The sky was just starting to brighten, and the city was not fully awake yet. Celine and her two brothers were already gathered in the living room.
"Big brother, you should rest at home today."
"I'm going to the market to buy some necessities for Hogan and Red. Mateo will go pick up the car."
Celine's voice was a little hoarse, typical of early morning.
She had already made plans.
Shenan still needed to recover, and she didn't want him to be too tired.
After all, he had surgery in a few days.
Shenan shook his head and looked up at Celine. "I'm going with you."
His voice was low but very firm.
Celine saw the stubbornness deep in Shenan's eyes and swallowed the words she was about to say.
It was better to let him go out and get some fresh air than to keep him stuck at home.
Thinking about the surgery and the recovery time ahead, she nodded gently.
"Okay, then we'll go together. Mateo, be careful on the road."
"Mm."
Mateo replied, picked up the car keys, and turned around to leave quickly.
The early morning market at seven showed a strange scene.
Was it busy? Yes, it was busy.
One truck after another, big and small, came and went. The tires rolled over the wet ground, leaving marks of different depths.
Was it quiet? Yes, it was quiet too.
Compared to the crowd of shoppers around nine o'clock, now there were fewer scattered buyers, replaced by many vehicles doing bulk buying.
In this way, the small truck Celine and Shenan drove did not stand out.
She skillfully drove the truck into the parking lot of a small park opposite the market.
The place was wide and open, but because it was still early, only a few elderly people were there, each with their own little spot, leisurely spinning tops or practicing Tai Chi.
The sharp whistle and soft music came and went in the cold wind, making the place feel very quiet.
"This place is safe," Celine turned off the engine and explained to Shenan, "Few people, good view."
After parking, the two of them walked toward the market.
Celine's goal was very clear. She went straight to the steamed bun stall she had reserved in advance.
The stall owner was a simple middle-aged man. When he saw Celine, he smiled honestly and pointed to several big plastic bags piled up like small mountains next to him.
"Miss, the two thousand buns you ordered are all packed. They just came out of the steamer and are still warm!"
"Thanks, brother." Celine nodded and quickly paid the final payment.
Then she gave him some extra money and asked him to find a young strong guy to help carry the buns to the truck parked at the park parking lot.
After the young man loaded the big bags of buns into the back of her small truck and disappeared toward the market entrance, Celine finally moved.
She looked around left and right, making sure the few elders exercising in the morning were still focused on their own world and not paying attention to her. Then she gently placed her palm on the bags full of buns.
A faint light flashed.
In the blink of an eye, the truck bed that was full just moments ago became empty, as if the buns had never been there.
For the whole morning, Celine was like the most efficient shopping machine.
She brought Shenan to roam through every corner of the market. Since she had to supply both Red and Hogan, she didn't limit herself to specific items.
She bought big bags and boxes of rice, white flour, and various cooking oils;
Fresh vegetables and fruits, as long as they looked good and could be stored, she took without hesitation;
Pork, beef, and lamb, large cuts of fresh meat, she took it all;
Also various dried goods like mushrooms, wood ear fungus, kelp, and winter staples for southern people like cured meat, sausages, and salted fish—these were her key targets.
Her shopping rule was simple and rough: anything edible, usable, good quality, and reasonably priced, she bought it!
Every time, the stall owners sent the goods to the small truck parked nearby, then she quickly moved the goods into her space without anyone noticing.
Until Celine's phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw it was Mateo.
"Hello, Mateo?"
"Celine, the vehicle is ready. All the paperwork is done, no problems."
"Where are you? Should I come find you?"
Mateo's steady voice came from the receiver.
"No need, Mateo."
Celine looked at the market stalls near the end of the row, feeling the space filling up with more and more supplies.
"You find a quiet place. We'll come to you."