Chapter 1: The Ghost Who Bought Biscuits with Silver Ingots

Chapter 1: The Ghost Who Bought Biscuits with a Silver Ingot

"Hello! Welcome~"

In the Yingchun Mini-Mart in the old district of Huangshan City, the little duck sensor chirped to signal that a customer had entered.

"Feel free to look around. Bring your items to the counter when you're ready to pay."

Xiao Yingchun called out, slumped listlessly over the counter.

The man blocked her view while wandering around, so she finally looked up to size up the newcomer.

She couldn't help but stand up, her face full of surprise: "Are you... filming a movie?"

Fu Chen'an didn't understand what "filming a movie" meant and looked completely bewildered.

He met Xiao Yingchun's gaze, then quickly turned his head away, his ears turning red beneath his helmet.

This woman’s features were exquisite, but her attire was strange and revealing.

Her fair arms, legs, neck, and chest—large swaths of skin were exposed, and even her cleavage was faintly visible...

Looking at the shop, it was also very strange.

The patterns on the items on the shelves were lifelike; even the best painters couldn't capture such fine detail.

Never seen or heard of such things!

Fu Chen'an’s heart was filled with suspicion. He had discovered this relatively intact alleyway within a city destroyed by the fires of war.

Yet, when he walked in, he found it was a dead-end alley, containing only this shop he had never seen before.

Something was wrong.

Fu Chen'an turned his head back to observe the strangely dressed woman. Her eyes were full of curiosity and a straightforward, honest liking.

He had seen countless people in his time and could tell at a glance that she had no ulterior motives; all her thoughts were written on her face.

Xiao Yingchun was curiously sizing him up. The man was tall and sturdy, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and handsome, chiseled features.

He had a hair bun on top of his head, wore heavy, gleaming armor, and held a long spear in his hand. He had to be filming a movie.

It was the height of summer; she was sitting in an air-conditioned room wearing a T-shirt and shorts and still had to gnaw on a popsicle every now and then. He was a real glutton for punishment—wasn't he afraid of heatstroke?

Respect! Much respect!

"I am not filming a movie," Fu Chen'an denied.

Was "filming a movie" a name?

Xiao Yingchun rubbed her forehead: Forget it, there are all kinds of people in this world. Making money is what matters most.

"Hello, what would you like to buy?"

Fu Chen'an asked tentatively: "Do you have any food here that is filling?"

Xiao Yingchun was stunned. Those rows of instant noodles, snacks, and small breads... were they not food?

Well, he was so big, he must think they wouldn't be enough to satisfy his hunger.

Xiao Yingchun slapped her forehead and dragged two boxes out from under the counter. They were compressed biscuits she’d had in storage for ages that she couldn't sell.

This stuff was filling, didn't take up much space, and most importantly, was high in calories.

Xiao Yingchun held up the compressed biscuits and pointed to the instructions: "Here, military-grade compressed rations. They’re the most filling. One piece is enough for a meal, and there are two pieces in a pack. They aren't expired, see for yourself."

Fu Chen'an took them, but he couldn't read the simplified characters.

However, he could understand her. He was full of curiosity—could such a small pack really last for two meals?

"How much?"

"Ten yuan a pack."

Ten yuan?

Was that ten copper coins? That would be extremely cost-effective!

Fu Chen'an had never seen such a thing, so he thought for a moment: "May I open it to see?"

Of course not!

But seeing that he was handsome and dedicated to his "role," Xiao Yingchun changed her tune: "Go ahead."

Fu Chen'an flipped the packaging back and forth, tugging at it.

Xiao Yingchun was dumbfounded. Was this guy an idiot? He didn't even recognize compressed biscuits?

She patiently demonstrated, opened it, and handed it to him: "Two pieces will definitely be enough for a meal."

The man looked at the small, flat piece and sniffed it. It smelled quite good.

Seeing he didn't move, Xiao Yingchun broke off a piece and took a bite herself: "See, it's not spoiled..."

Fu Chen'an watched her crunching away, hesitated for a moment, and then took a small bite.

Fragrant, sweet, salty, crispy... it was actually quite tasty, just a bit dry.

Seeing his Adam's apple bob, Xiao Yingchun couldn't help but swallow her own saliva. Watching him eat until crumbs fell, she abandoned her principles and handed him a bottle of water: "It's on the house. Drink up."

Fu Chen'an took the transparent, never-before-seen object and examined it. How was he supposed to open it?

Xiao Yingchun was shocked to see him preparing to bite the cap with his teeth.

It's over, he really is an idiot.

He’s never even drunk bottled water? Not only is he stupid, he’s poor.

What a pity for that face and that physique...

But since she had already given it to him, Xiao Yingchun generously decided to pay for her own lust.

She slowly unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and then handed him another bottle, nodding with satisfaction when she saw him open it.

Fu Chen'an took a sip of the Wahaha water. It was very clean and had no strange taste.

He quickly finished the compressed biscuits and drank the water.

Uh... he wasn't full.

Seeing Fu Chen'an's gaze land on the remaining two boxes of compressed biscuits, Xiao Yingchun pressed her hands down on the boxes: "That stuff expands when it hits water! If you eat more, you'll burst your stomach!"

She had heard that idiots didn't know when they were full; she didn't want him to rupture his intestines.

Fu Chen'an followed her advice: "Very well."

He understood the logic.

"How much for these two boxes?"

"There are forty packs in two boxes. Just give me four hundred yuan total."

Four hundred copper coins?

Too cheap!

Fu Chen'an casually tossed a silver ingot onto the counter: "Keep the change. If it's good, I'll come back next time."

With that, Fu Chen'an picked up the two boxes and turned to leave.

Xiao Yingchun looked at the fake silver ingot in front of her, her face full of distress.

Should she let it go for the sake of his looks?

Or should she chase after him for the sake of the money?

She only hesitated for three seconds. By the time she came to her senses, she hurriedly shouted: "That's the back door! It's a dead end back there, you can't get out!"

Xiao Yingchun ran after him.

She pushed aside the curtain and chased him out, but as she looked at the empty, dead-end alley that she could see from one end to the other, a cold sweat broke out on her back.

Where was he?

What the hell!

He wasn't an idiot—could he be a ghost?!

Xiao Yingchun shivered, hurried back inside, slammed the back door shut, and locked it.

Sitting back at the counter, Xiao Yingchun looked thoughtfully at the fake silver ingot. She hesitated and picked it up; it was very heavy.

If he were a ghost, where did this silver ingot come from?

If he were a human, where did he go?

It didn't make logical sense.

After thinking it over, Xiao Yingchun closed the shop and headed out with the silver ingot.

Xinlong Pawnshop.

Xiao Yingchun smiled: "Boss, this was left to me by my grandfather. Could you help me take a look at it?"

The shop owner, Dai Hengxin, who was in his thirties, wore gold-rimmed glasses, a shirt, and dress pants. He looked quite refined.

He picked up the silver ingot nonchalantly: "Let me see."

As soon as he held the ingot, Dai Hengxin's expression changed slightly. He looked at Xiao Yingchun seriously and began to examine it.

Xiao Yingchun took in his reaction. If nothing went wrong...

(End of chapter)