Can Can had slept late last night, so he woke up a bit later in the morning.
When he groggily opened his eyes, he saw Gege sitting by the bed reading a book.
Suddenly, his nose twitched, and he sniffed around like a fluffy puppy. Spotting something on the bedside table, he exclaimed, “Peach!”
Wei Cheng put the book in his hand into the safe house—it was a pathology book he had bought yesterday from the educational resources section.
“Can Can’s awake?”
Can Can held up the freshly washed peach from the bedside table, raising it high. “Gege, it’s a peach!”
“Mhm, it’s a peach.”
Wei Cheng took the newly bought comb and started combing Can Can’s hair, noticing a few stubborn strands that wouldn’t lie flat no matter how he combed them.
He asked, “Does Can Can want a haircut?”
Can Can hugged the big peach tightly. “No haircut.”
“How about Gege ties a little ponytail for you?”
Can Can asked, “Like Qi Qi’s little ponytails?”
“Qi Qi has long hair, so she ties two little ponytails. You can just tie one on top of your head.”
Can Can pinched his chin and thought for a moment, as if genuinely considering it. “Then you have to make it pretty for Can Can.”
“Such a vain little Can Can.”
Wei Cheng opened the Cloud Mall and selected four or five hair ties with little animals on them. “Which one do you want to wear?”
Can Can pointed to a mango-colored puppy hair tie. “This one!”
Tying up a bit of his curly hair this way made the child look much neater.
After tying it, Wei Cheng held up a mirror for him to see. “How is it?”
“Wow!”
There wasn’t a trace of dislike in Can Can’s eyes—only pure admiration for his own cuteness.
“Gege, can we have a puppy someday?”
Wei Cheng hesitated. He didn’t know how to refuse Can Can. In a post-apocalyptic escape, a puppy’s barking could easily attract Zombies.
He also didn’t want to lie to the child. “Can Can, we can’t have a puppy right now. But if one day we find a safe place where we can live and survive long-term, we can not only have one puppy but many puppies.”
“Then Can Can will give the puppy the cutest name!”
“Okay, I hope that day comes soon.”
After breakfast, Wei Cheng opened the task board section and saw that a new task had been waiting for a while.
【Task Board Section】
【Daily Tasks】
(1) Learn ten Chinese characters 【1 Twisty Coin per character】
【Beginner Tasks】
(1) Kind-hearted baby, use your brain to remind others to stock up on supplies actively 【10 Twisty Coins per person, valid for three days】
The so-called “use your brain to remind others to stock up on supplies” meant they had to remind people to stock up without revealing their knowledge of the future. This task was actually quite challenging—who would believe two children?
But as long as one person successfully stocked up, they could earn ten thousand yuan.
Can Can carried his Little Yellow Duck Backpack, which held a peach and a water bottle. “Gege, what task are we going to do?”
Wei Cheng thought for a moment. “First, I’ll teach you to recognize characters.”
Can Can was very smart. Although he could be playful and greedy for snacks, he was always the most obedient when Gege taught him. Even when Wang Xiao Tiao tried to lure him away with a Watermelon Ball, he gritted his teeth and ignored it.
Hard work paid off for little Can Can. In just half an hour, he successfully learned ten Chinese characters.
Wei Cheng noticed Can Can’s restlessness and smiled. “Leave the task to Gege to figure out. Go play Watermelon Ball with Wang Xiao Tiao and the others.”
He already had two ideas in mind—livestreaming and handing out flyers.
For the livestream, we’ll need Teacher Xiao Mei’s help, but who knows when she’ll be back.
As for handing out flyers…
Wei Cheng took out a piece of paper, wrote a few lines on it, and then went downstairs with Can Can’s Little Yellow Duck Backpack.
“Gege!”
Can Can was sweating all over from playing. Wei Cheng took out the new puppy cup he had bought for him from the backpack: “Come on, take a break and have some water.”
Can Can gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, his eyes sparkling: “Gege, are we going to do the task now?”
“Mm, Gege has thought of a way.”
Wei Cheng said: “Let’s go to the small supermarket we visited yesterday.”
The supermarket owner recognized Wei Cheng, who was young but very handsome, and the adorable, chubby little Can Can.
“What do you two brothers want to buy?”
Wei Cheng said: “Boss, our elementary school gave us a summer homework assignment to help shops distribute flyers and experience the hardships of our parents’ labor. Does your supermarket need us to hand out flyers for free?”
The owner blinked: “I don’t quite understand. You mean you’ll help my supermarket distribute promotional flyers to attract people to come and buy things, right?”
“Yes, does your supermarket have any items that need promotion?”
The owner slapped her thigh: “Yes, there are quite a few! In summer, filled bread doesn’t keep well, plus there are some freshly squeezed juices and milk, as well as eggs, white sugar, and such.”
Wei Cheng said: “Alright, then I’ll help you write a promotional flyer. Can you take us to a nearby print shop to get it printed?”
“No need to go to a print shop, we can print it here at home!”
The owner was also a straightforward person: “You two kids are giving me free ideas and handing out flyers for me, I won’t charge you for the printing!”
Wei Cheng said: “I need to print a hundred copies, boss, you should still take the money.”
In the end, the owner only charged for fifty copies.
Looking at the promotional copy Wei Cheng had written, the owner glanced at him a few more times: “You must be the top student in your class, right? I could never write something like this. You’re so young, how do you write so well? Which calligraphy class did your mom enroll you in?”
Wei Cheng smiled without answering.
He had lived with that elderly professor couple for five years. Wei Cheng provided them with daily necessities, and they, in turn, wholeheartedly taught him many things and life skills.
Wei Cheng was essentially their last student in this world.
Finally, with a hundred color-printed flyers in hand, the owner also gave each of them a lollipop.
Wei Cheng looked at the sun, then took Can Can to hide in a corner and secretly bought two hats and two sun-protective jackets.
Can Can held the lollipop in his mouth: “Gege, the candy is so yummy!”
Wei Cheng put the hat on him: “The orange-flavored one is for you too, but you have to stay close to Gege and not run around. We might have to cross the street later to go to that park with lots of people.”
Can Can patted his chest: “Can Can is good, Can Can won’t cause trouble!”
Wei Cheng took Can Can across the traffic light to the small park on the other side.
This park had dense trees and a babbling stream, making it a perfect spot for taking kids out or going on dates.
Wei Cheng saw an elderly lady pushing a stroller and quickly ran over: “Grandma, the Fu Family Supermarket across the street is having a big sale. Buy a bag of flour and get five eggs free, and ten bread rolls for only five yuan. Would you like to stock up on some things?”
The elderly woman glanced at them and took the flyer, adjusting her glasses as she read aloud: “Stock up on food for peace of mind! Carnival discount prices, deals only today, miss it and wait a year…”
“Buy milk and get free sugar too?”
The woman tucked the flyer into the stroller: “Perfect, I need to buy some milk and sugar anyway.”
Can Can lifted her little face to promote: “Granny, buy lots of sugar! Sugar is yummy, Can Can loves it!”
The baby in the stroller sucked on its fingers and giggled at Can Can.
Elderly folks tend to adore chubby, fair-skinned children. She patted Can Can’s little hat: “If you love it, it must be really tasty. Granny will buy more.”
Wei Cheng reminded her with a smile: “There’s a WeChat group on the flyer. If you want to stock up on more promotional items, you can apply to join.”
“Alright, I’ll add it later.”
The two watched as the woman pushed the stroller across the street and entered Fufu Supermarket.
Not long after, a chime sounded in their minds: 【Congratulations! Successfully reminded a passerby to stock up actively. Reward: 10 Twisty Coins!】
Ten thousand yuan earned!
The two children exchanged a happy glance.
Can Can grabbed the flyers with newfound vigor: “Gege! Let’s go hand out more flyers!”
But unexpectedly, Can Can’s enthusiasm was quickly dampened by a couple.
While many people dislike receiving flyers, ignoring them or tossing them in the trash is common, but maliciously cursing at someone is just too much.
Before Can Can could even approach, the young couple shouted impatiently: “Get lost, trash!”
Can Can froze, staring blankly at her brother.
Wei Cheng held back his anger again and again. The police station was nearby, and now wasn’t the time for a fight. He also didn’t want to scare Can Can.
He picked Can Can up and said, “Let’s go.” Although they were handing out flyers to accumulate Twisty Coins, the System’s ultimate goal was for them to remind as many people as possible to stock up, helping them survive the Apocalypse.
“There are all kinds of people in this world. Kind words can’t persuade those destined to die,” Wei Cheng said. “Can Can, don’t be upset because of people like that.”
Can Can hummed in agreement, wiggling her little legs: “Can Can isn’t upset!”
For the rest of the time, they targeted their flyer distribution, usually giving them to elderly people, aunties with children, and some gentle-looking young women and men.
The rest of the flyer distribution went smoothly, and they didn’t encounter any more rude people.
The System’s reminder chimes sounded intermittently in their ears, and the stack of flyers in their hands grew thinner and thinner.
Wei Cheng felt it was about time and decided to take Can Can back: “Gege will buy you milk tea?”
Can Can, who had been feeling a bit tired, suddenly perked up: “Yes, yes! Want milk tea!”
Wei Cheng stuffed the remaining flyers into the little backpack and picked up the chubby Can Can: “You must be exhausted today, right? Gege will carry you back.”
Can Can obediently wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck: “Can Can isn’t tired. Being with Gege makes Can Can as happy as the sun.”
The milk tea shop was a bit crowded at this time. Wei Cheng helped Can Can choose a strawberry yogurt jelly tea.
Can Can looked around, huffing and puffing as she pulled out the flyers from her little backpack: “Can Can can still hand them out!”
Gege said to give more to aunties with children.
So Can Can headed straight for a stroller, where she saw a little baby chewing on its hand inside, but no adult nearby.
The two babies stared at each other for a long time.
The little baby pouted, then suddenly burst into tears.
Can Can took a step back, trembling with fear, the flesh under his chin quivering. Seeing a woman approaching, he quickly said, “Auntie, auntie, come quick, your baby is ringing!”
Hearing this, the woman hurriedly picked up the child from the stroller. Behind her followed a tall boy wearing a basketball jersey.
At that moment, Wei Cheng also walked over with Can Can’s milk tea. He recognized the boy as the one who had given them bottles that day.
“It’s you guys!” the boy smiled.
As soon as the woman picked up the child, the baby stopped crying instantly.
She glanced at Wei Cheng and Can Can. “Are these the two kids you mentioned?”
The boy said proudly, “Yeah! That day we did a good deed, and someone even treated us to drinks!”
Can Can stood on tiptoe and handed the flyer to the tall boy. “Here you go.”
The boy glanced at the flyer. “You guys are amazing! Are you handing out flyers to earn money again?”
Wei Cheng nodded. Since this boy had helped them once, he added a few more words. “Please support Fu Family Supermarket. Their products are really cheap, and stocking up won’t hurt.”
Wei Cheng left with Can Can. The boy said, “Mom, if we go to Fu Family Supermarket to buy the things on the flyer, will these two kids earn some money too?”
The woman looked down at the flyer. “Probably. We’re out of flour at home, and you’ve been nagging about wanting dumplings. Since it’s cheap, you can go stock up on a few bags.”
The boy said, “Okay!”
He thought for a moment, took a photo of the flyer, and sent it to his family group chat of over forty people, as well as to his basketball buddies’ group.
The image of these two kids picking up bottles was just too pitiful. If they could help, they should lend a hand!
Winged God’s Eggplant: Bros, please support Fu Family Supermarket! This is the flyer from those two kids who were picking up scraps that day!
People kept replying with “1.”
: Wow, that curly-haired chubby kid is so adorable! I wish he were my little brother!
: Then tell your mom to adopt him!
: But I think the boy next to the chubby kid looks a bit scary, like he’d bite anyone to death if they tried to take his brother!
Winged God’s Eggplant: Everyone, feel free to share it around too!
: OK, I’ll forward it to the neighborhood group!
: I’ll forward it to the neighborhood group too!
.
Wei Cheng and Can Can were chatting and laughing as they were about to enter the welfare institute when they saw Director Wang and Li Yun standing by the small gate.
Next to them stood Zhou Zihao and a few other older kids, hanging their heads in dejection, clearly having been scolded.
Ming Ming, Wang Xiaotiao, and Qi Qi watched them nervously near the Slide.
Li Yun sneered, “Director, what did I tell you? This Wei Cheng is really corrupting the kids in the institute. I never heard about Zhou Zihao and the others sneaking out to play before!”
“Don’t jump to conclusions! I’ve caught Zhou Zihao and the others sneaking out to play several times already!”
Director Wang said sternly with a dark expression, “Wei Cheng, tell me, where did you take Can Can?”
Wei Cheng replied calmly, “We went for a walk in the park and then watched the older kids play basketball at the court.”
Director Wang’s gaze fell on Can Can’s milk tea. He narrowed his eyes. “Where did you get the money to buy these harmful drinks?”
Can Can lowered his head, his small hands tightly clutching the milk tea.
Wei Cheng said, “Someone gave it to us.”
Li Yun retorted, “Someone gave it to you? Who would give you milk tea? I’ve lost a lot of money. Did you steal it?”
Wei Cheng said coldly, “The police station is nearby. If you lost money, why aren’t you reporting it to the police? Why are you questioning me?”
Li Yun choked with anger: “You little brat, was it you who led Zhou Zihao and the others to steal money!”
“Zhou Zihao and the others have already admitted it—they stole your money to go to the internet cafe. Wei Cheng and Can Can just sneaked out to play.”
Director Wang gave her a disapproving glance.
He continued, “Zhou Zihao, you five, I’ve already called your relatives. They’ll come pick you up after the busy farming season.”
The remaining boy’s mother had passed away, and his father was in prison but would be released in a couple of days to fetch him.
Zhou Zihao and the others didn’t want to return to the remote countryside: “Grandpa Director, we don’t want to go back…”
Director Wang waved his hand. “Go back. You’re only learning bad habits here—stealing money, going to internet cafes, skipping classes. I even found cigarette butts under your beds! Is this any way to behave? Instead of wasting your days here, you’d be better off going home to farm!”
Wei Cheng lowered his brows in thought. This was a change that hadn’t happened in his previous life.
Perhaps if Zhou Zihao and the others returned to the countryside, they might actually manage to survive.
Zhou Zihao pretended to cry. “Grandpa Director, if I go back, no one will take care of me. I’ll starve to death!”
“Grandpa Director, we know we were wrong. We promise to behave!”
“We’ll never steal money again. Please don’t send us back!”
Director Wang said angrily, “Stealing money wasn’t a one-time thing for you. Now you’ve even started smoking. I’m afraid if you don’t go back soon, you’ll end up committing crimes!”
There was no room for argument. These children were only temporarily fostered at the welfare center and were supposed to return to their own homes once their families’ financial situations improved.
The children hung their heads and left. Director Wang then scolded Wei Cheng: “If you dare sneak out with Can Can again, I’ll call your uncle to come pick you up.”
Can Can anxiously waved his hands. “Grandpa Director, it was Can Can who wanted to go out! It’s not Gege’s fault!”
Director Wang shot him a sidelong glance. “You wanted to go out? Then you can leave too!”
Can Can scratched his little face. “Oh, okay…”
Wei Cheng said, “Grandpa Director, I know I was wrong. There are lots of cars and bad people outside, and Can Can is still so young. Taking him out to play was very dangerous. Don’t worry, from now on, without your or Teacher Xiao Mei’s permission, I won’t sneak out with Can Can again.”
Seeing that it was his first offense and his attitude was good, Director Wang sighed. “It’s good that you understand. Fine, I won’t punish you this time, but if there’s a next time, you’ll be severely punished.”
Can Can followed his brother for a few steps, then turned back and stuffed the orange-flavored lollipop he hadn’t been willing to eat into Grandpa Director’s hand.
“Grandpa Director, don’t be mad at Can Can. If you get sick from anger, no one can take your place.”
Director Wang took a deep breath. “You talk too much! Hurry up and go wash your hands for dinner!”
Can Can giggled twice, took his brother’s hand, and ran off to eat.
“Strawberry milk tea!”
Can Can generously shared the milk tea with his little friends. “Drink up!”
The children happily sipped from their little metal bowls.
“Treasure it, drink it slowly.”
Can Can savored the strawberry milk tea flavor in his mouth. Crossing his legs, his little face filled with emotion, he said, “From now on, Can Can and Gege won’t be able to sneak out to buy milk tea and grilled sausages.”
Ming Ming pointed outside and shook his head.
He meant it was dangerous outside, so they shouldn’t go out.
Wang Xiaotiao said, “If Zhou Zihao and the others leave, can we play on the slide every day?”
“Yeah!”
The children were somewhat delighted, quietly tapping the small iron basin in celebration.
Fortunately, Wei Cheng and Can Can had managed to distribute the remaining flyers on their way back.
However, they had handed out a total of one hundred flyers today, and only forty-two people had gone to Fu Family Supermarket to shop.
Each person earned 10 Twisty Coins, so forty-two people amounted to 420 Twisty Coins, which converted to money was four hundred and twenty thousand!
Can Can asked in confusion, “Is four hundred and twenty thousand a lot of money?”
Wei Cheng nodded, “With this money, our lives for the next few years should be secure.”
Yet, the very next morning, as soon as they woke up, the System’s voice echoed in their ears.
【Congratulations! Successfully reminded 1 passerby to actively stock up, earning 10 Twisty Coins!】
【Congratulations! Successfully reminded 1 passerby to actively stock up, earning 10 Twisty Coins!】
…
【Congratulations! Accumulated reminders to 92 passersby to actively stock up, earning a total of 920 Twisty Coins!】
Wei Cheng was stunned for a moment. Nine hundred and twenty Twisty Coins!
How could so many people have gone to Fu Family Supermarket overnight?
Author’s Note:
We’re rich! [Laughing heartily]