Chapter 143: On the Bus

Soon, with the joint efforts of Old Man Er and Lu Yunpeng, the canopy bed was assembled. It was slightly larger than a modern double bed, with its four corner pillars extending upwards to a height of over two meters, forming a canopy overhead. Carved wooden panels enclosed three sides of the bed, leaving only one side open with a doorway, making it look much like a small house. There were also several drawers built into the base for storage.

As for the alcove bed Old Man Er had mentioned, it was essentially this canopy bed encased within an even larger wooden structure, adorned with elaborate carvings on all four sides. Unfortunately, Hong Tao didn't have the good fortune to own one; the outer shell had already been dismantled and sold off by the son of the family he bought it from.

"Uncle Er, you might as well pack up that little nest of yours and move right in here. This bed will be yours to sleep in. I imagine you probably slept in something similar when you were a child, right?" Hong Tao was quite pleased with the bed. Not only was the wood of superior quality and the carving exquisite, but it had also been maintained with great care, showing almost no wear and tear. It was truly a fine piece of craftsmanship. However, the bed was simply too large to place anywhere else except in this empty room. Without human habitation, even the finest furniture would eventually go to ruin.

"The one I slept in wasn't nearly as nice as this. Mine was a southern-style bed; instead of solid wooden boards at the bottom, it had layers of rattan and palm fiber webbing that bounced slightly when you lay down. Still, a solid piece like this feels much more substantial and comforting to sleep on! Are you really willing to let me sleep here?" Old Man Er was clearly tempted. The bed was not just a matter of comfort; it stirred up a flood of old memories.

"Why wouldn't I be willing? Let alone just you, even if you and—whoever—decided to sleep here together, I wouldn't feel