3 Chapter 3

After leaving Xiaosen Island with Tong Songming, Tong's mother had already finished washing the dishes and gone back to her room to sleep.

Tong Shu checked the watch and confirmed that the time flow on the island was consistent with that in the real world.

"Shushu, what do we need to do now?" Tong Songming asked, slightly troubled, after hearing about Tong Shu's next task.

"Hmm... I do have a guess. Let's try it and see if it works."

As she spoke, Tong Shu stuffed the paper and pen on the desk into her backpack.

The list of items in my mind flashed, and the illustrations of paper and pen were lit up.

Task completion progress: [2/1000]

Tong Shu's eyes lit up as well.

The icon is lit up, indicating that this item can be purchased an unlimited number of times in the island shop!

"Dad," Tong Shu turned to look at Tong Songming, her eyes sparkling, "how much money do you have left?"

Tong Songming: ...

The father and daughter spent a long time in the room discussing and summed up the money they had saved over the years, totaling more than two million yuan.

"Dad, go pick up Grandpa and Grandma now, I need to start buying supplies," Tong Shu said to Tong Songming.

Tong Songming also knew that the situation was urgent. Tong Shu said that the day she had the accident was July 13th, and now it was June 15th. In less than a month, there was just too much to do.

Tong Songming nodded, grabbed his car keys, and prepared to head to the countryside to pick up his parents.

"Hey! Lao Tong, where are you going so late!" Tong's mother came out of the kitchen and only saw Tong Songming's hurried back.

"It's okay, Mom, Dad will be back soon!" After reassuring her mother, Tong Shu went back to her room and began her big shopping spree.

Tong Shu first opened a local supermarket delivery app and purchased all kinds of food and drinks from various supermarkets of all sizes in the vicinity.

Since you can buy items once you've unlocked them in the encyclopedia, there's no need to stock up on a lot; just buy one of each type.

Even so, Tong Shu still spent tens of thousands of yuan at once.

An hour later, supermarket deliverymen started arriving one after another. The nighttime delivery cost Tong Shu a lot more in delivery fees because Tong Shu had such a large number of orders that each supermarket's deliveryman delivered the goods on a tricycle.

Several deliverymen, each carrying several large bags, looked at each other in bewilderment inside the elevator.

"Are you 1201?"

"Yes, you too?"

"That's right..."

...

With time running out and the task at hand, Tong Shu didn't have the mind to think about how to avoid attracting attention. After quickly thanking the deliverymen, she hurriedly closed the door, cutting off the view of the neighbors who had gathered to watch the commotion.

“Qiansui Mountain… Miner…” Tong Shu put different brands of mineral water into her backpack one by one. She was surprised to find that different brands of mineral water could light up different illustrations.

Tong Shu tried different flavors of instant noodles from the same brand again, and once again proved that even slight differences can light up a new picture book.

Seeing the increasing task completion rate, Tong Shu excitedly sped up, constantly filling her backpack with supplies.

"Tong Shu! Are you crazy?!"

Tong's mother heard a commotion in the living room from her room and came out to check.

From the doorway all the way to the study and then to the living room, all sorts of food and drinks were laid out, so many that Tong's mother couldn't even find a place to step out of her room.

Upon hearing the voice, Tong Shu paused and pondered for a moment.

Although I haven't figured out how to bring my mother to the island yet, since we're about to face a high-temperature apocalypse, I definitely can't keep the island a secret from her.

"Mom..." Tong Shu was about to speak when the door opened from the outside.

"Oh, Shushu! What's going on at your house?!"

Grandpa and Grandma were standing at the door carrying some fruits and vegetables. They looked at the supplies scattered all over the room with utter shock.

"Mom and Dad, come in first, come in first!"

Tong Songming, carrying several large bags, used his foot to push aside the pile of takeout bags and cleared a space.

The elderly couple didn't want to come to their son's house so late, but their son's attitude was very firm and his expression was very serious. They wondered if something serious had happened. They were worried but dared not ask, so they packed a bunch of clothes and all their belongings to support their son.

I never expected that when I arrived at Tong Shu's house, this would be the first thing I saw.

Tong Shu wasn't in a hurry to explain to her mother. Instead, she cleared a section of the sofa that was piled with things and asked the two elders to sit down first.

Tong Songming casually put down his bags and sat down on the side.

"I know you'll probably think I'm crazy for saying this, but everything I'm about to say is true, and Dad can vouch for it." Tong Shu said seriously, while Tong Songming nodded solemnly beside her.

"Take a look at this first."

Tong Shu picked up a bag of potato chips from the side and stuffed it into her backpack.

Tong's mother and the two elderly people were completely confused.

Tong Shu then stuffed another bottle of cola into her mouth.

A bucket of soy sauce.

A bag of flour.

A carton of milk...

...

Only after Tong Shu cleared the area around the sofa did Tong's mother seem to realize what was happening, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Tong Shu... your bag..."

Tong Shu took a deep breath and said, "Yes, Mom, let me introduce this bag to you first. Although it may sound incredible, as you just saw, it's a bag that can hold everything..."

More than half an hour later, Tong's mother still had an incredulous expression.

She reached out and stuffed a bag of cookies into her bag, but because the backpack only recognized the island owner and employees, it bounced out as soon as she put the cookies in.

Even though it was unbelievable, Tong's mother could only digest what her daughter had said in shock.

"Shushu, this really isn't magic, okay? Don't lie to Grandpa and Grandma."

Grandma Tong was completely oblivious and couldn't understand what her granddaughter was saying.

Tong Songming gave his mother a look. As expected of a couple married for over twenty years, his mother, though seemingly dazed, understood her husband's meaning and persuaded the two elderly people to go to the guest room to rest.

"Shushu, how are you?"

"Dad! Once we finish loading these, we'll definitely be able to complete the mission."

"Okay! Dad will help you with the installation."

...

The father and daughter together covered their heads and packed things into a bag. In no time, the room was tidy again. Both of them were covered in sweat from the effort.

"Dad, you go and rest first. I'll go check on the mission," Tong Shu said to Tong Songming.

"Okay, come out and rest as soon as you're done." Tong Songming didn't waste any words and turned to go to his room, where his mother was still waiting for him to explain.

Tong Shu gently touched the key on her chest, and with a thought, entered the island.

[Congratulations, Island Owner, on completing the mission! You have received a reward of 200 Forest Coins.]

Xiaosen Coins are the universal currency on the island, which means Tong Shu can now spend money on the island.

Tong Shu returned to the store.

The previously empty shelves were now filled with the supplies Tong Shu had purchased that day.

Each item had a price tag neatly hung underneath it.

"Potato chips 1 Sen Coin... Instant noodles 1 Sen Coin..."

No way! I spent tens of thousands of dollars on these supplies!

Tong Shu looked at her Senbi balance in disbelief, thinking to herself that this island was too greedy.

[The goods are ready, but we can't do without a warehouse worker! Island Master, please return to the human world and find a suitable warehouse worker within one day!]

As soon as the system notification sounded, two blank employee badges appeared in Tong Shu's hand.

The shop used to have a pair of twin Totoro cats working there, so it seems there are two spots available for them to enter the island this time.

Tong Shuxin had already made up her mind, and with a thought, she returned to her room.

----------------------------

The grandparents held the two work badges that Tong Shu handed them, completely baffled as to what their granddaughter was up to this time.

This very cartoonish-looking thing really resembled the little props her granddaughter used to play house when she was little. But seeing the serious expressions on the father and daughter's faces, the two elders were also a little unsure how to react.

"You want me and your grandfather to work at the supermarket?"

Last night, Tong Shu told them so many unbelievable things while holding the backpack. The two elders didn't sleep well all night. On one hand, they felt that their son and granddaughter might have mental problems, and on the other hand, they couldn't figure out what was going on with the backpack.

"Yes." Tong Shu nodded. "I'll take you to your workplace later."

"Then, how do we go? It's so hot..." Grandpa looked at the scorching sun outside, his face full of worry. He didn't know whether to go out and play house with his granddaughter, but he was also afraid that if he refused, his granddaughter would be upset.

"You two promise me that no matter what you see, don't be afraid, just trust me." After all, Tong Songming's reaction when he first entered the island was too strong, and Tong Shu was still shaken.

"Okay, alright..."

Tong Shu held her grandparents' arms at the same time, and Tong Songming, worried about his parents, also grabbed their work badges, preparing to enter the island together.

As the light and shadow shifted, the four of them arrived at the island in the blink of an eye.

The two elderly people had lived for so many years and had never encountered such a situation before.

Looking at the buildings I'd never seen before, feeling the cool breeze I hadn't felt in so long, and... a strange little animal standing in front of me wearing a mask.

"This...this...this..." After a long while, Grandma finally managed to squeeze out a sound from her throat.

“Grandpa and Grandma, the apocalypse is real, everything I’m saying is true.” Tong Shu held her grandparents’ hands. “I know it’s hard for you to accept, but hiding here is the best way to protect our family.”

Looking into Tong Shu's clear eyes, Grandma recalled the abnormally high temperatures of the past few months and touched the scars left on Grandpa's arm from sunburn.

Even though what she saw and heard overturned all her previous understanding, and she still couldn't comprehend what was going on, she knew that her granddaughter wouldn't harm them.

"Okay, it's good that the family is together..." Grandma helped Tong Songming stand up straight. "Let's go, Shushu, let's see where your grandpa and I will work from now on."

Tong Shu breathed a sigh of relief. Once Grandma understood, Grandpa would naturally accept it gradually as well.

After her grandparents settled into the rocking chairs behind the cashier at the small shop, Tong Shu received another system message.

[Congratulations to the island owner for hiring a suitable stock clerk! Reward: 500 Forest Coins]

Looking at the Senbi coins that had been deposited into her account, Tong Shu felt a little nervous.

It's uncertain how long the impending apocalypse will last, and the purchasing power of Senbi is extremely limited.

"Shushu, your grandpa, your dad, and I can all hide on this island, but what about your mom?" Grandma thought worriedly, turning to look at Tong Songming. "Shuhua is still outside."

"Mom, don't worry, I asked Shushu, and she said there are other jobs here," Tong Songming comforted her.

“Okay, Grandma, don’t worry. The reason we let you two come in first is because the store just needs two people, so you and Grandpa can keep each other company. I’ll go see if other places will issue work badges later.” Tong Shu then said to Tong Songming, “Dad, you take Grandpa and Grandma out first, I’ll go wander around somewhere else.”

Tong Songming nodded, took Grandpa Tong and Grandma Tong's hands, and disappeared from the spot.