Summer limited seaside shop
Shu Mo felt that something must have gone wrong when the Doomsday Game was uninstalling the extreme weather installation package.
Otherwise...why is it so hot? ?
She sat behind the counter of the sales office, feeling the thin short-sleeved shirt on her body sticking to her back with sweat. She felt like a meat bun in a huge steamer, feeling extremely helpless.
The air was so stagnant that it had stopped flowing. Looking out through the transparent glass door of the shop, the sunlight cast an unobstructed shadow on the earth, and the color was like an overexposed film.
There were few people on the commercial street, and no one had passed by the door for quite some time.
In such weather, players would rather stay in places like swimming pools, teahouses, chess and card rooms, or go to fresh food supermarkets to enjoy the air conditioning than walk outdoors.
In addition, the hot spring business has also been hit.
It takes courage to soak in hot water and then steam in a sauna on a hot summer day.
I finally washed myself clean, but after walking a few steps outside, I was sweating again. I felt like collapse just thinking about it.
Fortunately, Nuannuan Hot Spring’s business is no longer as single as it was at the beginning.
Under the scorching sun, water parks have sprung up and become a popular summer resort all over the world.
Because there are flowing water sources everywhere in the park and the green coverage rate is large, special devices are installed on the poles and high plants to spray water mist for cooling regularly. Therefore, the temperature in the park is much lower than that outside.
Having lived in the extremely cold apocalypse for ten years, humans really have no means left to cool down. Faced with the sudden high temperature, many people searched left and right but couldn't even find a piece of clothing suitable for this kind of weather. I could only use a pair of big scissors to cut off the two sleeves on the spot and wear the tight long sleeves as short sleeves.
But even though their sleeves were cut short, it was still hot and people had no choice but to crowd into the water park.
For several consecutive days, the wave pool was packed with tourists like dumplings.
The surge in water park revenue has largely offset the losses from the decline in hot spring business.
——This is the benefit of being involved in all kinds of business.
No matter how the environment changes, there will always be something that can make money.
…
Shu Mo lay listlessly on the counter, his cheek against the cold surface of the glass, rolling left and right, and then, like a withered plant, he remained motionless.
The counter was slowly heated up by her body temperature. She moved the chair under her butt and slowly found another place to sit.
The fan in front of me was making a whirring sound, stirring up the dry summer air, and it seemed like all the air it was blowing was hot air.
It was so stuffy that it made it hard to breathe.
Perhaps it was because the summer vacations in childhood were too wonderful, Shu Mo has a strong filter for summer.
Every spring, autumn and winter...what she misses most is summer.
The sunshine, the sea, the green wheat fields, the never-ending chirping of cicadas…all that I can think of are beautiful things.
But once you are really in such heat, all the beautiful things are shattered.
There was only one sentence left in her mind:
Oh my god, it’s so hot.
After a while, Shu Mo finally couldn't bear it anymore and raised his head and decided to go out for a walk.
In fact, strictly speaking, the current weather is not extreme. It is far from being as terrible as the extreme cold in the past. It is just the common hot weather in midsummer.
This is probably why the temperature regulation function of the barrier has failed.
The bamboo forest was crowded with people.
Away from the uncovered commercial street, the rest of Nuannuan Hot Spring is still very lively. The bamboo forest is full of people taking walks, and the gurgling stream brings a touch of coolness.
By the lake, guests set up tents.
Such a large body of water is the best tool for cooling down. The wind blowing from the other side of the plain becomes much cooler after passing through the lake, and it feels refreshing when it blows on the body.
As it rolled over the grass, it seemed to be raising layers of green waves.
Shu Mo stood by the lake and looked at it for a while, and suddenly an idea popped into his mind.
Lakes and artificial wave pools, which one can compare to the real ocean?
In that case...
Why doesn't she go on vacation to the seaside? !
*
After making the decision, Shu Mo was surprised to find that she had been so busy with business operations throughout the entire year that she had hardly ever given herself a real vacation.
It's time to relax.
Just go.
The next day, she and her family were standing on a dilapidated teleportation array.
Since it was a vacation anyway, she might as well bring the old employees of the hot spring along. As for the remaining employees who did not get a turn to take vacation, they also received high temperature subsidies. In addition to the bonuses, they will have one extra day off per week as compensation due to future hot weather.
Many employees who are busy raising families don't have time to travel, so such tangible rewards are more popular with them.
After making these arrangements, Shu Mo came out openly.
At this time, Little Tail No. 1 Gu Xiao was looking around excitedly, "Is this Bauhinia Town?"
Like Shu Mo, she had never left Guangming Town since the game started. It was her first time traveling far away and she was very excited.
When he saw the surrounding scenery clearly, the smile froze.
Liu Xueruo lost her voice, "Bauhinia Town...how could it be like this?"
The small town in front of everyone looked like a deserted village with few people.
The vegetation was withered, the houses were damaged, weeds were growing in the cracks between the walls and floors, and the dead leaves piled up underfoot were rustling. It was unknown how long it had been since anyone had cleaned them up.
It has only been a while since the plants have started to grow again, but the fact that there is such a pile of fallen leaves shows how desolate this place is.
Shu Mo frowned, and suddenly remembered what Xia Qing had said about Bauhinia Town in the past.
It is said that because there have been no mineral veins nearby for several years, and the monster materials are not enough to support communication with the outside world, they have gradually become silent in recent years and did not participate in the previous Lords' Conference. Therefore, even Qingshui Town and Guangming Town, which are not far away, do not know their current situation.
Now it seems that the situation is more serious than she imagined.
Shu Mo chose to teleport here simply because he heard Xia Qing say that this place was very close to the beach, so he teleported here without giving it much thought.
Who could have imagined that Bauhinia Town had become so dilapidated?
Yao Yonghui has traveled extensively for many years and has been here before. Seeing this scene, he felt mixed emotions. "When I came here a few years ago, this was still a beautiful seaside town. Standing on the city wall, you could see the endless sea. Bauhinia flowers were blooming on the streets, and the residents were very welcoming. Why is it now..."
Trees can be cut into lumber, weeds can be made into ropes, and vines can be made into ladders to climb up and down. Most of the common plants in the doomsday game have their own uses, but decorative flowers have no practical value, and therefore their refresh numbers are extremely rare.
When only a few plum trees appeared in Guangming Town, people were so excited that they built a town around it. However, Bauhinia Town is built on a large area of blooming Bauhinia trees.
There are no seasonal changes in the game, and once decorative plants are refreshed, they will always maintain their original appearance.
The Bauhinia flower that never fades——
Hence the name of the town.
But you can't make a living by looking at this beautiful scenery.
Yao Yonghui sighed, "I heard that Bauhinia Town has not been well developed because it is close to the sea. After all, the sea has always been a place that players find difficult to enter. Even if they don't go to the sea and only look for resources on land, they still have inherent disadvantages."
Shu Mo understood.
A large area around the town has been occupied by the ocean, and it is absolutely impossible to refresh the mineral veins at sea. In other words, the area near Bauhinia Town where resources may be refreshed will naturally have fewer resources than others.
Not being able to find a mineral vein for several consecutive years might not just be bad luck.
"Come to think of it, we haven't received any guests from Bauhinia Town before..." Liu Xueruo said hesitantly.
In the past few months, the whole world has been celebrating the end of the game. Everyone has become accustomed to the lively atmosphere and is very uncomfortable when they suddenly come to this quiet town.
Considering how isolated it was, Shumo seriously doubted that people here might not even know the hot spring existed.
Of course, in the hot spring, no one except Xia Qing ever mentioned it.
It was just forgotten.
Everyone looked around, feeling a little heavy.
Shu Mo was still thinking to himself: If this teleportation array has really been abandoned for a long time, then who approved the teleportation application she sent just now?
Mo Bai hadn't spoken a word, but suddenly turned his head and fixed his eyes on a corner, "Someone is coming."
After a rustling sound, a head suddenly appeared from behind the brick wall.
She was a girl of no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, with healthy wheat-colored skin, slender limbs, and wearing a thin cloth armor. Most of her face was hidden behind the wall, and she looked at the few people vigilantly.
Shu Mo bent down, a little hesitant, "You are..."
The child's voice was tender, but neither humble nor arrogant, "My name is Jian Xing, and I am the lord here."
really.
Shu Mo had a premonition just now, but he was still a little surprised when he actually heard it.
The people behind him were even more surprised, "How could the lord of Bauhinia Town be so young?"
"No." Yao Yonghui shook his head subconsciously, "When I came here a few years ago, the lord was still a capable lady..."
He suddenly stopped talking, and a small shadow emerged in his memory. It was the same shadow that timidly hid behind his mother, and it gradually overlapped with the image of him hiding behind the stone wall now.
There could only be one reason for letting such a young daughter inherit the throne...
Shu Mo also guessed a little bit, and stopped dwelling on this topic, but was still puzzled, "You let us in? Aren't you worried?"
Given the current state of Bauhinia Town, it is probably completely unable to resist foreign enemies. The reason for stopping communication with the outside world is probably because they are worried that the news will get out and be coveted by others.
She was clear in her mind.
But that doesn't make sense even more. Since it has been closed for so long, why are they suddenly letting people in again? How could the little lord tell whether they were well-intentioned visitors or greedy plunderers?
"Some time ago, I saw the news released by various territories, and also saw the ranking list and settlement notice of the event." Jian Xing said, "They mentioned Nuannuan Hot Spring in the notes."
However, despite obtaining permission for free teleportation, Jian Xing still did not dare to open the teleportation array.
She just remembered the name silently.
Then, when I received the transfer request from "Nuannuan Hot Spring", after a long struggle, I finally clicked to agree.
"I see." Shu Mo nodded and explained, "We have no ill intentions. We came here just because the weather is too hot and we want to find a small house closer to the beach to stay for a few days."
Her tone was normal, without any contempt, nor did it sound like she was coaxing a child. Instead, it made Jian Xing relax a little.
"Is that so?" She hesitated for a few seconds, "I'll ask my grandfather to take you there."
He added, "He has lived here since before the game started. He knows the area well and will definitely be able to help you find a suitable place to live."
Shu Mo's brows relaxed, "Then I'll leave it to you."
Jian Xing led them through the town hall.
The interior of the building was deserted, with only sunlight shining through the windows in the corridor, slanting onto the walls, and the sound of long footsteps echoing in the air.
She came to a place that looked like a security room and knocked on the door.
The door opened and a skinny old man appeared at the door. "Xingxing?"
Shu Mo took a quick glance. There was a small bed in the room, and he seemed to live here, guarding the empty town office alone.
Jian Xing came forward and whispered a few words, and then his turbid gaze fell on Shu Mo and his group.
"Vacation?"
He seemed to have not heard such words for a long time. He was speechless for a long time before he said, "I know. Come with me."
The person leading the way changed from Jian Xing to an old man.
After leaving the town hall, they walked along the road out of the city.
After walking a few steps, Gu Xiao couldn't help but look back.
The doors and windows of the building behind me were closed, and it looked lifeless in the sunlight.
Perhaps seeing what she was thinking, the old man explained, "Our official group has long been disbanded, and the capable senior players in the town have also left, leaving only a few ordinary players. No one comes here to work anymore, and no one buys a house to move into Bauhinia Town anymore, so of course the town office exists in name only."
"Fortunately, the game is about to end. If we hold on for a while longer, we will be able to make it through."
His tone was calm, without any ups and downs, but instead revealed a deep sense of fatigue.
Overhead, the blooming redbud flowers were like clouds of smoky purple mist, covering the sky above the streets.
Despite such a beautiful view, the residents sitting under the trees never looked up.
The same numbness on people's faces and the clusters of flowers above their heads formed a sharp contrast.
A group of people passed by them in silence.
As you walk out of the city gate, the view in front of you suddenly opens up.
Bauhinia Town is located at a high altitude and is surrounded by green hillsides. There is a winding path going down the mountain leading directly to the seaside.
Following the path down the mountain and turning a corner, everyone saw a dilapidated wooden house.
From the outside, it looks no different from the haunted cabins in horror movies. The place is covered with cobwebs and the floor is rotten, making a terrifying creaking sound when you walk on it, giving off an eerie atmosphere in this hot summer day.
Gu Xiao stopped fanning himself by the collar and murmured, "Why do I feel so cool all of a sudden?"
Shu Mo: “…”
The only good thing about the cabin is the view.
Facing the sea, the view is wide and you can walk down to the beach in a few steps.
The strong sunlight casts a highly saturated filter over everything around it. The trees on the roadside were lush and green, the sky was blue, and over the sea, large white clouds were floating low in the sky, just like a scene from a Hayao Miyazaki animation.
"This is it. I don't know who left this building here. If you want to use it, you can modify it yourself." The old man said, "There are no hotels in the town that are still in business for you to stay in."
Shu Mo: “?”
Can people really live here?
For a moment she suspected that she had made the wrong decision. Unexpectedly, the next second, the long-dormant management system suddenly came back to life.
[Congratulations on obtaining [A Broken House]! 】
[Triggered: Side story "A New Beginning"! 】
[Plot description: Hot springs have become increasingly sophisticated. Are you feeling a little tired of the current business path? Try running a brand new store! ——This is a forgotten seaside town, and the abandoned residents are depressed. Because of the hot weather, many people even suffered from adverse reactions such as heatstroke, loss of appetite, and mental depression... Help them! 】
【You can now open a second store! 】
[Tip: The branch line adopts a new business model and is not interoperable with the main line. You can switch stores under your name in the business panel at any time to check the business status. There are also independent malls and new ways of playing waiting for your exploration~]
Shu Mo: “???”
This system can actually unlock new types of stores?
She looked at the shabby cabin in front of her in disbelief, and the disgust in her eyes quickly disappeared, leaving only kindness.
If it is used as a holiday home, it is certainly far from qualified.
But if you think of it as the initial scene at the beginning of a business game, then that's perfectly normal, isn't it?
——She couldn’t even count how many dirty cabins she had renovated in the game!
Shu Mo was eager to try. He thought of something and called the system in his mind, "Oh, by the way, Bauhinia Town and Hot Springs are so far apart. Do I have to run back and forth between the two places for business in the future?"
That's such trouble.
System: [After completing the initial construction, you can assign employees to the current store, or let others run it on your behalf and collect profits regularly. 】
In other words, it also has a fully automatic business mode.
After the construction is completed, if Shu Mo doesn't want to take care of it anymore, he can just lie back and collect the money.
Shu Mo: ...There are such good things in the world!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
