Chapter 60 - 59: Going to the Cafeteria to Eat

Chapter 60: Chapter 59: Going to the Cafeteria to Eat

Gu Rongjin’s expression softened. Giving a rare smile, he waved at Xiao Bao. "Goodbye, Xiao Bao!"

Chen Xiaobao’s little legs pumped as he sprinted toward Chen Momo. He couldn’t wait to explain, "Mommy, Xiao Bao already paid Uncle Gu the money for the roasted sweet potato!"

A smile finally appeared on Chen Momo’s face as she patted Chen Xiaobao’s head. "Xiao Bao is so good. You can’t just take things from others for free in the future. If you want something, you have to work hard to earn it yourself, understand?"

Hugging his roasted sweet potato and taking a bite, Xiao Bao nodded. "Xiao Bao understands!"

GRUMBLE!

Xu Xiaoka’s stomach let out a loud rumble. She glanced awkwardly at Chen Momo.

"Hungry?" Chen Momo asked.

Xu Xiaoka nodded. "I didn’t eat anything this morning. I really am a bit hungry." Not to mention, Xiao Bao’s roasted sweet potato smelled amazing and had been tempting her this whole time.

Chen Momo thought for a moment before saying, "Let’s go eat at the cafeteria today. We’ll head home and change into our cold-weather suits first!"

The three of them went upstairs to their apartment to change.

Ever since the snow disaster began, people wore as many layers as possible to stay warm—thermal underwear over thermal underwear, down jackets over down jackets. Socks and long johns were the same, layered one after another. Wrapped in endless layers inside and out, a person would look like a stocky polar bear, so fat and bulky that even raising an arm was difficult.

But the cold-weather suits were entirely different. They were only as thick as a standard down jacket, but the outer layer was made of a specially designed material that perfectly blocked the cold. The inner lining featured a special self-heating material that generated warmth with even the slightest movement. With insulation on the outside and heat generation on the inside, they were highly effective against the bitter cold. Furthermore, all major public areas in the base—whether the living center or the cafeteria—were unified under giant, heated domes designed to keep the cold out and maintain a comfortable ambient temperature.

Chen Momo, Xu Xiaoka, and Chen Xiaobao soon finished changing into their cold-weather suits.

"Sister Momo, these suits are so light and warm!" Xu Xiaoka said happily. "They don’t feel heavy or bulky at all!"

The suits came in several colors, and Chen Momo had chosen dark blue for their family of three. It gave them a sleek, cool look, and even Chen Xiaobao looked incredibly handsome in his.

"Let’s head downstairs to the cafeteria to eat!" Chen Momo said. She couldn’t be bothered to cook today; eating at the cafeteria would give them a chance to experience the atmosphere there.

The family of three went downstairs. Beyond the main doors of the living center, there was an additional set of automatic, cold-resistant glass doors. Before passing through, Chen Momo, Xu Xiaoka, and Chen Xiaobao put on their protective thermal hoods. Fully geared up, the three stepped out of the living center and headed toward the cafeteria together.

As they walked outside through the base, they occasionally saw people in colorful cold-weather suits passing by. Like them, everyone wore thick thermal hoods over their heads.

The cafeteria was originally a university dining hall, which had been renovated after the base was established. The interior had been completely redecorated, incorporating many green and red elements. The roof had also been replaced with a transparent, insulated circular dome, serving the dual purpose of letting in natural light and retaining heat.

There were many serving windows, and the dishes had been upgraded as well. Most of the food consisted of legumes, as they were the easiest to store. The menu included items like stir-fried soybeans, boiled soybeans, stir-fried soybean sprouts, stir-fried mung bean sprouts, and rice mixed with soybean paste. Vegetables, meat, and eggs were available too, though they were exorbitantly expensive. A plate of stir-fried greens cost one hundred base credits, while a plate of stir-fried pork cost three hundred base credits.

There was also a window dedicated exclusively to selling roasted sweet potatoes. The small one Chen Xiaobao was happily munching on earlier had been bought here by Gu Rongjin. Right now, several adults were already lined up with their children at that window, waiting to buy sweet potatoes.

Despite the high prices of meat and vegetables, Chen Momo ordered a plate of stir-fried pork, a plate of hand-torn cabbage, a portion of spicy stir-fried chicken, a side of cucumbers with dipping sauce, and a plate of sour and spicy mung bean sprouts. She also asked for three steamed buns. For drinks, she got three cups of soy milk. Xu Xiaoka and Chen Xiaobao’s were sweetened, while hers was plain.

After ordering their food, the three found a table by the window to eat and admire the snowy scenery outside.

Now that they were safely in the base, the blizzard was no longer a disaster, but rather a picturesque view. With the world blanketed in silver, the various buildings of the base stood like castles amidst the vast expanse of white snow. It was a beautiful sight, making one feel as though they had stepped into a fairy tale.

After their meal, Chen Momo ordered two cups of coffee—one for herself and one for Xu Xiaoka. Since Chen Xiaobao couldn’t drink coffee and didn’t like it anyway, she ordered him a glass of juice.

They weren’t the only ones enjoying a hot drink. The blizzard had stripped people of their phones and the internet, but in return, it had given them more time to spend with those around them. Having finally stepped away from their busy work lives, people were drinking coffee and chatting about family matters, with long-lost smiles blooming on their faces. Furthermore, everyone had become more polite. Whether interacting with family or strangers, the coldness and defensiveness of the past had been replaced by a genuine warmth and neighborly friendliness.

The brutal snow disaster had made many realize that surviving such a harsh environment alone was nearly impossible. Only by uniting and helping one another could they make it through these difficult times.

Chen Momo watched this heartwarming scene and thought, "Is the apocalypse a good thing or a bad thing? To call it a good thing ignores the fact that it destroyed so many families. But to call it a bad thing ignores how those who survived have learned to be more grateful, friendly, and united. It seems everything has two sides. Even the apocalypse isn’t purely a bad thing."

After finishing their coffee, the three put their cold-weather suits and thermal hoods back on and returned to the living center together.

When Chen Momo, Xu Xiaoka, and Chen Xiaobao arrived on the sixteenth floor, they discovered a new family had moved in next door at Room 1607. The new tenants were a mother and son. The mother’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, likely because she had lost her husband in the blizzard. She looked extremely frail, clearly a long-time housewife who knew little about the outside world. As for her son, despite being eight years old, he seemed affected by his mother’s demeanor. He was timid and cowered behind her whenever he saw anyone.

As Chen Momo passed the door of Room 1607, she saw the woman clutching a photograph of a man, weeping loudly. "Wang Haisheng, you’re so cruel! How could you just abandon us and leave? How are my son and I supposed to survive from now on... Oh God, you are so unfair! How could you be so heartless to let Wang Haisheng leave us behind..."

Xu Xiaoka couldn’t help but mutter a complaint. "What is wrong with this lady? Since when can’t a woman survive without a man? Besides, her son is right beside her. Hearing her curse the heavens and wail all day is definitely going to mess him up psychologically."