Grocery Store No.514

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

Ling Hua’an possessed peculiar eyes. He couldn’t see the living, but he has the ability to see ghosts. He runs a small supermarket with his profit obviously earned from the living people. But in fact, his massive income actually comes from finding out the cause of death of the wronged souls and helping them enter the cycle of reincarnation.

There is a saying that has been circulating in the Underworld:

The grocery store’s door is open. Ghosts must not come in if they have no money!

Jiang Chengyan is the captain of the criminal investigation team of Yuncheng Municipal Bureau.

He is busy everyday, and often works overtime. His dinner would mostly be instant noodles he had bought from the supermarket near the gate.

But every time he went out shopping, he would always sense the gloomy atmosphere surrounding the market. But he’s a firm atheist, so it‘s reasonable for him to go. (Actually, I think the supermarket owner is quite a good-looking fellow and has good disposition.)

By an incidental chance, Ling Hua’an suddenly received a huge order. If he could do it, he will no longer have to worry about food and clothing in his lifetime. But it’s quite difficult, thus, Ling Hua’an naturally approached Jiang Chengyan.

Afterwards, Jiang Chengyan who is a firm atheist, had his three views broken, and it was really sweet…

Associated Names
One entry per line
514号杂货铺
GSN514
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
They All Say I’ve Met a Ghost (4)
A Crowd of Evil Spirit Lines up to Confess to Me (3)
New Times, New Hell (3)
Ghosts Know What I Experienced (2)
I Wasn’t Born Lucky (2)
Hell Chain Hotel (2)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Seme protagonist novels
  2. BL Horror
  3. On Hold! BL
  4. Crime/Mystery Solving BL
  5. BL Novels I Recommend (PART ONE)

Latest Release

Date Group Release
05/12/24 Ms. Silk c197
05/11/24 Ms. Silk c196
05/10/24 Ms. Silk c195
05/09/24 Ms. Silk c194
05/08/24 Ms. Silk c193
05/07/24 Ms. Silk c192
05/06/24 Ms. Silk c191
05/05/24 Ms. Silk c190
05/04/24 Ms. Silk c189
05/03/24 Ms. Silk c188
05/03/24 Ms. Silk c187
05/03/24 Ms. Silk c186
05/02/24 Ms. Silk c185
05/01/24 Ms. Silk c184 part2
04/30/24 Ms. Silk c184 part1
Go to Page...
Go to Page...
Write a Review
12 Reviews sorted by


periperi
periperi
April 15, 2021
Status: c31
Haven't pressed the official rating but wanted to write a review first but so far, I would give this:

5 stars!

I just passed the first arc but the story kind of hooked me more than I expected. Don't be deterred by seme protag tag because it's a shifting POV story with a case-based approach and I'm really liking it so far.

First arc spoiler that really tugged on the heart string (probably because it involved very personal relationships) : ... more>>
Spoiler

the victim was a gay man who married and had a child but he had an extra-marital affair with a man. There are no winners in this situation. No right and wrongs, it's a grey area. But I found all the characters to be very pitiful and it was actually VERY SAD in the very end when the lovers were separated by life and death. I've read countless, and I do mean countless, police type books and sometimes, I'm amazed how cases like these, no matter how predictable it can be at the end, can still really tug at the heart strings.

[collapse]

Minor plot spoilers regarding the main characters involving the case:
Spoiler

they act separately for this case. As in, Cheng Yan has no idea Hua An is even involved in anything, to him, Hua An is just the convenience store owner. Not sure when it will be revealed because I do like it better when they work hand in hand knowingly (since will get more screen time together) than Hua An just randomly dropping the hints to Cheng Yan.

[collapse]

Romance BIG SPOILERS (not sure if this is make or break for some people, NOT as scary as what I'm writing) :
Spoiler

there are other people around the main characters that express interest in them. For example, that forensic person next to Cheng Yan, Su ke? Definitely interested. And then Hua An's partner friend, Yan Yu too. BUT In recent chapter, Hua An mentions that the friend is not interested in him, but just in a family sense (but he sure darn acts interested to me!). But fret not with these love rivals because they are clearly only interested in each other and it's actually very cute. Especially how Cheng Yan kept coming back, small jealous moments and actively making moves like going to Hua An's house to cook. Like, he's actually DOING SOMETHING.

[collapse]

I hope the story gets better as it goes along to the next arc and I may update as it moves~ <<less
17 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Common_people
Common_people rated it
April 19, 2021
Status: Completed
A good novel!! Supernatural story about a blind man gong and a police officer shou. There's no greentea bit*h but some sad boy who can't have the main cp. The gong looks like an ice beauty, some what distance, hot and cold toward the shou. But, he is kind and soft to the people he loves. He is a Sly fox who like to fishing his shou to fool him. But it's actually a good thing. Our shou can't be honest with his feeling without being pressure. He is not... more>> tsun type, just shy, a bit coward and zero EQ when he face his feeling. He is Fierce when solving criminal case, but act like a Kitty infront of his husband.

They working together to solve the case and to solve their each other family problem.

Spoiler

our gong blindness because of he wants to see his dead father, and Yan Jun give it. And actually both main Chara are a remnant soul of two God.

[collapse]

Like others supranatural story, there Will be some big war with evil.

I like how the romance thing between the main cp. There's no misunderstanding, there's a lot of fluff, some sad thing in the near end. <<less
12 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Kisaki_Tsubasa
Kisaki_Tsubasa rated it
November 23, 2022
Status: Completed
First of all. They need trigger warnings for this story. I, myself don't mind, but some people might. The story has su*cide, infanticide and child s*xual ab*se. So don't read if you're not ok with that. The "it was really sweet... " in the description is really misleading.

Ok. The fact that I finished reading this story when the translation hasn't been completed yet means I read the raws, which means the story is interesting enough. The story goes through a few mu*der cases from beginning to end and later... more>> develops into something bigger, which I can appreciate. The thing is that I have so much beef with this story that I don't even know where to begin.

Actually, I do know where to begin. I've been wanting to rant about this for quite a while now. What I really can't stand about this story is how karma and the rules of the underworld work. They are ok at first glance, but so many things are so wrong.

Don't worry, nothing here is a spoiler. What I'm complaining about is mostly the "world building".

Like for example, in this story, it is said that people who die due to someone purposely harming them become resentful ghosts. Ok, that's fine, but then it says that those resentful ghosts lose their memories the moment they become ghosts because of the resentment, and in order for them to enter the reincarnation cycle, they need to find out the truth behind their death and clear their resentment. Ok, that's fine. But here's the catch. There's a time limit to do so. If the ghost can't let go of their resentment by the time limit, they're doomed to wander the world for eternity and lose themselves. LIKE B WHAT? I don't know if that's what is truly believed in Taoism but why include that in the novel? As if the mu*der victim didn't have enough after being stripped of their life and everything they had and knew, if they can't let go by the time limit, then they're f*cked???

On top of that, the novel really emphasizes how everything is karma, so if you do something bad, you'll get retribution for your actions, and if you do good, you'll get good things in life. But what? Does that mean that the mu*der victims deserved to be killed? No, I'm not blowing things out of proportion. Most of the mu*der cases had a reason behind the mu*der where the victim did something that caused them to be killed.

Not only that, apparently despite having forgotten their memories, resentful ghosts instinctively want to haunt and harm the person who killed them (well, duh, they're angry because someone robbed them of their life). Their resentment is actually harmful to living beings and the more resentment they have, the more harm they can cause. And the younger the victim, the bigger the resentment. A living being exposed to a ghost's resentment for a long time will weaken, then eventually fall sick and ultimately die. The thing is, that once a ghost takes a life, they're doomed and will lose their right to reincarnation. Take a moment to think about the implications. It's even difficult for a level headed adult to control the urge to harm the person who harmed them in the first place, imagine a child ghost or a baby ghost even. Remember? The younger the ghost, the bigger the resentment. Meaning, a baby ghost is guaranteed to just go on a rampage. Meaning, the most innocent ones are the ones who are doomed the fastest. How the f*ck is that even fair?

Oh and the whole discovering the truth behind their death and letting go of their resentment is only for the ghosts who are lucky enough to find the spirit guide of their area to help them. The ones who aren't as lucky will be taken to an island in the underworld and will have to go through a very painful process to wash away their resentment. Because having been killed was not awful enough. And yes, there's still a time limit and yes they can still fail. And if they fail, they're stuck in the island to suffer for eternity. LIKE WTF? Why do you have to be ok with the fact that someone mu*dered you??? And be ok with it by a certain amount of time??? That's so toxic!

Another way "karma" works in this novel is that you'll receive retribution for the result of others' actions just because you're involved in it, regardless of your intentions or how active you are, as long as the results bring harm to other people. For example, if someone kills one of your loved ones in order to hurt you, the person's death automatically becomes your fault too, so you'll get retribution for it. Like GTFO

I've been ranting for a while now and this is becoming an essay, but I still have so much more to complain about. At the beginning, each case ended quite properly with careful details but later while the story focused more on the main characters' stories and not so much about the cases and victims, the side characters started fading into the background. No, they were not just dropped and forgotten about, but you were left to assume what happened to them instead of actually having a proper account. Or like the MC's and ML's relationship was totally fine, but then they had to add this whole layer of their "origin" to the story (won't say much to not spoil) and I'll just say that it was just sick. I hated that part. It was freaking awful.

I could keep on going, but even I myself am tired for complaining so much, so I'll end my rant here for now... *sighs* <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
IrregularPerson
IrregularPerson rated it
December 7, 2021
Status: c28
It certainly is an interesting story, I just thing it's particularly lacking. Having read Detective Conan, it is like suspenseful, and the police regulations are more prominent than Detective Conan. It's not a crime-fantasy, but there are supernatural aspects.

I think the Blind Protagonist could have been executed better...

... more>>
Spoiler

The part which is lacking, the MC's personality is witty but kind of frustrating? It falls into the problem with mainstream series, with the cold and morally gray protagonists. There isn't much excuse for why he denies assistance so often aside from his personality (I would mind if he was just being 'cute' to one of his friends, but there is no difference between his best friend, his family member and his love interest), for one thing his disability is an inconvenience, there is no way to write around it. And you can still make it a positive reading experience.

There are two things about it: it's jarring to read how the MC doesn't care much about his own well-being. The example of having several burn marks from preparing food. Even clumsy people would still try to take precautions once they done it, and for it to happen several times. And that leads into another thing, there is some leeway for the love interest who is just getting to know him, but his own family member and best friend treat him delicately. Equality is about making it so that everyone has equal opportunities and to make things accessible to a person regardless of their being. You'd think he be comfortable receiving assistance from his younger sibling, though the author does make it a 'cute' relationship.

There is a strange thing about it too. This book was published in 2020. Where are the seeing-assistance apps? (I do like how he utilizes ghosts but I really do feel the Blind Protagonist thing was just added lightly.) And another discrepancy that is different from reality, unless our MC is deliberately written to be clumsy, but that doesn't seem the case as he seems resourceful enough to catch himself. In certain circumstances, a person's proprioception (sense of space), would gain familiarity with their surrounding with active engagement. I don't see why he needs to be assisted to places, though it's seems to be a personality trait of MC's best friend, making him a considerate stalking horse.

It isn't the worst, but there is no shame in asking for assistance. In fact a person should be ready to utilize it. Another point would be gained if MC gained his unique constitution, and his disability but it seems he has always been that way. There is also a twisted feeling. I like shameless protagonists, and being pushy in love is fine- but I suppose that's just because I'm used to dead fish seme protagonists. I just don't like the clumsy written aspects of his disability, because he's looking to pursue a relationship (which is really sweet) but making the other party concerned about MC's well being sounds like a more worrisome relationship.

[collapse]

Anyways, having just read one arc. It's too critical to say that it's a slog and a frustrating to read, for example "it happens" but that doesn't make it entertaining. It isn't terrible. But the flow of the story feels like missed potential as there were some aspects the author doesn't know how to effectively use. As the first case concluded in c28, the conclusion was... a Detective Conan ending. Well minus the ghost's departure, I don't feel awfully invested in the case. Perhaps that author does make improvements as other aspects of the story is perfectly fine.

This isn't a story about crime, it's about life. So don't expect to get a kick from being a detective. But I do like the aspect that the MC remains to be involved with his own personal investigation, even being the miraculous bridge to get new information with his supernatural quirks. <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Ouryane00
Ouryane00 rated it
May 22, 2023
Status: c90
5 stars!! (My plump fingers might have mistakenly clicked 4 but this is more than 5 stars)

I love it a lot!!! This is such a must read!

Crime uncovering + romance? Just love it!!!

I also really like that although MC and ML suddenly liked each other, it didn't feel out of place at all. It just feels like everything falling into place

What shocked me about the romance is that ... more>>
Spoiler

MC is the gong, ML is the shou!

[collapse]

Its a really nice novel, make sure to give it a chance!

This shed some light in my horrible week lol <<less
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Shrike1978
Shrike1978 rated it
June 16, 2024
Status: Completed
A 3.4 stars.

The quality of the story really dropped off in the final chapters. There was no need for the author to bring in the ... more>>
Spoiler

s*upid and creepy star god stalking/raping his companion star god in a twisted love affair

[collapse]

Jiang Chengyuan started off the story as a strong leader, a smart, ethical cop, and capable person. By the end he came across as a s*upid, rich boy, foolish husky lover whose purpose in life is to toddle after their lover whining, begging for affection and doing idiotic things.

Ling Hua'an stayed pretty much the same throughout at least, but the number of secrets he has to keep about that whole unnecessary plot complication, not to mention that he's responsible for
Spoiler

tampering with JCY's memories

[collapse]
really makes me wonder how their relationship will work since up until the last bit, the honesty they had with each other was the strongest element in their relationship.

Anyway, the whole thing just left a sour taste in my mouth cause it was really good there for a while then just fell off a cliff. Bummer story. <<less
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Ann99
Ann99 rated it
October 26, 2023
Status: --
Had to abandon it halfway because it really felt like the Gong was leading on the 2nd ML guy. Even when he's planning to go on a romantic trip with the Shou, he agrees to take his brother who hates Shou, and the 2nd ML who likes him with him.
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
IsaacaHawke
IsaacaHawke rated it
May 29, 2024
Status: Completed
So, first things first - cafe tl - 5/5; silk - 3/5

I really can't with the last tl. The names keep switching, the genders keep switching. You have to keep playing the guessing game. I mean, errors even in the most obvious cases like "Jiang", called Jiang. Why would the ML call himself, it's supposed to be MC's name. It's readable but an annoying experience, feels like unedited MTL. The worst is when names like Tianquan are suddenly called monopoly? Like what?

On to the story itself - I liked it.... more>> I like the dynamics between the two but dear lord the story should have a lot more tags (I added in some, but I hope other people will add in what were missed). The cases are brutal and some made me nauseous
Spoiler

There's a cases with horrific s*xual ab*se of several children, and the ab*sed children's souls were not spared either

[collapse]
. I don't have a problem with how the family dynamics were handled either, not perfect but felt real.

The thing that concerned me throughout -
Spoiler

The Ml's lack of security in the relationship was something that I could not understand as MC was as obsessed with him as ML was with him, both accommodated each other, gave each other trust and respect but also being there to lean on. So I could not understand the lack of security aspect. Until the last 5% of the novel. My heart broke over and over in the last few chapters. The lack of security is explained here. I won't spoil that more.

[collapse]
.

The ending is... well its a happy ending
Spoiler

but if you really think about it, the original soul's story is just toxic. r*pe, stalking and then horrible manipulation? & then he pines for eternity just as the stalker intended? Uh, no. & then when you realize that ML is a soul fragment of the manipulative b, and MC's fragment fell in love with ML's fragment as intended, over and over, I can't help but have an icky taste in my mouth towards the ending.

[collapse]
<<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
ryrdgx
ryrdgx rated it
May 13, 2024
Status: c28
I was really interested by the first case, speculating along on the mu*derer the whole way. However, the bits of romance in between put me off, MC and ML felt like they had zero chemistry, and I always skipped past their interactions to get back to the case. I feel like more could've been done to build up MC and ml's relationship, because now it just feels like the ML is being inexplicably shy around the MC, with no real reason as to why he might like the MC.

4.5 for... more>> the story, 2.0 for the romance <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Crizzta
Crizzta rated it
May 5, 2024
Status: c73
Pro : interesting cases

Con: romance is meh.

Problem with most danmei is that no matter how cool, strong and sensible the shou is, the moment he is in front of gong, he would automatically must be weak blushing and cringey typical timid heroine drama.

It was cute at first but now it was just annoying.

Hopefully it would change later in the story and the shou would be more assertive but I doubt it. For now I continue because the cases. Some of them are quite interesting.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Fisukisuki
Fisukisuki rated it
May 1, 2023
Status: c90
It feels different compared to other romance-horror-ish mystery solving BL I have ever read so far.

The Love life was as major as the other serious plot, but not distasteful. The existence of 2nd ML being major character because he's a very good friend of MC. His identity as a Friend AND someone who does love MC IS that Major. I still can't get over how this character setting is interesting.

Also MC's attitude how to get ML confess his love, etc, was also super rare compared to many other Gong MC... more>> I have ever read. It was both slightly frustrating at the beginning but also refreshing. Lol. And when they get together, it was good.

Okay, beside the Romance, the Mystery solving was pretty good. Nothing is boring and interesting plot. Sure nothing spectacular, but it wasn't average either.

Anyway I hope the translation would continue. 🙏 And has good ending. <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Smtha
Smtha rated it
May 18, 2024
Status: Completed
Its a good write detective x supernatural plots story. There’s quite a few graphics horror details which bring the harsh reality of crimes and cruelty. As well as the closure with supernatural means. ML is quite powerful with his supernatural abilities which he got with a price. His partner also a top cool headed police officer (but totally a clingy and foolish infront of Ml) Even though some time they are powerful, but not op. And they get help when needed. Which I appreciate where not always the protagonist... more>> always over the top all mighty powerful. Each story have its heartbreaking moments and at the end also have the explanation. Its a good horror, fight crime and supernatural story. Thank you <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Leave a Review (Guidelines)
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.