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Ah Zai tells the patrons stories about his childhood and his mini shellbeast pet named "Pebbles".
- Ah Zai
Good people, the mini shellbeasts you photographed are known for their long lifespans, gentle nature, and wisdom!
- You
A bowl of noodles like this?
- Ah Zai
I used to have one called Pebbles. I always asked Pebbles whenever there was something I didn't understand...
- Ah Zai
Life wasn't easy at Wuling when I was a kid. We relied on monthly supplies from Hongshan. Things were really rough.
- Ah Zai
Yeah. But I swore I'd keep Pebbles happy and fed. If I had something to eat, Pebbles got a share too.
- Ah Zai
Well, I thought happiness could last. But then the tide rose, and it really poured... We lost the geo-beacons and communication with the outside.
- Ah Zai
The monthly supplies got delayed too. We were literally running on our last reserves...
- Yue
What happened next, Ah Zai?
- Ah Zai
Then ... I got sick. It was really bad. My aunt scraped together the last flour we had and made a bowl of noodles for me.
- Ah Zai
We hadn't had meat for a month already.
- Ah Zai
My Aunt told me Wednesday was the final day. If the supplies failed to arrive ... we'd have to ... take Pebbles...
- Yue
WHAT?! Did she force you to eat Pebbles?!
- Ah Zai
I thought it was cruel too. I was in bed and held Pebbles really close so my Aunt wouldn't take him away!
- Ah Zai
But later I smelled something delicious... Pebbles was gone, but my Aunt woke me with a bowl of noodles.
- Chen Qianyu
Aunt Tian made it especially for you.
- Ah Zai
Just put it there. I'm busy... Well, maybe just a little bite. I...
- Chen Qianyu
Ah Zai...? You alright? Why so quiet?
- Chen Qianyu
He literally emptied the entire thing ... plus the soup...
- Chen Qianyu
Psst. Endmin, I think he's crying. Literally dripping like a faucet! Ahem. Ah Zai, are you okay?
- Ah Zai
Hngh. This is how it tasted! It's the exact same thing... That bowl of special noodles back then...
- Yue
Please don't cry, Ah Zai! What happened to .... to Pebbles? Did it end up in the soup?
- Ah Zai
No! Of course not! Pebbles lived to a wise old age. He'd just gone for a walk but he came back later.
- Ah Zai
But my aunt ... she went out in the pouring rain and foraged shrooms — just to put them in my noodles. It's the same shrooms in these noodles.
- Ah Zai
And as I finished them, I heard the convoy honking their horns... The rain stopped and the supplies finally arrived.
- Yue
Wow! These mini shellbeasts are so cute!
- Xiao Xiang
I want one too!
- Xiao Xiang
Ugh... I know. Being hungry feels terrible...
- Yue
You really loved your Pebbles, Ah Zai. It must've been really happy...
- Xiao Xiang
Oh no. Why...?
- Xiao Xiang
Uuuhhh! I don't want to hear this...
- Ah Zai
And then I fell asleep. Maybe it was the fever...
