Lao Gao and Huang Jinghe exchanged a smile. "We figured you'd want to look around here, but let's eat first. We'll check the cafeteria on the second floor, then the one on the third floor, and compare before deciding."
The four of them almost ran straight for the cafeteria. It was right at mealtime, and before they even reached the door, they could tell it was crowded. Sure enough, once they stepped inside, the huge space was already two-thirds full. The rest of the seats would probably be taken in minutes. Almost everyone was eating with visible enjoyment, the air thick with the smell of food.
They caught the scent, and their stomachs gave an answering growl.
At the entrance to the second-floor cafeteria, Lan Jin pointed to an LED menu board a short distance away. The screen listed three set meals: A, B, and C. Each one came with one meat dish and one vegetable. The side dishes could only be chosen from within the set, but the staple—rice, noodles, or steamed buns—could be picked freely at the serving window. It suited different tastes, and each set cost the same: five contribution points.
Each set meal had its own corresponding window—A, B, or C. Before lining up, customers first had to pay at a separate cashier window near the entrance. After scanning their contribution points, the machine printed a ticket. With that ticket, they could go to their meal window. Honestly, in the apocalypse, only an official base could keep up this kind of system.
The smell and bustle on the second floor erased any thoughts they had about going up to the third. They joined the ticket line immediately.
While waiting, Lan Jin noticed something. "Looks like everyone brought their own bowls. We didn't bring anything… can we still eat?"
"Yes, you can," said a young girl in front of her. "After you get your ticket, you can borrow dishes. But you have to wash them and return them. The sink is over there. Just leave the cleaned bowls on the tray rack and staff will collect them for another wash and disinfection."
Before Lan Jin could thank her, the girl had already paid and left.
Tickets in hand, and with borrowed dishes, they joined the long line for food. It moved faster than it looked. One bite, and Lan Jin admitted the taste was pretty good. "For mass-cooked food, this is already impressive."
The portions were fair too. Five contribution points was a bargain compared to the eight points they'd once paid in their old neighborhood. That three-point difference could buy breakfast in the base.
All around them, people were eating quickly and hungrily. It made them speed up too.
Eat. Wash dishes. Return dishes. Leave. Smooth and quick, as if afraid someone else would grab their seats.
Once outside, they let out a breath.
"No one was chasing us," Lan Jin said. "There were still empty seats. Why did we eat so fast?"
Ling Jiang chuckled. "Maybe we just caught the mood."
Lao Gao patted his stomach. "The portions are decent. Just enough to fill me. I'm not stuffed, but I'm not hungry either."
For a man, it was enough but not generous.
"Yeah, and for only five points, I think it's worth it," Huang Jinghe agreed. "Price and portion match."
After dinner, they headed upstairs to the shopping center.
The fourth and fifth floors were for shopping.
On the fourth floor, there were mostly daily necessities. Men's, women's, and children's clothing, both new and secondhand, prices varying widely. There were also counters for household goods.
At one counter, Lan Jin spotted a thermal-regulating outfit exactly like the one she was wearing. Only… the price, when converted, was even higher than before the apocalypse. She wondered if anyone would actually buy it.
Noticing her stare, Ling Jiang looked over. "Thermal clothes? No idea if they work, but at this price, you'd have to be crazy to buy them."
Lan Jin's face didn't change. "I bought mine. Works well. Keeps constant temperature."
The three others froze. Thinking back, Lan Jin really hadn't seemed as cold as they were during the extreme freeze. Come to think of it, Qiao Qiao hadn't either.
"Lan Jin, is this exactly the same as the one you bought?" Lao Gao asked.
"Exactly. Same brand. Just a little more expensive here."
It was high-tech—thin as thermal underwear, light but warm. Pricey, yes, but effective. Still, this price…
"How much did you pay?" Lao Gao asked.
When she named the amount, the three of them went silent. They knew she was wealthy, but not that willing to spend. Then again, with the supplies she had, it made sense.
"I also bought matching thermal fabric," Lan Jin added. "Made one for Qiao Qiao. Kids grow fast, so store-bought doesn't fit for long."
Even so, none of them wanted to spend that much now. Lao Gao sighed. "I'll stick with the cold. The down jacket you gave me works fine."
The down jacket Lan Jin had given him had electric heating. Plug in a pre-charged power bank and it would warm up. Turn it off when not needed. Convenient, but not as good as the self-heating thermal wear.
Still, the price was hard to swallow.
A short walk away, another counter sold a different thermal outfit for a fraction of the cost. It caught their attention immediately. From the look of it, it couldn't be worn as a base layer or outerwear, and the fabric was stiff. If it really worked, the price was fair.
Lan Jin reached out to touch it, but the sales clerk snapped, "If you're not buying, don't touch. Can you afford it if you damage it?"