Doomsday Grocery Store – CH29

Chapter 29 – This is Our Secret

Once you tell a lie, you need countless more to cover it up.

How could Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi know whether the children in the fortress went to school?

Well, if the fortress was a prosperous place, logically, it should have an education system—though the curriculum might differ from theirs.

Facing Granny Guo’s inquiry, Tang Yu’an could only nod vaguely and then change the topic: “So it’s not the hottest time yet?”

Granny Guo glanced at him but didn’t dwell on the question. She had asked because she thought of her grandson.

If not for the Great Cataclysm, Kangkang could go to school like other children, and her daughter wouldn’t have left her so early…

Granny Guo blinked, collecting her emotions, and nodded to Tang Yu’an.

“Yes, it’s not the hottest time yet.”

But feelings vary from person to person. Among the four present—including Kangkang—they only felt somewhat hot.

Except for Tang Yu’an.

He had only been standing outside for a short while, yet beads of sweat were already seeping from his forehead, sliding down his cheeks continuously, no matter how much he wiped.

His face, which had returned to normal, flushed red again.

While drinking water, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help fanning himself with his hand.

Seeing him so hot, Kangkang, standing beside him, kept waving his small hands, trying to bring him some coolness.

“In at least the next half month, the temperature will keep rising,” Granny Guo said, then paused, muttering, “But maybe not…”

“What do you mean, maybe not?”

“If it rains, it’ll cool down.”

Tang Yu’an looked up at the sky above—there wasn’t a cloud in sight. He felt that it was indeed unlikely, because since coming to this world, he hadn’t seen a day with rain—

Perhaps it rained at night, but he was asleep and didn’t know.

“Then in the next half month, you’re not planning to accelerate any more fruits?” Tang Yu’an thought for a moment and asked again, “You and Kangkang… will you have enough to eat?”

They already looked like they weren’t getting enough to eat, and if they saved even more to plant rice and ended up starving, that would be counterproductive.

Seeing the concern and worry in the boy’s eyes, Granny Guo was slightly stunned. She suddenly understood why they had refused the fruits she offered earlier.

For a moment, Granny Guo’s feelings became complicated.

She had wandered for half her life, experiencing all the warmth and coldness of the world. In this wasteland, apart from blood relatives, few truly cared about others’ life or death.

Thinking of her past experiences, she shook her head inwardly.

Not harming others was already considered extremely kind and virtuous.

Even with Old Li, though they had a good relationship, she was well aware that they were merely cooperating; Old Li wouldn’t care about her and Kangkang like this.

Surviving in this world wasn’t easy for anyone.

Such pure concern for others, like these boys showed… she hadn’t felt that in many years.

Moreover, she could tell that the two boys weren’t pretending; they genuinely expressed their feelings through actions. Perhaps… only the fortress could cultivate such children.

Though somewhat skeptical, Granny Guo still felt an indescribable touch in her heart.

“We have enough; you don’t need to worry about that.”

Granny Guo said, “Planting these rice plants is to make sure Kangkang can have enough to eat; we won’t put the cart before the horse.”

She just didn’t have extra fruits to give others. Besides, there were still mushrooms. Although not very nutritious, they grew fast, consumed less energy to accelerate, and could be exchanged if needed.

“Oh, that’s good then.”

Tang Yu’an nodded but still didn’t accept her fruits. Although he wanted to use that loophole-exploiting method to earn more points, he was afraid Granny Guo would think he was crazy.

That method could only be used with the young Kangkang, so he decided to let it go.

But…

Tang Yu’an opened the map to check and confirmed there were no outsiders nearby—as long as potential customers appeared near him, a green dot would sync on the map; he didn’t need to interact with them.

Of course, if the person left before he could turn them into a customer, the green dot would disappear as they moved away.

After ensuring safety, Tang Yu’an looked up at Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi understood and pretended to take out a bag of polished rice from his backpack—or rather, from the portable warehouse.

The rice weighed about one jin (500 grams), worth 5 points.

“Granny Guo, we’d like to trade some rice with you for mushrooms,” he said softly.

As previously discussed, Granny Guo and Old Li seemed trustworthy for now, so they decided to take out a bit of good stuff to exchange.

Of course, the main reason Zhou Qi agreed to this decision was that they now had some ability to protect themselves.

Not to mention the Happy Marble, even with just the Shadow Umbrella, they could easily escape if something went wrong, and the grocery store was far from these customers, so there was no immediate risk of exposure.

When Zhou Qi took out the bag of rice and showed the white grains to Granny Guo, she was already stunned.

“This rice… to exchange for mushrooms?” The old woman’s voice trembled slightly. “This is polished, processed rice?”

As someone who grew up in a peaceful world before the Great Cataclysm, how could she not know that relying on mushrooms and fruits as staple food would lead to malnutrition and might even cause diseases?

But she had no choice; being thin and sick was better than starving to death.

But she had an obsession with grains, especially rice. That’s why, after obtaining good seeds, she was so determined to cultivate them.

She wanted Kangkang to eat rice, to live healthily, and not repeat his mother’s fate.

She originally thought she’d have to work hard for a few more months before Kangkang could eat rice, but now… these two boys, who had provided her with good seeds, had brought out a bag of white rice!

“Yes, this is polished rice; it can’t be used as seeds,” Tang Yu’an added.

In fact, considering that Granny Guo and her grandson had provided them with so many points, giving them this one jin of rice for free wouldn’t be too much.

But out of caution and to foster a good trading relationship, they decided to exchange something—

Mushrooms were great; whether made into soup, stir-fried, or fried, they could be delicious, and it wouldn’t be a big burden for Granny Guo.

“You… you…”

Granny Guo looked at the two boys, feeling a bit at a loss.

In her view, mushrooms were ubiquitous and easy to grow, with nutritional value far inferior to carefully cultivated rice, not to mention that this was finely processed rice.

Zhou Qi and Tang Yu’an were trading polished rice for her mushrooms—it was practically charity for her and her grandson.

They even used exchanging mushrooms as an excuse to spare her feelings.

The boys’ kindness was not superficial; they were genuinely helping her and her grandson through actions. How could Granny Guo not be moved?

“Granny, we haven’t eaten mushrooms for a long time; please trade with us,” Tang Yu’an said with a warm smile.

Looking at the boy’s sincere and enthusiastic smile, Granny Guo finally nodded. After all, even for her grandson’s health, she couldn’t refuse a bag of rice.

“Alright, you wait… never mind, come inside.”

Seeing Tang Yu’an sweating profusely, Granny Guo quickly changed her mind and pulled him into the house.

Inside, there was insulation, and with plants growing, as soon as he entered Granny Guo’s home, Tang Yu’an felt a coolness, instantly feeling revived.

He and Kangkang sat on stone stools drinking water, while Zhou Qi followed Granny Guo, pouring the rice into a container in her home, then using the bag to pack mushrooms.

Granny Guo kept picking mushrooms and stuffing them into his bag until it was full and still wanted to add more, but Zhou Qi refused.

“Granny, this is enough; we’ll come back for more after we finish these.”

Hearing this, Granny Guo finally stopped.

[Employee “Zhou Qi” completed a profitable transaction with a regular customer. Credits +37, Experience +1]

Tang Yu’an had observed that Granny Guo gave them about forty mushrooms. Subtracting the 5 points for the one jin of rice, they had 37 points left.

So each mushroom was worth about 1 point? Although the individual points were small, the quantity made up for it. Compared to less than 1 point for an arrow, mushrooms were much more cost-effective!

Seeing such a large point difference, Tang Yu’an felt increasingly embarrassed.

After completing the transaction, Zhou Qi volunteered to fetch water for Granny Guo. She didn’t want to trouble them further, but Zhou Qi grabbed a wooden bucket and ran off; she couldn’t catch up and had to let him go.

“Really not going to eat some fruit?” She asked Tang Yu’an again.

“Yes, just drinking water is fine,” Tang Yu’an insisted with a smile.

Granny Guo sighed and didn’t say more.

She found a sealable jar and carefully stored the rice they traded, then told Tang Yu’an and Kangkang to stay inside and keep cool, while she went back to tend to the rice plants outside.

Seeing Granny Guo leave and only Kangkang with him, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Great, he could exploit the bug to earn points again!

Kangkang still remembered the three mutated lantern fruits from yesterday and ran to get them.

“Kangkang, let’s play the game from yesterday again,” Tang Yu’an said with a smile.

Kangkang’s eyes lit up. Sure enough, big brother was playing a game with him yesterday!

“Okay.” He nodded excitedly.

Just like yesterday, Tang Yu’an traded one glucose solution for one mutated lantern fruit, earning 147 points from Kangkang—if the other lantern fruits had matured and could be picked, he’d have earned even more.

Then, he returned the three mutated lantern fruits to him as a loss-making trade, promising to come back tomorrow.

Kangkang drank the sweet water, nodding eagerly.

He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Tang Yu’an felt that the little guy’s complexion seemed slightly better than before.

Of course, it was just a little, not very noticeable.

“Kangkang, are you hungry?” he asked.

Kangkang nodded, then shook his head, “Drink water, sweet!”

“Just drinking water won’t fill you up.” Tang Yu’an said, washing his little hands with clean water, then pretending to take out a red bean paste bun from his backpack.

Freshly steamed buns from the morning, plump and white, had been stored in his portable warehouse shortly after coming out of the steamer, still steaming hot, exuding the unique aroma of rice flour.

Seeing the big white bun, Kangkang’s eyes widened slightly, and he instinctively began to swallow.

He had never eaten such food as buns, but the aroma of carbohydrates made him immediately realize that the round white thing Brother Tang took out was edible.

“Kangkang, this is sweet too; want to try?” Tang Yu’an tore the bun in half, handing one half to him with a smile.

The aroma of rice flour became even stronger.

Kangkang swallowed, unable to resist the temptation, holding the warm bun carefully, and took a small bite.

The snowy white bun skin was fluffy and soft. After chewing and dissolving in his mouth, there was a faint sweetness, not as strong as sugar’s sweetness, but…

“Growl—”

After just one bite, Kangkang’s stomach growled loudly.

Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but chuckle, “Haha, is it good?”

“Mm, delicious!”

“If it’s delicious, eat it while it’s hot; it won’t taste as good when it cools down.”

Kangkang had been underfed for a long time, and children’s stomachs are fragile—this was something Tang Yu’an learned from taking care of his younger sister, so he didn’t dare give him too much at once.

He ate the remaining half himself.

“Don’t just look at me; eat up.” Tang Yu’an said, cheeks puffed, his voice somewhat muffled.

Kangkang nodded, holding the half bun bigger than his small hand, imitating Tang Yu’an, opening his mouth and taking a big bite.

He chewed the fluffy and tasty bun skin in his mouth, feeling that he had never eaten anything so delicious before. It warmed his stomach, making him feel especially comfortable.

The little boy squinted his eyes in happiness.

“If you feel it sticking, drink some water.” Tang Yu’an had brewed a big cup of glucose solution in his thermos.

“Thank you, brother,” the child said obediently.

Watching him eat with puffed cheeks, like a little hamster, Tang Yu’an suddenly felt his eyes moisten.

Maybe children’s voices sound similar; hearing Kangkang call him brother reminded him of his little sister when she was young.

He wondered how that little girl was now? Was she listening to their parents? Did she… miss him?

Tang Yu’an felt a sourness in his nose, quickly shook his head, and continued eating his bun.

Perhaps sensing his emotions, Kangkang looked at him somewhat helplessly, then moved closer, his small body snuggling against him, as if offering comfort.

“It’s okay.”

Tang Yu’an had already suppressed those bad emotions, smiling, “Eat up; don’t just eat the bun skin; the filling inside is also delicious.”

“This is red bean paste, sweet and fragrant; you’ll like it.”

He pointed to the red bean paste filling: “It might be a bit hot; just blow on it like this before eating.”

Kangkang followed his instructions, gently blowing before bringing it to his mouth. The red bean paste stuck to his lips; he licked lightly, and his eyes lit up.

“Sweet, delicious!” Kangkang said happily.

“Hehe, didn’t I tell you?”

Seeing Kangkang enjoy it so much, Tang Yu’an felt very pleased.

But after eating half, Kangkang stopped and said, “For Granny!”

Tang Yu’an couldn’t help rubbing his head. Kangkang’s relationship with Granny Guo was so close; he always thought of sharing everything with her.

But…

“Kangkang, this is for you,” Tang Yu’an said. “You can’t tell Granny for now.”

Kangkang looked at him in confusion.

“It’s our secret,” Tang Yu’an said. “Can you keep a secret?”

Kangkang thought for a moment, a bit disappointed but still nodded.

“Mm, I can,” he said in his childish voice.

Tang Yu’an rubbed his head again, “Kangkang is so good.”

Even so, his mood wasn’t great.

If they were still in their original world, he could openly share buns and steamed bread with Granny Guo and Grandpa Li, without having to sneak pieces to Kangkang.

But now wasn’t the time.

Perhaps later, when everyone’s resources increased and even if they took out more things, it wouldn’t arouse greed, then they could do as they pleased.

Zhou Qi went to fetch water, running back and forth three times, finally filling Granny Guo’s water tank, and even filling a plastic box. Then they left together.

Granny Guo and Kangkang watched their figures disappear among the ruins.

Remembering that before leaving, Tang Yu’an had told her not to cook too much for Kangkang at lunch, Granny Guo reached out to touch Kangkang’s belly, which was indeed full, clearly well-fed.

“Brother An gave you food?” she asked.

Kangkang covered his mouth, refusing to speak. When pressed, he finally shouted, “Secret, can’t tell!”

Hearing this, Granny Guo wasn’t angry but smiled with relief.

“Alright, if you won’t tell, I won’t ask.”

Then, after tending to the rice plants, she couldn’t help returning to the house, taking out the jar of rice, and looking at it carefully. As she looked, her eyes began to redden.

“Granny…”

Kangkang ran to her side, reaching out his small hand to hug her thin leg.

“Kangkang, Granny is fine, just very happy… so happy…” Granny Guo squatted down, embracing her grandson, tears slowly welling in her eyes.

It was the first time young Kangkang realized that people could cry when they were happy.

*

Nearing twelve o’clock, the sun hung high.

The weather was becoming increasingly hot.

Turning a corner, Tang Yu’an hurriedly took out the Shadow Umbrella to hold over his head, feeling that if he were a second slower, the hair on his head would catch fire.

“Are you okay?” Zhou Qi asked.

“I’m fine, much better,” Tang Yu’an felt the coolness brought by the Shadow Umbrella and couldn’t help but sigh.

No wonder it’s a wasteland world; the weather can be this hot. No wonder so much land is barren, with sparse vegetation even without human activity.

“Are we going to find Sister Lin next?” Tang Yu’an asked.

“Yes, let’s get the experience points, then find new customers,” Zhou Qi replied.

All other daily tasks were completed; only the task of attracting two new customers hadn’t started.

“Alright, let’s check on A-Mu as well.”

Tang Yu’an opened the map and began directing Zhou Qi towards Lin Zhen’s home.

On the way, recalling Granny Guo’s decision, he couldn’t help saying, “Brother Qi, should we give Granny Guo other seeds?”

Previously, they had taken out brown rice to trade, mainly because it could be exchanged at the grocery store, and they were used to eating rice, so when thinking of grains, they thought of rice. But they hadn’t expected the climate conditions in the wasteland world.

In such hot and arid weather, rice was obviously not suitable for planting; just fetching water was troublesome.

If the weather kept getting hotter and it didn’t rain, water sources might dry up. People wouldn’t have enough to drink, let alone have extra to plant rice.

Zhou Qi didn’t deny his idea but asked, “What seeds do you want to give her?”

Hearing this, Tang Yu’an began counting the grain seeds they currently had: besides brown rice, there was wheat, soybeans, red beans, green beans…

Wait, beans?

Suddenly thinking of something, he quickly said, “Brother Qi, what do you think about potatoes? Potatoes are filling; eating one can make you full.”

The potatoes were leftovers from home; they had five left.

He remembered his mother saying that potatoes would sprout if left for too long, and sprouted potatoes couldn’t be eaten, so those five potatoes should be used for planting without needing special potato seeds.

“It’s just that I don’t know what environment potatoes need to grow or what the yield is.” As a child who had graduated from elementary school just over a month ago and had just started middle school, Tang Yu’an had undoubtedly hit his knowledge blind spot.

Zhou Qi hadn’t planted potatoes either. He only heard in class that potatoes had high starch content, strong vitality, and vaguely remembered that the yield wasn’t bad.

“Potatoes will sprout if left at home for a long time, proving they’re easy to grow, at least easier than rice.”

The fact that they didn’t need so much water was already a big advantage.

“We can ask her next time,” Zhou Qi said. “Just say we found them in the wild and ask if she recognizes them.”

“Mm, good idea!”

Tang Yu’an nodded, “If we switch to potatoes, Granny Guo can wait until the weather isn’t so hot to plant rice.”

With some leeway, she could continue to grow fruits!

After making this decision, Tang Yu’an felt relieved. Holding the umbrella in one hand and Zhou Qi’s arm in the other, he happily went to find Lin Zhen.

*

In such hot weather, Lin Zhen naturally didn’t go out.

Her house had good insulation—with an extra layer on top and many plants she had grown, even in hot weather, it was cooler than elsewhere.

Yesterday, following Zhou Qi’s suggestion, she opened a hole for ventilation. Sitting there, she didn’t feel hot at all.

As for the three eggs, A-Mu had started incubating them.

Perhaps the instinct for reproduction was engraved in genes. The big parrot, initially resistant to the task, quickly got the hang of incubating the eggs.

It diligently nestled on the eggs, not needing Lin Zhen’s reminders, occasionally getting up to turn them, then continuing to incubate.

But staying in the nest all day was indeed boring, so Lin Zhen kept it company.

“Come on, small or big? Place your bets!”

A-Mu rolled its eyes, then pulled out a feather from the nest with its beak and placed it on “big.”

“Decided? Ready to reveal!”

“Open! Open! Open!”

The big parrot shook the feathers on its head, shouting excitedly.

“Alright, as you wish!”

“Lin Jie-Jie—” (Sister Lin)

Just as Lin Zhen lifted the overturned wooden bowl, she heard a familiar call. Looking over, she saw a boy had appeared outside her window at some point.

And as Tang Yu’an stood outside calling her, he saw with his own eyes—

The big parrot, which had been properly nesting on the eggs, suddenly stretched its neck, used its beak to flip a dice from “1” to “6,” then quickly retracted.

When Lin Zhen turned back, it hurriedly pretended to preen its feathers.

“Wait a moment,” Lin Zhen said to Tang Yu’an and the others, then looked down and counted the dice, “2, 3, 6—big!”

Tang Yu’an’s mouth opened slightly, and A-Mu suddenly turned its head to look at him, blinking anxiously, putting on a cute and pleading expression.

Lin Zhen helplessly said, “Alright, this round you win.”

Then she took the feather the big parrot had pulled out and stuck it back into its nest, then opened a bag and said to A-Mu, “Choose one.”

“Red! Red! The red one!”

So, Lin Zhen took out a bright red, quite beautiful feather from the bird feathers she usually collected and stuck it on the big parrot’s head.

The big parrot immediately held its head high, shook its feathers, and let out a “ga ga ga” laugh, looking very proud.

Tang Yu’an: “…”