Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 67

With Yang Guoqin as the intermediary, Ye Zhou does not have direct face-to-face contact with the leaders of other bases. His only task is to collect the money and hand over the photon cannon to Yang Guoqin. Regardless of what Yang Guoqin may think about it, Ye Zhou acknowledges the favor he is doing for him.

Ye Zhou knows that acting as a middleman is not an easy job, and Yang Guoqin has to deal with many problems and doubts.

He will leave this plane soon, and the next round of troubles will fall solely on Yang Guoqin.

“I always feel like I owe him a big favor.” Ye Zhou comes out of the bathroom, wearing blue pajamas and drying his hair with a towel. Under Zou Ming’s influence, he has begun dressing and undressing in the bathroom.

After all, they are roommates, and sometimes they need to be mindful of each other’s privacy.

Zou Ming is tidying up his personal belongings.

When he has free time, he exercises and stays fit, or goes through the few personal items he has with him.

“There will be a time to pay him back.” Zou Ming sets a small wooden box down on the table.

Though Ye Zhou is curious, he does not ask about the contents of the box.

He catches a quick glance earlier and notices what appears to be a pocket watch and a pendant inside.

They look delicate, still as pristine as new, despite being carried around for so long.

Ye Zhou quickly sets aside his curiosity. He sits on the bed, takes a drink from the cup beside him, and drains it. Then he lays back, arms spread wide, speaking in a relaxed tone: “Yeah, there will always be a time to pay it back. I can leave after receiving the last payment. What do you think the Minzil continent will be like?” Ye Zhou asks, his excitement palpable. “The name sounds like a magical place. Do you think there will be a magic academy? Like in Harry Potter? Magic wands, spells, all that?”

Zou Ming places the wooden box in the cabinet and glances at Ye Zhou. He can see the excitement and longing in his expression. He shakes his head slightly: “I don’t know. I don’t have any information on the Minzil continent, and no one I know has been there.”

After spending time working on different planes, Zou Ming has met many others who, like him, have been hired to work in various locations. Though they lose contact after returning to their original planes, they never know when they might be hired again. But when they do work together, they often exchange information to learn which planes are safe and which ones are dangerous.

After all, the employers can choose who to hire, and the workers can decide whether to accept the job.

If a life-threatening job has a low salary, it is not worth the risk.

Ye Zhou laughs and says, “After the next dimension jump, I’ll know if the system follows a pattern.”

Zou Ming: “What pattern?”

Ye Zhou looks up at the ceiling. “Seeing if each jump unlocks a black tech. Daliang Dynasty is the first plane, so we won’t count it for now. The protective shield was unlocked here. If that’s the pattern, then something should be unlocked when we go to the Minzil continent. It’d be great if it boosts the force value or helps protect the supermarket.” Ye Zhou continues, “I’m still not sure how effective this protective shield is. What if the other side turns hostile after entering the supermarket? Will the protective shield work then?”

Ye Zhou thinks it is very likely. After all, although the system creates quality items, it never lets people get things too easily. It is more about making people work for them.

In this case, the supermarket needs black technology protection.

Even with people like Sarah and the others, Ye Zhou still feels there is a lack of insurance.

He never has too many safety measures.

“I don’t know when I’ll make it through.” Ye Zhou closes his eyes, covering them with his arm. He speaks softly, “But I’m not as scared as before.”

Zou Ming pauses. “Scared?”

Ye Zhou smiles faintly. “Can’t you tell? I’ve always been scared. I’m afraid the people at the base might harm me. I’m afraid I might be betrayed by those close to me. I wasn’t like this before, not paranoid.” Ye Zhou continues, his voice gentle. “But here, I can’t rely on anything. Back in my original plane, I could rely on the law and order. But here, being the boss of the Dimensional supermarket, all that’s gone. Especially since the system won’t stop anyone from hurting me, as long as the other person keeps working honestly after it happens.”

Despite having so many people around him, Ye Zhou still cannot find real peace of mind.

He admits, “I realize now that my insecurity comes from within myself.”

Zou Ming remains silent, listening carefully to Ye Zhou’s confession. Time seems to stretch as the quiet night envelops them.

Finally, Ye Zhou speaks again: “Because I’m weak. I might have been stronger than Wu Yan and the others before, but that was then. Now, I know I could never beat you no matter what. But now, I’ve learned how to use a gun.” Ye Zhou smiles, “At least now I can protect myself.”

He has killed people before, so if his life is threatened, he feels confident he can shoot without hesitation.

That hurdle has opened his mind a lot.

“I still have a long way to go in training,” Ye Zhou says.

Zou Ming opens his mouth, wanting to say, ‘You can rely on me,’ but in the end, he remains silent.

If he says it, it will not be for Ye Zhou’s benefit, but for his own selfish reasons.

All power is truly power only when you hold it yourself.

A sense of security cannot be given by others; it must come from within.

This is something Ye Zhou has taught Zou Ming early on, and Zou Ming keeps it in his heart, never forgetting it.

Ye Zhou breaks the silence. “So, if you have time, will you teach me hand-to-hand combat?” Ye Zhou thinks for a moment. “Is it too late for me to learn now?”

After all, the professional fighters Ye Zhou knows all start training as children.

Zou Ming replies, “It’s never too late. It’s never too late to start.”

Ye Zhou turns to look at Zou Ming, noticing the fire in his eyes, as though he is planning to train him into a world-class fighting master.

Ye Zhou hesitates. “…My goal is just to be able to protect myself, not lose in a one-on-one fight, and have a chance of winning in a one-on-two. I’m not planning on fighting ten people at once.”

After all, he is only human!

Zou Ming smiles. “If I’m going to teach you, I’ll teach you to be the best. So good that no matter who stands before you, they will bow.”

Ye Zhou slightly parts his lips. “…You’ve got bigger plans than I do.”

“Let’s start tomorrow morning,” Zou Ming says, glancing at the time. “I’ll wake you up at five.”

Ye Zhou grimaces. “Five o’clock?”

Zou Ming nods. “The morning is the best time. That’s when your mind is sharpest.”

Although Ye Zhou wants to protest, he cannot think of a reason to back out. So, he stomps off to the bedroom and collapses on his bed.

Before he falls asleep, Ye Zhou is already worrying about the grueling training that awaits him.

At the same time, he cannot help imagining the scene after he truly becomes a fighting master. Maybe he has a talent for it? After all, he is very skilled with guns. Even Chen Shu has said he doesn’t look like someone who hasn’t received long-term training.

Ye Zhou turns over in bed, pulls the thin quilt over his head, and drifts off to sleep.

“Why don’t you go and ask?” Qian Lan is kneading dough. Chen Gang does not have to go to work today, so the family has gathered together. She helps her father-in-law cook while Chen Gang plays with their two daughters in the living room. The three elders are playing a game of Landlord, with peanuts as the prize.

After hearing Qian Lan’s words, Chen Gang makes a shushing gesture to his daughters. The girls think their father is still playing with them and respond by winking and laughing.

Chen Gang walks over to the kitchen door. “Do you want to go with the boss?”

Qian Lan is taken aback and shakes her head. “No, I mean we’re a family. We should go together.”

Chen Gang does not understand how Qian Lan comes up with this idea. After the last dinner, she seems a little distracted. She has wanted to say something but stops several times. Chen Gang eventually manages to get her to talk.

However, he does not expect her idea to be so outrageous.

“What do you think?” Chen Gang asks, not angry but surprised. “We’ve moved to a bigger house now, and our lives will only get better. If you’re worried about my job, I’ll ask around at a few more factories. I’m sure I’ll find something.”

Qian Lan shakes her head, biting her lower lip. “It’s not because of that.”

Chen Gang leans against the kitchen doorframe. His father quietly retreats when he notices that his son and daughter-in-law need to talk.

Qian Lan speaks again. “If the base was like before, I wouldn’t be thinking of leaving. No matter how bad this place is, it’s still my home. I can’t just abandon it now. But the base is getting better! More and more people will come.” She pauses in her work. “I just feel like this is an opportunity.”

Chen Gang is confused. “What opportunity?”

Qian Lan shakes her head, looking uncertain. “I don’t know, but I just feel like if we don’t seize this opportunity, we’ll regret it later.”

Chen Gang feels like Qian Lan is playing a guessing game. He sighs and says, “Okay, even if the boss agrees, we can only take two children with us at most. What about the elderly?”

“I didn’t say we must go!” Qian Lan looks at him, frustrated. “Why do you make me sound like I want to abandon my family and children to live a better life?”

“I just asked you to ask. If the boss agrees and we can take the children and elderly with us, then we’ll go.”

“If the boss doesn’t agree, we won’t go.”

Chen Gang raises another concern. “Have you thought about what we’d do if Mom and Dad don’t want to go? And what if the kids don’t want to go?”

Just as Chen Gang finishes speaking, his eldest daughter tugs at his clothes. He looks down at her.

She says in a sweet voice, “Dad, we’re willing to go. Grandpa and Grandma are willing to go too.”

Chen Gang is stunned. He looks at his parents and parents-in-law, who have gathered behind him without him noticing. He asks, “Mom and Dad… are you really willing to go?”

The elders nod in unison.

Chen Gang is confused. “Why?”

The elders answer simply, “Working in the supermarket seems to help people live longer. We can’t do heavy work, but we can still help with things like moving tables, sweeping floors, and mopping. We also want to see our granddaughters grow up.”

Chen Gang turns to look at Qian Lan.

She does not say anything.

Chen Gang sighs. “So I’m the last one to know. Alright, I’ll go ask. If the boss doesn’t agree, don’t be angry with me.”

Qian Lan does not seem happy. She just says, “Go ahead.”

Cao’er has told her that ever since they started working in the supermarket, they haven’t gotten sick. Cao’er Niang, who used to suffer from leg pain during rainy weather, has not had any symptoms since.

Qian Lan’s parents and parents-in-law have all suffered from chronic health issues as they aged. She is not sure where the people from the supermarket are going or if it can truly extend people’s lives, but she has a strong feeling that this is an opportunity they cannot miss.

If they miss it, they will regret it for the rest of their lives.