Chapter 003 Everyone Lives​​

Qin Qing unlocked the supermarket entrance.

Predictably empty early morning, though the breakfast stall across the street had customers. She grabbed cash from the register and crossed the road.

Back in town meant reverting to cash—most elderly residents couldn’t navigate digital payments. Her earnings flowed out as easily as they came in.

“One meat bun, one preserved vegetable bun, savory soy milk.” She settled at an outdoor table.

A neighbor entered her supermarket, spotted her, and called out: “Qingqing! Just grabbing vinegar—leaving cash on the counter!”

“Got it!” she answered.

Her order arrived: two buns and a bowl of steaming soy milk. She ate while monitoring her shop. Not a single customer entered during her meal.

The stall owner wiped nearby tables. “Business picks up during holidays. Rent-free means you’ll still clear a few thousand monthly.”

“Not worried,” Qin Qing bit into the bun. “Breaking even is fine.” She hadn’t returned to profit—her city apartment would be worthless post-apocalypse. Selling funded essential stockpiles.

“Staying for good?” The owner leaned on the cleaned table. “Need a matchmaker? I could—”

“No thanks.” Qin Qing waved dismissively. “Might leave again. Anyone I meet now would have to follow eventually.”

“Then find someone willing to follow!”

“We’ll see.” She dismissed the topic. Marriage was irrelevant when survival was uncertain.

Breakfast done, she returned to her quiet store.

Seizing the lull, she slipped to the interdimensional door. Inside, the supermarket glowed with soft, daylight-like illumination. At the vending machine, she configured:

Customer Sells: White Stone - 5 credits each

Owner Sells: Instant Noodles - 5 credits per pack

She wheeled the machine to the entrance and opened the heavy doors.

Yu Niang clutched two white stones, her right fist pressed hard against her hollow stomach. Half a rough bread cake remained—their final lifeline if the Immortal failed them.

“Mama, I’m hungry.”

“Endure a little longer,” she whispered, guiding her daughter’s small fist to press against her own belly.

Her father limped over, breath ragged. “Still closed?” He thrust two stones into her hand, swaying weakly.

Yu Niang steadied him. “Dad, take my bread—”

“Eat it yourself!” he snapped, sinking against a tree trunk. “I’ll search for villages… after resting.”

Yu Niang swallowed tears, holding her daughter on a sun-warmed rock. The child mimicked her posture, tiny fist clenched tightly against her abdomen.

A creak made them look up. The doors were opening.

Yu Niang rushed forward. “Immortal! We found stones! May we trade?”

“Place them here.” Qin Qing indicated the machine’s deposit slot.

Yu Niang dropped all four stones.

“Twenty credits. Four noodle packs. Should I dispense them?”

“Please, Immortal.”

The machine whirred, releasing the packs. Qin Qing returned with a thermos.

“This is paste, spicy powder, dried veggies.” She inspected Yu Niang’s chipped ceramic bowl. Crushing half a noodle block into it, she added paste (omitting spice for their frail state) and poured steaming water.

“Let it soften here.”

A savory aroma soon drifted.

“Mama, smells wonderful…”

A man sprinted over, eyes wide. “Immortal! Two stones!” After trading, he reverently licked the seasoning packet. “Oil! Salt!” He gulped scalding broth straight from his bowl.

Yu Niang nudged her unresponsive father.

“Starved three days. Feed him now!” the man urged between sips.

She lifted cooled noodles to his lips. His mouth moved instinctively.

“He’ll recover.” The man sighed over his broth. “Food of the gods…”

The old man’s eyelids fluttered open. “Don’t waste food on me!”

“The Immortal provided it.”

He struggled upright. “I’ll find more stones—”

Yu Niang pressed a full pack into his hands. “Eat first. We survive together.”

His rigid shoulders slowly eased.