Ch111 For You, I'll Swap the Couplets
"Brrr!"
Stepping out of the building, Meng Ci sucked in a deep breath, frozen stiff.
"I haven't been out in days. This... this temperature... has it... has it... dropped again?"
Meng Ci's teeth chattered so hard he could barely form coherent words.
"Why don't you just stay home? I can handle this alone." Shen Que spoke while reaching for the scarf around his own neck, intending to drape it over Meng Ci's shoulders.
Meng Ci quickly refused.
"No, no, no! Don't give it to me!"
"I just wasn't prepared for the sudden cold. I'll warm up soon."
Meng Ci had stayed indoors these past few days. The coldest moments were freezing ice cream on the balcony or the short walk to Shen Que's place.
Suddenly stepping outside, the chill was naturally jarring.
Fortunately, Meng Ci adapted quickly. After walking a short distance, his body adjusted to the cold.
Seeing Meng Ci insist, Shen Que said no more.
Still, he couldn't help but add, "If it gets too cold, we can find a secluded spot."
"I'll get some warm clothes from my spatial ring for you to wear."
"Okay," Meng Ci nodded.
Perhaps because the New Year was the happiest time for everyone, Meng Ci saw many people along the way who were cheerful and excited, completely unlike their previous despondent state.
Arriving at the official distribution point, people had already formed long lines to collect their New Year supplies.
This was also the first time Meng Ci had a direct sense that, after experiencing so much, there were still so many people alive.
It instantly reminded Meng Ci of scenes he'd seen on TV of people flocking to markets during the New Year.
As usual, collecting supplies required presenting an ID card or household register, followed by registration.
Without either document, one had to provide their ID number and have their photo taken for record-keeping.
After collecting their supplies, Meng Ci and Shen Que didn't rush off. Instead, they entered an unofficial trading spot.
"Shen Que, with no electricity or internet, how are they registering information with those devices?"
Shen Que shook his head. "No idea."
"But it's just information registration. They don't need internet access, so it should
work!"
Meng Ci nodded, letting the matter drop.
In his current view, whether there was electricity or internet, it made no difference from before.
Entering the unofficial trading area, he found it even livelier than outside.
In the center, a middle-aged man sat at a table writing couplets-just two potatoes or two ounces of rice for a pair.
Several vendors nearby sold lanterns and Chinese knots, though business was slow.
In this apocalypse, who had time for such frills?
Most people merely glanced at their wares before leaving with regret.
But the majority were exchanging foodstuffs.
Presumably, the group returning from the refugee settlement had cultivated seeds, and now there were plenty of green vegetables, potatoes, and sweet potatoes being traded.
Of course, those swapping for condoms, cigarettes, and alcohol were still numerous.
Meng Ci wandered around, then pulled six potatoes from his bag and handed them to the middle-aged man, asking him to write three sets of couplets.
The man hadn't made a single sale today, and Meng Ci's order was substantial. Grateful, he wrote three extra "Fu" characters and handed them to Meng Ci.
Meng Ci accepted them, expressed his thanks, and left.
The man's hands were frozen bright red, and the ink on the table would freeze quickly. After writing a few characters, he had to blow warm breath on his hands and grind fresh ink.
In the apocalypse, everyone struggled to survive. There was no need to pity anyone.
Meng Ci had considered exchanging for a couple of lanterns.
But he realized that to outsiders, they must appear to be without power. Buying lanterns would be pointless.
Moreover, exchanging for such useless items might draw unwanted attention, so he abandoned the idea.
Back inside, Meng Ci immediately sat by the stove to warm his hands, even scheming inwardly to sneak into the spatial pocket for a hot bath later when Shen Que was absent.
Woof, woof.
At that moment, Eggplant came over, tugging at Meng Ci's pant leg, persistently pulling him toward the wolf den.
"Let go." Seeing Eggplant refuse, Meng Ci's eyes lit up, and he threw himself onto the eggplant.
Fluffy and surprisingly warm.
As Meng Ci pressed against it, Eggplant shuddered all over.
It whimpered, trying to pull away.
Why is my owner so cold? Let go quickly.
Meng Ci had no intention of letting go easily. He even stroked the white wolf's fur, saying,
"Eggplant, what do you think? Should I pluck some of your fur to make gloves and a scarf?"
"Your fur is so long-it looks incredibly warm."
Woof!
Eggplant shook his head in protest. He still needed to find a mate.
If his fur was all taken by his owner, he wouldn't have any attractive coat left to attract female wolves.
Meng Ci was just joking-he couldn't knit anyway.
But if he'd known what Eggplant was thinking, he'd have plucked every last hair off him.
He hadn't even found a mate yet and was already getting sidetracked. What would happen if he actually did?
Shen Que had already stoked the stove fire to full blaze. Meng Ci, now calmer, shed his heavy overcoat and tossed it onto the sofa.
Eggplant approached again, tugging at Meng Ci's pants.
"What is it?" This time, Meng Ci didn't refuse, following where Eggplant led.
The dog ended up pulling him right up to the rabbit pen.
"Shen Que! Shen Que!" Meng Ci called out to Shen Que, who was hanging clothes.
"What is it?" Shen Que hung the clothes on the rack and walked over, asking.
"The female rabbit gave birth!" Meng Ci exclaimed happily.
He rubbed his hands together, making sure they weren't cold anymore, then bent down to count the rabbits in the pen.
"One, two, three..."
"Shen Que, the mother rabbit had seven little bunnies this time!"
Though he didn't know how many were male or female, it didn't dampen Meng Ci's excitement.
He grabbed the mischievous little rabbit. "Shen Que, do you know how to handle rabbits?"
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We could slaughter one for dinner."
Of course, choosing this rabbit wasn't just because it was mischievous-it was also the plumpest among the young ones.
"I can give it a try." Shen Que pondered for a moment. Killing a rabbit meant skinning it and letting the blood drain-it shouldn't be too difficult.
"Great!" Meng Ci was delighted, though processing the rabbit wouldn't begin until tomorrow. For today, it would be spared.
Thus, Meng Ci returned the rabbit to its pen.
When Eggplant witnessed this action, its eyes widened.
With a whimper, it pressed its paws against the fence.
It had given birth to baby rabbits -why couldn't it have one to eat!
The master was so stingy.
Woof!
Eggplant whimpered softly, drool once again shamefully dripping from its mouth.
"Pathetic."
Meng Ci said disdainfully, then grabbed Eggplant by the scruff and pulled it down.
"Don't you dare come near here again, got it? If you can obey, I'll share a bite of rabbit meat with you tomorrow."
Meng Ci held Eggplant's chin with one hand while holding up one finger with the other.
Eggplant nodded eagerly. Even in his dreams that night, he was eating rabbit.