheng nodded. “Yes, from now on, we’ll have enough to eat every day.”
He had deliberately made a scene in front of Director Wang today. He didn’t know what would become of the welfare home children in the future, but at the very least, he wanted to ensure they didn’t go hungry now.
Humans are the most complex creatures. Director Wang was indeed strict and harsh with the children at the welfare home, but he genuinely used the donations and subsidies for their benefit. Every family needs a stern, calculating, and authoritative head.
When global temperatures began to rise unnaturally, Dr. Chen and Li Yun fled long ago. Only Teacher Xiao Mei and Director Wang stayed to protect the welfare home. But when a sudden wave of poisonous mist descended, Director Wang died on his way to buy fever medicine for the children.
.
Wei Cheng now had his own bedding and no longer had to squeeze onto the small bed board with Can Can.
Can Can, wearing his little bear pajamas, rolled around on the new bedding. “Gege, Can Can wants to sleep with you.”
Wei Cheng ruffled his curly hair. “But won’t you get hot?”
“Won’t get hot.”
Can Can crossed his legs and patted his chubby little belly. “Can Can just wants to sleep with Gege.”
Wei Cheng thought for a moment and said, “Alright, then we’ll sleep on the new bedding tonight.”
Once they heard Wang Xiaotiao and Ming Ming’s snores, they pulled up the System Panel.
As soon as it opened, a colorful prize wheel popped up.
Can Can clasped his hands together, shaking them repeatedly while muttering, “Sausage grill, sausage grill.”
Wei Cheng whispered, “You spin it. If you don’t win it, Gege will buy you a sausage grill from the Mall.”
Can Can gently tapped the wheel with his small hand. The pointer spun rapidly and finally landed on the blue section.
[Congratulations! Little House Owner has obtained a kitchen appliance gift set!]
Can Can suddenly lifted his little face. “Gege, did we win the sausage grill?”
Wei Cheng clicked to check and found five household appliances inside: a multifunctional electric oven, a microwave, a soy milk maker, an electric hot pot, and the last one was indeed a sausage grill.
“We won it!”
Can Can cheered softly. “Yay! When Can Can grows up, he can sell sausages and won’t have to pick through trash anymore!”
Wei Cheng thought for a moment and clicked on one of the four major sections: [Twisty Car Safe House Section].
Can Can’s wiggle car was still being stored, and the activated left-side safe house area had become like the monitoring page—they could clearly see inside the safe house. Moreover, there was a bright red dot in the upper left corner of the screen. When clicked, it popped up the safe house’s inventory list.
Most miraculously, they could even manually touch and move the goods inside the safe house.
Can Can stretched out a finger and moved a bag of rice next to the refrigerator: “Wow, so much fun!”
The safe house was now somewhat messy, with food and appliances piled all over the room. Even if they went in, there would be no place to stand.
Wei Cheng thought for a moment and searched for the word “shelving” in the Cloud Mall.
Just like with the refrigerator, three options popped up.
Ten-tier, fifty-meter ultra-long heavy-duty storage shelving, double-layer storage and sales structure, each layer capable of holding unlimited goods (shelf life: 100 years) – 1000 Twisty Coins.
Eight-tier, ten-meter long heavy-duty storage shelving, double-layer storage and sales structure, each layer capable of holding 20 tons of goods (shelf life: 60 years) – 300 Twisty Coins.
Five-tier, six-meter long heavy-duty storage shelving, double-layer storage and sales structure, each layer capable of holding 8 tons of goods (shelf life: 20 years) – 20 Twisty Coins.
Considering they didn’t have much money and their current stock wasn’t large, they ultimately ordered the third type of shelving—affordable and practical.
Right after paying the Twisty Coins, the System popped up with: 【Would you like one-click inventory organization?】
Wei Cheng selected 【Yes】. The next second, the rice, flour, and food in the safe house automatically appeared on the six-meter-long shelves. Immediately after, the entire space underwent a dramatic transformation!
The originally cramped safe house, as small as a bathroom, expanded into a room of over thirty square meters!
Can Can gasped in a hushed voice: “Gege, this looks like a home.”
Wei Cheng smiled and said, “When we’ve stocked enough supplies, Gege will buy you a small bed, a soft sofa, and a television.”
“Can Can watch Ultraman every day?”
“You can watch, but not every day.” Wei Cheng tapped Can Can’s eyes and said with a smile, “Watching every day will turn Can Can into a little panda with four eyes. When monsters come, you’ll be scrambling to find your glasses.”
Can Can yawned, rubbing his snow-white cheek against Wei Cheng’s hand: “Gege, Can Can doesn’t want to become a little panda, and doesn’t want to be caught by monsters.”
“You won’t. Gege will protect you.”
After Can Can fell asleep, Wei Cheng checked the Twisty Coin balance and began stocking up on supplies in a big way.
He stocked two hundred bags each of 20kg rice and 25kg flour, and another hundred barrels of soybean oil.
This time, he focused on stocking salt, which would be extremely scarce during the Apocalypse.
Edible salt in the Cloud Mall was very cheap—a 400g bag cost only a few dimes. Wei Cheng chose to stock up once and for all, buying fifty thousand yuan worth of salt.
This nearly depleted the money earned today and the remaining 22 Twisty Coins from before. Fortunately, the wiggle car’s transformation progress deepened.
【Twisty Coin Balance: 10】
【Safe House Stock Level: 5】
【Wiggle Car Transformation Progress: Initial Form 5 (Reach 10 to unlock dual-escape mode)】
Wei Cheng opened the safe house’s inventory list and saw the following:
Food Section
#Flour
Stock: 25kg * 300 bags
#Rice
Stock: 20kg * 350 bags
#Water
Stock: 20 19L barrels, 20 boxes of 500ml 24 bottles
#Edible Salt
Stock: 400g * 100,000 bags
#Instant Food
Inventory: Creamy instant noodles, children’s instant noodles50 buckets, self-heating rice120 boxes…
Water hasn’t been stockpiled enough, meat and eggs haven’t been stored at all, amoxicillin antibiotics, cold medicine, allergy medicine, and gas masks need to be prepared urgently!
Besides gold and salt, medicine, white sugar, and alcohol are even more essential hard currency in the Apocalypse, capable of trading for lives at critical moments!
A sense of urgency rose in Wei Cheng’s heart.
Author’s note:
[Laughing out loud]