The old shopkeeper was sitting in the courtyard, smoking with a somber expression. Upon seeing Hu Ma enter, he was momentarily stunned before suddenly standing up.
His expression seemed to completely change from doubt to joy, as if the dark clouds in the sky had parted.
"Good, good, good..."
He immediately stood up, walked over to Hu Ma, looked around, and said anxiously, "I was just worried about something important, fearing you wouldn't catch up. I didn't expect you to refine it so soon."
"How well is it coming along?"
"I can use some strength, but it's still a bit rigid, not completely refined yet."
Hu Ma responded, twisting his toe a few times and cracking a bluestone slab in the courtyard.
"Very good, very good..."
The Shopkeeper saw this, the joy on his face unmistakable. Even Sister He in the house cast her gaze over, and one could sense a bit of pleasure in her eyes.
