this chapter is brought to you by mio
as translator, proofreader and editor!
“Sorry, Boss Jiang. After hearing the news that Qianqian brought back yesterday, I barely slept all night. I really don’t know how to thank you enough for giving me this opportunity. That’s why I came with Qianqian today. I hope we’re not causing you any trouble,” Mao Jing’s voice was gentle, like a slowly babbling brook.
“Not at all. What are your thoughts?” Jiang Ci pulled up a stool and sat opposite Mao Jing.
“I want to take this job. Qianqian and I have already discussed it. Such an opportunity is truly rare, and I don’t want to miss it. As for the journey going back home, Boss Jiang, rest assured, we’ll take full responsibility for our own safety and won’t cause any trouble for the shop,” Mao Jing said.
“That’s right. I’ll take good care of my sister. She can manage on her own and won’t delay the shop’s work at all. Boss Jiang, you can rest assured,” Mao Qianqian assured.
It seemed the sisters already had a thorough discussion about their plans, effectively putting Jiang Ci’s mind at ease. She had already done her utmost, and beyond that, so there was little more she could do for them. If things really didn’t work out, she would still have to let them go.
Afterward, Jiang Ci went to the backyard to purchase a wheelchair from her system’s mall.
The simplest wheelchair model offered by the system had many functions. It could be controlled to move forward, backward, left, and right, and its height could even be adjusted. Most importantly, it could even help the user climb stairs.
Jiang Ci glanced at the manual. For people with disabilities, it was truly like having two legs again.
She bought it for 10,000 points, equivalent to a fourth-level crystal core. She didn’t try to make a profit from Mao Qianqian, only asking her for one fourth-level crystal core.
Seeing such a good wheelchair only cost one fourth-level crystal core, both Mao Qianqian and Mao Jing felt somewhat guilty and were even more grateful toward Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci told Mao Qianqian not to rush into work. She should first familiarize herself with the wheelchair in the shop and start her official duties once she felt she was proficient in using it.
“For these few days, you can have your two meals at the hotpot store as part of your internship salary,” Jiang Ci said.
“I brought some nutrient solution,” Mao Jing said.
“It’s fine. We’ll all eat together. It’s just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks,” Jiang Ci said, not giving her a chance to argue, and clapped her hands to signal everyone to start preparing for work.
Mao Jing and her sister exchanged glances, both seeing the glimmer of tears in each other’s eyes.
After opening the door, Jiang Ci first went to the kitchen. The automatic food cutter that the system had issued yesterday was placed on the spacious countertop.
The machine was large, and Jiang Ci couldn’t see its internal structure, only the input and output ports.
Jiang Ci tried placing an unwashed, unpeeled potato into the input port. The machine scanned the vegetable and immediately began operating.
The machine’s sound was not loud, and within just a few seconds, a plate of neatly peeled, thoroughly washed, and uniformly sliced potato appeared at the serving hatch.
Li Hong, Zhao Shi, and Mao Jing, who had followed Jiang Ci into the kitchen, were all amazed. This machine was simply too efficient. If they remembered correctly, there hadn’t been such a high-tech machine even before the apocalypse.
“The barbecue shop hasn’t opened yet, so you two can focus on other tasks in the store for now. It would be best if you could study this machine and teach Mao Jing how to use it. When you’re not busy, you can simply help out other employees,” Jiang Ci said to the two of them.
Li Hong and Zhao Shi nodded in understanding.
The employees in the store got along quite well, and they were especially patient with Mao Jing, who was disabled and had difficulty walking.
Seeing that everyone was getting along harmoniously, Jiang Ci felt reassured and went to the braised food stall outside.
Usually, when Jiang Ci was occupied, Xue Yi took care of both stalls, but after distributing the number tags, Jiang Ci found the time to help out at the braised food stall.
Song Jinchuan was still running around the entire place, helping wherever needed.
Meanwhile, Xue Yi was nearby, wearing a mask and diligently grilling the pot helmets in front of him, occasionally chatting and smiling particularly sweetly with Jiang Ci .
Looking at the long line of people in front of her, Jiang Ci felt that she would definitely earn 100 million points within seven days.
Sure enough, on the third night since the new task had gone live, the system notified her that her goal of reaching 100 million points had been achieved, and that she had officially unlocked the barbecue shop.
The system unfolded a 3D map in front of her, showing her which street it was on.
Following the system’s instructions, Jiang Ci claimed the barbecue shop and placed it next to the hotpot restaurant, naming it “A Barbecue Restaurant.”
The system seemed somewhat speechless at Jiang Ci’s naming skills, pausing for a moment before informing her that the barbecue shop had been successfully placed.
Unable to contain her excitement, Jiang Ci put on her coat and got up to go check out the new shop next door.
The moment she opened the door, Song Jinchuan from next door also opened his. Seeing Jiang Ci dressed neatly as if she was about to go out, he asked, “It’s so late. Where are you going? Do you need me to come along?”
Since it was her new shop and there was nothing to hide, Jiang Ci invited him along with her, “The barbecue shop is ready. Want to come take a look?”
Song Jinchuan nodded. Truth be told, although he had already witnessed many wonders of the hotpot restaurant, he was still very curious about the new shop.
After Song Jinchuan came out of his room, the two of them walked together toward the small gate next to the courtyard.
Outside the small gate was the back door of the barbecue shop. In the thick of night, a small building stood beside the hotpot restaurant.
The barbecue store next to the hotpot restaurant really looked like a baby that had started working before it had even turned a month old.
Standing in the night, Jiang Ci felt a chill as the wind blew, “How is it so cold despite the day and previous nights being so hot just a few days ago?”
“It should be because it’ll be winter soon,” Song Jinchuan replied, looking up at the dark night sky in response to Jiang Ci’s question.
Jiang Ci used the key to open the back door and turned on the light switch on the wall. A not-too-spacious space appeared before her.
The barbecue store had four tables and chairs. The tables were specially designed, with a heating iron plate in the center and marble around the edges.
There was a small kitchen and a counter with an old-fashioned computer inside.
Jiang Ci suddenly felt a bit disoriented while standing in this space, as if she had returned to the moment she first transmigrated into this apocalyptic world. Back then, the hotpot restaurant was just like this store—empty and bare.
The kitchen space and setup were also somewhat simple. Jiang Ci opened the system’s mall and noticed that two new options had appeared above the shop-related section: “Hotpot Restaurant” and “Barbecue Restaurant.”
Jiang Ci clicked on the barbecue restaurant. At this point, the only dishes available for sale were grilled beef, pork belly, and cornbread. Unlike before, when some ingredients were provided for free, now everything had to be purchased, with not even the meat cleaver being an exception.
The pricing for meat and vegetable dishes here was the same as in the hotpot restaurant: two second-level crystal cores for meat dishes, five first-level crystal cores for vegetable dishes, and one second-level crystal core for a portion of cornbread.
Jiang Ci exchanged the necessary ingredients. The beef and pork belly looked familiar, but there was an additional marinade packet. After slicing the meat, she marinated the meat and stored it all in the freezer. As for the cornbread, she exchanged points for a large bag of cornmeal directly.
Mixing the dough was also convenient, as the system provided a dedicated mixing bowl with precise measurements for water and flour. Once prepared, it yielded exactly one portion.
“Tomorrow, I’ll need to come here, so you’ll have to stay at the hotpot restaurant and keep an eye on things for me,” Jiang Ci said to Song Jinchuan.
Song Jinchuan nodded. “Alright, once I’m done with my tasks, I’ll come over to help you.”
After touring the barbecue restaurant, the two returned to the courtyard through the back door.
*
pls do not share this anywhere or u will always stub ur toe when u walk past a door frame !! this translation has been stolen from mioscorner.com, pls only read there i’m begging u :kneels:
The next day, the barbecue restaurant, which stood out prominently next to the hotpot restaurant, was inevitably discovered by the survivors. The shop wasn’t open yet, and everyone gathered around curiously, trying to peek inside through the windows, but they couldn’t see anything.
Just then, the hotpot restaurant opened from the inside, and the survivors walked over, thinking they’d come back later to check out the barbecue restaurant. Only a few particularly curious survivors remained outside the barbecue restaurant.
At that moment, the barbecue restaurant also opened from the inside. The survivors turned around and saw Jiang Ci standing inside the barbecue restaurant. The aroma of food immediately wafted out since the meat inside had already been marinated.
“Oh, there’s people here already? How about you all come in and try some barbecue?” Jiang Ci smiled as she looked at the familiar faces in front of her.
“We were just thinking of giving it a try. Boss Jiang, you’re quick—already opening a barbecue restaurant,” one of the survivors said as they walked in.
“Right, variety is the spice of life,” Jiang Ci replied, stepping aside to let the survivors enter.
After four groups had entered, Jiang Ci announced that there was no more seating and asked the others to queue up.
One survivor complained with a grimace, “There aren’t even that many people here and we still have to queue? When will you expand this place?”
Jiang Ci handed each of them a piece of cornbread and brushed them off with a casual, “Soon, soon.”
The next task was unlocked as soon as the barbecue restaurant opened: to serve one hundred survivors.
Once this task was completed, the restaurant could be upgraded again.
The survivors sat at the entrance, holding cornbread. They had been somewhat disheartened earlier, but now the aroma of the cornbread wafted into their noses, and their mouths watered incessantly, to the point where they had almost forgotten they were still in line.
One of them raised a piece of cornbread to his mouth and took a bite. These cornbread were the results of Jiang Ci, Li Hong, and Zhao Shi’s practice session in the morning. Jiang Ci had originally prepared them for herself, but now they served as a small treat for the survivors.
The edges of the cornbread were slightly crispy from being grilled, while the inside remained moist and soft. The survivors didn’t even have time to savor them properly before they realized they had already devoured their cornbread, leaving only a few crumbs.
At this point, no one cared about appearances anymore. They couldn’t bear to waste even the crumbs and ate every last bit.
Food grilled over charcoal fire brought them the most humble joy.
Inside the restaurant, the seated survivors ordered every item on the menu, each in generous portions.
Beside them was a pot of oil for grilling. As the pan heated up, the oil was poured in, and instantly, a rich, fragrant aroma spread through the air.
No one knew what kind of oil the boss used, but it was incredibly fragrant, reminiscent of pre-apocalypse butter—smooth and sweet, yet even more aromatic.
When the dishes arrived, the survivors were surprised to see how large the meat portions were, with each slice being bigger than a person’s face with the cut being quite thick.
ugh cornbread is so good, especially when you have it with northeastern iron pot stew AHHHHH so good when it gets soaked in the broth with tripe TAT had it with my friends once and i always think abt it
