Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 111

After renting the house, the supermarket closes for three days. All employees are busy repairing the damaged parts of the house and moving items like sofas and chairs inside. For convenience, Ye Zhou also spends a large sum of money to buy a solar generator from the system.

The solar generator can only be used by Ye Zhou and cannot be sold. It isn’t cheap, but considering its convenience, faster power generation speed than regular solar power, and its ability to operate regardless of the weather, Ye Zhou decides to buy it.

He has become numb to spending money. He can no longer tell whether something is expensive or cheap. Everything here looks impoverished. After all, they have nothing—sugar and salt are considered luxuries.

Even Chen Hou has never tasted salt without bitterness.

But at the same time, they are also incredibly wealthy. The things they own are immensely valuable in this era.

A single set of jade accessories can be worth hundreds of thousands, even millions.

Yet people themselves are “cheap.” A strong, able-bodied young male slave costs only one gold tael.

However, there aren’t many slaves in Linzi, as there is no need for hard labor. Even if slave trading exists, the market is small.

The slaves that come to Linzi are considered “lucky.” If they are fortunate, they might be bought by aristocratic families. Although they work hard without a day off, at least they can eat well, which is much better than following around a slave dealer.

Apart from this, Ye Zhou is most amazed by the merchants who come to give him gifts.

They keep it a secret from everyone else and go directly to his door.

When Cao’er comes to report, she is also puzzled: “He said he has something to ask the Lord immortal.”

Ye Zhou is confused but still replies, “Let him in.”

Soon, Ye Zhou sees the merchant who wants to give him a gift. The merchant is wearing an indigo-colored robe and has meticulously combed hair, which makes Ye Zhou wonder whether his hairline will recede soon.

Ye Zhou sits on a chair. After the merchant enters and receives permission, he respectfully kneels on the mat in front of Ye Zhou.

The merchant first flatters Ye Zhou, praising everything from his appearance to his figure, then from his figure to his abilities. He rambles for nearly 20 minutes before finally getting to the point: “I’ve come to bother you with an important matter. Please have the others leave first…”

Ye Zhou signals to Zou Ming and Sarah, who are standing next to him.

Neither says anything and leaves the room.

“Go on, what’s the matter?” Ye Zhou picks up his teacup, ready to listen to more flattery, but the merchant gets straight to the point this time.

“I am entrusted by the Marquis of Wei to invite you to Wei.”

Ye Zhou almost spits out his tea but remains calm, acting like a “master.” He asks, “The Marquis of Wei is thousands of miles away, how would he know about me? Even if he does, no matter how fast a horse is, I doubt it could make such a round trip in such a short time.”

The merchant hurriedly explains, “There is an envoy from Wei in Linzi, who acts in place of the Marquis of Wei.”

Ye Zhou is surprised. “Has the ruler of Wei declared himself a king?”

As the Zhou emperor still rules, all the monarchs of various states are still considered marquises. Becoming a king is a direct declaration of independence from the emperor.

The merchant quickly corrects him, “The Marquis of Wei was granted kingship by the emperor, and Prince Yu presided over the ceremony on behalf of the emperor.”

Ye Zhou nods, understanding that this means the Marquis of Wei has officially been recognized as king.

“I’m a businessman just like you. It doesn’t matter where I do business,” Ye Zhou casually says, setting his teacup down.

The merchant quickly adds, “What you have is rare and valuable. In Linzi, these things are mere toys for the nobles and princes, but in Wei, they can greatly strengthen the kingdom! The Marquis of Wei is a wise ruler. He could grant you high office and great wealth—things that Marquis Chen cannot offer.”

Ye Zhou raises an eyebrow. “Since you came to me, you must not intend to hide your identity. You’re not really a merchant, are you? You’re a spy for Wei.”

The merchant doesn’t deny it, smiling slightly. “I am from Wei, and I’ve received great favor from the Marquis of Wei. Though I am a businessman, I also have a heart for my State. I think you’re not an ordinary person. Since you possess something extraordinary, why not find a good buyer?” The merchant’s voice softens. “The Marquis of Wei is generous. Whether it’s fame or fortune, he can offer you more than the Marquis of Chen.”

Ye Zhou smiles at the Wei merchant, finding the situation quite amusing. The Marquis of Wei likely doesn’t know that a strange supermarket has opened here, but his people in Linzi are already trying to recruit talent for him.

Are there really such secrets between states?

He suspects every state has been infiltrated by others until they are like sieves.

Ye Zhou doesn’t feel any particular attachment to Marquis Chen, nor does he think he has to stay in Linzi.

He just doesn’t want to travel. The roads are poor here, and it will likely take several months to travel between states.

“The Marquis of Wei is a great ruler!” Seeing that Ye Zhou seems unmoved, the merchant quickly adds, “The State of Chen is weak. Even its capital, Linzi, is just average. Whether it’s food, clothing, and supplies, it cannot compare to Wei. If you wish to achieve something great, Wei is the only choice.”

Ye Zhou raises an eyebrow. “What kind of ‘something great’?”

The merchant gives him a knowing look. “You’re extraordinary; you must want to achieve greatness in this world. A man should be like that! If you serve Wei, I guarantee you’ll rise to an official position—perhaps even prime minister. The position of prime minister in Wei is vacant, waiting for someone worthy.”

“Can you just give someone the position of prime minister?” Ye Zhou leans forward slightly, his eyes sharp.

The merchant trembles slightly. The young man who has been lazy and seemed romantic just moments ago now has the presence of an eagle or tiger, powerful without needing to raise his voice or glare. Even the Marquis of Wei might not have such a presence.

“I can guarantee it!” Wei Shang lowers his head and takes out a wooden box from his robe. “This is the seal of our State.”

Ye Zhou is stunned. Is the State of Wei so bold as to let a merchant carry the national seal around?

Is this era really this crazy, or is he simply not crazy enough?

Seeing that Ye Zhou doesn’t stop him, the merchant slowly stands and, bent over, takes small steps forward to hand the box to Ye Zhou. “You need not worry. When I left Shangyu, my king entrusted this seal to me. When Wei employs people, it doesn’t care about background or family, only talent. Unlike Chen State, where the king and his subjects are in chaos. In Wei, only the ruling family holds power.”

The seal of the prime minister is made of jade, and although it is impossible to tell the exact type of jade, beautiful stones are often considered jade here, making it easy to forge. Ye Zhou still says, “Thank you for your offer, but I have no plans to leave Linzi.”

He comes from the border and nearly hurts himself riding a horse across it, so he really doesn’t want to travel long distances to another country.

Wei Shang hurriedly says, “Your Excellency, are you dismissing the position of Prime Minister?”

Ye Zhou shakes his head. “It’s not about the position, it’s the journey. I can’t endure such hardship.”

Wei Shang is speechless. He never expected that this would be the reason.

The merchant tries to persuade him further, but Ye Zhou suddenly says, “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

Usually, when it’s time for dinner, even the most shameless guests would hesitate to stay unless invited.

But Ye Zhou underestimates Wei Shang’s shamelessness. Upon hearing the invitation, the merchant immediately says, “Then I shall gratefully accept.”

Ye Zhou is silent for two seconds before calling out, “Zou Ming, take this gentleman for a stroll.”

Zou Ming comes in, now dressed like a local. He looks especially upright and imposing. Under his “invitation,” the merchant can only reluctantly get up, looking back every few steps as he follows him out.

There is little to see in the house, just a narrow corridor. The merchant has traveled across various countries, even entered royal palaces, so he has no interest in the house. But he is very curious about Zou Ming.

He follows Zou Ming and after a while, asks, “May I ask, young master, what did Marquis Chen promise you?”

As he speaks, he pulls out a gold ingot. As long as Zou Ming stops, he would’ve stuffed it into his hand.

Zou Ming glances at him with dark eyes.

The merchant puts the gold back and laughs awkwardly. “I mean no harm. You all will achieve nothing staying here.”

Currently, Wei is the only vassal state that has declared itself a kingdom. Everyone knows of its king’s ambition. Because of that, countless scholars flock to Wei’s capital, Shangyu, hoping to make their mark in history.

The merchant doesn’t understand. He thinks Ye Zhou has refused because he doesn’t trust the promise. After all, in his view, this poor state of Chen—this small Linzi—isn’t a place worth staying in. Any normal person would want to leave.

Zou Ming wants to kick the talkative merchant into the pond but holds back. He can’t let him wander around the house alone. He tries to zone out, only returning to his senses when Cao’er comes to summon them for dinner.

Wei Shang enters the room again, expecting a meal with Ye Zhou. After all, there are no women or children in the house. But when he sees the situation, he is dumbfounded.

Everyone, including Zou Ming and Cao’er, is sitting at the same table. There is more than one round table.

The merchant is dumbfounded, thinking he must be dreaming in broad daylight.

In his eyes, these people are Ye Zhou’s servants. Since when do masters dine with servants? This is completely upside down!

But he doesn’t dare speak out. He needs something from them.

So, under Cao’er’s guidance, he reluctantly takes a seat at an empty spot.

“Serve the dishes,” Ye Zhou instructs.

Wu Yan and the others quickly head to the kitchen, but the merchant is still preoccupied with how to persuade Ye Zhou to go to Wei.

That is, until he can’t think anymore—the aroma of food drifts in from outside. It is rich and complex—not just oil and salt, but a layered fragrance he’s never smelled before, one that stirs his appetite.

When the first dish is placed on the table, the merchant forgets everything else.

He doesn’t even remember he is sitting with “servants,” nor does he notice anything odd about the chair he is sitting on.

But since no one else picks up their chopsticks, neither does he. He just stares at the growing number of dishes—fish, meat, all kinds of vegetables—and finally, someone brings him a bowl of white rice, steaming hot. He instinctively swallows.

“I’m sorry for the poor hospitality. Please enjoy your meal, sir,” Ye Zhou smiles at Wei Shang.

Wei Shang hurriedly says, “I’ve never seen or heard of these dishes before.”

Ye Zhou picks up some food with his chopsticks. Once he makes the first move, everyone else follows.

After following Ye Zhou for a long time, the employees have grown accustomed to such meals. They almost always have meat. In the mornings, many prefer to eat meat buns along with a bowl of instant seaweed egg drop soup.

But Wei Shang has never seen anything like this before.

In his world, meals are served individually. Each person has a small wooden tray. Three dishes per meal already count as extravagant.

Ordinary people don’t usually eat like this at home; they typically have just one dish and are simply grateful to be full. They don’t seek extravagance.