Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Li Changqing took a deep breath, his nostrils filled with the mixed smells of cumin, roasted meat, and tobacco.

He nodded in satisfaction, walked along the street, stopping and starting along the way, and finally turned into a secluded alley.

This alley is called "Woodworking Alley" and is a place where craftsmen in Shazhou City gather.

The alley was piled with all kinds of wood, with wood shavings and sawdust scattered all over the ground.

The air was filled with a rich, fresh scent of pine and poplar wood.

Li Changqing stopped in front of a shop deep in the alley.

The shop was small and didn't even have a sign.

In the open space by the entrance, an old man with bare chest and skin tanned dark and shiny was squatting on the ground.

Holding a sharp carving knife, he was intently carving a large piece of log.

The old man's technique was extremely steady. The carving knife flew across the wood, and wood chips fell in a flurry. A fierce-looking Vajra statue was already taking shape.

"Old man, this craftsmanship is truly remarkable. The fierce eyes of this Vajra are carved with a touch of the spirit of subduing demons."

Li Changqing stood aside and watched for a moment, then sincerely exclaimed in admiration.

Upon hearing this, the old man stopped carving with his knife, looked up, and sized up Li Changqing.

Seeing that the man was dressed in a shabby blue robe, he lowered his head and continued carving, only letting out a soft hum from his nose.

"Exorcising demons and monsters? There are endless bandits outside the city, and the sandstorms can't stop them. Carving a wooden Buddha statue is nothing more than a way to swindle money from passing merchants."

"Sir, judging from your attire, you don't seem like a big spender who can afford a Buddha statue. If you need alms, go to the Guanyin Temple at the street corner ahead. If you need water, there are water vats in the shop; just fetch some yourself."

The old man's temper was clearly as stubborn and unyielding as the stones in the Gobi Desert.

Li Changqing was not annoyed at all; on the contrary, he found the old man's straightforward nature quite to his liking.

He went into the shop and found a clean wooden stool to sit down.

"Sir, you misunderstand. I am not begging for alms or water. I am here to order a door panel."

"Make a door?"

The old man didn't even look up.

"Wang Mazi's house at the street corner specializes in making ordinary doors and windows. Ten coins a door, fair to both young and old. I, the old man, only take on intricate carvings, not those crude and clumsy things."

Li Changqing extended two fingers and gently tapped on a piece of wood next to him.

"The door made by Wang Mazi's family is too thin and not sturdy. I run an inn on Changmen Road outside the pass. The wind and sand are strong there, and the merchants who pass by are rude."

"A few days ago, some foolish thieves kicked down the door of my inn. I'm thinking I should replace it with a sturdier one."

Li Changqing looked at the old man, his tone calm.

"We need to use top-quality old poplar wood, split from a single piece without splicing. The thickness must be at least three inches. It needs to be covered with a layer of sheet metal and nailed with three rows of heavy plum wood nails."

"Ordinary carpenters cannot make such heavy doors with such tight fit. In the whole city of Shazhou, I'm afraid only a master craftsman with the strength of a thousand pounds could make them."

Upon hearing this request, the old man finally put down his carving knife.

He stood up, wiped the sweat from his brow with the towel around his neck, walked up to Li Changqing, and looked him up and down.

"Opening an inn on Changmen Road? And daring to use a whole piece of old poplar wood to make an iron-clad gate?"

The old man squinted, a glint of shrewdness appearing in his cloudy eyes.

"Sir, do you know that old poplar wood is as hard as iron? A single door made of three-inch-thick solid wood weighs two to three hundred pounds. Add the sheet metal and door nails, and it must weigh four to five hundred pounds."

"With your skinny arms and legs, it takes you all your strength to open a door. How can you even lift it?"

Li Changqing smiled and did not argue. He simply took out a five-tael silver ingot from his pocket and gently placed it on the wooden table next to him.

"Whether I can move it or not is my problem. Just name your price, sir. Do you want to take the job or not?"

The old man stared at the silver ingot in silence for a moment.

In those chaotic times, five taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family to cover their expenses for a year.

"catch!"

The old man grabbed the silver into his hand.

"The old man's surname is Ma, and everyone in this woodworking alley calls me Old Man Ma. Your door is made with high-quality materials and requires a lot of work; it will take three days to complete."

"Three days later, you will come with a large cart to open the door."

Li Changqing stood up and patted his clothes.

"Very well. I will come to bother you again in three days."

It was nearly noon when they left Old Man Ma's shop.

The sun in Shazhou City grew increasingly scorching, baking the yellow dirt road surface until it seemed to be steaming.

Li Changqing rubbed his stomach. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything for half a day, and although he was at a certain level of cultivation, he didn't know what hunger was.

But the cravings in my stomach were whetted by the aroma of meat wafting through the streets.

He retraced his steps back to the main street, found a lively-looking tavern, and stepped inside.

This tavern is called "Drunken Spring Breeze" and has two floors.

The lobby on the first floor was filled with rough square tables and benches, and was occupied by all sorts of people.

There were bodyguards on their way, rugged merchants, and a few unfamiliar-looking wandering knights with swords at their waists.

The lobby was filled with deafening noise, a cacophony of sounds from people playing drinking games, competing in drinking contests, and boasting.

Several waiters, with rags draped over their shoulders and carrying large platters of roasted meat and drinks, darted through the crowd like eels.

Li Changqing walked to the counter and ordered half a jin of braised beef, a plate of local specialty fried eggs with sand onions, and two freshly baked, golden-brown and crispy flatbreads.

Naturally, a large jug of this unique strong liquor from the Northwest region would also be indispensable.

Xiliangchun.

He carried the tray and found an empty table in the corner to sit down.

This Xiliang baijiu is extremely strong upon entry, like a line of fire burning down the throat and into the stomach, followed by a long-lasting wheat aroma.

Li Changqing ate and drank slowly with large chunks of braised beef, his eyes leisurely observing the various characters in the tavern.

"Damn it! This lousy place, I can't even find an empty table!"

A string of rude curses came from the entrance of the tavern.

Three burly men with menacing faces strode into the hall.

All three were dressed in tight-fitting clothes, their chests exposed, revealing the thick black hair covering their chests.

They all carried gleaming longswords, their scabbards still stained with dried blood, clearly indicating that they were the kind of ruthless outlaws who lived by the sword and were known for their bloodlust.

When the three people entered, the noise from the diners in the lobby immediately subsided.

Many people lowered their heads, afraid of getting into trouble.

The waiter also went to greet them with trepidation.

"Gentlemen, I'm truly sorry, but our restaurant is full today. Perhaps you could consider visiting another place?"

The waiter said with a forced smile.

"Bullshit!"

The scarred-faced man leading the group slapped the waiter to the ground, cursing, "My two brothers and I just finished a big deal outside the Great Wall, and we're dying of thirst! You want me to go somewhere else? Are you blind?!"

Scarface glanced around the hall, and wherever his fierce gaze fell, everyone fell silent.

Finally, his gaze fell on Li Changqing, who was alone in the corner, occupying the entire table.

Seeing Li Changqing's tattered blue robe and frail appearance, Scarface grinned maliciously and strode over.

Two other men, also carrying knives, followed behind arrogantly.