Jiang Shuyue almost choked to death on a mouthful of tea.
Seeing Nangong Zeyue's unyielding expression, the waiter bowed and said, "Please wait a moment, sir, while I go and consult with the manager."
After the waiter left, Nangong Ze puffed out his chest and raised an eyebrow slightly: "How about it? This young master knows how to bargain, doesn't he!"
Jiang Shuyue took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her lips and gave Nangong Zeyue a thumbs up: "Young Master Nangong is really something. He cut the price by a hundred taels right off the bat. That hundred taels is enough for me to buy a lot of household items."
Nangong Zeyue said with a grin, "I spent more time in Yannan than in the capital. The brokers here always overcharge by a few percent, and they even say they didn't charge you any commission."
Nangong Zeyue paused and then said, "The human traffickers in Yannan don't overcharge. The King of Yannan doesn't allow brokers to trade privately. To buy or sell servants, you have to go to the government office to prepare documents, so the prices are transparent."
"If you need manpower, I can accompany you to buy it."
"I don't have that plan for the time being. I'm running a small business and can't afford to support that many people."
Nangong Zeyue saw that Jiang Shuyue was dressed in plain clothes and wore a simple yet elegant hairpin.
He simply couldn't figure out her identity.
Nangong Zeyue picked up her teacup and took a sip, her eyes filled with admiration: "Women already have it tough. Miss Jiang, as a widow, has raised a child on her own and even learned medicine. That's already quite remarkable."
Jiang Shuyue: "..."
This guy doesn't even know how to compliment people.
"Oh! By the way, what were you doing in Master Guo's backyard that night?"
Nangong Zeyue suddenly came to her senses. What was she doing there in the middle of the night, a widow?
Jiang Shuyue rolled her eyes: "What are you doing out there in the middle of the night?"
“I…don’t say anymore. It’s all my master’s fault. My uncle was being hunted down by enemies. I heard that he was last seen in Zhuxi County. I came here to find him on my master’s orders.”
"I couldn't find my martial uncle, and I didn't have much money left, so... cough cough, you know what happened next." Nangong Zeyue smiled awkwardly, having forgotten the question he had asked Jiang Shuyue.
At this moment, the waiter returned with the keys.
"You two have been waiting for a long time. The shopkeeper has agreed to rent the shop for three years at 250 yuan. We need to check the shop and pay the rent immediately, otherwise if someone else comes to rent it, we will not be able to reserve it for you."
Jiang Shuyue looked at Nangong Ze: "It's getting late, judging from the shop, let's talk about tea..."
Nangong Zeyue waved his hand casually: "Miss Jiang, don't be so polite. We'll meet again someday."
Jiang Shuyue turned to the waiter and said, "Then take the contract with you. I'll sign the contract and pay after I've looked at the shop. The transaction will be completed."
The brokerage firm has ready-made documents; all you need to do is write down the shop's location, time, and the amount of rent, and then sign and affix your fingerprint.
Upon hearing Jiang Shuyue's confirmation, the waiter turned around and went to fetch the documents, writing brush, ink, and seal paste.
The shop was located at the end of Jinxiu Street, and it was larger than Jiang Shuyue had imagined.
The distance between the front and back doors of the shop was a full five zhang (approximately 10 meters). In the back courtyard, there was a well, a kitchen, and two small rooms.
The backyard is not the same as the house; though small, it has everything you need.
Jiang Shuyue readily paid the rent for three years.
Signing and sealing the document were done in one smooth motion; the contract and keys were then safely stored away.
“Miss Jiang, I think this shop is quite nice. Use half of the front as a clinic, and partition off this part to make a bedroom.”
Nangong Zeyue gestured back and forth for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Is your place far from here?"
"It's not far, it's nearby."
Nangong Zeyue's clear, fox-like eyes curved slightly as she pointed across the street: "I stay at the Night Canglan Inn."
"Have you been staying at inns all this time in Yannan?"
Jiang Shuyue looked Nangong Zeyue up and down.
He was in his early twenties, slightly thin but with a tall and straight figure. He wore a bamboo-green robe with meander patterns embroidered on the cuffs, and a white jade pendant hung from a light blue jade belt around his waist.
He was handsome, had an extraordinary air about him, and looked a bit like a spoiled young master.
Jiang Shuyue secretly grumbled to herself, "How much money will it cost to stay at an inn?"
“My uncle has a courtyard nearby that has been uninhabited for a long time. Besides, I live alone, so staying at an inn is quite convenient.”
"Understood. Young Master is waiting for your martial uncle to return."
Nangong Zeyue: "Uh..."
"That's pretty much it. It's getting late, and I have some things to take care of. I won't be back at the inn for a few days. If you need to find me, you can leave a message for me with the innkeeper." Nangong Zeyue said as she walked out.
Jiang Shuyue followed her out: "Alright, I'll be busy setting up the clinic soon, see you later."
After saying goodbye, Jiang Shuyue locked the shop and headed back.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard the voices of strangers inside.
"The landlord said to put the grass in the stable and move the pruned branches out."
As Jiang Shuyue entered the hanging flower gate, she saw more than ten people busy in the garden. Some were weeding, some were pruning tree crowns, and others were loosening the soil.
A middle-aged man stood in the garden, methodically assigning tasks to everyone.
A large portion of the messy garden has been cleared away.
At lunchtime, Su Huai-ren and Su returned from outside looking dejected.
"Mother, elder sister, we're back." Su Jin's expression wasn't as dejected as Su Huai Ren's.
"My dear wife, I... I'm so useless. I didn't even get to meet the headmaster of the academy. I'm truly a useless scholar," Su Huai-ren sighed.
Su Hui and Qiu Ju had already set out the bowls and chopsticks. Aunt Su said to the father and son, "Don't rush, wash your hands and eat. Sit down and we'll talk slowly. There's always a way out. We'll always find a job."
To help Sui Sui and Shui Sheng improve their health, Aunt Su specially went to buy meat.
Su Jin washed his hands and sat down at the table. He said calmly, "Mother is right. There's no use in rushing. A large number of refugees are pouring into Laiyang. There are people scrambling to do even the jobs of peddlers and laborers. We have horses. I'll go to the East Market to drive a carriage."
“Brother, I can also drive a horse-drawn carriage. I heard that there are many rich people living in the east, and I can earn dozens of coins a day.” Su Nan heard his elder brother’s words as he walked in from outside, and he picked up the conversation.
"I'll go out again this afternoon and see if I can find some copying work?"
There were many refugees, but few people who could write well. Su Huai-ren was confident in his own beautiful handwriting.
After listening, Jiang Shuyue gestured to Qiuju and Su Hui to take Suisui and Shuisheng to eat.
Seeing that Lin Miaoshou had finished washing her hands and sat down, she got up and went over to her.
"Uncle Lin, I ran into an old friend when I went out this morning. He helped me rent a shop, and I plan to open a clinic. Uncle Lin is also skilled in medicine. Could you please practice medicine at the clinic?"
Jiang Shuyue's words were vague, and everyone assumed that she had borrowed money to rent the shop.
Lin Miaoshou pondered for a moment and said, "I have to leave for a while, but I can help you make the arrangements."
"Brother Su, you shouldn't look for book copying work. The clinic also needs an accountant to collect money."
Su Huai Ren looked at Jiang Shu Yue.
Jiang Shuyue chimed in, "Uncle Lin is right. I can't run a clinic by myself. My uncle needs manpower to manage the accounts, buy medicinal herbs, and process them. Su Jin and Su Nan have seen me do it before, and they know a little bit about it. It's good that everyone has something to do."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
