Falling into the mortal world

Lan Qingqing glanced over and saw that there was another type of smaller jar stacked next to her, which could hold about two pounds.

Lan Qingqing pointed to the small jar and asked: How much is this smaller one?

The shopkeeper looked in the direction Lan Qingqing was pointing.

These are 22 each, but if you want them, I'll give you 20 coins each.

"How many are there?" Lan Qingqing asked.

"There are more than four hundred," the shopkeeper replied.

"If I want all of these, can you give me a discount?" Lan Qingqing asked.

The shopkeeper did a quick mental calculation and then said, "If you want them all, I'll give you eighteen coins each."

"Okay, calculate how much this is? We'll send it over together later." Lan Qingqing took out seven taels and two mace and handed it to the shopkeeper, who hadn't even finished calculating on his abacus.

Lan Qingqing withdrew her hand and waited quietly for the shopkeeper to finish calculating on the abacus.

After the shopkeeper finished calculating with the abacus, he said: "Seven taels and two mace of silver."

Lan Qingqing handed over the silver, and the shopkeeper took it. Seeing that the amount was just right, the shopkeeper put it away.

Then she started arranging for people to deliver the goods, and Lan Qingqing gave them the address. Nothing else. Lan Qingqing decided to have a set of furniture made; the new house would be completed soon.

With doors, windows, and furniture all ready to be prepared, Lan Qingqing inquired with the shopkeeper about carpenters in town who could make furniture.

Seeing that Lan Qingqing wanted to have furniture made, the shopkeeper said, "If you want to have furniture made, the best carpenter in town is Yu's Woodworking Shop. The master craftsmen there have excellent skills, and their products are high-quality and durable."

"Thank you, shopkeeper," Lan Qingqing said before heading towards North Street. Upon arriving at North Street, Lan Qingqing found the Yu's Restaurant the shopkeeper had mentioned.

As soon as I entered the store, a shop assistant came up and asked: "What would you like to buy, young lady?"

Lan Qingqing said: I want to order a set of furniture. I wonder if there are any samples to look at.

"Yes, this way, miss," the waiter said, leading Lan Qingqing through a small door inside the shop. Beyond the door, a thatched shed had been erected in the backyard, filled with various tables, chairs, benches, beds, chests, and other furniture...

Lan Qingqing went up to check the quality of the furniture. It looked well-made. Lan Qingqing asked the shop assistant next to her: Can your shop make a few pieces?

The man asked, "Do you have the blueprints?"

Lan Qingqing said: No, but I can draw the design for you.

The shop assistant said: "If we have the blueprints, it shouldn't be a problem, but the master craftsman isn't in the shop today, so I don't know if it can be done."

"When will your master be back?" Lan Qingqing asked.

The waiter scratched his head and said, "My master went out early this morning because he had something to do, and I don't know when he'll be back."

"Do you have paper and pens in your shop? I'll draw the design first. Your craftsman will take a look when he gets back and see if it's feasible. I'll confirm it tomorrow," Lan Qingqing said.

"Yes, miss, please wait a moment," the waiter said before rushing off to the front. He returned shortly afterward with a set of writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

The waiter handed her a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, which Lan Qingqing took and began to draw. First, she drew the doors and windows. The doors were divided into upper and lower sections. The upper section was decorated with openwork carvings, while the lower section was made of solid wood, giving it an antique and elegant feel.

The windows were also decorated with intricate openwork carvings, and Lan Qingqing drew the wardrobe based on her memories from her past life. Tables, chairs, benches, sofas, coffee tables, dressing tables—Lan Qingqing drew everything she could think of.

She drew a picture of the bed based on her memories of her previous life, and also drew the corresponding cabinet. Lan Qingqing wondered what else she needed for the house.

The study is essential now that Lan Xiaoyu has started reading. She immediately began drawing a desk and bookshelves on paper. She was also making some shelves; with the family business expanding, shelves are indispensable.

Lan Qingqing drew everything she could think of; that was all she could think of for the time being. She put down her pen and handed the drawings to the shop assistant.

The shopkeeper looked at the drawings and was amazed by Lan Qingqing's drawing skills; she had drawn such a lifelike picture with just a few strokes.

After the initial shock, the waiter seemed to realize something and asked, "What kind of wood does the young lady plan to use?"

Lan Qingqing asked in confusion: What kinds of wood are there here?

The shop assistant put down the blueprints in his hand and led Lan Qingqing to the lumber room next door to look at the materials.

The shop assistant picked up a piece of wood and said to Lan Qingqing: This is paulownia wood, this is mahogany, this is pear wood, and this is pine wood.

Lan Qingqing glanced at it and then pointed to the mahogany, saying: "Let's use this kind of wood!"

The shopkeeper said: This kind of rosewood is quite expensive. If you use this kind of rosewood for your whole set, the price will be very high.

"How is the price of this rosewood calculated?" Lan Qingqing asked.

"It mainly depends on how much wood your furniture needs; the craftsman has to calculate it before we can know the price," the shopkeeper replied.

Okay, I'll come back tomorrow. Once outside, Lan Qingqing picked up the blueprints and wrote on the paper on the shelf, "Cheap, durable, and sturdy wood is fine."

After Lan Qingqing finished writing, she put down the drawing and said goodbye to the shop assistant.

It was already sunset when they returned to the village. Back home, Li's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, along with their children and grandchildren, were preparing to go home.

Lan Qingqing called out to Aunt Li and quickly went into the inner room. Aunt Li was curious about why Lan Qingqing had called her out.

After waiting for a while, Lan Qingqing came out of the house.

Lan Qingqing wrapped some rock sugar in oil paper and gave it to Aunt Li to take back. Aunt Li took the oil paper package, curiously opened it and took a look. When she saw that it was rock sugar, she quickly stuffed it into Lan Qingqing's hand.

"This isn't cheap, little girl, I can't accept it. Take it back quickly. Leave it for Xiaoyu to eat," Aunt Li said hurriedly.

"Auntie, this is for Da Ni, Er Ni, and Gou Dan. I saved Xiao Yu's portion." Lan Qingqing said, handing the food to Aunt Li.

How could they afford such expensive food! You should keep it for your family! Aunt Li didn't accept the rock sugar, after all, rock sugar was something that peasants like them couldn't afford.

Lan Qingqing pretended to put on a stern face and said: "Auntie, is it because you don't like me that you don't like the food I send you?"

Aunt Li quickly explained: No, Auntie didn't mean that. Auntie just felt it was too expensive.

"If you don't have any, then accept it," Lan Qingqing said, stuffing the rock candy in her hand into Aunt Li's hand. This time, Aunt Li was embarrassed and kept refusing, so she just accepted it.

All the way there, Gou Dan's eyes were practically glued to the oil paper package. He'd never even known what rock candy tasted like. He'd only ever seen Da Hu eat it, and Da Hu looked so happy eating it. He guessed it must be something incredibly delicious.

Da Ni and Er Ni kept glancing at the oil paper package in Aunt Li's hand. Neither of them had ever eaten rock sugar before. Seeing her grandchildren looking like hungry cats, Aunt Li gave each of them a piece when they got home, and kept the rest for them to enjoy slowly.

The group carefully placed the rock sugar in their mouths, the sweet and cloying flavor instantly filling their taste buds.

The three of them were afraid of finishing the food too quickly, so they let it slowly melt in their mouths.