Chapter 193: Renting a Shop
After coming out of Su Ji Lou, I planned to go directly to Lou Qianqian to ask about finding a store.
"Sister Zhiyi! Mom and I are going out to look for you."
Lou Qianqian had just opened the gate and was about to go out, but unexpectedly she bumped into Xu Zhiyi who was about to knock on the door!
"Looking for me? But is there any news about the shop?"
Luo Jinqiu: "Yes, I walked around the town these two days and found out that there are two shops on East Street and South Street, but the prices are quite different."
Xu Zhiyi: "What do the shops around these two sell?"
"There are hair accessories, rouge, powder, and cloth shops around the shop on East Street. There is only one two-story jewelry and powder shop on South Street, and the rest are restaurants over there."
Hearing this, Xu Zhiyi immediately became interested in South Street: "How is the cosmetics shop business on South Street? They don't sell cloth and ready-made clothes, do they?"
"It should be the best business in town, called Gu Yue Pavilion. The ladies of the wealthy families all like to visit Gu Yue Pavilion. They sell cloth on the second floor."
"I asked around and found out that there used to be cloth shops and jewelry and cosmetics shops around here, but in the end they couldn't compete with Gu Yue Pavilion, so they all ran to East Street!"
After hearing this, Xu Zhiyi thought carefully for a while and said, "Aunt Luo, let's go check out the shop on South Street now."
Luo Jinqiu and Lou Qianqian were stunned when they heard Xu Zhiyi's words. Choose South Street? In fact, both mother and daughter thought that the first choice was East Street. There was Gu Yue Pavilion on South Street, and their own shop was opened there, so the competition was very fierce.
It was not until the two of them got on the mule cart that he could not help but ask:
Lou Qianqian: "Sister Zhiyi, why did you choose South Street? The competition there is too fierce!"
Luo Jinqiu: "Although I have found shops on two different streets, I think you must choose the one on East Street. South Street sounds like it has no chance of success. Gu Yue Pavilion is well-known, and new shops have no business around it, unless our shop only caters to ordinary people as customers."
Hearing this, Xu Zhiyi explained to the two of them, "Isn't Guyue Pavilion a symbol of status for the ladies of wealthy families? If we open a clothing store next door, won't we have a ready-made customer base?"
"Guyue Pavilion only sells cloth, jewelry, and cosmetics, but no ready-made clothes. Isn't this our chance? As long as the clothes we make are unique enough, we can hold an event ourselves... er... I mean, we can invite some people to come and help liven up the opening."
"Then we will be able to attract a small number of ladies and girls. Remember, some people are born to like to join in the fun. As long as someone is tempted and buys something to wear, our shop will be able to become famous."
"If we choose East Street, that's fine, but we have to spend more energy to attract those ladies from South Street. Also, I have a plan in mind. Maybe we can cooperate with Guyue Pavilion and achieve a win-win situation."
As they were talking, the mule cart arrived at South Street. Xu Zhiyi took Luo Jinqiu and her daughter to sit in the carriage. Shen Changan saw that the three were talking about the shop, and he didn't understand it. He was afraid of disturbing them, so he followed Shen Wuyou to drive the mule cart outside.
After the mule cart stopped, Luo Jinqiu took Xu Zhiyi to the shop that was to be rented out.
The Guyue Pavilion was just across from the shop. Now the shop was selling groceries. Luo Jinqiu led everyone into the shop and went straight to the shopkeeper.
Luo Jinqiu: "Shopkeeper, I came here yesterday to ask about your shop, and now we come here to discuss it with you in detail."
Shopkeeper: "Well, there's nothing to discuss. I bought this shop a few years ago and turned it into a grocery store. Now I plan to change my business and do something else, but I can't leave the shop empty, right? So I plan to sell it or rent it out."
"If you want to sell it, I'll give you six hundred taels of silver. There's an attic above this shop, and there are two utility rooms on top. It can be used as a place to live after it's been tidied up. There's also a small yard in the back, and a room. I also built a small kitchen next to it. If you don't go home for meals, you can just make some food in the backyard."
"If you want to rent it, it'll be three taels of silver a month, but you'll need to sign a contract for at least one year. So, are you planning to buy it outright or rent it today?"
Xu Zhiyi: "Boss, we plan to rent it first. After one year, we will consider buying it."
The shopkeeper heard this but did not force it: "Okay, then when do you plan to sign the contract? If you sign the contract, I will sell all the goods in the store at a loss within three days."
Xu Zhiyi: "We can sign now, but can we take a look around the shop?"
After getting permission from the shopkeeper, Xu Zhiyi led everyone to the backyard, a very small yard with a room on the left and a tile shed on the right. There were several small stoves inside for cooking.
Then I went up to the attic from the left corner of the shop. There were two storage rooms upstairs, which were neither too big nor too small. If used as rooms, they could indeed fit a bed and a cabinet, with some space left.
Standing at the edge of the attic corridor, you can just see the entire shop hall downstairs. The size of downstairs should be as big as four adjoining rooms.
After walking around, I found that the shop was quite large, but there were too many things in it, so it looked messy, so it felt crowded at first glance.
Xu Zhiyi: "Boss, I like this shop very much, so I can sign a one-year contract with you now."
Shopkeeper: "Okay, I'll get some paper and pen now."
After both parties signed the deed, Xu Zhiyi also paid the full rent for one year! In fact, he could pay half a year first, but after thinking about it, he could pay thirty-six taels of silver for one year now, so he paid it all!
Shopkeeper: "I will vacate the shop in three days. You can come and take over the shop in three days. I will give you the key of the shop then."
Xu Zhiyi nodded and said, "Okay."
Then he thought about the subsequent decoration of the shop, looked at the shopkeeper and asked: "Shopkeeper, I want to redecorate the shop later, where can I find someone to do it?"
Shopkeeper: "There are craftsmen who specialize in this kind of work in the alley at the end of North Street. You can go and ask them. They can make it for you according to your requirements."
After Xu Zhiyi thanked them, he came out of the shop. Just when everyone was getting ready to get on the mule cart, Xue Yinyin ran over from the opposite side.
“Sister Zhiyi!!”
Xu Zhiyi paused as he was about to get on the mule cart and looked at Xue Yinyin who was running towards him.
"Sister Zhiyi, long time no see! I have been wanting to find you these days, but my mother found me a tutor, who asked me to learn at home every day how to manage the inner courtyard when I go to my husband's house. I am almost tortured to death!"
"I begged my father to come over and check the shop account books with me today, otherwise I can't leave the house."
Hearing this, Xu Zhiyi jokingly asked, "What's the matter? Has your family arranged a husband for you?"
Xue Yinyin blushed and shook her head when she heard this: "No way, I don't want to get married so soon!"
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