18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 167

Evening was the liveliest time, when countless survivors would come out to mingle. Some would set up stalls selling barbecued food, grilled squid, octopus, seaweed, and fish.

Without oil or seasoning, the taste was so pungent it could make you retch.

The barbecue was tolerable compared to the seafood soup stalls, which were even more overwhelming. They'd crush various seafood into a pot and cook it. The smell would waft three miles in the wind.

Stella may not be used to it now but in her past life, she didn’t even have the opportunity to eat such food. This life was simply a stroke of luck.

There were many who could not afford to eat, their hunger gnawing at them due to their limited supplies.

Many villagers from nearby fishing villages sold water by the roadside. Even though it had the salty taste of the sea, it was still much better than directly drinking filtered seawater. However, the number of potential buyers was few compared to those who inquired.

In the distance there were many people lined up at the relief station to receive relief food with their passes.

The beach was crowded with people. Whether for safety or mood, Stella didn’t want to go there, opting instead to line up for rations.

The rice balls were the size of a fist, and you could get one per day for the first seven days with the card. They were made from crushed fresh seafood mixed with flour or cornmeal, shaped into balls. They didn’t look appetizing, but they could fill one's stomach.

Stella, Jasper, Rosie each got one.

The taste was truly unpleasant, and eating it was hard on the throat, but no one complained. This was life-saving food, after all.

Just as Jasper was about to eat, he noticed a child running towards the soldier distributing the relief food. The kid looked at him pitifully and pleaded, "Sir, I'm so hungry."

The soldier was young, barely in his twenties and looked rather thin. He held the last rice ball in his hand. It was his own meal.

Seeing the child before him, he handed over his rice ball without hesitation, giving the kid a small smile. "Eat up."

The child grabbed the rice ball, stuffing it into his mouth without even saying thank you, and then turned and ran off.

At the same time, several other children ran up, surrounding the soldier and begging for food. "Sir, I'm hungry too, please give me something to eat." They clung to him, refusing to let him go.

The soldier looked pained, but there was no way he could produce food out of thin air. He could only look helplessly at the children, his voice choking. "I'm sorry. I can't help."

His eyes reflected guilt, as if he had committed a grave mistake.

After about ten minutes, the children finally gave up and left, disappointed.

Jasper walked over and offered his rice ball to the soldier. At first, he refused. But whatever Jasper said convinced him, and he finally accepted the rice ball and began to eat.

However, he began to cry as he ate.

Rosie, clutching her rice ball, turned to Stella, her eyes questioning. "Stella?"

Stella didn’t stop her. "If you want to go, go."

Rosie ran over to the soldier and handed him her rice ball. Then she gently hugged him. Only when he had finished the rice ball did Rosie return, looking particularly happy.

When Jasper returned, he sat in silence.

Stella divided her rice ball into four parts. "Let's all have a taste."

The food tasted salty and rough, but no one wasted it. Jasper accepted his portion, chewing slowly, and after a while, he finally spoke. "Stella, do you think I'm a deserter?"

Every time he saw them, he felt awful.