Chapter 87: Not Wanting You to Be Too Tired
Under the shade of the trees, next to a makeshift dining table, Li Yu had prepared a bowl of cold noodles.
The noodles were made from dried packages they had salvaged earlier, boiled tender and then immediately rinsed in pre-chilled water. Drained and tossed with a savory sauce and a sprinkle of dried vegetables, the dish looked exceptionally refreshing and appetizing in the sweltering heat.
Lin Xiao and Chu Yang arrived almost at the same time. The sluggish complaints about having “no appetite” they had made back in the RV were entirely forgotten.
Chu Yang leaned right over the bowl, taking a deep whiff as his eyes lit up. He was a born foodie; in this ruined world, he could make do with almost anything, but when it came to good food, he could never resist the temptation.
Li Yu was amused by their eager expressions. Scooping generous portions into large bowls, she remarked with a smile, “It’s too hot today, so I could only whip up something light. It’s a pity my cooking is pretty average. If Sister Li were making this, the aroma alone would have you coming back for two more bowls.”
Chu Yang and Lin Xiao, who had both buried their faces in their food, paused mid-bite. Lifting their heads with full mouths and puffed-out cheeks, they asked in muffled voices, “Sister Li? Who’s that? Is she a good cook?”
“She’s amazing!” Li Yu nodded enthusiastically, a look of nostalgic longing on her face. “It’s Wang Li, the woman with the little girl. You have no idea—back when we found some plain potatoes and flour, anyone else would have just made a bland paste or dry flatbread. But in Sister Li’s hands, those potatoes were shredded as fine as thread, and the pancakes she pan-fried were golden and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The aroma alone was enough to hook your soul! She used to run her own restaurant before the world ended; her culinary skills are the real deal!”
Chu Yang and Lin Xiao traded a look, instantly catching the exact same spark in each other’s eyes. It was the purest craving of two dedicated food lovers, and a brilliant idea sprang to life in both their minds simultaneously.
Chu Yang quickly swallowed his mouthful of noodles, took a sip of water to clear his throat, and turned to Jiang Jue, who was quietly enjoying his meal nearby.
Putting on a serious, composed face to hide his greedy intentions, Chu Yang said solemnly, “Brother Jiang, look, our squad is growing bigger and bigger by the day.”
Jiang Jue raised his eyes and gave him a calm glance without a word, pausing his chopsticks as he waited for the pitch.
“Even though some of us know how to cook, and what you and Su Mubai make is quite good,” Chu Yang rubbed his hands together, his tone turning sweet and persuasive, “we go out on dangerous runs to fight zombies and burn so much energy. Coming back exhausted just to spend hours boiling water and cooking over a stove is far too much work! I really hate seeing the two of you so worn out…”
Jiang Jue set his chopsticks down, his expression completely unreadable. “If you have a point, get straight to it.”
Chu Yang chuckled, leaning forward with undeniable excitement. “Brother Jiang, our food supplies and ingredients are pretty abundant right now, aren’t they? What if… what if we invite that Sister Li whom Li Yu mentioned to come over and be our dedicated cook? That way, you and Su Mubai can get proper rest, and the rest of us get to eat delicious, satisfying meals every single day! Isn’t that a total win-win?”
Lin Xiao chimed in instantly from the side. “Yes, exactly! Boss, Third Brother is truly looking out for you! Bringing in a dedicated cook while we guarantee her and her daughter’s safety is an incredible blessing for her in this wasteland. It’s an absolute win-win!”
Sitting across the table, Su Mubai glanced at Lin Xiao, seeing right through the act—the guy wasn’t worried about anyone being tired; he was just desperate for better food.
Jiang Jue’s calm gaze swept across the group.
Wang Qiang was nodding eagerly, catching Li Yu’s hopeful look.
Su Mubai gave a subtle nod as well, clearly finding the proposal sensible.
Little Yu looked from one person to the next, caught Chu Yang’s eye, and nodded along earnestly.
Finally, Jiang Jue looked back at Chu Yang, whose eager eyes were practically sparkling with anticipation.
Jiang Jue knew him all too well. Chu Yang was an incurable glutton at heart; whenever he caught the scent of good food, he could hardly pull himself away.
Looking at that expectant face, Jiang Jue felt his resolve soften.
“Alright,” Jiang Jue said, his face impassive and his tone steady. “Li Yu, go speak with her. If she agrees, she will be an official member of the squad from now on, with the exact same treatment as everyone else.”
“Understood!” Li Yu answered brightly, beaming with joy. “I’ll go talk to Sister Li right after lunch!”
Once the meal was over and the dishes were cleared, Li Yu made her way over to the quiet corner where the other survivors were resting.
Wang Li was sitting under an old locust tree, holding Niu Niu in her lap to shelter from the heat.
The tree’s sparse branches barely cast enough shadow to keep the sun off them. Niu Niu’s small face was flushed red from the heat, and she leaned limply against her mother’s chest, her eyelids heavy and listless.
“Sister Li,” Li Yu greeted softly, finding a clean stone to sit on nearby.
“Little Yu?” Wang Li looked up in surprise, her expression somewhat guarded. “Why did you come over? Is something the matter?”
Niu Niu opened her groggy eyes. Seeing Li Yu, she immediately reached out her tiny arms, whimpering softly to be held.
Li Yu gently took the toddler into her arms. Feeling the heat radiating from the child’s forehead, her heart ached with worry. “Is Niu Niu feeling sick? It’s so hot today—did she get heatstroke?”
Wang Li let out a helpless sigh. “Yes. Even though I made her drink plenty of water, the heat is just too intense, and she’s too young to handle it. She’s been completely wilted all day… Little Yu, did you need me for something?”
Li Yu dropped the small talk and got straight to the point, her voice turning earnest. “Sister Li, it’s wonderful news. I told our team about your incredible cooking, and the squad wants to formally invite you to join us. You would be in charge of making everyone’s meals from now on.”
Wang Li froze, the water bottle in her grip nearly slipping to the ground.
Her eyes went wide, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Invite… invite me to join? As an official member, just like you?”
“Yes!” Li Yu nodded firmly, explaining the details. “You will receive the exact same treatment and resources as every other core member. Your only responsibility will be preparing our three meals a day, while the team covers all food, housing, and protection for both you and Niu Niu. Simply put, it’s a stable, fully secured position.”
Wang Li’s heart pounded furiously against her ribs.
This was nothing short of a miracle dropping straight from the sky!
As an ordinary woman protecting a young child in this brutal apocalypse, she lived in constant terror, fearing that one day they would simply run out of ways to survive.
If she could formally join Jiang Jue’s powerful squad, Niu Niu’s chances of living through this nightmare would multiply exponentially!
“Is that… is that really true? Little Yu, are you sure? Do they genuinely… want me?” Her voice shook, and her eyes welled with tears.
“Of course it’s true!” Li Yu squeezed her hand reassuringly, her tone deeply sincere. “Sister Li, your culinary skills are fantastic, and everyone is eager to taste your cooking. Pack your things, come over to make dinner with us tonight, and you’ll be traveling alongside us from now on.”
“Thank you… thank you all so much…”
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