After hearing about the two shops, Yan Qingqing did not hesitate to ask Manager Chen to take them to see the one he had mentioned.
Manager Chen was also quite surprised by Yan Qingqing's choice, but since he had already made things clear, what happened later was none of his business.
The group soon arrived at the steamed bun shop. The street was quite lively, with shops all around, but it was indeed a bit too close to the brothel.
There was only a wine shop in between, and Yan Qingqing admired the wine shop's foresight; they were sure their business would be booming.
At the same time, I'm glad I had good judgment; with wine and meat, business is bound to be good.
This shop is really nice. The original owner kept it very clean. Although the shop is not big, the area in front of it is very spacious and can accommodate several carriages.
Yan Qingqing and her friends want to sell cooked food, so they don't need a very big space.
However, this shop needs some renovation. The equipment inside is a bit outdated. Since it's a food shop, it needs to look clean and bright.
Yan Qingqing plans to paint the walls of the house white, make the windows bigger, and add some new tables and benches so that customers can rest in the shop for a while.
The shop also has a back door that connects directly to the back courtyard, which is very bright and spacious once you enter.
There are four large brick and tile houses for living, and two outbuildings used as kitchens. There is also a well in the yard, making it very convenient to get water.
Yan Qingqing was increasingly satisfied with the shop and immediately decided to buy it.
Manager Chen was overjoyed that Yan Qingqing had agreed so readily. If this deal went through, he could earn a substantial commission.
Yan Qingqing looked at Steward Chen and asked, "When can we go to the government office to process the official contract?"
Manager Chen thought for a moment and replied, "We can do it today. You go to the yamen first, and I'll go pick them up. Tell them to bring the house deed, and we'll get things done today."
This was exactly what Yan Qingqing wanted to hear. She needed the shop before the new year, so the sooner the better.
Li Xiang'an drove the carriage carrying Yan Qingqing and Li Yueniang toward the county government office. Li Yueniang, sitting in the carriage, asked dizzily, "Mother, our family has a shop just like that? I feel like I'm dreaming."
Recalling the state of their family half a year ago, not only did they not have enough to eat or wear, she was even afraid to go home, fearing that Old Mrs. Li would scold her, and even more afraid that Old Mrs. Li would sell her.
Yan Qingqing looked at her and smiled, "You've worked so hard for so long, it's time to buy a shop. We can't let your second brother always work so hard."
Li Yueniang nodded and then whispered, "Mother, I still have several dozen taels of silver from my dividends. I'll give them to you to use to buy a shop."
For the past six months, I haven't done anything for my family, yet I still have to take money that they work hard to earn.
Yan Qingqing patted Li Yueniang's hand and said, "I'm very happy that you have this thought. I have enough money. The embroidery shop hasn't started to make a profit yet. Keep your money. I'll ask you for help if you really need it in the future."
"Who says you haven't done anything for the family? Your mother has seen all of Yue Niang's hard work. During this time, while I was giving birth to Xiao Qi, your sister-in-law and older sister didn't go to the embroidery workshop much; you were the one managing it all. I'm so proud of you for being so capable at such a young age."
Yan Qingqing's words moved Li Yueniang deeply. She thought that if she couldn't serve her mother like her sister-in-law and elder sister, her mother wouldn't like her as much. But the embroidery workshop still needed someone to manage it, and she couldn't waste her mother's hard work.
Li Yueniang choked up as she said, "Mother, if you ever need money, you must tell me. All the money I earn belongs to you."
Yan Qingqing patted her head and said, "Okay, if Mother needs money, she will definitely ask you."
Li Xiang'an quickly arrived at the county government office in his carriage. However, Steward Chen had not yet arrived, so they had to wait outside the county government office for a while.
Fortunately, Yan Qingqing and the others didn't have to wait too long before Manager Chen arrived with a middle-aged couple.
The couple were around forty years old and looked very honest. After Steward Chen introduced them, Yan Qingqing exchanged a few pleasantries with them and then went into the yamen to handle the paperwork.
The sale of house deeds was handled by the clerks in the yamen (government office). After the price was determined and both parties agreed to the sale, the clerks would write a new house deed for them.
Yan Qingqing then gave the couple five hundred taels of silver in person.
The couple burst into tears after receiving the banknotes.
This unexpected turn of events left Yan Qingqing and her group completely bewildered; anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were forcing a sale.
Even the clerk who was handling their paperwork was completely bewildered. What was going on? Could it be that the couple was being forced? But it didn't seem like it.
Yan Qingqing glanced at Steward Chen, who also looked completely innocent. Just as Yan Qingqing was about to step forward and ask a few questions, a refined and dignified voice came from behind: "What happened? Who is crying in the county government office? If you have any grievances, please speak them out, and this magistrate will be able to help you."
The man who arrived was none other than Ling Ziyuan, the magistrate of Chengyang County. This was the first time Yan Qingqing had ever met him, and he was the highest-ranking official she had ever encountered.
Upon hearing that it was the county magistrate, the couple were so frightened that they dared not cry anymore and knelt down on the ground with a thud, as if they had been wronged.
Yan Qingqing looked up at the sky speechlessly. These were the honest people she had just thought of. Why did it feel like they were deliberately trying to make her look bad?
Before the couple could speak, Yan Qingqing bowed to Magistrate Ling and said, "This humble woman, Li Yanshi from Canghe Village, greets Your Excellency Magistrate."
Today, my son accompanied my wife to Manager Chen's brokerage to buy a shop. Manager Chen did his best to recommend two shops to my wife, but my wife felt that this one was more suitable and decided to buy it on the spot.
The county clerk wrote a red contract for the woman, and she paid five hundred taels of silver. For some reason, the couple burst into tears after receiving the silver notes.
If they are unwilling to sell everything, they can simply ask for the return of the silver notes.
Yan Qingqing explained the whole story clearly in just a few words, even stating her name and the price of the shop she bought.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Ling immediately asked, "Is what Yan just said true?"
When the county magistrate asked the question, the couple quickly nodded and said, "It's true, it's true!"
Magistrate Ling then asked, "If that's the case, why are you crying?"
The man glanced at the woman, then lowered his head and remained silent. The woman had no choice but to whisper, "Your Excellency, my shop has been unsold for a long time because it's near a brothel."
We were heavily in debt because of this shop, but we're so happy to have finally sold it today.
Magistrate Ling: ...
Yan Qingqing: ……
Judging from the couple's words, they had finally found a sucker. Magistrate Ling had almost wronged Yan Qingqing and her husband, and felt a little guilty, so he waved them away, telling them to leave as soon as possible so he could see them.
Yan Qingqing originally wanted to go out with them, but Magistrate Ling stopped her.
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