Chapter 2 A New Beginning
However, this prosperity was built on a flood of visitors. Back then, the vast majority of customers flocked to this small, third-tier town for the potions crafted by Mi Funa, the master of potions. After Mi Funa's sudden death, this false prosperity burst like a soap bubble, abruptly popping.
Business plummeted as the flow of customers dried up, and more and more businesses closed down. Falling land prices and deteriorating public security made it harder for residents who had moved here for their customers to stay.
History is always a cycle: good things get better, bad things get worse. Once you fall into a bad cycle, if you don't have an opportunity, it's like falling into a swamp, and it's difficult to break free by your own strength.
Today, Jiangyou’s brewing workshop is that new opportunity.
Aunt Wolf and her husband had bought that house before Mi Funa moved in—Oh, may the Moon Goddess bless her dead husband's poor soul! I hope he rests well in the underworld!—Because they bought the house early enough and at a low enough price, Aunt Wolf knew that no matter how the area developed, it couldn't possibly be worse than when she first moved in. So she could witness its development from a very comfortable bystander's perspective.
When Mi Funa's potion workshop brought in thousands of customers, Auntie Wolf would sigh at the prosperity of the place, complain a little about the long lines blocking her door, and then continue with her ordinary life. Now, it has changed to Jiangyou's sauce workshop, which is more in line with her daily life: wolf orcs rarely use potions, but they need delicious meals and sauces every day.
Not to mention that Jiangyou has a very good personality, he is cheerful, optimistic and insightful, smart and full of ideas. He is really a comfortable and reliable neighbor, much better than Miyou, who has to help clean up the aftermath of accidents every few days and has to worry about whether the neighboring workshop and his own home will be set on fire as well.
"People are destined to be together." Aunt Wolf muttered, then she opened the curtains and looked at the new shop opposite.
She remembered that it had once been a magic bookstore... Oh, of course, not one of those formal magic bookstores in the North District catering to serious scholars and magic apprentices, but a more casual, free-spirited medieval magic bookstore. The books here were all old, rare copies, manuscripts, and first-generation printings... There were even many "banned" books on dark magic, the kind that required valid identification to read and purchase!
The original owner was an old wizard with a long white beard, who must have lived a very long time. At least when Aunt Wolf was a little girl, the old wizard was already that old, white-bearded man. He was a regular customer of Mi Funa's shop, often buying her anti-aging potion. Even after Mi Funa's death, the old wizard tried to place an order with Mi You...
Well, the result was certainly not very good. Mi You had a pot-washing accident while making the potion, and the plan to sell the potion was shelved.
Later, the old wizard moved away, reportedly seeking a more advanced anti-aging potion farther afield. The shop has since been vacant. It's unknown whether the shop has been purchased, or if the old wizard has returned. Or perhaps, a descendant of the old wizard has inherited the business?
Auntie Wolf's gossipy spirit burned fiercely, but before she could get off the carriage to inquire about the situation, the Hafu driver had already settled the payment for the vegetables with Jiang You and returned to the carriage. "Auntie, we're off! Please hold on tight!"
Aunt Wolf: “…” Ah, she hadn’t had time to start finding out the news… Forget it, let’s talk about it when she comes back in the evening!
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Jiang You carried a basket of tender vegetables into the workshop, put it in the corner of the kitchen, and said to Leila in the corner: "Leila, please wash the vegetables."
"Okay!" The maid on standby instantly started up, her eyes sparkling, revealing the innocence of a newly employed worker who has never experienced the world and desperately wants to show her abilities and be appreciated by her boss. "Leave it to me!"
Ten days had passed since Jiangyou returned to the workshop from Rose Hill. Just yesterday, Winston's lieutenant, Is, arrived in a carriage and brought Leila back in full view of everyone.
Of course, the official reason was that Earl Winston gave the store manager an alchemical mechanical doll.
This gossip instantly ignited the curiosity of the citizens of West Eston. They were now frantically speculating whether the lich shop owner had some kind of unclear connection to the royal family. First, Viscount Andre Lu Huntington, a member of a royal collateral line, was frequently seen at the brewery. Even the deputy commander of the Knights never spent a single day in the barracks, living in the brewery every day. Then, His Majesty the King suddenly presented the lich with a sign proclaiming her dishes as "The Principality of Huntington's Most Delicious Food!" Then, Earl Winston de Mordo, a favorite of His Majesty, presented her with an alchemical mechanical doll.
——That is a priceless invention that ordinary people can’t even see!
At the same time, another piece of news arrived from Eston West: Earl Winston de Mordor had somehow gained the King's favor. It was said that the King was now determined to confer the title of Duke on Earl Winston.
Since His Majesty Maybury Huntington ascended from Duke to King, the Duchy of Huntington has ceased to have other Dukes, and the highest title granted is only the Marquis. Previously, His Majesty had only conferred titles on a number of viscounts who had no money, no land, and no power. This was the first time that someone had suddenly ascended to the rank of Duke.
"This hasn't been officially confirmed yet," Is said to Jiang You and Andre. "However, His Majesty the King does wish to grant all the lands formerly belonging to the Duke of Huntington to Lord Winston. However, this decree is currently being blocked by the elder clan members and the parliament, and the parties are still wrestling with each other. Earl Winston has publicly announced that he is recovering from injuries and is recuperating in his mansion in the royal capital."
"How is his wound?" Andre asked with concern.
"It's not a serious problem anymore. He just needs more rest to let the wound heal completely." Is said with a smile on his face, "With Miss Vivian by his side, I believe his life won't be difficult.
"As for Leila, Earl Winston has already found an exchange scholar from the Rusman Federation to perform a thorough repair. After so many years, Leila's core components have indeed deteriorated significantly. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he has had the scholar replace and repair whatever is necessary. The Earl has covered all related expenses, so you two don't have to worry about this."
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