Chapter 7, Abundant Harvest

Regarding matters of wealth, Brother Liu need not worry. Although I am not exceedingly rich or noble, I do possess a modest fortune.

The furniture, though already outdated, has very few areas of paint peeling. Considering the lacquer craftsmanship of this era, not only is the wood of excellent quality, making it less prone to deformation that could damage the lacquer layer, but the lacquer material itself is likely also of an extraordinary nature

Mr. Kongming, the total cost for this renovation is no small amount! Liu Yi rubbed his hands together, and his gaze towards Zhuge Liang became increasingly friendly. If this deal goes through, the livelihood for this year and even for next year will be secured.

All... all? Upon hearing this, Liu Yi's eyes sparkled with excitement. After receiving a positive response from Zhuge Liang, Liu Yi pondered for a moment. Although Zhuge Liang resided in a thatched cottage, it was not a dwelling hastily constructed by an ordinary person. Not only was the craftsmanship exquisite, but it also seemed to subtly align with the principles of the mysterious arts. The furniture in the house was also quite refined.

Zhuge Liang watched from the side and couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. Sending a dog to watch over the chickens, it is likely that by the time it returns, the chickens will be gone.

Looking at Zhuge Liang's back, Liu Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. Truly, he is a figure whose name will be remembered throughout the ages. Although he has yet to experience the wisdom of Zhuge Liang that has been mythologized by later generations, in terms of interpersonal interactions, Zhuge Liang is undoubtedly impeccable. He possesses the ability to converse in a manner that makes one feel as if they are basking in the spring breeze, fostering a sense of camaraderie, while still maintaining a certain distance, ensuring that one does not have the opportunity to overstep boundaries.

After preparing the necessary paint, Liu Yi instructed Wang Cai to watch the door and take care of the chicks, and then he picked up two buckets of paint, locked the door, and headed towards Zhuge's house

"No need for that," Zhuge Liang said with a smile, shaking his head. "I have some understanding of this craftsman's skills and would like to consult Brother Liu. If Brother Liu has the time, the sooner the better."

Mr. Kongming, please! Liu Yi returned to Zhuge Liang's side, extended his hand to gesture, and smiled.

Liu Yi nodded and said: "I was indeed overthinking. In that case, may I ask when work can commence on Mr. Kongming's side? If it would disturb your tranquility, we can have the timber sent here, and once it is ready, we will move it to your residence."

It sounds quite simple, but to achieve this requires a level of skill that is no less challenging than the extraordinary wisdom that is often spoken of.

Upon hearing the call, Wangcai swiftly darted to Liu Yi's side, continuously rubbing his head against Liu Yi's pant leg

Naturally, Zhuge Liang's furniture cannot be as simple as that made for Zhao Gong. During his last visit to Zhuge Liang's home, he had already noticed that the furniture in the Zhuge household appeared old, yet was extremely exquisite. The writing desk, the display cabinet, and even the food boxes were primarily made of lacquerware

"Brother Liu, this courtyard is indeed quite marvelous," Zhuge Liang remarked sincerely after glancing at Wang Cai, at this moment no longer viewing Liu Yi as an ordinary craftsman

"Don't make a fuss, keep an eye on these little ones, and do not bully them!" Liu Yi said as he placed the chicks on the ground, giving Wang Cai a threatening glare.

Mr. Kongming's words are indeed true; I am merely a humble craftsman. As for seeking or not seeking, if Mr. Kongming has any tasks to assign, I will certainly not decline as long as it is within my capabilities. Liu Yi's eyes brightened; this indicates business opportunities. It seems that the property of the main entrance attracting wealth is indeed effective, as two business deals have come in today, and both are quite substantial.

Liu Yi wanted to find a place to take care of the chicks. Although they were not worth fifty coins, they were still his own. After raising them for a while, even if they could not produce eggs or become chickens, they could still satisfy his cravings and provide some chicken meat, thereby improving his quality of life

However, the wood was provided by Zhuge Liang. Given the fastidiousness of these prominent families, the wood should not be an ordinary item. Liu Yi did not want to think too much about it; the most important aspect was the painting process, which was even more labor-intensive than making the furniture itself. Crafting the furniture could only be considered as creating the wooden frame. Then, the wooden frame had to be polished, followed by applying a layer of gray paint, and then the formal paint. For more refined pieces, there would also need to be yellow paint, patterns, and even paintings. Finally, the lacquer surface had to be polished. Generally, a carpenter could at most produce a table, but when it came to coloring, ordinary craftsmen were unable to do so. Therefore, in most local workshops, in addition to carpenters, there were also specialized lacquer craftsmen. However, given Liu Yi's current level of skill in coloring and carving, it was barely sufficient.

However, looking around, there was no place to settle down. Glancing at Wangcai, who was curiously looking this way, Liu Yi hesitated for a moment and waved his hand, saying: "Wangcai, come here"

As for that item, Liu Yi truly does not have it here. However, with his current skills and the attributes provided by the system, using some inferior paint to create it would not be a problem. The only concern is whether the wood itself will warp; this has yet to be verified. After all, he has been in this era for less than three months, so how can he verify it? Although the attributes added by the system are remarkable, the expansion and contraction of materials due to temperature changes is a natural law. He can only try to avoid it as much as possible, but he is genuinely uncertain whether the attributes will prevent the wood from warping.

"Mr. Kongming, you flatter me too much," Liu Yi said with a smile, shaking his head as he welcomed Zhuge Liang into the main hall. Looking at the empty hall, he awkwardly added, "Please forgive me, sir. This room has just been built, the old furniture has been removed, and I have not yet had the chance to procure new items."

With the intention to remind, Zhuge Liang was suddenly silenced by the scene before him. He saw the dog named Wangcai, who surprisingly nodded with a certain intelligence, then pawed a few times, herding five little chicks to the food bowl next to the doghouse, where a large amount of leftover corn rice from yesterday remained.

The little chicks, unafraid, actually followed Wangcai as they gathered around the food bowl to eat. The scene was remarkably harmonious

Moreover, more than half of the farmland in Wolong Hill belongs to your Zhuge family, so why should I worry about it

"No problem." As Zhuge Liang entered the main hall, he inexplicably felt a sense of returning home. The bedroom and guest room belonged to private space, so it was inappropriate to go there again. He simply smiled and said, "Today, I have come for a matter of request."

Zhuge Liang then took his leave. He smiled and clasped his fists in salute to Liu Yi, before turning to depart

Many of the furnishings in the residence of Liang have become quite outdated. Initially, I intended to ask someone to go to Xiangyang to invite some craftsmen to assist in refurbishing them. However, after witnessing Brother Liu's skills last time, I realized they are not inferior to those of the craftsmen in Xiangyang. I had originally planned to make this request earlier, but Brother Liu was busy preparing his new residence, and I did not want to disturb him. Now that the new residence has been completed, I have come to inquire about it.

The bed is not an ordinary flat bed, but a dental bed, along with screens, partitions, framed bookshelves, stools, Hu beds, and tatami-like platforms used for drinking tea and playing chess, as well as tables for dining and entertaining... If everything were to be completely renovated, it would be quite a significant expense

Well, since you have said so, I will ask you to return first. I will prepare some paint and tools, and then I will come over as soon as possible said Liu Yi, nodding in response