Famine 103: The Players

Qiu Youqing had replenished his fluids, but the other children were still staring hopefully; Shen Dongming, too, had yet to drink a drop.

Fortunately, the AI staff provided for the start-up shop were quite reliable—they maintained perfect smiles, hands moving so fast the cups blurred in the air.

Soon, everyone had a glass of [Sea Salt Lemon Electrolyte Special Drink].

They gulped the iced lemon water down with abandon, then collapsed in satisfaction all around Waterdrop Village, sprawled in every direction.

“So refreshing…” one student cried out in excitement, “I never knew lemon water could taste so good—this is amazing!”
“I declare it’s the drink of my life from now on!”
The rest of the children nodded fervently.

By this time, Lin Yanqing had already regained her ability to move.

The children carried her camp cot over and adjusted it to a reclining chair. After a short rest, she sat and spoke kindly to the tearful, elated children, stroking each of their heads in turn.

Si Zhiyan approached her. “How are you feeling?”

Lin Yanqing hurriedly sat up straight, trying to salute Si Zhiyan. Hands in pockets, he stood before her, a gentle mist supporting her shoulders, pressing her back onto the bed. Lin Yanqing reclined, smiling with heartfelt gratitude. “I’m fine now… Thank you, sir.”

Lin Yanqing was not a weak player to begin with. An ordinary person would have long since succumbed to the corruption, but her persistence was what had kept her alive against the strange affliction. Now, with water and lowered temperature aiding her, the heatstroke was eliminated, the danger passed. All she required now was a little more rest and she would soon recover her full strength.

While Si Zhiyan exchanged a few civil words with Lin Yanqing, the revived children had already erupted into noisy chatter on the other side. @All the best stories at Jinjiang Literature City

Someone with an empty glass eyed the icy parfaits behind the counter. “Mister clerk, could we… could we try one of those?”

“The complimentary quota provided by our farm owner has now been used up,” the clerk replied politely and by the book, “Any further drinks require payment in points.”

“How many points?” the child blurted, quickly glancing at the menu and, upon seeing the price, broke into uncontrollable joy, “That cheap?! Really?!”

“Is it true? How much?”

“Let me see! Let me see!”

“I want a chocolate parfait! Extra chocolate sauce. Qiu, are you having any? Great, another milk smoothie for me!”

The group thronged around the counter, bustling with excitement, and soon the AI clerk was busy once again…

These were children of that awkward age, wild as pups; once recovered, they were twice as lively.

Three or four of them formed a group, playing drinking games; others embraced their friends in cathartic tears; but most of all, the bolder ones clustered around the advance party, eyes shining, bombarding them with questions—You’re amazing! Where do you get so much clean water and fruit? Who is that gentleman? What? A farm? Oh wow, do you take new people? Your clothes look so cool and clean—are they some kind of special item?

Anderson, ever the showman, gave an exaggerated bow and doffed his hat, releasing a flurry of streamers and white doves, instantly igniting the children’s enthusiasm. Deafening cheers and laughter echoed through the cavern.

In the midst of the excitement, Qiu Youqing even yanked open her own coat, rummaged inside the lining, and dragged out a wind-up monkey—no doubt a gadget used for distraction when thieving—letting it dance in midair, playing a brass cymbal in applause for Anderson.

The scene was as loud as any school during recess, so much that the noise gave Si Zhiyan a headache… but a sidelong glance showed that the two teachers, Lin and Shen, looked completely at ease, clearly long since used to such chaos.
@All the best stories at Jinjiang Literature City

“Qiu!” Shen Dongming called helplessly. “You are a young lady; be mindful, button up your clothes.”

The words caught everyone from the farm by surprise—even Si Zhiyan paused for a beat.

“A… a girl?!” Wang Jianguo’s voice shot up by eight degrees.

Everyone from the farm turned to look at Qiu Youqing.

The youth sat cross-legged on the ground holding a bowl of shaved ice, having just emerged from a sandstorm with dust and grit covering her from head to toe; hair cut almost to a buzz, her frame lean and long-legged, with clear muscles on her calves—a born distance runner. She was still restless, her legs bouncing, brimming with youthful vitality.

“….” Qiu Youqing scratched her cheek, neither embarrassed nor defensive. She only behaved as if this were nothing out of the ordinary, muttering to herself as she buttoned her coat, giving her teacher no lip.

Wang Jianguo was instantly embarrassed as memories flashed of having hauled her around, “Hey now… Why dress up like a boy… If you’d just told us you were a girl…”

“I’m not dressed as a boy—that’s just who I am. Short hair is easier for movement, less sand, easier to wash. You couldn’t tell if I was a boy or a girl.” Qiu Youqing looked up. “Besides, if I’d told you, would you have let me go?”

“Well, no.”

Qiu Youqing burst into laughter, delighted,
“So there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Big guy.”

…………
……

While this merriment continued, in the depths of the distant canyon a handful of wary faces craned out, peering cautiously.

They gawked in awe and fear at the water vapor, green plants, and the drinks-laden shop—the iced drinks shop.

Other players.

While the children and the farm’s advance team made merry, and the two teachers found solace in each other after surviving disaster, only Si Zhiyan, prepared for this all along, smiled faintly through the enveloping mist in their direction.

Waterdrop Village’s location was rather remote—a disadvantage on the surface.
But in the labyrinthine darkness of the caves, where cold air and lighting stood out, anyone coming near would quickly be drawn to the shop.

How to bring more people close? By making a proper commotion to spark curiosity from afar, of course.

Si Zhiyan had long anticipated this and allowed the children to be as lively as they liked.

As soon as the players poked their heads out, they froze.
It was just like stumbling into an air-conditioned room from the blazing heat—cold, moist air hit them in the face, making them shiver with relief.

An iced drinks shop! What was that girl holding—lemonade?? Was that even shaved ice and coffee?!

The newcomers looked at one another in utter confusion.

A bald teammate muttered, “This is bad, I’ve really gone insane from thirst—I’m seeing mirages now…”

Another guy in a baseball cap panicked, “Is this some anomaly? It looks like he’s spotted us—Captain, what do we do?!”

“Welcome to Farm Iced Drink Shop,” Si Zhiyan called out gently. “Would you care for a drink? Please place your order at the counter.”

“He—he—he really saw us!!” Baseball Cap nearly died of fright, and with a pop, transformed himself into a marmot.

The red-haired woman known as Captain gritted her teeth. “Go! Let’s check it out!”

“Really, Captain?!”

“What else? We’ve only enough water for one day, and our next supply isn’t set! For everyone’s sake I’d do anything!”

“Captain…” The marmot, teary-eyed, gazed up at her.

Captain strode forward, exuding an air as if she were marching to her destiny—grand but, if not for how she was swallowing in anticipation, a bit more dignified.

“One large taro boba milk tea, one peach green tea, less ice, biggest size, seventy percent sugar, thank you!!”

Si Zhiyan: “……”

—You can’t call a seventy-percent-sweet taro boba milk tea a ‘water source’! Hey!

Five minutes later, a new group appeared in Waterdrop Village, basking in the air-conditioning and clutching iced treats, faces radiant in dreamy disbelief…

One team after another, one after another…

In no time, a queue stretched far beyond sight outside the Farm Iced Drink Shop.

[Ding! You have received 50 points.]
[Ding! You have received 235 points.]
[Ding! You have received…]

So many players rushed up demanding two hundred cups of iced lemonade at once that Si Zhiyan had to re-impose purchase limits—each person could buy no more than three drinks, no cutting in line, no letting others hold your spot. The advance team set up shifts, taking turns maintaining order in the shop.

After Wang Jianguo cracked down on troublemakers, everyone fell in line, joining the endless queue.

Thankfully, the clerks worked fast, so nobody had to wait too long.

Clearly, if ever a branch opened off the farm, this kind of purchase limit would be essential in future—Si Zhiyan was a little embarrassed by the mere thought.

Though people thronged the shop, space never grew too crowded. The two teachers, both courteous and thoughtful, wasted no time—without needing to be told, they quickly organized the children and led everyone out of Waterdrop Village, making space for the business.

They departed with several hundred cups of iced lemonade, especially prepared by Si Zhiyan, returning to their original cave.

When they’d left, everyone’s lips had been cracked with thirst, airways bloody and parched, Lin Yanqing barely conscious; the trip back was all laughter and joy, each person holding a cup of sweet, icy refreshment, Lin Yanqing arm-in-arm with her husband, her eyes clear and bright.

The camp might be rough, but it was enough. For months now, everyone had crowded together, filling every inch with warmth—making it a true home.

Survival was harsh in this famine game, but as long as everyone stuck together, there was no hardship they couldn’t bear.

The couple huddled, speaking softly; the children, minding themselves, left their teachers space, playing aside and filled with awe and joy as they discussed the extraordinary events of the day.

Qiu Youqing had even bought a stack of enormous watermelons, roped a few friends into carrying them with her, joking and laughing on their way back.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t “bought”—Wang Jianguo had paid all the points… Qiu Youqing tried, but the semi-grown kid was no match for the Northeast uncle in that white-hot tug-of-war at the checkout.

After a few trips, they’d gotten all the melons in. Qiu Youqing, out of breath, sat down by the doorway, leaning against the rock wall to rest. The children gathered around her, treating her like their hero. Qiu Youqing made no attempt at humility, laughing with head held high, her eyes bright and alive.

She was still young, with so much of life still ahead…

—Boom.

Behind Qiu Youqing, a sudden burst of fire and light tore through the air.

She hadn’t even had time to react; as the flames engulfed her, there was still a brilliant smile on her youthful face.

Time seemed to stop—pain and noise vanished at once.

In the boiling heat, only two voices, still warmly laughing, could be heard—

“Brother Wang, you see, I told you, there really was one more cave here.”

“Good. Well done. And it’s close to that odd little shop, how convenient.”
“From now on, this will be our stronghold.” @All the best stories at Jinjiang Literature City