Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 97

The snow has stopped, the sun shines brightly, and the few flat areas at the mountaintop are now densely covered with tents. Taking advantage of the rare good weather, the soldiers of Chen State lay out furs outside the tents and set their collected firewood in the sun to dry.

With no war at hand, the soldiers no longer wear their outer leather armor and wander about the camp, warming their hands with hot air.

“It’s not cold during the day,” they chat while preparing the fire. “Good thing we have these tents and those blankets. Otherwise, we’d freeze to death at night!”

“That blanket is incredible,” one says in amazement. “A self-heating blanket… even kings of other states may not have used one before, yet we peasants get to use it first.”

Everyone laughs. “Hurry up and get some soup going to cook the meat. It looks nice and fatty—no idea what kind it is, though.”

“Looks like pork!” a soldier says knowingly. “I hunted wild boars back home—same kind of fat and lean mix.”

“Pork? You’re joking again. Wild pigs are rare, and catching them is even harder. Where would we get that much pork out here?” another replies skeptically.

“Whatever it is, it’s meat and it’s edible. That’s all that matters, right?”

“I haven’t had meat in ages.” Someone swallows.

“If General Zuo didn’t disapprove, I could finish a whole pot myself by now.”

“Hahaha!” The soldiers laugh together.

Han Ran wakes up to the laughter outside the tent. He clutches his head in a daze for a few breaths before sitting up. The quilt on him has slid down to his legs, but he doesn’t notice. Bracing himself on the blanket, he sits blankly, unsure of what day it is.

Last night is the best sleep he’s had in days.

There’s no stove in the tent, but with that blanket and the animal skin quilt, he doesn’t feel cold at all. He feels a bit dry now, but compared to the warmth, that’s nothing.

Such a blanket…
Han Ran can only describe it as a miracle.

No matter how skilled the craftsmen, they can’t make something like a self-heating blanket.

The soldiers may not understand, but he does. As the Left General of Chen, he doesn’t possess every treasure in the world, but he’s seen many.

If such a thing exists, even if he hasn’t seen it before, he would’ve at least heard of it.

He sits still for a while longer. Though reluctant to leave the warmth, he eventually gets up and puts on his coat. When he steps outside, the sun blazes overhead. He doesn’t bother with his leather armor or sword.

“General Zuo.” Passing soldiers stop and salute.

Han Ran raises his hand in return, and the soldiers stand back up. He smiles and asks, “Slept well last night?”

The soldiers exchange glances and laugh. “Better than at home!”

“So warm! Not even hugging my wife is this warm!”

Han Ran points at one of them. “You? Got yourself a wife already?”

The pointed soldier lowers his head and scratches the back of his head sheepishly. “My parents arranged it. She’s a good woman. Round face… I liked her the moment I saw her.”

Han Ran laughs. “Alright then. Once the snow stops, you can go home and hug her all you want!”

The others burst into laughter, and the embarrassed soldier complains, “General Zuo, come on! You’re the one laughing now. Can’t even get a wife yourself, and here you are teasing me. You’re jealous, admit it!”

They soon begin mock-wrestling, not seriously fighting but playfully tickling each other.

After the firewood is dry enough to burn, the soldiers shovel the snow away, dig a pit down to the earth, line it with stones, and build a fire to boil water.

They melt snow and drop in the salted meat, a white frost of salt still clinging to the surface.

The aroma of simmering meat soon spreads throughout the camp. Soldiers can’t help but inch closer, eyes fixed on the pot, unwilling to blink.

When the first batch is cooked, the lead soldier shouts, “No crowding! Line up—everyone gets some!”

The cooked meat isn’t exactly soft and tender, not like fresh meat, but to soldiers who haven’t had meat for a month, it’s heavenly. Even nobles mostly eat smoked meat—fresh meat spoils too easily, and live poultry is hard to keep. Dried and smoked meats are the norm.

They usually have chicken or duck, which common folks raise. Horse meat is rare and only eaten when a horse dies of old age or is brought back dead from the battlefield.

Beef is even rarer. Some farmers believe that cattle, having worked hard all their lives, deserve to be buried like humans. Those who dig up buried cattle to eat risk being beaten to death.

As for wild game like pig meat, that’s pure luck. Wild boars have tusks, and even several grown men might not be able to stop one charging. If caught, the animals are often sold to merchants or traded to local tribes for gold, silver, or food.

Now, the soldiers have no bowls. Once the meat is done, they just grab it, wrapping it in snow to eat, not caring how hot it is.

Han Ran takes a piece too. He doesn’t want special treatment and eats what the soldiers eat.

Alongside the meat are steamed buns—just need a bit of reheating and they’re ready to eat.

“This meat’s good. Doesn’t taste like it was just salted.” A soldier takes a big bite and chews contentedly. “It’s rich. Real good meat.”

Han Ran also takes a bite. The flavor is surprisingly layered—complex but not overwhelming.

It’s mostly lean meat, yet not dry at all.

“Seems like it was marinated with spices,” he says in amazement. “This is no ordinary meat.”

A personal soldier adds, “The general traded the Emperor’s Sword for it. Seems like it wasn’t a loss!”

Han Ran lets out a long sigh. “The Sword of the Guard Commander…”

The soldier shrugs. “It used to command thousands. Now it’s just a dull blade. General Zuo, eat up. If you feel bad, you can trade it back later.”

Han Ran smiles, knowing the man is joking. “My family’s not rich. If I really traded it away, my parents might chop me up. Might not even get buried in the ancestral tomb.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be able to go home…”
He misses Chen State—misses home—but doesn’t dare say it aloud.

• • • • • • • • ··

Chen Hou, on the other hand, is enjoying himself.

He basks in warm air, holding a bowl of shaved ice topped with strawberry syrup, biscuit crumbs, and fruit bits, eating slowly with a small spoon.

“This stuff’s really good. If I could bring some back to Linzi, I’d let my wife try it. She loves sweets.” Leaning against the “wall,” Chen Hou says to Chen Yan in a cheery tone, “The physician says I can have one bowl, but you can’t. Still, I can’t eat more than this one anyway.”

Chen Yan isn’t envious. He asks anxiously, “My lord, did you ask the owner here anything? About the State of Chen?”

Chen Hou waves it off. “I asked. I’ll tell you all about it.”

After recounting his talk with Shang Yang, Chen Yan frowns. “It sounds doable… but easier said than done.”

Chen Hou nods. “That immortal gave me good advice. Chen isn’t at death’s door yet, so sweeping reforms won’t be easy. First, I have to secure military power. The royal family won’t dare act rashly. I’ll get the ministers on my side first.” He sighs, “If only I could meet my own Shang Yang…”

Chen Yan focuses on the farming-and-war concept Chen Hou has mentioned. Right now, all the Chen soldiers rely on Chen Hou. He’s so poor that even palace ladies wear wooden hairpins, while royal nobles’ wives flaunt gold and silver.

“But isn’t the collective punishment system too harsh?” Chen Yan asks carefully.

Chen Hou replies, “The immortal gave me advice on that too. I’ll test it out in the military first. He said troubled times call for harsh laws. If people aren’t united, even the smallest task will fail.”

“The First Emperor…” Chen Hou murmurs, “I really want to meet that First Emperor…”

Chen Yan asks softly, “How does Your Lordship know that the First Emperor here isn’t from the Chen family?”

Chen Hou is stunned.

Chen Yan says, “Now that you’ve received the immortal’s guidance, you must govern wisely after returning! If the king and his ministers stand united, Chen will surely rival the great powers! Lu was weak once—now they have hundreds of thousands of strong soldiers.”

Chen Hou stands up, sets aside his ice bowl, and pats Chen Yan on the shoulder. “Good! If we’re of one mind, we’ll definitely make Chen strong! I’ll go visit the immortal again!” He finishes his shaved ice in a few bites, takes the bowl out, and says before leaving, “Get some rest.”

Ye Zhou doesn’t expect to see Chen Hou again so soon—and he’s already afraid of him.
But aside from Ye Zhou and Zou Ming, the others—Chen Shu and the rest—react like mice seeing a cat, fleeing at the sight.

Because of his friendship with Zou Ming, Ye Zhou can’t bring himself to betray him. So, reluctantly, he invites Chen Hou into the lounge.

Thankfully, this time, Chen Hou doesn’t bombard him with random questions. He has just one: what exactly are the contents of Shang Yang’s laws?

So Ye Zhou carefully explains the “Open Land Edict.”

They talk all afternoon. Chen Hou hardly asks anything—only seeking clarification where Ye Zhou is vague, listening silently to the rest.

By the end, Ye Zhou can’t help but wonder if Chen Hou’s personality has changed.

Truth be told, Ye Zhou doesn’t remember the details of Shang Yang’s reforms very clearly. He memorized them during school and forgot them after the exam. Thankfully, he reviews them last night using the records he still remembers.

Shang Yang’s reforms mark the beginning of true centralization during the Warring States period, when society begins transitioning from slavery to feudalism. The reforms emphasize agriculture over commerce, abolish the well-field system, encourage land reclamation, eliminate hereditary nobility, and greatly strengthen monarchical power.

In an era where families rule states, this is revolutionary.

Though Ye Zhou dislikes feudalism, moving from slavery to feudalism is a historical inevitability.

Everyone who studies history knows the benefits of centralized power—but also its dangers. If the ruler is incompetent, he alone can destroy the nation. Only if competent ministers intervene—and the monarch lets them—can disaster be averted.

But during the Warring States, when nobles meddle in state affairs, a unified voice is often what it takes to get anything done. If everyone pushes toward a single goal, success becomes inevitable.

Shang Yang’s laws strengthen the state by weakening the people. Sima Qian describes Shang Yang as “naturally harsh” and “lacking in compassion.”

So many of the laws—like collective punishment—can only be used in chaotic times. Once peace returns, like after unification, they can’t be maintained.

Qin falls by its second emperor. After the First Emperor dies, rebellions erupt everywhere. That, too, is part of the reason.

Ye Zhou doesn’t know if Shang Yang is good or bad, shrewd or cruel—but his methods work. Though the reforms are harsh, implementing them in Chen State might not be harder than it is for Qin.

Chen Hou clearly sees the benefits. If successful, all the royal nobles become his subjects, and he holds real power. But he also knows: the royal family will see it too.

“That twenty-rank military merit system… I could implement it as soon as I return,” Chen Hou murmurs. “But… I can’t add slaves just yet…”

Ye Zhou nods. “One step at a time.”

Chen Hou is in the mood to drink tea at that moment. As soon as the tea enters his mouth, he can’t help but praise, “This tea is truly rare. It tastes sweet at first, astringent in the throat, and after careful tasting, it’s sweet again. The tea leaves are excellent, and the craftsmanship of the tea maker is even better. Even the emperor may not have the honor of drinking this tea.”

Ye Zhou smiles and says, “Since Chen Hou likes it, you might as well take some with you when you leave.”

Chen Hou replies, “No, no, no, the immortal saves my life. I dare not be greedy.”

Ye Zhou shakes his head slightly. “It’s not for nothing. I said before that I like to collect precious treasures.”

Chen Hou doesn’t take it seriously. The immortal has so many things. Which one can’t be exchanged for a city? Take the blanket that can heat itself, for example. If it’s taken out, even the King of Zhao could probably trade it for seven cities.

The Immortal simply enjoys collecting interesting novelties from the mortal world.

“Rest assured, Lord Immortal. When I return to Linzi, I will personally bring people back and give you precious treasures,” Chen Hou says. “I just don’t know whether Lord Immortal will stay here forever, or if you’ll be willing to go to the human world. If the Lord Immortal comes down from the mountain, I’ll sweep the floor to welcome you in person!”

Ye Zhou doesn’t answer. He says to Chen Hou, “It’s getting late. Chen Hou should go to bed early.”

He glances at the clock. It’s already eight in the evening. He hasn’t had dinner yet and has been talking to Chen Hou.

Sensing the implied dismissal, Chen Hou doesn’t press further. He clasps his hands and says, “I’ll take my leave, then. Please give it serious thought, Immortal. If you are willing to descend the mountain, the State of Chen will devote all its strength to your support!”

Ye Zhou sighs inwardly.

With all the strength of your country, what kind of life could you provide for me? I don’t even need to think about it.