Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 117

Hurt by Ye Zhou’s reaction, Sarah silently makes up her mind: she will never turn into a bat in front of him again.

Ye Zhou can only try to coax her after she changes back.

After all, even he knows that his reaction just now must’ve made her feel awful.

 But honestly, he has never seen a bat that large in his life. Small bats can be cute—but when one grows to that size, it really isn’t cute at all.

“Want some chili? I’ll get you a bag,” Ye Zhou offers. “Or I can play Go with you?”

Sarah stands there with her head down, her voice low and sad. “No need. I know I’m ugly and scary.”

Ye Zhou hurries to say, “You’re not ugly! How are you ugly? It’s just that you’re… a tiny bit… just a little bit big.”

Sarah looks up at him. “Then I’ll turn into a bat again. You have to hold me.”

“…,” Ye Zhou grits his teeth. “Okay, go ahead. I won’t even blink this time.”

Whether he means it or not, Sarah’s expression immediately softens. She smiles at him. “No need, Boss. Actually, I’ve always known.”

Ye Zhou blinks in confusion. “Known what?”

Sarah says, “I’ve always known you’re afraid of big bats.”

Ye Zhou: “…”

I’ve never seen big bats before this—how did you know?

But Sarah doesn’t press the issue. “Why don’t I go find him tonight? No one looks up at night anyway.”

Even if she’s a bit frightening in bat form, in this city without streetlights and lit only by sparse candlelight, she won’t be noticed in the dark.

“Thanks for the trouble,” says Ye Zhou. “Just observe him. Don’t approach him directly. I only want to know whether he’s really here for me. And judging by his appearance, he doesn’t seem like a servant.”

People can disguise a lot of things, but not temperament. That kind of thing is etched in one’s bones. To truly conceal it requires drastic environmental change and time.

That man follows Wei Shang closely, bows and wears coarse clothes like a servant. But despite all that, he looks more like a “master” than Wei Shang himself.

If someone like that is really just a servant, Ye Zhou starts questioning his own judgment.

After the two reach an agreement, Sarah goes outside and cooks herself a pack of turkey noodles.

After eating, she gets ready to leave.

At night, Linzi is like a dead city. Many of the commoners have spent their money on food but haven’t bought lamp oil.

Maybe they’re just used to the dark. Occasionally there are voices and footsteps inside the houses, but no light can be seen.

Sarah exits through the back, transforms into a bat, flies onto the roof, then glides toward the posthouse where Wei Shang is staying.

The posthouse is now packed with merchants from various states. The owner, never having received so many guests before, is overwhelmed. He’s hired over a dozen extra assistants, and both he and the staff bustle nonstop.

For most people, there’s nothing to do at night except sleep.

But in the well-lit posthouse, the merchants gather in the lobby drinking, snacking, and chatting about their business experiences.

——As for the children of noble families and the powerful envoys they bring, they’ve all been received into the mansions of the Chen nobility and aren’t crowding into the posthouse with everyone else.

“When I returned to Wei, I didn’t even have to find a broker to sell my goods. As soon as I arrived in the capital, everything sold out,” one merchant says proudly, setting down his wine cup, slightly tipsy. “Back in the day, I was the one begging to sell. Now people are begging me to sell to them.”

The others echo his sentiment. “Back then, the nobles looked down on us like bugs! Now I see them lining up to give me money—feels great! Absolutely great!”

“Come on, drink!”

“The White Rabbit milk candy is still monopolized by Zhao Shang.”

Zhao Shang stands up proudly and gives a mock bow. “Much obliged, thank you.”

“But the supermarket sells more than just food,” someone notes. “Why doesn’t the owner sell anything else?”

“I tried to go look but was stopped by that cold-faced man as soon as I got near.”

“I asked about it too. The owner just said he wouldn’t sell anything but food and drink, no reason given.”

“He bought so many goods and built such a big house—why not sell? Isn’t he worried about losing money?”

“How do you know he’s losing money? You don’t even know how much he paid for those goods.”

“Maybe the jelly and milk candy are homemade by his servants.”

The merchants speculate wildly about where Ye Zhou’s products come from, and then they begin guessing where Ye Zhou himself comes from.

“Judging by his accent and looks, he doesn’t seem like a Chen native.”

“Definitely not. No Chen person has that kind of presence.”

Now that the inn is filled only with foreign merchants and helpers, there’s no one to argue with them. The Chen locals might feel indignant but dare not speak, afraid of getting kicked out and losing their pay.

“He looks more like one of us Wei people, though his accent doesn’t match.”

“You think he’s Wei? I’d say he looks like a Zheng native!”

“Nonsense. Zheng people are famously ugly. Among all the states, Zheng has the ugliest people—big, thick lips. Even your king said there were no beauties in Zheng when taking a bride.”

“But honestly, I’ve noticed the people in Linzi are better off than before. The goods I brought from Zhao—they could actually afford them.”

“Yes, yes. In the past, we could only sell to aristocrats. The commoners couldn’t afford anything.”

“This really is a breath of fresh air.”

“Speaking of which,” says a merchant in blue mysteriously, “I heard the current Prime Minister of Chen is the supermarket owner.”

Everyone is shocked. “A merchant as Prime Minister?!”

“Unheard of!”

“I think Chen Hou is open-minded!” someone cries out, standing in indignation. “They say we merchants have no loyalty to our countries, but think about it—how many of us have ever acted as spies for our rulers? If a scholar does it, he gets promoted, rewarded. But if we do it, we risk our lives and get nothing!”

“Every country uses us, but none reward us.”

“I think Chen Hou is good. With such vision, there’s hope for achievement!”

The room falls silent for a moment.

“I used to think Chen Hou was weak,” someone finally says. “But I underestimated him.”

“He’s better than his father.”

“Better than his grandfather!”

After the gathering, Zhao Shang pulls the blue-robed merchant aside and invites him to his room. As soon as the door closes, he asks, “Brother Wei, are you planning to stay in Chen?”

Wei Shang narrows his eyes.

Zhao Shang sighs. “No need to hide it from me. If I meant you harm, I wouldn’t have invited you here.”

Wei Shang doesn’t deny it. “I do have that intention. Chen may be small, but the ruler is open-minded. What we merchants fear most is powerful people. One word from them and we’re done. I do love money, but I love my life more. And besides, staying in Chen doesn’t mean I can’t make money.”

Zhao Shang nods. “Brother Wei is wise.”

Wei Shang adds, “I met someone on the way here. It was he who persuaded me to stay.” He sits down with a faint smile. “At that time, he looked worse than a beggar. His clothes were torn, his bag was gone. He just said he was a scholar heading for Linzi.”

Zhao Shang’s curiosity is piqued. “Where is this man now?”

Wei Shang replies, “In the stables. I took him in, but he refused to be supported by me. Insisted on working by my side and wouldn’t even let me get him a room. He sleeps with the other servants in the stable. He’s got guts. I think he’ll amount to something someday.”

Zhao Shang grows even more intrigued. “But if he’s already in Linzi, why’s he still with you?”

Wei Shang remembers something amusing and waves his hand. “The man loves speaking in riddles. Said, ‘If I have talent, I’ll be discovered. If not, I’ll just go back home and farm.’”

Zhao Shang feels the man is a bit odd but still says, “He must be confident to say that.”

Wei Shang nods. “He said I treated him well, so he gave me some advice—one that would help me stay in Chen long-term.”

Zhao Shang wants to ask more, but Wei Shang realizes he has said too much. He stands and bows. “It’s late, Brother Zhao. Rest well. I’ll return to my room.”

Ignoring Zhao Shang’s attempts to keep him, he quickly leaves.

The State of Wei is much like Chen—both small and weak. But in one regard, Wei is even stronger: its barren land.

Wei Shang can’t help but laugh. Who would’ve thought barren land could be a strength?

The land of Wei is barren, and its people live in poverty. But for this very reason, no powerful country has any intention of attacking it. Still, the people of Wei flee their homeland. They would rather live in other countries—even if the language is unfamiliar and customs are different—than continue identifying as citizens of Wei.

But what hurts Wei Shang the most isn’t Wei’s poverty. It’s its ruler.

The Marquis of Wei is a fool—kind, but weaker than the Marquis Chen. Ever since ascending the throne, he has been bullied by noble families and members of the royal court. Wei is already impoverished and divided, yet the nobles refuse to pay tribute. When they send letters pleading poverty, Marquis Wei actually believes them. Not only does he believe them, he even excuses them from tribute for the next three years.

As a result, the capital—under the direct control of the Marquis—becomes the poorest city of all.
Wei Shang feels that Wei is doomed. This king will not remain in power for long.

The last of his loyalty to Wei fades away. He decides to leave, to stop being “Wei Merchant.”