I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Thanking the Heavens, Thanking the Divine

Before Chen Kui could finish speaking, more snacks and candies rained down around the altar, far surpassing the quantity given to the children yesterday.

With tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes, Chen Kui muttered words of gratitude to the divine, but his hands moved without hesitation. He tore open a package of spiced duck, broke off a leg, and tasted it.

His pupils dilated in amazement—the flavor was extraordinary!

He immediately broke off another leg for his wife. Though she initially hesitated, Chen Kui firmly pressed it into her hand. Shyly covering her lips with her long sleeve, she took a bite.

The taste was rich and complex, perfectly seasoned with various spices.

Delicious! Even the royal chefs of the Great Qi Kingdom couldn’t create something this magnificent!

In his excitement over the food, Chen Kui disregarded Zhan Chengyin’s presence and stuffed two more packets into his wife’s hands—one of boneless chicken feet and another of quail eggs.

Seeing his boldness, his wife quickly tried to restrain him. But Zhan Chengyin laughed and said, “There’s plenty more, let the children have some too!”

Chen Kui snorted, “These are divine offerings to Mo Fan. Since Mo Fan received candy yesterday, it’s only fair we take a few packages today.”

With that, he gathered more dried beef, meat jerky, and nuts for his wife.

Only when her arms could hold no more did she finally say, “That’s enough! Let the other generals take some home—they all have children too!”

At her words, Chen Kui stopped.

Zhan Chengyin held a list in his hand, illuminating it with a flashlight. His lips curved into a smile.

“General Chen, return to the camp immediately and have them prepare several large warehouses!”

Chen Kui’s heart leaped at the general’s words.

The divine had sent more items, and the quantity seemed substantial.

He asked, “General, how large should these warehouses be?”

“Prepare space for four million catties of grain, plus abundant supplies of instant noodles, self-heating hot pots, and bottled water!”

Chen Kui’s eyebrows twitched violently.

Four million catties of grain—even more than the previous delivery!

Madam Chen, overhearing their conversation, gasped and covered her mouth in astonishment.

Four million catties of grain… such an enormous quantity.

This would feed all the soldiers and civilians in the town for more than half a year!

The Zhan family’s army would never lack food again. The civilians could live in peace, and the soldiers wouldn’t have to fight on empty stomachs.

Thank the heavens, thank the divine.

This was truly miraculous!

Just then, more shoeboxes materialized around the altar.

The boxes were meticulously arranged, with men’s and women’s shoes separated—approximately a hundred pairs in total.

There were also three hundred pairs of socks—two hundred for men and one hundred for women.

Chen Kui gathered ten pairs of women’s socks and ten pairs of men’s socks, presenting them to his wife.

“Take these for the children. These socks are exceptionally comfortable.”

Seeing that Zhan Chengyin raised no objection, Madam Chen accepted the socks.

Among the items were also two uniquely designed bags and some lightweight clothing missing a sleeve.

Madam Chen showed particular interest in the bags.

Backpacks and shoulder bags—if replicated, these designs would greatly benefit soldiers during battle.

Just last night, when her husband went to battle, he carried two bottles of water that were lost when an enemy struck at him.

He fought for three hours, slaying over two hundred enemies, without a single sip of water. When he returned, his lips were cracked and parched.

Noticing her interest, Chen Kui said, “If you like them, take them. Mo Fan won’t mind!”

Madam Chen shook her head. “These are divine gifts for the young prince. It wouldn’t be proper for me to take them. I merely wish to borrow them so the sisters can study and reproduce the design.”

“This way, our soldiers can carry sufficient water and food into battle.”

Zhan Chengyin nodded. “Take them. Return them to Mo Fan once you’ve finished studying them.”

“Yes.”

After Madam Chen departed, Zhan Chengyin handed the list to Chen Kui.

Three million catties of grain, fifty thousand catties of noodles.

Three large trucks filled with self-heating hot pots, sausages, instant noodles, and bottled water…

Upon reading the quantities on the small note, Chen Kui’s fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Overjoyed, he exclaimed, “This is magnificent, General! With this grain, combined with the divine’s previous gifts, the entire city’s population—soldiers and civilians alike—will have food for over a year!”

He was particularly curious about the bulletproof vests and steel plates.

Could they truly stop arrows?

If these steel plates proved as solid as rock, even unarmored soldiers could protect their vital organs.

These items could save countless lives on the battlefield.

They were invaluable—exactly what the army desperately needed.

Zhan Chengyin urged him, “Hurry. The armory and bulletproof vest storage must remain secret. Spies still lurk within the city—exercise utmost caution!”

Chen Kui responded, “Yes, sir! I’ll attend to it immediately.”

He departed swiftly with his guards.

Zhan Chengyin surveyed the shoes, socks, and snacks, his gaze finally settling on the sandals.

He casually picked up a pair to examine them, noting their excellent ventilation.

Removing his worn shoes, he tried them on.

They were remarkably comfortable and cool—even his toes could breathe.

The fit was perfect. He wrote a note to Ye Mumu: 「Chengyin loves the sandals. Thank you, goddess.」

Ye Mumu replied:「 Since you enjoy them, I’ll send more pairs tomorrow. For now, I must return to the warehouse to transport fabrics. Please wait half an hour.」

「As you wish, divine one.」

*

When Ye Mumu arrived at the warehouse, Uncle Yang was polishing a donation plaque and certificate from the flood relief office.

The retired veteran cherished the plaque.

It bore Ye Mumu’s name, and he had mounted it at the entrance, constantly keeping it pristine.

As Ye Mumu approached, he said, “The truck driver, Xiao Huang, delivered the plaque and certificate. I hung them immediately—see how splendid they look.”

Ye Mumu nodded, “They do look wonderful!”

Uncle Yang checked the time—12:30 p.m.

“I should head home before my wife starts worrying.”

“Go ahead, I’ll watch the warehouse this afternoon. You rest at home.”

Ye Mumu placed a watermelon in a plastic bag and helped load it onto his electric bicycle.

He tried to decline, but Ye Mumu insisted.

After Uncle Yang’s departure, Ye Mumu quickly lowered the rolling door.

She brought the Vase from the car and placed it in the warehouse.

First, she transported the sewing machine.

Then came an entire warehouse of fabric—double the previous amount.

*

That afternoon, the first delivery arrived: fifty thousand pairs of shoes, packed in boxes of twenty pairs each.

The shoes were so numerous they filled three of the four warehouses.

Ye Mumu paid the manufacturer.

Seeing her as a reliable, high-volume customer who paid promptly, the boss inquired if she wanted more shoes.

After brief consideration, she replied, “Yes, another fifty thousand pairs, with increased quantities for elderly and children’s sizes.”

“Certainly. We’re low on children’s shoes, but we’ll expedite production. One batch will arrive in three days, with the remainder delivered within two weeks.”

“Perfect!”

The shoe factory owner departed, clearly pleased.

*

When Zhan Chengyin returned to camp, Chen Kui had barely finished preparing one warehouse.

Though “warehouse” was generous—it was merely several tarpaulins strung up to form a tent, blocking outside view.

Chen Kui had no alternative; the divine’s gifts were so abundant that all proper warehouses were already full.

Even the watermelons remained in sand pits.

These makeshift tents used tarpaulins recently provided by Ye Mumu.

Chen Kui had dispatched men at full speed to retrieve additional tarps from his family’s storage.