Chapter 147
The notifications from Chi Hao kept coming throughout the day, with only a brief pause at noon.
By the end of the day, Chi Hao had attracted 531 new customers, shooting his level up from Level 2 to Level 8 in just one day.
Although he hadn’t quite reached his goal of Iv10, he felt that he was close enough.
[Message Board (Public Channel)]
[Greenish Blue]: Finally, I can talk!
[Pan Shi]: Wow! Another newcomer!
[Handsome Zhou]: Warm welcome.
[Pu Wei]: Welcome, welcome.
[Cloud Eagle]: Welcome.
[Changqing]: clapping sounds
[Eastern Sweet Tang]: Wow!
[Pan Shi]: Changqing is a newcomer too?
[Greenish Blue]: Hi there! Yes, I’m a newbie.
Seeing the bustling activity on the message board, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but grin.
Yes, after settling the 25 new residents and returning their belongings, Grandpa Li (a.k.a Changqing) had reached Level 5 through trading with them. This unlocked his ability to speak on the message board—just a tiny bit earlier than Chi Hao.
Tang Yu’an was extremely satisfied with Chi Hao’s performance today.
The 531 new customers Chi Hao brought in translated to 1,593 experience points, allowing Tang Yu’an to level up again after already gaining a level yesterday!
[Merchant Level: Level 15]
– New items in the market: Glutinous rice flour, dried squid, pencils, ballpoint pens, exercise books.
– Details available in the “Wholesale Market” section.
– Personal warehouse slots +1 (total: 19 slots), authorized employee slots +1 (total: 4 slots).
– Daily dream bottle capture limit +1 (total: 3/day).
– New feature: Link substore teleporters directly. Details in the “Store” section.
– Remote retrieval skill upgraded to Lv14. Details in the “Skills” section.
– Seven-day sale refresh card +1.
Finally, Tang Yu’an met one of the conditions to upgrade to Level 3 store status, namely reaching merchant level Level 15.
The new items in the wholesale market were a pleasant surprise, especially the stationery. These were highly practical, not just for him and Xiao Qi to use in class but also for their employees.
The personal warehouse now had 19 slots, with 4 slots that could be authorized for employees.
The daily dream bottle limit increased to three, meaning they could capture another bottle tonight after using two earlier that morning.
But what excited Tang Yu’an the most was the substore teleporter linking feature.
Previously, every time they built a teleporter, they had to spend 2,000 points to link it to the main store. Now, they could link teleporters directly between substores, eliminating the need to go through the main store.
This not only increased the security of the main store but also allowed for the possibility of opening teleporter access to employees.
Of course, setting up a substore link wasn’t free.
[Spend 5,000 points to designate “Desolate City Grocery Store, Store No.1” as a teleporter hub?]
Though the cost was steep, Tang Yu’an didn’t mind much, especially since Chi Hao alone had earned him 16,992 points today!
After spending 10,000 points to permanently link Store No.1’s teleporter to both the Jufeng Town and the swimming pool, he still had nearly 2,000 points left over!
*
After reaching Level 15, Tang Yu’an’s telekinesis range increased to 27 meters.
However, he noticed that the experience required to level up had skyrocketed again.
[Merchant Level: Level 15 (1995/2100)]
Even with the boost from Chi Hao, Xiao Cao, Shi Tou, and Hai Jing, he was only just nearing Level 16.
The Jufeng Grocery Store’s Traffic Boost Card was still active, and the traffic it generated was overwhelming.
To prevent overcrowding and potential disasters, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi spent the day in Jufeng Town managing the flow.
Whenever crowds became unmanageable, Tang Yu’an temporarily closed the store, which paused the effect of the Traffic Boost card.
Though this wasted some of the card’s active time, they felt it was a necessary trade-off to avoid disasters like trampling incidents.
Having seen the devastation caused by such events on TV news, they knew the danger of uncontrolled crowds.
*
That evening, as the store’s operating hours ended and darkness fell, the streets lit by torches, Tang Yu’an was inside preparing more salt for sale.
But before he could pack the salt, he heard a loud commotion outside.
He quickly stowed the salt and rushed to the door, opening it a crack. Zhou Qi was already pushing through the crowd, shielding Shi Tou and Xiao Cao as they forced their way inside.
Through the chaos, Tang Yu’an caught a glimpse of people storming the store, snatching salt and vegetables with frenzied, greedy expressions.
These people, faces twisted with desperation and madness, pushed and shoved each other with terrifying ferocity.
The next moment, Zhou Qi slammed the door shut.
“To the basement!”
While Tang Yu’an was still processing what was happening, Xiao Cao grabbed his hand and dragged him to the basement entrance.
“Little Divine Doctor, hide! Those people have gone crazy!”
Meanwhile, Shi Tou braced himself against the door, helping Zhou Qi hold back the mob outside.
“There’s salt in there!”
“Open the door! Open the door!”
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Tang Yu’an, never having encountered such chaos, was initially frozen in fear. The loud banging on the door jolted him back to his senses.
Clenching his teeth, he cast Lightfoot Technique on Xiao Cao and, ignoring her struggles, pushed her into the basement.
The staircase was steep, but with the aid of the technique, the fall wouldn’t hurt her.
As Tang Yu’an rushed back to the door, a hand punched through the fragile wooden barrier, grasping at Shi Tou like a ghostly claw from hell.
Without hesitation, Tang Yu’an slammed a Sorrow Marble onto the hand. Once Shi Tou was freed, he cast Lightfoot Technique on him as well.
Under the effect of the spell, the 40 kilos Shi Tou became feather-light, allowing Tang Yu’an to yank and shove him straight into the basement entrance.
“Brother Qi!”
As Shi Tou was pushed out of the way, Zhou Qi grabbed a 50 kilos sack of soybeans from Store No.1 and used it to block the door.
Feeling the effects of the Lightfoot Technique, Zhou Qi quickly wrapped his arms around Tang Yu’an and jumped into the basement together.
The moment they landed, the fragile door was breached by the mob.
The thin wooden walls of the Jufeng Grocery Store began to buckle under the sheer number of people rushing in.
Faintly, the shouts of guards could be heard in the chaos outside.
But once looting began, the frenzied crowd became like a herd of beasts, unstoppable in their madness.
*
In the dim basement, a flashlight flickered on, casting faint light against the ceiling and bringing some clarity to the pitch-black interior.
Xiao Cao’s face was pale, and Shi Tou didn’t look much better.
They clung to each other tightly, staring up at the tiny entrance above, their eyes filled with terror.
What surprised them was that, despite people stepping directly onto the entrance, no one fell through.
Just as the little divine doctor had said, the basement seemed truly safe.
Tang Yu’an relaxed slightly upon confirming that Xiao Cao and Shi Tou weren’t hurt. He turned to Zhou Qi.
“Brother Qi, what on earth is going on?” he asked, confused.
Why had the customers suddenly turned violent?
Zhou Qi shook his head, his expression grim.
It was Xiao Cao who, having calmed down, angrily spoke up.
“Someone started stealing! Once the first person grabbed things without paying, others followed, and then everything spiraled out of control!”
“Yeah! It was that bald guy, Liu! He didn’t bring anything to trade and just grabbed the salt. Then everyone else started reaching for it too, and things got crazy.”
Shi Tou was furious, but tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
Watching the soybeans spill one by one through the entrance, he knew that the bag Zhou Qi had used to block the door was being ruined.
His heart felt heavy with despair.
Shi Tou and Xiao Cao had worked so hard to establish this business, and now it was all destroyed… If things ended like this, the little divine doctor and the manager likely wouldn’t sell salt in Jufeng Town anymore.
Without their protection, even if they had salt, they wouldn’t dare to sell it…
This frenzy of theft and violence—how could two siblings possibly fend off such chaos?
The same thought occurred to Xiao Cao.
The siblings hugged each other, sobbing silently to avoid being overheard by the mob above. Their restrained cries made them look incredibly pitiful.
Just as Tang Yu’an was about to console them, he noticed flickering flames above.
The sound of screaming erupted from the mob.
“These people have gone too far!” Tang Yu’an exclaimed. “Not only are they stealing, but now they’re trying to burn the store down?”
Thick smoke began seeping into the basement, triggering the protective barrier. Flames and smoke were repelled, but the confined space became stifling.
“We need to leave,” Shi Tou finally said, his voice trembling. Survival was more important than the lost profits.
Xiao Cao wiped her tears and pointed to the sealed stone door in the basement.
“Little Divine Doctor, Manager, can we leave through there?”
Tang Yu’an shook his head. He and Zhou Qi hadn’t explored what lay beyond that door. Now wasn’t the time to risk it.
“Then what do we do?” Shi Tou asked, panicked as Xiao Cao coughed uncontrollably from the lingering smoke.
Tang Yu’an exchanged a glance with Zhou Qi.
The question of whether to reveal Store No.1’s existence to Xiao Cao and Shi Tou had been a topic of debate between them.
Now, however, they had no choice.
They couldn’t abandon the siblings here, and the fire above showed no signs of abating…
Fortunately, Xiao Cao and Shi Tou seemed trustworthy for now. As employees, they could also be “dismissed” if necessary.
Zhou Qi granted them teleportation access to Store 1.
“Teleportation? Store No.1 and Store No.2?” the siblings echoed in unison, confused.
“Every day, we leave through the small house, but you’ve noticed we don’t come back the same way, right?” Tang Yu’an said.
Xiao Cao and Shi Tou exchanged glances, nodding.
They had long found it strange but assumed the little divine doctor and manager entered through the stone door.
“Come with us to Store No.1,” Tang Yu’an said firmly. “From now on, you’ll live there. Nowhere is safer than Store No.1.”
Compared to the Jade Pavilion Inn, Store No.1 was indeed a more suitable place for them to live.
Staying there allowed them to sleep peacefully at night and safely commute to Jufeng Town during the day for business, without worrying about encountering dangers on the road from the Jufeng Grocery Store to the Jade Pavilion Inn. It was a much more comprehensive solution.
Previously, since the teleportation process had to pass through the main store’s attic, it wasn’t as convenient. But now, with inter-branch teleportation possible, there were no such concerns anymore.
[You are initiating teleportation. Please select your destination.]
1. Peace Grocery Store
2. Peace Grocery Store – Store No.1
Tang Yu’an selected the second option, and the dim teleportation array beneath his feet lit up, flooding the dark basement with a dazzling white glow.
Shi Tou and Xiao Cao stared in astonishment.
Right before their disbelieving eyes, Tang Yu’an vanished completely from view.
*
Store 1, Room 901 Master Bedroom
Tang Yu’an’s figure materialized on the teleportation array. He stepped aside to wait for Zhou Qi and the siblings, but his hands didn’t stay idle.
Since it had been decided that Shi Tou and Xiao Cao would stay here, he immediately began arranging their accommodations.
He chose Room 903 for them, installed doors for the entryway and two bedrooms, and prepared two warm quilts for them.
As for clothing, since they hadn’t yet sorted out the new residents’ arrangements, that would have to wait.
By the time he finished, Shi Tou and Xiao Cao appeared on the teleportation array, followed shortly by Zhou Qi.
The siblings gazed around the sturdy stone house in awe, stammering, “Is… is this a fortress?”
Tang Yu’an chuckled and shook his head.
“Welcome to Desolate City Haven!” he said warmly to Shi Tou and Xiao Cao.
“Desolate City Haven?”
“Is this really the Desolate City?”
Although they had heard rumors that the little divine doctor and the store manager lived in the Desolate City, Shi Tou and Xiao Cao hadn’t taken it seriously. Especially after the flood, they assumed the pair had settled in Jufeng Town permanently.
But now it turned out to be true—the Desolate City!
In the blink of an eye, they had traveled from Jufeng Mountain to Desolate City. What kind of magic was this?
Seeing their dusty, disheveled appearance, Tang Yu’an smiled and said, “To celebrate your move here, I’ll perform a purification ceremony for you.”
“Purification ceremony?”
The siblings stared at Tang Yu’an blankly, like two bewildered geese.
Tang Yu’an raised his hands, summoning a bright but gentle glow. He tossed the ball of light lightly, enveloping the two in its radiance.
Nearby, Black Pearl, who had come to watch, flicked her tail and stepped into the purification range.
When the glow dissipated, Black Pearl inspected her now-clean, fluffy fur with satisfaction. She gave Tang Yu’an a pleased “meow” and received a head pat in return before strutting elegantly out the door.
At the entrance, she glanced back at Shi Tou and Xiao Cao.
The siblings froze, not daring to move under her cold, assessing gaze.
Only then did Black Pearl shift her attention, transforming into a small orange kitten and darting out of sight.
*
“That was Black Pearl,” Tang Yu’an explained. “Don’t be afraid; she’s very gentle.”
“Gentle?”
Shi Tou and Xiao Cao shuddered at the memory of the cat’s intimidating stare.
A mutated beast like that could hardly be considered “gentle.”
Still reeling from fear, they hadn’t noticed much about the earlier glow. It wasn’t until they saw each other that realization dawned.
“Shi Tou?”
“Xiao Cao?”
Though still thin and poorly nourished, their now-clean faces and hair made them look remarkably better.
They examined each other like strangers meeting for the first time.
“Little divine doctor, was that… the purification ceremony?” The siblings turned to Tang Yu’an, their eyes filled with admiration and awe.
Tang Yu’an nodded.
“Whenever someone moves into Desolate City Haven, I perform a purification ceremony for them.”
“There are others living here?” Xiao Cao asked curiously.
“Yes, we’re one big family now.”
Tang Yu’an led them out of the teleportation room and into Room 903. “Room 902 belongs to Grandpa Li, and this one will be yours.”
Although Grandpa Li now stayed mostly in Room 501, Room 902 was still reserved for him to store personal belongings.
“There may be more employees in the future. For now, we have enough rooms, but we’ll make other arrangements if we need more space later.”
Tang Yu’an opened the bedrooms in Room 903. “These two rooms are yours and won’t be shared with anyone else.”
“You mean we each get our own room? And we can live here permanently?” Xiao Cao asked, looking at the modest but cozy bedroom.
Zhou Qi nodded. “Yes. Since you’re a girl, having your own space is more appropriate.”
Although malnourished and underdeveloped, with her short, ragged haircut making her look like a boy, Xiao Cao was thirteen. Now that she had food and warmth, her body would begin to grow.
Xiao Cao nodded blankly, while Shi Tou was delighted with the arrangement.
“There’s even a new quilt!” he exclaimed, running into one of the bedrooms and spotting the fresh bedding Tang Yu’an had prepared.
“This is just on loan,” Tang Yu’an said, handing them each two Lanhu leaves.
As ordinary humans, the siblings were highly susceptible to the cold nights. The Lanhu leaves would keep them warm in bed.
“Once the heated kangs are set up, you can return these to me.”
The siblings carefully took the leaves, marveling at their beauty and apparent value.
“We’ll take good care of them!” they promised earnestly.
Tang Yu’an then added, “Living here isn’t free, though.”
“Let us know what you need us to do, and we’ll do it!” Shi Tou said, patting his chest confidently.
“For now, we probably can’t sell salt at Jufeng Town for a few days. Stay here at Store No.1 and help manage the residents,” Tang Yu’an replied.
At the mention of the Jufeng Grocery Store, Shi Tou and Xiao Cao’s expressions turned downcast again.
“Will you still go back to sell salt in Jufeng Town?” Xiao Cao asked hesitantly.
“Of course!” Tang Yu’an replied matter-of-factly. “With such a large population and such good salt sales, how could we possibly give up on such a big market?”
“But those people…”
Tang Yu’an pursed his lips. To say he wasn’t upset or hurt would be a lie. But as he had just stated, abandoning Jufeng Town wasn’t an option.
“This situation was something we anticipated before,” Zhou Qi interjected to reassure them. “Don’t worry about it.”
He reached out and gently patted Tang Yu’an’s head before turning to Shi Tou and Xiao Cao.
“Come with me.”
*
Zhou Qi led the siblings downstairs to the fifth floor, where Grandpa Li and Lin Zhen were still busy managing the influx of new residents.
With the number of inhabitants increasing, so did the demand for various items. Additionally, unlike the older residents who arrived empty-handed, the newcomers had brought their belongings with them. This meant they had items they could use for trading as soon as they moved in.
Since Room 501 was designated as a restricted area, Grandpa Li and Lin Zhen frequently had to go in and out to retrieve goods.
When Zhou Qi arrived with the two new young employees, Grandpa Li barely raised an eyebrow. After all, they had just added 25 people to the resident list the previous day. What difference would two more make?
“Grandpa Li, these two are also employees,” Zhou Qi explained. “Let them help out for the next few days.”
Grandpa Li finally gave the siblings a closer look.
“Not bad, not bad. Things are indeed a bit hectic today.”
With that, Zhou Qi left Shi Tou and Xiao Cao in Grandpa Li’s capable hands and returned to Room 901.
When Zhou Qi entered the room, he noticed a faint glow coming from the teleportation chamber. Walking over, he found Tang Yu’an coughing, clearly having been choked by something.
“An’an, did you go back to Jufeng Town again?” Zhou Qi asked, gently patting the boy’s back.
“Yeah, I heard people outside putting out the fire. The flames aren’t as bad now.”
Tang Yu’an’s mood was still low, but hearing the frantic efforts of people trying to extinguish the fire made him feel a little better. At least not everyone in Jufeng Town was bad.
As for the looters, they had likely fled by now. Who knew how the guards would explain the situation to Sister Hong Li?
“Why would they do such a thing?” Tang Yu’an muttered dejectedly.
He felt a small sense of relief that the Peace Grocery Store’s location was in Desolate City Haven. If it had been in Jufeng Town from the beginning, the store would likely have been destroyed by now.
Although the above-ground portion of the Jufeng Grocery Store wasn’t something they had built themselves, its destruction still stung. Reopening the store wouldn’t be easy.
The biggest question looming over their minds was, what would they do if someone tried to rob them again in the future?
