Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 13

It’s night, with a bright moon and sparse stars in the sky, and the lights in the break room have been on for a long time. Ye Zhou sits in front of the computer, a notebook open in front of him.

Although the items in the [Goods] column have been categorized, there’s no “favorite” button. Every time he wants to find something, he has to flip through everything from the beginning, which is too tedious. So, Ye Zhou plans to spend the night writing down the things he urgently needs, just noting which page and line contain what.

Ye Zhou is most interested in hot weapons. Not to mention rifles, even a small pistol would do. As long as he has one, he’ll feel more secure. Without it, he doesn’t dare go out and solicit business. He can only continue to be like Jiang Taigong. If he has money, he’ll train a security team, just as long as he can be sure they won’t turn against him.

But this is a bit difficult. Although Ye Zhou doesn’t look down on human nature, neither does he hold it in high regard. If the security guards discover he isn’t a god, just a mortal running a supermarket, will they still listen to him? Will they still be grateful for their current lives? Won’t desires grow?

Won’t they be tempted to kill him to get everything?

Especially since many of these security guards are uneducated—they might not even understand the concept of reciprocity, let alone practice it. And even if they do know, how many people would actually live by it?

But if the security guards aren’t equipped with weapons, how long can he protect the supermarket by himself when a crisis arises?

Ye Zhou rubs his face. It’s already three in the morning, but he isn’t sleepy at all.

He feels like he’s stuck in a dead-end alley, with no way out—trapped.

With all his concerns, he can’t think of a solution.

Forget it, he thinks. Make money first, then buy the hot weapons.

He scanned the value of Lin You’s crown earlier—it’s worth nearly 300,000 yuan at this era’s purchasing power.

Ye Zhou hasn’t exchanged it for money yet. He plans to stockpile it first. If he has enough money, he’ll exchange it for a pistol.

Business is really hard.

It’s even harder in times of famine.

“It’s time for dinner!” Cao’er’s mother knocks on the door of the warehouse.

The employees who have gotten up early and are waiting for their meal immediately spring from their beds. They quickly pull open the curtains of their rooms and tie them with ropes.

The curtains are used to divide the space at night, and during the day, they need to be tied up to let the air flow through the warehouse.

The employees don’t mind the lack of privacy. They’re used to living in close quarters, and they know every little detail about each other—how many moles each person has, even on their buttocks. It doesn’t seem strange to them.

In truly poor families, they only have one or two thick pairs of trousers. The siblings take turns wearing them.

Several of them curl up under the same blanket with bare legs. Only the one going outside gets to wear the pants.

Now, each family has their own bed, divided by curtains—there’s really nothing to complain about.

“What do you want for breakfast?” The young wife swallows, whispering to her husband, “I want salted duck eggs.”

The husband, with great ambition, replies, “When I get my salary this month, I’ll buy you a box.”

The young wife smiles. “I have a salary too!”

The Lord Immortal has told them that they won’t work for nothing and will get a “salary” every month, which is their wages.

Although they don’t receive copper coins, they’re given “points.” They don’t know exactly what points are, but The Lord Immortal has said they can use them to buy things at the supermarket, so they eagerly look forward to salary day.

After eating their fill, the employees’ faces and spirits visibly improve.

They’re no longer dull or filled with fear.

Cao’er’s mother, walking in with a large bowl of steamed buns, is warmly greeted by the employees. Cao’er follows behind her, holding a bowl of cold dishes—shredded chicken mixed with vinegar, salt, MSG, and a bit of hot and sour sauce.

After placing the dishes on the table, Cao’er goes out and brings in a pot of sweet soy milk.

Although the employees eat well every day, each meal still brings them great delight.

Their work isn’t tiring. The supermarket is large, but there aren’t many people walking around, so it isn’t dirty.

The Lord Immortal doesn’t impose many rules on them. Apart from The Lord Immortal’s break room and the “monitoring room,” they’re free to come and go in the other areas.

After being there for a while, they’ve learned how to use squat toilets and don’t need to be reminded about flushing anymore.

They’ve also learned how to use many other things.

“What does The Lord Immortal eat on a regular basis?” one person asks in a low voice. “I can make pickles. I wonder if I can offer them to The Lord Immortal.”

Cao’er’s mother sneers. “Eat your meal. What haven’t The Lord Immortal seen?”

The man quickly apologizes. “Yes, yes, I spoke too much.”

Cao’er’s mother takes a bite of the steamed bun. “The Lord Immortal must have descended to Earth to overcome a calamity. You should all be alert. Don’t just sleep after eating and drinking. Especially you men—move around more when you have nothing to do. If you stay as thin as a bamboo pole, it’ll be hard for The Lord Immortal to do things in the future.”

Wu Yan asks cautiously, “Does The Lord Immortal want to use us?”

Cao’er’s mother replies, “Otherwise, why would he save you? He saved you to save more people!”

She’s moved by her own words. The Lord Immortal is like that—so broad-minded, wanting to save not just a few, but as many suffering people as possible.

Why can’t there be more immortals like that?

It would be great if The Lord Immortal wanted to be the emperor!

But that’s rebellious thinking, so she doesn’t dare voice it.

The Lord Immortal is noble, and so is the emperor.

The emperor is a true dragon, and maybe, his ancestors even shared a drink with immortals.

That’s what the storytellers say.

After the emperor dies, he too will return to heaven.

After dinner, Wu Yan delivers breakfast to Zhao Er and the others outside the supermarket, as well as to Lin You in the security room. Since Cao’er and her mother don’t want to go, Wu Yan takes it upon himself.

He first delivers food to the noble in the security room. After all, Lin You is well-educated. Though Wu Yan isn’t highly educated, he isn’t as afraid of Lin You as the others.

Wu Yan knocks on the door of the security room.

After a response from inside, he opens the door and enters.

Lin You is sitting by the bed. He’s never made a bed before, so even though the blanket is folded, it still looks messy. He smiles when he sees Wu Yan enter and says, somewhat surprised, “There’s food for me too?”

Wu Yan replies, “The strongmen outside have food as well. Not just you.”

Lin You grow curious. Once Wu Yan sets the food down on the table, he asks, “How long have you been here?”

Wu Yan thinks for a moment. “A little over a month. The immortal is merciful—he hasn’t driven us out.” Wu Yan adds, “Why hasn’t the Young Master changed clothes?”

He doesn’t know what Ye Zhou is thinking, but after fleeing for so long, no matter how good the clothes are, they’ll be full of various smells and dirt. It would be better to change.

Lin You sighs. “It’s just that there are too many things in the supermarket. I don’t have enough left to exchange for another set.”

He thinks that the crown isn’t worth more than the things in the supermarket, so he doesn’t dare change his clothes.

Wu Yan asks in surprise, “Can’t you just trade the clothes you’re wearing?”

Lin You widens his eyes. “How can I do that?! What I’ve worn is… is that acceptable?”

Wu Yan is silent for a moment before replying, “The Lord Immortal doesn’t care about good or bad, as long as it’s sincere. Young master, have you forgotten?”

Lin You smiles and shakes his head. “I’m too narrow-minded. But… if I take off this set of clothes…” Lin You seems a little embarrassed. He’s never appeared in public in a disheveled state, let alone without an outer robe, wearing only his underclothes.

Wu Yan replies, “Young master can change first, and once you’ve changed, just hand the clothes to me.”

Lin You breathes a sigh of relief. “That’s great, thank you so much.”

Wu Yan purses his lips and smiles. “I’m doing this for The Lord Immortal, no need to thank me.”

He also feels that there aren’t enough things for him to do. He can’t show his abilities, and he doesn’t want The Lord Immortal to forget his name.

He wants to make progress. He once relied on his family’s oil mill, but now, he can only rely on himself to do more.

Though he can’t cultivate with The Lord Immortal, he still has a daughter. She’s young—perhaps she’ll have such luck?

His daughter is drinking Immortal milk now! That could be considered half a step into The Immortal gate, right?

Maybe the Wu family can produce an immortal after all? When he thinks of this, Wu Yan feels a surge of strength.

After speaking to Lin You, Wu Yan goes outside the supermarket, bringing the usual breakfast: steamed buns, cold dishes, and soy milk.

Compared to Lin You, Brother Zheng and the others seem more excited, their expressions filled with flattery.

They had been planning to gnaw on dry rations for the next few days. They’re even reluctant to eat them now—after all, it’s good meat, and eating it now means they’ll have less on the road. Who knows how long it will take to get back?

Wu Yan places the food on the steps of the supermarket and tells them to eat there.

“Are you all from the south?” Wu Yan squats beside them.

Brother Zheng bites into a steamed bun, then sips some soy milk. “That’s right!”

Wu Yan says enviously, “The south is good—the water and soil are great, and farming can fill your stomach.”

Zhao Er snorts coldly. “What nonsense. You have to pay land tax and head tax, and the landlords take rent. Land is more expensive down there than in the north.”

Wu Yan sighs. “It’s all the same, all the same.”

Zhao Er says, “If we make it back safely, I wonder if we’ll find this place again.”

Zhao Er has accepted his fate—he can’t follow the immortal, but he doesn’t want to miss out on this rare chance. If he can earn some money this time, he wants to come again.

Since he can’t cultivate immortality, he has to live a superior life in the human world.

Wu Yan shakes his head slightly. “I don’t know about that. Immortals have their own ways. Where they go isn’t up to me.”

Zhao Er purses his lips, lowering his head to eat.

Wu Yan waits for them to finish eating, then cleans up the dishes before heading back. He can’t help but stop when he passes the break room.

The Lord Immortal lives there.

The Lord Immortal has magical powers and can do anything in the world. This is just a place for them to stay in the human world.

He doesn’t know how to please The Lord Immortal. He can do so little.

Especially with Cao’er’s mother overseeing him.

Although she’s a woman, The Lord Immortal likes her very much.

Who knows where she has learned her tricks to curry favor with the immortal?

For now, he hopes The Lord Immortal can give him a job, so he can show his skills.

He can never live aimlessly. If he just relies on The Lord Immortal for his meals, what will he do when The Lord Immortal leaves? How will he support his wife and children?

In the break room, Ye Zhou has just opened his eyes.

He decides he can’t sit around waiting for death anymore—he has to take the initiative.

But he isn’t sure if anyone will be willing to go out.

He doesn’t know the way, and he’s certain that if he goes out alone, he won’t be able to find his way back. But if he follows others, there’s a high chance that his character will be exposed, and people will realize he’s just an ordinary person.

There’s another problem: if he leaves the supermarket, what if the workers accidentally damage the machines, or cause a fire or other issues?

It’s a real headache…

Author’s Note:

Ye Zhou: “Life is really so hard for me!”