"Home doesn't lack this bit of food." Deng Guang shook his head. "Now we're a team, it's not good to eat alone. Besides, this matter was brought together by Brother Qin. On the first day, everyone sat for so long without getting anything, and I'm the only one bringing back some fish - how is that appropriate?"
Xiao Meixue was helpless, unwilling to argue with Deng Guang about such matters. "Fine then, you're the head of the household anyway, just decide for yourself."
Hearing this, Deng Guang stood up, walked to his wife, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, pressed close to her ear and whispered softly: "You're the real head of the household. Next time I'll discuss it with you first."
Xiao Meixue gave a light hum. "That's more like it."
Deng Wen, sitting on the sofa, let out a deep sigh. This public display of affection was really too much.
......
"You have successfully survived safely in the wilderness for the sixteenth day. Today you traded some fine salt, made an animal trap, rented fishing equipment and gained some fish... Comprehensive score: 20 points"
"You received rewards: [Building Card] Level 1 Waterwheel, [Building Card] Level 1 Tavern"
After waking up in the morning, he routinely checked the daily settlement.
Two new building cards - one waterwheel, one tavern.
The waterwheel couldn't be used for now, so like the stable, it would be temporarily shelved.
But this tavern was a place for drinking, right? That seemed too extravagant - where would they get grain to brew alcohol now?
Based on his years of gaming experience, taverns seemed to be places for recruiting heroes.
Qin Ziwen's expression shifted slightly.
He took out the Level 1 Tavern card.
It required a 6*7 meter area to use - this was quite a large space requirement.
Only the mining area behind the guest bedroom could accommodate such a large area.
But placing it in the mining area didn't feel quite appropriate.
If only it could be moved, then he could better plan the positions of these buildings and resource points.
He went to the balcony and chose to use the Blank Expansion Card on the balcony area.
White light enveloped the area, and when the light faded.
A large blank area extended outside the balcony. He was surprised to discover that the area outside the balcony and the "mining area" outside the guest bedroom had actually connected together.
The spaces on both sides merged into one, with the extended space stretching outwards to both sides. The full thirty-meter width had long exceeded his home's original range.
He walked out, going to the right until he reached the end, then looked back. Behind him was a gray, hazy area - it seemed each home's extended space was independent.
He chose to use the Tavern card.
On the empty ground to the right front, light enveloped a large area.
When the light faded, a small tavern with strong rustic style appeared in place.
Externally, it looked like an ordinary folk house that had been renovated - earthen walls, thatched roof, with a blue cloth wine banner hanging at the entrance. Two banners came together, forming the character for "wine" in the middle. Under the eaves extended a long pole with a paper lantern hanging from it.
Inside the shop were four low tables, each with a low stool. There were window openings on all four walls, with a large window to the right of the main door that provided excellent lighting.
To the left after entering was the counter, with a cabinet standing behind it.
On the counter stood four large jars of wine.
Following the counter further in, at the end was a small door blocked by a white curtain.
Going through the small door, behind it was a kitchen of about seven or eight square meters. A stack of firewood was piled in the corner, the floor was compacted yellow earth, the earthen stove was neatly arranged with a large iron pot on it, and a kitchen knife stood on the cutting board nearby.
On the stove were also two long-spouted iron kettles, probably for brewing tea or warming wine.
There were rather few items.
And not a single person - no shopkeeper, not even a waiter.
Could this tavern really just be a place for eating?
"Is the shopkeeper here?"
A voice suddenly came from outside.
Qin Ziwen instinctively became alert, because the voice was unfamiliar and didn't belong to anyone in his home.
"Excuse me, is there a shopkeeper here?"
The man's voice outside was very gentle.
Qin Ziwen lifted the curtain and walked into the tavern, where he saw a man dressed in ancient clothing standing behind the tavern's door curtain. He wore a light gray scholar's robe, a headscarf hat, and carried a bamboo book case on his back, observing the shop's decorations.
He looked very much like the scholars going to the capital for examinations in TV dramas.
After seeing Qin Ziwen's attire, a flash of surprise appeared in the scholar's eyes. He clasped his hands in salute and slightly bowed his head.
"Shopkeeper, do you have any cooked food here? I've been traveling all night and am somewhat hungry." The scholar patted his stomach, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Cooked food... wait a moment, do you drink alcohol?" Qin Ziwen quickly got into character. This tavern was his, and somehow a scholar had come from somewhere asking for food.
Could this be the recruitment condition? Qin Ziwen felt he understood.
"This humble scholar does not drink alcohol." The scholar repeatedly waved his hands.
Qin Ziwen repeatedly instructed him, "Alright, I'll go get you some food. Wait right here, don't leave."
After leaving the tavern, he went straight to the box in the living room to find some small bread.
An ancient person, try some modern technology and intense flavors!
He tore open the packaging, then used a knife to cut the bread in half, placing four pieces on a plate arranged in an exquisite presentation.
"Bread is here~"
Lifting the curtain, he saw the scholar had already placed his book case on the ground and was sitting properly on the low stool.
Looking at the bread placed before him, the scholar made a sound of surprise. "Shopkeeper, what is this?"
"Daliyuan small bread."
The scholar took out a pair of bamboo chopsticks from his book case, carefully picked up the bread, first smelled it in front of his nose. His eyes lit up when he smelled the fragrance, and he took a small bite.
As he slowly chewed, the scholar couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. "Shopkeeper, this Daliyuan is truly exceptional. I've never eaten such delicious sweets before."
Qin Ziwen also sat down, supporting himself with one hand on the low table and leaning forward. "Then are you willing to stay? You could have delicious food every day from now on."
The scholar paused while picking up bread, looking up at Qin Ziwen in alarm.
"Wh-what sound! Sh-shopkeeper, what do you mean by this?"
Seeing the scholar's panicked expression, Qin Ziwen immediately knew he had said the wrong thing. Was the favorability not high enough?
He was very puzzled - wasn't this tavern supposed to be a place for recruiting talent?
It couldn't possibly be for letting these people come to his home to scam food and drinks!
Wait, since people could appear, that meant there must be some purpose for them. These were ancient people, so perhaps he needed to use ancient methods.
After pondering for a moment, Qin Ziwen clasped his hands in salute. "May I ask which dynasty we are in now, and what year it is?"
The scholar put down his chopsticks, one hand quietly moving to his book case. "The seventh year of Great Yong's Heshun era."
Great Yong? I've never heard of that!
Qin Ziwen was stunned.
While he was stunned, the scholar grabbed his book case and sprinted rapidly toward the shop entrance.
His movements were so agile, completely unlike his delicate appearance.
Qin Ziwen hurriedly intercepted, grabbing the scholar's book case.
The scholar struggled with him for a moment, realizing his strength was inferior to Qin Ziwen's. Worrying that Qin Ziwen might have accomplices coming, he directly let go and charged headfirst toward the door curtain.
Qin Ziwen chased after the scholar's retreating figure. Outside the curtain was the empty expanded area - the scholar had already disappeared without a trace.
"Damn! You didn't pay! You ate for free!"
Qin Ziwen returned to the tavern feeling frustrated, discovering that the book case he had grabbed from the scholar was still on the ground and hadn't disappeared along with the scholar.
"Hiss... so items grabbed can be kept. Could it be that this tavern wants me to run a shady establishment?"
......