Chapter 1917: No Suitable Candidate (Patreon)

Chapter 1917: No Suitable Candidate

Many people came for interviews throughout the day, but Shu Yu couldn't find a suitable shopkeeper.

These shopkeepers were indeed as experienced and steady as she had hoped. However, their experience also made some of them a bit arrogant. Shu Yu's shop was not small, and she was a He Gong, but at the same time, she was a young, unmarried woman who wasn't even from the Changjin Prefecture. Their knowledge of Changjin Prefecture was limited, and they felt that they were more seasoned and that Shu Yu should listen to their advice more. This led them to treat Shu Yu with a respectful demeanor, but beneath the surface, there was a lack of trust in her ability to expand and strengthen the shop.

Of course, they were all clever enough not to display these emotions openly. If Shu Yu hadn't observed them closely, most people wouldn't have noticed.

For example, there was a candidate, Lu Sanzhu, who had come up with various reasons to visit the store in the first place.

Lu Sanzhu couldn't understand what kind of shopkeeper Shu Yu was looking for. He had been sitting next to her for half a day, listening to the conversations with other shopkeepers. The more he listened, the more impressed he became with their management skills and wise insights.

He was almost ready to applaud their expertise.

"Why didn't you choose that shopkeeper from earlier?" he finally couldn't help but ask.

Shu Yu glanced at him, leaning back in her chair. "Did you notice how that shopkeeper reacted when he saw my father just now?"

Lu Sanzhu shook his head. "I didn't."

Shu Yu sighed, "My father was helping He Gong renovate the shop earlier. When he came in, the wood was clean, and although my father was a bit dirty, it was just sawdust, nothing unbearable, right?"

Lu Sanzhu nodded. The woodworking tasks today were not too complicated. Since Shu Yu was recruiting, both Lu Erbai and He Gong had been very conscientious, working quietly and without much noise. They were mainly measuring dimensions and drawing blueprints, with only a few pieces of wood being carried in and out.

Shu Yu continued, "When my father passed by that shopkeeper, he visibly stepped aside with a disdainful look."

Lu Sanzhu frowned, had he? He hadn't noticed.

"Maybe it's because he saw Second Brother carrying wood and was afraid of getting hit," he suggested.

Shu Yu chuckled, "But when my father left, he was still carrying another piece of wood when he passed by that shopkeeper again, and the shopkeeper didn't move. So, why do you think that is?"

Lu Sanzhu thought for a moment and then brightened. "I know, because you called Second Brother 'Dad.'"

"Exactly," Shu Yu said with a smile. "At first, that shopkeeper probably thought my father was just an ordinary carpenter, so he looked down on him. But when he found out that my father was the father of the County Princess, his attitude changed. When my father passed by him again, he even smiled at him. Lu Sanzhu, this kind of behavior is quite common. When we are away from home or even when visiting many larger shops, we may encounter such attitudes. Some people, even if they act nice on the surface, may still look down on us deep down."

This was something Lu Sanzhu had experienced and understood well, which was why he always wore his best clothes when going out.

"But, Third Uncle, my shop caters to customers from all walks of life. There are wealthy families and ordinary folks. If the shopkeeper I choose starts categorizing people from the beginning and looks down on them, the reputation of my shop will be tarnished sooner or later."