Chapter 128 Meow Meow
Smelling the pure aroma of porridge, Wang Peng couldn't help but be in a trance for a moment.
——After living in the Eastern Base for more than twenty years, like most human survivors, Wang Peng has become accustomed to the taste of porridge filled with cheap spice enhancers. When the mercenaries chatted, they called that kind of porridge "technological porridge".
It’s not like there weren’t vendors who tried to sell light and stomach-nourishing rice porridge before, but soon they were forced to sell “technological porridge” because there was no market.
no way.
The main customers of the black market food area are mercenaries, who usually do dangerous jobs outside. After finishing a day's mission and surviving, most of them just want to drink something that can go down quickly and warm up their bodies. The stronger the taste, the better.
No matter whether it is sour, sweet, bitter, spicy or salty, the stronger the taste, the more it makes people feel that they are truly alive.
This is what they need most when fighting in the apocalypse.
As for what kind of clear porridge is good for nourishing the stomach? Those were the golden ages, and what the ignorant and happy people needed did not have to worry about their survival every day. It had nothing to do with them anymore.
But the smell of the porridge at this time is obviously not strong, and there is not even any obvious seasoning smell, but for some reason it is very fragrant.
The entire black market food area was filled with the smell of alcohol, various fumes, spicy and pungent, and the smell of various seasonings mixed together and drilled into people's nostrils.
...Among these chaotic smells, the aroma of the porridge is not very strong, but it is very unique, and makes people's hearts move when they smell it.
One can't help but imagine the feeling of warming up the empty and cold spleen and stomach after drinking a bowl of hot porridge.
Mercenaries like Wang Peng, who could not afford to buy food outside and came to this remote corner to find food, also gradually smelled the fragrance of porridge.
Gradually people started discussing:
"What's that smell? It smells so special."
"It tastes a bit like preserved eggs and green onions. Is it porridge? It's still steaming and warm."
"...Maybe it came from outside. The vendors in this corner are not willing to buy charcoal. The food has gone cold."
"Yeah, we can't even afford hot porridge with the money in our pockets, so we can just smell it." A mercenary sighed and walked to the side with his companions, muttering, "I really envy those senior mercenaries..."
Hearing this, the mercenaries who had just spoken lowered their heads, looking dejected.
Even if there were someone selling hot porridge here, the price would probably be unaffordable for them. If they had money, they would just buy porridge from the most popular stalls outside, where they also sell wine. But only mid- to high-level mercenaries have the money to go there.
They should just fill their stomachs quietly.
Many mercenaries bought some porridge, dry bread and the like from the stalls nearby. The food here was cheaper than outside, but it still cost an average of five credit points per serving. The food was cold, but at least there were no flies and it wasn't moldy.
The vendors here are not as friendly as those outside, but most of them are quite polite and pack up the food politely:
"Your portion of porridge is four credits." "Five loaves of bread are twenty credits after discount, thank you." "Welcome to visit next time."
The vendors who can set up stalls at this location have all paid protection fees, but not much, about 100 credit points a week. After calculating the rent and food costs, vendors setting up stalls here can earn dozens of credit points a week. If they are a little more diligent, they can earn more than working in the logistics department.
It's just hard work.
...Before Skinny Monkey and his group moved in, the entire black market food area did not need to pay protection fees. The vendors at that time earned much more than they do now, and all the money they earned went into their own pockets, so they worked with more enthusiasm.
But now, everything is different and the vendors have become lifeless.
The mercenaries also noticed this change, but there was nothing they could do about it as they were all trying to make a living.
Most of the mercenaries bought their meals in this area.
But Wang Peng looked around and saw the colorful cold porridge and the dry and hard bread, and he really had no appetite.
But the aroma of porridge still lingers in my nose...
Finally, he gritted his teeth and made a decision.
Wang Peng walked towards the stall further inside.
The owner of the bakery he frequented was a little surprised to see Wang Peng didn't come to buy bread, and couldn't help but call out to him: "Brother Wang, aren't you going to buy bread today?"
Wang Peng nodded at him and said, "Sorry, I want to change my taste today. I'll come back next time."
After saying that, Wang Peng walked in quickly.
Behind him, the bakery owner nodded angrily, still smiling, but he was mumbling in his heart.
"This Wang Peng, could it be that the recent mission results are not good and the mercenary level has dropped again?" He thought, "He has fallen to the point of eating food in the F area..."
Area F, which is the stalls at the innermost part of the food area, has the worst location and the least customer traffic, and is reserved for vendors who cannot afford to pay protection fees. Their food here was cold but at least it was freshly made that day.
In Area F, many vendors, in order to save costs, would continue selling food that was not sold out in one day the next day until all the food was sold out. A lot of the food was moldy and infested with insects, and there were many examples of mercenaries getting sick from eating the food.
Therefore, only the lowest-level mercenaries, or mercenaries who have just entered the industry and have not yet started to make money, would reluctantly go to Area F to buy food. Any mercenary who knows the business knows that no matter how short of money one is, one should not eat there.
Thinking of this, the bakery owner looked at Wang Peng's back with deep sympathy.
After all, he is an old customer. Give him some bread next time you meet.
The boss thought.
.
Following the smell of porridge, Wang Peng turned around the stall. The further he went inside, the fewer people there were.
Not only charcoal, but even lighting lamps requires money. The vendors who cannot afford to pay the protection fee certainly cannot be willing to spend money to light the lamps. Therefore, the closer you are to the F area inside, the dimmer the light becomes, and it even gradually turns into darkness.
In the pitch-black environment, there were small stalls set up nearby, with vendors with numb expressions sitting in front of the stalls. They were too lazy to greet customers when they saw them, like ghosts who had been dead for many days.
Much of the food on the stalls was rotten, revealing a strange blue-black color, and flies were flying above a lot of the food.
...People who are not mentally strong enough might be frightened by this haunted house-like scene and never dare to come here again.
But Wang Peng is a mercenary after all, so he can still bear this.
Moreover, the further he went inside, the stronger the aroma of the porridge became. Wang Peng became more alert and no longer bothered to observe the dark environment, and quickened his pace.
After turning a corner again, Wang Peng's eyes suddenly lit up -
A small porridge shop appeared before him.
The porridge shop was shrouded in warm yellow light. The light was not dazzling, but it was like a beacon in the darkness, giving people a warm feeling.
Under the bright light, the porridge bed was neatly laid out with bowls and plates, white porcelain bowls and wooden bowls, as well as a plate of green onions, a plate of radishes, and a plate of pickled cabbage, which was very pleasing to the eye. But the most attractive thing is the stove next to it.
There was a clay pot on the stove, and steam was constantly rising from the air holes of the clay pot. The aroma of the porridge came from here.
There was a charcoal fire burning under the stove!
"In Area F, there are vendors willing to buy charcoal?" Wang Peng couldn't help rubbing his eyes, and repeatedly confirmed that he was not hallucinating.
A gentle and cheerful voice suddenly sounded in my ears:
"Welcome, would you like some porridge?"
Wang Peng was stunned.
His attention was attracted by the charcoal, and it was only then that he realized that there was someone next to the porridge shop.
In front of the stall stood a smiling young man.
——The young man had an outstanding appearance, like a big star before the end of the world, but in fact, his beautiful appearance was a little sharp and inhuman. But he always smiled, and that sincere smile diluted the sense of alienation given by his appearance.
The young man's blue eyes curved up with a smile, and he greeted Wang Peng enthusiastically: "Would you like a bowl of freshly cooked century egg and lean meat porridge?"
Wang Peng almost subconsciously wanted to say yes.
The food in area F is already cheap, and some people are willing to spend a lot of money to buy charcoal. Even if the food doesn't taste good, it's still hot, so it's worth spending money to try it.
"Boss, how much is a bowl of this porridge?" Wang Peng asked.
The young man held up three fingers and said, "Three credit points for a bowl of porridge."
Wang Peng: "Oh, then give it to me - wait, how much?"
Hearing that number, Wang Peng slammed on the brakes.
Three credits? !
He must have heard it right. In this F area, who dares to sell a bowl of porridge for three credit points? ? ?
In the black market food area, the most expensive food is sold in the busy shops at the entrance of Area A, where the average price is ten credit points per serving. In Area B, which is a little further inside, the food is fresh but cold, and the average price is five credit points per serving.
As for the food in Area F, everyone agreed that the most expensive one would not exceed one or two credit points. Most of the vendors sold set meals, and two credit points could buy a bowl of porridge, three slices of bread, and a drink.
Although it is not expensive to buy a bowl of porridge for three credits, the fact that it appears in Area F makes people think carefully.
...Wang Peng couldn't help but take a half step back, and began to look at this strange porridge shop from top to bottom with suspicion.
The exterior looks clean, tidy and warm.
The onions on the stall looked fresh, the bowls were clean, the stove was burning brightly, and steam was wafting from the casserole.
I have to say that judging from the appearance and atmosphere of this entire porridge shop, it is many times better than the most popular shops in Area A.
But this is in Zone F.
If a hawker really wanted to set up a stall properly and had some skills, he would at least be able to collect enough protection fees and try his luck setting up a stall in Area B or even Area A. How could he end up here?
Or did the stall owner invest all his money into "surface work" and the actual food is actually average?
Wang Peng was full of doubts and asked tentatively: "Boss, can I take a look at your porridge and then decide whether to buy it?"
The young man smiled and nodded: "Of course."
After saying that, he opened the lid of the casserole.
“…”
Wang Peng widened his eyes.
As the lid of the casserole was opened, white mist-like steam instantly rose up, and the delicate and warm aroma of the porridge quickly spread.
The most eye-catching thing is the scene under the casserole.
Under the bright light, the century egg and lean meat porridge in the casserole was bubbling.
The snow-white and delicate rice grains bloomed, the light pink lean meat and green preserved eggs floated in the thick and delicate porridge, and a layer of crystal oil floated on the surface, with a salty and fragrant aroma...
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