Chapter 18: The Handicraft Shop

It has to be said, Su Ning’s words in public were full of authority, but back home she still felt a faint sense of worry.

“Duoduo, do you think I was too sharp today?”

“A little, yes. Even if wealth isn’t flaunted, in a situation like today, if you hadn’t shown some fierceness, people might think we’re easy targets. Two girls, renting a place, coming in and out of the restaurant—it’s basically like walking lambs ready for the slaughter.”

Qiao Duoduo couldn’t help silently praising Su Ning all the way home. People should show a bit of their claws, especially in a game where no one knows how long they’ll survive.

Take life lightly, and if you’re not satisfied, fight.

Not to mention, the rooftop was a great place to chat. After talking, they returned home separately.

Thinking of the staff she had seen in the shop—simple yet elegant—Su Ning knew her mother would love it. So she spent 1 silver coin to buy a wood carving toolkit.

She grabbed a wooden stick and began to carve carefully.

It was late at night again.

“Beep, congratulations, player! Crafting successful. Item detected: Weapon: Staff. Assigning attributes.”

“Beep, weapon attributes assigned. Please name the weapon.”

“Expensive indeed.” A 1-silver coin carving toolkit—expensive indeed.

“Beep, naming successful:
Weapon: Expensive Indeed
Quality: Green
Required Level: 5
Attributes: Intelligence +5, Constitution +2
Crafted by: Su Ning”

“Expensive Indeed” was perfect for her mother. Su Ning thought happily that her parents would soon reach level 5, leave the newbie village, continue leveling up, and they would meet again. Just the thought brought joy.

The next morning, the sky was dim, the weather slightly cool, with sparse raindrops occasionally accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Su Ning had to buy a transparent plastic umbrella from the shop, picking the cheapest one at 5 copper coins.

She knocked on Qiao Duoduo’s door.

“It’s raining, so not convenient for monster hunting. I need to pick up equipment from the weapons shop. Do you want to buy anything?”

Qiao Duoduo, still sleepy, thought for a moment.

“I’m not buying anything. I plan to practice cooking a bit, then pick up Huoyang in the evening. After that, we’ll go out for dinner to celebrate.”

“Okay, I’m off then!”

The street wasn’t far. Su Ning walked briskly under her umbrella toward the blacksmith shop. Upon entering, she immediately heard the burly blacksmith’s enthusiastic greeting.

“Miss, coming so early to pick up your sword!”

“Yes! Is it ready?”

“It is! Look, I hammered it carefully all night. Examine the blade—sharp as a razor.” He even picked up a stone. “Watch closely; I’ll show you it can cut iron like mud.”

Su Ning found the man’s enthusiasm amusing. She couldn’t tell if the sword was truly sharp, but its stats were excellent.

Green-quality Refined Longsword
Details: Carefully designed by blacksmith Li Dazhu. Strength +4, Agility +2.

“Miss, this sword has six attribute points. If it weren’t custom-made, I wouldn’t even sell it to you.”

Sure enough, he cut the stone perfectly—sharp indeed.

“Boss, no need for a demo. I can see this sword is excellent. My dad will definitely treasure it.”

The blacksmith’s joy deepened. Every piece he made was like his child; he genuinely hoped each creation would be cherished.

With the day’s only outdoor tasks done, the next was to wait for Huoyang to go out for dinner together.

All items and weapons were sent to her mother, who was very pleased—though she suggested that next time Su Ning give the weapon a meaningful and lucky name. Su Ning smiled and seriously told her mother: the newbie village is irreversible. It’s better for family to complete promotions in batches, not leave elders and children for last.

Also, street rent is expensive—save more silver before venturing out.

Her mother nodded cautiously and ended the video call.

With some free time, Su Ning opened the online trading system—a free market for players, almost like a real-life Taobao. One wonders what Jack Ma would think.

Most trades were for food restoring health or mana, occasionally for potions, and very rarely equipment. After browsing a while, Su Ning found just one item—a ring +2 agility for 1 silver coin.

The comment section had no insults, just envy, food offers, and observers.

No wonder street shops charged so much—so many “fat lambs” existed!

Su Ning decisively clicked “become a seller.”

“Beep, system alert: player can transfer unused items or open a shop.”

“Xianyu” and “Taobao shop”—for the first time, Su Ning thought the system understood young people’s daily life.

Clicked “open shop.”

“Beep, player must pay 5 silver coin deposit to open shop.”

“…”

At this point, Su Ning didn’t even have 5 silver coins; after buying the sword, she had only 4 silver 35 copper coins.

She sighed and knocked on Qiao Duoduo’s door again.

“Lend me 2 silver coins.”

“Here, disappear.”

Su Ning happily paid the deposit and continued her shop venture. Qiao Duoduo returned to her dreams. After all, what modern “lazy” young person would stay awake on a rainy weekend morning?

“Beep, please name your shop.”

“Su Ning’s Easy Buy”—the first name she thought of, quickly rejected. As a moral young person, such copyright infringement was unacceptable.

“Grocery Shop”—not flashy.
“Handicraft Grocery Shop”—too dull.
“Handicraft Easy Buy”—a ridiculous combination.

“Handicraft Shop.”

Fine, let it be. Why make naming difficult for oneself?

“Beep, congratulations! Shop successfully opened. Wishing the player abundant wealth.”

“List items.”

“Beep, system alert: rent warehouse for unsold items?”

“Rent,” let’s see the price.

“Beep, pay 1 silver coin/month for shop warehouse.”

Fortunately, she borrowed 2 silver coins.

“Beep, payment successful.”

Su Ning looked at her lonely 40 copper coins in her backpack, feeling bleak.

Just yesterday, she had argued fiercely, complaining about poor NPC teams unworthy of her wealth and status.

Today, karma struck fast—only 40 copper coins left, and 2 silver in debt.

Luckily, the game’s online shop had no restrictions on item type, business license, or listing quantity.

Following the principle of rarity, Su Ning only listed one exquisite headband for 3 silver coins. The rest stayed in storage until she assessed the market.

After all, it was an agility +5 headband; 3 silver coins was reasonable. Su Ning reassured herself: she wasn’t inflating prices maliciously—absolutely not.

If Qiao Duoduo knew, she would likely ask: “Su Ning, do you misunderstand your own character? You’re not inflating prices maliciously—you’re just hoarding gold and won’t let go!”

For now, after half-heartedly comforting herself, Su Ning continued her handicraft work—making a long-sleeve sweatshirt.