Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 52

In the early morning, everyone is working overtime—countless guns need to be scanned into the system.

There are too many customers during the day, so the guns are left piled up at the back door of the supermarket. Only after closing early can they begin moving and scanning them.

After two hours of scanning, Ye Zhou is already feeling dizzy and seeing double. Although the job isn’t technically difficult, and doesn’t even look physically demanding, if you don’t slack off and just keep scanning, your arms quickly start feeling like they no longer belong to you.

Fortunately, they take turns.

Ye Zhou gets rotated out to rest.

“Lemon water,” Zou Ming says, handing him a cup filled with sliced lemon and rock sugar.

Ye Zhou reaches out and takes it. “Thanks.”

The water temperature is just right. He takes a sip—it’s sweet, just the way he likes it.

Ye Zhou has a serious sweet tooth. If it’s up to him, every dish would come with sugar. Sweet and sour dishes are always his favorite.

Strangely, though, he only likes sweet-flavored food—he’s not that into hard candy or chocolate.

“You worked hard today.” Ye Zhou sets the cup aside and begins massaging his wrists. “Chen Shu was chatting with me this afternoon, said you might be looking for someone?”

Zou Ming pauses for a moment. He doesn’t deny it. “She figured that out?”

Ye Zhou is a bit confused. Who else could have told him? Zou Ming isn’t exactly the talkative type. Ye Zhou often wonders if there’s anyone around him he can even open up to.

“Are you looking for someone like me—who runs a supermarket?” Ye Zhou asks. “I think it’s strange. If I didn’t run a supermarket, why would the system choose me?”

Zou Ming explains, “The system selects people capable of conducting interdimensional trade—young, healthy, quick to adapt. Besides supermarkets, I’ve met people who ran department stores, jewelry shops, even hotels.”

Ye Zhou leans in, curious. “How are they? Are they doing okay?”

After all, they’re like his seniors. If they’re doing well, it makes him feel like he can succeed too. It gives him encouragement—and confidence.

He looks at Zou Ming expectantly.

Zou Ming replies, “The department store owner’s still alive. The other two are dead.”

“…Why?” Ye Zhou asks in disbelief.

He opens a supermarket right after graduating college and is still alive. How could people capable of running hotels or jewelry stores be dead?

Zou Ming tells Ye Zhou everything he knows.

Those two were either very lucky or very unlucky. Their first dimensional landings happened in peaceful eras. One died in a struggle with the natives. Especially the jewelry store owner—he made some money and even hired staff. But he was tricked by the natives. They invited him to their home. Several of his employees warned him not to go. Still, he believed that if he wanted to do business, he had to build good relationships with the locals. He even planned to hire some of them—system employees are too expensive.

In the end, he died at that local’s home.

The locals realized he wasn’t anyone special—just a regular person, an ordinary merchant.

The entire village banded together, killed him, and took over his jewelry store.

As for the system employees, once their employer died, they were automatically dismissed. They didn’t get paid and were sent back to their original planes.

The other man had even worse luck. He survived the toughest early stage and thrived in his assigned plane. The world he landed in was still underdeveloped—somewhere between a primitive society and a slave society—but he enjoyed all the comforts he could ask for.

He used a method similar to Ye Zhou’s—pretending to be a deity or otherworldly figure—and gained a group of devoted followers.

As long as he didn’t do anything reckless, he would’ve been fine.

But tragedy struck. He didn’t die from his own mistakes, but was killed by one of his own employees. The employee didn’t do it directly. He coaxed him into signing a transfer agreement, then hired two locals to carry him to a cliff—and pushed him off.

Once the system confirmed the original store owner’s death, the employee inherited everything—including his identity in the original world.

Ye Zhou shivers. “What do you mean, inherits his identity in the original world?”

Zou Ming replies, “Once the transfer agreement is signed, the successor inherits everything—property, and identity.”

Ye Zhou’s eyes widen. “What if the original boss has a wife and kids?”

Zou Ming says calmly, “Then they become his as well. If he doesn’t want to get a divorce, he can just keep pretending—as long as he wants to return to that dimension.”

“So he doesn’t just inherit the store—he even gets the guy’s ID card?” Ye Zhou is bewildered. “How is that even possible? Does the system work like that?”

Zou Ming says, “The system doesn’t care who the owner is. It probably knows employees might exploit loopholes. So to keep them working for it, it gives them benefits. If an employee gets greedy and takes over the store, he’ll need a stable world where he can settle. The original owner’s world is ideal. There, he has a legal identity, maybe even a family and friends—and he doesn’t have to work for it. The system gives it to him. It’s a reward.”

Ye Zhou feels a chill down his spine. “A reward? A reward for murder and theft?”

Zou Ming replies, “A reward for continuing to work for the system.”

Ye Zhou still can’t believe it. “Does this kind of thing happen often?”

Zou Ming shakes his head slightly. “Not really. Most bosses know better than to sign anything carelessly. That kind of agreement only works if it’s signed willingly and with full awareness.”

Ye Zhou asks, “Then why did he sign it?”

Zou Ming answers, “There’s no shortage of people in the world who can twist words and bend truth with a silver tongue.”

He doesn’t know why the boss signs it either—he isn’t in the office at the time. The employee who tricks him has an honest-looking face, always works hard, is quiet and reliable. On the surface, he seems like the perfect, dependable guy.

“He can’t survive in his original plane. It’s his first time taking a job, and maybe to him, becoming an interdimensional trader seems better than being a hired gun,” Zou Ming says, looking at Ye Zhou. “That’s why I tell you not to recruit people recklessly.”

Ye Zhou pats his chest. “Good thing you warned me.”

Zou Ming looks at him, puzzled. He notices the corner of Ye Zhou’s mouth curve into a smile. “You’re not worried?”

Ye Zhou looks back at him. “Worried about who? You? If you wanted to harm me, you would’ve done it already.” Ye Zhou leans back in his chair, resting against the wall, looking completely at ease. “Honestly, just being dragged into this system is already miserable enough. Ever since the last plane, everything I do comes with risk. Whether it’s recruiting or hiring, which one is ever risk-free? Even though the system isn’t human…” Ye Zhou touches his chin. “Well, it really isn’t human. There’s not much I can do anyway—just try to stay alive.” Ye Zhou looks up and smiles at Zou Ming. “Don’t be so serious. I know you don’t mean any harm.”

Zou Ming counters, “How can you be so sure? What if I’m just playing the long game?”

He stares into Ye Zhou’s eyes.

Ye Zhou shrugs. “I’m actually pretty good at reading people. Don’t doubt me.” He adds with a touch of pride, “I think it’s a kind of talent. I can’t always put into words what’s right or wrong about someone, but once I spend a bit of time with them, I can tell whether they’re someone I can really get close to.”

Back in school, Ye Zhou gets along with people easily. He’s good-looking, and even if his grades are average, he isn’t dumb.

Whether it’s basketball, soccer, or games, he’s never the best, but always solid.

Lots of people like hanging out with him—but that doesn’t mean he clicks with everyone.

Maybe it’s all that interaction that teaches him how to size people up.

Zou Ming’s expression softens a little. “Then what kind of person do you think I am?”

Ye Zhou says, “You’re the type who… hmm… a person with a strong will.” He thinks for a moment before continuing, “In broader terms, you’re someone who stays calm no matter the situation. You’re not easily swayed by joy or sorrow. You don’t care much about what others value. You have your own goals, and no matter the danger, you press forward without hesitation.” Ye Zhou looks at him. “Kind of like me.”

Zou Ming purses his lips. “Really?”

Ye Zhou grins. “But I’m not as serious as you.”

Zou Ming raises an eyebrow. “I’m serious?”

Ye Zhou remembers the rare smile Zou Ming shows earlier and quickly adds, “No, no—you’re not serious. You’re quite friendly. By the way,” Ye Zhou abruptly changes the subject, “how did you and Chen Shu meet? I forgot to ask her.”

Zou Ming replies, “We’re hired together. She’s reliable,” he adds. “She’s not in it for the money. She comes from a good background in her original world—she just wants to practice her marksmanship. Simple motive.”

Ye Zhou nods. “What about Zhou Yuanhe? He doesn’t talk much. Sometimes he’s right next to me, and I don’t even notice.”

Zou Ming pauses to think. He’s known Zhou Yuanhe for so long that he’s forgotten how they first met.

After a moment, he says, “I knew him before.”

He doesn’t seem to want to elaborate, so Ye Zhou doesn’t pry.

Everyone has things they don’t want to talk about—no need to dig.

“I’ll head back,” Ye Zhou says, finishing the last sip of lemonade and getting up to resume scanning.

Zou Ming stays where he is.

He tilts his head slightly and sees Ye Zhou and Zhou Yuanhe pass by each other, casually exchanging greetings.

Zhou Yuanhe stops beside Zou Ming to get some water. As he bends down, he doesn’t look up and quietly asks, “Why don’t you just tell him?”

Zou Ming’s face darkens. He grips his cup tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand. His voice is cold.

“Tell him what? That he saved me when I was a kid? That he raised me? And then what? He’ll instantly accept it and turn into my savior?” Zou Ming shoots him a glance. “I didn’t bring you here to run your mouth.”

Zhou Yuanhe straightens up. “I haven’t said anything yet—why are you so defensive?” He adds, “Just wait. When bosses travel between planes, time doesn’t pass. Which means unless he returns to his original dimension, he won’t age or die—they’re basically immortal. Maybe when you see him again, he’ll actually be a hundred years old. If it really takes a hundred years, will you still wait?”

Zou Ming lowers his eyes. His tone doesn’t change—it’s calm as ever.

“I’ll wait.”