Chapter 23: Seeking a Craftsman in Azure Cloud City

Zhu Fu was startled by Chu Chen’s move and quickly picked up the dagger. Seeing the blade’s gleaming, razor-sharp edge, he exclaimed, "This is a divine weapon! Is Master Chu planning to sell it?"

"Just look at it. Where I come from, these are a dime a dozen. You really haven't seen much, have you?" Chu Chen looked at Zhu Fu with a meaningful expression and added, "As for selling it, let's forget it for today. This is the only one I brought, and I’m worried about people eyeing my silver. We’ll talk about it if there’s another opportunity."

Zhu Fu, however, ignored the underlying warning—as if a trade guild would ever stoop to such tactics—and instead became deeply intrigued by where Chu Chen lived. He hurriedly asked, "To be able to produce such divine artifacts and glassware so casually, may I ask where you are from, Master Chu?"

"Me? Just from the countryside. Quit stalling and pay up," Chu Chen replied impatiently.

Seeing Chu Chen’s attitude, Manager Zhu didn't press further, but his interest in this "countryside" intensified. He thought to himself, *That place must surely be where immortals reside.*

An incense stick’s time later, amidst Zhu Fu’s enthusiastic farewells, Chu Chen walked out of the pawnshop clutching a stack of banknotes and a metal token. He examined the token closely. According to Zhu Fu, as long as he was within the Great Xia Dynasty, this token would grant him VIP treatment at any shop bearing the "Jin Sheng" name. It seemed the ancients already had the concept of membership. He tucked the token into the pocket of his down jacket and headed toward the inn.

At the inn, Luo Yi and Xiao Fang had already finished breakfast and were waiting quietly for Chu Chen, even thoughtfully ordering a meal for him: a few steamed meat buns and a bowl of millet porridge. Looking at the steaming food, Chu Chen thought, *Now this is what I call the real way to experience a brothel. Everyone else goes through the trouble, but I just buy the place—it doesn't get better than this.*

After breakfast, Chu Chen pulled out a thousand-tael banknote and handed it to Luo Yi. "You two go buy some furniture and get settled into the house. You should also buy a few maids. I have to go out and will be leaving today."

Hearing this, Luo Yi’s eyes dimmed. Did this man buy her just for one night of warmth? Although he bought her a house and gave her money, after these few days together, she wanted something more. Who doesn't yearn for love? Who wants to be a mere vase?

*Sigh,* she thought, *it is my fate to have come from a brothel.* To be redeemed by the young and promising Chu Chen in her prime was already far better than being sold to some old man as an unwanted concubine.

Looking at the banknote, Luo Yi said, "There is no need, husband. I have saved some silver over the years, which is enough. I would be content if you could just visit us sisters every now and then."

*Huh?* Chu Chen thought. *People who don't want money in this day and age? Strange. Could it be that I'm just too handsome?* He didn't believe that she could fall in love with him in just two days; they hadn't even talked enough. He put the banknote away, said nothing more, and dropped the two women off at the house before heading to Tao the Fatty’s cloth shop.

Outside the shop, Huzi sat on the mule cart, looking down the street like a worried wife. "Why isn't Chu here yet? I hope nothing happened."

"Young man, why don't you come inside and sit for a while? Brother Chu said he would come, so he definitely will," Tao the Fatty called out from inside. He found the young man strange—he had been waiting for a full hour but refused to step into the shop. In reality, Huzi wasn't avoiding it because he wanted to; he was just worried his coarse clothes would embarrass Chu Chen.

"Hey, Brother Huzi, sorry to keep you waiting!" Chu Chen’s voice rang out from afar.

"Chu! You finally showed up. I thought something had happened to you," Huzi said, jumping off the cart the moment he saw him.

"Brother Chu, your driver is truly diligent. He’s been waiting for two hours and refused to come in for a rest," Tao the Fatty said as he walked out.

"Haha, Manager Tao, this isn't just a driver. This is my cousin, Huzi," Chu Chen introduced.

"Ah, so it is Brother Huzi! Come, come, step inside," Tao invited again. Huzi looked at his own clothes and hesitated. Chu Chen finally realized the problem: he was shy.

"Manager Tao, pick out a few sets of clothes for my cousin. Look at him, he’s too embarrassed to enter your shop."

Realizing the man felt self-conscious about his shabby appearance, Tao the Fatty laughed and pulled the blushing Huzi inside. Half an hour later, Chu Chen looked at the tall Huzi.

"Tsk tsk, clothes really do make the man. Look at that aura—it’s completely different now!"

Huzi, however, was acting like a shy bride, fidgeting uncomfortably. He had never worn fine silk or satin in his life and felt entirely out of place; it wasn't nearly as comfortable as his old coarse linen clothes. He asked Tao the Fatty, "Manager, how much for these clothes?"

"Little brother, it's just a few sets of clothes. No charge," Tao said generously. *Joke,* he thought, *why would I take money from the cousin of a miracle doctor?*

Chu Chen handed over a ten-tael silver ingot. "Manager Tao, business is business. Take it."

He pulled Huzi away. Tao the Fatty watched them leave with a sigh. *It seems a miracle doctor is a miracle doctor; not so easy to get close to.*

"Chu, did you just give him ten taels of silver?" Huzi asked as he drove the cart. He felt even more uncomfortable in these clothes now.

"It’s fine, Brother Huzi. It’s just clothes. Don't worry about it, just focus on driving."

"Where to?"

"To find a craftsman to build a house back in the village. Let's go spend some money!" Chu Chen waved his hand, and Huzi drove the cart toward the outskirts of the city.

He knew of a master craftsman outside the city who was highly skilled; it was said he built houses for everyone, even the Prefectural Mansion of Qingyun City. Huzi hadn't been idle these past few days; following Chu Chen's instructions, he had scoured all of Qingyun City to find the best builder. While he wasn't perfectly familiar with the city, he knew the general direction well.

In less than half an hour, they arrived in front of a sturdy brick-and-tile house. Chu Chen took a large piece of mutton and a bag of rice, handed them to Huzi, and followed his lead toward the house.

On the way, Huzi had already told Chu Chen everything he had learned. The man’s name was Chang Wei, and his family had been masons for generations. It was said that no one in Qingyun City could match his skill, which gave him a very high status; ordinary people couldn't easily hire him.

"May I ask if Master Chang is home?" Chu Chen asked, knocking on the door.