Interstellar Beastworld: Raising A Cub With My Mummy System!-Chapter 21: CHINESE FOOD IN AN ALIEN MALL

This was behind a glass case.

The shopkeeper unlocked it and handed her a sealed package containing a small, curved blade.

"Completely sterile." the shopkeeper said. "Single use only. For the umbilical cord."

Lin Yue stared at the package.

Something about holding it made the whole situation feel more real.

Uriel noticed her hesitation. He stepped closer and spoke quietly. "It is a standard medical tool. Perfectly safe. The midwives will know exactly how to use it. You will not have to touch it yourself."

She nodded and added it to the basket, tapping her wrist-comm.

Item six: Two binding strips.

These were small, elastic bands in sterile packaging. The shopkeeper explained they were for securing the cord after cutting. Lin Yue nodded, added them to the basket, and tapped her wrist-comm.

Item seven: One loose comfortable change of clothes.

This took longer. The store had a small clothing section for postpartum mothers, and Lin Yue tried to find something that looked comfortable but also something she would not hate wearing.

She settled on a soft, flowing dress in a pale blue. It buttoned down the front, which the shopkeeper said was helpful for breastfeeding.

"Breastfeeding." Lin Yue repeated. "I had not even thought about that."

Uriel stood by the entrance to the fitting room, arms crossed.

She caught him glancing at the dress she had chosen.

"What do you think?" she asked, holding it up.

He walked over and actually looked at it properly. "The color suits your complexion. The fabric is soft, which will be important after birth when your body is sensitive. And the buttons down the front are practical for feeding." He paused. "It was a thoughtful choice."

Lin Yue felt her face warm. "Thank you. That was... very detailed."

"I am observant."

She smiled and added it to the basket, tapping her wrist-comm.

Item eight: One small container of healing salve.

This was also behind the counter. The shopkeeper explained its use for postpartum recovery, for tears and soreness. Lin Yue listened carefully, her face warming slightly at the details.

Uriel stood a polite distance away, but she caught his ears twitching. He was listening too.

When the shopkeeper finished, Lin Yue nodded and accepted the small container. She tapped her wrist-comm one last time.

[MISSION OBJECTIVE COMPLETE. ALL EIGHT ITEMS COLLECTED. YOU MAY PROCEED TO CHECKOUT.]

She looked at the basket, now full of supplies. "We did it."

"I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.."

Lin Yue nodded, it isn’t as bad as she thought. Well ignoring the pain in her leg from walking too long.

"Do you want to sit down? I’ll get you some water if you’re thirsty.."

Lin Yue nodded. "I am tired, and thirsty too actually. Walking around an alien mall while eight months pregnant is more exhausting than I expected."

Uriel immediately took the basket from her hands and gestured toward a nearby seating area. "There is a quiet spot over there. Sit down and I will get you water."

They walked to a small cluster of comfortable chairs arranged around a low table, away from the main flow of shoppers. Lin Yue lowered herself into one with a sigh of relief.

"I will be right back," Uriel said, setting the basket down beside her.

She caught his sleeve before he could turn. "Wait. Do you smell that?"

He paused, inhaling. "Smell what?"

"Something amazing. It smells like..." She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. "It smells like home."

Uriel looked around. The scent was coming from the direction of the food court, visible just beyond a row of shops. Various stalls offered a range of dishes, some recognizable as food and others looking completely alien.

Lin Yue stood up abruptly, all thoughts of rest forgotten. "Take me there. I need to find out what that is."

"You just said you were tired."

"I changed my mind." She was already walking toward the food court, moving with more energy than she had shown all day. "Come on, hurry."

Uriel grabbed the basket and followed. "You are hungry."

"I am starving. But not for just anything. For that specific smell."

They entered the food court and Lin Yue stopped, her eyes going wide. Stalls lined the space, offering dishes in colors and shapes she had never seen. Glowing sauces, skewers of spiced meat, bowls of something that moved slightly, pastries filled with what looked like cream but might have been something else entirely.

Then she saw it.

A small stall tucked between two larger ones, with steam rising from baskets and the unmistakable aroma of dumplings filling the air. Next to it, hanging in a display case, was roasted duck. Perfectly glazed, beautifully browned, looking exactly like the duck she used to order from the restaurant down the street from her apartment.

Lin Yue’s mouth fell open. "Those are dumplings and roasted duck!"

Uriel followed her gaze. "You recognize this food?"

"That is Chinese food. Real Chinese food." She grabbed his arm. "How is there Chinese food on an alien planet?!"

He considered the question. "Interstellar trade is extensive. Recipes travel. Ingredients can be replicated or imported. It is not impossible that some version of Earth cuisine made its way here."

She was already walking toward the stall, moving as fast as her eight-month pregnant body would allow. The vendor, a round-faced woman with badger markings, smiled as they approached.

"Welcome! What can I get for you today?"

Lin Yue pointed at the dumplings. "Those. A lot of those. And the duck. Half of it. No, a whole one. I want a whole duck."

The vendor blinked. "A whole duck?"

"She will take the duck," Uriel said smoothly, stepping forward with his wrist-comm ready. "And two orders of these...d-dumplings. And whatever drink you recommend to go with it."

The vendor’s smile returned. "Excellent choice. The purple nectar pairs beautifully with both. Very refreshing."

Lin Yue did not care what color the drink was. She watched as the vendor packed up the food, her mouth watering so much she had to keep swallowing.

Uriel paid and took the bags. "There is a quiet seating area overlooking the garden level. We can eat there."