On either side of the house, small paths led to the back. Bai Suihe didn't immediately go to check them out. Instead, she walked to the wing on the far right and pushed the door open. Unlike its unremarkable exterior, the small building held a separate dimension. As soon as she stepped inside, she could feel its vastness; it was at least the size of a football field.
The space was neat and orderly, densely packed with crates as large as truck beds. Rows upon rows of food, white rice, and flour formed a spectacular sight. After walking a lap around the room, she discovered crops that didn't even exist in this world yet, such as corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
There were also massive quantities of various fruits. Even if she ate to her heart's content, she probably wouldn't be able to finish them all in this lifetime. She hadn't looked at the other rooms yet, so she didn't examine this one too closely.
Walking into the second room, she found it resembled a processing plant, filled with various pieces of machinery. It seemed the grains and flour next door were processed here.
To her surprise, the third room was a study. It was truly an ocean of books. Bai Suihe walked over to the nearest shelf and casually pulled one out. It turned out to be a children's book, printed in simplified characters.
Bai Suihe was speechless. "Did my baby rob some other transmigrated heroine's cheat?" she wondered.
The fourth room was a bedroom—a large, modern one with a walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom. The closet was empty, but the bathroom was fully stocked with toiletries. It even had the toothbrush and toothpaste she had been missing just this morning.
Turning on the faucet, water actually flowed out. It couldn't be more convenient. Looking at the empty cabinets in the closet, she really wanted to fill them up.
What delighted her the most was the two-meter-wide mattress. However, the plastic film on it hadn't been torn off yet, making it obvious that no one had ever slept there. Bai Suihe couldn't help but walk over and press down on it. It was made of latex; it would definitely be comfortable to sleep on.
Beside the bed was a large vanity table, thoughtfully filled with skincare products. Right in the middle of the table sat a mahogany box.
Bai Suihe lifted the lid to find an assortment of bottles and jars inside. There were twelve bottles in total, each a different color. However, there were no labels or instructions, so she didn't dare open them carelessly. She planned to wait until the baby woke up to ask about them. For them to be placed in such a prominent spot, they couldn't be anything ordinary.
The fifth room was a large, modern kitchen. It had setups for both Chinese and Western cuisine, complete with a full range of appliances. A row of freezers stood along the wall, crammed with meat and seafood.
Bai Suihe couldn't help but gently stroke her abdomen. What a thoughtful, good baby.
She had expected another surprise in the final room, but to her disappointment, it was completely empty. She had already imagined various uses for it.
"This cheat is simply too massive," Bai Suihe murmured. She figured that with this treasure, she could manage to keep her little life safe even if she were exiled.
Turning to look at the land in front of her, she estimated it to be about five acres. She then followed the small path along the edge of the house to the back. There was another plot of land here, planted with a vast array of vegetables, all of which were ready for harvest.
Walking over, she plucked a sprig of cilantro and took a deep breath of it under her nose. It was that familiar scent. Suddenly, she craved hot pot.
Further back lay a hazy, gray expanse, looking like a magical barrier or the very edge of the space.
Bai Suihe let out a loud shout into the void, venting all of today's pent-up frustration. "This is great. Even if I can't be the main female lead, I won't be cannon fodder either."
Looking at the mountain nearby, she saw that many fruit trees were already laden with fruit. Bai Suihe even spotted lychees among them. She had no idea how fast these trees grew. If the ripe fruits weren't picked, would they just hang there forever?
As the thought crossed her mind, her eyes suddenly went wide. The fruits on the lychee tree were currently lining up and flying into the storehouse all on their own!
In that moment, Bai Suihe forgot she was pregnant. She jumped up and down a few times in place, then put her hands on her hips and burst into hearty laughter. Once she finished venting, she stuck out her tongue. Fortunately, she was the only one in this space, or she would have been taken for a madwoman.
She hooked her finger, and a cluster of lychees landed in her hand. Peeling off the shell, she popped one into her mouth. It was the same familiar taste, perhaps even sweeter and more refreshing. The quality was top-tier.
With both fruits and grains available, Bai Suihe couldn't resist looking for meat. It didn't take long for her to find some clues. In the orchard, chickens, ducks, and geese were all foraging for food. For some unknown reason, she didn't see any larger animals, but this was already fantastic. She was very content.
She didn't dare stay inside for too long. She didn't know the difference in the flow of time between the space and the outside world. If the maids and older female servants couldn't find her, she wouldn't be able to control the situation.
Returning to her room, she saw that the food the older female servants had laid out earlier was still steaming. She reached out to touch a dish; it was still piping hot. Yet, she had been inside for quite a while—at least an hour.
She couldn't figure out the exact time ratio between the two sides, but it was definitely different.
She had no time to study the space right now. Looking at all the hot food, she felt hungry again. She looked down at her stomach and decided she might as well eat. This wasn't her modern life where she had to maintain a strict diet to keep her figure; there was no such thing as skipping meals before bed.
After finishing her food, she had the two older female servants clear the table. Bai Suihe still wasn't sleepy, so she simply entered the space again. First, she went to the kitchen and boiled a kettle of water. She poured a steaming cup of hot water and placed one in every room, as well as inside and outside the courtyard. She wanted to test the flow of time in the space and see if it could preserve freshness.
After taking another lap around the space, she finally felt a bit tired. Only then did she return to her bed and fall asleep.
The next day.
Lying in bed, Bai Suihe still felt like she was in a dream. Transmigrating into a book, inner-courtyard struggles, and a magical space—it was truly thrilling.
"Third Young Madam, are you awake?" Dongmei asked in a low voice from outside. Their master didn't like them waiting on her inside the room, but they still had to serve her attentively.
"Come in," Bai Suihe called out. She felt like cursing. She didn't know when she'd finally be able to sleep in. The sun wasn't even up yet, and they were already waking her up.
As soon as she sat up, she immediately brought a hand to her head. "Dongmei, if I remember correctly, the old madam said yesterday that I was to rest well in my courtyard for a few days. Why are you here to wake me up so early today?"
Dongmei lowered her head. "Nanny Zhou came over again at nightfall yesterday. Fearing it would disturb the Third Young Madam, this servant didn't come in to report it. The old madam asked you to go over again this morning."
Bai Suihe was on the verge of cursing out loud. She quickly took a deep breath. She couldn't let her character persona break just yet. "I'm feeling a bit dizzy this morning. Summon the estate's doctor."
Acting on sudden whims in the middle of the night—it seemed they were up to no good. Bai Suihe chose the clumsiest method to deal with it: feigning illness.
Dizziness was a subjective symptom. No doctor would dare jump to conclusions easily, so Bai Suihe wasn't afraid of being exposed.
Dongmei and the others, however, were very anxious. "Third Young Madam, please lie back down quickly! This servant will immediately send someone to fetch the estate's doctor."
Bai Suihe fell back against the pillows. "Remember to send someone to the main courtyard to inform them and apologize to the old madam on my behalf."
Dongmei immediately went to arrange the tasks. She then personally took a handkerchief, soaked it in warm water, and placed it on Bai Suihe's forehead. "Aside from the dizziness, is the Third Young Madam experiencing any other discomfort?"