Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 89 P

The sky is clear and bright. Cao’er Niang carries a bucket of washed clothes and steps out through the back door of the supermarket. The clothesline in the open space behind the building is already filled with garments and quilts. She hums a country tune as she stretches out her arms to hang the last pieces of laundry on the empty pole.

In the open space, children run freely with their toys, their laughter seeming to echo through the air.

After hanging the final piece of clothing, Cao’er Niang stretches her back and turns to look at Cao’er, who is practicing with the others.

Cao’er’s hands are growing steadier—so much so that even her own mother can see it. She isn’t necessarily better than the others at archery, but she isn’t worse either. Her mother constantly reminds and instructs her, so even if she wants to slack off, she can’t. Her body is visibly growing stronger.

Perhaps inspired by Chen Shu, women no longer see it as improper to be strong, and the men, too, dare not voice any objections.

As a result, their bodies become firmer and their arms thicker. While they may not be as strong as Wu Yan or other men who train every day, it is clear that they are stronger than most men, especially when compared to Zhou Yuanhe.

Cao’er wipes the sweat from her forehead. She’s lucky if she hits the bull’s eye once in ten tries. Fortunately, the others aren’t much better.

Wu Yan’s wife, who stands aside with her child, is the only one among all the women who doesn’t train. It isn’t that she’s unwilling, but she can’t get away. Her baby needs constant attention and breastfeeding. Even though milk powder is available now, her own milk can’t be cut off.

Mothers naturally spend more time with their babies.

When the child cries, Wu Yan’s wife can’t bear it. Even if Wu Yan is holding the child, she takes him in her arms to comfort him.

Being a mother is completely different from being a father. A woman carries the child for ten months, feeling every moment of the baby’s growth. Even before birth, the bond develops as the child moves inside her. But men, who do not experience pregnancy or the pain of childbirth, have to raise the child themselves to form that bond.

Wu Yan’s wife also wants to pass the child to Wu Yan, but she can’t let go when the baby cries.

The child, almost two years old now, is still like an infant, only capable of eating, drinking, defecating, and sleeping. Every day, he either cries or sleeps. Even Wu Yan’s wife, with her deep maternal instincts, finds it exhausting.

She can’t be raising a child forever, can she?

Wu Yan’s wife feels helpless.

When Wu Yan’s training ends, she pulls her husband aside with a worried expression. “Why don’t you ask The Lord Immortal if we can return for a while? We should wait until Niuniu grows up before bringing her into the supermarket.”

Wu Yan takes a sip of water, looking troubled. “But if we go back, will we ever be able to return?”

Such an opportunity isn’t something you come across every day. Although Ye Zhou is kind, Wu Yan is aware that it’s unrealistic to expect him to always remember them and pick them up again.

Wu Yan’s wife looks down at the child in her arms and says softly, “Then can you bear to see Niuniu like this forever? She will always be a baby. Don’t you want to see her grow up?”

Wu Yan wipes his face. “Alright. When The Lord Immortal comes back, I’ll speak to him.”

“We’re fortunate to have come to the supermarket and stayed for so long,” Wu Yan’s wife advises. “People can’t be greedy. Greed only leads to hardship. If we go back and The Lord Immortal still remembers us, then we’re lucky. If he doesn’t, it means we weren’t sincere enough.”

Wu Yan sighs. “I understand.”

Others aren’t as troubled. After all, their children are already older—the youngest is six—so missing a year or two isn’t a big deal. As parents, they even think this is a good thing. Their children have endured hardship since birth; they finally have a few months of peace, so what’s the rush?

Being with the immortal is always peaceful. The locations might change, but they have even seen monsters—there’s nothing left to be afraid of.

They wait a few days, and when Ye Zhou returns, Wu Yan immediately approaches him.

Wu Yan is nervous as he speaks his request. He has received great kindness from Ye Zhou, and feels he should repay him with his life and work forever. The job isn’t difficult; in fact, it’s easier than running his own oil mill. But now, Wu Yan wants Ye Zhou to send them away for his own personal reasons.

Thinking of this, Wu Yan feels ashamed. Halfway through his words, he begins crying uncontrollably.

He cries so hard that his face is covered with snot and tears, making the situation even more embarrassing.

Ye Zhou, however, doesn’t think much of it. He doesn’t believe Wu Yan’s request is unreasonable. Raising a baby is hard, especially when that baby never grows up. What parent wouldn’t want to see their child grow?

When Wu Yan has calmed down, Ye Zhou speaks up. “It’s a good time for you to return to the Daliang Dynasty. You can stay there for a while.”

Wu Yan doesn’t dare look up, his voice trembling with excitement. “Lord Immortal! I kowtow to you!”

Ye Zhou hasn’t heard those words in a long time. For some reason, the words “Lord Immortal” make him uncomfortable.

Perhaps because of the cultural difference, he doesn’t mind being called “Lord Moon God” by Ryan and others, but being called “Lord Immortal” makes him feel embarrassed, as though he wants to dig a hole and hide.

Still, it’s fine. Since he has just returned from the cliff, staying in the Daliang Dynasty for a week is no problem. It’s also a good opportunity to make some money.

Ye Zhou says, “It works out perfectly that you stay in Daliang. There are things for you to do there.”

The supermarket is ready to expand. Having Wu Yan and his wife open a branch is perfect—they are trustworthy, and Ye Zhou has full confidence in them. Besides, Wu Yan knows how to handle a pistol. If they can partner with Lin You, security will be ensured.

Wu Yan kowtows again, deeply and sincerely, until his forehead is bruised and swollen. When he stands up, there are drops of blood on the floor.

But it seems like the harder he kowtows, the more at ease he feels.

The Lord Immortal has not despised him! He has agreed to send him and his family back and even offered him work!

Wu Yan cries again, thinking there is no better immortal than Ye Zhou in the world. He is willing to offer his life in service, even if his life isn’t worth much.

Before leaving, Ye Zhou reminds him, “Go to the infirmary and treat that wound on your head.”

Ye Zhou has yet to break Wu Yan of his habit. Although the first batch of employees have learned to bow instead of kneel under Ye Zhou’s instruction, they still can’t help but kneel and kowtow when they are deeply moved.

It seems that they believe this is the only way to truly show their sincerity and gratitude.

It’s a product of the times, Ye Zhou thinks. He will likely still be dealing with this for another five or six years.

There are no special preparations needed for the plane transfer. After all, everything they own is in the supermarket, which will be transferred along with them. The only thing they need to pack is their tent.

Once the notice is received, the employees begin moving their belongings from the supermarket, getting ready to set things up again once they return to the Daliang Dynasty.

Luckily, they don’t have much to pack—just some clothes. The spliced wardrobe can be moved directly to the warehouse, and the air mattress can be deflated and stored away.

Feng Ling also wants to return to the Luoyang Base to see her companions, but since she hasn’t been there for long and doesn’t miss them all that much, she just keeps the thought to herself. She knows she can’t go back anyway. Her contract states that she can apply for a vacation on her original plane, but she can’t reveal any details of the Dimensional jump after returning.

“What was the Daliang Dynasty like?” Feng Ling asks, curious. Though she knows Cao’er and the others are “ancient people,” they don’t seem so different from her, except for their different tone of voice.

Cao’er, while packing her things, responds, “When we left, it was a time of disaster! The north was suffering from a drought. I heard the south wasn’t as bad, but we didn’t go there.” Despite not minding their family’s poverty, Cao’er is truthful. “Daliang was poor. Even when there wasn’t a drought, the traffickers came to the village to buy people. Boys were worth two taels, and girls only one tael. Boys were sent to the government as slaves, while girls had more options. If they were sent to the government, it was fine, as maids. At least they only had to light the fire. But if they were sent to a dirty place, it was over.”

“I used to read stories where everyone was some noble lady,” Feng Ling remarks.

Cao’er shrugs dismissively. “How many noble ladies could there be? Those ladies are locked up in their houses. I don’t think their lives are any better. Just different kinds of suffering,” Cao’er sighs. “I know one from our town—the daughter of the assistant magistrate. She was given to a superior as a concubine.”

Cao’er once envied her. What was wrong with being a concubine? At least she’d be fed, not starve, wouldn’t have to work herself, and even be waited on. Better than being a farmer’s wife.

Isn’t the goal in life just to have enough food and drink?

As a peasant girl, Cao’er couldn’t even dream of becoming a concubine in a rich family.

Now that she can work and earn money, her perspective has changed. She can now appreciate the difficulties others face.

“She’s like an object,” Cao’er reflects. “Sent from one family to another with no choice. Whether to be a legitimate wife or a concubine isn’t up to her. I heard she could read and write poems. But even if she became a legitimate wife, her life might not be good. Married to a stranger, no feelings, locked in a courtyard all day—What’s the difference? Most of the time, neither option is great. If a man marries a wife he’s not happy with, he can still go out and seek pleasure. If he has money, he can have a few concubines. But a woman who marries a man she doesn’t like can only endure it, and she spends her life holding her nose and tolerating him. To the outside world, being gentle and loyal is considered perfect.”

Feng Ling nods. “That’s how it was in ancient times.”

Cao’er continues, “My sister told me it’s not because we did anything wrong. Wives and children are considered the property of the fathers. If we meet someone with a conscience, we’ll be better off. But if we meet someone without one, we’ll suffer for the rest of our lives. Are those noble ladies any different from us? They have their own suffering, but they can’t talk about it. If they do, they’ll just be laughed at for seeking trouble. I don’t lack conscience, but if you ask me to go back, I don’t want to. Since I’ve been human, I don’t want to go back to being a cow.” 

Cao’er says firmly. “I’m not afraid of suffering, but I want to be a human. Even if I die, I want to die by the Lord Immortal’s side.”

Feng Ling looks at Cao’er’s determined expression and finally understands why Ye Zhou has never coerced or bribed his employees, and why he hasn’t managed them strictly. Despite being here for so long, they remain loyal to him. People are perceptive—they know what they can gain by staying with Ye Zhou. For the sake of their common interests, they will only grow more loyal, because when they return to the Daliang Dynasty, they will face a life of hunger, poverty, uncertainty, and no control over their own lives.

They had nothing before, so they didn’t realize what they had lost.

Now that they have it, they don’t want to lose it again.

As they are talking, The Lord Immortal’s voice comes through the radio.

Cao’er, who has recently learned that the sound from the sky is called broadcasting, grabs Feng Ling’s hand excitedly.

The immortal’s voice says, “We’re about to head to the Daliang Dynasty. Don’t go running off.”

The employees immediately shout in unison: “Everyone is here, Lord Immortal, everyone is here!”

Ye Zhou comes out of the broadcasting room. Upon hearing what the employees say, he walks toward the break room and presses the Dimensional Jump button.

It isn’t their first time jumping. No matter how the scenery outside changes, the people in the supermarket are no longer frightened.