The Little Ones' Department Store Is Open!

An early work. Just have fun with it, everyone!

Yu Bai, a penniless young man with neither father nor mother, woke up one day bound to a spatial System.

Faced with the generous, tempting rewards offered by the System, Yu Bai immediately began shuttling between the modern world and the cultivation world. He started by selling instant noodles from a street stall, then steadily built his business into something big.

Just as he was starting to make money, the System asked him to save an unconscious man by the roadside who had a little one with him. Yu Bai refused.

But when the System said in its cold electronic voice that the man owned a mountain of gold, Yu Bai swallowed, spun around, and promptly carried the man on his back. He tucked the little one in his arms and brought them both home to his ramshackle hovel.

*

Word had it that a strange shop had opened in the Land of Chaos. Not only did it sell rare goods never before seen in the cultivation world, it also had four adorable fortune-bringing beasts and a man with formidable strength.

People, immortals, and demons from all over the cultivation world came flocking to visit.

Faced with these strange customers who could fly on swords, had blue-green faces and fangs, or had dark marks between their brows, shopkeeper Yu Bai lounged in a chair and leisurely fanned himself.

"Hot pot, grilled sausages, and luosifen: eat now, pay later."

"Flashlights, hair dryers, and toilet paper: low-grade spirit stones."

"Basketballs, speakers, and game consoles: high-grade spirit stones."

"If you want to cuddle the little ones, line up on the right and sign up for a membership first."

"If you want to fight, line up on the left and sign an agreement first."

"First come, first served. The shop does not offer credit."

(3)

The man Yu Bai brought home was called Gu Zhong. Apart from his name, the man couldn't answer a single question about himself.

With no hope of finding the gold mine he'd been dreaming of, Yu Bai was about to throw the man out when he suddenly produced several gems from who knew where and said earnestly, "I can earn money."

Yu Bai was skeptical, but the man pointed at the little ones in Yu Bai's arms and said, "They can earn money too."

Yu Bai: ?

The little ones: ?

Later, Yu Bai watched the four little ones and the man make money by doing acrobatics in the town square and fighting in the martial arts arena. His face turned black as thunder.

To support the little ones, Yu Bai opened a school for them in addition to his general store. The square-dancing competitions and single-player gaming tournaments he organized became all the rage throughout the cultivation world.

These novelties even drew the lofty gods to this tiny corner of the Land of Chaos.

But when the gods pointed at Yu Bai's little ones, whose baby teeth hadn't even all come in, and called them ill omens who had to be taken away, Yu Bai was furious.

Before his anger could even flare, the little dumplings who usually did nothing but act cute and cling to him transformed one after another into gigantic beasts that blotted out the sky. They followed Gu Zhong and razed the gods who had tried to harm Yu Bai.

Gu Zhong wrapped his arms around Yu Bai, who was still stunned, and presented the gods' most precious treasure with both hands. His voice was sincere. "Welcome back, my Divine King."

A money-loving, smooth-talking shou who's great at coaxing kids x a wealthy, stone-faced gong who takes care of kids.

Reader's Guide:

* In the beginning, he pushes a cart and sells things at street stalls to earn start-up money. The shop-opening plot begins around chapter thirty.

* Style: A fun, everyday story about running a shop and raising kids, with the occasional satisfying moment.

* The little ones are actual children, and are not related by blood to either the gong or the shou.

* The author's headcanon is extensive. Please don't overthink it.

* One-on-one romance + happy ending + no secondary couples in the main story. There may be some in the extras.

* Blurb written on December 11, 2022, revised February 26, 2024.

Theme: Born equal, strive for a positive life.