Even though they had exchanged a few words, Nan Qu was still an outsider to him.
When Lin Tengfei learned that Nan Qu had brought an extremely valuable jade pendant to exchange for it, he immediately and decisively issued a receipt.
There is a limit of ten million taels directly above.
All Nanqu needed to do was bring a stamp and a receipt each time she came. After withdrawing the money, both parties would stamp the receipt to indicate that another sum of money had been withdrawn.
For example, this time, Nanqu took three thousand li, so the account was three thousand short. The manager would take back the ten million li receipt and issue a new one. Nanqu would also need to stamp the account book with the seal.
Anyway, the accounts were finally settled, so Nanqu stopped asking questions and simply said goodbye and left.
The bandits have been wiped out, the disaster is now under control, and everything is back on track.
Construction has begun on the lakeside inn in Nanqu, and she eagerly anticipates the completion of a poetic inn with a pastoral style.
The main building of the inn is primarily constructed of wood, all sourced from naturally grown trees in the nearby mountains, bearing a rustic texture and color. The roof has a gentle slope and is thatched, seemingly blending into the surrounding lakeside meadows, swaying gently in the breeze.
A winding path, paved with large, uncarved stones, leads along the lake shore to the inn's entrance. Wildflowers of all kinds are casually planted on both sides of the path—red like fire, pink like the sunset, and white like snow—blooming freely in the wind, attracting bees and butterflies to dance in the breeze.
The inn's main entrance consists of two heavy solid wood doors, without much ornate decoration. Only a pair of simple iron rings are inlaid on the doors, and above the doors hangs a wooden plaque with the five large characters "Lake Center Inn" engraved on it. The calligraphy is unrestrained yet elegant.
Stepping into the inn, the lobby is spacious and bright. The floor is paved with compacted earth mixed with fine pebbles, giving it a solid feel underfoot. Several rough wooden tables and chairs are placed in the lobby, their tabletops retaining the original shape of the wood, only slightly polished, and still somewhat rough to the touch. Around the tables and chairs are some small woven rattan items, such as delicate storage baskets and exquisite flower stands, adding a touch of rustic warmth.
The walls around the house are decorated with old farm items, such as worn-out straw hats, rusty iron plows, and several strings of dried corn and chili peppers. These seemingly ordinary items create a strong pastoral atmosphere.
The guesthouse's rooms are scattered throughout, each small but exquisitely furnished. Each room contains a wooden bed with a frame made of spliced branches, and a low wall made of lake stones, covered in green vines, leans against the headboard. The bed is covered with blue-printed sheets and a quilt; the blue pattern resembles ripples on a lake, fresh and elegant. Beside the bed is a small wooden cabinet, on which sits a ceramic oil lamp, its wick emitting a soft, yellow glow.
Linen curtains hang by the window, and drawing them aside reveals a view of the lake. Occasionally, a few water birds fly across the surface, creating ripples. A low table and several cushions sit beneath the window, where guests can enjoy tea, read, and spend a leisurely time.
The inn's backyard was a hidden gem. A small vegetable garden had been cultivated, planted with various seasonal vegetables: tender green cabbages, bright red tomatoes, and long green beans, all thriving under the nourishment of sunshine and rain. Next to the garden was a small chicken coop, where several free-range chickens strolled and foraged leisurely.
There is also a pavilion built of bamboo, with a set of bamboo tables and chairs inside. On summer evenings, guests can sit in the pavilion, listen to the croaking of frogs and the chirping of cicadas, watch the sunset reflected on the lake, and feel the tranquility and beauty of rural life.
What Nanqu needs most is a food street that winds along one side of the inn.
The food street is paved with irregular bluestone slabs, with tender green grass growing between the slabs, as if telling a story of nature's vitality and tenacity. On both sides of the street, wooden houses are arranged in a staggered manner. The walls of the houses are made of round logs of varying thicknesses, retaining the original form of the trees and still bearing traces of bark, simple yet charming.
Each cottage has a thatched roof, thick and fluffy, that shimmering golden in the sunlight like waves of wheat in autumn. The roof's slope is cleverly designed so that rainwater can slide down the grain of the thatch and drip into a row of bamboo tubes hanging under the eaves, making a crisp, melodious dripping sound, as if playing a pastoral symphony.
The cottage's doors and windows are all made of wood, with simple floral patterns carved into the window frames, such as blooming daisies and delicate roses, exuding a pastoral freshness and elegance. Strings of colorful ribbons hang on the door, fluttering gently in the breeze, as if welcoming passing diners.
In the center of the food street, wooden trellises are covered with climbing vines. Lush green grapevines reveal clusters of glistening purple grapes, seemingly tempting the taste buds. There are also loofah vines bursting with small yellow flowers, their slender gourds hanging down, adding a touch of rustic harvest charm. Beneath the trellises, stone tables and benches are set up, where diners can relax, feel the gentle breeze, and enjoy the pleasure of their meals.
At the entrance to the food street, there is an archway made of bamboo, adorned with flowers and ribbons, and a wooden sign hanging on it that reads "Lake Center Food Street" in six large characters.
Afterwards, while the workers were busy, Nanqu couldn't stop for a moment. The food street and food space couldn't be built by her alone; naturally, it required countless people to promote it.
So, she first looked among the elderly, the infirm, and the disabled to see if anyone was suitable to cook. Then she taught each family one dish.
They will then be allowed to sell their products on this food street.
Of course, good food alone wasn't enough, so Nanqu went to the largest restaurant in Qianlong City to find Lin Tengfei.
You said you wanted to discuss cooperation with me?
Nan Qu nodded: "Yes, I suppose you've heard that I opened an inn in the central lake, but I don't allow guests to stay overnight."
Lin Pengfei thought he had misheard: "An inn that doesn't let people stay overnight? What kind of inn is that?"
Nan Qu remained calm: "Qianlong City is only so big. If there are two large inns, they will inevitably fight over it. I'm too lazy to do that. Besides, my specialty is food, and your specialty is accommodation. Wouldn't it be a win-win situation if we cooperated?"
Lin Pengfei laughed: "That's interesting. What are you planning to do?"
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