C8 And Then I Went to Run Some Business!

Due to their own judgment, they had missed out on a great opportunity.

Even if it were a scam, the rice was genuinely provided.

The goods they could get in exchange for a kilo and a half of rice would sustain them for quite some time. They wouldn't have to endure the daily hardships, nor worry about being homeless, hungry, or cold.

"Take care, Mr. Shen. Goodbye for now," the three said, bidding Shen Chen and his group farewell with deep appreciation.

"Just you wait, this is nothing but a setup. You'll regret it soon enough," the man sneered before leaving. He still had to slay zombies, scavenge for scraps, and head to Ocean Mountain Base to trade for bread to quell his gnawing hunger.

"He's clueless. Let's just ignore him and go make some rice porridge," the three decided, turning to leave.

"Wow, it's been five whole years since I've had porridge. I can hardly resist that delicious aroma."

"Quick, quick, quick, find a clean pot. We can't let this rice go to waste."

Their conversation reached the ears of the earlier scavenger, fueling his frustration.

He, too, hadn't savored rice porridge in years and longed for it.

"I'm so hungry." The scavenger who missed out on the rice bitterly envisioned the others enjoying their porridge as he fought off zombies, cursing himself for not joining them.

"They won't be able to get more tomorrow, I'm sure of it!"

"Yeah, it'll definitely be gone by then!"

...

Returning to the store, Shen Chen and company were accompanied by dozens of scavengers.

These folks trailed behind, a mix of anxiety, anticipation, and disbelief swirling within them. They couldn't fathom that such an incredible stroke of luck could really be happening to them.

Drawing nearer to the shop, they intermittently spotted people carrying bags of rice on their way home, which only heightened their excitement.

Some were so eager they could barely contain the urge to dash ahead to the store for their share of rice, but with Shen Chen leading the way, they restrained themselves.

"We're almost there. Go ahead and get in line," Shen Chen instructed, eyeing the lengthy queue outside the shop without much joy. His concern was the presence of individuals from Cloud Mountain Base, indicating that in the two hours he and Yang Hanshuang were away, only a few hundred portions had been sold.

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Shen, for going out of your way to do a good deed and then making the trip to let us know."

"Thank you, Mr. Shen!"

"Don't mention it. I'm genuinely happy to see everyone able to enjoy a meal of rice," Shen Chen said with a smile.

"Man, the rice you're selling is top-notch. It's hundreds of times better than the stale rice I sold yesterday!" Gouza and Shen Chen checked the stock in the vault.

Clutching the glistening rice, Gouza couldn't help but salivate.

"It's quite possible that in the future, everyone will be able to enjoy meals made with this kind of rice," Shen Chen remarked as he tallied up the inventory.

"Does that mean we're returning to peacetime? Is there even that much farmland left on Earth?"

Gouza asked incredulously.

"Don't fret about that. And right now, I'm only speculating. I'm not sure about the exact quota yet." Shen Chen did a quick calculation: each bag of rice weighed 50 catties, totaling 9550 catties in front of him. With the half bag outside, it was roughly 9570 catties.

Gouza gazed at the rice, fervently hoping that Shen Chen's vision would one day become a reality.

The thought of being able to savor rice again made Gouza feel like his life would be complete.

"Gouza, looks like we've got some errands to run outside today. I've got us covered for lunch and dinner—rice all the way!" Shen Chen said with a wide grin.

"Holy smokes, no way! Bro, you're way too good to me!" Gouza lunged forward and enveloped Shen Chen in a massive bear hug, nearly squeezing the breath out of him.

"Ease up, ease up!" Shen Chen said, patting his back.

"Alright, boss. Just tell me where to next—I'm all ears." Gouza's eyes brimmed with tears as he released his grip, his body surging with adrenaline and a renewed sense of purpose.

"We'll make more rounds in the city, focusing primarily on the scavengers. They're numerous and spread out across the city, which makes them a bit tricky to locate. But right now, they're the ones who need rice the most," Shen Chen mused.

"Why didn't you approach the base first if you're after performance numbers? You could have convinced a base in the time it took to persuade those two scavengers. Plus, once they verify the truth, they'll surely bring their whole families to boost your stats," Gouza inquired with curiosity.

"You're well aware of the ethos at those bases. Cloud Mountain Base is one of the better ones, and a friend of mine is a manager there. He's got clout, which is why I got the Cloud Mountain folks to come over. But as for the other two bases, I've got to shake them up!" Shen Chen replied, his fists tightening covertly.

Hadn't he endured enough from Ocean Mountain Base and Han Iron Base?

He couldn't let go of years of resentment without taking action. Impossible!

"That makes sense. Let's get moving before it gets dark. People get hesitant after nightfall, even if they're interested," Gouza pressed.

"Take care," Yang Hanshuang said, watching them depart.

Shen Chen flashed an OK sign and stepped out of the shop.

"Mr. Shen."

"Good to see you, Mr. Shen."

"Off to handle more business, Mr. Shen?"

"Indeed, striving to ensure everyone gets a hearty meal," Shen Chen replied with a smile.

To him, these words carried the weight of a mission, compounded by the system's punishment. Yet to others, it sounded like a lighthearted quip.

With a swift motion, Shen Chen decapitated a low-level zombie.

He noticed that his body had not only grown stronger after the system's healing but also underwent some subtle, inexplicable changes.

Clutching over a dozen Zombie Crystals, the pale yellow Level-4 Crystal shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

A single Level-4 Crystal could afford anyone a home and meals within the base.

"Total sales have surpassed 1000 Crystals, triggering the experimental mission."

[Experimental Mission 1: Capture a low-level Zombie. Reward: Level-1 Crystal Purification Device.]

Shen Chen browsed the system's panel with a hint of puzzlement, locating the 'reward' section within the mission tab to inspect the attributes of his prize.

Name: [Crystal Purification Device]

Level: 1

Upgrade Path: Upgradable, maximum level 10

Purpose: To purify all Zombie Viruses within the crystal, preserving the purest energy.

Additional Information: Activation of experiment mission 2 is required.

"What's he up to? The launch of this experiment mission seems to be more than just selling products; there's likely a bigger plot unfolding behind the scenes," Shen Chen mused, lost in thought.

"Shen Chen, what are you spacing out for? Give me a hand!" Gouza called out impatiently from the side.

"On my way!" Shen Chen replied.

Knife in hand, Shen Chen charged at the Zombie confronting Gouza.