Fear of food

Chapter 24 Iced Tea Under the Crane

momo: Confirmed. This is the conclusion I reached after spending several days traveling to several surrounding cities.

momo: But don't be too happy, I've discovered that the scope of food horror is still expanding!

momo: Currently, the anomalies are mainly concentrated in Jinghai City and some surrounding villages and towns, but the expansion rate is not slow. It is estimated that several surrounding cities will fall within a month at most.
Chen Qi frowned. If that were the case, the anomaly would spread unchecked and eventually engulf the entire world.

"No wonder my mom told me to run far away..."

If we can't stop the spread of the virus, then we can only try to get as far away from Jinghai City as possible, so that we can live a normal life for a while longer.

The thought of his mother caused Chen Qi a sharp pain in his heart, as if it were filled with pebbles.

If his mother hadn't gone through all that, he could have taken her and escaped Jinghai City right now.

Chen Qi thought of his father again...

"My dad is away from home. If he stops eating the strange food, will he be free from its influence?"

Chen Qi: If someone has eaten strange food, can they return to normal after going to another place?

momo: That's still uncertain. It's mainly because they're hard to observe. Most of the time, they're indistinguishable from normal people.
momo: But don't think that just because you've run away you're absolutely safe.

momo: Jinghai City is the epicenter of this disaster and the starting point of this anomaly. However, it may not be the only starting point; it's possible that similar disasters may occur in more distant locations.
Momo's words, though pessimistic, have some merit.

Chen Qi could not be certain that Jinghai City was the only place in the world where a food terror outbreak had occurred.

If multiple anomalous centers like Jinghai City were to expand outwards together, then the possibility of disasters covering the entire world would not be far off.

Chen Qi shook his head: "There's not much point in thinking about these things now. Even if the world is covered by anomalies, we still have to try to survive, right?"

"Saving Mom is the priority. As long as the family is safe and sound together, we can find a way to get through whatever the world becomes."

Chen Qi didn't beat around the bush and typed directly: "Momo, have you ever seen a person turn into a monster?"
After sending that message, it took a long while for Momo to reply.

momo: You ran into that too?

Momo: How did you escape? Did you eat that cookie from before?
Chen Qi: I didn't eat.

Chen Qi: It was my mother who turned into a monster. She eventually regained her senses and let me go.
Momo: Sorry (with hands clasped together emoji)

Chen Qi: It's nothing. I just want to know what happened to my mother and how I can save her.

Momo: Your mother must have been parasitized by something we can't understand.
Momo: If you want to save her, try to find more high-quality food, like the special kind of jianbing (Chinese crepe) you ate before.
Is it high-end food?
Chen Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked: Is there any pattern to the appearance of high-end foods?
momo: One thing that has been confirmed is that high-end food often appears in densely populated areas.
So that's how it is... The two high-end foods that Chen Qi found were both discovered in the hospital, which is a place with a high density of people.

No wonder he didn't see a single fancy meal on his way home after being discharged from the hospital.

Chen Qi: Where did these high-class foods come from? And what is the purpose of that ghost face cookie?

momo: This is too complicated to explain. How about this, I'll recommend one of my friends to you. Add him as a friend and arrange a time to meet and talk.
momo: He's also the person who assessed your entry into the group. If you want to join us...

Chen Qi: What group? What organization are you from?
Chen Qi: Official or unofficial?

momo: Don't be nervous, we're not an organization, just a group of people with similar experiences sticking together for support.
momo: After the outbreak, I gathered some like-minded people through various channels and created a chat group.
momo: There aren't many people in the group, but everyone has undergone offline assessments to ensure they can see any abnormalities in the food, just like us.

momo: So if you want to join the group, you also need to pass an assessment. After you pass the assessment, we will share some information we have with you.

momo: But similarly, you should also share any information you have with us. Our goal in creating this group is for everyone to share information and explore the truth behind this disaster together.
Chen Qi had no choice. He was now isolated and helpless, and he needed not only help but also the information that Momo and the others possessed.

Chen Qi: What do I need to do after joining?
momo: This is just a chat group, it doesn't impose any restrictions on you.

momo: Just remember, don't leak group members' information, and don't do anything that could endanger the safety of other group members. momo: Also, if one day you really can't take it anymore and choose to eat something unusual, please let us know in the group and voluntarily leave the group.

momo: There are no other requirements. If a group member encounters difficulties, you can help if you want, but we won't force you if you don't.

Chen Qi: Understood, I'll join.
Momo then sent over a WeChat contact card named "Chasing the Wind".

The profile picture is a colorful electric scooter, the Moments are blank, and the signature is: "Wearing the yellow robe!"

Chen Qi added "Chasing the Wind" as a friend, and the friend request was accepted shortly afterward.

Chasing the Wind: Momo has already contacted me. Are you available to meet now?
Chen Qi: Convenient
Chasing the Wind: Send me your location, I'll come find you.
Chen Qi sent the convenience store's location directly.

Chasing the Wind: We'll be there in half an hour!
-
Chen Qi waited in the convenience store for half an hour.

Half an hour later, an electric scooter performed a beautiful drift and came to a smooth stop in front of the convenience store.

A food delivery rider, who looked to be in his thirties, of medium height and slightly overweight, wearing a yellow robe, got off his electric scooter and walked into the convenience store.

The convenience store cashier asked in confusion, "We don't have any takeout orders right now."

The rider's gaze swept around the store and landed on Chen Qi, the only customer in the store.

When Chen Qi saw the colorful electric scooter at the entrance, he had already guessed who the person was.

"Chasing the Wind?" Chen Qi stood up and asked.

"It's me." The rider grinned broadly. "Have you been waiting long?"

Chen Qi glanced at the time and smiled, "No, it was exactly half an hour as agreed."

"I absolutely cannot be late; that's the professional standard of a top-notch rider!" Zhui Feng puffed out his chest proudly.

"Thank you for making this trip. Let me introduce myself. My name is..."

Chen Qigang was about to introduce himself when Zhui Feng raised his hand to interrupt him.

"You don't need to tell me your real name. We group members all use code names, which is for everyone's safety. You can also choose a code name for yourself."

"A code name..." Chen Qi thought for a moment, "Let's call it Biscuit."

He remembered the grimace cookies in his pocket and decided to use that as his code name.

"Okay, Cookie, let's get to know each other formally. I'm Chasing Wind, and I'm also your group entry examiner."

"Hello."

The two shook hands amidst the cashier's disapproving look.

"Nice to meet you, please have some water."

Zhui Feng pulled out a bottle of beverage from somewhere.

Chen Qi looked at the words "Iced Black Tea" on the beverage packaging, the pale yellow liquid inside the bottle, and the flocculent matter floating in the liquid.

It looks like it was picked up from under a tower crane.

(End of this chapter)