Chapter 2: Sign-In System

“Golden finger?”

He paused for a moment, and as if realizing something, Chu Xuan grew excited.

A System was standard-issue for protagonists.

He had thought he did not have that fate, yet who knew, the world had no mercy!

“Uh, Great System, what functions do you have?”

Chu Xuan hurriedly asked with great humility.

This was his future security, and not to mention saying a few nice words, he would even burn a stick of incense a day without complaint.

If that did not work, he would make it two sticks, which was no big deal.

In the next second, he received a response from the System.

『This System allows 1 sign-in per day!』

『Currently, the Sign-In System is Level 1!』

『There is a 100% chance to obtain food-type resources!』

『Each sign-in additionally has a 1% chance to obtain special-type resources!』

『…』

After hearing that, Chu Xuan’s eyes brimmed with delight.

“Good!”

“Here, this is exactly what we lack!”

“Haha… awesome!!!”

You had to know that in the world of The Wandering Earth, food really made people want to complain, and after moving into the underground city everything was strictly regulated.

Eating one’s fill was not a problem.

But eating well was another matter.

One should not even think about it.

This was especially true for meat and fruit.

By this point, even dried earthworms could become a best-selling snack, which spoke volumes.

“Quick, sign in!”

Chu Xuan urged as he checked the time, and since there were still three minutes until midnight, missing a sign-in would be a loss.

『Ding! Sign-in successful!』

『Congratulations, you obtained 1 bag of fragrant rice!』

『First sign-in reward: 1 cubic meter of portable space.』

『Extra reward: none!』

“Tsk-tsk!”

He was satisfied!

Chu Xuan immediately grinned from ear to ear, and although the space was not large at only one cubic meter, it was truly practical.

As for the extra reward, the one-percent chance was indeed low.

So be it if there was none, since the first sign-in reward already made him quite happy.

There were cameras in the multi-level farm, so Chu Xuan went to the break room.

“Extract!”

He silently intoned it in his heart.

In the next second, a bag of long-grain fragrant rice appeared before him, and although it was only five kilograms, he knew to be content.

In this world, many people had not eaten rice grown in the fields for more than a decade.

Besides, the Sign-In System was only at grade 1, so he could not ask for too much.

He would take it slowly.

Contentment brought happiness.

He rubbed his belly and felt a bit hungry, but he still could not eat yet because this was a break room without a place to cook.

He had to go home to make it work.

In fact, that was how things were.

People in the underground city rarely cooked and mostly ate ready-made food.

There were issues with cooking fumes.

Ingredients were lacking.

Appliance safety was a concern.

…

It was quite troublesome, and only some restaurants in the commercial districts still did stir-frying on site.

But the prices made ordinary people truly wince.

For better-off families, dehydrated vegetables with hot water, dipped in sauce, plus Synthetic rice and noodles already made for a hearty meal.

He suddenly thought of something.

He checked the time, and sure enough, midnight had passed.

“Sign in!” Chu Xuan said in a hurry.

『Ding! Sign-in successful!』

『Congratulations, you obtained 1 18-inch cream cake!』

『Extra reward: none!』

Chu Xuan burst into laughter on the spot.

In the next second, a big cake appeared in his hands, and on The Wandering Earth this was one of the truly luxurious foods.

They could still issue a little non-synthetic meat at the end of the year.

But something like cake was different.

It was a food many people born in the underground city had grown up without ever seeing.

Back in the day, Chu Xuan actually did not care much for this stuff!

It was too sweet!

It was greasy!

Especially some poor-quality cream, which took seven times longer to metabolize than lard, so do not let merchants talk you into it!

Lard was mostly metabolized in seven days after you ate it.

Some plant shortenings’ trans fats took more than fifty days.

Of course.

If you did not eat it every day, it did not really matter.

Gurgle~.

His stomach protested uncooperatively.

No need to say more!

Let’s dig in!

Chu Xuan cut off a piece and ate with big bites.

As for what he used to cut it?

He made do on the spot and used chopsticks, of course.

Not bad!

Tasty!

He asked the System and learned it was not a ‘three-no’ product. (三无产品: Popular explanation for products that do not comply with the “Product Quality Law of the People’s Republic of China” and other relevant laws and regulations)

Moreover, every item the System provided via sign-in was a premium in its category.

There were no inferior goods, and they were absolutely synonymous with safety and health.

No wonder the taste was so enticing.

It had the flavor of the cakes he had eaten in childhood, and it might have been psychological, but whatever.

“Phew!”

After ten minutes, three big pieces were gone, and he was stuffed!

He had eaten only a quarter, and he put the rest into the space where time was almost still so it could stay fresh for a long time!

…

After eating his fill, Chu Xuan reclined against the headboard.

As his thoughts wandered, drowsiness swept over him.

The original owner had died of overwork, which was how a new soul replaced him, and even now he was still on the verge of collapse.

He could not afford a second sudden death.

He lay flat.

He closed his eyes.

Before long, only the sound of breathing remained in the room.

He slept straight for sixteen hours and woke to find it was already afternoon.

Fortunately, he was on an internship, so his time was relatively free.

…

An hour later.

He followed his memories.

Chu Xuan finished today’s recording work and uploaded it.

This rule existed to prevent falsification.

Afterward, he put some personal items into the space, left the laboratory, and clocked out, which counted as being off class.

“Sss!”

After passing through the disinfection and deodorization room, Chu Xuan reached the public corridor.

It was a semicircular corridor, and just then a bus passed by, though calling it a bus was generous since it was basically a tourist sightseeing cart.

It was even more rudimentary.

Because it was underground, the vehicle had no roof and no doors.

Chu Xuan stepped aboard in one stride, and the vehicle did not drive fast.

After passing two corridor intersections, he finally arrived at the gate of the N3 Experimental Base, which was a plant experimental base.

After a round of inspection, he passed without a hitch.

It was mainly to prevent people from slipping things into their pockets.

As a plant experimental base, some laboratories grew fruit that was not sold on the outside market.

He had just stepped out of the gate.

A figure hopped onto the vehicle and sat next to Chu Xuan.

“Xuan, I was just on my way to find you.”

Xue Ming, his childhood friend and schoolmate, was likewise doing his graduation internship in the production zone.

It was not the N3 Base but the neighboring N2.

His major was in the animal track, and to be more specific… raising chickens!

“What’s up?” Chu Xuan remembered who he was in a second and said with a smile.

“Heh-heh, good stuff, come on, let’s go home and try it.” Xue Ming gave a look that said you know what I mean.

In an instant, Chu Xuan got it.

This guy had gotten eggs again.

You should know that ordinary people could not get eggs to eat.

Synthetic food did use eggs as a protein additive, but the amount was far too little.

As for whole eggs, let alone eating them, you could not even see them on the market, just like fruit.

You could get them on the black market, but the price was very high.

“Let’s go home.”

Chu Xuan also chuckled.

As for whether it counted as theft, it did not really, and for example even if he ate rapeseed from his own experimental area, nothing would happen.

It would only affect graduation.

After all, zero yield increase meant the experiment had been for nothing, so it would be strange if they let him graduate.

Besides.

When the cows, sheep, and the like were allocated at the end of the year, did no one ever pull strings?

And those fruits and the like that were grown… did you think they were for extracting vitamins?

Heh!

If you really thought that, you were too young.