Chapter 16
Chapter 16: A Deal Worth Over a Hundred Million
Fu Chen An tried every snack she offered, actually listening when she described flavors and textures. He took a bite, paused, decided—clean and decisive.
The only thing he rejected was shredded squid.
Everything else, he wanted.
Xiao Ying Chun watched in disbelief as two more shelves emptied.
Fu Chen An looked at the remaining options, still unsatisfied. “What else is good?”
Xiao Ying Chun thought fast. “I can get you some things you haven’t tried. You taste them, tell me what you like, and I’ll restock based on that.”
For the Spacetime Supermarket’s only top-tier customer, he was unbelievably compliant.
“Good,” he said, like an obedient child.
Xiao Ying Chun looked at his calm smile and, for the first time, felt a flicker of guilt—as if she were exploiting a wealthy, handsome, too-trusting general with candy. She cleared her throat and changed the subject.
“What are you doing next?”
Fu Chen An didn’t hide anything from her. “I don’t know yet. The Imperial Court has sent people. Once they arrive, we’ll know.”
“If you leave Yong Zhou,” Xiao Ying Chun asked, “where will you go?”
Fu Chen An hesitated for the first time. “Maybe… back to the capital.”
“Back to the capital?” Xiao Ying Chun’s heart sank, and she wasn’t sure if it was because she’d gotten used to seeing him—or because a ten-thousand-man client base was about to vanish.
Fu Chen An nodded. “My father and I both think the Imperial Court will keep him here to continue leading troops. And send me back.”
“As a hostage,” Xiao Ying Chun said softly, the word tasting bitter.
Fu Chen An didn’t deny it. Only by keeping a son in the capital as leverage would the Emperor feel comfortable leaving Fu Zhong Hai and the Fu Family Army at the border.
Xiao Ying Chun’s disappointment flared sharper. “Then you can’t keep leading troops.”
Which meant the army’s supplies—food, clothes, everything—would no longer come through her hands.
Fu Chen An’s gaze turned intent. “That’s why my father told me to buy as much as possible from you while I’m still here. Things we can leave behind for the Fu Family Army.”
Xiao Ying Chun straightened, energy snapping back into her limbs. “Then tell me what you need. What does the Fu Family Army lack most?”
Ten thousand people. Anything they bought would be a mountain of money.
Fu Chen An said, “Wait.”
He stepped out and returned a moment later, pulling a flat trolley with a heavy box on it. He rolled it inside like he’d done it a hundred times, then opened the lid.
Inside was a neat, gleaming box of gold ingots.
Xiao Ying Chun’s breath caught.
Fu Chen An pointed at the gold. “Five thousand taels. See how much this can buy. Arrange everything for me. I need it in the next few days—the faster, the better.”
Once the Imperial Court’s people arrived, this gold would likely be turned over. If that happened, the Fu Family Army wouldn’t see a single coin of it.
Better to dump it all into Xiao Ying Chun’s hands and turn it into supplies while he still could.
Xiao Ying Chun’s mind spun, numbers flashing.
A ten-tael gold ingot was 362 grams.
A hundred taels of gold was 3,620 grams.
Five thousand taels… 18,100 grams…
Even if she melted it into a lump and sold it by the gram, it would still be worth a hundred million.
And if one gold ingot was worth 800,000?
A sky-high order had just dropped into her lap.
Xiao Ying Chun’s blood practically lit up. “Clothing, food, shelter, travel—what does the Fu Family Army need most?”
Fu Chen An didn’t hesitate long. “Cotton coats. Cotton shoes.”
The weather was hot now, but soon it would turn into that cruel season—hot days, cold nights. Soldiers could endure heat.
Cold killed.
After a beat, he added, “Big pots for boiling water.”
She’d told him before that boiled water prevented illness. The army understood that in theory.
But for ten thousand people to drink boiled water, how many pots would it take?
Never enough.
They also needed grain, but grain was consumed daily. Hoarding too much would draw attention once the Imperial Court arrived.
Fu Chen An’s eyes flicked to the shelves again. “If you can get compressed biscuits, get more. They don’t take up space and they keep.”
Then, quieter: “And medicine. Your gut-regulating pills, and the others—they work.” He paused, tone turning respectful. “If it’s convenient, Young Lady, prepare more medicine. Long-lasting is best.”
Xiao Ying Chun grabbed paper and a pen, then pulled out her phone and started searching prices as she wrote.
Cotton coats and cotton shoes were easy—online sellers in the same province, bulk military orders. A set for 90 yuan.
Ten thousand sets. Delivered.
Cotton shoes at 20 yuan a pair. Ten thousand pairs. Delivered.
“Add hats,” Xiao Ying Chun muttered, already scribbling. Cotton hat, 15 yuan each. Ten thousand. Delivered.
For boiling water, huge iron cauldrons weren’t ideal. Stainless commercial soup barrels were better—large, sturdy, light enough to haul.
A hundred of the 80*80 size. Stack stainless basins inside for transport. Add smaller basins and spoons for meals.
She ran the totals, pencil moving fast.
Two million, minimum.
Add compressed biscuits and medicine, and it climbed toward three.
Xiao Ying Chun exhaled and looked up. “I don’t have enough cash. I need to exchange your gold ingots for money first, or I can’t keep placing orders.”
Time pressed on her skin like heat. “If you’re in a hurry, you should go. I’ll start moving.”
Fu Chen An had been watching her write, listening to her calculate out loud with a strange mix of speed and certainty. He looked almost stunned—like he’d never seen someone turn chaos into a plan so quickly.
Now he snapped himself back to motion. “Alright. I’ll go first.”
He turned to leave, then stopped at the door. “How much were those buckets?”
Xiao Ying Chun waved it off without looking up from her notes. “Don’t worry about it. Your gold covers this whole order. There’ll be money left.”
Fu Chen An stared at her for a long moment, something thoughtful settling behind his eyes.
Then he left.
She dressed strangely. She was clearly greedy for money. And yet she didn’t try to squeeze him.
A gentleman loved wealth, but took it the right way.
She could be trusted.
Once he was gone, Xiao Ying Chun shut the back door and went upstairs to stash the extra gold ingots in her safe.
She opened the safe, stared, and felt her teeth ache.
It wouldn’t fit. Not even close.
So this was her life now—too much money and nowhere to hide it.
“Where can I put it that’s actually safe?” she muttered, looking around.
The Spacetime Supermarket system responded immediately, crisp and indifferent: “Spacetime Supermarket system includes a cashier storage function. Host may store all valuables in the cash register.”
Xiao Ying Chun’s eyes widened. “Store it. Store all of it.”
Gold ingots, silver ingots, loose silver, copper coins—everything vanished in a rush, as if swallowed by invisible hands. Even the jewelry casket disappeared, neatly filed away in some unseen space.
“Take out four gold ingots,” Xiao Ying Chun thought.
Four ingots appeared in her hands.
“Put them back.”
Gone again.
She tested it a few more times before finally letting out a shaky breath. “Alright. I can go out now.”
She shouldered her backpack, stepped outside, and called a ride to take her to Xin Long Pawnshop.
Inside Xin Long Pawnshop, Dai Heng Xin was there unusually early.
Even Xiao Mei looked surprised. “Boss, why are you here so early?”
Dai Heng Xin glanced at her. “I have a customer this morning. Xiao Mei, you don’t need to stay. Go home first.”
Xiao Mei nodded and left, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
At Xin Long Pawnshop, everyone knew the rule: important customers were received by Boss Dai alone. No third person stayed in the room.
But Xiao Mei had barely stepped outside when she saw someone getting out of a car.
Xiao Ying Chun.
Xiao Mei stopped short.
Today’s important customer was that young lady?
Then she remembered the two gold ingots Miss Xiao had sold before.
A deal worth more than a million… yes, that counted as “important.”
Still—Miss Xiao dressed plainly. Too plainly. How did she have gold like that?
And if Boss Dai was clearing the shop for her…
Was she bringing something even better today?