CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 394: IT’S TIME TO GIVE THE BOSS A HEADACHE

Over here, Qin Liuxi wanted to hide as soon as she saw the Shopkeeper approaching.

"You hide, if you dare not come out, I’ll just sit here until it gets dark," the Shopkeeper immediately started to ’throw a tantrum.’

Qin Liuxi, having no choice, sat down again and said, "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, and now you seem rather more hot-tempered."

The Shopkeeper said, "I can’t help it, since you avoid showing up, I had to come and ask to meet."

Qin Liuxi touched her nose.

"Recently, the demand for Yangrong Pills has been high everywhere, especially as the year-end approaches. Many esteemed customers are seeking medicines. Aren’t you going to start refining medicine?" the Shopkeeper asked.

"Changsheng Hall has never profited from the year-end rush, has that changed?" Qin Liuxi glanced over.

Changsheng Hall had a renowned reputation and good medicines, and those well-known medicines never lacked buyers, so it didn’t need to make profits from the year-end rush like other grocery stores.

But such fine medicines are ideal for gifts, so every year the demand for these medicines only increases.

The Shopkeeper said, "It hasn’t changed, but our stock is running low. Others may come to buy medicine, and we could put them off by saying we’re out of stock. But the prescriptions you issue, when people request those medicines, who dares to say there’s none left? Even if it’s not available at the main store, we must transfer it from other branches."

Indeed, while Changsheng Hall is famous, its main store is only in the small city of Li City.

Qin Liuxi gave him a faint nod and said, "I also plan to refine some medicine soon. You should bring the necessary medicinal ingredients to my place, but I can’t guarantee when I’ll have them ready."

While speaking, she also took out pen and ink and made a list, then handed it over, saying, "Prepare these medicinal ingredients for me."

The Shopkeeper took a look and, seeing Moon Spirit Grass on the list, couldn’t help but feel shocked, "Are you planning to make a new medicine?"

"Forget it, this is not ordinary health medicine. I have important uses for it, it won’t be much, and the required ingredients are also rare, so it can’t be produced in large quantities. I still have to trust your Boss to bring me some things back." Qin Liuxi explained.

The Shopkeeper was surprised, "Is the Boss coming back?"

"He has healed up, so he should be back."

The Shopkeeper immediately felt joyful, rubbing his hands together.

This is great, with the Boss back, he could relieve the burden of pushing for medicine.

He dreaded matching wits with this young ’ancestor,’ and it was time to let the Boss handle the headaches.

Qin Liuxi then remembered something; she had previously promised to make a prosthetic limb for an old soldier named Old Chou who worked for Yu Qiucai but had forgotten about it due to her recent continuous affairs.

"Let’s settle it like this; I also need to visit the Blacksmith Shop." Qin Liuxi told the Shopkeeper to go back first.

The Shopkeeper left contentedly.

Qin Liuxi then instructed Chen Pi and Wan Ce to send a message to General Song Ye’s family, asking them to spare some time for acupuncture treatment, and then she headed to the familiar Blacksmith Shop in the city with Teng Zhao and Wang Chuan.

Luo’s Blacksmith Shop, which has been around for over a hundred years, has always had blacksmiths from generation to generation, and the items they make are not only durable but also skillful. As long as they are given a blueprint, they can make the desired items.

It was said that their ancestors had disciples from the side branches of Lu Ban, who knew a bit of Lu Ban’s Magic, so they could also make some machinery-related items.

Even though they have the skills, there are some strictly prohibited items, such as crossbows, that they dare not make, and even feathered arrows require a permit within a specified quantity.

Of course, while they wouldn’t dare openly, if given enough Silver and introduced by someone familiar, they might secretly make some less harmful items.

At this moment in the blacksmith shop, there was a constant clinking sound. A man in his forties, wearing a thin jacket, swung his hammer tirelessly shaping the iron in his hand, which looked like a pair of scissors.

"Uncle Luo."

Upon hearing this greeting, Old Luo looked up and saw Qin Liuxi. He exclaimed, "Little Taoist, what brings you here?"

Qin Liuxi walked in and said, "I came to place an order. It’s snowing outside, yet you’re still in short sleeves."

"The forge keeps the shop warm, and you’re dressed even lighter than me."

"You go on with your work; I’ll draw a sketch." Qin Liuxi confidently walked further into the Blacksmith Shop, found paper and pen, and began sketching, recording the measurements of Old Chou’s arm from memory.

Teng Zhao and the others curiously looked around; the walls were adorned with many finished products, including knives, swords, and even bows and arrows.

By now, Old Luo had set aside his work and came over to see Qin Liuxi drawing. He called over two youngsters, showing them the finished products, and even gifted Teng Zhao a delicate dagger, while Wang Chuan received a slingshot.

Teng Zhao hesitated to accept it, only looking towards Qin Liuxi, who had just finished the drawing and said to Old Luo with a smile, "Uncle Luo, no need to be polite. He won’t need a dagger yet."

"It’s just a trinket, and it’s good for self-defense. Who are they?"

"They are my two new apprentices." Qin Liuxi smiled at Teng Zhao and said, "Since it’s Uncle Luo’s kind gesture, take them for fun, but be careful with the dagger; it’s sharp."

Only then did Teng Zhao take it, and he sincerely thanked Old Luo. Wang Chuan also bowed in thanks.

Old Luo, seeing their delicate features, sighed, "You’re already taking apprentices at such a young age, and they all look so promising. You’ll be creating masters in no time."

"Starting as Daoist apprentices, how much they learn depends on their destiny."

"A good teacher produces good students, it should be fine." Uncle Luo looked at her paper and asked, "What are you planning to make?"

Qin Liuxi replied, "It’s a prosthetic arm. To make it fully functional, I fear we might need to add some mechanisms, including a compartment for hidden weapons."

Old Luo’s interest was piqued as he took the drawing, "Let me see."

The two moved aside to discuss how to forge the limb, how to incorporate mechanisms to ensure it wasn’t too heavy yet still flexible.

The drawing Qin Liuxi made was very detailed, and Old Luo also had some ideas. After a few modifications, they finalized the design for the prosthetic limb.

"I’ll have Chen Pi send over some fine iron, and once it’s forged, I will personally adjust its skin-like covering. The rest is up to you."

Old Luo hurriedly responded, "I have fine iron here; no need to send any, don’t put me in a difficult position. If it weren’t for you, my hand would have been useless long ago; I wouldn’t be able to forge anything."

"One good turn deserves another; I treated your hand, and you’ve already paid the fee. Plus, you know I don’t like owing anything. So, let’s use your iron; I’ll pay for it along with the labor cost."

Old Luo exchanged a few more pleasantries but seeing her insistence, he didn’t press further, merely planning to ask for a small amount later.

Qin Liuxi finalized a few more details with him, gave his Peace Pulse a quick check, left a recipe for a winter health-preserving medicinal meal, and then bid farewell.

Leaving the Blacksmith Shop, Qin Liuxi thought for a moment and then took her two new apprentices to the Qin family’s newly opened candied fruit shop.

Thinking about it, from its discussion to its opening, she hadn’t even taken a glance at it. Since it wasn’t dark yet, she decided to have a look.

However, upon reaching the candied fruit shop, she saw a few unruly thugs loitering at the entrance, cracking lewd jokes and chewing on some candied fruits.

Qin Liuxi’s expression darkened.