Ch 39: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Lu Yao rested at the doorway for a while before getting up and heading back into the shop.

At the entrance, she crouched down, examined the doorway closely, and then called over the little people scattered under the eaves. Gesturing to the doorway, she said, “With more staff and guests around, I’m always worried about accidentally stepping on you. I’m thinking of moving the small doors to the sides—two on the left and two on the right. This way, you can walk along the walls and be safer when entering.”

The little people tilted their heads back, staring blankly at Lu Yao, their blueberry-like eyes blinking: Whatever you say is fine; we don’t understand it anyway.

Lu Yao extended a finger and poked them one by one, sending them toppling onto the ground, before standing up and heading inside. “Never mind, I’ll discuss it with Xiao Zheng. You guys go play.”

Returning to the shop, Lu Yao brought the measurements and photos to Ji Qingyan and Xiao Zheng.

“I think installing the cable system on this tree would be best,” she said, pointing to a specific tree in the photos. “It’s opposite the flower tree at Jiexiang’s house, but it’s thicker, taller, and has sturdier branches with no little people living on it.”

Ji Qingyan looked at the photo and asked, “Where would the other end of the cable system go on the inn’s side?”

“It needs to be on flat ground, but with a slight slope,” Lu Yao replied, pointing to a picture of an open space in front of the inn. “This spot works—building a platform here for the cable system avoids the train tracks and main road, while keeping it in our line of sight. If any guests run into trouble, we can spot them immediately from the inn entrance.”

The Thorn Valley felt like an undeveloped amusement park centered around the inn, with facilities steadily expanding outward. The main roads and tracks were being completed; the land on the right of the inn was reserved for little people’s residences, while the train tracks began on the left, surrounded by flower gardens and trees. Small usable spaces between pathways were gradually being filled with functional structures.

With detailed imagery and data on the terrain and surroundings, Ji Qingyan and Xiao Zheng’s job was to design the cable system, pulley mechanisms, cabins, and cables. They would break the designs down into parts and data, then draft blueprints.

Lu Yao would take their blueprints, shape the components by hand, test for safety and functionality, and then mass-produce and assemble them to complete the build.

A short meeting ended up lasting over an hour, entirely focused on the “toy” cable car.

While taking meeting notes, Bai Lu couldn’t help but comment, “We don’t feel like an inn anymore. We’re more like a toy company.”

Ji Qingyan laughed. “We’re developing a product right now. This is just the prototype. Who knows, we might eventually mass-produce it and sell it to miniature model enthusiasts.”

Xiao Zheng added, “If we manage to get this cable car working the way the boss envisions, and shrink the model slightly, there’s definitely a market for it.”

If the system could run fully automatically, it would definitely attract buyers as a toy.

Lu Yao frowned thoughtfully, then said slowly, “That’s not a bad idea.”

The staff stared at her wide-eyed.

We were just joking—don’t take it seriously!

Lu Yao rested her chin on one hand, leaning on the armrest. “Besides the shopping street and Nitean Continent, this type of toy could sell in other worlds too. Once things settle down here, I might try posting a custom order notice in the Childhood Tutoring Center. If we get preorders, we can sell a few.”

Sales within the shopping street weren’t considered yet due to current restrictions, but Lu Yao’s mind was clearly spinning with possibilities.

The three human staff members looked at her in stunned silence. The plan seemed feasible—Lu Yao’s brain really worked fast.

Unlike Lu Yao, who wasn’t overly excited due to the lack of immediate benefits in her world, the staff’s enthusiasm surged. Just imagining their work being recognized and appreciated in another world was enough to make them as giddy as children.

Bai Lu couldn’t hold back. “Boss, when the time comes, can I help you decorate the cable car cabins?”

Lu Yao: “Of course.”

After finishing the key discussion on the cable car plans, Lu Yao remembered her earlier idea at the entrance.

“Oh, one more thing. The number of guests at the inn is growing, and while everyone is careful when coming and going, I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not a long-term solution. I want to move the guest passageway to the sides, adding another door on each side. Additionally, I plan to build a transparent walkway along the walls for the little guests to use safely.”

The inn’s entrance has a miniature brick path to the left and a wall to the right.

Lu Yao had already opened a door in that wall leading to a different space—the newly constructed large hot spring area. For little guests to reach the rooms on the other side, they currently need to go around the entire wall.

With the grand hot spring area about to open and VIP booking channels launching on the intranet, there would soon be larger human guests visiting. Lu Yao was concerned this might inconvenience the little guests and wanted to create a dedicated safe passageway for them.

The transparent walkway Lu Yao envisioned was somewhat like a hamster tube system.

Bai Lu suddenly chimed in, “Is it like the deep-sea tunnel at the pet cafe? Just a smaller version? Those are so fun!”

Bai Lu recalled her first visit to the Little Pet Cafe, where she was struck by the transparent deep-sea tunnel. Walking through it and arriving at the whale room, seeing a piano paired with whale songs echoing from the depths—it was a truly magical experience.

Ji Qingyan and Xiao Zheng remembered it too, quickly understanding what Lu Yao meant.

Lu Yao: “Exactly. At the entrance, we need to add walkways and railings. On the wall, we’ll build suspended safe passages, and we’ll connect the two guesthouse areas with an aerial circular bridge.”

Ji Qingyan was stunned as she listened. “Are you building a new world in this inn?”

Lu Yao: “Might as well do it right if we’re doing it at all. If my partner wasn’t away on a trip, it would’ve been done in a day.”

For the nth time, the shopkeeper missed her efficient Dream Fulfillment System.

Ji Qingyan, Xiao Zheng, and Bai Lu: … The boss’s friends are all extraordinary.

Outside the inn, the little people rested under the eaves, waiting for Jiexiang and Ziye to drop off their belongings at the dormitory before joining them to inspect their “self-built” plots of land.

Xia Yin and Fengqin, having nothing to do, ended up following them.

On the right side of the inn, a large flat area had several irregular circles outlined with pebbles, each with white text in the middle.

Xia Yin squinted and realized the markings were names.

Most of the pebble circles had nothing special about them, except for Heici’s, which already had trenches dug.

The little people ran from their plots over to Heici’s, gazing in admiration.

“Heici’s house is already laying the foundation.”

“What does laying the foundation mean?”

“I don’t know, Lu Yao dug it for him.”

“Didn’t Heici want a jar-shaped house? Why does it need a pit?”

“No idea, but you can’t go wrong listening to Lu Yao.”

“When it’s my turn to build, will we need to dig a pit too?”

Xia Yin stood behind them, listening with an increasingly puzzled expression. Were these people planning to settle near the inn?

She couldn’t hold back and walked over to interrupt. “What are you all doing?”

Jie Xiang: “Oh, are you the new guests?”

Hudie: “We’re discussing house-building.”

Xia Yin: “You’re planning to live here?”

A’dai: “Yes, Lu Yao assigned us plots of land and promised to help us build houses.”

Xia Yin snorted coldly. “And you trust that big human so easily?”

Aren’t you worried she’ll suddenly change her mind?

That big human was strange too—why would she willingly take in these homeless wanderers?

To Xia Yin, “home” meant one’s tribe. Choosing to unite with outsiders from other tribes meant cutting ties with the place one once called home.

Hudie glanced at Fengqin, standing behind Xia Yin. “That one behind you, is he your partner?”

Xia Yin: “So what if he is?”

Hudie: “My partner is also from the Xiaguang tribe. We’re the same as you. The tribe didn’t accept us, but Lu Yao did. She’s allowing us to stay here. Not just me and Jiegeng, but also A’dai and Jinjin, Jiexiang and Ziye, Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou—they’re all staying here. And perhaps in the future, more mixed-tribe couples will come too.”

This place might even grow into a new tribe, inclusive of all types of little people. By then, they would have the confidence to go to the Shenmu tribe and request fetal seed.

Even with mixed-tribe partners, they’d have the strength to protect their children.

Xia Yin glanced at Hudie in surprise, then her thoughts turned to fetal seed. Her expression darkened. She muttered something under her breath before turning and pulling Fengqin away.

Hudie didn’t catch it and turned to Jiexiang. “What did she say?”

Jiexiang shook her head. “I didn’t hear.”

A’dai offered, “She seemed to say, ‘It’s too late.'”

What exactly was “too late”?

No one knew.

Ziye stared absently in the direction the couple had left.

Jiexiang puffed her cheeks, tugged forcefully at his sleeve, and snapped, “You’re still looking?”

Ziye snapped back to reality, his gaze dropping as he quickly concealed his thoughts. “I wasn’t.”

Jiexiang was furious. “You’re lying.”

Ziye admitted defeat. “…I was wrong.”

Jiexiang became even angrier. “Who were you looking at from that pair?”

Ziye hesitated. “…No one. I saw Zhu Zhou’s train approaching and was about to ask if you wanted to go for a ride, but I happened to notice them boarding.”

Jiexiang calmed down. “Okay. I want to ride the train.”

Ziye, quick to appease, said, “Let’s wait for the next one.”

Hand in hand, they walked toward the station sign at the entrance, leaving their friends behind, stunned and speechless.

…

In the first carriage of the train, Xia Yin and Fengqin sat across from each other.

Fengqin poured Xia Yin a cup of hot water. Outside the window, the scenery flew by. “Honestly, this place is amazing. Big humans look clumsy and awkward, yet they can create such magical tools.”

Xia Yin held the cup, the chill in her palms gradually replaced by warmth. “I’m sorry, I just… I can’t accept it.”

Fengqin shook his head. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me. If you hadn’t become my partner—”

Xia Yin covered his mouth, tears welling in her eyes. She shook her head. “I’ve never regretted becoming your partner.”

…

The story of Xia Yin and Fengqin was simple: the daughter of the tribal chief fell in love with a down-and-out wanderer. Despite her family’s objections, she insisted on forming a bond and leaving home.

As the chief’s daughter, Xia Yin had been cherished from birth. Little people her age in the tribe all adored her.

When she came of age, the line of those wanting to become her partner stretched from the chief’s house to the edge of the territory.

But Xia Yin didn’t care for any of them—until she met Fengqin, a wanderer from the Xiaguang tribe, fifteen years her senior.

Xia Yin fell in love with Fengqin at first sight.

In the world of big humans, this might be a rare occurrence, but in the world of Nitean little people, such encounters were simpler. When you met someone who matched your heart, you held on tightly.

They shared their feelings, informed their families, packed their belongings, and left their tribes.

Xia Yin and Fengqin had been journeying together, traveling through many lands.

This year, they finally found a stable place to settle.

Believing the time was right, they decided to visit the Shenmu tribe.

Unexpectedly, at the borders of the Shenmu territory, they encountered someone from Xia Yin’s past tribe.

Qian Lang, who had once expressed his wish to form a bond with Xia Yin.

Bei Bei, Xia Yin’s childhood friend.

Even now, recalling the awkward reunion a few days ago made Xia Yin cringe.

To make matters worse, a few days later, Qian Lang and Bei Bei successfully obtained a fetal seed from the Shenmu Temple, while Xia Yin and Fengqin were rejected.

Leaving the Shenmu tribe, the two pairs somehow found themselves traveling the same route and ending up at the inn.

Xia Yin’s mood had been sour ever since.

…

In the valley, Zhu Zhou drove the miniature train, circling the area. After a full round, he picked up Jiexiang, Ziye, Hudie, and A’dai, completing three loops around the valley before the lunch hour.

When the train returned to the inn, the guests began heading back.

Jiexiang noticed Xia Yin and Fengqin lagging behind and invited them to join for lunch.

Before Xia Yin could refuse, Jiexiang had already grabbed her arm enthusiastically. “Come on! Food tastes better when there’s a crowd!”

Ziye, forced to walk behind, glared intently at Jiexiang’s hand wrapped around Xia Yin’s arm.

Fengqin looked completely baffled.

…

The little guests gathered in the dining hall of the blue brick guesthouse for lunch.

The menu featured a new dish: curry pork cutlet rice, pickled ginger slices, and shredded white radish beef soup.

Xiao Zheng had put great care into the preparation. The miniature pork cutlets and rice were served on plates the size of medicine bottle caps, drenched in a rich, golden-yellow curry sauce. The aroma of the fragrant spices, paired with a hint of coconut milk, filled the room.

Fengqin stared at the food on his plate, hesitant to dig in.

As a gourmet from the Xiaguang tribe, he had impressed Xia Yin with his culinary skills countless times over the years.

The dinner last night and breakfast this morning had been decent, but this odd-looking yellow dish failed to entice him.

Across from him, Jiegeng had already finished his plate, his cheeks puffed with rice as he shouted indistinctly, “More!”

Noticing Fengqin’s skeptical expression, Jiegeng gestured enthusiastically, “Eat it! It’s delicious!”

Even Xia Yin put down her plate and called out, “Another plate, please!”

“…”

Fengqin slowly picked up the tiny wooden spoon, scooped a bite of rice coated in curry sauce, and put it in his mouth. Then he froze.

After a long moment, he began chewing nonchalantly, lifting his gaze only to meet Jiegeng’s overly excited expression.

Fengqin: “…”

Jiegeng wasn’t about to let him off. “Well? Is it good?”

Fengqin looked away. “…It’s okay.”

Jiegeng leaned toward Hudie, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear, “I hope he stays this stubborn forever.”

Hudie glanced atFengqin and nudged Jiegeng. “There’s a grain of rice on his mouth.”

Fengqin gripped his spoon tightly: “…”

…

The cheerful lunch passed quickly.

In the afternoon, dark clouds gathered ominously, signaling an approaching storm.

Lu Yao sat by a window, adjusting components for the hot spring guestroom, while Ji Qingyan and Xiao Zheng worked on parts for the cable car. Bai Lu managed the guests, who idly lounged on the steps of the Rose Garden House, dozing in the heavy air.

Bai Lu suggested they nap in their rooms, but they ignored her.

“Boom—”

A sudden crack of thunder startled Jiexiang, who leapt into ZiYe’s arms.

The little guests all huddled together like frightened potatoes, trembling on the steps.

Rain began to pour in heavy sheets.

The inn’s small door was flung open, and two soaked little people stumbled in, shouting desperately:

“Temple Knights, please help us!”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️