Chapter 245: An Old Acquaintance
But Tang Huan quickly snapped back to reality.
A place like this still existed in the apocalypse—one built just for chickens and ducks.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of anxiety, afraid that she might accidentally kill these precious birds.
Su Tao, ever perceptive, noticed her unease and reassured her, “Sister Tang, just do your best to take care of them. If they get sick or die unexpectedly, it’s really okay.”
She truly meant it.
In the system, buying a single chicken or duck was still quite cheap—only about five or six hundred Federal credits each.
That was roughly the price of the two small ice creams she ate every day.
Besides, these chicks seemed even hardier than the ones before the apocalypse. They were all strong and lively. As long as they were fed, watered, and their coop was cleaned regularly, they would grow well and eventually lay eggs and hatch new chicks.
Once she had enough crystal cores, she planned to expand this place and raise as many as possible. Some would supply the Restaurant at Panliu Mountain, while others would be sold externally.
Master Qin was best at cooking hearty meat dishes. Once they had a steady supply of poultry, business at Restaurant would surely reach new heights.
Oh, and she also had to save some for Xuedao and White Sesame.
Xuedao loved eating raw eggs. The way it slurped them up in one swift motion was so fast that it was almost impossible to see.
As for Black Sesame, it actually preferred raw meat over eggs.
She suddenly missed her furry companions.
Seeing how sincere Su Tao was, Tang Huan relaxed a little, though she still felt somewhat tense. She looked at the little chicks bouncing around in the coop as if she were staring at walking piles of gold.
She was determined to take good care of them. Even though Boss Su said it didn’t matter, she knew that in the apocalypse, the value of a single livestock animal was incredibly high.
She couldn’t let Su Tao suffer any losses.
Su Tao continued introducing them to the area.
“That treehouse over there belongs to a little girl. She’s a bit odd and withdrawn but harmless. I’d appreciate it if you could check in on her now and then—especially when it comes to meals. Sometimes she forgets to eat.”
Tang Huan followed Su Tao’s gaze and saw a beautifully crafted treehouse in the distance. It looked just like something out of a fairy tale, the kind of place a fairy might live in.
“Oh, and she can’t speak, so you might need to be patient and pay attention to her gestures.”
Tang Huan immediately imagined a beautiful but lonely girl with a disability, and her maternal instincts surged. She nodded solemnly.
“I’ll take good care of her.”
Su Tao smiled. “No need to worry too much—just remind her to eat on time. She has a small courtyard behind the tree. I’ll take you there first. There are tables and chairs, and next to them is a vending machine. That’s where you’ll be getting your meals.”
Tang Huan turned her head and saw a transparent refrigerator filled with neatly arranged… meals?
Su Tao walked toward the bento cabinet. “It’s about time for lunch. You two haven’t eaten yet, right? Dingdang, come here.”
Dingdang glanced at her mother, and after getting her approval, happily ran over, looking up at Su Tao with wide eyes.
Su Tao taught her how to purchase a meal and then how to heat it up in the microwave next to the vending machine.
Dingdang watched as the steaming hot meal was revealed, her eyes growing wider and wider.
Tang Huan, standing beside her, was equally stunned.
Her first thought was: Is this really for us?
Su Tao patted Dingdang’s head. “Sit down and eat.”
The mother and daughter ate their meal in a daze, as if they were dreaming of a feast fit for royalty.
But this dream felt far too real.
Once Su Tao finished introducing the place, she left to visit Lin Fangzhi at the nearby business building, leaving Zhuang Wan to go over the remaining details with Tang Huan and her daughter.
After Su Tao left, Zhuang Wan smiled and said to the two,
“Alice doesn’t know how to cook. Our boss knew you two were coming, so she stayed up late last night setting up this little outdoor kitchen for you. If you ever get tired of eating from the vending machine, you can cook your own meals here. The stove and microwave are both ready to use. If anything breaks, just report it to Miss Meng for repairs.”
“But if you cook for yourself, Taoyang won’t cover the cost of ingredients. Only the meals from the vending machine are included in your three daily meals.”
“Also, the boss said she appreciates your patience for now. You’ll have to commute back and forth for work, but once there’s enough space, she’ll build a dormitory near the ranch for you.”
Tang Huan could hardly believe it.
She never expected that finding a job would come with so many benefits—practically covering every aspect of her life.
Noticing her stunned expression, Zhuang Wan patted her on the shoulder and said,
“The ranch is still small for now. In the future, your responsibilities will only grow. Don’t feel pressured because the benefits seem too good. Just focus on doing your best—taking care of this patch of green land.”
Before Tang Huan could respond, Dingdang raised her hand excitedly. “I can help too! I can take care of the little chicks and ducks! I can even climb trees to bring food to the fairy in the treehouse!”
Zhuang Wan laughed heartily. She always thought little girls were cuter than boys.
Her thoughts wandered—maybe she should have another daughter…
Tang Huan, however, responded seriously, “I will manage this place well. Please trust me.”
