After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Hope
Emerging from the frame of the serene forest, the scene opened up to a lively market place, set within the wide sidewalks.

There were stalls, dozens of them, surrounded by many patrons, showing off various goods—many of which they never thought they’d see again.

There were scores and scores of people shopping around. Each one, without exception, looked neat and clean, and all of them with wide smiles on their faces.

To be honest, it was such a stark contrast to what they’ve gone through the past few days that they half-thought it was an illusion.

The guard saw them staring and explained, very patiently.

“The Marketplace is still under construction, so the stalls are basically set up along the road. We don’t have cars here yet anyway.”

Their eyes twitched.

That was not the point of why they were in a daze, okay?!

Food!!!!

Legitimate food!!!!!!

No way, their feet moved on their own and they all found a random stall to stand in front of.

Jun and his family ended up at the nearest stall with a healthy old man guarding it, something they never thought they’d see.

“New guys? Welcome!” The friendly old man then took out a brown plate to show them small chunks of food. “Try out my sticky rice. If you like it, buy a bundle! Only 10 copper! 3 copper per piece!”

Just ten copper?

They bought it.

They looked at the soft goodness wrapped in leaves. They put it in their mouths and they were met with fabulous softness they didn’t think they’d ever taste after that horrible restaurant food.

“Is this really rice??” He said at the familiar taste. The color and texture was a bit different so he wasn’t sure before.

“Of course. The experts in our territory are amazing. Not only rice, but also wheat and plenty of other plants are being processed!”

They nodded and stopped themselves from buying another batch, because there were too many stalls. What would they do if they saw something they wanted and had no more money?

Fall in Despair? Beg?

“We will return tomorrow.” He said, and the old man smiled in understanding.

“I will be here!”

The family, along with the others, continued perusing different stalls.

They ended up in a stall with large earthenware vats being displayed.

“Hello little girl? Do you want lemonade? Only 2 copper a cup!” He said, “Add two copper if you don’t have your own cup!”

They also bought it. With three cups, to be exact.

The rationale was they were going to use it at home anyway.

The family stopped by a corner, staring at the cups in their hands. Gulping, they drank it together.

It was a new drink. Similar to lemonade but with a bit less tang. And it was still very refreshing.

They continued for several stalls until all six hands were full.

His wife paused, looking at him worriedly. “Do we still have enough money?”

Jun paused and took a moment to calculate. He was also quite worried.

In the end, he grinned because, even after buying so much, they really still had some money left!

Amazing! How much had they bought?!

“Yes! We still have money!” He said, eyes sparkling.

Not long ago, it felt like they couldn’t afford anything no matter how hard they worked. But now… now—for the first time since they came—they could actually fill their stomachs!

His daughter, Mimi, giggled as she ate, and his wife hummed happily.

Seeing his family like this, Jun’s eyes warmed, the somberness slowly ebbing away.

Slowly, but surely, the darkness in his heart was being wiped away.

…

Billy and the others also went to different stalls, gaping and staring like idiots.

Partly, they were having the dreaded analysis paralysis. And partly, they were just overstimulated.

There were at least a score of stalls, selling different food like barbeque, crisps, dried fruit, pickled foods, juices, and non-food stuff like weaved baskets and blankets.

How many days had it been since they were transferred? Why were some people so… well-adjusted?

And…there were so many stalls, how could a day be enough?

However, before indulging, they soon remembered that most of their wealth was lost with the last two territories.

They reluctantly chose one or two stalls to buy from, promising themselves for a self-treat when they earned a bit of money.

Chewing on his rice crisp, Billy couldn’t help but gulp in worry, causing him to cough.

But afraid of wasting a speck of food he quickly drank his Dodo fruit shake to push it down.

“You okay?”

“A-Ah yes, alright.” He cleared his throat while appreciating the cleansing aftertaste of the juice. Delicious.

To think he had only drunk tasteless gruel—at best—for more than a week.

He had really wronged himself, who used to drink juice or soda every day in Terran.

But not anymore. Hopefully.

“I… I was wondering how to earn money with my rate of spending.” He said, and the stall owner was taken aback for a moment.

After a while, the bearded stall owner laughed. “Well, you’re in luck!” He said, “The village is hiring more construction workers, even the lowest wages are very good!”

Billy brightened at this. “Oh?! I was a mason back in Terran! How do I apply?”

“Just go to the village center. Basically everything is programmed there.”

“I see, I see, thank you!” He said, buying a few more rice crisps along the way.

But, he paused his steps, and turned to see a kid. They met him on the way, he looked like a wild child.

“Want some?”

But the kid flinched, running away.

Billy shrugged. The kid wasn’t a baby, especially not after what he experienced here. Surely, someone who liked kids would take care of him.

In the end, Billy just ate his crispies until he reunited with the group.

After all, for days, if he didn’t eat what he gathered, he’d be enduring the horrid food from the restaurant.

So although the tastes were different and a little inferior to what he used to eat in Terran, it didn’t matter.

He felt he was already in heaven.

….

The team reluctantly met up together, then they felt embarrassed when they saw the guards actually waited for them.

“Sorry for this…”

“It’s fine, you’re adding GDP to the territory after all.”

“…”

“By the way sir, I hear you also find jobs at the village center?” Billy asked, hoping to find a job. Many others were interested and they listened aptly.

Actually, the fact that the village center had so much activity baffled them.

The previous territories also had a village center, but it seemed like it didn’t have much use except for selling wood?

The soldier nodded proudly. “Yes. After registering and putting your information, you will be able to see available jobs, properties, etc in the village center.

“A lot of jobs are open now, and a lot of which may fit you. If you also have suggestions for jobs not on the list, you can also place it on the forum. Who knows, maybe the system will see it.”

“System? What about the lord?”

The soldier paused and mused. He awkwardly scratched his cheek. “I’m… actually not sure, I don’t think this territory has a lord.”

No?

They looked at each other, taken aback.

But… they shrugged in the end. Because it didn’t matter.

As long as they lived well, who cared if there was someone behind the scenes or not?

As long as they could get a glimmer of a decent life, they wouldn’t be choosy.

“Do you know what jobs we have the best chance of getting to sir?” Jun asked.

“Of course! I heard they’re building dozens of warehouses and factories, so they’re hiring construction workers.”

Another young man from the group walked a bit faster to walk nearer the guards. “What about the guard team? Are you hiring?”

The guards smiled a bit proudly. “The territory just hired a lot a few days ago, but I’m sure there would be openings soon.”

From behind, they could hear whispers about the guard team. “The guards team seem to be the best though. With the sentries, the job isn’t as dangerous as it is in other territories.”

As the guards spoke, some of the better investigators in their party remembered some important knowledge.

The locals were very detailed in their storytelling, obviously still high from the previous battle.

“I hear legit soldiers and aborigines actually train the team!” one person said, and a few others gathered the same.

“I heard that too! The aborigine could even cast fire walls and fire balls!”

“What? Magic?”

“Does it have something to do with elemental affinity?”

“I have fire, too, does it mean I can do that as well?!”

“Yes! If you get to level 10, they said!”

“Whoa! I need to start training!”

They laughed, totally unlike the depressed group of people less than an hour prior.

The people in front of the line smiled. “Well, I feel there will be something for everyone.” Jun said.

Even an old man could live healthy and lively, how could they—a group of young and strong adults—not have a way for a good life?

“Yes, I’ve seen the prices of the goods. I believe we’ll still have savings after a day of work!”

The group that had been apprehensive and quiet a few minutes ago had completely changed faces, chattering excitedly, filled with anticipation for the next day.

Jun and his wife looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

They finally found it: Hope.