The door of the room was soon knocked on.
Chen Che got up from the sofa to open it.
At the door, one of the bodyguards handed him a bag of wriggling black-shelled cockroaches.
Each cockroach was as big as a fist.
They were enclosed in a net bag.
Over the course of 300 years, most creatures underwent mutations due to nuclear radiation.
These black-shelled cockroaches were considered a delicacy for the impoverished lower class.
Just like crayfish.
"Thanks."
Chen Che expressed his gratitude and brought the bag of cockroaches back inside.
He opened the cabinet, which stored a fair amount of food.
There was rice and flour.
The quantity was very limited.
More prevalent was a coarse, dry powder-like substance kept in cloth bags, rougher than regular flour, as if rice had been crushed, with a palpable grainy texture to the touch.
This was the post-apocalyptic world's most common food, replacing rice and flour as the staple, known as "Guayang".
According to historical records, after the cataclysm began, the world experienced a nuclear winter, pushing some humans to take refuge in underground cities, commencing lengthy days devoid of sunlight.
The majority of humanity was exposed to nuclear radiation.
They embarked on a prolonged evolution, adapting to their surroundings.
At the start, food was exceedingly scarce.
Main agricultural products like rice and flour couldn't grow at all.
Large numbers of animals and poultry also died off one after another, and humanity entered a period of food scarcity.
The world became an insect paradise.
Back then, the most common food for humans involved gathering insects, drying them, grinding them into powder to consume.
Until 70 years after the cataclysm.
The nuclear winter suddenly ended.
Unknown plants that had mutated from radiation started to thrive.
Various animals also began to develop.
But like humans, they too experienced genetic mutations.
And these animals and plants were only about a tenth in mass compared to the pre-apocalyptic world.
Most places remained barren wastelands devoid of life.
Humans still faced widespread food shortages, with an extinction exceeding 85%.
Until the discovery of a great crop called "Miangua".
A tree resembling a plantain tree, adaptable to various climates, bearing fruit three times a year, with fruits shaped like gourds.
By slicing open the fruit and extracting the pulp, it could be processed into "Guayang," a coarse flour product.
Each tree could yield about 100 pounds of Guayang per harvest.
Sufficient to stave off hunger.
As for the taste... bitter, choking, with a texture akin to dry sweet potatoes, taking a big bite felt like chewing wax.
Though unpalatable, no one could deny the greatness of Miangua.
Miangua provided humans on the wasteland with ample food, enabling reproduction and allowing for construction and more activities.
After hundreds of years of development.
Humans in this world may not occupy the top of the food chain, but they returned to being a higher-level species.
Established city-states and various safe zones.
Developed commercial trade, structuring various trade associations.
If sufficient food hadn't enabled humanity to reproduce…
In the Ninth Special Zone, people wouldn't have the energy for scheming and fighting for power… perhaps they'd brawl over a single edible insect.
In contrast, resources like unpolluted agricultural products such as rice and flour from the Old World, as well as meat from mutated poultry and livestock, became extremely precious.
Only the upper echelons could savor them.
Even An Nishang only had a monthly allocation of ten pounds each of rice and flour.
"Fortunately, recipes are not confined by ingredients, any staple that can be made into pancakes will do, Guayang can be used as well."
He grabbed some Guayang to knead into dough, aiming to make [Craving-Relieving Pancakes].
These pancakes could become his talisman.
The process of kneading Guayang with water gave a very coarse texture.
It felt like some crushed rice grains were mixed in with the flour.
If you want this thing to taste good, it must be boiled with water; any dry food made from it would choke the throat.
Chen Che sensed the extraordinary power of the Food God within him; this power could alter the texture of ingredients, eliminating their off-flavors.
The power of the Food God softened the texture of the Guayang, removing its bitter taste.
Chen Che took a small taste, and it was now indistinguishable from regular flour.
However, one must realize that the market price of flour compared to Guayang had a one hundredfold disparity.
"Alas, looking at it this way, if I had transmigrated into the wasteland as a common person selling delicacies, I really could have made quite a bit of money. Why did I transmigrate as a male consort... and become deeply embroiled in politics?"
Chen Che shook his head, grabbed a black-shelled cockroach, using the power of the Food God to extract its essence and incorporate it into the flour.
Kneading the dough, shaping it, dividing into portions, all in one go.
The stove beside them was just like the Old World, where natural gas could be ignited directly.
The Ninth Special Zone is so coveted by many forces because underground, there are not only special minerals but also a large amount of natural gas and oil.
At least in this small western-style building of An Nishang, appliances like fridges and gas water heaters are abundant.
Chen Che's Food God Level is currently at level one.
His body harbors unique powers of a Food God, allowing him to make only about five Craving-Relieving Pancakes.
The flavor of the pancakes can last for a month.
The air was filled with a rich aroma of fermenting dough products.
…
At the door.
The brothers, Great Dog and Second Dog, were trusted aides brought over by An Nishang from the Night Empire Headquarters.
There are many secrets concerning An Nishang in this villa, and the two are responsible for the villa's security.
Second Dog, smoking the cigarette handed over by Chen Che earlier, with a touch of envy and jealousy on his face, sighed:
"Why is the master so taken with this pretty boy? Is it just because he's strong and can satisfy the master? My stamina isn't bad, and I'm more loyal to the master! I can also serve the master well in bed. Not the master, this kind of cigarette is something that pretty boy won't taste in his lifetime."
Great Dog looked indifferent: "Do you think the master values him just for his strength? With the master's status, what kind of man couldn't she find in the empire?"
Second Dog looked at his brother in surprise: "Bro, is there something else between him and the master? Isn't he just a toy for the master?"
"I don't know the specifics.
But... you've seen what happens to others who betray the master. Have you seen the marks on his neck? He was probably almost strangled to death by the master.
Though we don't know why the master kept him, this way of dying, compared to the master's previous methods, is clearly meant to give him an easy death.
This is actually the first time the master went so easy on someone who betrayed her, you could even call it merciful."
Second Dog licked his lips and said: "I heard a rumor that this pretty boy looks a lot like someone, a taboo that the master must never mention..."
"Shh!" Receiving his brother's glare, Second Dog immediately stopped talking, rubbing his nose with discomfort.
"Bro, do you still have any 'Fireworks'? My nose feels a bit itchy, this cigarette has gotten me addicted again."
"I've smoked mine too, just endure it."
As the brothers chatted, they suddenly caught a whiff of the aroma of flour.
Second Dog glanced at the villa in surprise: "Isn't that cook not here? Is that guy cooking by himself? This aroma of flour... gulp..."
Second Dog's throat moved, and he grinned: "Damn, the kind of treatment this pretty boy gets, using the master's flour freely."
The envy in Second Dog's eyes was unmistakable.
As the brothers talked, Chen Che suddenly came over to them with two freshly made pancakes and said: "Guys, hungry? The meal delivery hasn't come yet, I just made these, hope they tide you over."
The two round pancakes were about a centimeter thick, golden brown on both sides, seemingly made with white flour.
The brothers only got a ratio of two pounds of white flour a month.
These pancakes must have used at least two ounces.
The brothers exchanged a look, and Great Dog reached out to take both pancakes, saying: "Thanks."
Tossing one to his brother, Great Dog took a bite.
With one bite, Great Dog's eyes widened in shock.
Soft and fluffy, as he bit down, his teeth sunk into the pancake, tearing it, and the unique aroma of flour along with a sweet scent of fermentation filled his mouth.
With gentle chewing, the fragrance filled his palate.
Great Dog stared blankly at the pancake in his hand.
"Wait, is this... melon pulp? Not made with white flour? Can melon pulp produce this flavor?"
The brothers looked up at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes.
How did this pretty boy do it? Such culinary skills?
"You didn't use white flour, you used melon pulp?"
"Yeah, how's the taste?"
Great Dog, savoring the taste in his mouth, nodded: "Delicious."
"Take your time eating." Chen Che smiled and waved, turning to go inside.
Great Dog quickly stuffed the entire pancake into his mouth and, along with Second Dog, watched Chen Che's back.
Second Dog chewed the pancake and said: "How did he make this pancake like this?"
Having finished the pancake in his hand, Great Dog looked at the half-eaten one in his brother's mouth, a glimmer in his eyes.
"Second Dog, remember when we went to Enchantment House last time, and I let you have the courtesan?"
Second Dog saw the look in Great Dog's eyes and instantly stuffed all the pancake into his mouth, chewing vigorously: "No more."
The pancake was too delicious, even if he got scolded by his brother, he had to protect it!
"You." Great Dog was furious but helpless, licking the crumbs on his lips, unsatisfied.
If this brother keeps being so protective of food, he'd heard about a mercenary named Pan Hong in the Sixth District who trained Hellhounds as her subordinates.
The fierce Hellhounds wouldn't even dare to protect their food.
If this brother keeps being so protective of food, he might consider sending him to Pan Hong for some training.
"Really nice pancakes."
Second Dog nodded repeatedly: "This guy can make melon pulp taste like this, he's got talent... Hey, why did eating his pancake take away my craving for 'Fireworks'?"
"You must be confused by your addiction, eating a pancake didn't relieve your craving."
"Why would I lie to you, bro? Earlier, I definitely wanted some 'Fireworks' to refresh myself, but now I really don't feel like it..."
"It's good you don't feel like it, save some money, smoke less 'Fireworks', so we can have money for Enchantment House..." Great Dog didn't pay much attention to his brother's symptoms.
Second Dog just felt curious.