Ch 13: My Multiverse Supermarket

On the first day after the small supermarket disappeared, the refugees stood on the empty mountaintop, uneasy and disappointed.

On the second day, Dou Dalang went up the mountain to check.

The supermarket was still gone.

By the third day, the people from Chen Family Village could no longer hold back. They went to find Zhao Changyan, who was working at the foot of the mountain.

Zhao Changyan said, “It’s only been three days. What are you so anxious for? Are you running out of food and water already?”

Chen Wulang said, “The divine lady hasn’t said when she’ll return. We can’t help but worry something might have happened to her.”

Zhao Changyan chuckled. “What could possibly happen to the divine lady? Instead of fretting about her, you’d be better off building your settlements while she’s gone. That way, when she returns, you’ll have people free to deliver goods to Linwu County.”

Although they were still a little dissatisfied, everyone admitted she had a point.

Especially now that both Chu and Yue refugees were staking out territory—each afraid the other would seize the best land first.

They really didn’t have many hands to spare.

The Yue people followed their own customs, building stilt houses and putting a gate outside their settlements.

The Chu people built temporary wooden sheds first, then compacted earth to make sturdier homes.

During this time, Dou Dalang and Old Chen discussed the matter and decided to jointly send workers to build a road connecting their villages to the Yangshan Pass trade route.

They also planned to improve the path up the mountain, or else hauling goods down would take far too long.

By the seventh day, Qiao Sinang was growing restless.

For days she had been recruiting laborers.

For the sake of money, five men had come forward to sign up.

She offered them two payment options.

The first was in Chu currency: 100 coins per day, with two meals provided while escorting the goods.

The second was payment using supermarket funds: 70 coins per day, with one meal provided.

Since money from the membership cards couldn’t be transferred, they could receive equivalent goods instead.

Unsurprisingly, everyone chose the second option.

But their wages wouldn’t start until the goods began moving, and since the supermarket had yet to reappear, they were growing impatient.

Pressed from all sides, Qiao Sinang was so anxious she barely slept.

Late one night, she finally drifted off—only to wake again a short while later.

Restless, she stepped out of her hut and noticed the sky seemed faintly bright.

Then her eyes widened.

It wasn’t dawn at all—the mountain itself was glowing, lighting up the night sky!

Only the supermarket could shine that brightly.

Realizing what it meant, Qiao Sinang hurried to wake her aunt, Yin Jiao.

“It’s morning already?” Yin Jiao mumbled.

Qiao whispered, “Shh, don’t make a sound. I think the goddess has returned.”

Yin Jiao gasped and quickly got up. “Then what are you standing there for? Let’s go!”

“I know.”

Qiao Sinang woke Qiao Wulang and told him to inform Qiao Erlang and Qiao Jiuniang of their whereabouts after dawn.

Then aunt and niece took the flashlights they’d bought from the supermarket and started up the mountain.

Had they been living near the Yangshan Pass trail, they would never have dared to climb at this hour.

But since the Chu and Yue refugees had cleared large areas around their valley settlements for timber, wild beasts had been driven off or killed.

The mountain paths had also been roughly repaired—safe enough to travel.

Halfway up, they noticed several other lights flickering in the distance.

Qiao Sinang suddenly slowed her pace.

“Auntie, let’s not rush. Take it slow.”

The slope was still steep, and it would be easy to slip if they hurried.

Yin Jiao said, “We should hurry before others get there first.”

Qiao Sinang replied, “The supermarket never opens before sunrise. Even if we reach it first, we’ll still have to wait for daylight.”

By now, others had noticed the goddess’s return—perhaps because they saw the glow, or maybe because they’d seen her and Yin Jiao climbing. Either way, the secret wouldn’t last long.

Hearing this, Yin Jiao sat down on a rock with a sigh. “Then let’s rest a bit. I’m exhausted.”

They rested until the lights behind them drew closer.

When they finally met, it was familiar faces—Chen Wulang and Dou Dalang.

“Qiao Sinang, so it was you two,” Chen Wulang said.

Qiao greeted them. “Up late, aren’t you? Chen Wulang, Dou Dalang.”

“I sensed the goddess’s return,” Chen Wulang said solemnly.

Qiao Sinang rolled her eyes. It wasn’t a “sense”—he’d obviously seen the light.

“Since we’ve met, let’s go together,” said Dou Dalang.

Neither Qiao Sinang nor Yin Jiao objected.

They continued upward.

Soon the slope eased and the terrain opened up, revealing the familiar three-story building.

But to their surprise, someone was already there.

“Chang Qiniang!?”

They recognized the figure at the door—it was Zhao Changyan.

“How is she faster than us?” Chen Wulang muttered.

Qiao Sinang said, “She’s been living on the mountain lately.”

Dou Dalang nodded. “No wonder she has the divine lady’s favor.”

In truth, Zhao Changyan simply preferred to stay away from the others.

Though there was safety in numbers at the foot of the mountain, the real danger for her came from the people.

Living alone up here was, ironically, much safer.

*

Zhao Changyan saw Qiao Sinang and the others but didn’t greet them.

Her attention was fixed on the supermarket—the lights inside were on.

Through the glass, she could see that the interior had changed dramatically, filled with many unfamiliar goods.

When Qiao Sinang and the others saw the shelves piled high, their anxiety finally melted away.

“Where’s the divine lady?” Yin Jiao asked, pressing her face to the glass.

Just then, a mechanical voice boomed from a speaker: “Outside business hours.”

Startled, they all jumped back several paces.

Then, in unison, they bowed and shouted, “We humble people greet the divine lady!”

There was no reply, but none of them dared approach again.

*

Meanwhile, Zhou Li slept soundly, unaware of any of this.

The next morning, she came downstairs after breakfast—and froze.

All the supermarket lights were on.

Her heart sank.

After all, electricity during interdimensional travel cost three times the normal rate.

If her mother saw the power bill after last night’s light show, she’d kill her.

“System! Why didn’t you turn off the lights!?”

“Oh,” said the system innocently, “I thought you wanted to bring warmth to the refugees.”

Zhou Li: “…”

Electricity this expensive, and you want to bring me emotional warmth?

She decided not to argue.

Though it wasn’t yet opening time, she noticed people gathered outside and went to open the door.

Zhao Changyan and the others, who had been feeding mosquitoes for hours, rushed forward immediately.

“Divine lady!”

“Little Boss!”

Zhou Li smiled and nodded to them.

Skipping pleasantries, she turned to her biggest distributor. “Did you bring the order?”

“Yes!” Qiao Sinang quickly handed her the sheet she’d been clutching in her palm.

“No need to give it to me. Keep it and check as we go,” Zhou Li said, leading her into the storage area.

Qiao Sinang had ordered 200 five-kilogram bags of rice.

This rice was ordinary indica rice from Lingnan—coarse and not very fragrant, but cheap at 28 yuan a bag.

Where there’s rice, there’s oil.

The supermarket stocked peanut, corn, sesame, and canola oils.

The first three smelled richer but cost more.

Qiao Sinang figured oil was oil—cheaper meant easier to sell.

So she bought fifty five-liter containers of corn oil.

She also purchased soy sauce, white pepper, and sugar, among other seasonings—even fermented tofu, though not salt.

Salt was too risky. At 2.5 yuan a bag here, it could fetch hundreds or even thousands of coins outside—but any salt not from an official source was considered contraband.

If the authorities caught her selling private salt, it would mean execution.

White pepper, on the other hand, was far safer—and even more profitable.

Once reserved only for nobles, it sold for just 12 yuan per 45-gram bottle in the supermarket.

Worried that selling too much might attract unwanted attention from powerful buyers, she limited herself to 500 bottles, planning to sell them gradually.

☢️☢️☢️