Chapter 3: Her Super Warehouse Terminal
Xu Zhichun arrived at the port's warehouse area and opened the door to another warehouse without hesitation. Inside, rows of cardboard boxes were stacked high. She glanced at the labels the boxes contained barrels of peanut oil, rapeseed oil, and sesame oil.
Wonderful! Looking around, she estimated there were forty to fifty thousand barrels. With so many endless rows of warehouses, there must be more filled with oil.
From now on, all of this would be her warehouse.
Everything here… was money in another form.
Happily, Xu Zhichun went to check another warehouse.
And this time, she was completely satisfied. There was food salt, sugar, rock sugar, soy sauce, cooking oil, Lao Gan Ma (spicy chili sauce), sausages, salted duck eggs, biscuits, chocolate, candies, coffee, and all kinds of condiments, snacks, and drinks. There were also clothes, shoes, socks, household goods, quilts, carpets, and more. Even cosmetics, toys, luggage, medicine, health supplements, books, stationery, and daily necessities. In short everything imaginable.
What does it mean to have a mountain of gold and silver ? This was it!
After walking for a while, Xu Zhichun was exhausted. She sat down against the wall of a warehouse, panting. There was so much stuff that she hadn't even seen one percent of it.
Well, she thought, in this life, all I need to do is find a way to sell these things, and I'll never have to worry about food or clothing again.
She felt content and deeply at peace.
It was indeed an eternal truth with food in hand, one feels no fear.
Clutching her chest, she took a few breaths. Suddenly she realized she had lost a lot of blood. Maybe she should find some kind of tonic drink or a health balm to recover faster?
Besides, medicine in this era was terribly crude. She'd better locate a warehouse filled with herbs and common medicine just in case.
Following her instincts, Xu Zhichun stood up and began searching through the endless maze of warehouses for health products and medicine.
The warehouses were densely packed and confusing, making it difficult to find anything.
Even though she remembered the general direction, it took her nearly twenty minutes to find the right one.
She quickly memorized its location, opened a box of donkey-hide gelatin oral tonic, read the instructions, and immediately drank a bottle.
Take one bottle in the morning and one at night.
She thought for a moment, then found two boxes of ginseng, setting them where she could easily spot them. The roots were no thicker than a thumb high-quality, fragrant, and slightly bitter. If she ever needed money, she could trade one at a pharmacy. That was as good as free cash.
Of course, she didn't dare take too much not yet. If she wanted to use these items, she had to figure out how to bring them out.
Leaving the port terminal, her legs still ached, and she felt tired. It was almost evening.
Suddenly, she remembered it was time to prepare dinner. She could, of course, buy food from the port, but what about her brother-in-law?
Thinking this, Xu Zhichun hurriedly got out of bed.
Liang Mingxuan, hearing the noise, called from outside the curtain, Sister-in-law, are you awake?
Putting on her shoes, she replied, I'm up, Mingxuan. I'll prepare dinner right away!
Mingxuan lifted the curtain and rushed in. No need, sister-in-law. I already took two bowls of rice, six eggs, and a basket of vegetables to Aunt Zhuer's house. I asked her to help us cook for two days. I can handle the chores. Please rest.
Xu Zhichun still felt dizzy and weak. Moving too much made her wounds ache, and her head throbbed. She didn't try to act strong. Smiling, she praised him: Good job. Our Mingxuan is truly capable.
Mingxuan helped her sit on a stool by the wall and handed her a bowl of warm water. Here, sister-in-law. Drink some water.
Ah, thank you.
Xu Zhichun took the bowl, thinking, What a good boy. I must raise him well. In times like these, this bond is a kind of lifelong support.
In the future, when he grows up and marries, she could live her own life freely. But for now, as aunt and nephew-in-law, they could depend on each other and not be bullied.
But back to the main point first, she needed to recover.
Aunt Zhuer soon arrived with dinner.
I made you some egg porridge. It's easy to digest. Eat a little, then I'll take Mingxuan to my house for supper.
Aunt Zhuer, you're so thoughtful. I'll have to trouble you for a couple of days!
We're neighbors no need to be polite.
Smiling warmly, Aunt Zhuer reassured her and left with Mingxuan.
The steaming egg porridge was sprinkled with chopped chives thick, fragrant, and mouthwatering. Xu Zhichun took a bite and was instantly delighted.
Aunt Zhuer really is an amazing cook!
And there were countless recipes, spices, and ingredients waiting for her in the warehouses someday, she'd feast like a queen.
Following a familiar route, she opened a vacuum-sealed roast chicken from one of the warehouses and ate it along with the porridge.
Though her family had five acres of rice paddies and Liang Minglang had once earned money as a bodyguard, sending a child to school was expensive in those days. Life had always been tight, and her health poor.
Now, after losing so much blood, she needed nourishment.
So Xu Zhichun drank the blood-replenishing tonic, ate ginseng and polygonatum paste, roast chicken, milk, and eggs.
The cold storage even had bananas, apples, and watermelons perfect for vitamins.
Since she couldn't buy anything in this era, she'd simply eat from her own stores.
That night, the house was quiet.
The next morning, she drank another bottle of tonic, ate more ginseng paste, a vacuum-packed chicken leg, a slice of cake, and a red apple.
It worked she no longer felt dizzy and her strength was returning.
By noon, Xu Zhichun decided to slaughter a chicken and stew it.
She needed to nourish herself, and Mingxuan, too.
The household was hardworking seven laying hens, five roosters, a brood of chicks, and two pigs in the sty.
Killing one chicken was nothing. There'd be plenty more later.
As soon as she said this, Mingxuan eagerly agreed. Sister-in-law lost too much blood; she needs good food.
They had just killed the rooster and hadn't even plucked it when a loud voice echoed from outside the earthen courtyard wall.
It was Aunt Zhang.
Startled, Xu Zhichun quickly hid the chicken in a bucket, covered it with a basin, and whispered to Mingxuan, Don't tell Aunt we killed a chicken.
Okay.
When Aunt Zhang entered, Xu Zhichun greeted her politely with a smile, and Mingxuan obediently called her Aunt.
Zhang sat down without hesitation, crossing her legs and rolling her eyes. She looked at Xu Zhichun and said bluntly, You're still not well, so take care of yourself. I don't think you can manage your five acres of land anymore. It would be a shame to let them go to waste. Let us take over for you. Don't worry we'll give you a share of the grain after harvest.
(End of Chapter)