The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aunt and Cousin

credit points.

One!

Ji You: ”...”

She stared in shock, a single apple weighing less than half a pound actually selling for 810 credit points each, even more expensive than a level 1 Mechanical Energy Box. In fact, a level 2 energy box was only priced at 600 credit points.

The energy dagger that Ji You had always coveted, boasting decent performance, was priced at only 300 credit points!

Apart from this apple, the origins and weights of the other five fell short, yet their prices had also reached a staggering 500, 520, 650, 740, and 560 credit points respectively. All were exorbitantly expensive, truly maddening.

Bananas, oranges, grapes, pomelos... their prices could all rival the apple’s.

Comparing these items also subtly highlights a distinctive feature of the interstellar era: the prices of food are generally higher than low-level weapons.

Of course, there’s a reason why natural food is expensive, as science has proven: consuming natural food over the long term significantly enhances human spiritual power.

Many people with spiritual power levels F, E, and D have improved by 1-2 levels after maintaining a habit of eating natural food over time. For those at levels C, B, A, and even S, although the speed of improvement is slower, natural food still facilitates an increase.

This was the reason why natural food was so coveted by humanity.

But these prices...

Sigh~

Ji You covered her heart, telling herself to leave quickly, this place wasn’t for her.

Before leaving, she heard ongoing discussions around her.

”These apples from the Beikena Mountains, I heard they just arrived this afternoon. Once news of them hitting the shelves spread, I came to queue up early in the morning. It would be truly amazing to manage to snag one.”

”Hey, I’m eyeing those potatoes from Sibel Star. Make them into baked potato pancakes, the taste is indescribably delicious. My daughter eats them often, and her spiritual power has now reached level C.”

”Ha~ That said, don’t you guys compete with me for Mobei Star’s cauliflower and lettuce, which make for my son’s favorite vegetable salad. His spiritual power has just hit the critical point of reaching level C...”

Ji You couldn’t stand it any longer, indeed, nowhere is devoid of the poor and the rich. These wealthy individuals were discussing food ingredients and methods inaccessible to her imagination. Ji You covered her face, hurrying to leave.

One thing to mention here; the marketplaces of the interstellar era are highly advanced. All goods here are protected by an invisible barrier; you can see, smell, and touch them... except for food which cannot be tasted, clothes, mechas, and weapons can be tried on and tested... All items cannot be taken by customers without purchasing, so theft simply cannot occur.

Those apples, grapes, oranges, and chili peppers that Ji You just saw, although with various types and exorbitant prices, were all in very limited quantities. They were now displayed on the shelves, but the official sales time hadn’t commenced. Once it did, both offline and online customers could participate in the rush to buy; whoever was quickest would get the goods.

Of course, customers in physical stores had a 10% speed boost pack to improve their chances in the rush, which was also a reason why brick-and-mortar stores could still attract clientele.

However, this had nothing to do with Ji You. As a poor soul without wealth, she could not participate in these buying frenzies.

Ji You took a step to leave, when suddenly she heard a shriek of delight: ”Ah! Beikena apples, I managed to grab one! Oh my~ I’m so lucky today.”

Envious voices instantly permeated the surroundings.

That screeching female voice sounded vaguely familiar to Ji You. Curiously peering over, she suddenly saw a slightly short and chubby middle-aged woman with gold curly hair, a rather large nose, and a conspicuous black mole beside her mouth.

Wasn’t that Aunt Xu Ping? Standing next to Xu Ping was Ji You’s cousin, Ji Yan, who resembled her mother closely with a large nose, sharp chin, and small eyes, yet her physique was tall and slender like her father, Ji Weimin. At that moment, she sported seductive large curls, and her face also wore an unmistakable look of joy, straining her neck looking around eagerly...

Ji You inwardly cursed at her bad luck; what were the chances of running into her unbearable relatives in such a vast Zone 6? It was almost like a karmic retribution.

She knew she couldn’t stay here long, so Ji You turned to leave.

Suddenly—

”Ji You?”

”Is that you?” A voice exclaimed in surprise, and the newcomer grabbed Ji You, who was trying to leave. Ji You reluctantly turned around to face her cousin Ji Yan. She was about to speak when Ji Yan yelled out, ”Mom~ look, it really is Ji You!”

Xu Ping’s reaction was far from pleasant. She looked at Ji You and sneered, ”Such an impolite brat, not even knowing to greet your great-aunt and sister when you see them.”

”...” Ji You’s brow twitched, holding back her irritation, she retorted, ”And what are you? Something worthy of a greeting from me?”

Xu Ping felt her authority as an elder being challenged, and she burst out furiously, ”You wretched girl! You little tramp! A thing without a mother’s teaching, your tongue has gotten so much sharper, hasn’t it?”

Was this still the same girl who always nodded agreement, who let others scold and hit her without daring to talk back?

Ji You’s eyelid twitched and she spoke indifferently, ”Thanks to your teachings and mistreatment, great-aunt, I’ve learned how to protect myself. Rest assured, I’ll work hard to learn from you, to master the art of slandering so well that my every word turns foul, just like yours.”

”And another thing—”

”I wasn’t brought up without a mother; didn’t you boast years ago that you would treat me as your own daughter, just like my mom would? Have you forgotten? If I’m the ’wretched girl’ and ’little tramp’... then what are you? An old tramp? An old shrew perhaps?”

Xu Ping’s hand trembled, ”You— shut your mouth!”

Ji Yan could no longer stand it, scolding, ”Ji You, my mom is your elder. You should show at least the basic respect to your elders.”

Ji You, unfazed and without glancing up, replied, ”The premise of respecting elders is that kindness precedes filial piety. Does your mother look anything like a respectable elder to you?”

Ji Yan argued, ”Your disrespect and irreverence is the real issue here.”

Xu Ping, so angry she was practically distorted, kept cursing, ”You wretched girl! You little tramp! Wretched girl...”

Ji Yan insisted, ”No matter what, you can’t talk back to my mom. By doing so, you are in the wrong.”

Ji You raised her hand, interrupting her, ”I don’t have time to listen to you two spew dirt and accusations. Now, please be a person and let go of my arm.”

On hearing this, Ji Yan instead tightened her grip on Ji You’s elbow, insisting, ”Apologize to my mom now!”

Ji You raised her eyes, looking at her coldly, ”Are you sure you want me to apologize?”

As she spoke, Ji You suddenly made a slight move, as if trying to break free from Ji Yan’s hold. Seeing this, Ji Yan unconsciously increased her grip, securing Ji You once more.

And in her heart, Ji Yan was not afraid of her cousin’s intimidation at all. After all, she was already in the Mechanical Material College of Lanyue Star last year, her Body Technique was at E-level, but her spiritual power had reached C-level after years of consuming natural foods. And Ji You? She was nothing but trash; even if they fought here, Ji You was no match for her.

So, Ji Yan blocked Ji You, insisting that she apologize.

Xu Ping, sensing that the situation was in their favor, shrieked, ”I won’t accept her apology! Don’t expect me to accept an apology from such a rude creature!”

”Heh~” Ji You curved her lips in a cold sneer, not wanting to waste her breath arguing with them. She suddenly lifted her hand and, with a swift reversal, turned the tables and restrained Ji Yan’s arm. Then, with the speed of lightning, she kicked out at Ji Yan’s joints, and in an instant, Ji Yan, completely unprepared, was kicked to the ground.