Chapter 63 How much braised beef do you have left?...
Lin Hexiang was genuinely excited. In her eyes, this was a bargain, so she wanted to do it as quickly as possible. Just like yesterday, Song Xinran was still struggling with not having enough money, but today she had gathered enough and made up her mind to buy it. She made the decision very quickly.
After getting the information from Aunt Zhang, she immediately notified Song Xinran.
I just didn't expect that there were people in Song Xinran's family...
Lin Hexiang had never met Song Xinwen before, and smiled awkwardly: "Xinran, if there are people at your home, I'll come later."
As the saying goes, things are accomplished in secrecy. Since Song Xinran hasn't bought the shop yet, she naturally needs to keep it a secret.
Song Xinran said, "Sister Xiang, it's alright, come in. This is my sister."
Lin Hexiang: "Oh, it's Sister Xinran. I've heard Xinran mention you often, but I'm only meeting you in person today."
Song Xinran gave the two a brief introduction, then asked, "Sister Xiang, when are Uncle Zhang and the others available? Now that the price has been agreed upon, let's go through the procedures as soon as possible!"
She smiled shyly and said, "Sister Xiang, please don't laugh at me. This is my first time buying a house, and I'm not at ease until the property has been transferred."
Lin Hexiang smiled broadly and cheerfully: "Why would I laugh at you? This is smart! The right thing to do is to get the item in hand as soon as possible! But don't be too hasty, otherwise Uncle Zhang and the others might think you really want to buy it and change their minds at the last minute, trying to raise the price. You prepare the money first, and I'll go back and ask around for you. Let's arrange a time when everyone is available to discuss it face-to-face before making the transaction and payment."
Song Xinran readily agreed: "Thank you, Sister Xiang. You've really gone to a lot of trouble. I'll have to treat you to a good meal once it's done!"
Lin Hexiang said, "No need to be so polite. My family owns a restaurant, and I eat here all the time. I'm glad I could help you!"
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll cook for myself and invite Sister Xiang over to eat."
Lin Hexiang readily agreed, her face beaming with joy: "That's wonderful! Lei Hong often says at home that you gave him some pointers on how to make garlic-flavored pork belly, and now it's selling very well. He's always regretted not having had the chance to try your cooking, and now he's in for a treat!"
Song Xinran said, "Brother Lei is also enjoying good fortune by being next to Sister Xiang, but I think his greatest blessing is having such a good wife like you."
Lin Hexiang beamed with joy at the compliment and quickly waved her hand, saying, "I'm not going to chat with you anymore. I'm going to visit Aunt Zhang."
As soon as Lin Hexiang left, Song Xinwen hurriedly asked, "Xinran, are you planning to buy a shop?"
When Lin Hexiang was here earlier, Song Xinwen didn't say much except to greet her. Watching Lin Hexiang and Song Xinran chatting happily about things she didn't know, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and unease. She felt like she and her sister were from different worlds.
In the past, Song Xinran still needed her. She would bring things from her hometown and help Song Xinran with some chores. But now it seems that Song Xinran doesn't need her at all. She didn't even tell her about such an important matter. Thinking about it, Song Xinwen felt an uncontrollable pang of sadness.
But amidst all this, he was also very worried. Nineteen thousand was no small sum; Song Xinwen's entire family savings were probably only that much.
But that was money that Cai Yongde and she had saved together over many years, and their family was already considered one of the better-off families in the village.
Song Xinran said, "Sister, I only decided on this today, and I haven't had a chance to tell you yet."
She took a deep breath: "I've decided to buy the shop. This is a rare opportunity. You heard what Sister Xiang said earlier. The landlord is selling the shop because of a family emergency that requires money urgently. So I want to get things done as soon as possible so I can have peace of mind."
“But…” Song Xinwen frowned, very worried, “Do you have that much money? Don’t take out a high-interest loan to buy the shop!”
Song Xinran smiled and comforted her, "How could that be, sister? Let me tell you the truth, I have just enough money to buy the shop, but after that I won't have a single penny left, and I still owe someone a few buckets of braising sauce."
Song Xinwen stared wide-eyed in astonishment, hardly believing what he was hearing.
She was well aware of Song Xinran's financial situation. In the past, when Song Xinran worked at the glass factory, most of her salary was spent on Song Yu, and she lived frugally with little savings.
To be honest, she really made money after setting up a stall in town. Song Xinwen had helped her for a while and knew that Song Xinran's business was good and that she could earn a lot by selling food. She had also calculated that, apart from the cost of the seasonings and ingredients, she could earn more than a hundred yuan a day.
This is an incredible number; in rural areas, many people don't even earn three thousand yuan a year!
At that time, Song Xinwen felt that her eyes had been opened and she was very proud. She used to think that Cai Yongde had earned a lot in the village and had been very accommodating and tolerant of him. But after gaining more experience, she realized that this was just average and that her younger sister was much more capable than Cai Yongde.
This is one of the reasons why Song Xinwen has changed so much since returning home; she feels that her family has become a strong support, and she can stand taller now.
Even if you earn 3,000 a month, you can't save 19,000 in a few months! Earning and saving are completely different concepts.
Song Xinwen frowned: "Xinran, did you borrow money from someone? If you really want to buy a shop, you should borrow from me. I'm your older sister, so of course I should support you."
Song Xinran said, "Sister, I really didn't borrow any money from anyone. This 19,000 yuan is all my own."
She briefly told Song Xinwen how much money she made selling braised meat during the Chinese New Year month. When Song Xinran mentioned that she had earned as much as a thousand yuan in a single day during the New Year period, Song Xinran was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth and her eyes widened: "One, one thousand?!"
To put this into perspective, as far as Song Xinwen knew, no one in their Shiyan Village could earn a thousand yuan a month back home. When there was a lot of work outside, they would often work overtime and earn a little over a thousand yuan a month, but only for one or two months of the year.
But her younger sister, Song Xinran, can earn a thousand a day! Not a month, but a single day!
If the villagers knew about this, it would be talked about for at least a year!
I guarantee that every time Song Xinran comes home, people will come over to chat and play. Whenever anyone in the village has an event, they will definitely think of Song Xinran first and call her to invite her back for a meal.
Song Xinwen felt dazed; how could a person earn so much money!
Seeing her stunned expression, Song Xinran quietly made a "shh" gesture: "Sister, I've only told you about this. Don't tell anyone else. Wealth should not be flaunted."
Song Xinwen immediately said, "Don't worry, I promise I won't tell anyone about this!"
“Xinran…” Song Xinwen looked at her with deep emotion, feeling that his sister had changed so much. How could a person change so much? Suddenly, his eyes welled up with tears. “If Mom and Dad knew that you were making so much money now, they would be very happy.”
She rubbed her eyes as she spoke: "My father died too young, he never had a good life. I had just married into the Cai family when he died. Although the Cai family was better off than ours, I didn't dare to invite my father to stay with us for even a few days. You were only this tall back then..."
Song Xinwen gestured with her hand, her eyes red, and said, "I'm so grown up now. If only Dad were still here."
In rural areas, people strive to have sons, but the Song family only had two sisters, and their mother died early. In Song Xinwen's memory, her father worked to support the family, cooked for them, and raised the two of them.
When I was a child, I often didn't have enough to eat. Every day, my meals consisted of half white rice and half sweet potato. When there was no rice, it was all sweet potato. It made me want to vomit.
Life is better now, and no one has to worry about not being able to afford white rice, but the older generation who suffered hardship have passed away.
Song Xinran reached out and hugged her, comforting her in a soft voice, "It's alright, sister, things will get better and better from now on."
Song Xinwen's voice was a little hoarse. She hummed in response, wiped her eyes, and quickly said, "Xinran, what will you do if you buy the shop and then have no money left? You still need to run your business. Do you have enough money to buy ingredients?"
Song Xinran said, "We can use the money from selling braised meat today to buy ingredients."
After hearing Song Xinran's words, Song Xinwen was certain that she was penniless after buying the shop, even including the money she earned that day.
"Have you thought about how to renovate the shop? It used to be a grocery store, and it will cost a lot of money to renovate it into a restaurant." As she spoke, Song Xinwen took out her wallet from her pocket. She didn't buy the wallet on purpose; she sewed it herself from old clothes. It was inside her clothes and contained rolled-up bills. She opened the pocket and stuffed the two hundred yuan inside into Song Xinran's hand.
"Xinran, I didn't bring much money with me today. You can use this first. I'll go home and get my savings book to withdraw some money for you. You can't run a business without any savings!"
Song Xinran quickly declined, "Sister, no need. I started out the same way. Besides, the braised meat stall has accumulated customers. We'll save money eventually, and we can take our time with the shop renovations."
Song Xinwen was adamant and stuffed money into her pocket: "Xinran, listen to me on this. You need to carry some money with you. You need it everywhere to do business. Take the money and go decorate as soon as possible so you can open for business sooner. Every day you delay means you earn less money."
“Xinran, we are sisters. I haven’t been able to help you much before, but let me help you now…”
Seeing Song Xinwen's reddened eyes, Song Xinran still took the money: "Thank you, sister. Consider this money a loan. I'll pay you back when I have the money. But will your husband argue with you if he finds out?"
Although Song Xinran often spoke ill of Cai Yongde, she knew that after a woman got married, she and her husband and children formed a new interest group. If she lent her own family's money to her family, the man, especially the man of this era, would have a lot of opinions about it, and it might even lead to physical violence and divorce.
Song Xinran knew that Song Xinwen had no intention of getting a divorce, and she didn't want to cause any more trouble in her family because of the loan issue.
Song Xinwen glared at him: "He dares?!"
She patted Song Xinran's hand: "Don't overthink it. I didn't say anything when he gave money to his parents. I don't have parents, but I have a sister. It's only right that I lend it to you."
Seeing her determination, Song Xinran nodded: "Okay, sister, thank you. Actually, I was also anxious when I didn't have money, but I didn't want to borrow money from others. Only you, my dear sister, can I say these things to you."
Hearing Song Xinran say this, Song Xinwen felt a warmth in his heart.
The bitterness, loss, and insecurity I felt when I saw Lin Hexiang listening to them talk earlier vanished.
Her blood ties with Song Xinran are unbreakable, something no one else can compare to.
"Sister, if I open a shop in the future, would you be willing to come and help me?" Song Xinran asked.
Song Xinwen was surprised, pointing at himself, still unable to believe it: "Me?"
Song Xinran nodded.
Song Xinwen seemed a little flustered: "But I don't know how to do anything. My cooking isn't as good as yours, and I've never worked in a shop before. I'm afraid it will affect your business since you've just opened a shop..."
It would be a lie to say you don't want to. Once you've tried earning your own money, living a good life through your own efforts, and earning quite a bit without feeling tired, you'll know how wonderful it is to live without having to ask others for money.
However, Song Xinran bought the shop with all her savings, and Song Xinwen was also a little worried that her lack of experience would affect her career.
Song Xinran said, "Sister, who said you can't do anything? When I first came to town to set up a stall, you were the only one who helped me. We did a great job together. In fact, we earned our first pot of gold together. Don't worry so much. You did a great job before, and you'll definitely do even better now!"
After listening to Song Xinran's words, Song Xinwen felt something stirring in her heart, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face, her brows becoming much lighter. She readily agreed, "Okay, then just call me whenever you need me. I'm always free and can come to town right away. But let me make this clear first, I've never worked in a shop before, so if I do anything wrong, please don't feel embarrassed to speak up just because I'm your sister."
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Don't worry, sis, I believe you'll do a good job."
Song Xinwen felt her heart surging with emotion. It seemed that no one in her life had ever told her unequivocally that they believed in her and would give her their full support. Her parents were the type to do more than they said, and after she got married, Cai Yongde was even less of a talker; he only knew how to suppress people.
She nodded vigorously: "Okay!"
Song Xinwen didn't stay there long before going home. Song Xinran cleaned the beef shank and chopped the half chicken that Song Xinwen had brought into pieces, preparing to have chicken and mushroom stew for lunch.
When Chen Jingfang brought Song Yu back, it was still early. Song Yu ran towards her with a light and cheerful voice: "Mom, Aunt Chen and I sold all the braised meat together. I can help you with chores now!"
There have been major changes in the family these past few days, and Song Yu has clearly noticed them. Every day, he goes out to set up a stall with Song Xinran to do his part for the family's livelihood.
Today, Song Xinran went to the guesthouse with Zhou Jianfeng. He wanted Song Yu to go home, but he refused. The little boy was quite opinionated. His voice was childish yet firm, "I want to set up a stall with Aunt Chen. Mom, don't worry about me."
Chen Jingfang stood beside her with a beaming smile, sincerely praising, "Xinran, I'm so grateful to Xiaoyu for helping me today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to manage on my own. Xiaoyu knows so much. If she grows taller in the future, she'll be even more amazing!"
Song Yu grinned from ear to ear and jumped up and down with joy: "Mom, I'm going to grow really tall!"
Song Xinran patted his little face: "Yes, Xiao Yu will be very tall in the future."
Song Yu smiled even more broadly, even though he was now among the shortest students in his class.
He walked into the kitchen and saw the chopped chicken and beef. He exclaimed with delight, "Mom, are we having chicken today? And braised beef too!"
Song Xinran nodded: "The chicken was brought over by my aunt just now, we'll eat it for lunch. The beef is for the uncle who came to our stall this morning to try."
Song Yu immediately stood on tiptoe to take out the garlic and said eagerly, "I'll help Mom peel the garlic."
Chen Jingfang, watching from the side, felt envious and couldn't help but sigh, "Xiao Yu is so well-behaved. If my future husband has even a tenth of Xiao Yu's qualities, I'll be burning incense in gratitude!"
Children in this age group love to play. During the Lunar New Year, adults are too busy to help, so when asked to do something within their capabilities, the children are picky and unwilling to help adults.
Yes, Chen Jingfang was referring to Fan Yongping's second brother's child. The two families lived close by, so they knew about any slight disturbance.
My second brother's child is already five years old, a little over a year older than Song Yu, but not even a tenth the age of Song Yu.
Song Xinran said, "Don't worry, you've raised the child well, he'll definitely be well-behaved in the future."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Jingfang, there's something I want to tell you."
Seeing her expression, Chen Jingfang also became serious: "What is it?"
Song Xinran said, "I want to open a shop."
Chen Jingfang's eyes widened, and she immediately smiled and said, "That's great! Opening a shop is definitely better than setting up a stall. You won't be exposed to the wind and rain, and you can make and sell more! So what are your plans after opening the shop?"
Song Xinran said, "You'll still come and help me when the time comes. I might continue to set up a stall after the shop opens, but that depends on how things go after the shop opens. We haven't even secured the shop yet. I just wanted to let you know in advance."
“I definitely won’t tell anyone,” Chen Jingfang said immediately. Then, after considering Song Xinran’s last words, her eyes widened in surprise. “Xinran, you’re planning to buy the shop yourself?”
Song Xinran smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly: "That's what I'm thinking for now. I'll tell you more once everything has settled down."
Suppressing her immense shock, Chen Jingfang nodded: "Okay, we'll talk about it later! It would be great to have my own shop."
Whether she runs it herself or rents it out, she won't lose money. But buying a shop costs a lot of money. Chen Jingfang never thought about acquiring such an asset. In the countryside, she only thought about saving some money so that she would have money to spend in case of any family emergencies. Her child is still young, and there will be many expenses in the future.
But Song Xinran quietly began preparing to buy the shop, without revealing a word beforehand.
Song Xinran wasn't particularly outstanding in the factory before. Chen Jingfang thought back to when they worked together, and never imagined things would turn out like this.
At noon, Song Xinran and Song Yu ate braised chicken with mushrooms and a bowl of cabbage and egg soup.
The egg drop soup was thick and white, the cabbage leaves were bright green with emerald tips and the stems were thick. Both of them liked to have a bowl of soup before the meal. The freshly cooked soup was delicious and slightly sweet, and a bowl of it was very appetizing.
The braised chicken with mushrooms looks delicious just by looking at the color. A layer of brownish-red, glossy broth is at the bottom of the enamel basin, and the dark brown mushrooms emit the unique aroma of fungi. Bright green scallions are sprinkled on top, making one's mouth water.
Song Yu couldn't wait to pick up a piece of chicken, but instead of putting it in her mouth right away, she smelled it first. A dreamy, exaggerated expression appeared on her little face, and she said in an exaggerated way, "Mom is the most amazing person in the world. Everything she makes is super delicious!"
Song Xinran couldn't help but laugh: "If it's delicious, eat more."
Song Yu put a piece into his mouth. The meat quality of the free-range chicken is very different from that of chickens fed on farm feed. The skin is firm and chewy, and when you bite into it, the chicken fibers are soaked in salty and fragrant broth. The more you chew, the more you can taste the aroma of the meat itself.
Song Yu immediately recognized it as chicken leg meat.
Back when he lived with his aunt, she would also cook chicken, but she usually wouldn't cut the chicken legs and wings into small pieces because that was Cai Yang's favorite food; he liked to pick up the whole chicken leg and gnaw on it.
All that was left for the family was the rest of the chicken meat. Once, Song Yu was lucky enough to eat half a chicken leg, and the chicken leg meat was indeed delicious.
But Song Yu still thinks that the chicken thigh meat that his mother makes, cut into pieces, is the best! Because cutting it into pieces allows it to absorb the flavors very well, and the broth coats every side of the chicken pieces, making it fresh, fragrant, and delicious.
The mushrooms taste great too; they're soft, tender, and juicy when you bite into them, and you can easily eat a whole bowl of rice with them.
Song Xinran had a great appetite and ate two bowls of rice, marveling at how different the taste of chickens raised on grains was.
Lin Hexiang arrived in the afternoon, excitedly announcing, "Xinran, it's done!"
“Uncle Zhang said he’s free tomorrow!” Lin Hexiang said with a laugh. “When I went over, Uncle Zhang and his family were even more anxious than you. They wanted to meet and pay today, because his son couldn’t wait. But today was indeed too rushed; they hadn’t even found a middleman or a scribe…”
Lin Hexiang explained the house purchase process to Song Xinran. The first step was to pay a deposit, agree on the date of the formal transaction, then everyone sat together to verify the ownership of the shop, draft a contract, draw up a written agreement, pay the balance, and sign and affix their fingerprints.
"Uncle Zhang said we should meet today so everyone can get to know each other. You've prepared an 800 yuan deposit. I've come to ask you what you think?"
Song Xinran immediately nodded: "I think it's a good idea, it's just that it's been a hassle for Sister Xiang to make so many trips back and forth."
Lin Hexiang said, "It's no trouble at all. As long as you can find a suitable shop, that's fine!"
At 4:30 p.m., Song Xinran and Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang officially met in the shop that was going to be sold.
The shop had been emptied of many items since the last time Song Xinran visited, and it looked rather deserted.
Aunt Zhang recognized Song Xinran at a glance: "Young lady, you look familiar. You came to see our shop yesterday, didn't you?"
Lin Hexiang was somewhat puzzled.
Song Xinran explained gently, "I was taking Xiaoyu for a walk when I saw a sign for sale at the door, so I came in to take a look."
Aunt Zhang smiled and said, "Our shop is very good. Whether it was a restaurant or a small shop before, business was always good. You came to see it yesterday and bought something today, so you must be very satisfied."
As she spoke, Aunt Zhang nudged her husband with her hand, as if to remind him that since the other party was satisfied, they could raise the price a bit.
Initially, Lin Hexiang acted as the matchmaker. Based on her words, they were worried the buyer would hesitate, so they lowered the price to quickly finalize the deal, as they needed the money urgently. Now, seeing Lin Hexiang in person, Aunt Zhang felt confident and wanted to raise the price a bit; they felt they had sold at a loss!
Grandpa Zhang understood his wife's meaning perfectly well, and said, "Our shop is big..."
Before Grandpa Zhang could finish speaking, Song Xinran understood his meaning. She had clearly seen their little actions just now, so she immediately stood up and interrupted him: "Grandpa Zhang, I came to see you today to ask if the price of this shop can be lowered a bit more?"
The other party wanted to raise the price, but she insisted on negotiating.
Her eyes swept around the shop, and she began to pick and choose: "The kitchen inside hasn't been used in a long time. If I buy it, I'll have to buy new things and renovate. Roller shutters aren't popular anymore, so I'll have to hire someone to remove them and buy new ones. The floor is also old and needs to be removed. The attic hasn't been lived in for a year or two, so if I want to use it, I'll have to hire someone to clean it and move my things down. The stairs are narrow, and I don't even know if I'll be able to find anyone..."
She spoke clearly and without stopping, and these problems had been discovered long ago. Her rapid-fire speech stunned Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang, who remained speechless for quite a while.
Aunt Zhang then said, "These renovations won't cost much. Our shop isn't expensive to begin with, so it'll definitely be a good deal for you!"
Her tone was a little hesitant now. She had just thought she had Song Xinran under her control and was secretly planning to raise the price, but before she could even say it, Song Xinran turned around and asked for a price reduction, causing everyone to panic.
Grandpa Zhang also lost his temper: "There's no way we'll lower the price! 19,000 is our bottom line. I only gave you this price because of He Xiang. He Xiang, didn't you tell this girl that the price couldn't be changed?"
Lin Hexiang feigned reluctance and quickly said to Song Xinran, "Xinran, didn't we agree on 19,000? This price is indeed reasonable."
She knew perfectly well what was going on between Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang. They were all in business, and she knew exactly what they were thinking. Lin Hexiang felt a tightness in her chest.
Although the shop is relatively cheap, that's because Grandpa Zhang's family had an emergency. Besides, the price had already been agreed upon. Now that they've met the person, they're trying to cheat them. How can she face anyone?
Unexpectedly, Song Xinran reacted even faster, not giving the two elders a chance to speak, and first bargained down the price to turn the tables on them.
Song Xinran frowned and sighed, "Sister Xiang, to be honest, I'm also hesitant about taking 19,000 yuan. I don't have much of a foothold in town, and I borrowed some of that money from my sister. Such a big deal needs careful consideration. Besides, there's the transfer tax, which will be about a thousand yuan. So it'll be 20,000 yuan in total. If Uncle Zhang is willing to lower the price by another thousand, I won't have to worry so much."
Aunt Zhang immediately said, "No need to transfer the property. Transferring the property requires going to the housing management office, which is a lot of trouble. Once you sign and put your fingerprint on it, everyone will know that the shop is yours, and it will save you money."
Song Xinran shook her head: "I am determined to transfer the property. If you don't want the hassle, I will think about it some more."
She made a move to leave, which startled Lin Hexiang so much that her heart skipped a beat. She quickly stopped her, saying, "Xinran, think about it again!"
Song Xinran's acting was so realistic, and what she said was so reasonable and well-founded. Buying and selling a shop plus various taxes would cost 20,000. Although there is only a difference of 1,000 between 19,000 and 20,000, it sounds like a big difference.
Even Lin Hexiang was a little uneasy, let alone Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang. Both of them were panicking because their son was being held captive and they were waiting for them to pay to ransom him.
Aunt Zhang quickly advised, "Young lady, think it over again. In town, you don't need to go through the transfer process when buying and selling houses. Nineteen thousand is really not expensive."
Grandpa Zhang, on the other hand, played the bad cop, saying sternly, "The price can't be reduced by a single cent! How can you change your mind about the agreed-upon price of 19,000!"
Song Xinran went out and gave Lin Hexiang a look. Lin Hexiang immediately said, "I'll go out and try to persuade her."
"Alright, He Xiang, you tell her properly!" Aunt Zhang said, and when she saw Lin He Xiang go out, she tiptoed behind her. When she saw the two of them walking together, one of them frowned and the other was trying to persuade her, but they were a little far away and she couldn't hear what they were saying.
Aunt Zhang then returned home with a heavy heart.
With her back to the shop, Song Xinran whispered, "Sister Xiang, don't worry, I'm going to buy the shop. I'm just trying to scare them."
Lin Hexiang couldn't help but chuckle when she heard this, and whispered, "Xinran, you're quite skilled at talking and acting. You almost fooled me."
“But Aunt Zhang is right. There’s no need to go through the formal transfer process. That’s how it’s done in town, and no one has had any problems. If you’re really worried, you can go through the transfer later when you have the money.” Lin Hexiang also bought her house through this method, with everyone witnessing and signing documents.
Song Xinran said, "Sister Xiang, with the development of the economy, the town will definitely change. It's safer to go through the legal process for such a big deal as buying and selling a house. The house is worth tens of thousands, and the transfer tax is at most a little over a thousand. It's worth the money for peace of mind."
She thought to herself that things were peaceful now because the town's economy was underdeveloped. For example, if she bought this shop, it would take her more than ten years to break even if she rented it out. The rent of more than a hundred yuan a month was not something that people envied.
But if the tourism industry really develops in the future and the town becomes a tourist attraction, then owning a property there will be a huge fortune. Even if you don't work in it yourself, you can earn tens of thousands a year just by renting it out.
Those who sell houses there will definitely be envious of others making money, especially since this contract, which has not gone through official transfer, becomes a loophole that can be exploited.
If handled well, the house may still belong to the buyer, but disputes and wrangling are inevitable and very energy-consuming.
If not handled properly, the seller might take the house back.
Song Xinran had seen something like this before in her previous life.
"Alright, Sister Xiang, I think it's about time. Let's go back. Pretend you finally managed to drag me back," Song Xinran said.
Lin Hexiang nodded: "Okay!"
She hadn't expected that buying and selling a house would involve acting, but thinking back to her own shop purchase, it was similar, though she hadn't acted as convincingly as Song Xinran.
Grandma Zhang and Grandpa Zhang were anxiously waiting at home. Grandma Zhang craned her neck and kept looking outside, asking, "Has He Xiang managed to persuade him to come back?"
Grandpa Zhang said, "Our shop is so good, she'll definitely want to buy it. Don't say anything else, just get that girl to pay the deposit quickly, and find someone to write the contract tomorrow."
As they were talking, Lin Hexiang pulled Song Xinran back, still trying to persuade her, "Xinran, 19,000 is already the lowest price. This shop is great! Besides, didn't we agree on this from the beginning? Your bargaining now is making things difficult for me."
Song Xinran frowned, but finally relented: "Alright, Sister Xiang, but I absolutely have to transfer the property. Can you ask Uncle Zhang and the others if we can go to the housing management office?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhang quickly replied, "Yes, yes, we can go. We'll go tomorrow after you pay the fee."
The group finally sat down together again. The difference was that Aunt Zhang no longer had the arrogant look on her face. Instead, she seemed impatient. Song Xinran frowned and spoke with a hint of hesitation. In the end, it was Lin Hexiang who urged her to settle the matter.
"Let's give you an 800 yuan deposit," Lin Hexiang said.
Grandpa Zhang immediately said, "One thousand. If anyone breaks the contract, they will have to pay three times the deposit!"
Song Xinran looked even more conflicted. Lin Hexiang had to coax her for a long time before she finally agreed. In the end, Song Xinran took out the money from her pocket, counted it twice, and was still a little uneasy and reluctant when she gave it to Grandpa Zhang.
After accepting the deposit, the elderly couple from the Zhang family saw the person out the door. Only then did Aunt Zhang breathe a sigh of relief: "Alright, I can rest assured once the balance is paid off tomorrow."
Grandpa Zhang had a stern face and didn't say anything, but that's what he was thinking too.
As soon as Song Xinran and Lin Hexiang stepped out the door, they couldn't help but laugh when they looked at each other. Lin Hexiang said, "Xinran, you're really something. I've learned from you. I'll do the same when I buy things in the future."
Song Xinran said, "You have to be careful when buying and selling big items."
"See you at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Make sure you have the money ready beforehand."
After the two parted ways, Song Xinran went home.
As soon as they got home, Song Yu ran over to her, saying, "Mom, look at the money!"
He held several hundred-yuan bills tightly in his hands, and his little face was beaming with a bright smile.
Song Xinran guessed what was going on and asked in feigned surprise, "How does Xiao Yu have so much money?"
Just as Song Yu opened her mouth to speak, Song Xinran said, "Let Mom guess."
Song Yu hummed in agreement and nodded vigorously, her round eyes looking at her expectantly.
Song Xinran smiled slightly: "Did your aunt give it to Xiaoyu?"
A look of surprise flashed in Song Yu's eyes: "How did Mom know? Mom is so amazing! It was Auntie who gave it to me. Auntie said to take the money and renovate properly."
When his aunt arrived, he opened the door for her, poured her a glass of water, and told her that his mother had gone out and would be back in a while. But his aunt didn't wait, saying that she had something to do at home, and handed the money to Song Yu before leaving.
This was the first time Song Yu had received so much money, and it was in hundred-yuan bills. His heart was pounding with nervousness as he held the money. He counted it several times to make sure it was ten hundred-yuan bills. His teacher hadn't taught him how much ten hundred-yuan bills were, but Song Yu felt that it was a lot.
Song Xinran smiled without saying a word, took the money from Song Yu's hand, and put it in the bedroom along with all the cash she had taken out. She let Song Yu follow her like a little tail, the little boy's voice crisp and full of curiosity.
It was already late when she returned, and the beef was destined not to be braised well today, so she decided to cook it later. After cooking, she covered the pot and kept it warm in the braising liquid, and took it to the guesthouse the next morning. By then, the beef should be braised just right, tender but not mushy, with every fiber soaked in the braising liquid, which would be the perfect salty and delicious flavor.
Chen Jingfang arrived early the next morning. Knowing that Song Xinran had something to do that day, she set up her stall herself, and Song Yu also wanted to go with her.
Seeing that it was almost time, Song Xinran went to find Lin Hexiang first. The two of them went to the grocery store together. During the transaction, both the buyer and the middleman had to be present.
Lin Hexiang said, "Grandpa Zhang has already found the person who drafted the contract. He is a retired teacher from the former No. 3 Middle School. After arriving, the contract was read aloud, the money was paid, and both parties signed and sealed the contract. The house is now yours."
Song Xinran suppressed her excitement and nodded.
When they arrived, Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang were already waiting. It must have been Song Xinran's performance yesterday that frightened the two old people, who were afraid that she would change her mind and not buy the house. As soon as they arrived, the two old people led her in. After a brief conversation, the scribe loudly read out the written contract, which mainly contained the identity information of the buyer and seller, the information about the house, and the transaction amount.
"From this day forward, this property belongs to the buyer Song Xinran and has no further connection with the buyer Zhang Linxue. This document serves as proof!"
As the old but loud voice of the ghostwriter faded, Song Xinran felt much more at ease. She counted out the remaining 18,000 yuan in cash in front of everyone and handed it over to Grandpa Zhang on the spot.
Mr. Zhang and his wife immediately checked the documents several times. Finally, the buyer, seller, middleman, and scribe signed and affixed their fingerprints to the contract. Mr. Zhang then handed over the prepared property certificate and keys to Song Xinran.
Only after receiving all the receipts did Song Xinran feel a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
Last night, not only did Grandpa Zhang's family not sleep well, but Song Xinran also tossed and turned. Although they had paid a deposit, Grandpa Zhang and his family were not people who kept their promises. If someone suddenly raised the price, they would definitely break the contract and sell to someone else.
Fortunately, nothing happened that night, and the transaction went smoothly this morning.
Lin Hexiang smiled broadly: "Congratulations, Xinran, you now have your own shop."
A smile involuntarily appeared on Song Xinran's face: "Thank you, Sister Xiang."
Lin Hexiang pulled her out the door, beaming as she loudly announced to the neighbors, "Uncle Zhang sold this shop to my sister Song Xinran today. Please take good care of her in the future."
Aunt Zhang also fulfilled her duty as a seller, saying to Lin Hexiang, "Everyone, please support our business in the future. This girl has impeccable character, so the things she sells must be good!"
This is almost a form of alternative disclosure to avoid future disputes; this is what people buying and selling houses usually do.
However, Song Xinran had one more crucial step: the shop was registered under Grandpa Zhang's name, so she asked Grandpa Zhang to bring his ID card and go with her to the housing management office to complete the change of registration.
When Grandpa Zhang went there, he said, "Sister, we need to make things clear first. You're the one who pays those taxes and fees; we don't care. It didn't have to be so complicated, but you insisted on going."
Song Xinran said, "Don't worry, Uncle Zhang, I'll pay."
Grandpa Zhang was relieved.
After arriving at the exchange, the two submitted their documents, and Song Xinran paid 845 in taxes and fees in one go, including deed tax, stamp duty, handling fees, and registration fees.
Song Xinran thought it was fortunate that Song Xinwen lent her 1,200 yuan yesterday, otherwise she wouldn't have had any money to pay taxes today.
Now we just have to wait a month to get the revised property ownership certificate.
Grandpa Zhang rushed home without stopping, ready to take the money to pay off his son's debts.
Song Xinran didn't have time to take another look at her own shop. She hurriedly went home to prepare to cut up the braised beef and take it to the guesthouse for Zhou Jianfeng to try.
The cut beef shank was clearly visible, with the interplay of muscle and tendon. It was cut into neat shapes and presented beautifully on the plate. Song Xinran put the plate into a food box and carried it to the guesthouse.
As soon as the guesthouse staff saw her, they said, "Boss Song, you've finally arrived! Director Zhou asked me this morning if I'd seen you. I'll take you there!"
Zhou Jianfeng was getting a little anxious. Song Xinran had gone back quite early yesterday, saying she would bring it over as soon as it was ready. He had been waiting all day and still hadn't seen her. Could it be that she was nervous?
Zhou Jianfeng felt it was wrong; he had tried Boss Song's braised food yesterday, and it was indeed delicious.
Just then, the waiter brought the person back.
Song Xinran apologized, "Director Zhou, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I had something to do yesterday and was delayed. I went to the housing management office early this morning and only just got here now."
While giving a brief explanation, Song Xinran opened the food box lid, and immediately a rich and delicious braised aroma wafted out. The braised aroma was calm and restrained, and the meaty aroma was rich and full. The two intertwined, making the overall aroma more mellow and full.
Zhou Jianfeng already had some concerns, and he was impatient to listen to Song Xinran's explanation.
But the smell seemed to instantly dispel much of his displeasure. Zhou Jianfeng strode over, and seeing the bright red color of the braised beef, he immediately perked up, picked up his chopsticks, and said, "Let me try it."
As soon as it entered his mouth, Zhou Jianfeng immediately stopped talking, his cheeks twitched, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Not only did his displeasure disappear, but joy, excitement, and exhilaration surged through him. It was as if this piece of braised beef had revitalized him.
Hot braised dishes taste several times better than cold ones. Braised beef tastes better and is more upscale than braised chicken feet, especially the interweaving of transparent tendons and lean meat, which is both soft and tender, and the two are perfectly blended.
Zhou Jianfeng immediately agreed: "Okay!"
He picked up another piece of beef and put it in his mouth. The previous bite was to taste it, but this bite was to savor it, to enjoy it, and to indulge himself.
After eating several pieces, Zhou Jianfeng's previously furrowed brows completely relaxed, his expression softened with a smile, and his tone became very gentle: "Boss Song, this braised beef is good. How much more do you have? The guesthouse has already bought it all. When the people from the Cultural Bureau come, you must make it as hot as it is today!"
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Director Zhou, don't worry, I guarantee it will taste the same."
Zhou Jianfeng nodded, quite satisfied with the plate of braised beef. He thought to himself that his niece's recommendation was indeed excellent and deserved praise.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked Song Xinran with a smile, "Mr. Song, was something that kept you waiting today?"
Song Xinran apologized, "I'm planning to buy a shop, and I just went to the housing management office this morning to register the change of ownership."
Zhou Jianfeng was somewhat surprised to hear this. He had been in Lingde Town for many years and knew that people would not register their house purchases and sales with the housing management office in order to avoid paying taxes. Even though the housing management office had made many appeals, the effect was minimal.
Unexpectedly, Song Xinran was a law-abiding citizen. He nodded in agreement: "It is necessary to register the sale of a house and go through the legal procedures. Although you have to pay some taxes, you will have no worries in the future."
"However, the procedures at the housing management office are complicated and there are many rules and regulations. I have worked with their director before, and I will talk to him and ask him to urge them to approve the certificate as soon as possible."
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