Uncle Cao nodded. "It's a bit tricky. The place is already narrow. If we add ordinary furnishings, I'm afraid it will be difficult to accommodate and it will seem crowded."
Xu Jiang seized on the word and asked, "What if it's custom-made?"
"What item does the boss want to customize?"
Xu Jiang stood in the garden, surveying the surroundings. She said, "How about taking the Tai Chi pattern and making two low couches, using the yin and yang as the dividing lines? This way, they can be used for sitting separately or together. When together, they form a circle, symbolizing reunion and good fortune, while also saving space. When not in use, they can be hung on the wall as decoration, and used for sitting or lying when entertaining guests. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Uncle Cao's eyes lit up, "That's a good idea!" Then he hurriedly urged, "Master, please draw me a rough sketch. I'll go back and think about it."
Xu Jiang was delighted to hear him say that it was feasible, and the two of them huddled together and went to the shop to grind ink, spread paper, and start drafting.
Uncle Cao watched her drawing and praised her, "Boss, you have a good idea."
Xu Jiang shook his head and sighed, "It's all because of holding it in. Who told me this place is too small, so I can only come up with some crooked ideas to make up for it."
"We all do manual labor, so it's inevitable that we have some similarities. It's only because the boss has read so much that he has such a brilliant idea."
Xu Jiang smiled embarrassedly.
"It's done. Take a look." She showed the drawing to Uncle Cao and asked, "You're an expert in house construction. Can you tell me if I'm breaking any rules?"
"It's okay. This is a new style. We use solid materials instead of expensive ones. We avoid official patterns when carving, so it's fine." After reviewing the drawing, Uncle Cao was excited. This style is not only flexible and practical, but also symmetrical in shape and has a good meaning. Maybe it will spread.
Xu Jiang was relieved to hear this and entrusted the matter to him. She then said, "I also want to re-plaster the exterior walls of the rooms in the backyard. The floor tiles in the yard have been worn down by donkeys and horses, so I'd like to replace them. I'd like to trouble you to find some skilled craftsmen to do the repairs for me."
"No problem. I'll ask Xu San to go to the East Market to find someone for you later." Uncle Cao carefully put the sketch away and asked, "Does the boss have anything else to buy?"
Xu Jiang glanced at the spot in front of the bookshelf where Lou Yunchun often rested and dozed, and said, "I'd also like to add a square low couch. It doesn't have to be too wide, just enough for one person to rest."
"Put it in the shop?"
"Yeah." Xu Jiang's cheeks felt slightly hot.
Uncle Cao stood up and walked around a few times, then said, "The host's shop is even narrower than the backyard. Not only can the low couch be folded up and down, it's hard to stretch it out, and it's easy to bump into things. In my opinion, it's better to remove the counter and replace it with an ordinary wooden couch. Then put two low boxes on each side of the couch, and a low table. When you're keeping accounts, you can use them as counters. When you're resting, just remove them and you can lie down."
Xu Jiang clapped his hands, "Good idea." Then he became troubled, "Then what should we do with the original counter?"
"It's a simple matter. Just sell it to someone else at a discount." Uncle Cao said with a smile, "Just leave it to Xu San. He has many ways to do it."
"Then it will be as you wish." After the matter was finalized, Xu Jiang asked again, "How long will it take to complete these tasks?"
"Scraping the plaster and replacing the bricks will take two days to complete. This couch, however, will take a bit longer. Firstly, it's a new style, and secondly, I have some unfinished work. Even if Xu San and I work together, I estimate it will take at least eight or nine days." After that, Uncle Cao asked, "Is the boss having a banquet?"
Xu Jiang nodded, "But eight or nine days is not too late, there is still time." She could just tidy up the bookstore inside and out and finish off the pile of work on her hands.
"That's good." Uncle Cao was thinking about the work in his hands and the new couch that Xu Jiang had ordered, so he packed up and hurried back.
As soon as he left the restaurant, he ran into Lou Yunchun. He greeted him and left in a hurry.
"Has it been agreed?"
"Um."
After their late-night chat, Xu Jiang, finding him friendly, stuck close to him as they went to the backyard to tie up the horses. She took the opportunity to tell him all about her plans and the ideas she had discussed with Uncle Cao.
As Lou Yunchun was listening, he suddenly stopped. Xu Jiang didn't notice and bumped into his back. Then she covered her nose and asked, "What's wrong?"
Lou Yunchun turned around, trying hard to suppress the corners of his lips that were about to curl up, pulled her in front of him, and asked in a low voice: "Why did you put an extra wooden couch in the shop?"
He accidentally let the cat out of the bag. Xu Jiang covered her nose, but couldn't hide her gradually burning red cheeks. Then she glared at him with her moist eyes and said in a muffled voice, "Don't ask questions when you already know the answer."
Hearing this, Lou Yunchun couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a crescent shape.
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