18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 41

After dinner, they couldn't bear to waste the leftover broth from the stew. They decided to use it again the next day for some pasta.

Times were tough. They were just grateful to have flavorful food. Who cared about eating healthy or not?

The fatty meat had been rendered down into oil. The cracklings were golden and crispy. It was enough to last a good long while.

Angela took out the remaining meat, asking, "Stella, how much salt should we use for all this?"

Salt was precious, just enough to last the year if used properly. Using too much was wasteful, but if too little was used, the meat might be spoiled.

They were fortunate to have gotten their hands on a pig. In this post-apocalyptic world, the scent of fresh meat was a rare luxury. But they couldn't just indulge. They had to plan for the future.

Everyone wanted to preserve the meat, so Stella finally spoke up, "The landlord's car has a huge fridge. I'll go back and render the fat. We should be able to fit everything in."

She wanted to fetch another fridge from Arcadia but their solar charger would have trouble handling it.

Cody and the others were thrilled and wanted to help render the fat. In front of her, they were all domestic novices, but they all offered to help. They didn't want to become a burden to her.

Stella wouldn't let them help. "No need. I can manage it by myself. You guys should go clean up and rest."

Back home, she threw the meat into the fridge in Arcadia. Then she took out her multifunctional massage bathtub. She filled it with warm water, plugged in the solar energy storage box, turned on some soothing music, and closed her eyes to relax.

Cooper, her dog, lay beside her, gnawing on a bone-filled bowl. Cooper had been accepted by a new owner, so he seemed particularly excited, gnawing on his bone with gusto.

Protectiveness over food is a dog's instinct, but Cooper liked Stella. He had deliberately saved half a bowl of bones for her. "Woof!"

Stella was grateful. "You eat it." She tossed him a sausage.

next day, she woke up naturally. Jasper, together with Cody and Lukas, had gone to the department store to trade

she took the pig offal to 1803. She brought a stool and started to process the offal with Angela. Rosie ran over to join them.

arrived, the atmosphere on the 18th floor had become much livelier. If anything happened downstairs, it wouldn't escape

comforted Stella more was that Cooper was a principled

crackling into Cooper's mouth. He drooled but didn't eat

a

the crackling from his

it's not poisoned. Go ahead and

cautious, sniffing it for a

so smart. He can resist even the most tempting food unless you

The stray dogs not only had to face human persecution, animal control capture, but also

smarter than before. He

Snowy were less intelligent. Their eating and excreting habits frustrated Stella. Cooper, however, was dominant.

for

and drag them to the toilet.

disciplined by Cooper a

up, she

them as well. Whoever relieved themselves anywhere, he would catch Smoky and Snowy and give them a good beating. 'Are you going to manage them? If no, I'll eat them!' Cooper would discipline

and some lean meat were all prepared. Then they

bowl of offal stew

would have fried onions with pork heart, and stewed pork tripe

would be

and Angela offered the

but they also kept track of everything in their minds. None of them were calculative or scheming, which was why they could get

with the meal. "Stella, why don't you do the cooking from now on? We'd just ruin the

refused firmly. "No way. I'm not becoming the housekeeper. Maybe just once

you guys return so late from the grain exchange?" Angela asked, concerned,