Webnovel Author In The Apocalypse World

With the system in place, Kim Haru wasn't worried about Hwa Jian doing anything shady. All the vegetables on the shelves were bound by the system, and once the shop was in "closed" mode, no one except Kim himself could take anything out.

If anything suspicious were to happen, the system would alert him right away.

By the time Kim Haru returned to his small wooden cabin, the sun was just about to set.

In the simple chicken coop, Little Nugget and Sir Peckington were already fast asleep. Kim Haru peeked at them quietly—one big and one small, nestled against each other with their heads tucked into their chests, making them look like nothing more than two fluffy balls of feathers.

...He wanted to squeeze them.

But that thought remained just a thought. He wasn't cruel enough to wake the little creatures from their sweet slumber. If they woke up and went back to sleep, that would be fine, but if they started chirping non-stop like they had in the morning, that would be a problem.

After picking up his dinner and enjoying a good meal, Kim Haru began organizing his things.

The oil-pressing machine he got from the research lab needed a proper place to be stored. He didn't have enough soybeans yet to use it, so it would remain unused for now. The plaster powder needed to be put in the kitchen and kept dry, to avoid moisture ruining it.

If he was going to join the search team to deal with zombies, he needed to bring the right tools. He grabbed a piece of paper to list the items he needed, making sure not to forget anything important in the rush.

Also, should he prepare some food to carry in his backpack?

Kim Haru had been relying on the system's rewards for his daily meals, but these rewards were far too lavish. If he were in a safe environment with access to a kitchen and ingredients, like the last time the Delta Squad visited, he could pass it off as his own cooking.

However, if they were out in the wilderness, constantly on the run with zombies everywhere, taking out such extravagant food would be a clear sign something was off. Even if someone was blind, their nose would certainly catch the scent of something delicious, making it obvious there was something strange about him.

Kim Haru didn't dare test human nature in a post-apocalypse world.
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So, he figured he should prepare some food. He still had a few containers he had bought in the safety zone earlier, which, after cleaning, would be perfect for storing the food in his system backpack. These containers kept food both warm and fresh.

Kim Haru stepped into the kitchen of his wooden cabin.

To be honest, it was the first time he'd used the kitchen for anything other than getting water.

At the moment, the only ingredients he had grown himself were soybeans, potatoes, and cabbages. The two chickens, Little Nugget and Sir Peckington, weren't for eating just yet. He also had some mushrooms he'd picked from the forest earlier.

Kim Haru thought for a moment and came up with a plan.

The system-provided kitchen was fully stocked with various seasonings and tools. He grabbed some potatoes and started peeling them.

Potatoes and cabbage could be combined to make braised potatoes and cabbage. Potatoes could also be stir-fried as shredded or sliced potatoes. The same went for the cabbage; it could be stir-fried on its own. That would make four dishes in total.

As for the soybeans, he planned to turn them into tofu, since he had gotten the right tools today.

If he had more soybeans, Kim Haru wouldn't mind frying up a few as snacks. But for now, he decided to pass on that. Eating too many might make him gassy, and if that happened while he was with the search team, he wouldn't be able to control it. The thought of farting in front of everyone made him want to crawl into a zombie's mouth and be eaten alive.

—Just thinking about it made him want to hide in shame.

The key to braised potatoes and cabbage was in the soup. First, stir-fry the cabbage and potatoes in the pot until fragrant, then add cold water. This method would give the broth a rich, milky texture. A simple addition of salt, MSG, and a sprinkle of white pepper would be all it needed.

One sip, and it would be warm and comforting.

To make delicious sliced and shredded potatoes, cutting them thin and fine is essential. This wasn't a problem for Kim Haru—living alone from a young age had made him adept at such skills.

He planned to stir-fry the potato slices into spicy potato chips, while the shredded potatoes would be stir-fried into a sour and spicy dish.

After cutting the potatoes, they needed to be rinsed thoroughly several times to wash away the excess starch. If not, when thrown into the pan, you'd end up with a sticky mess of potato crust that even a spatula couldn't scrape off.

This kind of simple home cooking posed no challenge for Kim Haru. In just a few quick moves, he had prepared two large plates. The spicy potato chips were fried in oil first, then seasoned with strong-flavored spices. Each slice was a golden yellow, with crispy, aromatic edges.

The sour and spicy shredded potatoes had an equally bold flavor, instantly recognizable as the perfect side dish for a hearty meal.

The only regret was that Kim Haru hadn't yet found any rice seeds. For now, other than the system's daily three meals, there was no way to have a proper bowl of rice.

In addition to those three dishes, Kim Haru decided to stir-fry a simple cabbage dish. Both potato dishes were heavily spiced, so a light vegetable dish would help balance out the richness.

Cabbage didn't need to be stir-fried for long, cooking quickly. A little salt and MSG would suffice, and even the MSG could be used sparingly. The resulting stir-fried cabbage was fresh and flavorful, with the natural sweetness of the vegetable coming through.