Chapter 74: The Long-Awaited Bowl of Hot Noodle Soup

The generator was installed behind the convenience store, next to the air conditioner.

“It’s a Japanese brand—I thought the quality would be good, but it broke down after just over a year. Probably because it wasn’t used for a long time.”

Tan Huajun removed the soundproof cover and sat down on the floor, dismantling the generator’s casing with practiced ease.

“Engineer Tan, I never expected you to have this skill—did you study this before?”

Zhang Su was astonished by Tan Huajun’s skilled hands.

Tan Huajun consulted the repair manual as she worked: “My college major was electrical engineering—I learned just enough to be dangerous. Couldn’t find a job, so I got connected and ended up at a gas station to retire. Never thought I’d actually use it one day…”

“Sister, your major’s got huge potential going forward.”

Wang Guang said, nodding.

Tan Huajun smiled shyly and said nothing more, focusing entirely on her task.

After more than ten minutes of work, Tan Huajun reassembled the casing, tightened the screws, pulled the starter cord—and the generator coughed like an old man, then ran steadily.

There was still some noise, but nothing like the exaggerated claims in the manual.

Wang Guang quickly put the soundproof cover back on—the noise dropped sharply, and even chatting right beside it caused no disturbance.

“Engineer Tan, you’re seriously impressive!”

Zhang Su clapped lightly in praise.

Wang Guang also offered generous compliments.

It’s just out of necessity—if things were normal, I’d just wait for after-sales service to fix it, heh.

Tan Huajun tidied up her tools and looked at the running generator with quiet satisfaction.

The three returned to the convenience store, where Zhang Su saw Zheng Xinyu filling the water kettle.

“We can have hot noodle soup now!”

Zheng Xinyu, seeing Zhang Su return, said happily.

Such a simple sentence warmed everyone’s hearts.

“This is all thanks to Engineer Tan—let’s thank Sister Tan!”

Zhang Su was the first to softly clap his hands.

“Sister Tan is amazing.”

“Sister Tan is so cool!”

Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanyi expressed heartfelt gratitude—in the apocalypse, any ability that raises your quality of life is rare.

“Oh no, no—I couldn’t have done it without Brother Su and Brother Wang helping clear the zombies. I just did a little.”

Tan Huajun instinctively flattered them, refusing to take any credit.

“Hah! Engineer Tan, you must’ve worked in some government office—your brown-nosing skills are top-notch.”

Zhang Su teased.

Tan Huajun nodded sheepishly and laughed: “Bad habit. Sorry for the show.”

“Enough talk—everyone pick your food, let’s eat!”

Zhang Su waved his hand and headed straight for the instant noodle shelf.

Everyone chose instant noodles—none of them had eaten anything hot in days.

Outside, temperatures stayed in single digits. A bowl of hot water could bring happiness—let alone steaming, fragrant instant noodles!

Soon, steaming bowls of noodles were ready. They opened a bottle of locally made stone-ground sesame oil and ate it with ham sausages—the smell was so good, even zombies would’ve hesitated to stop eating.

Food supplies were abundant—even if they filled Halanda completely, they couldn’t finish it. Since they couldn’t take it all, they ate their fill!

Everyone ate until full. Zhang Su and Wang Guang each finished three bowls. The women didn’t hold back either—plump Tan Huajun matched them, eating three bowls herself, while Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanyi each had two.

The floor was littered with ham sausage wrappers, and half the bottle of sesame oil was gone. The five of them had formidable appetites.

After eating, the group lay down comfortably where they were, too content to move an inch.

“Man, this is awesome.”

Zhang Su sighed.

Zheng Xinyu said: “I can’t even remember the last time I was this moved by instant noodles. So comfortable—so, so comfortable.”

“Brother Zhang, where are you headed next?”

Lying on his back, Wang Guang stared at the ceiling and asked.

“My clear goal is to go to Yileiwen Convenience Store, then head to the countryside. Honestly, my target’s the same as Qin Ya’s—we’re aiming for Qingxian. But realistically, we’ll just take it one step at a time!”

Zhang Su answered honestly.

He had no intention of going to that so-called safe zone—first, he couldn’t confirm if it was government-run, and second, entering such a place would bring too many restrictions. He doubted he’d be any more comfortable there than out here.

Qingxian had few people and plenty of mountains—it was a decent choice. If that didn’t work, he’d keep heading northwest, where fewer people lived. Somewhere would suit them for setting up camp.

“Leave me your phone number—if signals ever come back, and if I’m still alive, I’ll find you!”

Wang Guang sat up, earnestly saying.

“Alright, Old Wang. I hope you come find us with your son—we’ll survive this awful world together!”

Zhang Su found paper and pen behind the counter, scribbled down his number, and handed it to Wang Guang.

“Wait… Brother Wang, are you leaving?”

Tan Huajun stared at Wang Guang in disbelief. Outside, zombies roamed everywhere—yet he planned to go out alone? It stunned her.

Wang Guang carefully folded the note and tucked it into his pocket, smiling: “Yeah, my son’s at Environmental University. I have to go save him!”

He didn’t know if his son was still alive, but he chose to believe the best.

“Oh my god, Environmental University is still three or four kilometers from here—can you even make it?”

Tan Huajun gasped. Her own home was in the neighboring residential area—less than two hundred meters straight-line distance—and she still couldn’t get back.

“I’ve got to make it. Even if I can’t, I’ve got to make it, heh.”

Wang Guang grinned good-naturedly—he had to go for his own flesh and blood.

“By the way, Engineer Tan, do you have any working vehicles here? Get one for Old Wang.”

Zhang Su said to Tan Huajun.

He couldn’t spare either of his own vehicles. There were plenty of cars outside, but most were crashed, and zombies wandered among them—finding a drivable one was hard.

“No, no… I, uh… I don’t know how to drive.”

Wang Guang laughed awkwardly, waving his hands.

“You don’t know how to drive? Then how’d you deliver milk without a license?”

Zhang Su asked, surprised.

“I delivered milk on an electric tricycle—the kind used for express delivery, modified with a slightly larger cargo bed. No license needed.”

Wang Guang explained.

“Perfect! Brother Wang, I’ve got a little electric scooter!” Tan Huajun patted herself down and pulled two keys from the innermost pocket of her clothes.

“Hah! Electric’s great, electric’s great! Sister, you’re really giving me this?”

Wang Guang beamed—he’d been worrying about transportation, even considering stealing a shared bike. Now he had an electric scooter? Perfect.

Tan Huajun shoved the keys into Wang Guang’s hand and smiled: “I don’t need it anymore. I’m glad I can help you—I hope your son’s safe!”

“Oh, oh, Sister, thank you so much—you’re a good person. Your daughter and your father are surely blessed by heaven.”

Wang Guang was moved, even using a proverb.

(End of Chapter)