Upon hearing this, Su Xuerong's expression turned extremely serious: "Didn't Mingshu say they would come to Hangzhou?"
Su Jingxuan shook his head: "That's true, but I know your uncle well. He might still be in Suzhou."
After all, most of the Lin family's businesses are in Suzhou, and they also have houses and land that Su Xuerong wants to sell. It's impossible for him to handle everything in one day and come all the way to Hangzhou.
Su Xuerong said, "Then let my elder brother try to find out, or send someone back to Suzhou to ask?"
Su Jingxuan nodded gravely: "I'll go write the letter right away."
A short while later, Steward He arrived in person: "Madam Su, I just went to that house. Mr. Ge hasn't been staying here for the past two days. You can pay the rent in a few days."
Su Xuerong directly instructed Xiuchun to hand a one-hundred-tael silver note to Steward He: "Since he's not here, the rent can be paid to Steward He."
Today we have basically found out that a garden residence of Mingxiu Garden's size usually costs around three thousand taels of silver, so renting it for a month would cost at least seventy or eighty taels of silver.
Manager He was initially hesitant to accept the money, but Su Xuerong insisted on giving it to him, saying that she would move out if he didn't, so he reluctantly accepted it.
After he left, Xiuchun exclaimed in surprise, "Wife, the rent for this garden is so much money a month?"
I'm heartbroken.
Su Xuerong smiled and said, "Once our business is up and running, this little bit of money won't be a problem."
Especially after her spice shop opens, the profits will be immeasurable.
Especially after the end of the civil war, when everything is being rebuilt, the enthusiasm of scholars and literati for the art of incense will only increase.
However, the prerequisite is that the regions under Xiao Yuan's rule must not descend into chaos.
According to her memories from her previous life, both Xiao Shiyan and Xu Wanjing were extremely wary of this royal uncle who had established a dynasty in the south.
Xiao Shiyan and his son had also thought about recovering the southern lands, but they were always slightly inferior, winning only about three out of ten battles.
Thinking of this, Su Xuerong felt greatly relieved.
Barring any major unforeseen events, Xiao Yuan's Southern Zhou will definitely be much wealthier than the Northern Zhou established by Xiao Shiyan and his son.
As long as his rule has allowed the people to live in peace and prosperity, that's enough.
Over the next few days, Su Xuerong and Xiuchun searched for a suitable incense shop and finally found one that was struggling and for sale near Baohefang.
This place is located on the west side of Baohefang, north of Hangzhou city, near Renhe County.
Looking far to the north, you can see the northern city wall in the distance.
Xiuchun felt that this place was too remote, with far fewer people than the area around Xiuyifang.
But Su Xuerong pointed to the west side of the incense shop and said, "What do you think that is?"
Xiuchun looked over and saw a place with ancient-style architecture, somewhat like an ancestral hall.
The matchmaker next to her immediately chimed in, "Madam, you have a sharp eye! That's the famous Mingyang Academy in Hangzhou!"
Su Xuerong glanced at the several bustling temples on either side of Mingyang Academy and immediately asked the matchmaker, "What's the lowest price you can offer for this incense shop?"
The matchmaker immediately beamed with joy: "In previous years, such an incense shop would cost at least five hundred taels of silver, but in recent years, with constant internal strife, the price has plummeted, and it will cost at least three hundred and fifty taels of silver now."
Su Xuerong smiled and said, "Three hundred taels, that's the most I can give."
The matchmaker tugged at her a few more times, but seeing that she wouldn't give in, she knew that although the young lady looked weak, she was not someone who could be easily fooled. She smiled and said, "Since you've taken a liking to her, I'll talk to the old master again."
The original owner was planning to sell the shop and return to his hometown because of poor business. Now he met a customer who could pay three hundred taels of silver. Without saying a word, he went to the brokerage firm that day to sign the sales agreement and went to the government office to transfer the ownership that afternoon.
Su Xuerong immediately asked Li to bring a few people over to tidy up the shop, and then she had the matchmaker take her around the area to find a three-courtyard house in Xingqingfang next to Zhonghefang.
However, the original owner of this house went to Quanzhou to visit relatives and will not be back for a while, so he is only willing to rent it out rather than sell it.
Su Xuerong only wanted to rent a house next to the shop for convenience, so she signed a three-year agreement with a monthly rent of thirty taels of silver.
After everything was ready, nearly half a month had passed since they moved to Mingxiu Garden.
Su Xuerong asked the Zhou couple to stay at Mingxiu Garden with Su Jian for the time being, and then move to Zhonghefang when the one-month lease expired.
He took Yuanjie with him, along with Xiuchun, Li Shi, and three guards, and moved to a temporary rented house in Xingqingfang.
"She found a new house?"
Upon hearing the news, Xiao Yuan frowned slightly.
Ming Shu said, "She has already had Steward He bring a month's rent, and said that she will move out once the one-month lease is up."
After speaking, he carefully placed a one-hundred-tael silver note on the table in front of Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan stared at the hundred-tael silver note, a complex and indescribable emotion gradually gathering in his heart.
Is she really going to sever ties with me like this?
Ming Shu sensed that Xiao Yuan's mood was off and hurriedly said, "Master, if you really want Lady Su to stay, why not just tell her directly..."
Xiao Yuan's eyes shot towards him: "What did you say?"
Could it be that, given Xiao Shiyan's status as the royal uncle, he would take her into the royal palace as a concubine?
Even if he were willing, would his aunt agree? Would Fang Mingzhu agree?
Besides, he felt that Su Xuerong probably didn't have a place for him in her heart.
On the contrary, Ling Qingxue won her favor...
Xiao Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration: "Have Ling Qingxue escort the Princess back to Hangzhou. That should be around the time the Su family moves out. Have someone clean up the garden by then..."
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