Chapter 111: Here, I’ll Trade for Three Couplets

Chapter 111: Here, I'll Trade for Three Couplets

"Oof!"

Stepping out of the building, Meng Ci drew in a sharp breath from the cold.

"It's been days since I've gone outside. This temperature, it, it, has, has, dropped again, hasn't it?"

Meng Ci's teeth chattered as he struggled to speak clearly through the chill.

"How about you stay back! I can go alone," Shen Que said, already trying to remove his scarf to wrap around Meng Ci's neck.

Meng Ci quickly refused.

"No, no, no, don't give it to me!"

"I just came out suddenly and am a bit unaccustomed; I'll be fine after a moment."

In recent days, Meng Ci had stayed mostly indoors, only venturing out briefly to freeze ice cream on the balcony or walk the short distance to Shen Que's place.

This sudden exposure was naturally jarring.

Fortunately, Meng Ci adapted quickly. After walking for a while, his body adjusted to the cold.

Seeing Meng Ci's determination, Shen Que didn't press further but still couldn't help reminding him, "If it gets too cold, we can find an empty spot."

"I can take out some warm clothes from my space for you to wear."

"Mm-hmm," Meng Ci nodded.

Perhaps because everyone was happiest during the New Year, Meng Ci noticed many people along the way were cheerful, far from their previous dejected state.

Arriving at the official distribution point, they found a long queue of people waiting to collect their New Year supplies.

This was the first time Meng Ci truly felt the scale of survival despite all that had happened.

It reminded him of scenes from TV showing bustling markets during the holiday season.

As usual, identification cards or household registration books were required for collection, and records needed to be logged.

Without these documents, one had to recite their ID number and have their photo taken for record.

After collecting their supplies, Meng Ci and Shen Que didn't leave immediately but instead entered the unofficial trading area.

"Shen Que, how do they register information without electricity or internet?"

Shen Que shook his head. "I'm not sure."

"But since it's just registering information, it might not need to be connected to the internet!"

Meng Ci nodded, not dwelling on it further.

To him now, whether there was electricity or internet made little difference.

Inside the unofficial trading area, it was even livelier than outside.

At the center, a middle-aged man had set up a table to write couplets, accepting two potatoes or two catties of rice as payment.

Several vendors nearby sold lanterns and Chinese knots, but business was lukewarm.

In this post-apocalyptic world, few cared about such external niceties.

Many merely glanced at these items before leaving with a sigh.

More people were trading food.

Those who had returned from refugee camps with seeds now exchanged various vegetables, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.

Of course, those trading clothes, tobacco, and alcohol remained numerous.

Meng Ci wandered around, then took six potatoes from his bag and handed them to the middle-aged man for three couplets.

The man, likely having had no customers yet today, was grateful for Meng Ci's order and added three 'Fu' characters as a bonus.

Meng Ci thanked him and left.

The man's hands were red from the cold, and the ink on the table froze quickly, forcing him to blow warm air over it periodically to keep writing.

In this post-apocalyptic world, everyone struggled, so there was no need to pity anyone.

Meng Ci had initially considered trading for two lanterns.

But thinking that outsiders would assume they were without power, buying lanterns seemed pointless.

Moreover, trading unnecessary items would draw attention, so he decided against it.

Back in their room, Meng Ci sat by the stove, warming his hands and contemplating taking a hot bath when Shen Que wasn't around.

Aowu, aowu.

Eggplant tugged at Meng Ci's pants, pulling him toward the wolf den.

"Let go." Seeing Eggplant wouldn't release him, Meng Ci's eyes lit up, and he pounced onto Eggplant.

The fluffy warmth was comforting.

When Meng Ci pressed against him, Eggplant shivered.

Howling, it wanted to leave.

Why is Master so cold? Let go quickly.

Meng Ci wouldn't let go easily, even as he stroked the white wolf's fur and said, "Eggplant, do you think I should pluck some of your fur to make gloves and a scarf?"

"Your fur is so long; it looks very warm."

Aowu!

Eggplant shook its head, unwilling. It still had to find a mate.

If all its fur was taken by its master, how could it attract a female wolf?

Meng Ci was just joking, after all, he didn't know how to weave such things.

But if Meng Ci knew what Eggplant was thinking, he would definitely pluck all its fur.

It hadn't even found a mate yet and was already thinking about that. Imagine if it actually found one.

Shen Que had already stoked the fire in the stove quite hot. Meng Ci, now feeling better, took off his heavy coat and threw it on the sofa.

Eggplant came over again, biting Meng Ci's pants.

"What is it?" This time, Meng Ci didn't refuse and followed Eggplant.

He was led to the rabbit enclosure.

"Shen Que, Shen Que!" Meng Ci hurriedly called out to Shen Que, who was hanging up clothes.

"What is it?" Shen Que hung the clothes on the hanger and asked while walking over.

"The female rabbit gave birth!" Meng Ci exclaimed happily.

He rubbed his hands together to ensure they were warm, then bent down to count the rabbits in the enclosure.

"One, two, three..."

"Shen Que, the female rabbit gave birth to seven babies!"

Though he didn't know how many were male or female, it didn't stop Meng Ci from being happy.

He picked up the mischievous one, "Shen Que, do you know how to handle rabbits?"

"It's perfect timing since tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Let's kill a rabbit for dinner."

Of course, he chose this particular rabbit not only because it was mischievous but also because it was the fattest among the young ones.

"I can give it a try." Shen Que thought for a moment. Killing a rabbit was just skinning and bleeding it, which shouldn't be too difficult.

"Great!" Meng Ci was delighted, but they would start handling the rabbit tomorrow. For today, he would spare its life.

So, Meng Ci put the rabbit back into the enclosure.

When Eggplant saw this, it widened its eyes.

With an aowu, it placed both paws on the fence.

If there were baby rabbits, why couldn't it eat one!

Master was so stingy.

Aowu!

Eggplant whimpered softly, drooling again in disappointment.

"Pitiful."

Meng Ci said disdainfully, then grabbed Eggplant by the neck and pulled it down.

"From now on, don't come near here, understand? If you can follow this rule, you'll get a share of the rabbit meat tomorrow."

Meng Ci held Eggplant's chin with one hand and raised a finger with the other.

Eggplant nodded eagerly. Even in its dreams that night, it was eating rabbits.