Doomsday Grocery Store – CH31

Chapter 31 – Cooking Method

Tie Jin hurried up the stairs and scooped the little girl into his arms.

“Why are you crying? Are you hungry?” Holding the child, the man appeared utterly helpless, his gruff voice softened to a near falsetto. Gone was the intimidating aura from moments before.

What a striking contrast!

Tang Yu’an peeked out from behind Zhou Qi, curiously observing them.

Lin Zhen was equally astonished. She looked at the little girl, then at Tie Jin’s unusually tender expression, and couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle Jin, when did you have a daughter?”

Tie Jin descended the stairs with the little girl in his arms.

The girl seemed very young—she might not even reach Tie Jin’s knee. She wore a small dress made from dirty rags. Resting listlessly against Tie Jin’s shoulder, she resembled a fragile porcelain doll.

Lin Zhen circled around them, her gaze shifting between their faces.

Despite Tie Jin’s full beard and eyes beginning to turn golden due to his abilities, his features were distinctly East Asian.

But the little girl he held was different.

She had deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and curly reddish-brown hair. Her eyes were hazel. While her exact ethnicity was unclear, it was evident that her genes did not come from Tie Jin.

The little girl was extremely thin, almost skin and bones—smaller even than Kangkang.

At this moment, she curled up in Tie Jin’s arms, her eyes hazy and unfocused, appearing weak and ill.

Lin Zhen stared at the girl for a long time before saying, somewhat awkwardly, “You two don’t look alike at all. Or does she take after her mother?”

“Mind your own business,” Tie Jin retorted impatiently to Lin Zhen. But when he looked back at the girl, his gaze softened again. “I found her. She’s my daughter now.”

“I’ve given her a name—Jin Lili.”

Lin Zhen widened her eyes in surprise upon hearing this.

Children were universally considered burdens in the wasteland. Their infancy lasted long; they required food but couldn’t contribute, and in dangerous situations, they needed protection. If they encountered mutated creatures, they were as good as offerings.

In this resource-scarce, perilous apocalypse, the moral standards of the peaceful era had long collapsed. Most people lived day to day and had abandoned the responsibility of reproduction.

Therefore, children were seen as burdens.

Yet desires didn’t disappear; in fact, lacking other forms of entertainment, they often intensified. Without protection measures, unintended pregnancies occurred. Abortions could be life-threatening, so women were often forced to carry to term.

Those with slightly better conditions and softer hearts might choose to keep the child, but most infants were abandoned by their parents as soon as they were born.

In this wasteland, it’s incredibly difficult for a child to survive.

That Jin Lili had been raised to her current age, then abandoned, and now found someone like Tie Jin willing to adopt her—she could be considered exceptionally fortunate.

But hearing that Tie Jin had picked up a child with whom he had no blood relation and planned to raise her as his daughter, Lin Zhen couldn’t help but feel surprised.

She looked at the little girl, an indescribable emotion flashing in her eyes.

Tang Yu’an felt that her expression was similar to when he had given her a flower earlier.

Lin Zhen stared at the girl for a while before asking, “Do you need any help? She doesn’t seem to be feeling well.”

“Maybe she’s starving,” Tie Jin said with a troubled expression, lowering his voice. “I found her the day before yesterday. Since bringing her back, she’s only had some meat broth. She can’t eat anything else.”

The little girl’s development was slow; she should be over one year old but had only two baby teeth. She couldn’t eat meat, and wild vegetables or mushrooms were too tough to chew.

Listening to their conversation, Tang Yu’an looked at the girl a few times and couldn’t help but say, “Her cheeks are a bit red—is she sick?”

Having just recovered from a cold and fever himself, he was sensitive to such signs.

“Maybe it’s just too hot?” Tie Jin said uncertainly.

“Why don’t you check her temperature? Her face is so red—could she have a fever?” Tang Yu’an suggested.

Upon hearing this, Tie Jin quickly reached out to touch the little girl’s forehead.

“Doesn’t feel hot!” he said.

In fact, Tie Jin felt that her forehead was rather cool.

“Oh dear, your body temperature is higher than normal. Let me feel,” Lin Zhen realized the issue, quickly pulled his hand away, and used her palm to touch the girl’s face and forehead.

“Yikes, she does feel a bit warm,” she frowned.

Tie Jin immediately grew anxious. “She really has a fever? What should I do?”

Despite his beard, one could see the helplessness on his face.

As a rough man who had lived alone for years, he naturally didn’t know how to care for a child. He could only grab Lin Zhen and ask, “Do you have any medicine? Can we give her some?”

“No!” Tang Yu’an quickly interjected, “Children can’t take medicine casually!”

Zhou Qi also said seriously, “You should let her lie down, and use a damp towel to wipe her face and hands. If you have alcohol, that would be even better.”

For such a small child, if a fever isn’t treated promptly, it could easily lead to serious aftereffects.

“Okay, okay, let’s go upstairs.”

With the two boys’ reminders, Tie Jin finally regained his composure. He quickly carried the little girl upstairs, arriving at the room he had prepared for his adopted daughter.

It was clear that Tie Jin cared deeply for this newly adopted child.

While the first and second floors were cluttered, this small room was kept very clean. He had arranged a soft little bed for her and even placed a small teddy bear by the bedside.

Though the teddy bear was a bit dirty, with a hole in its shoulder revealing broken yarn and stuffing, in such a wasteland—where food and clothing were hard to come by—the fact that he had found such a toy for Jin Lili showed how much he valued her.

Tie Jin gently placed the little girl onto the small bed.

The mattress was one he had found recently. He had originally dragged it back to extract the metal springs inside, but now he had given it to Jin Lili.

Because the mattress was somewhat dirty, he had covered it with a layer of cloth as a bedsheet.

He had put considerable effort into this little bed; it should be quite comfortable for her to sleep on.

“Waah…”

However, as soon as he laid her down, the little girl pouted and began to cry. Her cries were soft and weak, as if she lacked the strength, or perhaps didn’t dare to cry loudly, causing Tie Jin’s heart to twist in pain.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Daddy is here. You’ll feel better soon.” Tie Jin comforted her, asked Lin Zhen to help watch over the child, and hurried off to fetch water.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qi looked at the mattress beneath the girl and frowned.

“Let’s remove the mattress. Just lay a cloth over the bed frame. Sleeping on a mattress in this weather is too hot.”

Moreover, Tie Jin’s house didn’t have many plants and was filled with metal; it felt much hotter than Lin Zhen’s or Granny Guo’s homes.

The child had been staying in such a room, sleeping on an unbreathable mattress—no wonder she had heatstroke.

Lin Zhen agreed. She called out to Tie Jin, but without waiting for his response, she picked up the little girl, and Zhou Qi helped remove the mattress. Then she swiftly pulled the sheet over the bed frame.

“All set.”

Lin Zhen gently laid the little girl back down.

By this time, Tie Jin had returned with water.

Seeing the mattress tossed aside, he opened his mouth but said nothing. Silently, he dampened a cloth, wrung it out, and began wiping the child’s forehead, face, and neck.

After wiping her little hands, Jin Lili visibly relaxed; her cheeks weren’t as flushed.

She stopped crying, merely gazing at them with her big, round eyes, so obedient that it tugged at their heartstrings.

Tie Jin’s gaze grew even softer. He turned to Zhou Qi and Tang Yu’an, saying gratefully, “It was indeed too hot today. Thank you for reminding me.”

“Uncle Jin, where did you find her?” Lin Zhen asked.

“On the way back from the town,” Tie Jin replied. “She was alone in the wild; I think her parents abandoned her.”

At the time, he had been sitting by the roadside, eating and resting, when the little girl emerged from the woods, crying. Upon seeing him, she gradually stopped and stood quietly nearby, watching him.

Tie Jin considered himself a hardened man.

But at that moment, facing the child’s clear, bright eyes and her weak, helpless appearance, he felt his heart soften for the first time.

He asked if she wanted to come to the desolate city with him, and if she would like to be his daughter.

The thin, frail little girl ran over and hugged his leg with her tiny hands. From that moment, Tie Jin knew he had become a father.

“Thank you.”

Tie Jin turned to Zhou Qi and Tang Yu’an again, expressing his gratitude. “I’ve never taken care of a child before and applied my own standards to her. I didn’t realize I nearly made Lili sick.”

Ability users were more resistant to heat and cold than ordinary people, and as an adult male, the difference in constitution between him and a young child was even greater.

Hearing this, not only Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi but even Lin Zhen felt a bit ashamed.

Though Tie Jin meant well, they were really afraid he might inadvertently harm the child!

Lin Zhen sat by the bed, reached out to touch the child’s forehead, and gently asked, “Feeling better?”

Jin Lili nodded slightly.

Though she was still young, she could understand quite a bit.

“Are you hungry?” Lin Zhen asked.

A trace of hesitation appeared on Jin Lili’s face. She looked timidly at Lin Zhen, then at Tie Jin, and finally nodded, appearing extremely weak.

If she had only had meat broth since being picked up by Tie Jin, it was entirely normal for her to be hungry.

Tie Jin sighed again, troubled.

“I originally wanted to find Old Li to trade for some fresh meat—maybe something tender that she could eat—but who knew Old Li hurt his leg and is bedridden, and there’s no more fruit either. It’s really worrying…”

He shared the difficulties he was facing.

When he brought the child back, he thought that with his resources, he could at least feed her. Who would have thought she couldn’t eat the food he had.

Even when he forced food into her, she would vomit it out after a while. Apart from tormenting the child and wasting food, it was useless.

Tie Jin looked melancholic. The little girl lying on the bed suddenly reached out and grabbed his finger, as if comforting him, telling him it was okay.

The man’s expression became even more strained.

“I heard from Lin that you’re from the fortress?”

Suddenly remembering something, Tie Jin turned to Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi, asking hopefully, “Do you have any food suitable for children? I can trade metal with you.”

Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi exchanged a glance.

They had plenty of food suitable for children. Just the polished rice could be made into porridge to feed her, but…

This was their first meeting with Tie Jin. Although he seemed like a good father, which made them sympathetic, it didn’t mean they could trust him outright.

Sitting by the girl’s bed, Lin Zhen slightly opened her mouth but ultimately remained silent.

Whether to trade or not wasn’t her decision to make; she couldn’t speak on their behalf.

Anyway, if the two boys refused, she would bring some millet from home to trade with Uncle Jin.

Finally, Zhou Qi spoke, “When we were on the third floor earlier, we saw some eggs?”

Hearing him change the subject, Tie Jin was a bit disappointed but still answered, “Yes, some bird eggs I traded from Lin before; I haven’t finished them yet.”

Then he added, “She can’t eat the egg whites, and although she can eat the yolks without chewing, she choked once and coughed for a long time before coughing it up. Since then, she doesn’t dare to eat them.”

Zhou Qi: “…”

Tang Yu’an looked sympathetically at Jin Lili. Being cared for like this by Uncle Jin and still holding on—it was really not easy!

After a moment of silence, Zhou Qi spoke again, “Did you give her… boiled eggs?”

“What are boiled eggs?” Tie Jin looked puzzled.

“Uh… How did you cook the eggs?” Zhou Qi was also puzzled.

“I just put them in the fire, and when they’re cooked, I take them out…” Tie Jin’s voice trailed off.

Tang Yu’an couldn’t help shaking his head. Cooking eggs directly in the fire causes moisture loss; wouldn’t that make them even drier? And he seriously suspected the outer layer was burnt.

How could you feed such a small child that way?

Tie Jin frowned but then said confidently, “But she can’t eat raw eggs either!”

Not to mention raw eggs are quite fishy; even adults could get diarrhea from eating them, let alone a child.

“……”

In the end, Zhou Qi said helplessly, “Is there a stove here? Can we borrow it? I can teach you how to make eggs that are nutritious, delicious, and that she can eat.”

“Sure!”

Tie Jin first fetched the bird eggs from the third floor, then led them to the fifth floor. Lin Zhen gently patted the little girl’s head and followed along to join them.

There was a kitchen in the house, but the gas stove was unusable and had long been dismantled by Tie Jin.

He had Old Li build him a clay stove on the fifth floor, using a chimney for ventilation, which he usually used for boiling water and roasting meat.

This kitchen was as simple as Old Li’s. Fortunately, Tie Jin could produce metal, so he didn’t lack pots and pans.

Zhou Qi asked for a bowl, cleaned it with water, and took three eggs from the basket where Tie Jin kept the bird eggs.

These bird eggs were about the size of chicken eggs, and when cracked into the bowl, they were similar in color and appearance. Then Zhou Qi added water in a certain proportion and some salt.

The salt was originally intended for trading with Tie Jin, so there was nothing unusual about him seeing it.

“She’s still young; you can add more water. The steamed egg will be more tender, but if you add too much, it’ll turn into a mush.”

As Zhou Qi stirred the egg mixture, he said, “You can experiment with the proportions yourself later.”

He finished preparing the egg mixture, and on the other side, the water in the pot was boiling.

“This pot isn’t very good. Since you have metal abilities, you can make your own cookware. I can draw a diagram for you later to make a new one.”

Tie Jin was skeptical but listened attentively, trying to remember all the key points.

“Bubble, bubble—”

The fire in the stove roared, the water in the pot boiled vigorously, steam billowing out, and the temperature in the kitchen kept rising.

Zhou Qi silently counted the time.

As the egg mixture solidified and cooked, a faint aroma began to fill the kitchen, causing Tie Jin and Lin Zhen, who were smelling it for the first time, to swallow involuntarily.

So eggs can be made like this!

Lin Zhen knew about boiled eggs—washing the bird eggs and boiling them in water.

Eggs boiled in water are more tender and moist than roasted ones and won’t get burnt.

But she hadn’t thought about adding water and salt to the egg mixture, stirring it, and then setting it over hot water to steam.

Having never encountered this cooking method, Lin Zhen watched the lid of the pot being lifted by the steam, making clattering noises, and couldn’t help asking, “Will it really cook this way?”

“It will,” Tang Yu’an nodded. “The temperature of steam is the same as boiling water.”

“Then why not just put it directly in the water to cook?”

“You can; if you cook it directly, it becomes egg drop soup,” Tang Yu’an explained. “Steaming it this way makes steamed egg custard. It tastes like tofu—tender, smooth, and melts in your mouth. It’s delicious!”

Listening to his description, Lin Zhen couldn’t help but start salivating.

She didn’t know what tofu was and had never eaten it, but just from Tang Yu’an’s description, she was already drooling.

Is there really such a wonderful food in the world? And it’s so easy to make?

Tie Jin was also doubtful, but smelling the faint aroma, he couldn’t help but feel anticipation.

Soon, Zhou Qi said, “It should be ready.”

He didn’t do anything else but instructed Tie Jin to remove the pot lid, wait for the steam to dissipate, and then take out the metal bowl from the pot.

Tie Jin nodded and directly picked up the bowl, placing it on the stove, leaving Tang Yu’an stunned.

Uncle Jin really does have iron hands!

Doesn’t he feel hot?

Tang Yu’an tried to detect any sign of pain on the man’s face, but he remained calm—it really didn’t feel hot! If his physique was that heat-resistant, no wonder he had taken care of Jin Lili as he did.

Zhou Qi was also a bit surprised, but he noticed that when Tie Jin’s palm touched the bowl, there seemed to be a slight color change.

Perhaps, in that moment, his palm was covered with a layer of metal, so he didn’t feel the heat.

“Now what?” Tie Jin asked.

“Remove the cover,” Zhou Qi instructed.

Tie Jin then took off the plate covering the bowl, revealing the now solidified egg mixture inside.

But in Tie Jin and Lin Zhen’s eyes, the egg mixture didn’t look much different from before steaming, except for a slight color change.

“Is it really cooked?” Lin Zhen asked again.

Zhou Qi had Tie Jin pick up the bowl and test it.

Following instructions, Tie Jin picked up the bowl and noticed that when he tilted it, the egg mixture didn’t pour out; it had solidified.

He took the metal spoon handed to him, gently touched the steamed egg, and it wobbled enticingly.

He scooped up a bit of the steamed egg.

The freshly made steamed egg was still steaming, with a creamy yellow color and a glossy, bouncy texture that was very appetizing.

Unable to resist, Tie Jin opened his mouth and tasted it.

It was hot, but just as the boys had said—tender and smooth, melting in the mouth!

Plus, with the addition of salt, it had a faint savory taste along with the egg’s aroma. Combined with the tender texture, it was far more delicious than the roasted eggs he usually made!

If he could add some wild vegetable juice or berry sauce on top, it would be even more flavorful and delicious.

He felt he could eat several bowls!

Tie Jin looked hopeful, but remembering his adopted daughter, he restrained himself, putting down the spoon. Gratefully, he said to Zhou Qi, “Thank you. I believe Lili will be able to eat this bowl of egg custard!”

Lin Zhen also felt her mouth watering but didn’t want to compete with a small child for food. She urged, “Hurry and take it to her; she must be starving.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go right away.”

Tie Jin carefully held the bowl of egg custard and hurried out of the kitchen.

Tang Yu’an and the others followed him downstairs to Jin Lili’s room. She had drunk some water and was now sleeping on the bed.

“Lili, wake up. Time to eat,” Tie Jin softened his voice, gently shaking her shoulder.

*

Jin Lili felt dizzy, as if all the strength in her body was slowly draining away, her limbs becoming soft and weak.

Hungry… so hungry…

Sleep. If she slept, she wouldn’t feel hungry.

In her ears echoed a woman’s soft lullaby—the voice she trusted most telling her that if she slept, she wouldn’t feel hungry…

Obediently, she kept her eyes closed, her consciousness fading.

However, another buzzing voice reached her ears.

“Wake up, Lili, wake up…”

Who is Lili? She thought sluggishly, gradually remembering that this was her new name, given by the man who said he would be her father.

Father…

Jin Lili mustered her strength to open her eyes, wanting to see that kind-hearted person once more.

The darkness receded, and a light—somewhat blinding to her—flooded her vision, revealing the bearded man’s joyful face.

Her mother always looked at her with sadness. Others were indifferent or filled with disgust and resentment. Only this man, with his fierce-looking beard, gazed at her with joy.

“Fa…ther…” She used her last bit of strength to speak.

Tie Jin was stunned, then his eyes reddened.

“Yes, yes, Daddy is here. Come, eat something, and you’ll have the energy to play.”

He scooped a spoonful of egg custard, blew on it repeatedly, and brought it to the little girl’s lips, gently feeding it into her mouth.

Jin Lili knew that the food Daddy gave her was hard to swallow, but she was so hungry. Instinctively, she opened her mouth. This time, the food entering her mouth was different.

She felt something smooth slide into her mouth. She swallowed reflexively, and the tender, silky substance slipped down her throat into her empty stomach.

“Growl—”

Her long-neglected stomach emitted a satisfied rumble.

Too little, not enough…

Light returned to Jin Lili’s eyes. She weakly reached out, but there was no need for her to cry or beg; in the next moment, another spoonful of the delicious food was brought to her lips.

All she had to do was open her mouth, swallow, and feel her empty stomach gradually being filled.

So happy…

Is this the paradise Mommy talked about?