They found Wanfu Inn, just as Song Rui and Shunzi were returning from outside, and the group bumped into each other.
They had been on the road for a month and had also encountered river bandits, so none of them were in good spirits.
Song Ning was feeling unwell due to seasickness, so Xiao Cui quickly helped her upstairs to rest.
Song Rui asked the kitchen to cook some appetizers. She originally wanted to keep her company and talk to her, but Song Ning sent her away. She felt nauseous whenever there were many people around.
"Xiao Cui, why don't you and my cousin go out and order some food first? I'll be down in a bit."
Xiao Cui didn't say much and followed Song Rui downstairs.
Song Ning drank some sour soup and then felt much better.
When I came out of the room, the downstairs area was already full of people. Finally, I saw Xiao Cui and her friends in the seats by the window.
After going downstairs and sitting down, the waiter brought up the food, and Song Ning looked at the dishes on the table.
Huzhou is located in the south, and there are many things from the river. Of the seven or eight dishes on the table, three of them are from the river.
Braised fish, boiled shrimp, and a crab dish.
Song Rui served Song Ning some food and said with a smile, "Try it, these are things we don't have where we're from."
Although people in the north also eat fish, they don't eat a lot of it. Tianxiang County is located next to a river, but the current is fast, so you can hardly catch any fish or shrimp.
Some people dig fishponds to raise fish, but they are extremely expensive. Fish in restaurants is too pricey, so not many people order it.
"The fish here is fresh and cheap, eat more."
"Thank you, cousin."
Song Ning picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth; the fish was indeed delicious.
As the group was eating, they heard voices coming from the next table, talking about the bandits from half a month ago.
The place where they encountered the river bandits half a month ago happened to be within the territory of Yuzhou.
The broken pieces of wood and the corpses floating on the river drifted all the way to Yuzhou, where they were seen by the people living along the river and were reported to the authorities.
In the following days, more and more pieces of wood and corpses floated ashore, which made the officials of Yuzhou take the matter seriously.
At first, I thought that some civilians had been killed, since everyone knew that there were bandits on the Baishi River.
However, some people could still be identified by their faces, and those in the yamen who had met these river bandits before recognized them.
Officials in Yuzhou immediately sent people to investigate and found that there were indeed signs of a fight on the Baishi River.
The water there was very deep, and the fish that should have been deep underwater all floated to the surface, trying to snatch the pieces of flesh from the corpse.
And so, the story spread.
It is said that some brave warrior wiped out all the bandits on the Baishi River, ridding the people of this scourge.
We're looking for someone right now.
Song Ning glanced at Xiao Cui and Shi Tou, but neither dared to speak.
Song Rui and Shunzi had overheard the conversation at the next table and said with lingering fear, "We were so worried when we heard the news, fearing that you might have also encountered those river bandits. Fortunately, you're all safe and sound."
Song Ning smiled but didn't say a word. Before disembarking, she had instructed that this matter should not be mentioned again.
Keep a low profile.
There were seven or eight dishes, and the group ate them all up, leaving not even a single vegetable leaf.
After dinner, everyone rested for a while, and only went out when it wasn't so hot outside.
Shi Tou went home to visit his relatives first, and then Shun Zi took them to the place they had previously chosen.
The two-story shop used to be a fabric business, but because the parents are getting old, they are going back to their hometown, so the property has to be sold.
"This shop is at the entrance of Dongyang Street, a good location. I heard that all the other properties have been sold, and only this shop is left."
Song Ning had overheard Shi Tou and Yang Tou talking on the way, saying that Dongyang Street was the most bustling street in Huzhou City, and shops in such a location should be easy to sell.
Why did you stay for so long?
"The location is indeed good, but the price is also high. Most people are unwilling to buy, but they are willing to rent. However, the landlord is leaving Huzhou, so naturally he is unwilling to rent."
How much do you want?
Shunzi held up one finger: "One thousand taels."
During the Jin Dynasty, the shops in the capital were the most expensive.
She had heard from Lord Zheng that shops in the capital generally start at one thousand taels of silver.
However, local prices are relatively cheap, and even in a good location, it's not that expensive.
However, Song Ning decided to take a look first.
Before they even got there, Shunzi pointed to a shop with a flag stuck in the doorway: "Boss, that's it."
There are quite a few people on the street; it would be a great place to open a restaurant.
The shop was closed now, with a "For Rent" sign hanging at the door. As they walked outside, a man came out, looking rather unwell, and seemed to be there to buy the shop as well.
Shunzi walked in first and said as soon as he entered, "Boss Liu, our boss has arrived."
Before them stood a middle-aged man dressed in silk. He sized them up for a moment and asked, "Who is the owner?"
Song Ning stepped forward and smiled, "That's me."
The man was taken aback, as if he hadn't expected it, but he didn't show any disdain.
"Mr. Liu, our boss wants to buy your shop. May we discuss the details?"
The man gestured for them to sit down, and they did.
“I know this brother. He came here a month ago. You should all know the price of my shop. It’s one thousand taels, no bargaining.”
Song Ning wasn't in a hurry, but asked, "I saw a vacant lot outside, does it also belong to Boss Liu?"
Mr. Liu's eyes lit up as he looked at Song Ning: "That's right. That vacant lot was originally going to be used to build a shop, but it was delayed and construction never started."
"So, Mr. Liu's one thousand taels includes the land next door?"
Mr. Liu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
“Since I announced that I was selling the shop, you are the first person to ask about that land. That’s right, as long as you buy this shop, the land next to it will be yours.”
In the past, customers would immediately try to bargain, and before Mr. Liu could even finish speaking, unpleasant things would break out.
Mr. Liu was also angry. From then on, whenever someone came, he would kick them out as soon as he heard them bargaining first.
Mr. Liu hasn't been in Huzhou for very long, and the land next door also belongs to him, yet no one knows it.
"In that case, I'll buy this shop." With that, he took out a silver note from his pocket and handed it to Boss Liu without the slightest hesitation.
If it were just this one shop, a thousand taels would indeed be a bit expensive, but if you include the land next to it, then it's a different story.
The plot of land next door is quite large; if it were built on, it could probably accommodate another store.
Mr. Liu was surprised by the quick agreement. He took the banknotes and hurried upstairs to get the land deed.
"This is the land deed that has already been stamped. Please take a look."
Song Ning took it, glanced at it, and, finding no problems, put it away.
Mr. Liu stood up, cupped his hands and bowed to her: "From today onwards, this shop belongs to you, young lady."
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