"It seems so..."
Along the way, Mu Gaoyi and his companions had heard all sorts of rumors, all mocking and belittling the artisans of Ye Kingdom. But now, they finally heard a shift in the wind, a change in how others viewed the artisans of Ye Kingdom.
They were both happy and heartbroken.
Zheng Quchi walked up to the shopkeeper, who was staring blankly at the flowers she was carving.
"Should we also bring your employer over so they can evaluate how well I did?" she asked.
The shopkeeper's chest heaved as he slowly shifted his gaze from the lotus flower to her face.
Unexpectedly, he actually stumbled upon a wood carving genius!
Although the plan backfired, this "deal" doesn't necessarily seem like a sure thing.
The wood carving technique and unique design of this pillar alone are a major selling point that will surely make their business boom.
He forced a smile and shamelessly said, "These... these are only four lotus flowers. Aren't you going to make up for the rest?"
If we carve more things, such as koi, birds, or other creatures, wouldn't it be even more magnificent?
Zheng Quchi rolled his eyes and said with a forced smile, "These four flowers alone are enough to surpass your master's carvings. Why would I need to add more crafts to your inn?"
Bah, you old swindler, trying to cheat her out of her work? No way!
If it weren't for the fact that Yongchun is currently overcrowded and there's no inn to be found, and that Yuwen Sheng isn't feeling well and needs a comfortable place to rest, she wouldn't have bothered staying at his shabby inn.
"this……"
"We made an agreement, are you trying to back out now?"
"Of course not..." Seeing that everyone around him agreed with her, he naturally couldn't go back on his word in public and ruin the inn's reputation.
He rolled his eyes and said, "Why don't you check in first? Once I call my landlord over and he's satisfied with your place, he'll waive your room and board fees for the year. But I can't make that decision right now."
Zheng Quchi knew long ago that this kind of person wouldn't easily accept such a big loss and would definitely find an opportunity to shirk responsibility.
But she wasn't in a hurry; she had plenty of ways to deal with such petty people.
“Okay, we’ll wait at your inn. By the way, we booked a superior room. Is it alright to check in now?” she asked.
Upstairs?
She really dares to ask for an exorbitant amount.
It was only given to the person who placed the order.
The shopkeeper turned green with anger. He had made excuses to delay paying for the food and lodging that should have been waived. If he argued with her about this now, wouldn't he just be making a fool of himself in front of the neighbors and his neighbors?
"Uh, of course, of course." He gritted his teeth and held back.
He admitted defeat. This young craftsman was not only eloquent but also incredibly skilled; he was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
In short, deal with her first, and then figure out a way to get revenge later.
When Mu Gaoyi and Shi Hetong heard that Aqing had single-handedly taken back their room, they were overjoyed and ran over.
Thinking back to the Ye Kingdom craftsmen who were humiliated by the shopkeeper not long ago and left in a sorry state, they would definitely have been chased away if it weren't for Aqing's presence.
But now, not only have they settled in, they've secured rooms that others are scrambling to get, and more importantly, they've received a year's free accommodation...
They've won this round so badly they're completely overwhelmed.
Wang Zebang and Fu Rong had witnessed how stubborn this shopkeeper was, so it was truly the wife's skill that she was able to make him behave so submissively.
Previously, no matter how much they pleaded, they couldn't get the rooms they wanted, but now the lady got them all back for them, and even the best ones. She had even managed to subdue the arrogant and unruly shopkeepers, which they found truly admirable.
The waiter led the way, and they immediately ordered people to unload and carry the goods upstairs. The coachman came over to look after the horses, feed them, and arrange the carriage.
After a tiring journey, the group finally found a place to rest temporarily. Their serious, sallow faces relaxed a little and they began to get busy.
Zheng Quchi put the tools back into her large bundle and glanced in the direction of Yuwen Sheng from among the passing crowd.
Did he just stand there, motionless, watching her carve for an hour?
Why did he have to dismount and stand? He was clearly so weak...
"Go in."
She turned around, still needing to move her remaining belongings from the carriage, but before she had taken two steps, she suddenly heard a loud "bang!" behind her.
Then came a piercing, hoarse scream: "What are you doing—"
She was startled; her scalp tingled with fear.
What the heck?
She turned around in astonishment, only to see Yuwen Sheng, who was standing "weak" on the steps, calmly withdrawing his hand, while the lotus pond gatepost carved by Zheng Quchi was broken in the middle.
The shopkeeper was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing around the doorpost and wailing, "What...what did you do?!"
The passersby, who had mostly dispersed, turned around to look when they heard the shopkeeper's scream.
They were all stunned, their eyes wide with surprise.
The gatepost, which was perfectly fine just moments ago, is now a broken, rotten piece of wood, utterly worthless.
Yuwen Sheng coughed lightly twice, as if he was feeling unwell, and said gently, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake just now. I'll compensate you for whatever this pillar is worth."
Compensation? What are you going to use to compensate me?
The shopkeeper was furious when he saw the gold bean he had casually tossed on the ground. But when he looked up, he inadvertently met Yuwen Sheng's eyes and couldn't help but shudder.
The words he was about to utter were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't speak.
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