Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 111

At first, Wei Shang only dares to pick up the dish in front of him—the sweet and sour fish.

In ordinary households, food isn’t served separately for each person, but rather everyone shares from a single dish. Typically, there is only one dish per meal. As long as it fills their stomachs, people thank the heavens. Who can afford to pursue anything lavish?

Wei Shang only dares to take food from the dish placed directly in front of him—sweet and sour fish.

He hesitates. He himself doesn’t eat fish. In his view, fish is something only poor families eat.

Because of the fishy smell—not just from the meat itself, but also the earthy, muddy odor. With limited cooking methods, most fish can only be boiled with salt.

In Wei Shang’s mind, fish is synonymous with “fishy.” So fishy it makes one want to gag.

Still, he picks up a piece and forces it into his mouth. The moment it enters, his eyes widen involuntarily.

The expected fishy taste doesn’t come. Instead, a sweet and sour flavor fills his mouth. The fish meat is white and tender, and he swallows it almost immediately.

Wei Shang asks in disbelief, “Is sugar added to this fish?”

Wu Yan, sitting beside him, replies, “This is sweet and sour fish, so sugar is definitely added.”

Wei Shang, struggling to find the words, says with difficulty, “Such extravagance… I am truly enlightened.”

Using sugar to cook fish! Only in this place can people be so lavish!

Wu Yan smiles. “Why don’t you try the braised pork? It’s not bad either.”

Wei Shang looks at the braised pork and asks, “Is this made from pork?”

Wu Yan nods, and Wei Shang curiously asks, “But wild pork?”

Wu Yan shakes his head. “No, it’s farmed. Wild pigs aren’t castrated, so the taste isn’t as good.”

Wei Shang blinks. “Can pigs even be farmed?”

In fact, wild boars at this time have tusks and are considered bullies in the countryside.

Wu Yan replies, “Of course! Before they started raising horses, did anyone know that horses could be domesticated?”

Wei Shang suddenly understands. “Brother, you are my teacher with a single phrase!”

Wu Yan: “…”

That is too easy a title to earn.

Wei Shang eats with great enthusiasm. He even pours the remaining sweet and sour fish sauce over his rice. After eating five bowls of rice, Wei Shang can’t move. He collapses onto the chair, thinking what a wonderful invention it is—it supports his body just perfectly.

Seeing him like this, Ye Zhou has no choice but to let him stay not only for the meal but also to rest for the night.

However, after finishing their meal, Ye Zhou takes Zou Ming to the palace.

Marquis Chen’s wife has already taken the prince back to the palace. After all, as the marquis’ wife, many matters in the palace require her attention.

The two ride horses and easily enter the palace—not because the soldiers guarding the gate recognize them or because Marquis Chen has informed them in advance, but because the palace gate is simply for show. It isn’t locked! There are no guards, and it has apparently long been in a “my door is always open” state.

Ye Zhou enters the palace and, with a stunned expression, turns to Zou Ming. “I thought it was just a rumor that the palace gate is never closed.”

When he watches videos before and sees that many dynasties leave their gates open and people can come and go casually, he thinks it’s just some marketing gimmick.

This is the first time Zou Ming knows that the palace gates are just decoration. While he isn’t as shocked as Ye Zhou, he is still curious. “Why would they even build the gates?”

Spending so much on a gate just for decoration?

But they have no one to ask, so they continue searching for a palace servant to guide them.

There aren’t many people in the palace, likely because it is a family empire, not a feudal dynasty, so the royal family doesn’t need as many servants. After more than ten minutes of searching, they finally find a young servant boy.

The boy is no older than ten, wearing a gray coat, with no flesh on his face or body. When Ye Zhou calls him, the boy instinctively tries to run, but Zou Ming rides over and blocks his path.

The servant sighs in relief after learning they are headed to see Marquis Chen. “Nu Nu will take the adults there.”

On the way, Ye Zhou asks, “Is the palace gate never closed?”

The boy whispers, “Lord Zuotu has closed it before.”

Ye Zhou: “Anyone else?”

The servant shakes his head. “The palace gate weighs a thousand jin. It’s a heavy mechanism. It won’t be closed lightly.”

Ye Zhou doesn’t put on airs with a child. “Shouldn’t the issue be that it shouldn’t be opened easily?”

The boy gives him a puzzled look, as if surprised he doesn’t know, and explains, “Once the gate is closed, it’s only because enemies are attacking from outside the city. Otherwise, reopening it is too difficult. If the palace catches fire while the gates are shut, there’s no escape.”

Ah, so it’s for safety reasons. Ye Zhou reluctantly accepts the explanation.

The palace of the State of Chen isn’t large. With the servant’s guidance, they quickly arrive at the study where Marquis Chen is. The servant tells them, “Lord, wait a moment. Nu Nu will report to the Marquis.” He then walks into the study.

Ye Zhou turns to Zou Ming and whispers, “Why hasn’t an assassin come to kill Marquis Chen?”

With security this lax, the real mystery is how the ruler hasn’t already been killed.

Zou Ming doesn’t respond, but Ye Zhou can tell from his furrowed brow that he is just as baffled.

But the one who comes out to receive them isn’t the servant—it’s the Marquis of Chen himself.

“Immortal!” Chen Hou excitedly walks toward Ye Zhou, lifting his robe as he hurries excitedly toward Ye Zhou. He grabs Ye Zhou’s hand and clasps it tightly with both of his.

Before Ye Zhou can react, Zou Ming steps forward, grabbing Marquis Chen’s arm and pulling it away from Ye Zhou’s hand. “Marquis Chen, please restrain yourself.”

Marquis Chen immediately lets go of Ye Zhou’s hand and keeps apologizing. “I was too forward, too forward. Immortal, your timing is perfect. If you hadn’t come, I was planning to send someone to invite you tomorrow.”

He then leads Ye Zhou and the others inside.

The study isn’t large. Bamboo slips are neatly arranged on bookshelves along both sides. In the middle of the room is a lacquered table, with carving knives and bamboo slips scattered on it.

Across from the table is a piece of silk cloth, on which ink maps of various Warring States countries are drawn.

Some areas, however, are blank—indicating that Marquis Chen hasn’t yet obtained detailed topographic maps of those places.

Chen Hou quickly asks Ye Zhou, “Immortal, is there something important that you need from me at this hour?”

Ye Zhou shakes his head. “Nothing urgent.”

Chen Hou takes a sip of water and nods.

Ye Zhou continues, “A merchant from the State of Wei came to give me a gift and wants me to visit Wei State.”

Chen Hou sputters, spraying water everywhere.

Not at all embarrassed, he puts down the cup and says angrily, “The State of Wei has wolfish ambitions! It’s always sending spies. Over the years, I’ve lost count of how many scholars from Chen have been lured to Wei. They thought they’d be entrusted with important tasks, but when they arrived, they realized the Marquis of Wei isn’t lacking talent. These days, countries are always at war. No ruler doesn’t aspire to be king, but none of them have the power to become one!” Chen Hou raises his voice. “If the King of Wei continues like this, he deserves to be attacked by all!”

Ye Zhou understands. “Ah, so you want to form a vertical alliance against Wei?”

Chen Hou is stunned. He looks at Ye Zhou. “Immortal, what is a vertical alliance?”

Ye Zhou replies, “A strategy proposed by the scholar Zhang Yi—he proposed coalitions and horizontal alliances. Coalitions resist the strong, while horizontal alliances lock in the weak.”

(Translator’s Notes: The scholar Zhang Yi (張儀) was a prominent political strategist and diplomat during the Warring States period in ancient China. He is most well-known for advancing and implementing the political strategy known as “Vertical and Horizontal Alliances” (合縱連橫, hézòng liánhéng).)

Chen Hou repeats the words several times before excitedly declaring, “Yes, yes! The stronger Wei is, the weaker our small states become. Only by uniting with other weak countries can we resist them!”

“But horizontal alliances are always built on shared interest. Though they fall apart easily, as long as there’s something to gain, the alliance can be the most loyal of all. Vertical alliances, however, often fall apart due to those same interests. Even before winning a war, each state is already fighting over who gets what land. They break apart before the real fight even starts.” Ye Zhou gives him some advice. “Chen is a small state. Even if you win the battle and suffer casualties, you might gain nothing in return.”

Chen Hou’s face falls, but he tries to argue, “Chen is indeed small. We can’t send many troops, and wouldn’t dare claim much land. Even two cities would be enough.”

He feels that if he asks for less, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Ye Zhou is speechless. “But Chen and Wei aren’t even neighbors. Even if you get the land, how will you take it over? Will the people in Wei listen to you? You’ll have to send soldiers, officials, and waste a lot of resources. What’s the point?”

The Marquis: “…It’s still territory.”

Every ruler is obsessed with acquiring land from other states—regardless of how far away it is.

But now, after listening to the immortal, he feels like everyone is doing bad business deals.

Ye Zhou says, “Distant alliances, nearby attacks. Didn’t you say every other state is at odds with Wei? Then why not befriend them instead? Lend help in their time of need—maybe you’ll gain more than if you strike them while they’re down.”

Chen Hou looks at Ye Zhou.

Ye Zhou also looks at him.

Chen Hou suddenly straightens his clothes, bows to Ye Zhou, then raises his head with burning eyes. “Immortal, please help me. I can only reward you with the position of prime minister. Please, agree!”

Ye Zhou: “…”

What is going on today? Why does everyone want to make him the prime minister?

Is that position handed out this casually?

Is the prime minister’s office worth so little?

Also… what exactly does a prime minister even do again?