Ch 17: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Knock, knock, knock.

Early in the morning, Lu Yao was awakened by a faint knocking sound.

During her shifts, human employees rested in a break room connected to the hallway. The bell system linking guest rooms was installed by her bedside. If guests needed anything at night, they could ring the bell, and Lu Yao would get up to assist.

With few guests recently, no one had used the bell at night. Lu Yao usually slept soundly until morning, awakened only by the aroma of breakfast.

But today, there was no comforting scent of food. She glanced at the clock—five minutes to seven.

It couldn’t be Zheng this early.

Lu Yao opened the door and looked down, her gaze shifting lower until she spotted two little figures standing in the doorway. She smiled. “You’re up early.”

Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou stood at the door, heads tilted back, their foreheads dotted with a light sheen of sweat.

They had risen early but spent considerable time making their way from the guest room, taking the elevator to the ground floor, and walking along the wall to her room.

Lu Yao crouched, scooped them up, and placed them on the nightstand before turning to dress.

It was their first time in a big human’s resting quarters, and Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou couldn’t help their curiosity.

Truthfully, the room’s setup wasn’t much different from the guest rooms, even simpler, but its sheer size gave it a different kind of grandeur.

The nightlight above the nightstand cast a soft, warm glow. For the little people, it was like staring directly at the sun.

The couple had come to ask what their duties would be that morning.

Having signed their employment contracts with Lu Yao the night before, they were now officially part of the inn’s staff.

However, it had been too late to arrange accommodations, so they were still staying in the guest room.

After getting ready, Lu Yao cupped Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou in her hands and walked them to the little employee dormitory to choose their rooms.

The dorm featured single rooms, six on each floor.

Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou could pick two adjacent rooms and combine them, redesigning the layout.

If big human rooms could be remodeled, these modular, block-style apartments for the little people would be even easier to adjust.

Hearing that Heici and Beef Cube lived on the third floor, Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou decided to be their neighbors, selecting two rooms next to theirs.

The renovations and decorating would take a few days, so the couple would remain in the guest room for now.

…

After settling things, Lu Yao and the couple returned to the first guest area.

She slid open the half-wall beside the dining area, revealing the kitchen.

Yuanwei held her breath and walked in slowly.

She had never seen a kitchen so clean and beautiful. The spacious cabinets were neatly organized, and the assortment of cookware—far from the stone pots the little people typically used—was displayed tidily. Among them were bamboo steamers, stacked neatly in a tall pot, which Yuanwei particularly liked.

The glass cabinets housed an array of colorful plates, porcelain bowls, teacups, kettles, and spoons. The spice rack above the stove held rows of transparent jars filled with ingredients unfamiliar to Iris.

Unable to resist, she picked up one jar and unscrewed the lid. A sharp, spicy aroma hit her nose.

Lu Yao explained, “I stocked some spices that might be useful. That jar you’re holding has unground white peppercorns—great for soups.”

Yuanwei’s eyes lit up as she opened jar after jar to sniff. She eventually held up one with white granules. “This smells like rock salt.”

Lu Yao nodded. “That’s table salt—probably similar to the rock salt you use.”

For a Nitean little person who loved experimenting with food, this miniature kitchen was nothing short of a dream come true.

Beside the cabinets was a tiny refrigerator, stocked with fresh berries, vegetables, and meat.

Yuanwei wandered around, touching and examining everything in awe.

Lu Yao smiled. “This kitchen has always been reserved for new staff. By the way, that rabbit stew from the other day was made here.”

The kitchen was usually closed to guests, and Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou hadn’t noticed it before, as their minds had been preoccupied.

Yuanwei caught on to Lu Yao’s implication. “I can cook here?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Do you like it?”

Yuanwei seemed incredulous, pausing for a few seconds before gradually reacting. Then, with some hesitation, she said, “But the food made by big humans is already so good.”

Lu Yao replied, “That’s not an issue. Big humans don’t know everything, either. For instance, we don’t know how to make yam flour or brew rabbit stew.”

Zhu Zhou walked over and gently patted Yuanwei’s shoulder. Yuanwei lowered her head and smiled. “Yes, I like it here.”

…

In the morning, Ji Qingyan and Zheng Ziyang clocked in on time.

Lu Yao gathered everyone together. “Let me introduce our new colleagues, Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou. Yuanwei will manage the small kitchen, and Zheng will continue with the big kitchen. You two can share tips and collaborate when needed.”

Zheng looked at Yuanwei and mimicked Lu Yao by extending a single finger. “Hello.”

Yuanwei wrapped her arms around his fingertip and gave it a gentle shake. “Hello.”

Zheng pressed a hand to his chest, tilting his head slightly upward as he struggled to contain his emotions.

After days on the job, this was his first close interaction with a Nitean little person.

…

Yuanwei was unfamiliar with the inn’s usual spices and ingredients, so when she heard Zheng was preparing breakfast, she eagerly joined him to learn.

Breakfast that morning turned out extra sticky.

As Zheng cracked eggs, the ten-centimeter-tall Yuanwei strained to lift the whisk, trying to help.

When it came to seasoning, she watched wide-eyed, full of curiosity, prompting Zheng to let her sniff and taste every ingredient.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyan and Zhu Zhou adjusted their dormitory setup. When they turned back, they saw Zheng grinning from ear to ear.

Ji Qingyan reminded him, “Tone it down a bit.”

Cooking was one thing, but why was he smiling so strangely?

Zheng glanced at her. “You’re no better.”

Ji Qingyan instinctively touched the corners of her mouth.

Was she grinning like a fool, too?

…

Breakfast was hearty and delicious, with the two guests eating separately in their rooms.

After breakfast, Lu Yao and the staff got busy.

Ji Qingyan and Yuanwei discussed how to decorate the new dormitories, while Lu Yao taught Zhu Zhou and Heici how to drive the train.

Both had prior experience with model cars, so they were less hesitant about operating the train.

After half a day of practice, they were completely hooked.

Lu Yao planned to create a rotating shift schedule, with ten-day assignments for each role.

This way, not only Zhu Zhou and Heici could take turns driving the train, but Yuanwei could learn if she was interested, and they could all share the shifts.

However, Yuanwei was too busy decorating the dormitory today to join in.

…

In the guest room area.

Jianlan knocked on Yingtong’s door. “When are we going back?”

Yingtong, fully dressed and seemingly about to head out, replied, “In a few more days.”

Jianlan frowned. “The priest sent us to investigate. Now that we’ve found the big human and the inn, I think we should report back as soon as possible.”

Yingtong leaned against the door frame. “The Ice Period is likely approaching. It’s not safe to travel far in the coming days. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

The Ice Period, marked by extreme weather with unpredictable blizzards and gale-force winds, was the harshest phase of the ice season, feared by the Nitean little people.

This year’s ice season had been unusually long, and the Ice Period had yet to arrive, with several hailstorms hitting beforehand.

Traveling during the ice season was risky enough, but heading home during the Ice Period was indeed unsafe.

Jianlan was convinced and stepped back. “Are you going out?”

Yingtong nodded. “Yes.”

“Where? I’ll come with you.”

“… Just taking a stroll.”

“Then I’ll stroll with you.”

“…”

The two little people, now proficient in using the elevator, walked down the stone path outside. At the door, they ran into Zhu Zhou and Heici practicing with a car.

During the day, Thorn Valley looked completely different from its nighttime charm. Colorful windmills spun freely in the breeze, perched along the fences flanking the inn.

Jianlan, recalling the exhilaration of last night’s ride, turned to Yingtong. “Want to go for another lap?”

Lu Yao sat on a low stool beneath the eaves, a basket of parts at her feet.

She was busy too, piecing together furniture from light wood-colored blocks.

It had recently dawned on her that she didn’t always need to rely on the carpenter’s shop for orders; with a bit of creativity, the modular blocks could be crafted into perfectly functional furniture.

Yingtong shuffled a few steps toward the basket at Lu Yao’s feet but shook his head. “You go. I’m a bit tired and don’t feel like moving.”

Jianlan frowned. “You just said you wanted to stretch your legs.”

Yingtong climbed through one of the small holes in the basket, flipping over to land securely inside. He waved to Jianlan through the mesh.

Jianlan found Yingtong’s behavior odd. Back in the tribe, he was reserved, avoided others, and seldom spoke. Yet he seemed strangely drawn to this big human.

He had often been teased by other members of the Sacred Guard for his shorter stature.

When the priest called for volunteers for this mission, most were reluctant to travel as the ice season approached. But Yingtong had stepped forward willingly.

Ignoring Jianlan, Yingtong obediently sat in the basket, handing parts to Lu Yao just as he had the day before.

Frustrated, Jianlan huffed off to ride the train alone.

…

Lu Yao didn’t remain outside for long before Fu Chi arrived.

The timeline in the Great Wu Dynasty differed from other worlds. Midnight at the shopping street coincided with dawn there.

By shopping street midday, it was already evening in the Great Wu Dynasty.

Fu Chi had just finished work and came to find Lu Yao with a minor issue.

He was editing a documentary focusing on changes in the capital city of Liangjing after the arrival of cinemas.

Most of the footage was captured by fixed cameras, while a few interviews were filmed by Lu Yao and local staff carrying handheld cameras. Some interviews also included cinema patrons.

However, Fu Chi felt the documentary lacked a distinctive Liangjing voice for narration.

In the past, post-production for shopping street films automatically handled subtitles and voiceovers to suit local audiences, but this feature was currently unavailable as the Dream Fulfillment System was on hiatus.

Thanks to ample pre-holiday preparation, previously screened films were being re-released without issue. However, all future films would require new voiceovers, for which Lu Yao planned to collaborate with Baixiang Court and Jinghong Pavilion.

Fu Chi’s request wasn’t too difficult. After hearing his requirements, Lu Yao quickly identified a few promising candidates.

“We’ll bring them to the cinema and have them audition one by one,” she said.

“You’ll handle finding the people. As for the recording equipment, I’ll arrange for it to be delivered. It’ll just take some extra time,” Fu Chi replied.

“Fine. I’m not familiar with that stuff anyway. It’s best left to professionals like you.”

Fu Chi hesitated, as though weighing something in his mind.

Lu Yao noticed. “Anything else?”

Scratching his head, Fu Chi finally spoke. “Shopkeeper, I’ve caused you a lot of trouble since coming to the shopping street—not just my own issues but also with Qi Chen and Zheng…”

Lu Yao cut him off. “You’re not usually this long-winded. Out with it.”

Fu Chi exhaled and admitted, “I was hoping to invite a few friends over for the premiere of the documentary.”

Due to shopping street regulations, Fu Chi couldn’t bring the film or the recording equipment back to the shopping street. The movie could only exist within the cinema.

For Fu Chi, this documentary would bring no monetary gain or worldly accolades.

But it wasn’t about profit or fame.

This documentary had become a beacon of hope for Fu Chi during one of the darkest, most fragile moments of his life.

Over the past six months working at the cinema, Fu Chi had the rare opportunity to observe the transformative power of film on an ancient world.

Even though movies seemed like alien artifacts suddenly introduced to a dynasty thousands of years in the past, and though the people of the Great Wu Dynasty had never before known what “cinema” was, their arrival brought undeniable strength to this feudal society. They might even steer this world toward an entirely different future.

To witness, as an outsider, the impact of cinema on a feudal dynasty was an extraordinary experience. Fu Chi selfishly wanted to share this journey with a few fellow film enthusiasts.

Lu Yao asked, “How many?”

Fu Chi blinked. “Hmm?”

“You said ‘a few friends.’ How many is that exactly?”

Fu Chi had many friends, including numerous talented colleagues from his professional network.

“Probably five or six,” he calculated mentally, reluctantly reducing the number.

Lu Yao said firmly, “No more than two. Decide and send me their names and contact information.”

Fu Chi hesitated but nodded. “…Alright, thank you.”

…

Fu Chi worked night shifts and finished at noon. After wrapping up his conversation with Lu Yao, he headed for the parking lot, still agonizing over his choice.

Only two spots—how to decide who gets them?

…

Back at the inn, Lu Yao walked over to the windowsill and lightly tapped Ji Qingyan on the shoulder. “Your last job was as a programmer, right?”

Ji Qingyan paused her work and nodded. “Yep. My hair was falling out in handfuls, my heart was racing, and my stomach was a wreck. I couldn’t take it anymore and knew I needed a break. Then, miraculously, I ended up here.”

Lu Yao sighed. “I’ve got a small job I’d like to hand off to you. Separate pay. Interested?”

Ji Qingyan blinked. “How small?”

Lu Yao said, “Help me design an app that fits modern user habits and aesthetics. The name… I’ll think about that later.”

The shopping street intranet’s backend would certainly reside in Dreamland, but Dreamland’s tech team had a slightly old-fashioned sense of design.

Lu Yao had thought it through: hiring someone from outside to handle the frontend development would ensure a polished, modern look. If Ji Qingyan took on the task, it would save the hassle of finding someone else and make detailed coordination much easier.

Hearing about the shopping street intranet plan for the first time, Ji Qingyan grew excited.

With this system in place, she wouldn’t have to constantly delete videos and photos of the inn from her phone. She could share the adorable moments at the inn with colleagues and possibly learn more about other stores.

Just imagining it thrilled her. She nodded enthusiastically. “I’ll take it! I’ll take it!”

…

Two days passed in a flash.

By dusk, thick clouds blanketed the sky, and the winds outside the inn began to howl.

Lu Yao crouched under the windowsill, adding fodder for the red pigs.

During the Twilight Moon Season, fresh vegetation became scarce on Nitean Continent. The little people would store plenty of dried grass during the Sunshine Season, cutting it into fine feed for the red pigs during the cold months.

Lu Yao adopted their methods, supplementing with hamster feed she bought online when she couldn’t find enough grass.

Surprisingly, the piglets loved it.

Watching the chubby miniature pigs eat was oddly therapeutic. Sometimes, Lu Yao would hide and watch them for half an hour.

“Lu Yao,” Yingtong called from the railing above.

“Yeah?”

“The Ice Period is here.”

Lu Yao stood up. “And?”

“The train hasn’t been brought back.”

Though there hadn’t been any guests recently, the Nitean little people in the inn had become addicted to joyrides on the miniature train. It had become a daily ritual to take it out for a couple of laps.

Usually, the train was parked outside.

But with today’s strong winds and the likelihood of heavy snowfall at night, it needed to be brought back.

Lu Yao turned to head out.

Yingtong leapt onto her arm, clinging to her sleeve and climbing upward. “I’ll go with you.”

She opened the door, and the wind howled, making the pinwheels on the fences spin furiously with a piercing screech.

The wind was strong enough to knock a person over. There was no sign of the little train near the entrance—likely blown away.

Lu Yao scanned the area but didn’t see it. She plucked Yingtong off her shoulder and tucked him into her coat pocket. “The wind’s too strong. Stay safe in here.”

Nestled in the warm pocket, Yingtong froze for a moment, his expression stiff. “…”

Lu Yao trudged about twenty meters forward, occasionally lifted off the ground by the force of the wind.

Frustrated, she tapped her pocket lightly. “Forget it. If I can’t find it, I’ll just build another one tonight.”

She said it like a promise to him.

Struggling to turn back against the wind, she crouched low to lower her center of gravity and began the trek home.

“Bang—”

A sudden thud reverberated as something hit her.

A rock had flown straight into her, making a dull impact.

Startled, she instinctively reached out and caught it.

But the texture was strange.

Lowering her head to examine it, Lu Yao’s expression froze in astonishment.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️