Chapter 221 Seeking Help
Jiang Baozhu's words were not spoken on a whim, but rather a well-considered decision.
She knows her own limitations. If she couldn't do business in her past life, she still can't do it in this one.
Jiang Baozhu didn't have much ambition; she just wanted to quietly send her mother, Xu Shi, away before making her own plans.
"It's not that you can't sell the shop."
The shop was left unattended. The Jiang family had many property deeds and land deeds. If Jiang Baozhu were to manage it alone, there was no guarantee that some jealous and unrealistic people wouldn't come knocking. It was better to find a quiet place to hide away.
“But Sister Baozhu, everyone in town probably knows about the Jiang family’s situation. If we sell the shop now, we probably won’t get a good price.”
Lin Yuesha was worried, especially since only Jiang Baozhu and Xu Shi remained in the Jiang family. Those businessmen were even more blatant in their attempts to lower prices, and she couldn't expect them to have any conscience.
"I know that, but I'm powerless to manage it."
Jiang Baozhu waved her hand, found the land deeds and house deeds of the family from the hidden clasp in Jiang Huai's study, and showed them to Lin Yuesha.
She had two small shops in good locations, perfect for selling snacks, so she decided not to sell them and wanted to give them to Lin Yuesha.
"How can this be!"
Lin Yuesha declined. As for her fortune, she was lucky. Not only did she make money effortlessly, but she had also just recognized godparents and obtained a shop in the prefectural city. And now, Jiang Baozhu was rushing to give her more.
“You know that the shop is now losing money if it is sold. My father’s former manager came to our house and wanted to buy it for fifty taels of silver.”
Although the shop was in town and not very big, it couldn't be bought for fifty taels of silver.
The shopkeeper came to the door with an air of gracious favor, saying that if they didn't sell, the goods would rot in their hands.
"The shopkeeper has connections with the other businessmen and secretly instigates them to lower prices."
The town is so small that everyone in business knows each other and gives the shopkeeper face, so they gang up on each other to bully people.
If you want to find people from outside, it's only right after the New Year, and the people who transport goods haven't arrived in the border town yet. You'll have to wait until at least March.
Right now, Jiang Baozhu doesn't want to delay any longer.
"Do you have a place to stay in the prefectural city?"
Doing business has its difficulties. Relationships between people are based on mutual interests. When someone falls from grace, everyone pushes them down, and there's no one willing to help.
Lin Yuesha asked Jiang Baozhu if she had nowhere to go, and suggested that she stay in the courtyard her godparents had left for her in the prefectural city.
The yard is fully furnished, but since no one has lived there for a while, we have to hire someone to clean it.
"Yes, my mother bought me a courtyard house as part of my dowry. It's not big, but it's enough for me to live in."
The family was broken up; there were only a few people left.
Aunt Zhao said she wanted to stay and work as a helper, to take care of Jiang Baozhu and Xu Shi's daily life together with Xiao Xi.
"In that case, don't give me your little shop, I'll buy it."
Actually, she needed to discuss buying the shop with her parents, but she believed they would agree with her idea.
"My older brother is going to study in the prefectural city soon, and my parents will take me with them. I want to leave the shop in town to my maternal uncle's family so they can do some small business."
Farmers toil in the fields all year round, and being able to eat their fill is considered a good life. Doing business is a much faster way to make money.
The Chen family cannot leave Chenjia Village, so they cannot open their shops too far away; a town is a good option.
"Alright, I won't argue with you about this. Let's go with fifty taels."
Jiang Baozhu immediately made the decision. Seeing that Lin Yuesha wanted to refuse again, she said, "Sister Yuesha, I know you don't want to take advantage of me, but it's not certain who will benefit whom."
The Jiang family shop is a hot potato. Whoever takes it over will be the envy of everyone. How could those old guys let it go? They might even cause trouble.
Moreover, Jiang Baozhu could mortgage large shops in good locations to brokers without rushing to sell them, but this wasn't necessarily the case for small shops.
Those businessmen are unscrupulous and capable of anything.
In the past, there were also cases of widows and orphans in the town being bullied after their husbands died. The shopkeeper would simply take over the shop and refuse to hand it over.
Therefore, Lin Yuesha's purchase of the shop at this time actually created trouble for herself.
"Looking for trouble with me? I'm more worried they won't come!"
Lin Yuesha stood up straight. Having connections in the court made things easier. Her godparents weren't forgotten after their departure; instead, they were promoted to prefects in the south.
Although a local official is more powerful than a county magistrate, the newly appointed magistrate was once my godfather's classmate, so it wouldn't be difficult for him to help out.
When those people came to cause trouble, Lin Yuesha immediately reported it to the authorities and sent them to jail.
"I can't help you with anything else right now, but if you're short of money, just come to me."
Jiang Baozhu and Lin Yuesha escaped from the barbarian territory by a hair's breadth, and their feelings for each other grew even stronger.
“Sister Baozhu, you too, if you encounter difficulties, don’t bear them alone.”
Lin Yuesha nodded. Jiang Baozhu would arrive in the prefectural city first, and she would follow soon after. The two sisters would still be able to see each other often.
"Miss, Aunt Zhao is here."
Xiao Xi ran into the room, panting, and told Jiang Baozhu to hurry up and go out to check.
Aunt Zhao's head was covered in blood; she had been beaten badly, and her front was almost soaked with sweat.
"What's wrong?"
Jiang Baozhu frowned. In the morning, Aunt Zhao said she wanted to go back to her ex-husband's house for a visit. Because she was worried about her daughter Xiao Cui, Jiang Baozhu agreed without thinking.
"He was probably beaten by that scoundrel. Let's go take a look."
Lin Yuesha stood up and had Xiaoxi lead the way.
Before they even reached the courtyard gate, Zhao Sanniang suddenly rushed in, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed without saying a word.
"Aunt Zhao, what are you doing!"
Jiang Baozhu helped the person up, feeling very sorry for them.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
