Zero Blizzard Starship Restaurant
Following Captain Zhao Chen's orders, all one hundred beastwomen Starship Crew members assembled in the hall.
"Why are you all standing? Sit down, please," Zhao Chen said, gesturing for the neatly lined-up female crew members to take their seats.
With some hesitation, the women slowly sat down.
"Charlotte, help me distribute this food," Zhao Chen said, opening several bags of meal boxes that Deputy Captain Charlotte had just brought over.
Instantly, an enticing aroma filled the entire dining hall.
It was worth noting that beastmen's sense of smell far surpassed that of the Human Race, making them even more captivated by these fragrant scents.
Deputy Captain Charlotte herself stared at the meal boxes emitting the alluring aroma for several seconds, momentarily stunned.
"Don't just stare—get to work. Otherwise, it'll all get cold and won't taste as good," Zhao Chen urged.
He personally took on the role of "kitchen staff," evenly dividing the food from the meal boxes into one hundred portions, then instructing Charlotte to distribute the plates of food.
If it were just the dishes alone, dividing them into one hundred portions would leave each person with barely a mouthful.
But in addition to that, there was also a large basin filled with something white and fluffy.
Rice!
At the sight of the white, fluffy rice, many of the beastwomen crew members couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
"All of this… to be distributed?" Deputy Captain Charlotte couldn't figure out what Zhao Chen was up to.
"What's the matter? This is everyone's lunch for today," Zhao Chen said casually.
Lunch?
This mouthwatering, delicious-smelling feast?
Hearing Captain Zhao Chen's words, Charlotte and the one hundred female crew members present were stunned, looking at the captain they had gradually grown familiar with in disbelief.
"Hurry up and serve it. Everyone's waiting," Zhao Chen urged, noticing that Deputy Captain Charlotte was still standing there dazed.
Only then did Deputy Captain Charlotte begin to work, carrying each portion of food to the female crew members.
In a short while, over thirty portions had been distributed.
Zhao Chen took a moment to glance up and noticed that none of the crew members who had already received their food had started eating.
Although some were already drooling over the delicious food in front of them, they still hadn't touched it, sitting upright instead.
"What are you all waiting for? Start eating. Those who have received their food should eat first; those who haven't can wait a little longer.
No need to rush—there's enough for everyone," Zhao Chen said.
Seeing that still no one had started eating, Zhao Chen pretended to be angry and said, "That's an order!"
Only then did the crew members who had received their food begin to eat. At first, they were still somewhat reserved, taking small, cautious bites.
But soon, the stimulation on their taste buds made it impossible for them to remain restrained or calm.
Their taste buds, long tormented by years of synthetic food, were like someone stranded in a desert finally taking a sip of water.
One by one, they began eating ravenously, some even grabbing the food with their hands.
A single portion of food was finished in less than three minutes, and everyone was still licking their plates and utensils, unsatisfied.
Watching the female crew members with beast ears licking their plates, Zhao Chen found it somewhat adorable, yet it also tugged at his heartstrings.
Many of them were younger than him, some even underage.
Of course, this was according to Zhao Chen's thinking. Among the beastman race, there was no distinction between minors and adults; as long as one could fight, they were already considered adults.
Thus, beastmen around twelve or thirteen years old would typically be thrown into combat and labor, regardless of gender.
Only through fighting and working could they earn a day's ration.
Soon, all one hundred portions of food were distributed.
The last portion was personally handed by Zhao Chen to Deputy Captain Charlotte: "Try it quickly, it tastes really good. Especially this fruit!"
Deputy Captain Charlotte looked at the abundant food on the tray, including a small crescent-shaped slice of apple and a berry the size of a fingertip.
She looked at Zhao Chen: "What about you..."
"I've already eaten, and I'm quite full. If you don't believe me, look at my stomach." Zhao Chen shamelessly patted his round, bulging belly.
Deputy Captain Charlotte chuckled softly, then lowered her head to begin eating the food.
After a few bites, Zhao Chen noticed that Charlotte's head sank even lower, her face nearly parallel to the tray.
At first, Zhao Chen didn't understand what was happening.
But when he caught a glimpse of the glistening corner of her eye peeking through her white hair, he realized what Charlotte was trying to hide.
"Sniffle... sob..." At that moment, Zhao Chen heard weeping coming from the mess hall.
Some female Starship Crew members were crying as they ate, stuffing food mixed with tears into their mouths.
Perhaps they cried because the food was too delicious, or perhaps because this moment of goodness reminded them of their past hardships, of their siblings back home fighting tooth and nail just to survive.
For the first time, they learned that food wasn't merely for filling one's stomach—it could be such a wonderful, enjoyable experience.
"Everyone, keep eating while I announce something," Zhao Chen suddenly spoke up, startling all the female Starship Crew members in the mess hall.
Some who were still eating paused their actions.
"It's fine, keep eating; just listen to me," Zhao Chen gestured for them to continue, but they all kept their eyes on him.
Helpless, Zhao Chen glanced at Charlotte, who had also stopped eating and was looking at him.
Understanding his meaning, Charlotte took the lead and resumed eating, though her movements noticeably slowed.
"What I want to discuss is about everyone's welfare and benefits.
We previously agreed that you would work for me for three years, and I would grant you your freedom, right?
But there are some details we haven't clarified yet.
For example, the welfare and benefits for Starship Crew members." Zhao Chen looked at Deputy Captain Charlotte: "Deputy Captain, in the past... in your previous fleet, what were the meal standards for the crew?"
Deputy Captain Charlotte was taken aback for a moment before replying, "A daily meal allowance of 0.01 Star Coin."
Zhao Chen's mouth twitched slightly. 0.01 Star Coin?
That was basically the price of the most basic portion of synthetic food—just one portion!
Which meant they had been on a one-meal-per-day system back then.
"I've done some calculations. We will phase out synthetic food. From now on, all our food will consist of natural food.
However, we won't be able to have feasts as lavish as today's every day."
"But we can guarantee three full meals a day; the food standard we've set is 0.3 Star Coins per person per day, not exceeding 10 Star Coins per month.
As for what exactly we'll eat, I'll discuss that later with the logistics department in charge of meals." Zhao Chen announced this matter with an air of calm indifference.
However, everyone present was stunned.
After a long pause, a fifteen-year-old beastwoman Starship Crew member, her voice trembling with emotion, whispered softly, "Then... does that mean... I can... eat rice... at every meal..."
.