The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 502: Chapter 502: Cheng’s Food

Cheng Yu, having signed his name, still refused to lift his head, and his shoulders were trembling inexplicably.

Ji You: ”...”

Ji You opened her mouth: ”Are you crying?”

Hearing this, Cheng Yu took a few steps back in slight panic: ”No! No! No!”

But—

His obviously nasal response had explained everything, and for a moment, Ji You, as a veteran of ruthless exploitation, couldn’t help but start condemning herself!

Heartless.

Too heartless.

But what’s done cannot be undone, the contract with black ink on white paper was already signed.

Could it be—

It wasn’t grievance that made him cry?

Ji You hesitated, then carefully asked: ”Are you crying because you feel humiliated for signing a contract with me at such a low price?”

”Ah?” Cheng Yu was startled, realizing that Master had misunderstood and couldn’t care less about his surging emotions at this point. He quickly raised his head and looked at Ji You earnestly, saying: ”Master... It’s not like that... It’s my lifetime honor to work for Master. It’s just...”

”Just is...”

After hesitating several times, Cheng Yu mustered the courage and seriously said to Ji You: ”It’s just... Master, you’ve been too kind to me. I’m just so grateful that I...” I couldn’t help but cry.

Cough!

Haven’t cried.

Just red around the eyes and a bit overwhelmed with emotion.

Definitely didn’t cry.

Ji You: ”...”

After a moment of stillness, Ji You took a deep breath and then let out a dry laugh, saying: ”Ah ha... Is that so? Ha ha...”

With reddened eyes, Cheng Yu sincerely said: ”Truly, Master! You’ve been too good to me.”

Over the years, since losing his mother in childhood, the stepmother coming into the house, the indifferent father, the half-brother Cheng Kun’s bullying, the ups and downs within the family... Cheng Yu had experienced too much indifference and seen too many entanglements of interests... But what about the Green Glaze Master?

She was, in fact, just a stranger to him.

A stranger, yet she shouldered his troubles and was willing to provide what he needed...

Cheng Yu said: ”Master, about the issue with my half-brother...”

Ji You furrowed her brows and said: ”That matter is indeed an issue. Tell me the details, so I’m forewarned.” That move pulled by the Red-haired man wasn’t very clever - claiming that Companion Stones couldn’t be used to make Soul Devices? That’s clearly not true. As long as Ji You appeals afterward or if a group of rational bystanders speak out against the slander, Ji You’s shop couldn’t possibly be forced to close.

But, even if it’s not a very clever thug’s tactic, the effect is real and immediate.

In any case, the other party knows they can’t beat you, but they still want to give you a hard time.

So, what does Ji You have to fear?

She’s a woman in debt of 500 million, with no elders above or youngsters below, just by herself, barefoot and unafraid of those with shoes. As long as she knows who’s causing trouble behind the scenes, when the time comes countermeasures will be in place.

If all else fails, then find a way to expose the opponent’s secrets and stop them from doing any more harm.

Cough cough...

But if she can’t beat the opponent, then she’ll immediately find a way to make an escape.

Ji You kept a straight face as countless thoughts flashed through her mind, her expression however remained utterly serious, making it seem as if she was contemplating some major international affair.

Cheng Yu organized his thoughts before speaking, ”Master, have you heard of Cheng’s Food? It specializes in manufacturing, producing, and selling synthetic food.”

Ji You opened her mouth in surprise, ”Cheng’s Food? I’ve heard of it.”

The largest supplier of artificial food in the Alliance, aside from Huatai Food, which specializes in producing nutrient solutions, was Cheng’s Food. Although both are in the food industry, their businesses are slightly different.

Huatai focuses on nutrient solutions, while Cheng’s primarily deals with synthetic food.

Synthetic food typically uses various common and inexpensive raw materials, adding the nutrients required by the human body, and through a series of technologies, creates fresh food ingredients, such as potatoes, tomatoes, apples, fresh meat, fresh fish... Although these synthetic foods have the appearance and taste of the actual ingredients, they are artificially synthesized and not natural.

Moreover—

In terms of taste and effect, synthetic food cannot compare to natural foods. Primarily, long-term consumption of natural foods can gradually and safely enhance spiritual power, but synthetic food cannot do this.

Thus, the price of synthetic food is entirely incomparable to that of natural foods. For example, a 200-gram natural apple’s price, depending on its origin, ranges from about 500-800 credit points. But what about synthetic apples?

A pound of synthetic apples costs only about 20 credit points.

The difference is massive, evidently.

But does this mean synthetic food doesn’t have a market due to these drawbacks?

No!

On the contrary, there’s a large audience for synthetic food, most of whom are lower-middle-income earners. For instance, citizens on the garbage planet no. 101 can’t afford natural food, yet they cannot bear the taste of nutrient solutions for long. Synthetic food becomes the best choice for them.

Synthetic food tastes similar to natural food but is much cheaper. For those living on the garbage planet, buying some synthetic food to enjoy from time to time is a truly delightful treat.

Talking about this, Ji You suddenly missed the apple pie made by Grandma Jenny. Ji You remembered clearly that whenever she earned a bit of money from scavenging trash, Grandma Jenny would buy a few synthetic apples to make delicious apple pie.

The synthetic apples Grandma Jenny bought were produced by Cheng’s Food.

Hmm?

Is Mr. Cheng Yu’s last name Cheng?

Could it be?

Cheng Yu had already answered, saying, ”My father is none other than the current patriarch of Cheng’s Food, Cheng Dafu.”

Cheng Dafu?

What a loud and ostentatious name. Moreover, this Cheng Dafu is indeed rolling in wealth. At this moment, Ji You, being poverty-stricken, did feel envious, yet she kept a straight face, remaining silent and listening.

Cheng Yu continued, ”But everything related to the Cheng Family has nothing to do with me, since I severed ties with Cheng Dafu five years ago.”

Ji You: ”???”

Ji You almost wanted to exclaim if you’re foolish to abandon such a vast inheritance?

Isn’t that foolish?

What else can it be?

No wonder she managed to dupe him into becoming cheap labor with just a little trickery.

Sigh!

But, every family has its own difficult scripture to chant. Mr. Cheng Yu’s family story, with a stepmother and half-brother from the same father, appeared complicated; Ji You had already envisioned hundreds to thousands of episodes of rich family melodrama.

Mr. Cheng Yu’s decision to relinquish ties with the Cheng Family clearly had its compelling reasons.

Cheng Yu smiled and said, ”Cheng Dafu is intent on leaving all his assets to my stepmother’s son, fighting for it would be useless. Better to let go and escape this quagmire sooner rather than later.”

As he said these words, Cheng Yu’s tone was calm and nonchalant, truly indifferent to these external possessions.

Hearing this, Ji You, moved, seriously added, ”Wealth is but an external possession; we don’t bring it at birth nor take it at death. There’s indeed no need to fuss over it. Your choice, I believe there’s nothing wrong with it. Living in the moment is what matters most.”

Understanding what to retain and what to forsake, living in the present, that’s what’s truly important.