Chapter 18: Can You Skip the Line with a Card?
Li Zihan followed closely behind, shaking his head repeatedly.
The storefront was small, to say nothing of the lack of a proper sign, just a wooden board with a few characters haphazardly carved into it as the shop sign.
However, once inside, the scene was quite different.
A line of people stood neatly organized, each silent.
At their forefront was a gaunt, old man.
His coarse clothing was wrinkled, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, one foot resting on a long stool, and the other on a worn bluestone slab.
Next to him lay a large yellow dog, lazily sprawled.
The dog's food bowl was almost overflowing with big bones, yet it didn't move or take a bite.
Seeing someone enter, it grunted.
The old man gently patted it twice, and the dog lay back down.
"Grandpa, may I cut in line?"
Tang Xiaowan's voice was loud, her small hand fidgeting with an unsharpened hunting knife.
In her hand, the knife looked almost like a toy.
Li Zihan: "…"
Bai Long: "…"
Everyone turned around at the same time, then all looked toward Old Man Cui.
This was followed by whispering among themselves.
— Cutting in line so brazenly, that's rare!
— Exactly, all kinds of people!
— I've been here since five, haven't even eaten dinner!
— No kidding, me too!
Old Man Cui glanced at the crowd, then rinsed a kitchen knife in water, and responded indifferently, "No."
"Grandpa, look, I have this."
As she spoke, Tang Xiaowan pulled out a card.
Everyone was shocked!
"A lotus just reveals its sharp corner, early a dragonfly stands on its head."
This verse was also in the shop, carved on a wooden board, currently standing right behind Old Man Cui.
The handwriting was vigorous and powerful!
In truth, Tang Xiaowan didn't realize it had such significant use, only thinking since there was a kitchen knife printed on the back of the card, it must be related to kitchen knives.
At first, she mistook the word "early" to mean she was among the earliest from Li Garden, and the knife suggested someone who cooks.
Turns out it was a combination of both!
That was just one card, another read, "Passing through a sea of flowers, not a single leaf stains."
On the back was a red peony printed.
Seeing the old man remain silent, Tang Xiaowan asked again, "Grandpa, does this work?"
Old Man Cui then glanced at it, responding lazily, "Hmm, it works, you go first then."
Others in line also had cards, but with different contents.
"Queue by card."
The font looked casual, as if carelessly drawn.
Beside her, Bai Long had been following Tang Xiaowan since entering, stunned by her words and actions.
Could Brother Shen have made arrangements in advance?
Impossible, if that were the case, he wouldn't have specially instructed over the phone to protect Lady Tang and satisfy all her requests.
At the moment, Tang Xiaowan looked puzzled.
She wouldn't know how to choose a kitchen knife, but given the crowd, she pretended to be calm, looking here and there.
A large kitchen knife wrapped in red silk caught her eye.
That one, although old, it seemed solid; probably selling just for the metal would fetch a good amount!
"Grandpa, I want this one."
Old Man Cui followed the direction Tang Xiaowan was pointing, his originally calm expression gradually becoming serious, It was the Sword King, a non-sale item.
"Let's pick another one."
"Thank you for your kindness, grandpa, but I really like this rusty one."
Old Man Cui stood up immediately.
He threw the kitchen knife into the washbasin with a clang, clearly reluctant and helpless.
Who made him forget to mark it as not for sale?
Tang Xiaowan touched her nose and giggled.
Just like that, under everyone's watchful eyes, Old Man Cui took down the kitchen knife that had hung there for decades, his face as ugly as it could be.
Most of those in the queue were head chefs from upscale hotels or collectors who had come for its reputation.
At that moment, they looked on with hostility, especially the person first in line, who couldn't wait to throw Tang Xiaowan out and stomp on her.
"Little girl, there's a sequence to follow."
The first man in line spoke up.
Seeing his face was burly, Tang Xiaowan immediately moved closer to Old Man Cui: "Grandpa, why don't you take care of him first? I can wait."
She seemed sensible, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Just as Bai Long was about to step forward to help, he stepped back.
He thought, Lady Tang really knows how to act cute!
"Let's follow the old rules: Those with this card go first." Old Man Cui coldly replied. Everyone immediately quieted down, and the first man in line stopped talking and obediently stood still.
After some careful polishing, the originally rusty kitchen knife looked completely new.
Tang Xiaowan squatted beside it, watching from start to finish.
Just as her tender white hand reached out to touch it, she heard Old Man Cui yell, "Don't touch! It's very sharp!"
"Can it chop big bones?"
"Of course."
The old man's face was filled with resignation.
He casually took a bone from the big yellow dog's food bowl, and with a light tap, the bone split apart, the cut smooth and even.
Bai Long's pupils shrank instantly.
Li Zihan: "Impressive, quite sharp!"
Tang Xiaowan clapped excitedly: "Wow, that's great, it'll make gnawing on bones much easier, thank you, grandpa."
"Take it, you're welcome."
Everyone: "…"
Li Zihan then paid.
He paid double the market rate, as he had jumped the queue and matters of face had to be maintained, lest they tarnish the Leng Family's reputation later.
While Old Man Cui was likely in a better mood receiving the money, Tang Xiaowan lowered her voice and asked with a smile, "Grandpa, do you recognize me?"
After saying this, she deliberately leaned in close, worried he might be long-sighted.
"I don't."
"Did you write the words on this?"
"Yes."
"Did you write them yourself, by your own hand?"
The old man paused, then said indifferently, "I don't have that much time. I just pick a random day each month, throw it at the door, and whoever picks it up, it's theirs. But like the card in your hand, there's only one a month."
Everyone was quite astonished, internally praising such good fortune that hadn't come their way.
It was said that Old Man Cui had fine handwriting. Some who came for the knives even deliberately brought the Four Treasures of the Study to curry favor, but Old Man Cui resolutely ignored them all.
Later, everyone tried their luck with the big yellow dog.
Sadly, without Old Man Cui's command, even if a big bone was placed right by its mouth, it wouldn't touch it.
As for the card inscribed with poetry, others had never even seen one, including the well-connected Bai Long, who was hearing about it for the first time.
Tang Xiaowan was completely baffled at that moment.
How could this old man be more casual than me, just throwing such important item at the door?
Could it be that the lead was lost just like that?
Well, given the crowd and chatter now, I might as well come back another day to inquire!
As she was leaving, Tang Xiaowan made a point of waving the card at Old Man Cui, thinking it would be taken back. Instead, he just picked up the knife and continued sharpening, not even bothering to look up.