Chapter 19: A Surprising Discovery in the Pocket Dimension

After purchasing all these items, Zhong Xiao was left with little more than some grain coupons. The grain coupons were valid nationwide, and since she wasn’t in a hurry to use them, she tucked them all into her bag before taking the tram back to the Zhong family estate.

The Zhong residence was far from the city center, spacious, and surrounded by pleasant scenery—an ideal place, in fact, for certain less-than-honorable activities.

When Zhong Xiao returned home, she moved quietly, slipping cautiously into her own room and locking the door behind her. Still, she felt it wasn’t quite safe enough. What if those people barged in unexpectedly?

Her eyes darted around the room.

She decided to hide in the wardrobe.

This enormous camphor wood wardrobe had been part of her grandfather’s dowry gift to her mother. It was perfectly tight-seamed; once someone was inside, there was no chance of being seen from the outside.

Zhong Xiao squeezed into the wardrobe, closed her eyes, and entered her space.

Within that space, aside from the mountains of boxes piled high, there were also the various seeds, fruit saplings, and agricultural supplies she had bought earlier today. The staff at the department store had helped her carry these things to the entrance, and then, finding a secluded spot, Zhong Xiao had stowed them all away into her space.

Now it was time to sort everything out.

First, she took out the agricultural supplies and set them aside. Then she began opening the bags filled with seeds one by one.

But something happened that Zhong Xiao hadn’t anticipated.

The moment the seeds were brought out, they began to rise slowly into the air. She stared in disbelief as they floated up from the bags and then scattered evenly across the boundless expanse of black earth.

She was utterly stunned.

No need to dig holes, no need to till the soil, not even any need to sow them by hand? Just what other surprises did this space hold that she didn’t know about?

Quickly realizing the possibilities, Zhong Xiao hurriedly took out all the fruit tree saplings she had bought, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Sure enough, within seconds, the saplings also rose into the air, circled once overhead, then landed farther off in the black soil and took root.

She blinked.

Was it her imagination, or could she see a faint golden glow encircling the saplings, as though some mysterious force was enveloping them?

A gentle sound of flowing water reached her ears. Turning her head, she walked over to investigate.

It was the spring water, flowing quietly.

Now that the seeds and saplings had taken root, the spring water was circulating underground, gently nourishing them.

Zhong Xiao felt a surge of joy.

Food and fruit grown with the nourishment of this spring water would surely be sweeter and more flavorful than anything on the market. Perhaps they could even heal the sick and save lives.

If that were true, wouldn’t she become a genius miracle doctor?

After all, in these chaotic times, nothing was more scarce than doctors. Medicine was scarce, doctors were scarce, and so was skill.

Pleased, Zhong Xiao surveyed the space that belonged wholly and solely to her, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. She was just considering whether she should acquire more items to enrich her space—who knew what hidden functions might be unlocked—when she suddenly heard faint rustling outside.

Zhong Xiao opened her eyes in the wardrobe and withdrew from her space, listening closely to the sounds outside.

It was Du Ying’er and Zhou Yongxin.

Du Ying’er’s voice was still a bit weak. “Why did you bring me here? What if Zhong Xiao comes back?”

“She won’t be back anytime soon,” Zhou Yongxin said. “She’s gone to the hospital to get medicine, and that’s not an easy thing to do. Ying’er, did you memorize the lines I taught you last night?”

Du Ying’er nodded. “Are you sure this will work?”

“Just trust me,” Zhou Yongxin replied. “Have I ever lied to you? Come on, let’s hurry up and search. If we can find it now, we won’t have to put on a show for her later.”

Then came the sound of drawers and cupboards being rummaged through.

Zhong Xiao wasn’t panicked in the slightest. Instead, she stealthily cracked the wardrobe door open a little.

Suddenly, Zhou Yongxin seemed to sense something. Though his back was to Zhong Xiao, he felt as if a sharp gaze was fixed on him, and he spun around abruptly!

He stared toward the two massive camphor wood wardrobes. They loomed, dark and silent, with one showing a thin crack.

His heart began pounding. Cautiously, he walked over and yanked the wardrobe door open.

Inside, there was nothing but some clothes and bedding.

Zhou Yongxin frowned, his heart finally beginning to settle. He let out a breath. That had really scared him. He’d thought Zhong Xiao might be hiding inside. But if there was nothing in the wardrobe, then where had that intense gaze come from?

Du Ying’er came over and asked, “What’s wrong, Yongxin?”

He forced a smile. “It’s nothing. I just suddenly worried that Zhong Xiao might be hiding in the wardrobe. I keep feeling like her eyes are everywhere.”

Du Ying’er peered into the wardrobe, puzzled. No one was there.

She glanced at Zhou Yongxin, recalling something that irritated her. She snapped, “You’re always thinking about Zhong Xiao; no wonder you feel like she’s everywhere!”

She remembered how Zhou Yongxin had sworn before Zhong Xiao, vowing to be childless if he lied—and then she had lost her baby, suffering terribly. Only just now had she regained enough strength to walk a few steps. Her hatred for Zhong Xiao ran deep.

Seeing her anger, Zhou Yongxin quickly tried to placate her. “Silly girl, I was just joking around with her. You’re the one I truly care about. Why else would I go to such lengths to trick her? It’s all for your sake, so you can have a better life.”

He coaxed her for a while, and soon the two of them were tangled up together, falling onto Zhong Xiao’s bed. Before long, the room was filled with sickening, sticky sounds.

Zhong Xiao was nearly sick herself.

She had been watching Zhou Yongxin from inside the wardrobe, and when he discovered the cracked door, she had quickly retreated back into her space, so he had seen nothing.

Now, seeing Zhou Yongxin and Du Ying’er entwined on her bed, Zhong Xiao was thoroughly disgusted.

Casting about in the space, she grabbed a nearby stone and hurled it out.

It landed squarely on Zhou Yongxin’s head.

“Ow!” Zhou Yongxin cried out, startling Du Ying’er.

“What’s wrong, Yongxin?”

He clutched his head and looked to the side. A stone, from who knows where, lay on the floor, rolling a few times.

“Who’s there?” he shouted.

Du Ying’er sat up on the bed, bewildered. “There’s no one here, Yongxin, what’s gotten into you?”

He said furiously, “Then where did this stone come from?”

Outside, the sounds of children playing drifted in from the courtyard.

Du Ying’er went to the window and looked out.

It was a few children from the workers’ housing of the Electrochemical Factory, come over to play, each holding a stone and tossing them at one another.

“It must have been one of those kids who accidentally threw it in,” Du Ying’er said.