"We'll familiarize ourselves with the base for the next two days, and start taking missions the day after tomorrow. You two must be up by 6 AM tomorrow morning."
Gu Qing wailed, "Six AM..."
"Yes, missions are released at 7 AM. We'll eat breakfast and head out, conserving our strength. Unless there are special circumstances, we'll have one day off per week."
"This is even tougher than going to class!"
Xu Qian raised an eyebrow and said, "If you could still go to class, that is."
"Alright, let's make lunch now. You two come help."
Gu Qing said miserably, "Sister Qian, I really don't know how."
At home, his mother cooked for him. At school, he ate at the cafeteria. He'd never even touched a knife before, how could he cook?
"You'll learn starting today! Gu Qing, come wash the vegetables. Mei Yuebai, come slice the potatoes."
Mei Yuebai, lowering her voice, pouted, "Xixi-daren..."
Xu Qian's expression turned cold. "Stop dawdling, hurry up!"
"Yes!"
With their clumsy fumbling, three dishes were finally prepared. The potatoes were cut into bizarre shapes, and the meat slices looked like centipedes.
Fortunately, Xu Qian seasoned them, so they were passable.
After the three of them finished eating, Ye Yunzhou walked in from outside, covered in dust, his hair thick with grime, and his entire body dirty.
Gu Qing asked curiously, "Hey, Doctor Ye, where have you been?"
"On a mission. I'll go take a shower first."
Ye Yunzhou, looking awkward, rushed into the bathroom.
He didn't want to lose face in front of Xu Qian. He was a doctor and had a bit of a洁癖 (cleanliness obsession). Even in this harsh post-apocalyptic world, he always kept himself immaculately clean. Never before had he been so...
Xu Qian frowned and called out, "Doctor Ye, the water in the toilet..."
He ran even faster.
*Slam.*
The door closed.
She raised an eyebrow. Could the water in the toilet be used?
Sure enough, in less than a minute, Ye Yunzhou ran out with a pale face, his hands sticky with some brown, unidentifiable liquid.
"How is this water..."
Xu Qian stifled a laugh. "The base's water isn't filtered, it's very dirty." She then pointed to the pile of bottled water in the corner. "Use this to wash."
Ye Yunzhou looked down at his dirty hands. Water was so scarce now, using bottled water to bathe was too extravagant.
Xu Qian's eyes flashed, and she understood his thoughts. "How about this, Doctor Ye, one barrel of mineral water for 30 Level 1 crystal cores. Consider it a loan, and remember to pay me back next time."
"Okay, thank you, Xu Qian."
A hint of gratitude flickered in Ye Yunzhou's eyes. He went to the corner and carried a barrel of water to the bathroom.
He didn't dare to waste it, pouring out only a small plateful. He wiped his body and hair clean, saving the rest for next time. In the apocalypse, clean water was so precious it couldn't be measured by the value of crystal cores.
Gu Qing's eyes widened, and he stammered, "Sis Sis Sis Qian, that barrel of water is worth 30 crystal cores? I used two full barrels to shower yesterday."
Xu Qian smiled. "Yes, it's that valuable. Go wash the dishes."
"But... washing dishes also uses water."
"You're not eating?"
"Oh, right! Can I use my superpower's water to wash? That way, it won't be wasted."
"There's enough water. Don't waste your superpower's water."
"Alright."
Gu Qing scratched the back of his head and diligently went to wash the dishes, being extremely careful, for fear of using even a drop more water.
Mei Yuebai draped an arm behind Xu Qian, his eyes fixed on her, and whispered into her ear, "I remember we collected the entire food section in the mall, at least two to three tons of water."
"Do you know what 'sitting on a mountain of resources and depleting it' means?" Xu Qian glanced at him sideways.
Mei Yuebai curled his lips, his tone lazily flirtatious. "Yes, yes, Xixi-daren is always right. I need to cling to your thigh to have a meal."
Xu Qian flicked her eyelids and glanced at him. "Gu Qing, hurry up and finish washing. We're going to check out the trading market downstairs."
"Got it, almost done."
Mei Yuebai glanced at her profile, which was like an ice lotus. "There's a trading market downstairs too?"
"Yes, it's a bartering system or you can buy with crystal cores. The base has a canteen, but the food there requires points to exchange. However..."
Women without crystal cores and abilities could only exchange their bodies.
Xu Qian's eyes darkened, just like hers in her past life.
"However what?"
"You'll know when you go."