Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 43

Even with earplugs, Ye Zhou still doesn’t sleep well.

He hears the gunshots outside even in his half-awake state. He thinks he hasn’t slept at all, but when he wakes up, it’s already 9:30 in the morning.

Footsteps echo outside the break room as the employees begin their work.

The supermarket isn’t very large, but the employees don’t want to just sit around and be paid for nothing. They always find something to do. Not only do they clean every shelf, but they also clean the corners—even the packaged goods. As a result, the supermarket is spotless every day, with tiles so polished they reflect a clear image.

Although Ye Zhou doesn’t think it’s necessary to be that meticulous, the employees are willing to work, so he doesn’t mind. Work brings stability. Having money without work would make people lazy, and having no money and no work would breed crime. Work also helps people find a sense of belonging.

After Ye Zhou wakes up, he goes to wash his face and brush his teeth. Zou Ming isn’t in the room. Ye Zhou takes out the intercom—he has only recently discovered that there are intercoms for sale in the supermarket, though they are children’s versions with a very limited range. They are more like toys than actual intercoms.

While he can now communicate with Yang Guoqin, he’s concerned about being monitored. His conversations with Cao’er’s mother aren’t dangerous, but he worries she might suddenly blurt out the word “immortal” one day, turning him from “a man from the future” into “a celestial being from beyond.”

And really, no one likes being eavesdropped on.

When Cao’er’s mother receives word that the immortal has awoken, she brings out the breakfast she has kept warm. Since she now handles meals for everyone, Ye Zhou has given her a raise.

Cao’er’s Mother is now the richest employee in the supermarket, and she truly deserves it. Eating instant food every day isn’t a big deal, but now, Cao’er’s Mother grows mushrooms, cooks, and does other chores.

Ye Zhou realizes that Cao’er’s Mother is a very “simple” person. This doesn’t mean she is naïve, but that she is stubborn. Once she believes in something, she clings to that belief with unwavering conviction, even if it means running headfirst into a wall. She has her own logic, untouched by outside influence.

Even if Ye Zhou is cut open and his red heart exposed, Cao’er’s Mother would insist that he is an immortal and would find a reasonable explanation for his death.

Cao’er’s Mother enters the break room with breakfast.

She has figured out Ye Zhou’s tastes by now.

Ye Zhou doesn’t like food that’s too salty or spicy. Sometimes, he craves spicy food, but even if others think it’s just mildly spicy, his lips turn red. Strangely enough, Ye Zhou likes bitter melon, a vegetable no one else in the store can stand because of its bitterness.

But Ye Zhou likes it. In fact, he asks Cao’er’s Mother to cook it with just salt, without even adding eggs.

In the morning, Ye Zhou usually has a cup of soy milk, two steamed buns with fresh meat, and a brown sugar cake. Occasionally, Cao’er’s Mother fries dough sticks for him, and she also makes vegetable porridge with kimchi for him to eat.

The jar of kimchi has become Ye Zhou’s exclusive product. Cao’er’s Mother has never eaten it herself.

However, Ye Zhou doesn’t have much of an appetite today. He only eats one steamed bun and half of the brown sugar cake.

“Put the rest in the fridge once it cools down—it’ll still be good heated up tomorrow,” Ye Zhou tells her. “Where did Zou Ming and the others go?”

Cao’er’s Mother replies, “They said they wanted to go out and have a look! There are monsters everywhere outside! Is the Lord Immortal here to subdue demons?” she asks hopefully.

Cao’er’s Mother is always eager to see Ye Zhou display his powers—flicking his sleeves and capturing all the monsters.

Ye Zhou shakes his head. “I won’t care about those.”

Cao’er’s Mother, with her own theories, begins imagining Ye Zhou’s motives: “With the heavens in charge, even if immortals have all kinds of magical powers, they can’t display them. Alas, I think the people outside are poor. It’s not easy for them!”

Ye Zhou smiles at her. “Go do your work. I’m going out to take a look.”

Cao’er’s Mother leaves with the plate.

She frowns, unsure where to practice the crossbow. She has been learning from Cao’er but doesn’t know how well she has progressed. Now, she is curious about the weapons the people outside hold. They seem more powerful than the crossbow, but she fears she will end up chasing after something more difficult to attain.

Sighing, she decides to find time to practice the crossbow.

Ye Zhou walks out of the supermarket.

He notices that Zou Ming and the others haven’t been idle. They’ve joined the soldiers, but the soldiers don’t pay much attention to them. Since everyone is busy, and the soldiers don’t know each other, it’s normal for civilians to wear civilian clothes even if they are less well-equipped.

Ye Zhou quickly spots Zou Ming and Chen Shu. These two are hard to miss.

But Ye Zhou’s eyes linger more on Zou Ming.

Chen Shu is a woman, so it would’ve been inappropriate for him to stare at her, but Zou Ming is holding a rifle, not the machine gun he usually carries. The rifle looks like it has seen many battles. It was probably given to him by a soldier, but even so, it seems fierce in his hands.

Ye Zhou hasn’t noticed it before, but now he realizes how handsome Zou Ming looks.

Although he knows Zou Ming is good-looking, as a man, Ye Zhou hasn’t really thought about it. But now, holding that gun, Zou Ming looks almost… warrior-like.

Zou Ming isn’t looking at Ye Zhou, but at the zombies in front of him. His dark eyes are calm as he holds the rifle with precision and shoots. The recoil makes his fingers twitch slightly, but he doesn’t even glance down at the gun.

It’s clear that Zou Ming and the gun in his hands have been through countless battles and have become one in some sense.

“Are you awake?” Zou Ming lowers the rifle and walks over to Ye Zhou. “Yang Guoqin wants to see you. They want to buy another batch of bullets, but they want to buy them on credit.”

Ye Zhou frowns. “On credit? Can he even pay it back?”

He wanted to sell the photon cannon to Yang Guoqin last night at a markup, pocketing three million for himself—and now the guy is broke?

Zou Ming hums thoughtfully and says, “He said that the rear supplies failed to arrive. The corn cakes shipped yesterday are the last stock from the Luoyang Base. If more aren’t delivered, everyone in the base will starve.”

Ye Zhou raises an eyebrow. “Do you think that’s credible?”

Zou Ming shakes his head slightly. “Such a large base… even if the corn cakes really ran out, they’d still have tanks.”

“He might not want to buy on credit, but just wants to test your bottom line.”

Ye Zhou nods. “I think so too. In this world, weapons should be more valuable than food. The land here can still be cultivated, and even if there’s limited manpower, high-yield grains like corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes can be grown. There aren’t many food types, but people won’t starve. When people can fill their stomachs, weapons are the most valuable thing.” Ye Zhou continues, “Just now, when I saw you holding the gun, I thought about how even after so many repairs, the rifle is still being used. It shows their weapons are limited.”

The more scarce and limited things are, the more valuable they become. Ye Zhou smiles. “I’ll wait for him to come and talk to me.” Ye Zhou looks into Zou Ming’s eyes. “Why did you all join in?”

Among the system employees, only Sarah hasn’t participated—no one dares give her a gun.

Even Zhou Yuanhe is shooting zombies with a look of despair.

“There’s nothing to do in the morning,” Zou Ming says calmly.

Ye Zhou sighs. “Yang Guoqin should be paying you guys.”

What kind of operation runs on free labor?

“I’m not letting him take advantage of us. At most, I’ll just make a little less profit.” Ye Zhou extends his hand toward Zou Ming.

Zou Ming looks at him for a moment before handing over his hand.

As they clasp hands, Ye Zhou smiles. “…Actually, I want to try this gun.”

Zou Ming: “…”

After Zou Ming quickly withdraws his hand, Ye Zhou notices that his ears are a little red.

Is Zou Ming embarrassed?

Ye Zhou tries not to smile, but he can’t help it. Everyone has their awkward moments, and it isn’t good to laugh at others.

Zou Ming hands the gun to Ye Zhou and explains, “This gun is old, and its trajectory is off. You’ll need to press down when shooting. If you want to shoot the zombie’s head, aim for its chest to make it more accurate.”

Ye Zhou walks to the spot where Zou Ming shot earlier. He holds the gun and positions himself, recalling Zou Ming’s instructions. He aims the muzzle at the zombie’s chest.

He pulls the trigger.

After the shot, Ye Zhou looks at his wrist in disbelief.

Just one shot! His hand, from the base of his thumb to his wrist, is completely numb!

No wonder he had seen a woman being knocked backward by the recoil while using a hunting rifle in a video.

Zou Ming had been holding this gun and shooting with barely a pause?

Ye Zhou stares at Zou Ming, amazed.

Zou Ming comments, “Didn’t hit the head.”

Ye Zhou doesn’t feel embarrassed—he’s barely used guns before. He can’t compete with someone like Zou Ming. In fact, he confidently replies, “I’ll hit it this time.”

After yesterday’s mental preparation, Ye Zhou isn’t as scared of zombies.

Maybe it’s like how drivers don’t get carsick—when attacking zombies, he isn’t scared. His focus is solely on hitting their heads.

After finding a good angle, Ye Zhou tries to pull the trigger again. After several attempts, he looks at Zou Ming and says, “My hand is numb.”

Zou Ming doesn’t laugh at him. He remains steady. Just when Ye Zhou thinks Zou Ming will let him rest, Zou Ming walks behind him.

When Zou Ming wraps his arms around him, Ye Zhou feels like he’s hallucinating for a moment.

Was Zou Ming’s chest always this broad?

Ye Zhou freezes for a second, and before he can process it, Zou Ming holds his hand and says in his ear, “You aim, I’ll shoot.”

Ye Zhou swallows nervously.

Even though he’s a guy, in this moment… he understood what those novels meant by male hormones. Zou Ming isn’t just handsome—he’s downright charming.

Of course, it would’ve been better if the zombie across from him weren’t sticking its tongue out at him.