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Chapter 18
“Thank you, Sister, but it’s not necessary.” Shen You declined politely.
“We’re all neighbors, there’s no need for formalities.”
Sister Cui smiled while introducing, “This is my nephew, Cui Qun. He works at a renovation company with decent income. Four to five thousand per month.”
She wasn’t genuinely helpful. It was because she saw this young woman as attractive, capable of running a business, with property and a car.
Moreover, she’d heard that her family had only one daughter, so she wanted to introduce them.
Cui Qun looked at Shen You, who was dressed plainly for work with a flower spade in hand, and his eyes flashed with amazement.
He put on the confident expression of an expert, scanning around. “Your courtyard’s designer isn’t professional. A brand store like our company would never do it this way.”
Shen You found his attitude amusing. “There’s no designer, I arranged everything myself. As long as I like it.”
Cui Qun shook his head disapprovingly. “People who don’t understand think it looks nice, but careful examination reveals that the layout lacks class. Later you’ll realize maintenance is time-consuming, laborious, and expensive. I suggest you…”
Shen You rolled her eyes. “Right, you’re the most knowledgeable, even know-it-alls aren’t as knowledgeable as you. I suggest you don’t have so many suggestions.”
Her disdainful look was undisguised. Cui Qun simply thought laypeople lacked insight and magnanimously changed topics.
“I heard antique shops don’t open for three years, but when they do, they eat for three years. Your shop’s profits must be quite good, right? Looking at you, I immediately knew you’re capable and good at managing life, unlike my ex-girlfriend who earned only 3,500 and just knew how to order takeout online all day. Let’s add each other as friends.”
Shen You gripped her spade tighter. “Are you insulting me again?”
“Are you angry because I mentioned my ex-girlfriend?” Cui Qun smiled smugly. Young women were all like this.
He was about to continue speaking when Shen You cut him off. “Your salary of four to five thousand isn’t much higher than hers—who are you looking down on? Not only do I order takeout daily, one shopping trip costs more than your monthly salary. Your ex-girlfriend leaving you was really the right decision.”
With that, she slammed the door shut with a bang.
Cui Qun stood on the steps outside, glaring at the wooden door, holding back for ages before managing, “With such a bad temper, which man would dare marry you!”
That would be wonderful, Shen You scoffed lightly.
The courtyard completion should have been joyful, but some inexplicable person had appeared from nowhere.
After that little episode, Shen You ordered barbecue takeout, then planted the remaining flowers, cleaned up, and went upstairs for a shower.
The takeout was arriving soon. This barbecue restaurant was pricier than others but used fresh ingredients and included grilling equipment with the set meal.
She arranged everything on the old elm wood table in the courtyard—pork belly, beef tallow, squid—all looking delicious.
Her phone showed a message from Zheng Mingbo saying that the Collectors’ Association had approved her application, and he’d inform her of the next auction.
There were two types of auctions: one requiring only a deposit that anyone could attend, including online modes.
These generally lacked particularly precious antiques and didn’t guarantee authenticity, which meant that buying fakes meant accepting one’s bad luck.
No wonder the antique trade was said to have deep waters.
The other type required ‘admission tickets’ and capital verification, with renowned industry appraisers guaranteeing authenticity, sending invitations to the Collectors’ Association.
Shen You replied to the message, then plugged in the grill eagerly, brushed oil, and placed food on it.
Evening breezes blew gently, stone lanterns glowed with warm light, and the ancient waterwheel-shaped circulation system in the fish tank produced clear water sounds.
Sitting in such a courtyard for barbecue was extremely comfortable.
The milk tea hadn’t arrived yet. While Shen You was eating happily, someone entered.
Seeing Li Heng’s face showing some fatigue, she remembered she’d forgotten to close the door while rushing to eat barbecue.
Li Heng looked at the transformed shop, his gaze slightly surprised.
In just a few days, the formerly shabby courtyard had become so beautiful!
The renovation speed was incredibly fast, although occurring in this shop made it entirely reasonable.
Shen You, seeing her big customer’s appearance, instinctively sensed more business.
“Want to eat together?”
She couldn’t very well leave a big customer standing there. That would be too impolite.
Li Heng nodded with pleasant surprise. Shen You gave him disposable chopsticks and bowl, using barbecue tongs to serve him pork belly.
“Delicious!” Li Heng said after just one bite.
He’d grown up in the palace, and although not favored by the emperor, he bore the crown prince title, so his meals were never neglected.
Yet he’d never eaten such delicious grilled meat before. It was more fragrant than the palace’s roasted venison.
“What’s in this grilled meat? It’s completely different from anything I’ve had before.”
Also, this black round plate for grilling. He could see that there was no fire, yet the meat placed on it cooked.
If he could buy this item and take it back…
“It’s marinated with various seasonings that probably don’t exist in your place yet.”
She didn’t know which dynasty [Great Qi]’s recipes corresponded to, but ancient nobles definitely didn’t eat as well as modern people.
Seeing Li Heng staring intently at the grill, Shen You explained, “This thing wouldn’t work in your place, just like the fireless lights in my shop.”
Solar-powered ones would work, though. She’d been too busy to think of this earlier.
She could stock antique-styled solar lights. They’d definitely be valuable in ancient times!
“However, there’s one type of light you could use—like those under my eaves. They need to absorb sunlight during the day, then shine at night. With normal use, they last a long time.”
Li Heng asked immediately, “Do you sell these lights too?”
These lights were excellent. There was no fire hazard risk, and they were brighter than candles.
“Yes, but I don’t have extras right now. I need three days’ time. If you want them, bring a set of precious brushes, ink, and inkstones to trade.”
Quality outdoor solar lights weren’t cheap, and precious inkstones were rare on the market, fetching good prices.
“No problem.” Li Heng nodded.
Such items posed no difficulty for him, as the treasury held plenty.
“I came rushing here today for another matter—”
Just then, Shen You’s phone rang with the milk tea delivery. “Wait a moment.”
Then, under Li Heng’s shocked gaze, she answered her phone, opened the door, and returned with an insulated bag.
“Someone outside came to deliver food?”
Li Heng was confused. Each time he visited the shop, guards were stationed outside, and at this hour, where in Yunzhou could anyone still deliver food?
Shen You didn’t know how to explain. When she opened the door, it was another dimension with bright lights during peak delivery hours.
After thinking it over, she said, “You can’t see the people who deliver food.”
Li Heng quickly understood. Somehow, although they were sitting in the same courtyard, it felt like an invisible, uncrossable barrier existed between them.
He’d originally thought Miss Shen lived alone in this alley, but now realized this wasn’t the case.
She seemed to exist in a different world.
Shen You opened the insulated bag. To meet the minimum order for discounts, she’d bought two medium cups, and had been originally planning to drink both herself.
But looking at the big customer across from her, she reluctantly made a choice and handed him one cup.
“Try this?”
No one could resist milk tea, and the crown prince of Great Qi was no exception. Li Heng felt the coolness seeping from the cup and praised its taste.