3: Chapter 3 looks like a wealthy person.

Opposite him, Qin Mugutan was also secretly observing Gao Yuan. Seeing his expression, he remarked, "Brother, it seems you've not only never eaten Nutritional Paste, but you haven't even tasted Synthetic Food before!"

Gao Yuan simply stopped pretending and spat out the food in his mouth.

"Brother Tan, I'm embarrassed to say, I really haven't. The taste is actually okay, I just can't seem to swallow it..."

"Truly a man of wealth! For ordinary people, eating Synthetic Food is already an improvement in their quality of life!"

Qin Mugutan became even more interested in Gao Yuan's identity. He felt like he had hit the jackpot, unexpectedly encountering a wealthy young master who had just stepped out into the world. If he seized this opportunity, he might just soar to success.

"Brother Tan, why is Natural Food so scarce nowadays?"

Gao Yuan asked.

"Scarce? Hasn't it always been like this? Oh, right, it actually started eight hundred years ago. Back then, almost the entire world's population was concentrated in cities, with various factories in the outskirts. With the massive expansion of the population, land resources became scarce. It's said that from then on, Natural Meat decreased sharply, and people began eating Synthetic Meat!"

"At first, Synthetic Meat was expensive and tasted good. Later, as Natural Food became scarcer, Synthetic Food was mass-produced. To control costs, the quality of the taste began to decline year by year. However, although Natural Food was scarce before, it was never as scarce as it is now. Then a Nuclear War broke out, turning much of the land into Wasteland, making land even more precious! That's how things are now... Brother Gao, you can try Nutritional Paste. There are two types: one is free, and the other you pay for. The paid one tastes a bit better. As for the free one... haha, let's not even talk about the taste. You just close your eyes and swallow it..."

Over the course of a meal, Gao Yuan learned a lot about the Future World...

He didn't eat much of the Synthetic Meat; he had a bit of Roast Chicken and Green Vegetables, along with a bowl of Synthetic Rice, and his stomach finally settled down.

Even though the Roast Chicken and Green Vegetables were exorbitantly priced, in Gao Yuan's eyes, they were barely edible. The taste was mediocre, far inferior even to modern fast-food fried chicken.

Qin Mugutan, however, feasted with great relish, eating and drinking his fill.

Gao Yuan then pulled a few small trinkets he carried with him out of his pocket and placed them together with the previous bills.

"Brother Tan, take a look at these!"

Qin Mugutan's gaze first fell on the Membership Card, but he looked away almost immediately. Then he saw the chocolate, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face: "Chocolate? Pure Chocolate?"

Gao Yuan nodded.

"Good stuff!" Qin Mugutan held the chocolate in both hands, opened the wrapper, and took a sniff, his face full of intoxication.

"If it were unopened, a whole bar could sell for two hundred thousand!"

Only two hundred thousand...

Gao Yuan felt a bit disappointed...

But in the next moment, Qin Mugutan's gaze landed on the cigarettes...

His face was full of excitement, and he wanted to scream, but he was afraid of being overheard. His fingers trembled slightly: "Real cigarettes?"

"Yes..."

Qin Mugutan took the cigarettes, held them to his nose, and took a deep breath: "So fragrant! This is good stuff! Natural Tobacco!"

"It's too rare. To think there are still real cigarettes!"

"Brother Gao, I don't even dare to guess your background now. You should know that we've only seen cigarettes in ancient records. Existing cigarettes are too few and are reserved exclusively for the upper class. Yet you managed to get some... It's a pity they're opened, but that doesn't matter. Just this half-pack is worth ten million..."

Next, Qin Mugutan looked at the last small object—the Lighter!

A look of confusion appeared on his face: "What is this?"

Gao Yuan picked it up casually and flicked it, producing a flame with a click!

An orange flame immediately flared up, giving Qin Mugutan a start.

"Let me think... I've seen this in ancient records. Yes, I've definitely seen it. Flame... flame... fire..."

"A Lighter!" Gao Yuan said.

"Right, right, a Lighter!" Qin Mugutan said.

"Brother Gao, I've never handled a Lighter before, so I'm not sure how much it's worth. But it shouldn't be cheap!"

Gao Yuan was somewhat surprised: "Why is a Lighter so expensive? I can understand why cigarettes are rare!"

Qin Mugutan was stunned: "It's mainly because they're scarce. Since eight hundred years ago, Open Flames have not been allowed in cities... Many people have never seen an Open Flame in their entire lives!"

Uh...

Well, Gao Yuan didn't understand this world. He hadn't expected a Lighter could be sold too!

He pushed the Lighter directly in front of Qin Mugutan...

"This... what are you doing?"

"Brother Tan, it's for you!" Gao Yuan said casually. A one-yuan Lighter was something Gao Yuan had never actually bought; he'd get two when eating at a restaurant, two when buying alcohol or cigarettes, or swipe a couple when eating with friends!

Gao Yuan had already decided to stay in this world, and someone like Qin Mugutan had wide connections and knew how to get things done. If Gao Yuan wanted a legal identity, he had to find a reliable local to handle it.

And Qin Mugutan was the most suitable candidate.

"This... it's not appropriate. This little thing might be worth over a hundred million. Giving it to me directly just isn't right..."

Although he said it wasn't appropriate, Qin Mugutan gripped the Lighter tightly, his eyes full of greed.

"Brother Tan, we hit it off from the start. Consider it a small gift. I also have something I need your help with!"

"What is it? In Longjing, as long as it's not illegal, I can get it done for you..."

Qin Mugutan said, patting his chest.

"It's nothing major. You know how it is—this is my first time in Longjing, but my status is special and not suitable for public disclosure. So I want to... get a new set of Identification Documents!"

"That's easy to handle... however... identities with two-character or Three-Character Names are too conspicuous. Those are names only the top tier of people have. Besides, my capabilities are limited. Since you're hiding your identity anyway, Brother Gao, how about we set you up with a Four-Character Name instead?"

Gao Yuan nodded.

A name with a few extra characters was no problem; the key was to have a legal identity in this world...

"Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Tan..."

"No problem, no problem. What about these bills and cigarettes, Brother Gao? And the chocolate..."

Gao Yuan casually handed everything over to Qin Mugutan: "Brother Tan, I agreed to sell them to you, so I certainly won't give them to anyone else. As for the chocolate, it's a gift for you to try something new..."

"This is so embarrassing. You've already given me the Lighter..."

"Don't be a stranger. Like you said, I've already given you the Lighter; why would I care about half a bar of chocolate?" Gao Yuan said.

"In that case, let me add you on Brain-Link so we can stay in touch..."

Brain-Link? Gao Yuan frowned...

"Oh, I forgot... Brain-Link accounts are all under real names. Since you don't want to reveal your identity, you naturally can't add me. Then tomorrow, at this same shop, I'll wait for you... By then, I'll have your identity information all ready. I'll use Brain-Link to take an image of you, and then you can use your new identity to log into Brain-Link and bind your Bank Account... I'll transfer the money for the bills and cigarettes directly into your account..."

Gao Yuan nodded...

"I'll count on you then, Brother Tan..."