Useless Old Stories 2

Xia Heyue is walking down the road when she transmigrates to a remote planet in the interstellar age.

The planet's resources are depleted and supplies are scarce. It's a veritable food desert.

A feelingless System drones in her ear, mechanically repeating: [Host, please collect Happiness Points as soon as possible. Failure to complete the task will result in severe punishment.]

Xia Heyue blocks it out. "It's the year 3629, and there are still people who can't afford food."

And there really are. The ordinary people on this planet can't afford expensive meals, so they fill their stomachs with low-quality nutritional supplements made from insects.

She surveys the run-down shop the System has found for her and sets herself a modest goal: get everyone here eating proper meals, Happiness Points up, up, up! Then she can go home sooner.

With her excellent cooking, Xia Heyue turns her shop into the most popular eatery on the junk planet, drawing crowds of visitors eager to check it out.

One day,

space pirates finish a dine-and-dash meal, climb into their mecha, and prepare to escape. Xia Heyue follows leisurely and slaps it once. The mecha turns into scrap metal.

Their accomplices drop to their knees in fear.

She wipes her hands and asks politely, "Hello. Would you like to pay by transfer or in cash?"

Space pirates: "..."

Other customers: "..."

A gluttonous bigwig who happens to be there to try the food records the video and uploads it to the interstellar internet.

Netizens exclaim, "Are we allowed to watch a god-tier bare-handed mecha-wrecking performance like this for free?"

"Where's the Strategic Command? Get out here and recruit her!"

Later,

a military bigwig personally visits the junk planet to recruit her.

"Train my mecha troops for a month and help us repel the bugs sweeping in again. Name your price. What do you say?"

The System is overjoyed and plays a single on repeat at full volume: [Beat the big bugs, bring happiness to millions! Charge for those Happiness Points!]

Xia Heyue rubs her temples and says nothing.

Seeing that she doesn't seem interested, the bigwig quietly raises the offer. "I have a fertile planet..."

The System is giving her a headache. She cuts him off. "The kind where I can farm wherever I like?"

The bigwig: "...Yes."

"Deal!"

Theme: Even when you're in a tough spot, keep fighting without giving in, and you'll eventually reap the sweet rewards.