Provide rooms for guests (0/1)
Search for supplies outside (0/1)
Try planting crops (0/1)
Try raising poultry (0/1)
Each task offered 200 inn experience points and 18 Koi tokens as rewards.
Qian Zhenzhen didn't mind the small amounts—after all, little drops make an ocean.
But these tasks weren't exactly easy to complete.
She wasn't some battle-hungry warrior, and with sufficient supplies, why would she risk going outside alone to fight zombies and beasts?
In horror movies, that kind of behavior was called "asking for death"—the kind that made viewers shake their heads.
With no guests currently at the inn, how could she provide food and rooms?
The defensive fortifications were already adequate, so there was no point wasting stockpiled materials.
As for poultry... chickens and ducks? The inn was too small—keeping them inside would limit movement and create a stench, while keeping them outside would attract danger.
So she'd skip those tasks for now. orz
That left only the planting task.
Qian Zhenzhen opened the token shop.
With autumn's arrival, she could plant radishes, crown daisies, spinach, and kale. Along with green onions and garlic, she bought seeds, seedling trays, pest control medicines, and other necessities—spending 26 Koi tokens in total. (Seeds and medicine weren't cheap!)
Before the apocalypse, she'd been notorious for killing every plant on her balcony. But in these three years, she'd learned many skills: "Common Vegetable Growing Methods," "Postpartum Care for Sows," "Happy Lives of Poultry," "Wilderness Survival Skills," "Emergency Medical Knowledge"... She'd practiced most hands-on, with master teachers guiding her.
Y City's leaders—several retired Alliance military officers—were fair yet disciplined, strict yet principled. They required everyone, young and old, to participate in daily physical training and organized various courses for all to learn.
Working people from all walks of life stepped forward, transforming from unremarkable cogs in the city machine into valuable teachers in this post-apocalyptic world. They shared their knowledge and experience selflessly, which gave Qian Zhenzhen the confidence to live here alone.
But knowledge is infinite while human time and energy are limited. No matter how hard she tried, what she'd learned was just the tip of the iceberg.
If people from Y City came to investigate the bus crash in this valley...
If... they would come.
If there was a chance to meet those teachers again, even if they didn't remember her as just another resident, she would show them the utmost hospitality!
Though most Y City residents must have relocated to the new base by now...
Outside the window, moonlight illuminated the clear sky as stars twinkled—it was a beautiful night.
To the people far away, may you be safe.
...
As night deepened, thick clouds shrouded the moon, and starlight grew sparse. In the quiet forest, wild beasts occasionally darted past while zombies trudged aimlessly.
A human figure drifted in the surging river.
Though long unconscious, his hands still clutched tightly to a piece of broken wood. Passing a gravel beach decorated with heart-shaped stones, he unexpectedly regained consciousness.
Time to get ashore...
The thought surfaced in his mind.
He paddled through the water, fighting desperately against the current that tried to sweep him away, swimming toward shore.
Unable to see clearly and unsure where to go, he moved forward by instinct—stumbling, falling, tripped by tree roots and stones, wounded by thorns and dead branches. The endless night stretched before him without a glimmer of light.
Wild rats discovered him when he fell, their shrill squeaks heralding their attack. These mutated creatures were terrifying—once they bit through skin, they would burrow into living flesh and devour internal organs first.
He caught their distinctive stench and fumbled for a dead branch on the ground, thrusting it forcefully in their direction.
"Squeak squeak squeak—" A piercing shriek rang out as the wild rat was pinned down, struggling helplessly.
After resting a while, he only rose to continue when he heard wolves howling.
Through the haze, he glimpsed what seemed to be a house.
Instinct told him he could enter; it was safe.
But pain jolted him, awakening his numbed senses. His vision cleared briefly, and he saw spikes piercing his waist. A barrier blocked his path—danger right before him.
Breathing heavily, he stepped back to free himself from the spikes, then clutched his bleeding waist as he staggered forward.
Finally, he found a loose small door. He tugged at it hazily, unaware of his actions, then collapsed and lost consciousness completely.
In the night sky, the morning star had appeared—dawn approached.
...
Beep beep beep.
At six-thirty sharp, the watch alarm sounded.
Qian Zhenzhen got dressed and descended from the loft.
Rows of seedling trays lined the back door wall. She glanced at them—naturally, most showed no signs of life yet. But the green onions had absorbed water, standing tall and verdant.
She opened the living room windows for ventilation and went to wash up.
It was still early—perfect for a morning run, a few laps around the cabin within the defensive wall before breakfast. Once winter arrived and the cold set in, she'd have to exercise indoors.
Qian Zhenzhen took a sip of water, set her cup on the counter, and casually opened the front door.
Suddenly, zombie howls pierced the air—two shadows loomed before her.
?!
She jumped back startled, her feet hitting the floorboards with a thud.
Was that a filthy person lying at the front door? A zombie? She couldn't see their face or tell if they were dead or alive.
The small door in the defensive wall hung loose like a puzzle piece stuck in glass, suspended by spikes on both sides.
Thanks to this slanted door, the gray-clothed zombie couldn't enter—instead, it was impaled on the spikes.
-_-|| What happened to the warning system? Why hadn't it alerted her? Perhaps because the zombie hadn't attacked the defenses but merely reached out to feed?
Qian Zhenzhen grabbed her iron axe and the pole by the door, carefully approaching the prone figure.
"Hey, can you hear me?" She called out, using the pole to lift their clothes and check their skin.
No signs of infection... so this was a guest, and judging by their bedraggled state, they could help earn their keep through labor!
Qian Zhenzhen quickly pulled on work gloves and helped them sit up. "Sir, are you alright?"
The moment she touched them, system text appeared:
[You've unlocked the recruitment function!]
[You can now recruit staff for the inn. Discover talent to help the inn operate better!]
[Beginner Task (2): Recruit one staff member
Please achieve the following goals quickly:
Find a suitable candidate (0/1)
Sign a contract (0/1)
...
Rewards: Inn experience points, Koi tokens.
※※※
Special reward goal:
First recruited staff member's level: Grade A or above.
Special reward: ???]
At least an A? She was only C+...
So what level was this person?
Qian Zhenzhen opened their information—
[Guest: ? (Male) [A+]
Introduction: ???
Preferences: ???
Special skills: ???
Note: He's injured and needs treatment quickly.]
Why were they all question marks? Was it not time to reveal the information? Perhaps this stranger had an impressive background.
The specific attribute panel remained inaccessible—probably because they were still just a "guest."