Ch 27: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

“Will it even work in the palace?” Fu Chi asked, puzzled.

Lu Yao shook her head. “No signal. But it’s good enough for taking pictures of the imperial garden or the palace consorts.”

Fu Chi: “…”

Currently, the intranet only covers the shops across the shopping street and extends to VIP customers within its world.

The Emperor’s phone was loaded with the shopping street’s app, and after signing a confidentiality agreement, he was registered as an intranet user. However, to actually browse his phone, he still had to visit the cinema to use its network.

In light of the earlier unexpected situation, the Emperor’s willingness to let it slide meant Lu Yao had to show a bit of goodwill.

Initially, she had considered gifting him something else, such as a few technical books that weren’t too sensitive.

But as they entered the tea room, they saw the Pavillion master hiding in a corner fiddling with his phone.

When phones were distributed earlier, all the cinema staff had received new ones. However, the older native employees weren’t very familiar with using them.

The younger staff, like Zhu Zhu and Wen Jian, who often operated machinery or computers, picked it up quickly.

For someone like the Pavillion master—who had spent a lifetime wielding weapons and licking blood off blades—holding a phone felt more like carrying a brick. He didn’t know where to start.

Still, unwilling to admit defeat, he had been secretly trying to figure it out, only to accidentally crash the phone, leaving him stuck on unresponsive screens.

Lu Yao restored his phone with a single tap and promised to teach him how to use it later. The Emperor, observing this, became intrigued.

He wanted one too.

Lu Yao explained clearly that the phone would only connect to the network within the cinema, could only be used for an hour and a half a day, and required frequent recharging.

The Emperor declared that he could assign two eunuchs specifically to look after the phone, shuttling between the palace and the cinema to charge it.

If an emperor could assign someone to care for a parrot, why not his phone?

After finishing his state affairs, he could personally visit the cinema during his leisure time.

In short, he insisted on having the phone.

After some thought, Lu Yao decided there was no harm in letting him have it. Since it couldn’t connect to external networks, the most he could do was use the camera. She handed over a brand-new phone with a detailed instruction manual and even threw in a large-capacity power bank.

The Emperor, eager to try out his new toy, learned the basics of phone operation and left in high spirits, taking the building blocks as an afterthought.

As they departed, Wan Baozhu and the Eighth Prince repeatedly cast meaningful glances at Lu Yao, which she pretended not to notice.

Waving at Fu Chi, Lu Yao said, “That’s enough talk. The inn is waiting for me to install pipes and divert the hot spring. Hold down the fort here—this is a one-time thing.”

With the documentary premiere wrapped up, Fu Chi was also preparing to resign formally.

After six months of recovery, both his physical and mental health had improved significantly. Staying at the cinema as a lobby manager for life wasn’t in his plans.

However, he hadn’t yet shared this decision with the other staff members.

…

At the inn, Heici, Beef Cube, Yuanwei, Zhu Zhou, and Budu were waiting for Lu Yao.

Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou knew Lu Yao had discovered a hot spring on her last outing. Since there were no guests and the weather was particularly pleasant, they wanted to join her for a stroll.

Whether it was one little person or three, to Lu Yao it was like carrying an extra apple in her pocket—no big difference.

The pipes and digging tools were stored in her portable warehouse. Her backpack only held a lunchbox, water bottle, and a small hand-sewn coin pouch containing the tiny tools the little ones used for gathering. They planned to pick some fresh wild vegetables on the way back.

As Lu Yao and Budu headed for the door, she called back over her shoulder, “The shop’s in your hands. We’ll be back as soon as we finish installing the pipes.”

Ji Qingyan was cleaning the windowsill opposite Room 1’s guest area, where Lu Yao planned to build the hot spring house. She waved back without turning around, “Go ahead, go ahead.”

Xiao Zheng, wearing an apron, peeked out of the kitchen. “I’m baking choux pastry shells. They’ll be just right for eating when you return.”

In just a few days, half the snow in Thorn Valley had melted. Grass blades sprouted, bare trees budded, and spring arrived in lush greenery.

Lu Yao had purchased a large roll of rubber hose, soaked it in magical potion for three days to enhance its durability and flexibility, and engraved a reinforcement magic array on its surface.

Her plan was clear: she wanted to connect a water pipe from the hot spring she had discovered last time to the inn, creating a hot spring-themed guest area. Additionally, she wanted to carve out a subspace behind the kitchen wall to build a large hot spring for humans.

With her goals in mind, she headed straight for the mountain spring.

The warming weather had caused the plants around the hot spring to flourish. Yuanwei, Heici, and Zhu Zhou trailed behind, eagerly grabbing at the fresh wild vegetable sprouts they spotted along the way.

Budu lagged, sweating profusely. For him, the weather was already uncomfortably warm.

As Lu Yao climbed to the mountainside, she passed the two flowering trees from her previous visit and the large warm pool they had soaked in. Climbing another ten meters, she reached a rocky slope where she took out her tools and water pipes.

Under the rocks, hot spring water gushed steadily. The spring source was likely at the mountain’s summit, but Lu Yao had no intention of going that high. The current location was perfect for water collection.

She cleared away the rocks, dug a large bowl-shaped basin, and lined the edges with small magic stones to form a reinforcement array. She then covered the basin with a stone slab to protect it.

Once the collection point was set, she inserted the pipe into the basin, sealing any gaps with crushed stones and further reinforcing it with magic. Along the way, she buried the pipe underground, directing the spring water toward the inn.

Setting aside the pipe she had inserted into the basin, Lu Yao bent down and began digging trenches.

Burying water pipes was hard labor. Even with magic-driven tools, the task would take at least half a day.

On the thick branches of the pink-flowered tree, Jiexiang and Ziye crouched together, their small faces scrunched like walnuts.

“She’s back again,” Jiexiang muttered.

Ziye, scanning the area, added, “I don’t see anyone else, just her.”

Jiexiang’s eyes landed on the conspicuous pink cloth bag in Lu Yao’s basket, which contained a box. She knew exactly what it was.

Unconsciously licking her lips, Jiexiang whispered, “She brought food again.”

Ziye’s eyes lit up as he remembered the yellow berries and meat chunks they had picked off a rock last time. Slowly, he asked, “Do you think if we trade wild vegetables with her, she’d agree?”

Those foods they found last time had been the most delicious thing they’d tasted in an entire moon cycle.

Recently, Jiexiang and Ziye had been searching for yellow berries during their outings but found nothing but flowers and wild vegetables.

Jiexiang stared wide-eyed at Ziye, horrified by his suggestion. She lowered her voice and said, “Are you crazy? Look at her—so big! She must be one of those legendary evil humans. How could we possibly approach her?”

Jiexiang’s companion, Ziye, hailed from the Shenmu tribe. Compared to other tribes, Shenmu tribe members were often considered a bit “slow.”

Yet Ziye’s golden hair and handsome features always made Jiexiang’s heart race. No matter how often he acted foolishly, one look at his face was enough for her to forgive him.

“What should we do, then?” Ziye asked, puzzled.

Jiexiang glanced at the pink cloth bag in Lu Yao’s basket and silently swallowed her saliva.

Human food smelled so good. Just looking at that bag brought back memories of the taste of the berries and meat from last time.

Ziye noticed Jiexiang secretly swallowing and smirked. Her greedy expression was so adorable—he never tired of it.

After a moment of thought, Ziye proposed, “Look, she’s busy right now. She’ll probably get hungry later and start eating. When she eats, she’ll definitely drop crumbs everywhere like last time.”

Jiexiang considered it and reluctantly agreed. That seemed like the best plan for now.

Stealing the human’s lunchbox was never an option for the two tiny people.

To them, the lunchbox was far too large, and the human herself was an even greater threat. They’d rather wait silently than risk their lives.

Lu Yao had long noticed that Nitean smallfolk had very straightforward thinking. They could be cunning, selfish, and even a little greedy, but they never resorted to deceit. Compared to their simplicity, the complex and calculating nature of adult humans might indeed seem truly “evil.”

As Lu Yao worked under the tree, sweating from exertion, the two smallfolk perched above grew increasingly anxious.

About half an hour later, Budu arrived with Yuanwei and her husband, Heici, along with Beef Cube and Zhu Zhou.

Yuanwei, seated in Budu’s palm, was glowing with excitement. “Lu Yao, Lu Yao! We found lemongrass! When we get back, I’ll make pancakes for you to try.”

Yuanwei had recently been exchanging culinary tips with Xiao Zheng, learning modern cooking techniques and becoming increasingly energetic each day.

Lemongrass, in Lu Yao’s world, was akin to common flavor enhancers like scallions, ginger, and cilantro, but on the Nitean continent, it was rare, especially in this season. Yuanwei had found three stalks with fresh sprouts, perfect for adding a fragrant touch to pancakes.

Lu Yao noticed Budu looked smaller than usual. Taking the three smallfolk and Beef Cube from his hands, she pulled a large block of ice from her portable warehouse, stuffed it into Budu’s arms, and made him sit in the tree’s shade.

“You’re not going to last like this. From now on, you’ll have to stay in the shop. I’ll build you an icehouse,” Lu Yao said, concerned. “When summer comes, you might have to live in the freezer.”

Budu sighed in relief, clutching the ice. “As long as I can stay near Mother, I’m happy to live in a freezer.”

“You’re so fragile; it worries me,” Lu Yao replied, her brow furrowed.

Budu shook his head. “It’s my fault for not being strong enough. But don’t worry, Mother. As long as you’re here, I won’t truly die. When I’m no longer a child, I won’t fear sunlight anymore.”

Lu Yao decided to head back to the shop and build Budu his icehouse.

Meanwhile, Yuanwei, Heici, and Zhu Zhou clung to the edge of the backpack, staring longingly at the lunchbox inside. They’d been outdoors for half the day and were now hungry too.

Lu Yao bent down and retrieved the lunchbox.

Xiao Zheng had outdone himself this time, preparing a two-tiered large lunchbox alongside a smaller four-tiered one for the smallfolk.

Sitting under the tree, Lu Yao handed out the lunchboxes, one for each.

This time, the meal included fried shrimp sandwiches, triangular seaweed rice balls, egg rolls, and mini sausages. From her insulated water bottle, Lu Yao poured hot soup into small cups for everyone, its rich aroma wafting in the air.

High above, Jiexiang and Ziye peeked from the tree trunk, nearly drooling with envy.

Lu Yao sat with a sandwich in one hand and a cup of hot soup in the other.

A pink petal drifted gently into her cup, creating ripples on the surface. She looked up, spotting Jiexiang and Ziye frozen in place, clinging to the tree trunk and holding their breath.

“What’s wrong?” Yuanwei asked.

“Nothing,” Lu Yao replied, shaking her head. “It must be the wind.”

After finishing her sandwich, Lu Yao brushed petals off her shoulders, packed up her tools, and prepared to take Budu and the smallfolk back to the shop.

Before leaving, she wrapped half a fried shrimp, a small piece of egg roll, and a sausage end in a leaf and carefully placed it on a branch of the flowering tree.

…

At the cinema, as the post-credits scene ended, the bustling scenes and lively sounds disappeared like illusions. The tantalizing aromas that had filled the air faded as if erased, leaving the audience in their seats, still caught in their viewing posture, struggling to return to reality.

Fu Chi pushed the door open and clapped lightly. “The screening is over.”

Feng Xiang snapped out of his daze, turning to look at Fu Chi. Rising too quickly, he tripped over the chair leg and nearly fell.

Catching himself on the armrest, he steadied his footing and, ignoring everything else, quickly strode toward Fu Chi.

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