Chapter 4
"An An, An An."
At Zhou Qi's gentle call, Tang Yu'an opened his eyes and responded softly: "Brother Xiaoqi..."
"Here, take your temperature."
Zhou Qi handed him the thermometer and coaxed Tang Yu'an to put it under his armpit.
"how are you feeling?"
"It's so hot... I'm a little thirsty."
Zhou Qi poured him some water and waited for a while before asking him to take out the thermometer.
39.2℃.
Zhou Qi's expression turned ugly. He touched Tang Yu'an's head and his eyes turned red with some self-blame.
Knowing that the flu was serious, he should have paid attention when An An sneezed yesterday. Plus, he was frightened when he crossed over...
How could he take a bath in this condition? It would definitely make his condition worse...
Zhou Qi was anxious and angry, but he quickly took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down.
He couldn't lose his composure. There was no point getting anxious and angry now. The most important thing right now was to find a way to cure An An's illness.
"It's okay, my brother is here."
Zhou Qi touched Tang Yu'an's cheek and comforted him with a few words. Then he got up and went downstairs. He first put a bowl of porridge aside, and then ran to the cabinet where Tang's mother usually kept medicine and started looking for it.
There are more medicines for treating injuries and sprains in the cabinet, followed by those for clearing heat and detoxifying. Finally, I only found a bottle of cold-relieving tablets and a few packets of Xiao Chaihu Granules.
No matter what, it's better to have something than nothing.
Zhou Qi put the medicine away, took the porridge upstairs first, coaxed Tang Yu'an to eat half a bowl, then fed him two pills and made some granules for him to drink.
After taking the medicine, Tang Yu'an fell asleep again in a daze.
Zhou Qi didn't dare to leave and stayed by his side, wiping his forehead and behind his ears with alcohol.
It was not until after eleven o'clock in the morning that Tang Yu'an's temperature finally dropped and he became much more awake.
Zhou Qi finally felt relieved. Just as he was about to get up to get him something to eat, the child grabbed the corner of his clothes. He said in a weak voice, "Brother Xiaoqi, I'm sorry..."
It's really wrong that he got sick at such a time... Tang Yu'an felt very guilty.
Zhou Qi couldn't help but pause.
"Don't talk nonsense." He touched Tang Yu'an's sweaty hair, "Get well soon."
"Um……"
Tang Yu'an got up and drank half a bowl of porridge, then wiped off the sweat on his body with a hot towel, and only then did he feel a lot better.
At this time, Zhou Qi took out a few more banknotes, ready to trade with him to earn points - the special cold medicine on "Seven-Day Sale" was still there, and as long as he had 100 points to redeem it, An An's illness would be cured immediately.
However……
"Why doesn't it work?" Tang Yu'an asked curiously.
No matter how they traded, the system did not prompt that the transaction was completed, and the experience points and credits did not increase.
Zhou Qi thought for a moment and said solemnly, "It's probably because I've become an employee and no longer count as a customer, so I can't do business with you."
There is no way to trade, no way to earn points, and no way to complete daily tasks...
Tang Yu'an also frowned.
But he didn't regret hiring Zhou Qi as an employee. Who knew what dangers might happen if he stayed out at night? Even catching a cold like him was a hassle.
But what should I do now?
"I'm going out to find new customers."
Zhou Qi's voice rang out, "This is the only way now."
Tang Yuan opened his mouth slightly, but found that he seemed to have no reason to stop it. Sooner or later, they would have to go out and find new customers. It was impossible for them to stay in the grocery store until the supplies ran out.
and……
"You stay here and look after the house." Zhou Qi said without allowing any refusal.
Tang Yu'an couldn't help pouting, but he also knew that with his current physical condition, even if he went out, he would be a drag, so in the end he had to lower his head.
"Then you must come back safely." He reached out and hugged Zhou Qi, saying aggrievedly.
A smile appeared on Zhou Qi's lips.
He lowered his head slightly and rubbed his chin against his soft hair, "I will, don't worry."
"Pink pinky." Tang Yu'an extended his little finger.
Zhou Qi reluctantly reached out and hooked his fingers, fulfilling the agreement with him.
So after lunch, Zhou Qi put on his backpack, held a stick in his hand, and walked out the door under the gaze of Tang Yu'an.
*
The sky was bright and the temperature had risen quite a bit.
After leaving the grocery store, Zhou Qi explored the surrounding area with the store as the center, trying to find people.
Although how to complete the transaction with the other party while ensuring your own safety is also an issue that needs to be considered, the prerequisite for everything is to find the person first.
After observing for a moment, Zhou Qi walked towards the ruins opposite.
He thought, if there really were people there, they would probably be hiding in those abandoned buildings, right?
The city was sinking and buildings were collapsing. Apart from the whistling wind and the crisp sound of water drops hitting the ground, the surroundings were eerily quiet, as if he was the only one in the whole city.
Zhou Qi climbed, jumped, ran and slid among the ruins.
He was quite brave, but when he accidentally stepped on something and looked down, he found that it was a weathered, nameless corpse. When he saw the two pitch-black holes on the exposed skull, his face turned pale.
Zhou Qi ran away, suppressing his nausea, and it took him a long time to recover.
End of the world.
For him, who grew up in a peaceful world, this was the first time he intuitively felt the meaning of this word.
Throughout the journey, Zhou Qi's school uniform jacket had become dirty, as if it had rolled in the mud.
He was a very clean person, but now he had no time to care. Or perhaps, this dirt gave him a sense of security in this strange and quiet environment.
In this doomsday world, cleanliness and tidiness are too conspicuous and out of tune with the surroundings.
The sun gradually rose higher in the sky.
Zhou Qi squatted under a low wall, took out a bottle of mineral water from his backpack, unscrewed the cap and took a sip to replenish the lost water, then looked down at his electronic watch.
Although I don't know how time is calculated in this world, the watch can function normally as long as it has a battery.
Almost two hours had passed since he left the grocery store.
In order to conserve his energy and prevent unknown dangers, he did not rush on the road all the time, but instead conducted a carpet search in the ruins, so his exploration progress was limited.
Apart from one or two small, incredibly fast animals, he saw no other living creatures.
In this desolate doomsday city, no one knows if there are any humans left alive... If not, what should he and An An do next?
The boy frowned, a hint of frustration showing on his face.
But soon, Zhou Qi calmed down, stuffed the water back into his backpack, and then got up to continue exploring.
It was not until more than an hour later that he discovered some traces in a certain direction that might be left by human activities.
It was a withered sapling. The soil around the tree showed signs of having been turned over, and there were several shoe prints left behind. Judging from the size, they were probably not from an adult male.
Zhou Qi was delighted, but after looking at the time, he did not continue to track. Instead, after hesitating for a while, he chose to return the same way.
It was almost four o'clock now, and it would start to get dark after five o'clock. He had to get back to the grocery store before dark.
And he'd been out for too long. An An was probably going to be worried. This kid was still running a fever. If he ran out to look for him at this time, it would be troublesome...
The return journey was much shorter than the coming journey. It only took an hour for Zhou Qi to return to the grocery store following the marks left behind.
Just as he guessed - before he got close, he saw from afar that Tang Yu'an had opened the door of the grocery store and was lying on the stone in front of the door, looking around curiously.
The boy was quite alert and soon discovered him.
When Tang Yu'an saw Zhou Qi, he was delighted at first, but then he froze in place, and began to hesitate whether to hide back in the shop.
"Is your fever completely gone?" Zhou Qi finally came to him.
Tang Yuan's eyes wandered around guiltily.
"It's much better now..." He lowered his head, his voice obviously weak.
Zhou Qi raised his hand to touch his forehead, but soon noticed the dirt on his hands and had to give up.
"Let's talk inside."
"Okay, okay."
Tang Yu'an quickly turned around and went into the house.
Zhou Qi didn't rush in, but took off his coat and shoes and put them outside - he had to go out later, and it would be useless to wash. Now there was no way to earn points, so he had to use water sparingly.
Tang Yu'an waited for him to come in, and after carefully closing the door, he looked at him and said, "Brother Xiaoqi, you've been gone for a long time. Did you gain anything?"
Zhou Qi shook his head and said, "I didn't meet anyone, but I found some traces."
As he spoke, he took off his pants. Tang Yu'an wanted to reach out to take them, but was stopped by Zhou Qi.
"It stinks. I hope the fumes don't stink you up."
"My nose is stuffy now and I can't smell."
Tang Yu'an smiled, which made Zhou Qi, who was in a heavy mood, feel a little relaxed, but he still didn't give him the clothes.
He did not forget the corpses he encountered on the road, and he didn't know if they were contaminated with any germs. An An is weak now, so it's better not to let him touch these things.
Zhou Qi put his pants into a plastic bag and threw it at the door before he dared to enter the house.
"Are you going out today?" Tang Yu'an asked behind him.
"No." Zhou Qi said.
It will be completely dark by six o'clock. It is too dangerous to go out at this time, and you may not be able to find anyone to do business with.
"What's your temperature now?" Zhou Qi frowned as he looked at Tang Yu'an's flushed face.
“I don’t know…”
"Go measure it."
"oh……"
Tang Yu'an nodded obediently. Seeing Zhou Qi return safely, he felt relieved and turned to get the thermometer.
Zhou Qi washed his hair and took a shower, and disinfected himself with alcohol. When he came out of the bathroom and was about to look for Tang Yu'an, he heard a loud bang.
Zhou Qi's face changed slightly, and he quickly went to look for the source of the sound. Finally, he saw Tang Yu'an fainted at the stairs on the second floor.
"An An!"
He quickly climbed up the stairs and picked up Tang Yu'an.
Tang Yu'an's cheeks were red and abnormally hot.
Zhou Qi called him twice, but only got two confused responses. He quickly carried Tang Yu'an to the bed, and went to get alcohol to wipe his forehead, behind his ears and body.
After Tang Yu'an looked visibly more comfortable, they took his temperature.
39.1℃.
This is still the result of physical cooling.
Why is it burning again?
Zhou Qi frowned and quickly fed him the remaining two packets of Xiao Chaihu Granules. Then he thought of something and ran downstairs to get a few popsicles from the freezer. He wrapped them in a towel and placed them on Tang Yu'an's forehead.
When Tang Yu'an woke up again, it was already completely dark outside.
He saw Zhou Qi standing by his side, and recalled that he seemed to have fainted just now. His condition must have worsened, and he couldn't help feeling more depressed and self-blaming.
"Brother Xiaoqi..." he called softly.
Hearing his voice, Zhou Qi, who had been standing by, quickly came over and asked, "An An, how do you feel?"
"Thirsty..."
Zhou Qi quickly poured out the prepared sugar and salt water from the thermos, helped him up and fed him.
"Are you hungry?" Zhou Qi asked.
Tang Yu'an felt better after drinking the water and shook his head, saying, "I have no appetite."
"Even if you don't have an appetite, you have to eat. You haven't eaten much all day. You need to replenish your energy so that you can get better faster."
Zhou Qi laid him down, then stood up and brought him the freshly cooked rice porridge with vegetables and lean meat to feed him.
Tang Yu'an obediently drank half a bowl and couldn't eat anymore.
Zhou Qi did not force him and fed him two more pills. Seeing that he fell asleep again, he continued to watch over him.
Looking at Tang Yu'an's weak appearance, Zhou Qi's face was full of worry.
He knew that An An had a severe flu this time, which had been reported on the news. Even with timely medication, most people would need a week or two to recover.
They are short of medicine now and have to rely entirely on An An's own immunity to fight off the disease. Can he really survive?
And he himself should have been infected, but just didn't have an attack. If he falls ill later, who will take care of An An?
It is urgent to earn enough points to exchange for special medicine.
*
Tang Yu'an's condition kept recurring until midnight when it finally stabilized, and Zhou Qi finally lay down to rest.
But the next morning, he still got up at 5:30.
When he had packed up and was ready to leave, Tang Yu'an rubbed his eyes and went downstairs in a daze.
"Brother Xiaoqi..."
Zhou Qi's tense expression relaxed when he heard his soft call.
"Feeling better?" He walked forward and touched Tang Yu'an's forehead.
When he got up, he took Tang Yu'an's temperature. He still had a low fever, but it was not serious.
"Yeah, much better." Tang Yu'an nodded. Seeing him getting ready, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you going out?"
"Yes, let's set off early today and try to cover more ground."
No matter what, we must attract customers today.
"I might not be back at noon. You have to cook for yourself. Can you take care of yourself?"
Hearing that he would be away for such a long time, Tang Yu'an was very worried, but he also understood that if he went with him now, he would be a drag.
"Well, I can take care of myself."
He looked at Zhou Qi's backpack and asked, "Did you bring enough food and water?"
"I've brought enough." Zhou Qi nodded. "There's millet porridge in the kitchen. Remember to go and have some."
Tang Yu'an said okay, and when he saw him about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and quickly called him.
"Brother Xiaoqi, wait a moment."
As he said that, he ran back upstairs, and after a while he ran down again, showing the compass in his hand to Zhou Qi.
"I found this when I was sorting the goods yesterday. Can you see if it can be used?"
Zhou Qi took the compass and was a little surprised. He rubbed Tang Yu'an's head and said, "It's very useful, thank you."
Tang Yu'an grinned and then sent Zhou Qi out the door.
Zhou Qi didn't let him leave the grocery store. After closing the store door, he suppressed his nausea and put on the dirty clothes and pants from yesterday, and then put on his shoes.
Then he took out his compass and experimented with it.
The magnetic field in this world is similar to that of the Earth. No matter how he turns the compass, the needle points in the same direction.
Although it does not necessarily represent the south, it can still serve as an indication of direction.
Zhou Qi nodded, put on his mask, and left the grocery store alone again, ready to go to the place where he found the traces yesterday.
*
After Zhou Qi left, Tang Yu'an was not idle either.
He was in much better spirits today, unlike yesterday when he was groggy and always wanted to sleep.
After Tang Yu'an finished his millet porridge, he did the task of cleaning and organizing the goods. As for purchasing goods from the mall... he hesitated for a moment and still exchanged for 10L of water.
10L of water is actually not a lot, and only a little more than half of it is filled in the bucket. The water they used before was mainly from the water tank at home.
Suddenly, there was nothing to do. Tang Yu'an was stunned for a while, then he got up and went to the back door, took away the shoulder pole that Zhou Qi had stuck on the door, pushed the door open and looked out.
After making sure there was no danger, Tang Yu'an went out and watered the plants his mother had planted.
Because he remembered Zhou Qi's instructions, he quickly returned to the house after watering the plants, closed the door and blocked it with the carrying pole again.
Free again and not wanting to go back to sleep, Tang Yu'an sat in the house, opened the system panel and continued to sort the goods, picking out the items that were about to expire, and then carefully thinking about whether there were any system functions that he had missed.
Before I knew it, it was noon.
Brother Xiaoqi hasn't come back yet...
Tang Yu'an was getting a little impatient waiting, so he simply took out his textbook and started flipping through the pages.
Halfway through, the system panel suddenly popped up.
[Employee "Zhou Qi" completed a transaction with a new customer and made a profit, experience points +3, points +9]
Tang Yu’an: Wow!
The author has something to say:
Anzai: My little brother Xiaoqi is really capable~
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