C20 Great Purchase

After leaving the company, Huang Feng caught the bus back home. Since it wasn't quitting time yet, the bus had plenty of empty seats, and he managed to snag one instead of standing.

As he rode, Huang Feng gazed out at the continuous flow of traffic, a touch of envy in his eyes. Owning a private car had become commonplace in society, and the prices weren't astronomical. But even so, Huang Feng couldn't afford one. He was still renting a small room; buying a car was out of the question. Yet, his fondness for cars remained unaffected. He had once secretly dreamed that after saving enough to buy a house, he would purchase a car he loved, get married, have children, and consider his life complete.

But even this modest dream seemed out of reach for the old Huang Feng. With housing prices skyrocketing faster than wages and his limited education, it was uncertain how many years it would take to save for a house, let alone a car. And with the rising costs of marriage and ever-increasing dowries, these dreams added to Huang Feng's burdens. So, he often kept these thoughts to himself, knowing they were little more than daydreams.

However, everything changed when he discovered the storage box's magical properties. Huang Feng realized his life was about to transform dramatically. Goals that once seemed unattainable were now within reach. In fact, he began to think his previous aspirations were too modest. Though he still had nothing to his name, his mindset had shifted from insecurity to a confident outlook on the future. He was convinced his life ahead would be nothing short of extraordinary.

Staring at the cars outside, Huang Feng pondered a question. The storage box was only so large; could it only hold items of a certain size? Did he have any chance of acquiring something as large as a car? If not, would he be missing out on a lot? Yet, if it were possible, how could such a small box accommodate something so large?

The conundrum baffled Huang Feng. He had stumbled upon the storage box's function without any manual, and no other storage box seemed to possess this feature. Thus, he had no way to voice his question, unsure of whom to ask or who might know the secrets it held.

"Whatever the case, even if it's just a small item, it's still significant. It should be enough for my needs," Huang Feng mused to himself.

He disembarked near a supermarket not far from where he lived. It was the largest one in the vicinity, offering a wide array of goods, including miscellaneous items and household appliances.

Since it was early and his savings were running low, Huang Feng didn't rush to make any purchases. Instead, he took his time to browse, taking stock of the available items and considering how they might benefit him.

After a thorough walk-through of the two-story supermarket, Huang Feng began to shop with a selective eye. He looked for items that were not only useful but also affordable. He couldn't splurge on expensive goods, and he had to consider the size as well—his storage box had limited space.

As the day wore on, the supermarket grew crowded with locals stopping by after work.

By now, Huang Feng had pinpointed exactly what he needed: items that would bolster his own strength and enhance his financial capabilities, things that could help him earn money.

He swept through the aisles, quickly filling his basket. Yet, when it came time to check out, he had only spent a few hundred yuan—a substantial sum for him, considering he might face the risk of homelessness if his paycheck didn't come through next month.

Back at his place, Huang Feng tossed his purchases onto the bed and eagerly opened the storage box beneath it. He was eager to see what new treasures it might contain after such a long time.

To his disappointment, the contents were unchanged—no new items had been exchanged. "It looks like there's no set interval for swapping items in this storage box," he thought, disheartened. The randomness of both the items and the timing of their acquisition was discouraging. He dreaded the thought of the box taking a year or more to exchange, only to receive something utterly useless. That would be a real reason to weep.

Despite his disappointment, Huang Feng knew he still had tasks to accomplish. He methodically placed each item he had purchased from the supermarket into the storage box. Upon reflection, he realized that few of the items truly met his criteria. While there was no shortage of small, affordable goods, the ones that would prove truly useful to him were scarce. Items like wine and beverages might be tradable for their counterparts in other realms, but their quantity was finite. Once consumed, they would be gone for good.

Ultimately, Huang Feng decided to pack the storage box with as many varied items as he could, including an assortment of snacks and everyday essentials. By the time he finished, his oversized storage box was packed to the hilt.

Looking at his fully loaded box, Huang Feng felt a sense of relief wash over him. He was now eagerly anticipating the valuable items these goods might fetch in exchange.

With his packing complete, Huang Feng turned his attention to cooking dinner. Living alone, his meals were straightforward and quick to prepare. Yet, shortly after he turned to leave the room, a faint glow emanated from within the box, hinting at the magic it contained.

Meanwhile, in a magical realm, a portly middle-aged man summoned a teenager to his side. Next to him, on a table, sat a silk-covered box, its elaborate packaging a clear indication of the extraordinary contents within.