Finally reaching a corner of the street with a blacksmith shop on both sides, where several furnaces were burning coal, and the sound of hammering was deafening. They found a spot with tables and chairs. Only then did Cheng Mo start unloading the items from his body with a clatter. The two men at the table, who were enjoying boiled fish and drinking rice wine over a charcoal stove, abruptly looked up and sprang to their feet. The older one, wrapped in a padded jacket, revealing a sturdy physique, reached out to help Cheng Mo take off the items. He kept expressing thanks, "Oh my, sir, why did you come? And bringing so many things for us, this is really, really how can we bear it? Much appreciated, much appreciated."
"You, shut up. Is this for you? Stop with the much appreciated. This is bought by Miss Tong, I'm just helping carry it."
"Oh, I knew it. How could we let you come personally? Besides, these delicate things, my buddy and I don't have any use for them. Oh, is this Miss Bei that Master Yang mentioned, the one who invented this hot pot fish?" The middle-aged man, who called himself Buddy, casually picked up his coat from the bed and put it on. He also grabbed two ceramic cups from the small pot boiling on the stove, poured hot water, and added a few wild chrysanthemum flowers. He then brought them to Bei.
"I am Tong Xiangbei. Is the blacksmith a fan of spicy food like Master Yang?" Inwardly, Bei thought about Buddy's actions. This man appeared robust but had the most refined mannerisms. It was the first time in all these days that she had seen someone brewing chrysanthemum tea in such a way.
"Oh my, Miss Bei, it's more than just liking. It's the love of my life that I will never let go of. Come, come, come, I don't have anything good here, it's all smoked and fiery. I'm afraid it might be too hot for you. These wild chrysanthemums are the best for moistening the lungs. Take a few sips, and I'll add a couple of spoonfuls of honey for you." Buddy was extremely attentive, and amidst the roughness, there was an air of casual elegance.
"Don't show off your lousy tea. From the previous dynasty to our Yunmeng, have you ever seen anyone drink tea like this? There's no elegant name for your so-called tea. Xiao Bei, take a few sips to quench your thirst." Cheng Mo reached over and took a sip from the cup. "Let me introduce you. This is Yunmeng's master swordsmith, Li Chuan, the son of Li Chuan from the family of Xun. Ten years ago, he escaped here and begged me to take him in. Seeing that he still had some brute strength left, I let him play with two furnaces. It can be considered that Yunmeng's craftsmanship hasn't been lost. You can call him Buddy."
"Oh, Miss Bei, don't listen to him. This kid is crafty; be careful not to be fooled like me. I didn't escape; I came here to avoid debts. What do you mean by brute strength? He made me forge countless arrows and spears before I was forced to grow into this strong bear appearance. Think about it, I used to be a charming and handsome young gentleman who could captivate thousands of young girls."
Continuing the translation of the novel text:
"Perhaps not thousands of young girls, but I can guarantee that there was definitely one beautiful young woman." The young man next to them interjected at this point, interrupting the playful banter. He discreetly took the long sword from the corner of the table and prepared to make a quick escape.
"Cheng Elec, we were just looking for you. Where do you think you're escaping to?" Cheng Mo called out, stopping the young man who had crouched and slid towards the door.
"Yes, Master! Greetings, Master. Greetings, Miss. Please forgive my rudeness. I didn't interrupt because I wanted to escape upon seeing the master. It's just that Old Buddy was bragging again, and I was afraid of annoying Miss, so I interrupted him. But he's definitely going to beat me, so I thought I'd avoid it for now." After paying his respects, the young man stood tall to the side, using Cheng Mo's half-body as cover to evade Buddy. This young man, measuring close to six feet, had a baby face that would likely never age, exuding a clever and spirited aura from head to toe.