After Chief Liu returned, he immediately relayed the news about the vending machines to all relevant departments.  

Liu Tong and the others also received their orders and dispersed to different locations, searching for suitable spots to place the snow-collecting machines and food-collecting machines.  

According to Old Man Wu, the “old items” the boss wanted were vastly different from what they had imagined. Therefore, collecting them to exchange for money wouldn’t be difficult.  

The real challenge was figuring out how much those old items were actually worth.  

With the snow falling heavier by the day, the sooner they handled this, the better. So, those “old items” needed to be carefully selected.  

As for things that were unsuitable to keep, they could probably just send them all over.  

And there were plenty of those.  

…

Liu Tong, dressed in a brand-new navy-blue cotton coat, stood alone, squinting as he leaned against a wind-blocking corner, waiting for the vending machine to arrive.  

The others, unable to bear the cold, had long retreated indoors. Only he remained, standing guard.  

To be honest, he just wanted to see how this machine would be delivered—was it really going to fall from the sky?  

Lost in his thoughts, a fierce gust of wind suddenly blew past.  

Liu Tong immediately tensed, trying to widen his eyes, but the wind made it impossible. By the time it died down, a massive machine had appeared right beside him at the designated spot.  

Liu Tong tightened his coat and strode over.  

Before him stood a horizontally expansive machine, spanning over ten meters in length.  

The front of the machine was entirely encased in transparent glass, with each item packed into individual compartments of varying sizes, making everything clearly visible at a glance.  

“It’s this big?!”  

Liu Tong was stunned. Next to the machine was a smaller checkout device where customers could pay and receive change. It also doubled as a snow-collection terminal—two functions in one.  

“Everyone, come out! The machine’s here!”  

Liu Tong shouted, just as he noticed something called “Wang Wang Milk” for sale. Curious, he tapped the button on the interface.  

[Hello, customer! Would you like it hot or at room temperature?]

Instead of selecting the options displayed on the glass, Liu Tong called out, “Hot, please.”  

[Understood. Price: 20 cents per can. Please proceed to payment.]

Liu Tong walked to the payment slot and dropped in the coins. Soon, a warm can of milk slid out onto the conveyor belt, along with his change.  

Now he understood—first, you select your item, then pay, and after payment, the goods are dispensed. However, there was no packaging; you had to bring your own.  

Additionally, the side of the machine had multiple output chutes, likely designated for different types of items. For example, coal would probably have its own separate dispenser.  

“Wow, it’s real!”  

“It’s huge!”  

“Brother Liu, how do you buy stuff from it?”  

“Liu, what did you get? Look, there are prices listed, and it even gives heating options!”  

Liu Tong held the warm milk in his hands, using it to heat his fingers, and walked back. Sure enough, prices and options had now appeared on the interface. It seemed the machine gradually improved itself based on customer interactions.  

It was… utterly unbelievable.  

Especially in an era like theirs, where such an impossible machine had appeared. And yet, everyone seemed to accept it almost without question—which was equally unbelievable.  

“Alright, notify the broadcasting station. This place has probably been short on supplies for a while now. Also, get the local guys to help maintain order. Split up and get it done.”  

“Got it, Brother Liu.”  

“Let’s move.”  

At the same time, three other locations also began testing the machines, slowly notifying people to come and purchase what they needed.  

……

Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun were so hungry that their stomachs ached with acid reflux, making it impossible to sleep. They could only sit up early in their home.  

As they sat there, they suddenly heard the broadcast outside announcing that food was being sold—people had to bring their own bags and line up to buy it, with no purchase limits.  

“Am I hallucinating from hunger?” Grandma Sun glanced at Grandpa Sun.  

Grandpa Sun immediately got up to fetch their money. “Whether it’s true or not, let’s go check. Wake up the boys—the kids can keep sleeping.”  

Grandma Sun hurried to knock on doors and rouse the others.  

A short while later, the whole family, still half-asleep and unsure if this was real, bundled up tightly like they were under some spell and rushed to the location mentioned in the broadcast.  

“What the hell is that?!”  

Eldest Sun stared in shock at the massive machine. He worked in a factory, yet he had never seen anything like this in his life.  

Second Sun, ever the shrewd one, told his family to wait while he went to ask around. He soon came jogging back.  

“It’s real! They’re selling food—right out of the machine! People are already buying stuff. And there’s more—they’ve got *everything*!”  

Grandpa Sun, leaning on his cane, helped Grandma Sun walk toward the machine. The line wasn’t long yet—they’d be next.  

“What’s this? Powdered milk? Get it! Rubber shoes? Get ‘em! Meat? Rice? And oil? Wait—clothes? Tents? Snacks? Milk?”  

Third Sun was dumbfounded. How could they be selling all this? Was it really in stock?  

Sticking to his cautious nature, Grandpa Sun selected the most essential items: rice, flour, oil, brown sugar, fatty pork, and vegetables. After confirming his choices, he moved to the payment area.  

[Hello, customer. Please place your bag at the dispensing outlet.]

As soon as the machine spoke, Eldest Sun quickly held open a sack under the chute. Moments later, glistening white grains of rice poured out, filling the bag.  

At the same time, the machine dispensed his change.  

Once the rice was done, the flour came next. The oil and other items were pre-packaged and appeared on the conveyor belt.  

The Sun family gathered their haul, staring at each other in stunned silence.  

“Ma, you all go home first. I’m gonna buy more stuff—I saw apples and bananas!” Second Sun immediately turned back to rejoin the line.  

Grandpa Sun made a snap decision. “Third Son, go with your brother and buy whatever else we need—coal briquettes, a thermos, more rice and flour.”  

Third Sun nodded, while Sun the Eldest carried the first load of goods and slowly escorted the elderly couple home.  

By the time the Suns returned, many of their hesitant neighbors—who had also heard the broadcast—immediately noticed them and swarmed over.  

“Grandpa Sun, you really bought rice and flour? It’s real?”  

“Oh my god, I can smell the rice—it’s the good stuff!”  

“And meat? Look at that fat—think how much oil you could render from it!”  

“Grandpa Sun, is it really selling food? It’s not a scam?”  

Grandpa Sun, exhausted, waved them off. “Neighbors, let us put our things away first. My eldest still has to go back to fetch the others. But yes—that place is selling *everything*. Food, coal briquettes… There are police keeping order, so don’t worry. Just go quickly, or you’ll be stuck in line forever.”  

The neighbors scattered instantly, rushing home to grab money and bags.  

Eldest Sun dropped off the groceries, then grabbed two large baskets and hurried back to meet his brothers.  

In this bitter winter, they needed as much coal as they could carry. And he could’ve sworn he saw some kind of windproof foil—maybe they could buy a roll and patch up the doors to block the drafts.  

By the time he returned, the line had swelled into an endless sea of people. Everyone was impatient, yelling at those ahead to hurry up. If not for the police keeping things under control, chaos would’ve broken out.  

Eldest Sun didn’t dare linger. He pushed forward to find his brothers.  

Second Sun and Third Sun had already finished shopping—their items were almost ready, and they’d been waiting for the baskets to load the coal.  

“They said there’s no purchase limit, but to only buy what you need. And you can come back every day,” Second Sun whispered. “Who the hell set this thing up?”  

Third Sun shrugged. “Who cares? As long as there’s food, we won’t starve.”  

Eldest Sun nodded firmly. “Right. Doesn’t matter where it came from—as long as they’re selling. Let’s go home. Tonight, we eat real food!”  

“Let’s go!”  

“Let’s go!”