bookbashuk Chapter 14 Plan
Chapter 14 Plan
Two days flew by as I focused on standing meditation, observed vigilantly, and daydreamed about the world beyond that door.
As the invisible countdown in his mind jumped to [00:00:00] again, Xu Mo was already standing in front of the glass door with a red note that read "Welcome to Taste." The morning sunlight shone on the red paper, reflecting dazzling spots of light, as if it were an external manifestation of the surging emotions in his heart.
His breathing was slightly rapid, and his palms were slightly sweaty with tension and anticipation. Success or failure hinged on this moment; it wasn't just about the harvest of supplies, but also about whether he had truly found the key to actively utilizing his own abilities, and whether he could gain greater initiative in this apocalyptic world.
"Open the door!"
Without hesitation, Xu Mo gave the command in his mind and pushed open the glass door with force.
The soft light shifts, the scenery changes—
A familiar aroma, a blend of grease, spices, and a hint of smokiness, wafted into my nostrils. What greeted my eyes was no longer the dimly lit, pink-lit space, but a clean, tidy little restaurant brimming with life!
The small hall contained six square tables covered with plastic tablecloths. A prominent menu was posted on the wall, its red background and yellow lettering listing dishes like: Twice-cooked pork, shredded pork with garlic sauce, shredded pork with green peppers, Mapo tofu, and tomato and egg soup… Each familiar dish seemed to gleam with an alluring golden light in his eyes. The cashier's counter was gleaming, with a calculator and a stack of order slips on it.
It's a success! It's really a success!
A surge of overwhelming joy coursed through Xu Mo's body like an electric current, almost making him shout with delight. His conjecture was correct; the rules had indeed responded to his "creation." He had not only verified the "door type correspondence," but also further verified that "door face information" could be mapped as well. This meant that from now on, his ability to acquire scarce resources would undergo a qualitative leap.
"Calm down! You only have sixty seconds!"
Xu Mo forcibly suppressed his excitement, which was almost overwhelming him. Now was not the time to celebrate; every second was precious.
Like a leopard spotting its prey, his gaze instantly locked onto the entrance with a half-draped curtain hanging on the side of the bar—the kitchen!
Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Mo rushed in. The kitchen was cleaner than he had imagined, with the stove, cutting board, and sink all neatly arranged. His gaze, like the most precise radar, immediately swept over the heavy, gleaming cleaver beside the cutting board. The blade was broad and thick, the edge looking extremely sharp, and the wooden handle felt heavy and powerful in his hand.
"Good heavens!" Xu Mo was thrilled. In the apocalypse, a good weapon is worth a fortune. This cleaver is top-notch, whether for chopping zombies or processing food! He grabbed the cleaver in his hand, and the cold, solid feel brought him an unprecedented sense of security.
At the same time, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a large bamboo basket on a stainless steel workbench next to him. Inside were sliced, braised beef, braised pig ears, salted peanuts, and other cooked foods that had been sealed with plastic wrap and smelled delicious. It seemed that the boss had bought these braised dishes from outside to use as cold dishes.
[Fifteen seconds have passed]
With a cleaver gripped in one hand and a heavy basket of cooked food in the other, not forgetting to grab his own utensils, Xu Mo dashed back to the door and quickly placed the two items in the safe area outside. Weapons and ready-to-eat high-protein food were the highest priority.
He put down his things and went back to the kitchen without stopping.
[Twenty seconds have passed]
This time, Xu Mo's target was clear—the rice cooker on the corner countertop, its keep-warm indicator light still on! He had noticed it when he rushed in earlier. He abruptly lifted the lid, and a unique, fragrant aroma of rice wafted out, revealing a pot full of glistening, steaming white rice!
"Great!" Xu Mo was overjoyed. Staple food! This is the most reliable and sustainable basic food! Without hesitation, he unplugged the power cord, held the still slightly hot rice cooker inner pot with both hands, carried the whole thing out, rushed to the door again, and carefully placed it next to the cleaver and the cooked food basket.
[Forty seconds have passed]
Two consecutive sprints had left him slightly out of breath, but his movements didn't slow down at all. His gaze swept to the corner of the kitchen, where a half-open bag of rice, weighing about ten kilograms, sat. Next to it stood a water dispenser, its bottle of water still more than half full.
He hoisted the half-sack of rice onto his shoulder and quickly unloaded the large water bottle from the water dispenser. Both items were bulky and heavy, but his recovered physique proved useful, allowing him to carry them both at once. He staggered as he carried the rice and water back to the doorway, where the supplies had already piled up into a small heap.
[The last ten seconds]
The countdown in his mind reminded him that time was running out. Xu Mo glanced around the restaurant one last time, his gaze immediately drawn to the refrigerated beverage cabinet against the wall and the wine rack next to it.
The refrigerator was filled with various brands of beer and soft drinks, while the liquor shelves held all sorts of spirits. He had originally intended to rush over and grab a few bottles of energy drinks, but there wasn't enough time for him to rummage through the refrigerator and return to the door.
In a flash, Xu Mo made a decision—to abandon the drinks that required opening the cabinet door and turn to the wine rack that was within easy reach.
He rushed to the liquor shelf in one stride, and without even taking a good look, he grabbed four or five boxes of the most sturdy and high-end-looking boxed liquor from the shelf with both arms!
Just as he hugged the liquor tightly, that familiar, irresistible pulling sensation suddenly came.
Everything before his eyes began to distort. When the world finally came into focus, Xu Mo found himself holding several boxes of baijiu (Chinese liquor), standing steadily outside the glass door on the post-apocalyptic street. The glass door behind him had returned to its normal appearance.
The morning sun shone down, but the streets remained deathly silent. Xu Mo looked down at the several boxes of baijiu (Chinese liquor) in his arms, each bearing the words "XX Old Cellar" and "XX Original Liquor." Immediately, an uncontrollable, exhilarating smile bloomed on his face.
Although only a few boxes of wine were brought out in the end, the significance of this "opening" far exceeds what can be measured by the amount of supplies!
Looking at the small pile of "spoils" on the street, Xu Mo felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. The cleaver gleamed coldly in the morning light, the braised beef and marinated meats emitted an enticing aroma, the plump rice, the heavy rice bag, the half-full bucket of purified water, and the few boxes of liquor in his arms—a "surprise"—were all things he had obtained by actively using the rules and relying on his own wisdom and courage!
After a brief moment of excitement, vigilance returned immediately. Although the town was deserted, leaving these supplies exposed outdoors for an extended period was ultimately unsafe. Xu Mo sprang into action, like a diligent ant, beginning to move the supplies in batches back to the temporary shelter a few dozen meters away.
Once all the supplies were safely inside, he immediately put the obstacles at the door back in place, blocking the entrance. After doing all this, Xu Mo leaned against the furniture blocking the door, slightly out of breath, his face flushed from exercise, and filled with an indescribable sense of relief.
His gaze fell on the corner of the room. There, the previously scattered supplies had now grown to a considerable size, especially with the newly added items, which instantly gave this temporary shelter an air of substantial wealth.
After returning to his room and slightly adjusting his breathing, Xu Mo's gaze finally settled on the cleaver.
He walked over, picked it up, and examined it closely. The blade was broad and heavy, and its sharp edge still gleamed coldly in the dim light. He swung it twice casually, the sound of it cutting through the air steady and powerful, indicating his ease in handling it.
"Finally, a decent weapon." Xu Mo muttered to himself, his fingertips carefully tracing the cold blade, a sharp glint in his eyes. In this perilous post-apocalyptic world, the sense of security brought by a good weapon, in some ways, even surpassed that of food. It meant he had a stronger ability to defend himself and the confidence to proactively eliminate threats.
Putting down his knife, Xu Mo glanced at the braised beef, marinated dishes, and a pot of white rice, deciding to treat himself to a good meal today. He had mastered the rules, acquired weapons, stockpiled supplies, and his body had largely recovered… everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
The supplies piled up in the corner were no longer just a guarantee for survival, but also the foundation for his future foothold in this world, and even for exploring a wider world. A strong sense of confidence took root and sprouted in his heart.