Chapter 24: The Shop Beside the Road

Over the next six days, Qiao Ren’s shop took shape beside the road.

Lin Yuan saw most of the construction through the kitchen window.

Stone formed the foundation. Wooden beams rose above it, followed by walls and a tiled roof.

Qiao Ren spent nearly every day at the site.

He didn’t ask Lin Yuan for help, and Lin Yuan didn’t interfere.

By the sixth afternoon, the workers were packing away their tools.

The finished building was much smaller than Wandering Cloud Tavern. It had a single floor, a storefront facing the road, and a storage room at the back.

A wooden sign hung above the entrance.

Qiao’s General Goods

Lin Yuan stood outside the tavern and read it.

Qiao Ren noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’ve been staring at the sign."

"I’m reading it."

"And?"

"It’s accurate."

Qiao Ren waited.

"That’s all?"

"What else should it be?"

"I spent half a day choosing the name."

Lin Yuan looked at the sign again.

"Why?"

Qiao Ren stared at him before turning back toward his shop.

Lin Yuan went inside.

Qiao’s General Goods opened the following morning.

There was no ceremony.

Qiao Ren opened the wooden shutters, arranged several goods near the front, and waited.

His first customer appeared before breakfast ended.

A cultivator staying at the tavern stepped outside carrying a water jug. He noticed the open shop and changed direction.

A few minutes later, he returned with a small paper packet.

Lin Yuan saw him enter.

"What did you buy?"

"Wound medicine."

"Needed it?"

"No."

The cultivator put the packet into his storage bag.

"But I’m heading west."

That seemed reason enough.

By noon, more travelers had visited the shop.

Most bought only one or two things—medicine, a talisman, supplies for their spirit beasts—but they were things travelers might need before returning to the road.

A cultivator finished his meal and approached Su Mei.

"Do you know where I can buy a basic healing pill?"

Su Mei pointed through the window.

"Next door."

The cultivator thanked her and left.

Lin Yuan paused in the kitchen.

Next door.

There hadn’t been a next door before.

That afternoon, Qiao Ren entered the tavern carrying a small cloth pouch.

Lin Yuan was sitting near the counter with a cup of water.

Qiao Ren placed the pouch in front of him.

"First month’s rent."

Lin Yuan opened it, checked the spirit stones, and put it away.

Qiao Ren sat across from him.

"No discount for your first tenant?"

"No."

"I thought being first might have benefits."

"You got the plot you wanted."

"I paid for it."

Lin Yuan lifted his cup.

"Exactly."

Qiao Ren shook his head.

"You’re difficult to bargain with."

"You still rented it."

"Because the location is good."

"Then you chose well."

Qiao Ren had no answer to that.

A customer entered his shop across the road.

He noticed immediately and stood.

"Business."

Lin Yuan watched him leave.

Qiao Ren crossed the short stretch of ground between the buildings and disappeared inside his shop.

A few moments later, another traveler entered after him.

Lin Yuan finished his water.

Over the next few days, travelers grew accustomed to the second building beside the road.

One afternoon, three wagons were parked outside.

Two belonged to customers eating inside Wandering Cloud Tavern.

The third stopped in front of Qiao’s shop.

Its driver climbed down and entered.

Lin Yuan happened to be near the front of the tavern when he saw it.

The merchant remained inside the shop for some time before emerging with several packages.

Instead of returning to his wagon, he looked across the road.

His gaze settled on Wandering Cloud Tavern.

A minute later, he entered.

Lin Yuan looked up.

"Food?"

The merchant nodded.

"And a room if you have one."

"We do."

"Good."

The man chose a table.

Su Mei approached to take his order.

Lin Yuan glanced through the window.

Qiao Ren was standing behind his counter, speaking with another customer.

Lin Yuan returned to the kitchen.

That evening, business slowed earlier than usual.

Lin Yuan ate after the last dinner rush and stepped outside.

The heat of the day had faded.

Several spirit beasts rested beneath the stable roof. A wagon stood near the courtyard, its owner staying upstairs for the night.

Across the road, Qiao’s shop was still open.

Warm light spilled through the doorway.

Two cultivators stood inside examining goods on the counter while Qiao Ren spoke to them.

Lin Yuan remained near the tavern entrance.

Another wagon appeared farther down the road.

It slowed.

The driver looked toward Wandering Cloud Tavern.

Then toward Qiao’s General Goods.

He spoke briefly with the cultivator sitting beside him.

The wagon turned from the road and approached.

Lin Yuan watched it come closer.

For years, this road had crossed empty wasteland.

Now, after sunset, there were two places with lights on.