Ch 3: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the weather was clear and bright.

Auspicious for travel, seeking fortune, moving into a new residence, and opening businesses.

At dawn, Lu Yao got up to sweep the snow in front of the inn. She laid down three green bricks on the muddy ground outside and moved two newly made flower stands to the window sills.

The flower stands were identical in style to the ones under the windowsill of the neighboring Qingshan Noodle House. Small potted plants were arranged in an appealing, staggered fashion—some blooming with flowers, others with only stems and leaves.

In the quiet chill of winter, even a hint of greenery seemed exceptionally vibrant. Everything was ready, just waiting for customers to arrive.

Harold and Budu had been so engrossed in building blocks for days that they finally succumbed to exhaustion in the early hours. Lu Yao persuaded them to go rest at the nail salon.

On the day the inn officially opened, only Lu Yao stayed behind to tend the shop, leaving the place feeling somewhat quiet.

[Successfully opened the inn within three days! Task completed! Rewards: +100 popularity points, +1 currency exchange machine!]

[You have a new task! On the opening day, welcome your first traveler before nightfall. Rewards: 1,000 popularity points, and Acorus x1!]

One task after another, the proxy robot seemed even more diligent than the Dream Fulfillment System itself.

Lu Yao no longer felt bored. She checked her portable inventory and saw that the currency exchange machine had already been delivered.

The currency system on Nitean Continent was somewhat similar to the initial setup of the blind box store—there was no unified currency.

The currency exchange machine provided by the system was compact, roughly the size of a pack of tissues costing two yuan. It was pure white, smooth as porcelain.

On the machine’s front was a wide and long slot with pictorial labels above it. Beneath the colorful illustrations were tags in Nitean Continent’s script: “oilstone,” “rock salt,” “food and drink,” and “materials.” On the side, a coin-dispensing slot about the size of a 50-cent coin had a tiny display screen the size of a pinky nail above it.

This exchange machine worked similarly to the crystal core exchange machine at the blind box store, except the items exchanged were different.

The little folk could use oilstones, rock salt, food, and other items to exchange for the inn’s exclusive currency, which they could then use to purchase services.

Lu Yao had never seen oilstones or rock salt, but these must be system-approved items of trade value.

She didn’t dwell on whether their value was equivalent; all she wanted now was to get the inn running as soon as possible.

After preparing a set menu, cooking the ingredients, and simmering bone broth on the stove, Lu Yao meticulously cleaned the already-decorated guest rooms once more. Checking the time, she realized it was only 11 a.m.

Time seemed to slow down. The world outside was dazzlingly bright, with snow covering the mountains like waves—rising and falling, layer upon layer, stretching out to the horizon.

With no customers arriving, Lu Yao went back to her blueprints and continued constructing the remaining parts of the inn.

By around 4 p.m., Harold and Budu returned.

In just one night, the block-built inn had completely transformed.

What was once an empty frame was now brimming with details, thanks to Lu Yao’s efforts.

All the rooms in the block-built inn were now equipped with double-layered curtains—one for blocking light and the other for letting light through. Beds, bedding, desks, chairs, and toiletries were all in place, and even small doormats were laid out at the entrances.

It was like a simple shell of a house had turned into a fully furnished, upscale residence overnight. Turning on the room lights, one could peer inside from the doors and windows, where the neatly arranged furnishings made it seem as though someone were already living there.

The most fascinating part was that when guests eventually checked in, this illusion of habitation would become reality.

Harold: “No guests yet?”
Lu Yao shook her head: “The inn’s location is rather remote. If even one guest shows up before closing today, these past few days won’t feel like a waste.”

Harold turned toward the door: “I’ll go take a look.”

Lu Yao had initially planned to check the surroundings herself after Harold and Budu woke up, but since Harold could fly, he was far more efficient than her walking on foot. She let him go without protest.

Half an hour later, Harold returned, landing at the inn’s entrance, shaking snow from his clothes, his expression grim.

He had flown around the area and confirmed that the inn was surrounded by barren hills, tangled with thorny brush. He found no trace of the little folk.

Budu, standing under the eaves, looked up at the sky: “The moon is out.”

Night was approaching.

Lu Yao stepped outside for a glance, then turned back in.

Before long, waves of enticing fragrance wafted from the inn, causing Harold and Budu to sniff the air simultaneously.

Neither had eaten since waking, too preoccupied with the inn’s progress. The aroma now stirred their hunger, making them gulp instinctively.

Lu Yao emerged with a small tea bowl, placing it casually on the green bricks under the eaves: “I cooked some noodles. Come inside and eat.”

The two glanced at the tea bowl on the ground but didn’t ask further questions. They followed her into the inn.

The two walls with windows were designated as exclusive guest rooms for the little folk, separated by a normal-width hallway. In the center was a newly constructed dual-purpose counter: the hollow space underneath served as a storage area for food and supplies, while the countertop was temporarily used as a cooking surface.

The wall adjacent to the counter had a separate section for a stove and cabinets. There was just enough extra space to place a low-temperature freezer for fresh ingredients. Lu Yao had simmered soup here in the morning and now used the area to cook noodles.

The three of them sat around the counter. Alongside each noodle bowl were two small side dishes and a bowl of hot soup.

One warm bowl of noodles was enough to wash away all their troubles.

However—

[Reminder: Only ten minutes remain until the second task’s deadline. Please work hard to complete the task, innkeeper!]

Lu Yao: “What’s the penalty for failure?”

If this were the Dream Fulfillement System, it would already be mocking her incessantly by now.

The proxy robot remained completely silent.

Lu Yao shook her head in boredom, a bit nostalgic for the system’s chatter.

After finishing the last bite of noodles, she set down her bowl and chopsticks, rinsed her mouth, and walked toward the door.

The bait was set—whether it would catch a fish depended on luck.

..

Lu Yao opened the door.

Her luck was exceptional.

By the edge of the tea bowl filled with thick broth, a small, unfamiliar Nitean folk sat, head buried as they gulped down the soup.

Lu Yao said nothing, crouching down slowly.

This Nitean person had beautiful long black hair, with faint reddish tips, and wore layered fur that looked thick and warm. They seemed slightly taller than Monk and were likely from another tribe.

A weak “oink” caught her attention. Lu Yao shifted her gaze, her eyes lighting up with surprise.

Behind the tea bowl, a tiny, round, crimson piglet no bigger than her palm was hiding.

Were the animals of Nitean Continent also miniature-sized?

The piglet was strapped with rough ropes twisted from vines, its plump sides burdened with bulging pouches. Its beady eyes stared at Lu Yao in terror, carrying a kind of innocent foolishness.

The Nitean folk drinking soup finally noticed something was amiss. She lifted her head, a shiny ring of grease around her mouth. The moment she saw Lu Yao’s towering figure, she fell backward onto the ground in fright, crying out, “Ah—!”

Lu Yao waited for her to calm down, then extended a finger and said gently, “Hello, my name is Lu Yao, and I’m the owner of this inn. It’s cold and lonely on a snowy night—why not come inside and rest?”

An inn?

The Nitean folk had never heard of such a thing and didn’t understand its meaning. Still shaken, she sat frozen on the ground, unable to move.

Lu Yao didn’t have time to dawdle. She reached out and scooped up the stunned Nitean folk along with her tiny piglet. With her other hand, she picked up the now-cold tea bowl and turned back into the inn.

Suddenly immersed in the warm, brightly lit interior, the Nitean folk snapped out of her initial shock, only to fall into a deeper one as she looked around.

What was this place?
A giant human’s lair?

“An inn,” Lu Yao explained patiently, “is a place for travelers to rest during their journeys.” She placed the little folk in front of the currency exchange machine and pointed to the deposit slot. “If you have items like oilstones, rock salt, or food, you can deposit them here to exchange for Nitean coins. With Nitean coins, you can stay here for the night.”

The Nitean folk stood motionless, staring at the machine in front of her.

Lu Yao patiently repeated the explanation twice more until the little guest seemed to grasp the concept.

Harold and Budu, noticing a guest had arrived, put down their bowls and were about to come over for a closer look. Lu Yao gestured for them to wait, signaling not to frighten the little one further.

The Nitean folk stood before the machine, looking up at it for over two minutes. Finally, she seemed to understand. Reaching into her clothing, she pulled out a small bundle of animal hide and unwrapped it to reveal a handful of shiny, amber-colored “stones.”

She deposited a few of the stones into the machine. The display above the coin slot lit up, showing a flickering “1…”

After some thought, she added one more stone. The display steadied at “2,” and two deep green, round coins rolled out of the slot with a clatter.

The Nitean folk picked up the coins, examined them, and then looked up at Lu Yao. “You’re a big human.”

Lu Yao nodded.

The Nitean folk held up the coins. “I want to stay here for a night.”

Though the inn was still a work in progress, the proxy robot had provided Lu Yao with a pricing guide.

A one-night stay required one Nitean coin, with food calculated separately. Guests needed to pay two Nitean coins upfront, with any surplus or deficit settled at checkout.

Lu Yao extended her hand, letting the two coins drop into her palm. Smiling slightly, she said, “The guest rooms are upstairs. Please follow me.”

Turning left from the inn’s main entrance and passing the currency exchange machine, they came to a clean, miniature path paved with green bricks, about 40 centimeters long.

At the end of the path stood a manual lift resembling a 1950s-style telephone booth. Its dark green frame was inset with thick, transparent glass panels, allowing the occupant to see outside clearly.

Though it could have been designed as a fully automatic elevator, Lu Yao had deliberately retained some mechanical features, believing they added a whimsical charm to the small inn.

The lift stopped at the highest level, safely delivering the Nitean guest and her red pig to the guestroom area.

The guestroom area was a miniature green-brick building positioned snugly by the first bright window near the door.

Currently, the building had only three floors, with glass windows that were two-thirds the height and half the width of standard ones.

The interior and exterior exuded a serene and elegant Chinese style. The first floor was a dining area, while the second and third floors housed six guest rooms in total.

The doors faced inward, directly across a long corridor leading to a central countertop.

Lu Yao handed the key to Room 201 to the guest. “Take the stairs to the second floor; it’s the first room. We can also take care of your pig if you’d like.”

The Nitean, unusually composed, removed her luggage from the red pig’s back and headed upstairs alone.

Lu Yao helped deliver the luggage to the door.

The door opened, then gently closed again.

Behind it, the Nitean named Gan Li pressed herself against the wooden door and slowly slid down to the floor.

Big humans are terrifying!

But since she was already captured, her only option was to go along with their requests—for now. Otherwise, she might get crushed in the next moment.

It was unclear how much time passed before Gan Li finally calmed down from her unspeakable fear.

The room was pitch black. Remembering Lu Yao’s words, she fumbled along the wall by the door and found the light switch.

Click—

A circular light on the entryway wall lit up, banishing the darkness.

Gan Li propped herself up against the door and looked around, her eyes widening.

This… is what they call a resting place?

The bright, spacious room had gleaming, spotless floors. A desk and chair placed against the wall shone with a polished luster, and the bed was large and sturdy.

Standing by the bed for a long moment, Gan Li tentatively reached out to touch it. The fabric was smoother and softer than anything she had ever encountered—even more luxurious than the finest tanned hides of the Red Pig Tribe.

The intricate embroidery on the four corners of the quilt caught her attention, and she couldn’t look away. It was her first time seeing such intricate and beautiful decorations.

Gan Li found herself overwhelmed by an inexplicable mix of emotions. How could a resting place be this beautiful and comfortable?

Knock, knock, knock—

Startled, she looked toward the door but didn’t respond.

After a pause, there were three more knocks.

Knock, knock, knock—

Gan Li took a deep breath. “Who is it?”

Lu Yao: “It’s me, Lu Yao. Dinner is ready. Would you like to dine in your room or in the dining area downstairs?”

Gan Li shrank back. “…In my room.”

Lu Yao: “Your meal has been placed outside the door.”

Gan Li waited for a while before opening the door. She found a foldable shelf attached to the wall that could be tucked away.

At the moment, the wooden rack was unfolded and flat, with a wooden tray on top. The aroma wafting from the tray’s containers was irresistible.

Gan Li stared at the food, her mouth watering uncontrollably. The scent was as mouthwatering as the soup she had smelled earlier at the door.

Carrying the tray back into her room, Gan Li didn’t notice the three figures crouched behind the kitchen counter watching her.

Budu: “I built the rooms.”

Harold: “The water system, electrical circuits, and alarm system for the building were all designed by me.”

For effects that couldn’t be achieved mechanically, he had supplemented with magic.

Lu Yao circled a spot at the bottom of her blueprint. “I’ll revise the plans now and build a little pen for the piglet too.”

The piglet lay trembling in a temporary pen, staring up at the three towering “giants” as if they were mountains.

Lu Yao hadn’t expected that the little folk had already mastered the art of domesticating animals—nor that even the animals were miniature. She decided it would be better to construct a dedicated livestock shed for the future.

…

[Successfully hosted a traveler. Task completed! Rewards: +1,000 popularity points, Acorus x1!]

[Lu Yao’s inn has officially opened and upgraded to a one-star establishment. Rewards: +1,000 popularity points, Yangju x1. Keep up the good work!]

Crisis averted!

…

Author’s Note:

The ultimate dream of miniature builders~

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️