Chapter 11: Time to Support the Family
Su Chen glanced at the world chat channel once more.
As lively as ever, the messages were constantly scrolling.
This was the second day since the 7 billion people of Earth entered this strange new world.
After surviving the first day, most people had gradually adapted to and become familiar with life here.
With continuous experimentation and exploration during the first day, they had gained some experience.
They understood what they needed to do.
At the same time, with winter looming over them, they realized the urgency of gathering food quickly.
Surviving meant relentless exploration, regardless of whether the road ahead was filled with light or shrouded in darkness.
"Live in the best RV, travel to the furthest lands," they thought.
By upgrading their RVs, they could improve their living conditions, and stockpiling food would help fend off the bitter cold.
After making it through the second night, people were no longer as terrified of the dark as they had been on the first night.
["Wake up, lazybones, the sun's already shining on your butt!"
"The morning sun is so dazzling. Time for us workers to get up and start the grind."
"Let's go, brothers!"
"Stretching a bit—time to head out and get some work done."
"The early bird catches the worm."
"Yeah, but the early worm gets eaten by the bird."
"Did anyone see any monsters last night? A green giant was staring at me from outside my RV the entire night. It scared the life out of me!"
"You think that's bad? Last night, a creature with a hammer kept smashing my RV until it caved in. I just hid under my blanket, too scared to move."
"My area's a desert—no water, barely any food, and even the monsters don't bother showing up. I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse."
"There's a creek nearby, but it's full of piranhas! Terrifying. Luckily, I ran fast enough, or else I'd have been turned into a pincushion."
"Comrades, I've discovered a way to catch lots of meat. I found a spot with plenty of fish, so I set up a fishing net. It's been very productive."
"Where is it? Can I drive over to take a look?"
"Me too! Any chance I can find a school of fish nearby?"
"I'm in the grasslands. There are wild goats during the day, but they're impossible to catch—they run way too fast."
"Last night was so annoying. The noises outside kept me awake. I was staring at the skylight on my RV roof all night. Now I've got dark circles under my eyes."
"I tried singing to myself as a lullaby, but the noise outside was just too much. If only I had some soundproofing panels, it might help."
"Soundproofing? You're dreaming. With the current situation, surviving is good enough. Who cares about soundproofing?"
"To be honest, it seems like the frequency of monster appearances varies by location. Here, they only come out for about an hour each night."
"I'm really unlucky. I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere—what looks like a tiny island is actually a barren wasteland with nothing on it."
"You think that's bad? I just talked to someone online who said they're in the Arctic and have been freezing for two days straight."
"I'm starving. I haven't had a proper meal in two days. Does anyone have any resources to share?"
"Same here. I've never gone hungry in my life, and now I'm desperate. If someone gives me food, I swear I'll repay them with a million dollars when I get out of here."
"Is anyone here? I just discovered this chat function today. I was outside digging with a hoe all this time—it was so boring. This is a lot more fun."
"Wow, you must be a caveman. Never seen anything like this before, huh?"
"Hahaha, are you trying to kill me with laughter so you can inherit my assets?"]
Su Chen closed the chat channel and prepared to head out.
He didn't say much, but he couldn't help laughing at how amusing the people in the chat were.
"I love it here. Everyone's so talented, and they're so good at talking."
Since he had slept soundly the previous night, and his RV had a stove for warmth, Su Chen felt well-rested.
With some firewood still left, he started a fire. Small flames quickly grew into a roaring blaze.
At that moment, Su Chen had a great idea.
With such a strong fire, and some slices of meat on hand, he could grill a couple of them for breakfast.
Taking out a bottle of purified water, he unscrewed it and drank a few sips.
Today, he had to gather enough food to sustain himself for the tasks ahead.
Although he wasn't in immediate financial trouble, his food supply would only last about a week.
Confident in his ability to find more and better food, he indulged in a luxurious breakfast of grilled meat slices.
"Eat well and drink your fill to have the energy to work," he thought.
Er Bao, his dog, stared intently at the meat slices in Su Chen's hands, its eyes filled with longing.
"Whimper, whimper… That smells so good. I really want some," it seemed to say.
The dog wagged its tail enthusiastically at Su Chen's feet, hopping around as if begging.
Su Chen immediately understood what it wanted.
Seeing its adorable behavior, he couldn't resist giving in.
He picked up a slice of meat and handed it over.
Perhaps it was the irresistible aroma, or maybe the dog was simply starving, but the moment Su Chen offered the meat, it devoured it instantly.
Watching the scene, Su Chen was stunned.
"So this is what it means when they say a starving wolf pounces on its prey," he muttered.
Having eaten its fill, Er Bao lay down contentedly, its tail wagging non-stop.
It had earned this reward, though—it had loyally stayed by Su Chen's side the entire previous day and night.
Seeing its excited behavior, Su Chen couldn't help but laugh. He picked up Er Bao and cuddled it, stroking its head repeatedly. The dog obediently nuzzled against him.
Satisfied with their morning routine, Su Chen grabbed his perfectly crafted hoe and prepared to head out.
Not long after stepping out of the RV, Er Bao stood by the door, reluctant to see him go.
It barked softly, "Woof, woof, woof," the tone warm and gentle, almost as if it were pleading.
Su Chen found the sight both endearing and amusing.
"This little guy is way too cute. I wonder if it's a boy or a girl."
Curious, Su Chen flipped the dog over and took a look.
"As expected, such a cute pup must be a boy!"
He chuckled at the discovery. Who would've thought even male dogs could act so clingy?
Seeing its eager eyes, Su Chen decided to take Er Bao with him for a walk through the nearby grasslands.
He figured it wouldn't be too dangerous if he left it near the RV while he worked.
What he feared most, however, was encountering other humans. Some of them might try to steal Er Bao—or worse, cook and eat him…
Just the thought sent shivers down Su Chen's spine.
"Er Bao is so smart. He won't let anyone take him, right?" Su Chen reassured himself.
This little rascal was both lovable and frustrating.
Initially, Su Chen hadn't planned on taking him outside. But seeing how much the dog wanted to go, he couldn't refuse.
Carrying his perfectly crafted hoe and leading Er Bao by the leash, Su Chen set off to hunt for food.
With another mouth to feed at home, it was time to work hard to support the family.