Raft for All: I'm guaranteed to get a golden affix when I upgrade!

Xiao Zheng stood by and observed.

When the machine is running at full capacity, it produces a maximum of 500 milliliters of fresh water per day, which is barely enough to fill a bottle of mineral water.

A message popped up in the upper right corner of the system screen.

His gaze swept over the sender of the first message.

Lin Xiaoya.

The girl who was almost frozen to death last night traded three torches for the blueprints of a water purifier.

"Boss Xiao Zheng, are you there?"

"I just desperately fished out a wooden crate from a distance. There was no water or food, but I managed to open it and find a bag inside."

An item attachment has been sent.

[Cabbage seeds (one bag): Contains approximately fifty high-quality cabbage seeds. Note: Must be planted in ordinary soil and watered with fresh water to survive.]

"Boss, we're all just drifting on rafts right now, we haven't even seen what the earth looks like. But this thing will definitely be very useful later."

"I'm starving! Can I trade this for some food?!"

Xiao Zheng stared at the bag of seeds on the semi-transparent screen.

Since the system has distributed crop seeds, it means that soil must follow.

Once cultivation begins, the value of fresh vegetables can even exceed that of fresh water.

Xiao Zheng returned the news.

"I'll take the things. Wait a few minutes."

Click send to close the private chat window.

Another sea area.

Lin Xiaoya huddled on the raft, her lips cracked and bleeding.

Looking at the short reply in the chat panel, her shoulders, which had been tense all night, slumped down.

How many minutes?

Is Boss Xiao Zheng taking inventory of supplies, or rummaging through leftovers?

Or are they fish bones from last night's meal?

She's not picky about anything as long as it fills her stomach.

at this time.

Xiao Zheng has now stood back at the front of the raft.

I haven't had breakfast yet.

He grabbed the fishing rod that was leaning against the side.

Extend your right arm backward and swing it forward with force.

Two seconds later.

The immense pulling force was transmitted from the fishing rod to the palm of the hand.

The thing underneath is quite large.

Xiao Zheng gripped the rod handle tightly with both hands and pulled it back.

Turn the crank with your right hand.

The fishing line cut through the seawater, causing a burst of water.

A massive creature, over forty centimeters long and covered in a thick, reddish-brown shell, was forcibly pulled from the sea.

"Clatter!"

The heavy object struck the dry wooden board.

This is a large lobster that weighs at least ten pounds.

[Gain experience +1. 】

Xiao Zheng stepped on the lobster's broad carapace and lifted it up by the back of its neck.

I've never eaten this before.

It's a waste to keep it for myself to eat and use it to exchange for seeds.

He placed the lobster into the metal tray of the barbecue grill.

He turned around, picked up the fishing rod, and swung it with one hand.

The fishing hook fell into the water, and the reel stopped spinning.

Xiao Zheng pulled back sharply.

Splash!

A large sea bass weighing over three pounds landed at his feet.

The fish's tail pounded frantically against the wooden board.

The whole process took less than ten seconds.

[Gain experience +1. 】

This bass is enough to exchange for fifty seeds.

Xiao Zheng picked up the sea bass and placed it in the metal tray.

A pale blue light scanned from top to bottom on the machine.

The internal blades are flashing.

The scales were removed, the internal organs were taken out, and the lobster's excretory glands were completely drained.

The processed ingredients fall into the bottom grilling chamber.

A deep blue, high-temperature flame rose up.

Three-minute countdown.

The skin of the sea bass quickly turned golden brown, and the oil seeped out along the grain.

The lobster turned a bright, deep red.

The aroma of caramelized caramel and sweet savory filling the air on the raft.

"bite."

The tray is flipped.

A grilled lobster with plump shrimp meat was served, next to a grilled sea bass with a crispy skin.

Xiao Zheng tore off a thick lobster leg.

Bit off the hard shell, pull out the tender, firm shrimp meat, and pop it into your mouth.

The meat is springy and juicy.

He chewed on the shrimp meat and brought up the system trading panel.

He grabbed the freshly baked sea bass with one hand and handed it over to Lin Xiaoya.

Click send.

the other side.

Lin Xiaoya stared intently at the chat box with Xiao Zheng.

"bite."

A system notification sounded.

She tapped on the flashing light screen in front of her.

A transaction request popped up.

She looked at the items in the trade window.

A hot sea bass weighing three pounds, roasted to a golden brown on both sides, oozing oil.

Lying quietly in the cubicle.

The real meaning of "wait a few minutes"...

So you just went out to sea, caught a fish, and cooked it over a fire on the spot?!

Lin Xiaoya pressed the confirmation button. Her hands were trembling slightly.

[Transaction complete.]

[Received: Grilled sea bass x1.]

Lost: One bag of cabbage seeds.

Heat spread out along the grid.

Lin Xiaoya presented the grilled sea bass, which weighed a full three pounds.

The fish skin was roasted until golden brown.

Hot oil dripped down along the cracks in the fish meat.

It's very hot.

She felt a burning sensation on her fingertips, but she didn't let go.

He simply lowered his head.

Open its mouth and bite into the fish's belly.

The piping hot fish slid down the esophagus into the empty stomach.

The stomach cramps caused by hunger began to subside.

Tears fell onto the raft.

survived.

She tore large chunks of fish meat into her mouth, even chewing up the bones and swallowing them along with the meat.

In less than five minutes, the three-pound sea bass was reduced to a skeleton.

Lin Xiaoya licked the grease off her fingers.

A feeling of fullness came from my stomach.

The body gradually warms up.

She sat motionless on the cramped raft, her gaze fixed on the semi-transparent system panel.

The transaction history is still online.

[Transaction counterparty: Xiao Zheng]

Xiao Zheng.

This name sounds familiar.

It's not the kind of familiarity that people on the regional channel call "Big Boss Xiao".

Nancheng University.

Work-study program.

A ruthless person who consistently tops the list for full scholarships and frantically rakes in money at various part-time jobs.

Is it really that much of a coincidence?

The world's eight billion people were shuffled and rearranged.

One hundred thousand people in the same regional channel.

Did you run into someone you know in real life?

She hesitated several times.

Finally, a message was sent.

"Excuse me, sir, if I may ask, did you... attend Nancheng University before?"

On a 36-square-meter wooden raft.

Xiao Zheng tore off the last piece of plump lobster meat.

He had never eaten such high-end food before.

Previously, they barely made ends meet by doing odd jobs and with the money their older sister, Xiao Muxue, earned from dropping out of school and working illegally. Even a decent meal was a luxury.

If I have the chance in the future, I'll definitely let my older sister try it too.

He kicked the spiky shrimp shell into the sea.

full.

The stamina bar is fully replenished.

He turned and walked toward the storage box, preparing to put the cabbage seeds he had just received.

This game can't possibly allow people to survive on seafood forever.

A lack of vitamins will eventually lead to scurvy.

Once we get the blueprints for the cultivation soil, we'll carve out a plot of land on the raft specifically for growing vegetables.

"drop."

A private chat notification sounded.

Xiao Zheng casually tapped the light screen.

His gaze swept over the message Lin Xiaoya had sent, and he stopped what he was doing.

Nancheng University.

These four words silenced the howling sea breeze for a moment.

In such a chaotic and desperate situation, being recognized as someone's true identity often means trouble.

Trying to get close to someone, using moral blackmail, asking for money or food.

If it's an enemy, they might even plot against you in secret.

He reflected on his interpersonal relationships at school.

Aside from attending classes, he spends all his time on various part-time jobs with meager hourly wages.

I might not even recognize all of my roommates' names.

Not to mention making enemies.