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After Yezhi handed over the email from Cosmic Mall to Xiao Fang, he was about to leave when a glowing orb appeared in the starry sky, coming closer and closer. The orb rippled like water, forming a light screen, and Hong Dou's figure appeared on the screen. "Yezhi, Yezhi, I received your gift!"
This was the first time Yezhi had personally received a video call. Watching Hong Dou happily eating Pickled Peaches, Yezhi confirmed that he genuinely liked it. "Is it good? Do you want me to send you some more?"
"Yes! Of course! Yezhi, you're so nice. Give me more! This sweet taste is irresistible!"
Yezhi exclaimed in surprise, "But it's salty!"
"It's clearly sweet! Don't be stingy, or I'll trade you with Energy Stones!" Hong Dou had a look that suggested he thought Yezhi was being petty and wanted an equal exchange.
Yezhi felt that the universe was vast and full of wonders. Since Hong Dou had a distorted sense of taste, there was no point in arguing. He simply said, "I didn't pickle much; there's not much left. I can only spare one bowl at most."
"Yezhi, since you made this, make some more! If you don't like Energy Stones, I'll trade you this instead," Hong Dou said as he rummaged on the wooden table with a wood grain pattern and held up a shiny Mini Egg to show.
Xiao Fang, who had been listening, became agitated upon hearing "Energy Stones." Seeing the glittering Mini Egg, he stood up excitedly. "Master, let's trade for this!"
Just by looking at Xiao Fang's excited reaction, Yezhi understood how valuable the Mini Egg in Hong Dou's hands was. "Hong Dou, don't think of me as so materialistic. If you keep bringing up trades, I won't give you any to eat!"
Holding the Mini Egg, Hong Dou thought about what Yezhi said. Materialistic? Wasn't he just worried that Yezhi wouldn't want to give it away? However, he seemed to prefer pure gifts even more. "Yezhi, I'm so touched!" Hong Dou's big eyes sparkled with tears.
Yezhi couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. Giving a jar of Pickled Peaches made Hong Dou this emotional; this friend was too easily satisfied. Yezhi boldly declared, "Hong Dou, with me around, I guarantee you'll have enough to eat!"
But instead of hearing Hong Dou cheer, he saw him awkwardly stammering, "Yezhi... about the Energy Stones... please don't sell them privately."
After saying this, Hong Dou hurriedly cut off the video call, leaving Yezhi confused and Xiao Fang lamenting that the Mini Egg hadn't been secured yet.
The next day, Yezhi began busying herself with making Pickled Peaches. With Red Bean appreciating her efforts, Yezhi worked even harder and specially went to the supply and marketing cooperative with Aunt Zhou for procurement. It was surprising that although the cooperative was small, it had everything.
This was pure handmade soy sauce and fragrant vinegar without preservatives. Yezhi prepared several bottles and bought ten pounds of salt, jars for the Pickled Peaches, as well as chili peppers, star anise, cloves, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings... In any case, her backpack was filled to the brim. Unfortunately, she couldn't buy sugar or Soybean Oil. The cooperative did have them, but they required a ticket. Since Yezhi had been in Zhoujiatun for a while, she had only seen a few local grain tickets in Aunt Zhou's collection when she was managing the household; she didn't have a single nationwide ticket.
Aunt Zhou went to the cooperative primarily for vegetable seeds. However, ever since the Commune suffered disasters affecting over a dozen villages, vegetable seeds became scarce. The cooperative was severely out of stock, and Aunt Zhou ultimately couldn't buy anything.
On the third day, Yezhi and Aunt Zhou worked together to pickle the remaining 40 pounds of peaches at home; otherwise, it would be a shame if they spoiled.
By the fifth day, Yezhi opened a jar to taste and confirmed they were pickled properly. She found some jars she had bought and packed about ten pounds to send to Red Bean. Thinking of how happy Red Bean would be eating them made Yezhi feel quite accomplished.
That evening, Yezhi went to bed early to rest. Using her consciousness to log in, Xiao Fang was seen walking in circles on the grass with his hands behind his back. Without needing to say much, Yezhi stepped onto the light bridge with Xiao Fang.
Arriving at the entrance of Cosmic Mall, they saw a giant 50-meter high projection photo on either side of the shimmering transparent doors of Cosmic Mall. Between two massive projection photos that soared into the clouds was the misty phrase "Cosmic Mall, City of Aspirations."
"Master, look! This is that photo where you threw your shoe at someone; why isn't there a shoe?" Xiao Fang asked curiously while looking up. Facing her giant photo, Yezhi felt a surge of emotions: that photographer named Wood really had some skills.
"Dear Ye, are you stunned?"
Dulisa appeared before them with her waist-length red hair flowing down, wearing a fluorescent green jumpsuit and ten-inch high red heels while holding onto Xiao Nan who looked like she could be blown away at any moment.
Yezhi patted her chest in relief! She was genuinely worried that Dulisa would come in a group; it would be so awkward. She called out, "Sister Du!" and warmly greeted Xiao Nan: "Xiao Nan, long time no see! Did you receive the Pickled Peaches?"
Xiao Nan forced a smile and said softly, "I received them; they're delicious!" Although Xiao Nan said this, her expression didn't seem sincere. Yezhi could only repeat what she had said to Dulisa earlier without pressure but with utmost sincerity. Xiao Nan waved her hand and explained delicately: "They're good; really! But if you eat too much, your throat will hurt." Just as Yezhi was about to express her concern...
Dulisa was impatient. "How long is this going to take? Stop being polite, let's go!" After saying that, she pulled the two of them into Cosmic Mall, with Xiao Fang closely following her side. Dulisa shot a glare at Xiao Fang and complained, "This stupid robot is really annoying. Why did you bring it along?"
Xiao Fang huffed and defiantly widened her eyes, not backing down against Dulisa. Yezhi chuckled and said, "Xiao Fang manages my wallet; I can't do without her!" Dulisa had no choice but to let it go and headed straight for the 98th floor.
Stepping out of the Transparent Orange Light Elevator, the 98th floor truly resembled a fantastical world. With each step forward, the fashion stores with open doors would shift like light and shadow. Dulisa led Yezhi and Xiao Nan through a rainbow-colored square door, where a short-haired girl with big eyes that took up half of her diamond-shaped face welcomed them enthusiastically. "Sister Du, you're here! You're so lucky; we just got new stock!"
"Really? Hurry up and let me try some on. These two are my friends; please take good care of them." The girl smiled at Yezhi and Xiao Nan. "Welcome to both of you! Feel free to look around!" Xiao Nan seemed quite tired and sat down on a comfortable Cloud Sofa without getting up. Dulisa urged the girl to fetch some clothes.
Yezhi curiously surveyed the clothing store that seemed to be built above the blue sky and between rainbows. She casually picked up a Long Skirt hanging from the rainbow and held it against herself. Instantly, her image was projected in front of her; the light green Long Skirt had a faint halo around it. In comparison, Yezhi's self-sewn floral tank top and floral shorts looked utterly shabby. Perhaps if she weren't with Dulisa, she would have been driven out for being so out of place.
"Master, the clothes are so expensive!" Xiao Fang, who had already walked around the store once, reminded her in a "poor" tone.
Glancing at the price tag of 1,320,000 for the Long Skirt in her hand, Yezhi quickly hung it back in its place as if afraid of dirtying it. Dulisa stepped out of the fitting room wearing a Rainbow Chiffon Vest Dress. "Does it look good?" she asked Yezhi and Xiao Nan. Xiao Nan nodded, and Yezhi followed suit. Dulisa had an obvious natural advantage; she looked good in anything, and of course even better without anything on.
Receiving affirmation from her friends, Dulisa happily told the girl, "I'll take this one!" Not knowing if this high-end fashion store had just changed seasons, Dulisa began her fashion show. With each outfit she tried on, she would ask for Yezhi's and Xiao Nan's opinions. Yezhi thought Dulisa was being unnecessary since she was going to buy everything anyway; trying them on was just a waste of time.
Xiao Fang sat on the sofa and suggested to her master out of boredom, "Master, don't you need to buy protective nets? Why don't we go browse around ourselves?"
Xiao Fang's suggestion was excellent. After asking Xiao Nan if she wanted to join, Xiao Nan shook her head with her eyes closed. Yezhi and Xiao Fang quietly left the clothing store and took the elevator to the 1001st floor, which was the Second-Hand Zone. Xiao Fang exclaimed excitedly, "Master, keep your eyes peeled! You might find something that's worth more than its price!"
The 1001st floor was indeed bustling with activity; many budget-conscious aliens were bustling about. Yezhi walked through a quaint little street lined with stalls instead of storefronts; it felt very lively.
"Come look! Come see! Gold-threaded tablecloths at rock-bottom prices!"
"Produced by Modulus Star, all kinds of knives available! No matter what you're cutting, just use Modulus!"
Yezhi and Xiao Fang perked up their ears to distinguish the various calls of vendors. They darted through the legs of a group of giant women and men, five times taller than them, until Xiao Fang reached a stall run by a hairy man resembling an orangutan. She raised a roll of netting that looked like transparent fishing line and shouted, "Boss, I found it!"
Yezhi pretended to understand as she carefully examined the net and then asked for the price. The Ape-Haired Man quoted a flat price of 100,000 tons. Xiao Fang immediately countered, "But this has some damage; I'll offer 80,000 tons."
After some back-and-forth negotiation, they settled on a deal for 85,000 tons. Yezhi gave a thumbs up to Xiao Fang, who was handling the payment and shipping arrangements.
Once that was sorted out, Yezhi and Xiao Fang walked back into the crowd. "Xiao Fang, we should have come to this Second-Hand Zone earlier; think of how much money we could save."
"Boss, this Second-Hand Zone is an open-air temporary market that only operates on Fridays and Saturdays. Besides, it just opened recently and has only been running for three days including today," Xiao Fang explained. No wonder! If they didn't come here to hunt for bargains, it wouldn't be like Xiao Fang's style at all.
At that moment, a stall with the sign "Cabrera Food Secondhand Store" caught Yezhi's attention. She pulled Xiao Fang over to the stall filled with an array of food items, some familiar and some not. Yezhi pointed at a glass jar sealed with a light yellow liquid and asked, "Boss, what is this?"
The handsome man at the stall gave a brief reply: "Cooking oil!"
"Oil? And it's second-hand?" Yezhi asked in surprise.
"This is the second pressing oil after extracting oil from the first batch; it doesn't have such a strong flavor," the handsome man explained.
After inquiring about the price, Yezhi didn't hesitate to buy both jars of oil along with some strange spices, second-hand fruits, and sugar cubes.
Having purchased so many cheap food items, Yezhi was in high spirits and was about to continue her bargain hunting when Dulisa's video call came through: "Dear Yezhi, you need to come back right now!"
It was clear that Dulisa was angry. With no choice but to comply, Yezhi turned back with Xiao Fang, weaving through the crowd and stalls. Finally, Yezhi thought of a way to earn Bodeton steadily.
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