Ancient Doomsday Traveler

Chapter 64 Why Follow the Rules

Lin Xiu, Yao Rongrong, Han Cheng, and even Brother Donkey were all kicked out. Brother Donkey even grumbled a few times in dissatisfaction.

Afterwards, Han Cheng took Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong to the neighboring Wang the blacksmith's yard. The donkey didn't follow them in; instead, it nibbled on the grass by the wall outside.

Unlike Yang the carpenter, Wang the blacksmith's family consisted of a middle-aged woman and a young man, in addition to Wang the blacksmith himself. Han Cheng referred to them as Aunt Wang and the young blacksmith.

After meeting with blacksmith Wang, Lin Xiu explained his needs. Blacksmith Wang said that it was no problem. As long as the temperature of the fire was high enough, the blacksmith's skills were profound enough, and he was patient and hammered a lot, most of the impurities in the iron could be removed, which would meet Lin Xiu's requirements for the leaf spring.

As for the money, Han Cheng will pay for it.

Lin Xiu didn't need to worry about the materials; Wang the blacksmith had already collected quite a lot, including ironware he had exchanged with Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong. They were all piled up in his yard, and all Han Cheng needed to do was pay for them.

However, according to Lin Xiu's needs, making the mold and quenching the iron will take some time, so Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong have to wait patiently.

After they finished discussing their business, the young blacksmith Wang pestered Han Cheng, asking why he hadn't told stories these past two days and when he would tell stories again.

Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong then learned that the blacksmith Wang was actually a storyteller who would often visit Han Cheng's storytelling stall whenever he had free time.

Han Cheng smiled and said, "Let's start the meal tomorrow. I've been a bit tired these past two days, little blacksmith, please let me rest a bit."

Moreover, I just got a new storybook these past two days from this Brother Lin. It's written by a novice, and it's absolutely wonderful. If you listen to it, I guarantee you'll love it.

How about we meet under the tree in the village tomorrow at noon?

The young blacksmith clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Good! Good! Good!"

He then looked at Lin Xiu and said in surprise, "You really can write storybooks? Wouldn't that make you even more amazing than Han Cheng?"

Han Cheng is no good; he can only tell old, tired stories from books, he can't make them up. Why don't you just tell them yourself?

"cough……"

Han Cheng coughed awkwardly.

Blacksmith Wang slapped Little Blacksmith Wang on the back of the head and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Get back to work!" This shooed Little Blacksmith Wang away and eased Han Cheng's embarrassment.

After leaving Wang the blacksmith's house, Han Cheng went to Yang the carpenter's house next door and told him that there was no problem with forging the leaf springs and that Yang should make it as a machine with leaf springs.

After leaving Yang the carpenter's house, Han Cheng seemed like a different person, sullen and unhappy the whole way, and escorted Lin Xiu, Yao Rongrong and Brother Donkey back to their lodgings.

The most popular animal on the road was Brother Donkey. In just two days, Brother Donkey seemed to have become a star in the small village of Lijiaji. Everyone who saw it would say, "Brother Donkey, hello!"

At first, the donkey would answer with a few "uh-huhs," but later it discovered that even if it counted "uh-huhs" while walking along the road, not at the door of its lodging, no one would give it grass. So it became unhappy, and if anyone tried to talk to it, it would pretend not to hear them.

Besides Brother Donkey, the second most popular one is naturally Han Cheng.

Along the way, people kept asking him when he would tell stories and what stories he would tell. He would just force a smile and say that he would tell them tomorrow, as he was not feeling well today and wanted to rest.

Han Cheng was genuinely unwell, and Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong could both tell that Han Cheng was uncomfortable, and they knew exactly what was wrong with him.

But as Magistrate Xu said, the world is chaotic, and people's hearts are a mix of good and evil; how can one judge such matters with a single sentence? Han Cheng felt distressed, but ultimately did not vent his anger on the villagers. All the complaints he had vented to Magistrate Xu in the yamen yesterday were now kept to himself.

Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong didn't say anything, they just followed along, watching people tease the donkey and greeting Han Cheng.

After returning to his lodgings, Han Cheng finally spoke to Lin Xiu and Yao Rongrong: "The villagers are busy during the day and rest at home at night, so I can only tell stories under that big tree at noon when the weather is hot."

If you and your siblings are free tomorrow, you are welcome to come and listen. Brother Lin, this is, after all, a story you wrote; it would be wonderful to see the enthusiastic reactions of others after hearing it.”

Lin Xiu nodded and said, "Okay."

Han Cheng then said, "Brother Lin, this story of the havoc in the Heavenly Palace should only be the beginning, right? Journey to the West, Journey to the West, the story hasn't even gotten to its theme yet. Please continue writing, Brother Lin. I can exchange some things for it, or even money."

Lin Xiu then agreed.

Previously, he planned to raise prices by cutting out chapters to make money and buy horses. Now that he has the horses and the carriages are built, he no longer needs them. There is no need to cut out chapters for Han Cheng to see anymore.

After Han Cheng left, Yao Rongrong glanced at Lin Xiu and said, "That's good, sir. The carriage you sent me will take a few days to be ready, so I won't be able to leave for the next few days. You've got what you wanted."

Lin Xiu wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that her voice seemed a bit lighter.

Lin Xiu disagreed, saying, "What do you mean by 'doing as I wished'? I only asked for your own thoughts before, I didn't say what I thought."

"snort!"

Yao Rongrong snorted in dissatisfaction.

Lin Xiu wisely refrained from continuing the conversation, sat down, and continued writing.

The imperial procession had already left, so Yao Rongrong stayed by Lin Xiu's side, accompanying him as he wrote the sequel to "Journey to the West".

After Lin Xiu finished writing on each page, she would take the paper away and lay it out to dry. Once the writing on the paper was dry, she would put the pages back together and read them herself first.

As evening approached, Han Cheng came again and collected today's manuscript. The manuscript covered everything from the Jing River Dragon King's violation of heavenly rules and Wei Zheng's dream of beheading the Dragon King, to Sun Wukong's rampage at Black Wind Mountain and Guanyin's subjugation of the bear monster.

When Yao Rongrong read this part, she was also amazed and kept thinking, "How did this bastard storyteller's brain work?"

She was tempted to take a sword and cut it open to see what was inside.

After reading it, Han Cheng couldn't help but exclaim, "Wonderful, absolutely wonderful! Not only the stories, but also the celestial beings and earthly dynasties you described, Brother Lin."

Brother Lin, there's just one thing I don't understand. It's one thing for you, the celestial beings, to fabricate stories according to your own ideas, but why don't you refer to historical records for earthly dynasties?"

Lin Xiu said, "Even the gods in heaven make up their own rules, so why should mortals follow them?"

Han Cheng paused for a moment to think before saying, "That's true. Brother Lin is right. If anyone asks about it during tomorrow's storytelling, that's what I'll say."

Lin Xiu: "..."

Yao Rongrong: "..."

Yao Rongrong rolled her eyes.

Upon receiving the manuscript, Lin Xiu accepted a dozen or so copper coins but asked for nothing else.

He doesn't know what he needs right now, so he might as well take the money he can use first, and then use the money to buy whatever he needs later.