The morning sunlight pierced through the mist, filling the streets with a golden glow. Su Qianqian cheerfully wandered around the inn, energized by the plans she made the night before. As she surveyed the place, she noted the areas that needed repair: broken eaves, faded walls, and the crooked decorations in the yard. "Though it's a shabby place, a little fix-up will make it stand out!" she muttered as she wrote down a long shopping list.
Next, she headed to the city's labor market, known as "Labor Workshop," where poor folk came to sell their labor. From a distance, she could see people hustling, yet it was divided—those who looked presentable were quickly hired, while those in tattered clothes huddled in the corners, ignored by passersby.
A thin woman caught her attention. She appeared around thirty, clutching a wooden box to her chest. Her clothes were faded and worn, and the cuffs were patched. She quietly offered to those who passed, "I can embroider, it's really delicate work, just take a look…" Most ignored her, and her voice grew quieter, yet she held on to the box as if clinging to the last shred of hope.
"Miss, what's in the wooden box?" Su Qianqian asked as she approached.
The woman hesitated, then slowly opened the box. Inside were intricate embroideries of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums. The stitching was fine and lifelike, almost as if you could smell the fragrance.
"Such craftsmanship!" Su Qianqian exclaimed. "Why isn't anyone hiring you?"
The woman gave a bitter laugh. "Who would trust a woman in tattered clothes to make good things? Besides, I can't even pay the agency fee…"
Su Qianqian nodded thoughtfully, then asked with a bright tone, "Can you also sew clothes?"
The woman's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "I can make tailored clothes, add embroidery and embellishments, I can do all of it!"
"Great, then come with me," Su Qianqian gestured. "I'm in need of someone skilled with embroidery. I'll provide food and lodging, and you'll have the chance to showcase your talents. What do you say?"
The woman stood still, her eyes welling up. "You're really willing to hire me?"
"Of course," Su Qianqian smiled. "By the way, what's your name?"
"My name is Liu Xinyao," the woman bowed slightly. "I will forever remember this kindness."
Back at the inn, Su Qianqian arranged a place for Liu Xinyao to stay and began to inquire about her past.
Liu Xinyao sighed deeply and began speaking softly, "When I was young, my family was wealthy. My father was a craftsman in the imperial embroidery workshop, and I learned a lot from him. But later, our family fell on hard times, and both my parents passed away. I had to wander and rely on embroidery to survive. No matter how skilled I was, fate was never on my side…"
Su Qianqian's heart tightened upon hearing this, but she kept her tone light. "Sister Liu, the hardships of the past are just stepping stones for us. From now on, your embroidery won't just be a way to make a living, but the key to our success!"
Liu Xinyao was stunned for a moment, then a spark of light appeared in her eyes as she nodded earnestly.
Together, they returned to the inn. Liu Xinyao was accompanied by a group of strong laborers who were tasked with the repairs. Although these workers were skilled, they struggled with Su Qianqian's "outlandish" design requests, especially the parts for the secret rooms and hidden passages. Su Qianqian sighed, "Forget it, let's just get the stairs, rooms, and yard done first!"
The workers got to work energetically, while Liu Xinyao, without waiting for an assignment, took it upon herself to cook for the laborers. Within no time, steaming buns, stews, and hot soup were on the table, and the delicious smells quieted the entire yard.
Su Qianqian grabbed a bun, sat at a small table in the corner, and took a few bites, before losing herself in sketches on paper. She was planning out her "perfect inn"—not only would the guest rooms be comfortable, but it would also have secret passages for hiding valuables and self-defense. She also planned to move her bedroom to the most secluded part of the second floor, ensuring peace and safety, with extra attention to comfort.
"Mm… the carpenter can make the bed frames, and Sister Liu can find some soft fabric. I'll make a lazy sofa myself!" Su Qianqian muttered to herself, even sketching out a detailed blueprint.
Liu Xinyao walked over with a bowl of soup, peered over her shoulder, and asked, "Miss, what's this? It looks like… a lounge chair?"
"This is a lazy sofa!" Su Qianqian waved the blueprint with pride. "Don't worry about the name, once we make it, I guarantee you'll never want to get up!"
Liu Xinyao was puzzled but smiled and nodded, heading off to find the fabric.
Over the course of a month, the inn underwent a complete transformation. The stairs were repaired, the yard cleared of weeds, and the furniture was freshened up. Liu Xinyao personally crafted curtains and tablecloths, adding a cozy touch to the inn. Su Qianqian's "lazy sofa" was finally finished, and she lay on it to "work," making Liu Xinyao laugh and shake her head, "Miss, this place might make you too lazy to get up!"
Although the secret rooms and mechanisms still weren't finished, the basic infrastructure was complete, and the inn was shaping up. Su Qianqian looked at the renovated inn and nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad, it at least looks presentable now. Next, it's time for this place to shine!"
The main hall was spacious and bright, and Liu Xinyao's ingenuity was visible everywhere. She had the carpenter carve out slots in the walls to display exquisite embroideries and designed wooden screens to partition a small area. The result was a blend of ancient style with a touch of elegance.
"This is truly original," Su Qianqian sat on the specially designed lazy sofa, sighing, "This place won't just be somewhere people stay, it'll be a must-visit spot!"
Liu Xinyao smiled and shook her head. "Miss, you're exaggerating. These are just ordinary skills from craftsmen."
"Don't be modest," Su Qianqian grinned. "From now on, our inn's reputation won't just be about the name—guests will be sure to say, 'Shallow Cloud Inn, unique and comfortable, a feast for the eyes and soul!'"
Liu Xinyao chuckled, then reminded the workers in the yard, "Make sure the screens are aligned, hang the curtains in the guest rooms properly, and water the flowers in the yard so it looks inviting when guests arrive."
On the other side, the workers' efforts were evident: the guest rooms now had soft, clean bedding, the stairs were sturdy, the tables and chairs in the hall were freshly painted, and the yard was filled with seasonal flowers. The air was fresh, and everything felt invigorating.
Only the mechanisms for the secret rooms remained a concern for Su Qianqian. She'd tried several times to explain to the workers, but they couldn't get it right—either the system jammed or the hiding spaces weren't secure.
She waved her hand and said, "Forget it, let's put the secret rooms aside for now. The grand opening is our main focus!"