After buying most of the items on the list, Li Yue Shu pulled Shen Wei along and found a carpenter's shop.
She had heard that this was the best carpenter's shop in town and should be able to make what she wanted.
As soon as the two got out of the carriage, a shop assistant with a smiling face greeted them, "What would the two guests like to see? We have desks, wardrobes, and beds. I can show you around."
With the New Year approaching, many people planned to buy new furniture, and the assistant assumed they were among them.
Li Yue Shu observed the items displayed in the shop, noting that the master craftsman's skill seemed quite good.
She smiled faintly at the assistant and said, "I want to make something. I wonder if your master craftsman can take on the job?"
"Of course, of course," the assistant nodded repeatedly. "Our master craftsman is the best in town. Many people come to him specifically for custom orders!"
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu wasted no time and directly took out the drawing she had prepared, "I would like to trouble your master craftsman to take a look and see if this can be made?"
The assistant confidently took the drawing, but his expression turned puzzled upon seeing its contents, "What is this thing?"
He spread out the drawing. It depicted a complex chair, but this chair had no legs, only two wheels.
Even Shen Wei, who considered himself knowledgeable and well-read, had never seen such an item.
"This is called a wheelchair," Li Yue Shu explained. "A friend of mine injured his leg and can only stay in bed all day. I want to make a wheelchair so he can also get out and move around."
The assistant's eyes lit up, "Did Madam design this yourself?"
Li Yue Shu pursed her lips, not answering. "Can the master craftsman in your shop make it?"
The origin of the wheelchair was too complicated to explain.
The assistant, assuming she had designed it, quickly said, "I'll go ask the master craftsman right away."
With that, he hurried into the inner room.
Shen Wei looked thoughtfully at the person beside him and suddenly asked, "A Shu knows everything. I want to be as capable as A Shu!"
Li Yue Shu, unaware of the hidden meaning in his words, smiled and said, "If you want to learn, I'll teach you when I have time."
Shen Wei nodded repeatedly, his eyes sparkling.
But as soon as Li Yue Shu looked away, his eyes were filled with deep thought.
The secrets she held were becoming more and more numerous.
Soon, the assistant emerged from the inner room, followed by an old master craftsman covered in sawdust.
Before Li Yue Shu could even speak, the old master craftsman excitedly ran over, "Are you the madam who invented the wheelchair?"
Li Yue Shu said with some helplessness, "Can the master craftsman make this thing?"
"Yes!" the old master craftsman affirmed confidently. "Within ten days, I will definitely make it for Madam. It's just..."
The old master craftsman seemed embarrassed, as if unsure how to phrase his request.
Li Yue Shu smiled gently, "Master, please speak your mind."
The old master craftsman rubbed his nose, looking a bit sheepish. "Madam, would you be willing to sell us this drawing?"
Li Yue Shu blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly, "If the master craftsman finishes the wheelchair I want quickly, consider this drawing a gift."
The principle of a wheelchair was not difficult. For someone knowledgeable, it wouldn't take much effort to figure it out with dedicated research.
This item was meant to help more people with mobility issues, so she saw no need to keep it secret.
The old master craftsman's eyes lit up, his smile almost uncontrollable. "Madam, rest assured, I will make a wheelchair that satisfies you!"
Li Yue Shu discussed some details with the old master craftsman and then left with Shen Wei.
Shen Wei said nothing throughout the encounter, but his curiosity about her grew with each passing moment.
...
For the next few days, Li Yue Shu spent her time alternating between visiting the restaurant and preparing for the New Year.
Shen Wei always accompanied her. Besides helping carry things, he would proactively ask Li Yue Shu to buy items he liked.
He found himself unconsciously looking forward to the arrival of the New Year.
During these days, whenever Li Yue Shu came to the restaurant, Hong Dai would lean by the window on the second floor of Qing Feng Guan, watching her silently.
Li Yue Shu could sense that Hong Dai seemed to have something she wanted to say, but since Hong Dai hadn't brought it up, she didn't ask.
One day, Hong Dai seemed to have run out of patience. Seeing Li Yue Shu about to leave again, she hurried downstairs to stop her, "Madam Shen, where are you going?"
Li Yue Shu remained composed, smiling faintly, "The restaurant will be finished tomorrow. I plan to buy some things to celebrate with the workers."
Hong Dai raised an eyebrow, "Madam Shen is truly generous, handling everything so meticulously. How could you forget about me?"
As she spoke, she waved her handkerchief and pretended to wipe away tears with a mournful expression.
Li Yue Shu was a bit confused.
During the restaurant's renovation, she had indeed troubled Hong Dai to help warm up Qing Feng Guan, but what was the meaning of the heartbroken gaze she was receiving?
Seeing that she still didn't understand, Hong Dai felt a pang of frustration. "Madam Shen, after leaving the county yamen, have you not considered repaying those who helped you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yue Shu suddenly recalled something and asked, "What did you do?"
She had been puzzled before. The Prefect had come to Tong Mu County because of Elder Xu's letter, so why had he written to the Li Mansion earlier?
Now it seemed, it was most likely Hong Dai's doing.
Seeing that Li Yue Shu truly knew nothing, Hong Dai was a bit annoyed.
Noticing the many people around, she pulled Li Yue Shu into a corner and stated directly, "My company, Ming Yue Lou, doesn't charge a small fee. I helped you investigate the Prefect's leverage and even sent people to threaten him. You must show some appreciation, right?"
Li Yue Shu thought, "As expected," but her expression remained unchanged. "Then how do you want me to show my appreciation?"
Hong Dai's eyes lit up, "Ming Yue Lou is in the information business. Since I saved you using the Prefect's secret, why don't you exchange your secret for it?"
Li Yue Shu: "..."
Before, her attempts to pry information from her had been subtle. Now, she wasn't even bothering to hide it.
Ming Yue Lou was an intelligence agency. Hong Dai's efforts to extract information from her likely meant someone wanted to investigate her.
And Li Yue Shu couldn't fathom who would be wealthy enough to hire a clandestine organization to investigate her.
Could it be related to the man who had been following her and taught the Li Mansion people a lesson earlier?
She tugged at the corner of her mouth and looked at Hong Dai, "Why don't you tell me who wants my information, and then I'll consider whether to tell you my secret?"
Hong Dai was momentarily speechless.
She would have liked to agree, but she only knew that Chi Yun Lou was investigating. She had no idea who the client was.
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu assumed she was unwilling to disclose the information and didn't press further.
After all, it was an intelligence organization. To maintain its business long-term, it had to uphold its reputation, and secrecy was normal.
She shrugged, "My safe return from the county yamen wasn't solely due to your help."
Hong Dai was startled, clearly unaware of this. "Who else helped you?"
Li Yue Shu's lips curved slightly. "Ming Yue Lou is an intelligence organization. It should be easy to find out."
Hong Dai's eyebrows twitched. She found her words somewhat exasperating but also felt that this was exactly the kind of thing Li Yue Shu would say.
Li Yue Shu didn't dwell on the topic and instead asked, "What are your plans for the New Year?"