God-Tier Get Rich System – CH141

Chapter 141: Min’an Town

Mu Lantu gestured for Xu Huazhang to accept it. “Thanks, Auntie, you really shouldn’t have.”

“You’re welcome! Bye-bye!”

After walking less than a hundred meters forward, Xu Huazhang spotted a player.
“Baby, take out two masks.”

The two of them put on masks, bought two bottles of water from a small supermarket, broke a 100-yuan bill into change, and, following the directions given by the shop lady, found the bus stop.

In front of the stop, many people were waiting for the bus, almost all of them middle-aged or elderly, each hand carrying several large plastic bags stuffed full of New Year’s goods.

Mu Lantu tugged Xu Huazhang away.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Huazhang asked, puzzled.

Mu Lantu said, “We still have no clue what exactly the survival crisis in Min’an Town is. Let’s buy some New Year’s goods too—it’ll help us blend in as locals. Then, once on the bus, we’ll have common ground to talk with others and fish for information.”

Xu Huazhang nodded. “What should we buy?”

Mu Lantu replied, “New Year prints, couplets, fireworks, firecrackers. Since we’ll be spending the New Year here, it’d look strange if we didn’t.”

Their registered addresses weren’t the same—they were in the same housing complex but not in the same building. Since it wasn’t certain whether they’d be able to move in together, they bought everything in two sets.

After buying their goods, they returned to the bus stop.

The bus fare was five yuan per person.

Mu Lantu dropped in two five-yuan bills.

The bus was filled mostly with middle-aged and elderly people, with very few young ones. Luckily, there were still a few open seats.

After sitting down, Mu Lantu opened the red envelope. Once again, he was shocked.

The shop lady was truly wealthy—she’d given two hundred yuan in a red packet to a complete stranger like him.

“Huazhang, check yours.”

Xu Huazhang handed his red packet straight over.

Mu Lantu opened it—also two hundred. He tucked the red packet back and stuffed it into Xu Huazhang’s pocket. Then he leaned past Xu Huazhang to strike up conversation with an auntie beside them.

“Auntie, have you finished preparing all your New Year’s goods?”

The woman, in her fifties, a bit plump, looked surprised at being addressed by a stranger. After a pause, she smiled. “Yes, I just finished today. With only a few days left before New Year, and so many things to deal with at home, I had to hurry.”

“I noticed you also bought couplets and New Year prints. How much did yours cost? It’s my first time buying them, so I’m worried I got ripped off,” Mu Lantu said.

A spark of amusement danced in Xu Huazhang’s eyes. His “baby” really had experience chatting with the older generation. Asking about prices was an excellent way to start.

As expected, the plump auntie perked up, and even several other uncles and aunties around them turned curious.

“I bought five sets of couplets and five door gods—only 38 yuan total! The seller asked 5 yuan each, but I bargained him down! How much did you pay?”

Mu Lantu slapped his thigh regretfully. “Ah, I paid too much! I bought mine for 5 yuan each, both couplets and door gods. Auntie, you really know how to shop! If only I’d followed you secretly, I could’ve saved a bundle.”

005 silently watched its host put on an act, thinking he could try for an Oscar.

The rest of the bus passengers soon joined in, lively comparing how much they’d spent on their purchases.

The plump auntie looked rather pleased. “Heh! You young folks sure have money to burn. Here, have some sunflower seeds! You two riding the same bus as us—are you also from Min’an Town?” She handed Mu Lantu a large handful of seeds, probably to comfort him for his “loss.”

Mu Lantu nodded, then pulled out an individually wrapped sesame cake from his pocket and offered it to her. This was something he’d had custom-made in his previous life; the package had no production date, brand, or origin—just the words “sesame cake.”

“Thanks, Auntie. Please try this sesame cake I bought—crispy and fragrant. What New Year’s goods does your family usually prepare? It’s our first time handling it ourselves, and aside from couplets and prints, we only bought fireworks and firecrackers.”

The auntie took the sesame cake and began enthusiastically explaining:

“For New Year’s, you should listen to us old folks! Chicken, duck, fish, vegetables—buy according to how many relatives you have, more if many, less if few. Then, of course, couplets, New Year prints, firecrackers, fireworks—you can’t skip those! The louder, the better the omen! And cigarettes, alcohol, tea, plus snacks like sunflower seeds, peanuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, candy—just prepare a few, and it’s about right. Oh, and don’t forget seasonings—restock if you’re low.”

Mu Lantu cracked seeds and nodded repeatedly.

A glimmer of delight shone in the auntie’s eyes—her fondness for this polite young man grew. Honestly, she’d half-expected him to turn up his nose at the seeds she’d grabbed with her bare hands.

“I’ve got it all down—thank you, Auntie. Do you know if our town has any events or fun activities this New Year? I’ve been cooped up at home playing games every day, and I know nothing about what’s going on outside.”

“You’re just like my son—always stuck in his room gaming. I don’t see what’s so fun about it!” she grumbled, then brightened. “Of course there are! Same as last year—on New Year’s Eve at midnight, all the red lanterns over the entire town light up, and they’ll stay lit for fifteen days! It means our whole year will be bright and prosperous! At night, everyone sets up stalls to give out blessings—lots of food, lots of fun. You young people will love it!”

Fifteen days?

Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang exchanged a glance—this might be an important clue.

It was now the 25th day of the lunar twelfth month—five days until New Year.

At the next stop, the bus halted. A young girl got on, nervously scanning the bus before dropping five yuan into the fare box.

Most likely another player.

Mu Lantu casually continued chatting with the aunties, laughter bubbling up now and then from the crowd. No one would ever suspect he wasn’t a native.

Kong Tingxue sat stiffly in her seat, not recognizing anyone, barely daring to breathe.

Everyone around her looked normal enough, but she couldn’t shake the fear that at any moment they’d transform into monsters—zombies, beasts, who knew? If not for saving money, she would never have crammed onto this bus.

After more than forty minutes, Min’an Town finally came into view.

Kong Tingxue had no idea what her in-game address was, so she got off at the first stop inside the town, planning to ask around.

Mu Lantu, however, hadn’t been chatting for nothing—he’d already learned the exact location of Leye Community. Calmly, he and Xu Huazhang stayed on for two more stops, then got off, even stopping by a nut shop to buy two kilos of sunflower seeds—looking more like locals than locals themselves.

Back at Leye Community, Mu Lantu divided the couplets and New Year prints into two sets. He and Xu Huazhang each went home separately first to check their situations.

He worried Infinite University might have assigned them “family members” as NPCs—that would complicate things.

The apartment door had a six-digit code lock.

No one answered when he knocked, so Mu Lantu reluctantly entered six “4”s. The door opened.

No one inside.

The unit was a one-bedroom with living room, kitchen, and bath, about 40–50 square meters, fully furnished, with bedding supplied—utterly ordinary.

Except, there was no food at all.

The furniture—table, chairs, sofa, bed—were bolted to the floor. Mu Lantu suspected Infinite University had done it to stop players from selling them for cash.

Other players would have it tough. Unless they ate nothing but buns, their 400 yuan might last only twenty days. And since this was a “survival mission,” there would surely be severe survival challenges ahead. Without proper nutrition, completing the task would be nearly impossible.

After waiting at home for a bit, Xu Huazhang came over. His apartment had the same layout—also empty of people.

“Baby, let’s scout around town first,” he suggested, so they’d know where to run in case of danger.

Mu Lantu reset the lock code, then went out with him.

They first circled the community thoroughly, getting familiar with its layout. Then they borrowed the security guard’s e-bike, promising to buy him a pack of cigarettes.

Guotai Town had felt more like a bustling city, with taller and denser buildings. Min’an Town, by contrast, was smaller and less built-up. No wonder its residents shopped for New Year’s in Guotai.

But Min’an Town was newer—its architecture carried touches of traditional style, with ornate eaves and decorative beams.

As they reached the back of town, Mu Lantu stopped the e-bike.

“Huazhang, look there.”

Three or four miles away loomed a towering green mountain. The side facing the town was all bare rock. On it, Min’an Town had painted several massive red characters: “Welcome to Min’an Town!”

“Finally, something geology-related—our ‘Rock Mechanics’ dungeon justifies its title.” Mu Lantu joked.

Xu Huazhang gauged the distance. Even if the mountain collapsed, it likely wouldn’t threaten the town.

“Let’s head back.”

An e-delivery rider approached. Neither paid him any mind—until he stopped and took off his helmet.

“Classmate Mu, Classmate Xu.”

“Classmate Song?” Mu Lantu blinked. “You’re delivering food?”

Song Bochao said helplessly, “I ran out of money, so I picked up this job. Business is decent—I’ve already done five orders.”

Mu Lantu gave him a thumbs-up. He had to admit—Song Bochao was clever.

“Keep it up.”

“I will, thanks.”

Why had Song Bochao let them spot him? Wasn’t he afraid they’d steal his work? Of course he was.

But he was willing to gamble on their character. If he could build a good relationship with them, then once danger struck, if he couldn’t handle it alone, maybe he’d have allies to turn to.