Chapter 2575: A Day at the Amusement Park
After the staff member whispered these words, the old man came out from the back room, holding a small terminal device in his hand. He placed the device on the table and said, "Take your pick!"
Xu Huo opened it and briefly scanned the catalog, somewhat surprised. "You've participated in the creation of super devices?"
"What's so strange about that?" the old man said disdainfully. "Aren't all devices made by people?"
"Now I'm starting to believe you're a true master," Xu Huo said.
The old man grumbled unhappily, "As if I need your belief?"
Xu Huo put the terminal device away. "Let me borrow this for two days. I'll decide after I've thought it over."
"You're a grown man, yet you dawdle over everything." Though the old man complained verbally, his hands moved without pause. "Take it, take it."
Just as Xu Huo and the others were about to leave, several players wearing Enforcement Team uniforms walked over. Without a word, they closed the shop door and placed a sealing device on each of its four sides.
"Well! Can't go through the front door again!" The old man shook his head and turned to head toward the back.
The staff member, wearing an expression of complete familiarity, took off their work badge and said to Xu Huo and the others, "You can leave through the back door."
Both of them knew the way well. The so-called back door was actually a passage through the neighboring shop—their shop didn't have a back door at all, only a small door connecting the two stores.
"Oh, Old Xi, sealed up again?" The owner of the neighboring shop, also an elderly man, seemed to be on good terms with him and could still tease him. "I told you not to go to that exhibition. You knew those people weren't good. Scolding them a few times won't vent your anger, and instead they'll find someone to seal your shop. You'll lose several days of business! Was it worth it?"
"I do what I want!" the old man said proudly, slamming the door as he left.
The old man behind him laughed and cursed, "If you've got the guts, slam your own door!"
Though the old man claimed not to care, his demeanor weakened as he walked out of that street. He told Xu Huo and the others to go about their business and gave the staff member a few days off, suggesting they find another job.
The staff member was quick to respond. "Fine. Once I find one, I'll quit. But you'll have to pay me the wages you owe."
The old man nodded, put his hands behind his back, and walked away slowly.
The staff member was a young man in his early twenties. Watching the old man's retreating figure, he let out a disappointed sigh.
You Xin couldn't help but ask, "Master Xi was so famous before. People wanting to apprentice under him were lined up all the way to the suburbs. Why is it like this now? Is he being targeted? As such a skilled artificer, logically, many people should be trying to curry favor with him."
The staff member shook his head helplessly. "You've seen his bad temper. When I'm working, I don't even dare to say he's the boss, afraid customers will turn and leave on the spot... But he's a truly good person. Enough said. Since it's still early, I need to find a temporary job."
Watching the man hurry away, You Xin said incredulously, "I thought we were the only ones who were poor. I didn't expect Master Xi, with such a big shop, to be just as poor. Any one of those items he sells would be enough to live on for a lifetime!"
"Doesn't your 001 District have an Artificer Association?" Xu Huo said. "Many lesser-known artificers get their orders through the association. The old man seems to be at odds with other artificers, so he probably can't get orders either."
Without orders from the association, even a famous artificer could do business on their own, but the old man would even grab hold of customers from other districts and scold them relentlessly—how could his business possibly thrive?
"Why is that?" You Xin couldn't understand. "If I had that skill, I'd be rich by now."
"Maybe he doesn't want to," You Zhi said. "I think Master Xi doesn't care much about doing business. Opening a shop is probably just to pass the time."
Regardless of what grudges Master Xi had with other artificers, since it was still early, the two sisters recommended several fun places. Xu Huo covered their expenses, and they could see that the Painting Woman was the one who truly loved to have fun. So, repaying the favor, they took care of her along the way, catering to her preferences as much as possible to make sure she had a good time.
There were too many attractions in the amusement park, so Xu Huo didn't follow them to every one. He went to a nearby shop, bought some local snacks, and sat outside to wait.
"Dudu!" A staff member in a cartoon costume flew overhead, drawing a chorus of "wows" as they landed steadily from a height of over ten meters. The performer blew kisses at the watching crowd, then directed everyone's attention to the parade team approaching from behind.
Colorful ribbons flew out, scattering across the sky. Before these colored papers could touch the ground, they transformed into brilliant bubbles that rose again, making the entire parade team appear dreamlike and surreal.
Xu Huo caught a piece of falling paper and flipped it over. On it was written that the parade team would hold a free city-wide procession in their captain's hometown five days later. Besides watching the performance, attendees could also receive random gifts. Visitors were welcome to join.
The You sisters and the Painting Woman had already come out of the attraction and were now following the parade team to this spot. The Painting Woman waved at Xu Huo from a distance, holding up an oversized "candied hawthorn"—well, that candied hawthorn was made from a fruit that looked like an eyeball. Squeezing it lightly would release juice, and the juice was red, making it look quite grotesque.
However, the park was full of such bizarre things, and the children were unfazed. Even if a very young child saw something like this for the first time, they would soon be encouraged by their parents to try it. Though these things looked ugly, they were indeed delicious, quickly conquering human taste buds and making people gradually forget their appearance.
Xu Huo picked up two beans that gave off a strange odor and looked like insects, popping them into his mouth. With a crisp crunch, a rich fragrance spread out.
Not bad at all.
"Uncle, are these beans tasty?" A child approached, eyeing them greedily.
"Want to try one?" Xu Huo held out the bag, but the child shook their head. "I have parents. My parents have money. They'll buy them for me. I want to ask you—will it bite my tongue?"
Xu Huo smiled. "Try one."
The child, very reserved, offered to trade snacks with him, exchanging one of their lollipops for a bean. After mentally preparing themselves, they ate it, then ran off shouting, "Mommy!"
Xu Huo followed the parade team and met up with the Painting Woman and the others. The items in his hands naturally changed hands.
"...Our ancestors had the tradition of slaying evil spirits, so many places have patterns and statues of demons. After evolution, some plants grew eyes, evolving along with these things, so their fruits also turned out bizarre. Eyeballs and bugs are child's play. There are shapes like tongues and hearts. Some trees, when they bloom and bear fruit, look like they're covered in fingernails—it doesn't seem of this world."