Chapter 33: The First Group Dinner

"Eh?"

Everyone froze for a moment upon seeing the information on the large screen.

Wang Yongxin was the first to stand up. "What's going on? I declare solemnly, my vote was definitely a 'yes'!"

The others shared a similar sense of confusion.

"I voted 'yes' too."

"Who would vote 'no' on something that benefits everyone?"

"It's fine, one dissenting vote won't affect the result."

"It won't affect the result, but it proves there's a mole among us!"

"The basic rules mentioned a special group of players who specifically design games to sabotage us in secret. Could there be one hiding in our community too?"

After a brief moment of bewilderment, the crowd broke into a chaotic discussion, turning the entire hall into a mess of voices.

However, it was clear that under these anonymous voting rules, it was almost impossible to root out the person who had cast the dissenting vote.

"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment."

Li Renshu's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady, and the hall gradually fell silent.

"This is just an insignificant interlude; I don't think it's necessary for everyone to dwell on it.

"Knowing that 7 votes are enough to pass a motion, casting a single 'no' vote is inherently meaningless.

"Therefore, I believe the sole purpose of the person who voted against it was to sow suspicion and division within the group.

"The more they do this, the more important it is that we do not fall for it.

"As long as we trust each other as much as possible and remain united, those with ulterior motives will never find an opportunity to exploit us."

Fu Chen nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Everyone must not lose their composure.

"Moreover, we shouldn't look at this purely from a rational perspective. We cannot ignore the possibility that someone might have accidentally voted incorrectly or was simply playing a prank.

"While the probability is low, it is not entirely impossible in reality."

The remarks from the two of them eased the atmosphere in the hall slightly.

After a brief silence, Xu Tong said with a hint of anticipation, "Then, since we're celebrating, can we have a big feast for lunch today?"

...

A short while later, the time reached 9:30 AM.

The information continued to appear on the large screen.

【Chips obtained by players in "Blood Poker" will be converted into visa time.】

【New "Community Security Fund" rules detected; calculating...】

【Initial "Community Security Fund" balance: 52,775 minutes of visa time.】

【Minimum subsistence allowance will be distributed to all players at a standard of "80 minutes of visa time per person per day."】

【Distribution complete.】

【Current "Community Security Fund" balance: 51,815 minutes of visa time.】

【Remaining chips will be converted into visa time for each player.】

【Conversion complete. You may proceed to any vending machine or private computer to check your individual visa time balance.】

"It's here, it's here!"

Yang Yuting stood in front of a vending machine to check and found an extra line under the "Currency" column.

The first line was her current remaining visa time, while the second line featured a new special icon representing the minimum subsistence allowance provided by the Community Security Fund: 80 minutes of visa time.

"80 minutes of visa time for a single lunch!

"I can't even imagine how luxurious that would be!"

Yang Yuting quickly scrolled down. To her surprise, there were indeed quite a few high-value delicacies listed.

For example, ones she had seen before

【Braised Pork Stir-fry: 1 hour 20 minutes】

【Roast Duck Set: 2 hours】

【10-inch Durian Pizza: 2 hours】

Along with various other dishes.

Originally, 2 hours of visa time would have been extremely expensive for everyone, and no one had even attempted to order them. But now, they didn't seem so out of reach.

After all, the 80 minutes belonged to the security fund; it was better to spend it than let it go to waste. They only needed to pay an additional 40 minutes themselves.

Xu Tong was also browsing the menu on another vending machine.

"Hey, I have an idea.

"Since the rules state that supplies purchased using the 'Community Security Fund' can be freely distributed and used among players and are not considered a transaction, does that mean we can pool this money together and eat together?"

If everyone spent their own money separately, it would still be difficult for the group to eat particularly heartily.

For foods like roast duck or pizza, a single portion cost 2 hours.

Eating this way would result in a very limited variety, and if they ordered other foods, the price would become even more expensive, making it hard for one person to finish.

If everyone chose to pool their minimum subsistence visa time to purchase a variety of dishes, it would clearly be a more cost-effective plan.

Li Renshu said with a smile, "We actually considered this when we proposed the motion.

"If everyone wants to have a group meal, you can pool the money to eat together; if you don't want to, you can choose to eat individually."

Xu Tong was delighted. "Great! Then let's look at the group menu.

"Today is our first time participating in the game collectively, and it's worth a proper celebration. Everyone should choose the group meal, right? No one would eat alone at a time like this, would they?"

Su Xiucen hurried over. "Even if it's a group meal, there's no need to order only prepared dishes; they're too expensive!

"We can order some semi-finished ingredients, and I can cook the simpler dishes myself."

Xu Tong nodded. "Alright, then we'll look forward to Auntie Su's cooking!"

The group began discussing the lunch menu in a flurry of voices, eventually deciding to spend their daily quota of 960 minutes of visa time.

Some dishes would be ordered as prepared meals—such as roast duck, pizza, and drinks, which couldn't be made themselves—while others would be ingredients for processing, such as vegetables and home-style dishes.

Soon, ingredients were continuously dispensed from the vending machines, and the group headed to the kitchen to get busy.

With Su Xiucen as the head chef, Yang Yuting and Fu Chen as assistants, and the others helping out with various tasks, the entire hall became quite lively for a time.

After several dishes were brought to the table and prepared meals were purchased from the vending machines, a sumptuous feast was ready in no time.

"Come, let's fill the glasses!"

Xu Tong extended a bottle of red wine toward Jiang He's glass.

Jiang He hurriedly covered the rim of her glass. "No, thank you. I don't drink."

Xu Tong shook her head slightly. "If it's an allergy or a health reason, I won't insist. But if not, just have a little. Don't worry, no one will pressure you to drink more.

"After all, today is a day worth celebrating."

Jiang He thought for a moment and moved her hand away from the glass. "Alright then, I'll pour it myself."

This bottle of red wine was also purchased from the vending machine, costing 1 hour and 20 minutes of visa time; they had bought two bottles in total.

Even though it was the cheapest type of red wine in the machine, it still tasted delicious.

Cao Haichuan remarked sentimentally, "If we have group meals every day from now on, does that mean I can use my entire subsistence allowance to buy cigarettes and just sponge off everyone's food and drink every day?"

Li Renshu smiled. "You could, but smoking is bad for your health, Officer Cao."

Cao Haichuan waved his hand dismissively. "Hah, at a time like this, who cares about health?"

He quickly realized his words were a bit of a mood killer and hurriedly changed the subject. "Alright, alright, let's make a toast and get to the food before it gets cold."

With that, everyone raised their glasses. "Cheers!"

In the community hall, for the first time, the clinking of glasses was accompanied by laughter and joy.

(End of Chapter)