Chapter 49: Golden Goose
"Well, if it isn't the two ladies from the store. What brings you here?"
Ran Wei immediately composed herself. She not only stopped fighting but pretended that the two of them were the best of friends. "Oh my, if it isn't that customer from before. What an incredible coincidence to see you here."
"Tsk," Lin Zhuyue clicked her tongue. She couldn't let that sly lady get the upper hand. "Oh is that so, you're only here by chance I see. Well, I've come here because of the invitation you gave me."
Ran Wei stared at her coworker in shock. What was the girl planning, starting out so aggressively from the beginning? Did she not fear that the boy may feel disgusted? How bold! "Lin Zhuyue, my dearest. Are you sure you have gotten the right location?" She asked with a stiff smile, hoping that this girl would rectify her mistake.
"Oh Ran Wei, the apple of my eye, how could I mistake such magnificent store with anything else? I'm without a doubt sure that is the, uh," she read the sign on the top, "ah yes, the Store of Fates I've heard so much about." She scratched the side of her cheek while saying so.
'This bitch! If you want to die, why don't you do it without me?' Ran Wei felt her veins pop, but she had no choice to play along. "No way! So that was the Store of Fates? I've heard so many things about it. To think I'd encounter it here, what fortune," she said. Truthfully speaking, she wasn't that interested in the store. And although the owner there was good-looking, she didn't care much about that either. What mattered to her the most was reputation. She couldn't let a newbie like Lin Zhuyue upstage her, even when it came to finding a man, that's why she had to make sure to steal this boy from her!
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Lin Zhuyue sighed. "Since it's so coincidental that you've gotten here."
"Oh, I seem to have some time still at hand. Why don't I take a look at our dear customer's place?" She then edged closer to her coworker and whispered, "I'll feed you to the stray dogs if you keep this up."
"Hoho, I'd like to see you try," she whispered back.
Shou looked at the two ladies with interest. Were all ladies in this age like that? How fascinating.
"No, I can assure you, these two are an exception, please don't place all your expectations of women on those idiots. That would be an eternal shame to all of us," Si said. Her voice turned deeper, almost filled with bloodlust. "They. do. not. represent. us. understood? Not at all."
Shou nodded seriously. He didn't feel like exploding today. "So ladies, would you like to enter?"
"I'd love to!" Both of them answered in unison, and they gave each other a side-eye.
Shou returned to the counter. He laughed lightly. As long as there were customers, it didn't matter what their intention was. He did not plan to let them leave so easily now that they've come in. "Welcome to the Store of Fates, where all your dreams come true," he said.
The both of them looked around, appreciating the ambiance. The warm atmosphere was pretty eye-catching. What surprised them the most was how sturdy the store looked. Ran Wei was rather particular of the walls since they were a great indicator of the working conditions of a store; if the walls were thin or of poor material, it could shield neither the scorching heat of summer, nor the terrible winds of winter. The two women had been through many jobs, and thus, many different shops. They both knew which store was of high-quality, and certainly, this Store of Fates belonged in that category. It was only... what did he mean with a place where all dreams came true?
Ran Wei's eyes turned sharper. "Is that so? How interesting. Could you elaborate on that?"
"Hmm, even if you asked me that, it's rather hard to explain." For some reason, the owner grumbled due to his own product. How peculiar. "Well, let me say it like this. Do you two ladies cultivate?"
The two women looked at each other. Ran Wei answered first. "Nothing beyond the ordinary cultivation issued by the capital I suppose." She had only gone through the basics, and afterward, she had never been that interested, truthfully speaking. Of course, her parents had always urged her to take in the path of cultivation since they already gave up on the girl ever becoming a scholar (which was rather rude, by the way), but she just had no talent for it. It was for that reason that she remained contently at the first stage.
Shou replied her, "Then my product may not be that interesting for you." He tilted his head. "But you may still find it worthwhile since gaining strength wasn't the foremost goal of this store. Still, it could be an arduous task to complete the challenge without sufficient knowledge."
Lin Zhuyue butted in with a smile, slightly shoving Ran Wei beside. "Actually, I've been rather interested in cultivating lately. As a service person, I ought to have spiritual strength, don't you think?"
'That damn liar, how boldfaced can she be, going so far just for a boy she's interested in? She's a shame to all womanhood!' Ran Wei pinched Lin Zhuyue's thigh but the woman showed no reaction. She was just about to whisper 'sweet nothings' into her ear again when the beautiful painting behind the owner's back caught her eye. For a moment, she was caught in a trance, observing the brushstrokes and colors used. The village felt so lifelike, and the masked woman seemed to stare back at her. However, she quickly broke out of the illusion as the words '15 spiritstones', written boldly in black ink, stabbed into her eyes. "Uhm, Sir, no, Owner, what's the meaning of these words there?"
"Oh that, that's the price."
The women looked at each other again. Lin Zhuyue grabbed her stomach and turned for the door. "Oh, I don't feel so good. I think I'm going to return another time." The girl waved her hand and practically dashed away.
"Hold the fuck up." Ran Wei grabbed the running girl by her neck. She came close to the lady's face and said with a scary voice, "This whole thing was your idea."
Lin Zhuyue screamed at her, "Shut the hell up, didn't you hear my tummy hurts? I'm gonna shit on the floor you cat burglar!"
"I see, all elegance has flown out the window for you, isn't that so?" She grabbed Lin Zhuyue's cheeks and pulled them apart. The two women started bickering once more.
Shou simply watched the scene unfold, as if it was an everyday occurrence. And he would have continued watching, was it not for a new customer entering his shop.
"Owner Shou, I've come to open an instance, are there any artifacts left for me to use?"
"Ah Liang, glad to see you return." Shou smiled at the rotund man's return. "I see you are doing well."
"How could I not be, having entered the store. If only there was also some food to eat, that would be great." He then turned around. "These ladies are..."
Ran Wei and Lin Zhuyue, while they grappled with each other, turned at the unexpected customer. What kind of idiot was visiting such a dubious place? They were both curious to see. However, their curiosity died short after seeing the familiar face.
"We greet Boss Ah Liang!" Ran Wei pressed her coworker's head down and then bowed herself. It was Ah Liang—one of the richest men in this city, maybe even the empire! Not only that, but he was also the owner of the clothing store they worked at! What was such an ultra-important figure doing in this unknown store?
Ah Liang scratched his head. "Oh, you two are the clerks' Ran Wei and Lin Zhuyue. Nice to meet you."
"Sir, you know who we are?"
"I do." Ah Liang nodded. "I remember the names of all my 512 employees, and even more of those who don't work with us anymore. Rather, I'm more interested in why you two visited Shou's store." As far as he knew, a clerk at his shop didn't earn nearly enough to partake in this store's activities. So had they come here with other intentions?
"Ah, uhm, we've just come to visit our friend here," Ran Wei said nonchalantly. It was a little too embarrassing to say they had come manhunting, even more so since they planned to leave.
Ah Liangs' eyes shot wide open, and his jaw stood agape. "You are... the owners friends?" He stared at Shou, who remained silent. However, he didn't deny it. "Why have you not said so earlier? Have you already paid? No? Let me do the honor then!" He quickly fished out a few spirit stones and placed it on the table. The man looked almost agitated while doing so.
"Are you serious?" Ran Wei almost forgot to remain formal as she kept her eyes glued on the glimmering stone. She looked up towards the ceiling, thinking of her parents—ah, no, they hadn't died yet, they were just tall. The best career was neither a scholar nor a cultivator, it was being next to a rich man!
Shou looked at the three and for a few seconds thought, 'the golden goose really appeared twice...'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Hyowha
Hyowha this authors note I realize is a good place to interact with you guys. I hope you all don't mind if I use this more often. On that note, hope you like the new chapter!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone