Chapter 11 Lighters
Cheng Fang walked into the store without any hesitation and began to look around, searching left and right, but he didn't recognize any of the items on the shelves.
"Your shop is not only uniquely decorated, but the items you have are also quite unusual."
“My father is a merchant who travels all over the country, and these are all things he has collected from all over the country. If you two gentlemen do not travel far often, you will naturally see less of them.”
Jiang Ling no longer feels any pressure when lying.
“Cheng Fang, stop beating around the bush,” Zhao Jingxing glanced around and said to Jiang Ling, “Shopkeeper, do you sell tinderboxes? It’s been raining for days, and the tinderboxes I have are all damp and won’t light.”
A tinderbox? That's just a lighter!
"Yes, please wait a moment." Jiang Ling walked to the last shelf, where there were many styles of lighters, some costing one yuan, some ten yuan, and some fifty yuan.
Jiang Ling glanced at the weather outside and picked out two windproof lighters that cost fifty yuan each.
"What are these?" Cheng Fang looked at the two small square boxes in Jiang Ling's hand, which gleamed with a cold metallic light.
"This is called a lighter, also known as a tinderbox."
"Is this a tinderbox? A tinderbox made of iron?"
Even though he grew up in a wealthy family, he had never seen a tinderbox made of iron.
He quickly picked one up and examined it in his hand.
The metal tentacles were cool to the touch, smooth to the touch, and finely polished, as if they could reflect a person's image.
It is very small, only half the height of an ordinary tinderbox.
How long can something so small last? Throwing it away after use is just too extravagant!
I think I can see a crack in the middle of the box, but I can't pull it open no matter what I do.
Zhao Jingxing stopped him from making a forceful act of destruction.
He turned his gaze to Jiang Ling: "Please demonstrate how to use this tinderbox, young lady."
"Please take a look, young master." Jiang Ling said nothing, picked up the lighter in her hand, and flicked it lightly to the side with her finger.
With a "click," the top cover opened.
Immediately afterwards, press the small black square with your thumb—
"Snap—!"
With a crisp sound, a bright, steady cluster of pale blue flames instantly shot out from the top of the small metal box!
Fearing they wouldn't be able to see clearly, Jiang Ling deliberately slowed down her movements.
"Fire?! There really is fire? Fire just appeared like that?" Cheng Fang stared wide-eyed at the flame emitting a pale blue glow.
Even if a regular tinderbox contains smoldering embers, you still need to carefully blow on it for a while before a flame appears.
Zhao Jingxing's expression remained calm, but his eyes revealed disbelief.
"My father found this kind of tinderbox with a merchant from the Western Regions. Its metal exterior is moisture-proof and damp-proof, making it ideal for rainy weather. Moreover, the flame is windproof, so it won't be affected even in strong winds."
Jiang Ling loosened her grip, and the flame disappeared.
The two were used to seeing rare and precious treasures, and they quickly recovered from their shock.
Jiang Ling handed the lighter to Zhao Jingxing, "Gentlemen, please try it out and see if it suits you."
Zhao Jingxing took the lighter and examined it carefully.
Cheng Fang had been playing with it in his hands for a long time and was now eager to try it out.
Following Jiang Ling's movements, place your thumb on the upper part of the line and push gently.
"Click!" The lid popped open!
He exclaimed in surprise, "It's open!"
Then, press hard on the small black square.
"Snap—!"
A pale blue flame suddenly appeared, startling him so much that he tilted his head back slightly.
"Fire! Wow! The fire is huge!"
Zhao Jingxing followed Jiang Ling's example and started to ignite the flames.
The pale blue flame was reflected in his surprised eyes.
Zhao Jingxing was a rather calm person. He was slightly surprised, but then turned off the ignition.
He said to Cheng Fang, "Quickly put it away, lest the flames burn out."
"That's right, this little box probably can't hold much!"
Cheng Fang obediently released his hand, gently pushed, and put the lid back on.
Cheng Fang fell in love with the metal box as soon as he saw it; there were probably very few in the Dayu Dynasty who could polish it to this level.
Even if it can't produce a flame, he still plans to buy it as a toy.
His delight only grew when he saw the flames appear.
I held it tightly in my hand, afraid it would be snatched away.
“Young masters, there’s no need to worry. The flames here can burn for a long time. If it’s only used for starting a fire, it can last for at least six months.”
"Six months?!" Upon hearing this, Cheng Fang immediately stuffed the lighter into his pocket.
Then he noticed many items resembling cookies and pastries on the shelves. "Hey, your general store sells food?"
Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Yes, Jixiang General Store has everything: grains, oils, rice, flour, daily necessities, and more."
"It looks delicious..." Cheng Fang swallowed.
The two have been busy with disaster relief efforts and haven't had a proper meal for two days.
Zhao Jingxing said to him, "We need to go back quickly; we've already wasted a lot of time."
He then took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the counter. "Shopkeeper, we'll take these two tinderboxes."
Jiang Ling quickly waved her hand: "No need, you two gentlemen have helped me a lot just now, these two lighters are a thank you gift."
“It was nothing, you’re too kind, young lady. It’s not easy for you to make a living on your own, so it’s only right that you pay for the goods.” Zhao Jingxing’s tone was gentle but firm.
"Please accept this, young lady. The brothers downstream are waiting for us to go back and start a fire. We need to get back quickly, so we won't bother you any longer."
Although Cheng Fang was also reluctant to part with the pastries in front of him, his brothers downstream were more important.
Jiang Ling couldn't refuse them, so she grabbed a plastic bag from the counter and stuffed all the cookies, bread, and candy from the shelf into it, along with a few bottles of milk. She filled the bag to the brim and handed it to them.
"You two gentlemen have helped me a great deal today. My shop doesn't have much, but these are some local specialties from my hometown. Please accept them; they'll help you eat on your journey and also let the brothers downstream have a taste. I hope you won't refuse!"
Seeing her insistence, Zhao Jingxing had no choice but to accept it.
"Then thank you very much, young lady."
Watching the two tall figures disappear into the misty rain and night, Jiang Ling carefully placed the silver ingot into the drawer.
It started raining again outside.
No one should be passing by anymore, so Jiang Ling closed the wooden door and went back to have lunch.
With her newfound income, Jiang Ling treated herself to a nice meal.
Open the food delivery app.
Sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed sea bass, garlic broccoli, Mapo tofu, plus corn and pork rib soup.
When the food was delivered, the restaurant also gave us three extra boxes of rice as a bonus.
Great, finally I can enjoy myself!
————
The Chen residence.
The second wife of the Chen family lost her temper once again.
Because I couldn't buy any soap again today!
Five days passed, and after her almost wasteful use, she finally ran out of soap.
But just now, she received an invitation from Mrs. He, inviting her to go to the estate to admire the lotus flowers tomorrow afternoon.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" Wang Yue's shrill voice almost pierced the rain as she slammed her fan at the maid Xiao Cui. "Didn't we say you weren't allowed to come back if you didn't buy it? What are you doing back here?"
The fan hit Xiao Cui's shoulder, rolled to the ground, and got wet.
Xiao Cui was soaked to the bone, her thin summer shirt clinging to her body as she shivered.
"Second Madam, please calm down! This servant really has been waiting outside the shop all day! From dawn till dusk, I knocked on the door countless times, my voice became hoarse, and my fingers swelled up... but the shopkeeper just wouldn't open the door! The rain was so heavy that the sedan chair was flooded, this servant really had no other choice..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com