The morning after A'Jie started speaking again, Chen Shouzhou was awakened by the pleasant sound of a system prompt in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the first stage of the hidden quest 'A Broken Heart'. Reward: 'Simple Kitchen Upgrade' permission!]
[Simple Kitchen Upgrade]: You can now modify the existing kitchen area, unlocking new features such as 'Stove,' 'Storage Cabinets,' and a 'Simple Ventilation System,' significantly improving cooking efficiency and hygiene.]
"Kitchen upgrade!" Chen Shouzhou leaped from his pile-of-junk "bed" like a 200-pound child. "This is great! I'm opening a cafeteria tonight! I'll let the whole wasteland know that here at Chen Shouzhou's place, we not only have a sturdy safe house but also hot meals!"
His voice was filled with grand ambition, as if he weren't just upgrading a broken kitchen but preparing for a magnificent state banquet.
Su Wan'er, Lin Mo, and A'Jie were woken up by his loud voice and all looked at him, bewildered.
Chen Shouzhou didn't bother to explain. He rushed directly to the incredibly crude "central kitchen" area he had built himself and began version 2.0 of his "construction fanatic" persona.
"Comrades, a new era calls for a new kitchen! Our goal is to create the number one catering brand in the wasteland!" he announced, waving his wrench and proclaiming his grand blueprint.
He immediately started the renovation. First, he used his [Resource Appraisal] skill to pick out several thick, flat metal plates from the scrap heap. With a great deal of clanging and banging, he quickly assembled a decent-looking stove.
Then, from the "treasure" buried deep in the basement warehouse, he dragged out a half-full household gas canister.
"Old Lin, quick, I need your technical guidance!" Chen Shouzhou called out.
Lin Mo pushed up his glasses and walked over. He carefully inspected the valve and pipes, making some adjustments with the tools he carried. "The valve is slightly aged but still usable. It's best to wrap the connection point with fireproof tape to be extra safe." His advice was always precise and practical.
Under Lin Mo's guidance, Chen Shouzhou safely connected the gas canister to the stove. He then found a few discarded metal storage cabinets, carefully disinfected and wiped them clean, and placed them next to the stove. He even salvaged a large exhaust pipe from a wrecked truck and, with Lin Mo's mumbling about "aerodynamics," converted it into a simple but effective ventilation system.
Throughout the morning, the warehouse echoed with the sound of hammering, Chen Shouzhou's off-key humming, and Lin Mo's occasional technical jargon.
Seeing them so busy, A'Jie also took the initiative to walk over and asked softly, "Chen-ge, is there anything I can help with?"
"Of course!" Chen Shouzhou wiped the sweat from his face and grinned. "You're quick on your feet and have sharp eyes, kid. Go wander around our farm and see if you can gather any edible wild vegetables or mushrooms. Remember, don't pick anything you don't recognize, or dinner might turn into a 'life-or-death test'."
"Okay!" A'Jie nodded emphatically. He took a cloth bag and a small knife and set off with great enthusiasm, like a little hunter.
Su Wan'er also joined in silently. She meticulously sorted all their existing food supplies—canned goods, compressed biscuits, seeds, and that wild chicken—and neatly arranged them in the new storage cabinets. She even drew simple labels on the cabinet doors with charcoal, making everything clear at a glance.
Each of the four members had their own responsibilities: one served as the overall commander and physical laborer, one as the technical director, one as the logistics supervisor, and one as the field collector. An efficient and tacitly coordinated team collaboration model was quietly formed without anyone noticing.
In the evening, the setting sun dyed the entire wasteland a warm golden color.
A rich, mouth-watering aroma was wafting from the safe house's kitchen.
Chen Shouzhou was wielding a large iron ladle, standing proudly in front of the new stove, stirring a large iron pot. Inside, a fragrant stew was simmering, made with the wild chicken, fresh wild vegetables gathered by A'Jie, and a few precious potatoes.
"Dinner's ready—!"
He brought the entire pot of stew to the table. Then, mimicking a restaurant waiter, with one hand on his hip and the other holding the ladle, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Welcome to 'Chen's Vagrant-Themed Restaurant'! Tonight's special is 'Wasteland Hope in a Pot'! Honored guests, please line up to receive your loving bento box!"
A'Jie was so amused by his clowning that he burst out laughing and applauded. Su Wan'er also showed a rare, genuine, and bright smile. Even the usually serious Lin Mo couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth lift slightly. He pushed up his glasses and remarked, "From a nutritional standpoint, this kind of stew leads to the loss of some vitamins. But considering our current situation, this is the optimal solution for ensuring calorie intake."
The four humans and two dogs sat around the bonfire, eating the most lavish dinner they'd had since the apocalypse began. The warm chicken soup and soft potatoes washed away all their fatigue and anxiety, leaving only a full sense of happiness.
During the meal, Chen Shouzhou tore a piece of cardboard from the wall and started scribbling on it with charcoal.
"To achieve sustainable development for our safe house, and to prevent anyone from slacking off," he cleared his throat and announced solemnly, "I have decided to establish a 'Safe House Duty Roster' starting today!"
He drew a chart on the cardboard, dividing it into four sections: "Kitchen," "Lookout," "Supplies," and "Maintenance," and then filled in the four of their names in rotation.
"Every day, we'll take turns cooking, standing guard, organizing supplies, and checking the equipment. Anyone who slacks off will be punished by... having to clean up after Xiao Hei and Xiao Qi!"
Next to each person's name, he drew a funny emoji. Next to his own, he drew a drooling greedy cat; next to Su Wan'er's, an angel holding a scalpel; next to A'Jie's, a little beagle wearing a detective's hat; and next to Lin Mo's, a studious nerd with thick glasses, reading a book.
A'Jie pointed at the greedy cat emoji and said with a laugh, "Chen-ge, that one looks just like you."
Chen Shouzhou nodded proudly. "That's right. I'm the cutest and the biggest eater."
Night fell, and the four of them sat around the warm stove, the atmosphere cozy and harmonious.
Perhaps feeling the long-lost sense of "home," A'Jie gradually became more talkative. He began to tell them about other survivor settlements he had seen on his journey.
"I've seen some people who have formed small communities, with a few dozen people," he said, his voice a bit low. "But they live very hard lives. They lack doctors, and even more, they lack food. Many people die from simple infected wounds, and many children are just skin and bones from hunger."
As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Su Wan'er.
"Sister Su," he said, looking at her with sincere eyes, "your medical skills are so good... If you're willing, could we... could we help more people?"
Su Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. She looked at A'Jie's clear eyes, then at the other companions around her, each with their different personalities but equally kind hearts. She was silent for a long time, as if in the midst of a fierce internal struggle.
Finally, she slowly picked up her notepad and wrote a sentence.
"I will try."
Just three simple words, but they carried the weight of a mountain. It meant she was willing to once again take on the responsibility of a doctor and face this cruel world.
And at the very moment she wrote those words, the system's prompt sounded in Chen Shouzhou's mind once again!
[Ding! Hidden quest 'A Broken Heart' progress updated. Completion: 60%!]
[Congratulations, Host, for triggering a key emotional resonance. Phased reward acquired: Skill 'Basic Team Command'!]
[Basic Team Command]: You can now more clearly convey tactical intentions during team operations, improving your team members' execution and coordination efficiency.]
Chen Shouzhou looked at the new skill with mixed feelings. He knew this wasn't just a skill; it was a heavy responsibility.
He stood up, walked to the warehouse entrance, and looked out at the boundless starry sky, saying softly:
"Maybe, we really can rebuild a home in this wasteland."