Ch 36: My Multiverse Supermarket

Even without new reports, the supermarket’s existence was soon discovered by City Hall.

The footage captured by the Commerce Bureau officials during their previous inspection had been automatically uploaded into the government’s administrative system.

The logistics division of City Hall immediately ran an analysis of the supermarket’s products.

One staffer said, “This rice definitely isn’t from Mia Star. Rice grown here doesn’t have such small grains.”

After humanity brought Blue Star seeds to Mia Star, they had begun cultivating the same crops—but the planetary environment had altered them.

The rice plants now grew as tall as a person’s shoulder, with seed heads the size of a thumbnail.

Even after hulling—losing over 30% in the process—the rice grains were still larger than Blue Star soybeans.

When cooked, they absorbed water and swelled until each grain was half the length of a thumb.

A few bites were enough to fill the stomach, so the strain was named “Full-Grain Rice.”

But it wasn’t without flaws: its yield was low and its growth cycle long.

Output per harvest reached only three-quarters of Blue Star’s hybrid rice varieties.

And because of climate limitations, Full-Grain Rice could be grown only once a year.

Wheat, on the other hand, could grow twice per year.

Thus, in every district—from the Long City District and Red Flag District to the Queen’s District, Liberty Goddess District, Kepler District, and Roman District—bread had long since replaced rice as the main staple.

Another staffer pointed at the screen. “And this pork doesn’t look like it’s from Mia Star’s winged swine. It resembles the Blue Star breed.”

Mia Star had its own native fauna—the most numerous being a creature that looked like a pig with small wings on its back. People had named it the Tengyi Pig.

Its flesh was tough and mildly toxic.

Humans had later crossbred it with Blue Star pigs to create an edible, non-toxic variety.

However, traces of the original species were always easy to spot.

For example, Blue Star pigs had four hooves, while Tengyi pigs had only three clawed digits—sharp, curved, and perfect for slashing enemies.

Their wings let them glide and flee predators, a combination of offense and defense that once made them the most dominant species on the planet before Blue Star’s explorers arrived.

But in recent years, desperate humans had overhunted them, driving their population to near extinction.

A few survivors had fled deep into the poisonous mists of the uninhabited forests.

…

After a long analysis, the logistics office reached a conclusion: “Most of these goods were produced according to Blue Star standards. Some even match products that were popular during Blue Star’s twentieth and twenty-first centuries.”

The discovery made the staff quietly excited.

The mayor’s secretary asked, “So, are you saying the supermarket’s goods were transported from Blue Star?”

No one could confirm it.

But one of them offered a bold guess. “Maybe one of the long-lost Blue Star transport ships finally reached Mia Star. It could’ve crashed during that strange catastrophe. Translated on Hololo novels. Someone might’ve found the wreckage and opened this supermarket using the supplies they salvaged…”

“If a transport ship had arrived, the orbital station would have informed us.”

“But we can’t contact the orbital station anymore, can we?”

Mia Star no longer had the capability to launch rockets into space.

All they could do was wait for the station to contact them first.

Yet since the mysterious disaster, no signal had come through. No one even knew if the station had survived.

One official slammed the table. “Enough guessing! Let’s just summon the supermarket owner for questioning!”

“Wait!” the mayor’s secretary barked. “Don’t act rashly. According to the latest reports, when the Tax Bureau and Commerce Bureau investigated her after the last complaint, she shut down for two days in protest. The nearby residents couldn’t buy supplies and are already blaming City Hall.”

“How arrogant!”

“Arrogance implies confidence,” the secretary countered. “We can’t find any trace of her identity in our records. It’s possible she came here aboard a transport ship from Blue Star. If that’s true, it means she either has direct communication with Blue Star—or knows a way to travel between the two planets.”

City Hall was desperate. Any lead that might reconnect them to Blue Star was worth pursuing.

But faced with this mysterious supermarket owner, they had to curb their arrogance.

*

Zhou Li, meanwhile, had half expected an investigation. Yet when the supermarket reopened, no one came.

Aside from the residents’ enthusiastic rush to shop, everything returned to a calm, almost eerie peace.

“Boss, don’t worry!” one customer said eagerly, showing her a holographic photo. “The people who reported you have already been taught a lesson!”

Zhou Li stared.

Don’t do that! she thought helplessly. She was a law-abiding citizen—she’d never encourage vigilante revenge!

The woman showing the photo didn’t care what Zhou Li thought. She only wanted the boss to know that the community firmly opposed further reports, and hoped that, in return, Zhou Li would keep the store open.

In fact, without her knowing, several neighboring communities had decided to band together to “protect” the supermarket.

Their plan was to add a clause to their inter-community agreements and set up road checkpoints. Anyone entering from outside would have to register.

That way, if troublemakers showed up again, the residents could quickly find out who was responsible.

The reason the residents didn’t block outsiders from entering the supermarket was simple—they knew it was impossible.

Every household had relatives and friends elsewhere; everyone would have selfish moments.

Still, worried the stock might run out, one resident asked, “Boss, there’s not enough here for all our communities. What if everything gets sold out?”

Zhou Li replied, “Then I’ll restock. As for where I get my supplies—well, that’s a trade secret.”

The resident let out a huge sigh of relief and immediately shared the “good news” in the community chat.

“…So don’t all rush over at once! The boss said she can restock, so there’s enough for everyone.”

That message quickly calmed the anxious crowd.

Just as order began to settle, a new face appeared at the entrance—a blond, blue-eyed man.

He looked around at the packed aisles, stunned by the number of shoppers.

“…”

Someone behind him urged impatiently, “What are you staring at? Either top up your card or get to shopping!”

He blinked, then said politely, “My apologies.”

He stepped forward, took off his hat, and approached Zhou Li. “Hello, I’d like to buy something here.”

One glance at his posture and clothes told Zhou Li he was from the Queen’s District.

Had the supermarket’s reputation already spread that far?

Without showing her thoughts, she said, “You can exchange Orka or valuable items for points.”

He asked, “I can’t just transfer with my wrist terminal?”

“No.”

He thought for a moment, then took out a small sphere, about the size of a ping-pong ball. “How many points can I get for this photolux generator?”

Zhou Li didn’t know what a “photolux generator” was, but the auction system could identify it.

“Let me check.” She took it without hesitation and scanned it with the auction interface.

[ Agricultural Photolux Generator (Damaged) ]
Year of Manufacture: 7 years ago
Production Date: Star Era 227
Owner: Paul Bowman
Starting Bid: 1,879,900 (Suggested)
Buyout Price: 2,000,000 (Suggested)
(Note: “Agricultural Photolux Generator,” also known as the “Radiation-Free Miniature Artificial Sun,” is primarily used in agricultural production to replace sunlight during overcast or snowy weather, promoting crop growth.)

Zhou Li said, “This one’s damaged. It’s not worth much.”

Paul Bowman’s brows lifted slightly—her instant assessment confirmed his suspicion that she had close ties to Blue Star.

If she could tell it was broken without instruments, it meant she’d handled such devices before—or something even more advanced.

And Blue Star’s technology was far superior to Mia Star’s.

“It can still be repaired,” said Paul Bowman.

Zhou Li pretended to consider it, then said reluctantly, “Alright, I’ll give you 1,879 points for it. After all, fixing it would cost a lot.”

Paul frowned. “It’s worth far more than that at the recycling market.”

“Your Orka isn’t equal to my points, Mr. Paul Bowman.”

The sudden mention of his name made him flinch. He forced himself to stay calm. “At least twenty thousand points.”

“Then you’d better go sell it to the recycling market.”

Paul Bowman hesitated. There was something unsettling about her confidence—and besides, 1,879 Orka didn’t actually buy as much as 1,879 points here.

After weighing it carefully, he finally agreed to the exchange.

System: …

Your bargaining skills truly capture the essence of capitalism.

While processing his membership card, Zhou Li asked the system quietly, “This thing—does it have any radiation risk?”

“It’s a safe model,” the system confirmed.

Satisfied, Zhou Li tucked it into a drawer, planning to box it up later that night.

When money ran short, she could always list it for auction.

Paul Bowman, card in hand, began wandering through the aisles.

He wanted to ask more questions, but the customers queuing behind him were already grumbling.

He decided to come back another day.

…

The incident of the supermarket being reported, followed by the boss’s two-day closure, had become a hot topic across the community.

The more people discussed it, the more it served as free advertising.

Soon, even more people learned about the Good Life Supermarket and flocked to buy goods.

As a result, Zhou Li had to restock frequently.

Lin Jianshan, still new on the job, barely knew where half the inventory was stored in the warehouse.

Moving heavy boxes all day was exhausting; her back ached, and she found herself missing the automated loaders and conveyors from her old mining job.

Still, she never complained—she quietly worked from dawn until late at night.

The nearby residents, who recognized her, began asking about her pay once they heard she worked there.

She kept her lips tightly sealed.

By ten o’clock, Zhou Li closed up right on schedule.

Several residents were still waiting in line outside, but Zhou Li refused to extend hours.

Everyone already knew her firm personality—once she said something, it was final. After one round of pleading, they gave up and went home.

After locking the doors, Zhou Li grabbed a bottle of cola and drank deeply.

“So good!”

She handed another bottle to Lin Jianshan.

Lin Jianshan reached for her membership card, but Zhou Li said, “It’s on me. Doesn’t cost any points.”

“Thank you.” Lin Jianshan twisted the cap open, poured a bit into the lid, and sipped.

Zhou Li stared. “It’s not alcohol—you can drink it straight.”

“I just want to share it with my family,” Lin Jianshan said softly.

“The kids at Tzu Chi House?”

“Mm.”

“You’re a good sister.”

Lin Jianshan smiled shyly.

Then she remembered something. “Oh right, Boss—today that man, Paul Bowman—he’s a City Hall officer. I’ve seen him there when I went to collect relief rations.”

☢️☢️☢️