101: Come visit the exhibition

Zhang Sheng was a One-Star Card Maker. Although he was only a One-Star, it was because his innovation ability was almost non-existent; he could basically only make those publicly available cardss.

He had attended a primary academy, so he knew more cardss compared to the average social Card Maker, which allowed him to live quite comfortably after graduation.

Although his innovation ability was lacking, he greatly enjoyed visiting exhibitions for innovation competitions.

From the cardss in the exhibitions, he could see how others innovated existing products. By studying these ideas, he believed that one day he too could create his own innovative cardss.

However, creating his own innovative cardss was just a small goal. His biggest goal in this life was to be promoted from a One-Star Card Maker to a Two-Star Card Maker.

This way, he could make more cardss every day, earn more money, and buy more cardss he wanted.

Today was the exhibition day for the Card Innovation Competition. Yesterday was semi-closed, only allowing specific invited guests to enter.

Of course, Zhang Sheng was just a One-Star Card Maker, not one of the interviewing reporters, corporate representatives, or judges.

So he hadn't come yesterday because he couldn't get in at all.

Today the exhibition was open, and ordinary people could enter, which is why he was able to come and see the exhibition.

At noon, Zhang Sheng took half a day off from his boss, and his boss quickly agreed.

As for why, it was because his boss was his father, who was quite supportive of him going to exhibitions to improve his cards-making skills. And their family only ran a Card Shop, which one person could manage.

Zhang Sheng, carrying his small bag containing his notebook, took a trishaw to the Tianlong Arena... Upon arriving at the plaza in front of the Tianlong Arena, Zhang Sheng felt a bit bewildered.

“Hey, why are so many people walking to the right? Isn't the Card Innovation Competition exhibition on the left?”

“Did the competition change its venue?”

“Or did something happen on the right side of the arena?”

“Could a cards Making Master be announcing a new cards?”

With these questions, Zhang Sheng followed the crowd to the right.

After all, the exhibition wasn't just today; there were still several days left. It wouldn't hurt to come back tomorrow.

Zhang Sheng followed the crowd to the exhibition entrance on the right. What greeted his eyes was a large poster with the four characters 'Liuli Exhibition' written on it.

“Liuli Exhibition, what is Liuli?” Zhang Sheng couldn't help but voice his confusion.

“I heard it's the name of a material. Do you remember last year's Magnifying Glass? The lens seemed to be made of this material.”

“Is that an exhibition put on by the Magnifying Glass Card Maker?”

“No, someone made a Telescope cards this year and won first prize at the innovation competition next door. Then, they collaborated with three corporations to create this Liuli Exhibition.”

“Three corporations collaborating together?”

“That's right. Three corporations collaborating with him just goes to show how outstanding this material is.”

“I don't care about that. I only care how much money this Card Maker made?”

“(⊙o⊙)...”

“How could I possibly know how much money he made!”

“Whether we know or not, he's definitely much richer than us.”

...Listening to the people discussing, Zhang Sheng's anticipation for this exhibition reached its peak.

Without lingering to listen to others talk, Zhang Sheng walked into the arena.

Upon entering, a staff member handed him a small Liuli pendant.

Zhang Sheng picked up the small pendant and examined it carefully. It was just a simple, transparent spherical object. In the middle of the sphere were the hollowed-out characters 'Liuli,' likely designed by a professional calligrapher, which were very beautiful.

And why could he see the characters were hollowed out? Because there was half black ink in the hollowed-out space. When shaken, the ink flowed within the characters.

Because the characters were connected, the ink could all flow towards the character 'Liú' or all flow towards the character 'Lí.'

After admiring the small pendant, Zhang Sheng hung it on his bag and looked up to admire the products on the exhibition stands.

For some reason, this exhibition felt very different to Zhang Sheng.

To use a not-so-apt analogy, many Card Innovation Competition exhibitions were like buying things at a street stall; while the Liuli Exhibition was like entering a jewelry counter to select jewelry.

This cup, one cards only costs 95 yuan. Hmm, not bad, I'll buy it.

Hey, that plain cup over there, one only costs 36 yuan, so cheap. But the previous one looked better. Never mind, I'll go for the good-looking one.

Wow, this water ripple pattern is so beautiful. It can be used as a partition for the entryway. Looking at flowers and plants through the water ripples creates a very artistic atmosphere. I'll make a note to buy it later.

There are also Liuli flowers here, with quite rich colors. These flowers are like flowing water droplets. I can buy one.

Although he was single, who said a single person couldn't own a flower?

What is this? How can I see my reflection so clearly? Oh, I heard it's called a 'mirror.' I'll buy two, one large mirror and one small mirror... Zhang Sheng was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice bin, buying many cardss he liked.

Of course, the Telescope cards was a must-buy.

“Hello, what is this? A Magnifying Glass to hang on the eyes?”

Zhang Sheng saw the item next to the Telescope cards and asked the staff member beside him with a puzzled voice.

“Hello, these are glasses!”

“Glasses? Can you explain?”

“Certainly, sir. Currently, our glasses are divided into nearsighted glasses and farsighted glasses.

Nearsighted glasses are for when distant objects appear blurry; wearing them makes things clear.

Similarly, farsighted glasses are for when nearby objects appear blurry; wearing them makes things clear.”

“That's amazing! I want a nearsighted glasses cards.”

“Sir, everyone's prescription is different. You'll need to queue up here for a measurement, and then we'll make the cards based on your prescription.

Currently, we have 10 types of frames to choose from, and the colors can be changed. You can also select a frame that suits your face shape. These display glasses currently have no prescription.”

Zhang Sheng followed the staff member's hand, saw the finished glasses he had just looked at, and then looked at the queue.

He decided to choose a frame first.

This one is quite large; will it make my face look smaller?

Zhang Sheng put on a pair of glasses, intending to take out a mirror from the Mirror cards he had just bought to observe how he looked with the glasses on.

However, when he looked up, the staff member had already brought a mirror to him.

He examined it carefully, felt it looked good, and chose this frame.

Next, he had no choice but to join the others in line to get his prescription measured.