Chapter 2: Buying Grain

Ning Xin had eaten three in a row and could have eaten more. However, each Swiss roll cost five universal coins, and she felt a bit reluctant to spend so much. Thinking of her parents and younger siblings at home, her hand slowly stopped tearing open the bag, and she sighed softly, “Sigh.”

After this experience, she understood the rules of the space.

Previously, the space had not been activated because she didn’t have enough silver, and the space’s reality didn’t give her any chance to take advantage.

Now, she could take things out of the space to eat, and bring outside items into the space to sell.

The space could also store items.

But it needed to be upgraded.

If she didn’t upgrade the house, things could only be placed on the grass.

Or rather, inside that shabby thatched hut.

But upgrading required silver, and she was utterly penniless—a genuine pauper.

“Can I sell the things inside the space outside?” Ning Xin wondered as she browsed the mall.

There was a stunningly beautiful glazed lantern, which came with smokeless candles.

Ten thousand universal coins.

“…”

Torn between heartache and the desire to earn money, Ning Xin chose to make money.

Steeling herself, she bought the glazed lantern and left the space with it and ten taels of silver, just as dawn was breaking.

To avoid being noticed, she returned to the space mall and found a black robe that could wrap her entire body, leaving only her eyes visible.

“…”

At this moment, not even her own parents would recognize her.

She had been outside the county town many times but had never actually entered it.

She knew there was a Treasure Pavilion in the county town.

But she had no idea which street it was on or how to get there.

Taking a deep breath several times, Ning Xin finally made up her mind.

Today, she wouldn’t sell the glazed lantern. Instead, she would first enter the town to see if her silver was accepted. She would then toss the black robe back into the space and wait in a corner.

When someone entered the town, she followed behind and paid the entrance fee of one cash coin.

The streets were clean and tidy. A shop assistant was opening a store, wiping everything down with a cloth.

There were also shops selling steamed buns, mantou, wontons, and noodles, their aromas wafting through the air, making Ning Xin’s mouth water.

She held back, must hold back.

Ning Xin stepped into a rice shop.

“Shopkeeper, I want ten jin of salt, ten jin of polished rice, and twenty jin of flour.”

She pretended to be very experienced.

In truth, she was anxious, fearing the shopkeeper would see through her.

The shopkeeper glanced at Ning Xin, who was thin and weak and carried no basket.

Just like an ordinary farmer’s daughter, sun-darkened skin and all.

If it weren’t for the principle of treating every customer kindly, he might have told her to leave.

“You want so much grain—do you have silver?”

Ning Xin didn’t care that the shopkeeper looked down on her.

She took out the silver ingot and placed it on the table. The shopkeeper’s eyes instantly lit up.

This wasn’t a poor little pauper; it was the god of wealth himself.

“Oh, I must have been short-sighted. What else would you like? Sugar? Other beans too?”

“If you live far from the county town and buy a lot, we can deliver it to your door.”

Ning Xin rolled her eyes inwardly.

With this amount, she could carry it all with one hand—no need for delivery.

“Add a few jin of sugar as well.”

There wasn’t much tasty food in the countryside; a bowl of sweet soup shared among her younger siblings would bring them joy for days.

“Shopkeeper, please give me a sack—I can carry it myself.”

Taking a sack home would let her store things; she was quite clever.

The shopkeeper looked at Ning Xin in disbelief.

This thin little girl—could she really manage?

He hurriedly sent a clerk to pack the grain, took the silver, and began weighing.

He brought out big scissors and cut the ten taels of silver into several pieces.

Ning Xin’s eyes widened, afraid the shopkeeper might cheat her even a little.

“The total is one tael and two qian. Please keep the rest of the silver.”

Grain was truly expensive.

Especially salt, polished rice, flour, and sugar—most people wouldn’t buy this much.

Before today, Ning Xin wouldn’t have dared to dream of such spending.

One day, she would be able to spend money lavishly.