Song Miaozhu quickly thanked the clerk.
Though she had little ambition for the paper shop's business in the world of the living—it mainly served as a front for sourcing materials for the ghost shop, while also selling lower-tier items and practice pieces that weren't valuable enough for the underworld market—having good business never hurt.
After all, a money-grubber never thinks she has enough.
With her business license finally approved, her little store—Anshou Hall Paper Shop and Convenience Corner—could soon open its doors.
All she was missing was a signboard.
Since she had time, she sent a message to Zhao's Woodcarving Workshop.
[Miaozhu]: Is Master Zhao at the shop today? I'd like to commission something.
[Zhao Mumu]: Yes, he's in.
[Miaozhu]: I'm heading over now!
Zhao's workshop was in the same direction as her paper store, so Miaozhu made a quick stop at the ghost shop first, dropping off the goods she planned to sell tonight. Then she cut through the alley beside the paper shop and continued forward.
She walked all the way to the asphalt road at the edge of town.
Across the street, at the foot of the hill, was the old quarry.
The once-abandoned quarry now had a stone carving workshop at its base, and beside that stood Zhao's Woodworking Studio. Like the rest of the town, it was built in the style of traditional architecture—though this one was newly constructed. According to what the clerk earlier had mentioned, both workshops had become part of the town's efforts to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage.
[Miaozhu]: I'm here.
Soon, a young woman came striding out of the studio, apron tied around her waist, sleeves covered with protective cuffs. "Hello! Are you Miaozhu?"
She must be Zhao Mumu, Master Zhao's apprentice. Aunt Chen had said she was originally from the city and had been here for a few years now.
"That's me." Song Miaozhu stepped forward with a polite smile. "I'd like to commission a store sign."
"No problem! Let me take you to my master. He's in the backyard."
As they entered the workshop's front hall, Song Miaozhu's gaze landed on the display shelves.
Zhao Mumu slowed her steps. "All the carvings here are my master's work, and they're for sale! Do you like them?"
Song Miaozhu shook her head—it wasn't the carvings she was eyeing. "Can you make shelves like these?"
"Shelves?" Zhao Mumu blinked. "You mean these display stands? Of course! I actually made this one last year. I've picked up some carpentry skills too."
"Then I'd like to order several—longer and deeper ones—for displaying goods." She gestured vaguely at the dimensions she needed.
Both the paper shop and the ghost shop would need them.
"Um… may I ask what kind of business you're running? What are you planning to display?"
"A paper crafts shop, but the shelves are for snacks—like the ones in convenience stores. Wooden shelves fit the vintage aesthetic better than metal or plastic ones."
Zhao Mumu: "…"
She didn't quite get how paper offerings and snacks went together, but she respected it.
"Actually, a lot of shops in town use wooden shelves for style. We have some in stock—if you don't have special requirements, you can pick from the warehouse."
"Even better!" Song Miaozhu was in a hurry—the faster, the better.
Her standards weren't high—just decent-quality wooden shelves would do.
She followed Zhao Mumu to the warehouse and picked out enough for both shops. "Please deliver them to Anshou Hall Paper Shop, Huaihua Alley No. 4."
After settling the shelves, she finally met Master Zhao in the backyard.
The white-haired old man peered at her through thick glasses. "Are you a Song? Who's Song Huaishu to you?"
"My grandfather."
Her great-grandmother was Song Huaihua, her grandfather Song Huaishu, and her father Song Huaishi. She'd almost been stuck with a "huai" name too, but her mother had insisted on "Miaozhu" for her official name.
Her childhood nickname, however, had followed the family tradition—and she hadn't heard it in years. Realizing the old man knew her grandfather, Song Miaozhu braced herself.
"Ah! Huaishui'er! At your first-birthday ceremony, your grandpa asked me for a wooden tiger, but you reached out and grabbed the shiniest paper ingot instead—crushed it in your little hand and cried your eyes out!"
Zhao Mumu stifled a laugh—then failed. "Pfft—HAHAHA!"
Song Miaozhu's cheeks warmed. "Grandpa Zhao, that was ages ago!"
Huaishui'er—"Little Bad Water"—had haunted her childhood. In elementary school, kids had twisted it into "Song Bad Water," and the teasing had stuck.
"What a Black history."
"Time flies! My little Huaishui'er is all grown up now. Your grandpa's been gone for years… Drinks haven't tasted the same since." The old man sighed. "Now I just hope to pass my skills to Mumu before I go down to join him for a drink!"
Song Miaozhu thought, That might not work out. Her grandfather had already reincarnated—without even seeing her.
"Oh, right—Mumu said you wanted a shop sign. What's the business?"
"Anshou Hall Paper Shop."
"Anshou Hall Paper Shop?" Master Zhao looked surprised, then moved. "Who'd have thought, out of all us old-timers, only Huaishui'er would come back to carry on the family craft. Unlike my ungrateful bunch—won't even visit, let alone return to the country…"
His voice turned wistful. "But I get it. Times change. Handicrafts aren't valued anymore. If not for the town's support, no one would care…"
"Huaishui'er, your paper shop's a family legacy. The town can help promote it—I don't know the details, but Mumu, explain it to her later."
Zhao Mumu nodded. "Got it! Huai—"
"I go by Song Miaozhu, thanks," she interrupted quickly.
"Right—Miaozhu. I have some documents from when we applied for heritage status. I'll send them to you," said Zhao Mumu.
"Thanks so much," Miaozhu replied sincerely.
Seeing the child of an old friend made Master Zhao even chattier than usual.
"Huaishui'er, when your shop closed, half the town mourned! No one made paper ingots like your family. These fancy modern hell notes just don't feel the same. But now you're back! That first-birthday omen was right!"
He chuckled. "So, when's your shop opening? Got stock in yet? Qingming Festival's coming up—I need to buy some before the other old geezers find out and clean you out!"