Just as the words left Bai Hanyun's mouth, the antique mirror shone brightly. Blinded by the sudden light, Bai Hanyun closed her eyes and scolded, "Too bright! Tone it down!"
A second later, the light faded. Bai Hanyun blinked a few times before her vision cleared.
She glared at the antique mirror and grumbled, "Seriously, what bad luck do I have? Why did I ever take you out of the basement? Curiosity really does kill the cat. And in my case, it's killing my wallet!"
Despite her grumbling, Bai Hanyun still carried the antique mirror to the kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets, freezer, and refrigerator.
She lived alone, and cooking was a hassle. Most of the food in the house was instant, canned, or ready-to-eat.
After searching for a moment, she found ten packs of instant noodles, five self-heating meals, various snacks, and beverages from the cabinet.
Without thinking, she casually tossed them into the mirror.
Then she opened the freezer and threw in packs of frozen dumplings, wontons, steamed buns, meat buns, scallion pancakes, ice cream, chicken nuggets, and two packs of fries.
After clearing out the freezer, she moved on to the refrigerator.
There were only a few vegetables, some fruit, and a few bottles of juice. Thinking they would expire soon anyway, she grabbed everything and tossed it into the mirror too.
Turning around, Bai Hanyun spotted a bag of rice, two bags of flour, a box of noodles, and a box of vermicelli on the kitchen counter. Without hesitation, she threw them into the mirror as well, along with a pack of salt, half a pack of sugar, a barrel of cooking oil, and a bag of mixed seasoning.
Looking around the now-empty kitchen, Bai Hanyun said, "That's everything I have. You'd better be satisfied now."
After saying that, she brought the antique mirror back to the living room.
Meanwhile, just as Feng Xiyan and the generals began growing anxious, the mirror began to spit things out again.
Seeing boxes of items fall to the ground, Feng Xiyan hurriedly ordered, "Quick, pick them up."
Without needing to be told, the generals rushed to gather the food on the ground.
When Fan Wanming bent down to pick up a cup of ice cream, he exclaimed in shock at the cold sensation. "Heaven! It's so cold! Is this the food fairies eat in heaven?"
Attracted by his words, Zhan Qi placed the instant noodles on the long table and walked over. Looking at the cup of ice cream, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Fan Wanming showed him the cup and replied, "Touch this. It's so cold!"
Curious, Zhan Qi reached out to take the ice cream from Fan Wanming. But as soon as his fingertips touched it, he instinctively pulled his hand back and exclaimed, "So cold!"
Fan Wanming's eyes lit up with excitement. "Right? I have never felt anything this cold, except snow. But now it's so hot... how could there be snow?"
"The food bestowed by Heaven is truly extraordinary," Zhan Qi said, nodding in agreement.
While the two were fussing over the ice cream, Xue Ruhong picked up a bag of salt. The moment he laid eyes on it, he was stunned.
The next moment, he said, "Great General, look at this! This is fine salt!"
Seeing the always calm Xue Ruhong lose his composure, Feng Xiyan and the others quickly walked over. When they saw the bag of salt and the barrel of vegetable oil in his hands, they could no longer stay calm.
Salt was very important for the human body. Without it, people would weaken and lose muscle over time. With salt, there was hope for recovery.
Feng Xiyan took the bag of salt and said, "This salt is white and clean. It's even better than the tribute salt sent to the imperial palace."
Tan Pengtai added, "The grains are so fine and distinct. Is this the holy salt used by the gods in Heaven?"
Walking up to the table, Feng Xiyan examined the strange packaging and glass bottles holding colorful drinks.
He clenched his fists, suppressing his growing excitement as he turned to look at the mirror, which was still spitting out food and drinks in strange packages.
While Feng Xiyan and the generals busied themselves with picking, studying and counting the food and drinks sent by Bai Hanyun, she watched them through the antique mirror.
Ten packs of instant noodles, five self-heating meals, thirty packs of snacks, forty bottles of tea and juice, twenty catties of fresh vegetables, and five catties of fruits—some they had never seen before.
There were also thirty packs of frozen dumplings, wontons, steamed buns, meat buns, scallion pancakes, ice cream, chicken nuggets, and two packs of fries.
A bag of polished rice, two bags of white flour, a box of fine noodles, a box of vermicelli, a pack of fine salt, half a pack of white sugar, a barrel of cooking oil, and a bag of unknown seasonings.
After Xue Ruhong noted everything down, he handed the list to Feng Xiyan. "Great General, this is a lot of food, but it's still far from enough to feed 80,000 people."
He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Great General, can you ask Heaven for more?"
Feng Xiyan was silent for a long time before handing the list back and calmly replied, "General Xue, please inform the kitchen to cook the food into porridge and distribute it to the soldiers."
"What about the common people?" Xue Ruhong asked.
Feng Xiyan paused for a second and then said, "This general will find a way."