Cooking Gourmet Meals in the Apocalypse

Chapter 114: Chapter 111: Rejection

Cao Guangrong seemed like a kind and friendly person, but... he really wasn’t very capable.

Before the apocalypse, you could say he’d made some money through sheer luck.

But after the apocalypse, there was no such thing as luck. Everything came down to strength.

And Cao Guangrong’s strength...

When they reached the front door, Cao Guangrong was the first to run over, opening it and shouting, "Honey, Xuexue is back!"

Cao Guangrong’s wife, Yu Lan, practically shot to the doorway. The moment she saw Chen Xing, she pulled her into a hug. "Xuexue, where have you been these past few days? Mommy was worried sick!"

She was much more enthusiastic and proactive than last time.

’It’s because the test results are out, isn’t it? Heh.’

Chen Xing shrugged her shoulder uncomfortably, and Yu Lan tactfully let her go. "Look at me, I was just so happy. Xuexue, go take a shower and get some rest. We can talk about everything after you’ve rested!"

Old Mrs. Cao shot her daughter-in-law a look. "You think you’re the only one who cares about her? Xuexue, Grandma was so worried she couldn’t sleep either. It’s good that you’re back!"

"Mom..." Li Hongfei was also happy. "Since little sister is back, let’s eat at home tonight! The higher-ups have allowed us to cook in our own homes now. My husband and I will go out and buy some nice things to celebrate!"

There were special shops in the safe zone. Although they didn’t have much, you could at least buy something.

The prices, however, were something else.

It’s worth mentioning that not long after the apocalypse began, money had become worthless paper. In most places, gold was used instead of currency to trade for food.

The exchange rate wasn’t fixed; it often depended on the seller’s mood.

"Alright, then I’ll have to trouble... you two!" Yu Lan said, her words very stiff.

Chen Xing didn’t care whether they were genuinely happy or just faking it. She went back to her room.

To be honest, she really didn’t want to eat this meal.

It wasn’t that she was an overly suspicious person; it was just that this family gave her an incredibly surreal feeling.

It felt like they were all acting, and she was finding it hard to even play along.

In her room, Chen Xing tidied up the empty space in her dimension.

Although she had gotten rid of a lot of the chickens, ducks, and pigs, there were still a great many left.

She could slaughter them, but she wasn’t skilled in that area.

The killing part was simple, but she wasn’t very good at butchering them.

’Looks like I need to have a more in-depth talk with Brother Xiao.’

’I’ll have them help me butcher these animals, and then I’ll take the meat back.’

’I need to think carefully about how to do this without arousing suspicion.’

Just then, her phone rang. It was Brother Xiao.

They had already met up with Captain Lu, made a preliminary plan, and intended to start selling Crystal Cores tomorrow. The news about the Crystal Cores had also been released.

The call lasted half an hour. After getting a rough idea of the sales operation, Chen Xing felt relieved.

Brother Xiao was very meticulous and had already thought of everything.

Plus, with Captain Lu providing security, their safety was assured.

During this time, Brother Xiao had also recruited some reliable people, and the team had grown to over a hundred members.

With the supplies he and Ding Yiyu had stockpiled, the survival of their people wasn’t a problem for the time being.

However, they were short on meat. He was afraid that if this continued, their bodies wouldn’t be able to keep up.

When Chen Xing heard they were short on meat, an idea immediately formed in her mind. "I can get a batch of livestock and poultry. In three days, send some people to Hongfu City to pick them up. I’ll leave half of the batch for you. The other half, you’ll slaughter and butcher, then send it back to me."

"Is that okay?" Brother Xiao was stunned. "Then, after we sell the Crystal Cores and distribute the profits, I’ll reimburse you for the equivalent value of this batch."

He was truly impressed by this girl.

’These things are priceless treasures right now, and from the sound of it, she can get a lot more?’

Of course, he wasn’t the type to take advantage of others. If he accepted it now, he naturally knew he had to pay it back in kind.

Especially since Chen Xing trusted him, how could he possibly let her down?

"Okay!" Chen Xing had no reason to distrust Brother Xiao. "About that batch of Crystal Cores for Captain Lu, what did you tell him?"

"I said my superior didn’t want to show his face, so he sent the Crystal Cores through you. Captain Lu didn’t suspect a thing. From now on, you can just stay out of it completely!"

"Thanks, Brother Xiao!" Chen Xing knew it wasn’t easy for him. "Be careful over there. If you don’t have to make an appearance, then don’t!"

Being a boss behind the scenes, creating an air of mystery, it would make anyone who wanted to move against them think twice if they couldn’t figure them out.

That was Brother Xiao’s intention as well. For now, Ding Yiyu would handle all external affairs.

After they both hung up, Chen Xing took a short nap.

The sounds of talking and cooking drifted continuously from the living room.

They were undoubtedly excited about the rare opportunity to eat a good meal.

It sounded like there was a chicken, some potatoes, and a river fish that weighed just over a pound.

Hearing that the food outside was almost ready, Chen Xing couldn’t stand to lie there any longer.

Her palate had become picky these last few days; she couldn’t bring herself to eat just one chicken and one fish.

Besides, she had glanced into the Cao Family’s kitchen before coming in, and it hadn’t looked very clean.

She didn’t know if it was because her "cheap mom" hadn’t been around, or if her sister-in-law Li Hongfei was useless in the kitchen, but it had only been two days and the place was already a mess. The sink was piled with dirty dishes, which had already attracted some resilient little cockroaches.

What she didn’t understand was, hadn’t they been eating in the cafeteria these past few days?

Chen Xing walked out, draped in a short knit cardigan, and casually glanced at the kitchen.

The dishes in the sink still hadn’t been washed...

’With the meal being made like this... there’s no way I’m eating it.’

Seeing Chen Xing come out, Yu Lan, who was wearing an apron, immediately walked over with a smile. "Xuexue must be hungry! Just a little longer, the food is almost ready!"

"Song Yiguo said he’s treating me to a meal!" Chen Xing made up a lie.

Either way, she absolutely did not want to eat this meal, nor did she want to eat with this family.

At this moment, she knew for certain that she felt a strong aversion to the entire Cao Family.

Her aversion was so strong that it was hard to even play along.

In the eyes of the Cao Family, Chen Xing’s aversion was either because she was suspicious of them, or because she resented them for losing her in the first place.

Yu Lan: "..." She was visibly awkward.

Then, she broke into another smile. "Since Young Master Song is treating you, the food will definitely be better than ours. You should eat more later, look how thin you’ve gotten." Her words were undoubtedly filled with doting affection for a long-lost daughter.

"Little sister, are you very close with Young Master Song?" Li Hongfei, who was only symbolically wearing an apron in the kitchen, walked over after wiping her completely dry hands on a dry cloth.

It seemed like concern, but Chen Xing felt curiosity was a more fitting description.

"We’re just acquaintances."

"Just acquaintances? Then why does he always treat you to meals?" Realizing she had been too blunt with her suspicion, Li Hongfei quickly added, "Could it be that he has some bad intentions toward you?"

’What a sharp turn in topic!’

Before Chen Xing could say that Song Yiguo wasn’t interested in her, Cao Guangrong grew anxious. "Xuexue, Daddy thinks you shouldn’t go." He looked like a father worried his precious daughter was about to be snatched away by a pig.

"Right, right, Xuexue, maybe you shouldn’t go!" Yu Lan’s face was full of worry. "If Young Master Song has bad intentions, wouldn’t it be too dangerous for a young woman like you? We can’t afford to provoke the Song Family... so we should just avoid them."

"Song Yiguo isn’t interested in me!" Chen Xing found it a little ridiculous.

This family’s sudden hostility toward Song Yiguo... She suspected they were deliberately trying to keep her from getting close to him.

"What does a young girl like you know? All men are the same. When they see a woman, they only have one thing on their mind!" Cao Guangrong’s attitude was resolute. "Daddy forbids you from seeing Young Master Song!"

Just then, there was a knock at the door.