136: The first New Year of the apocalypse

203 Inside.

Old Mrs. Xu stood at the table writing Spring Festival couplets, while Lu Yu, Su Liuyuan, and others gathered around to watch.

Zhou Wanqing was the first to spot Jiang Fei coming in, smiling brightly: "Boss, I've washed some apples, have one."

"Thank you." Jiang Fei took the apple and walked to the table, unconsciously reading the words on the red paper:

"Hahahahaha?"

Su Liuyuan: "I asked Grandma Xu to write them for me. How are they? Don't they feel very festive?"

Jiang Fei nodded silently.

As long as you're happy.

"Miss, this one is yours. Grandma Xu already wrote it for you."

Xiao Chuxia picked up the Spring Festival couplet placed on the windowsill and showed it to Jiang Fei.

The first line read: "Peace and prosperity year after year," the second line: "Health and auspiciousness year after year," and the horizontal inscription: "Blessings, longevity, health, and peace."

Finding a clean bag, Jiang Fei carefully put it in, planning to paste it on her door on New Year's Eve.

"The day after tomorrow, we'll come to Grandma Xu's place for dinner. What dishes do you want to eat, and what fillings for dumplings?"

"I'll provide the ingredients and prepare the dishes in advance to bring over. We'll save the dumpling filling to make together."

They couldn't open windows now, and cooking at home would leave a strong oily smell that would be unpleasant when trapped in the room. Recently, they had been going to 204 to use the generator and induction cooker.

However, there would be many dishes for New Year's Eve dinner, and 204 was already too cluttered with supplies to fit a second stove. It would be better for her to cook in the Supermarket.

Jiang Fei took out paper and pen to write down what everyone wanted to eat.

After staying with Old Mrs. Xu for a while, she returned to 302 and entered the Supermarket to prepare ingredients.

With Mo Yanan and "the boss" as her shield, Jiang Fei took only the best items from the Supermarket.

After resting for a day and a night, she cooked in the makeshift kitchen she had set up outside the Supermarket.

There were ten dishes in total: Four Happiness Meatballs, Tiger Skin Chicken Feet, Tomato Beef Brisket, Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Blanched Prawns, Steamed Star Grouper, Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables, Stir-fried Shredded Potatoes, Seafood Sashimi Platter, and Golden Broth Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

As for the dumpling fillings, Jiang Fei prepared three kinds: cabbage and pork, corn and fresh meat, and sea urchin and shrimp.

Coins were to be placed in the New Year's Eve dumplings, symbolizing good luck and wealth for those who ate them in the new year.

Unable to find coins, Jiang Fei disassembled a diamond necklace.

She only needed one-carat diamonds, so she took out 7 of them, washed and disinfected them, ensuring that everyone would get one.

After preparing the New Year's Eve dishes, as well as the dough and dumpling fillings, Jiang Fei began to wrap everyone's New Year gifts.

Xiao Hua Lao liked jewelry, so a whole set had to be arranged.

Su Liuyuan, needless to say, would be happier the bigger the diamond.

Ling Zhaorui really liked those three little chicks, but giving them to him was out of the question.

After all, they were the first young ones she had ever hatched, and she couldn't bear to give them away.

However, she could give him duck eggs, so Ling Zhaorui could hatch them himself.

Wan Qing's usual dress was too old, so she would get 7 new ones, one for each day of the week.

Grandma Xu's gift was a phone, loaded with thousands of songs she had downloaded before the apocalypse, so she could listen to music to relieve boredom.

Dahuang received a box of fish paste.

Lu Yu... she really didn't know what her teammate liked.

His order was always shredded potatoes.

Perhaps a dagger for self-defense.

After all this was done, Jiang Fei went to the tent she had set up to sleep, only leaving the Supermarket the next morning.

She specifically cooked a dish to create some cooking fumes.

A small amount of smoke would dissipate after opening the door for a while.

After simmering a pot of rice, Jiang Fei took out the dishes, dough, and dumpling fillings from the Supermarket warehouse and arranged them on the living room table, then contacted her teammates via walkie-talkie to come and get them.

Soon, Lu Yu and the other three arrived.

Seeing the sea urchin and shrimp dumpling filling on the table, Su Liuyuan swallowed his saliva:

"Can I eat it directly without waiting to make dumplings?"

He was craving it!

Jiang Fei: "No, don't even think about it."

Xiao Chuxia: "Miss, we only ordered three dishes yesterday, how did you make so many...?"

Ling Zhaorui: "I don't know why, but I have a feeling this is our last meal."

"Bah, bah, bah, what are you saying for New Year's?" Su Liuyuan raised his hand and tapped Ling Zhaorui's head, then helped carry the dishes.

Lu Yu and Xiao Chuxia also helped move things to 203.

Jiang Fei, meanwhile, took tape and pasted the Spring Festival couplets Old Mrs. Xu had given her on the door.

Her teammates' couplets were already up.

Looking at them, it was quite festive.

Putting the gifts she had wrapped yesterday into a black bag, Jiang Fei took out 10 bottles of fruit wine and 10 bottles of fruit juice, then went to 203.

Old Mrs. Xu stared blankly at the table laden with food, looking somewhat adorable.

Dahuang was also carried down by Lu Yu, curiously exploring 203.

"Little Jiang, even though it's New Year's, you've made too much..."

"We still have to continue living our lives."

Jiang Fei: "It's fine, Grandma Xu. These were originally what I saved to eat for New Year's, and Mo Yanan and my boss will send more later."

Only after confirming that Jiang Fei wasn't living hand-to-mouth did Old Mrs. Xu relax.

Lu Yu and the others all brought things, including fruits, snacks, and drinks, and each carried a bulging sack.

Once everyone had arrived, they exchanged gifts.

Grandma Xu gave everyone a treasured banknote, a 10-yuan denomination.

"Grandma doesn't have anything good, only these few banknotes I've kept on me. Consider them your New Year's money, for good luck. Don't dislike them."

Xiao Chuxia carefully put away the banknote: "How could I dislike it? I love money the most!"

Everyone else gave Jiang Fei gold.

The grammage was small, totaling about 1500 grams, but it was from her friends' heartfelt intentions, so Jiang Fei didn't put it into the Supermarket, deciding to keep it.

And Jiang Fei's gifts were loved by everyone.

Su Liuyuan held a jewelry box full of large diamonds, so excited he almost hugged Jiang Fei: "Going to Lincheng with you guys was the best decision I've ever made in my life!"

Ling Zhaorui: "I remember you said Brother Lu convinced you to come."

"Ahem, quickly go wash your hands and make dumplings so we can eat." Su Liuyuan awkwardly changed the subject.

"Miss, do you have any coins?"

"No, I've prepared diamonds to replace coins. Whoever eats one gets to keep it."

Jiang Fei took out the 7 disinfected diamonds, washed her hands, and rolled out the dough.

Old Mrs. Xu and Zhou Wanqing were responsible for making dumplings, and they also taught Lu Yu and the others how to make them.

They first made 70 dumplings, 10 per person on average, and Zhou Wanqing cooked them together.

The remaining dough and filling made over two hundred more, which were divided into ten bags and frozen in the refrigerator.

Soon, the dumplings were cooked, and dinner began in 203.

Xiao Chuxia raised her fruit wine: "I hope in the new year, this damned apocalypse can end! I can find my mom and dad! And all of us can be safe and sound!"

Ling Zhaorui: "May our lives return to normal! Cheers!"

Glasses clinked, and everyone spoke their New Year wishes.

Dahuang, nestled in Lu Yu's arms, also let out a "meow," making everyone laugh.

Feeling the warm atmosphere, Zhou Wanqing couldn't help but hug the new clothes in her arms, silently making another wish in her heart.

She hoped she would have the ability to protect her Benefactor, Chu Xia, and Grandma Xu.

Men excluded.

Especially Lu Yu! He was definitely not on her protection list!

After finishing the first glass of wine, everyone enjoyed the lavish New Year's Eve dinner.

Suddenly, there was a crunch.

Jiang Fei's expression was slightly pained as she spit out the diamond from her mouth.

Ling Zhaorui: "Sister Jiang was the first to get one, which means the two Ping An shops will make a big profit in the new year."

Xiao Chuxia asked worriedly: "Miss, are your teeth okay?"

"It's fine. Be careful when eating dumplings, the diamonds can chip your teeth."

It hurt a bit.

Jiang Fei silently licked her aching tooth, and a cup of warm water suddenly appeared beside her hand.

Lu Yu: "Don't drink wine anymore, have some warm water."

"Okay." Jiang Fei picked up the cup and took a small sip. After only a few bites of food, she heard another crunch.

Lu Yu complexly spit out the diamond from his mouth and poured himself a cup of warm water.

It really hurt.

With Jiang Fei and Lu Yu's lesson, Old Mrs. Xu and the others ate their dumplings very carefully, and soon also found diamonds.

Only Su Liuyuan hadn't found one yet.

"I refuse to believe I can eat all the remaining dumplings and still not find a diamond!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Dahuang in Lu Yu's arms let out a "meow."

Plop! A diamond was spit into Su Liuyuan's bowl.

Don't try so hard, human, I've already eaten one!

Su Liuyuan: "...Why is Dahuang eating dumplings?"

Lu Yu said earnestly: "Just joining in the fun."

Su Liuyuan stared at Lu Yu, feeling wronged.

In the end, Lu Yu washed both diamonds and gave them to him, making Su Liuyuan happy again.

Jiang Fei and the others stayed in 203 until midnight.

They only left when Old Mrs. Xu needed to rest.

Just as Jiang Fei was about to return to 302, Lu Yu called out to her: "Wait a moment."

He was really hurt.