Chapter 019: A Definite Sell​​

"Honestly, this skin is incredibly thin. Feels like it's all flesh besides the peel."

The livestream featured a durian unboxing. Viewer counts surged relentlessly, and the comments section buzzed with excitement.

"Comparing the two side-by-side, you can really see the difference. The pricier one definitely has thinner skin, and the flesh looks better too—clearly high quality."

"Finally seeing a live stream instead of just edited clips!"

"Streamer, eat some! Tell us how it tastes."

"Comparison really shows the true gap between them."

"Now I'm craving durian again TAT..."

...

"Do you like durian, Qingqing?"

"It's alright," Qin Qing replied, looking up at the customer. She searched her thoughts but couldn't place who he was. "What do you need, Old Uncle?"

"Give me two packs of cigarettes." He fumbled for money in his pocket. "You young folks sure eat all sorts of fancy things. Something this expensive and stinky..."

"Well, stinky tofu smells too, and tons of people love that." Qin Qing retrieved cigarettes from the cabinet behind her.

"Fair point." He nodded, dropping the subject.

Just then, the streamer on screen began tasting the durians—starting with the regular grocery store one.

"It actually tastes pretty good! Definitely a 'gratitude durian,' similar to what we usually eat."

"Alright, alright, I'll try the other one now."

"The color does look better... Curious if others were exaggerating... Holy—!!!" Qin Qing glanced down at the phone screen just as the streamer's eyes widened in shock.

"It's AMAZING! Oh my god, this durian is incredible! You all were right—it's hands down the best durian ever. Lemme taste this one again... No, seriously, you gotta try it yourselves. The difference is HUGE, like MASSIVE, I kid you not. The aroma is unreal!"

Other staff members, visible or not, reached for samples off-screen.

"Well? How is it?" the streamer asked them.

"Delicious! I don't even usually like durian, but this... wow."

"No wonder everyone's obsessed! I'm craving it too. How many did we buy?"

"Three!" The streamer held up fingers triumphantly. "See? Visionary. Saw the hype, grabbed extras. If we'd only bought one, I wouldn't share!"

They kept narrating while savoring each bite. Qin Qing was glued to the stream until the sound of a heavy swallow snapped her back. She looked over. Old Uncle watched the screen too.

"Looks genuinely tasty," he chuckled. "Wonder how expensive it is."

As if answering him, the streamer addressed viewers: "Honestly? For flavor this good, a hundred bucks per jin isn't outrageous—similar to durian prices years ago. But seriously, it's divine. You know me, always honest; if it sucked, I'd tell you."

"A link? Sorry, no."

"Not kidding, we aren't selling it! Got the contact through Ding Yixin. They only sell via WeChat, no standard store links."

"Guess we should ask the seller if they'd make one."

"Me buy it for you? Middleman vibes? Tell you what—I'll do a giveaway! A few lucky viewers get a free durian. Just follow me for a chance."

...

"A hundred per jin? Highway robbery," Old Uncle muttered, paying for his cigarettes.

Qin Qing smiled, gave him his change and cigarettes. "Some will definitely buy."

After he left, Qin Qing watched the streamer place an order for five durians live, carefully covering the WeChat name but showing the chat history. The profile picture unmistakably belonged to Wei Xiaoshuang. Soon enough, Qin Qing’s phone buzzed.

​​Wei Xiaoshuang:​​

OMG! Watch the stream?! The streamer is basically FREE advertising for us!! This livestream’s blowing up—big orders incoming for sure. Do you have enough durian stock, Qingqing?!

​​Qin Qing:​​

Plenty. I’ll ask my friend for delivery today. Tell customers we’ll send weights tonight and ship tomorrow morning.

​​Wei Xiaoshuang:​​

OK! Passing it on.

​​Qin Qing:​​

Expect more orders—need your help as assistant. Base salary: 3000/month. Hate to disrupt your time.

​​Wei Xiaoshuang:​​

Nonsense! Mom’s thrilled I’m actually “earning my keep.” Home was getting boring anyway.

​​Qin Qing:​​

Deal then. Durian season peaks soon—thanks for hustling!

​​Wei Xiaoshuang:​​

[Happy spinning GIF]

Finishing the chat, Qin Qing set her phone down, buoyed by the prospect of massive durian sales. This batch sold meant bulk grain purchases—enough for the Dimension Supermarket and any personal need after The Calamity. No customers lingered. She slipped through the back door into the supermarket... and froze.

Outside the main entrance, a crowd had gathered—a rarity since construction started, where only small patrols usually appeared. As Qin Qing stared, the group bowed deeply. After much persuasion, she got them to stand for greetings.

"Have you adjusted okay?" Qin Qing asked. She’d personally escorted them here—they weren’t total strangers.

"Wonderfully, Immortal Master," the elder replied earnestly. "We thank you profoundly for fetching us, and apologize for our ignorance before..."

"No need. I had time." Qin Qing stepped outside. "Did they brief you fully?"

"Yes, Immortal Master! Tomorrow we start clearing land. The strong will harvest durians for you!" The elder beamed. "We’ll collect plenty!"

"Prices are higher now—good time to sell and save for supplies through the vending machine," Qin Qing advised. "More food varieties might come later. You shouldn’t go hungry here..." Though revered as “Immortal Master,” she treated these ancestors as equals—just people across time. Dimension restrictions limited her aid, but ensuring their bellies were full felt sufficient. Only one building stood so far. The summer night offered relief, letting the group sleep under open skies. Knowing darkness scared children, Qin Qing deliberately kept the supermarket lights blazing throughout the night, bathing the woods in a warm glow.

Dawn approached. Qiu Niang awoke to find the elder already alert beside her.

"Mother?"

"I slept. Deeply." The elder whispered, gazing at the illuminated entrance. "We knew the Immortal Master was kind... but this..."

Qiu Niang glanced towards the light, cradling her daughter. "She looks... like an ordinary young woman."

"Yet her eyes shine with clarity. We met the kindest Immortal." The elder smiled, rising after a moment. "Rest longer. I’ll cook. Join Yu Niang searching for white stones today—gentler work." Qiu Niang held her sleeping child, watching her mother go. Memories surfaced: her daughter confiding how unafraid she felt sleeping under the light—the Immortal Master’s deliberate gift. Mere days ago, surviving felt impossible. Now, a future shone bright. She bent, cheek gently touching her daughter’s forehead, a smile of pure contentment spreading.

Beep-beep—Beep-beep—

Qin Qing groggily opened her eyes to sunlight slicing through curtains, grabbing her phone.

​​Wei Xiaoshuang:​​

HOLY CRAP. Someone just asked for TWENTY DURIANS—first thing this morning!!! Sell?! Can we?!

Qin Qing jolted awake. At roughly 85each,thatwas1,700 instantly—enough to cover her entire beverage stockpile yesterday. Free drinks, effectively.

​​Qin Qing:​​

SELL! Absolutely! I have stock ready.

Opportunity was knocking. This viral deluge couldn’t be wasted. She replied, rushed through her routine, and headed downstairs to the supermarket. Inside the storage room, bulk durians materialized from her personal space, ready for immediate shipping. High volume meant faster processing—she’d ensure every precious, fragrant fruit reached its eager buyer ASAP.