Chapter 66: I want to rent a shop. Everything is suitable except that I don’t have money. …
The restaurant was completely silent, and one of the only two tables of customers left immediately upon seeing this.
Zong Xiao originally wanted to take them away. After all, these strong men were not easy to deal with. What if something really happened and they got hurt?
But no one at the table suggested leaving. They all stared at that place, looking very gossipy.
"Our young master is really not at home. The academy will start classes on the fifth day of the New Year." The waiter came forward to explain and reluctantly filled their glasses with water.
"Really?" The man was a little unconvinced. Why was he gone when he arrived? Was he deliberately avoiding him?
The waiter said honestly, "Master Tian San, this is absolutely true. Go and ask around. The academy opened yesterday."
There were four or five people who came in together. Upon hearing this, they all looked at the seated Mr. Tian San.
"Third Master, should we wait or not? Or should we go directly to his house to look for him?"
Tian San glared at him. "Why are you going? That woman is half dead and she'll be gone if you go. Aren't you afraid of bringing bad luck upon yourself?"
"Mr. Tian San, why don't you leave a message and I will bring it to him when the young master comes back in the evening." The waiter was eager for them to leave quickly. With this group of people blocking the way, no one outside dared to come in.
Tian San thought about it and decided that instead of wasting time here, it would be better to go out for a walk.
He placed the teacup heavily on the table and said sternly, "Tell your young master to give me a firm answer right away. Tell him whether he'll sell the shop to me or not. If he does, I'll give him the money once I've collected it. We're relatives, so I don't want him to suffer any loss."
The waiter nodded and bowed: "Okay, Third Master, don't worry, I will definitely pass on this message."
After listening to what they said, Qiu Xuan and her group had no idea what was going on.
What pooling of money, what relatives, isn't this just trying to get something for nothing?
As soon as the man left, Zong Anji called the waiter over again.
His question was so direct that the waiter was stunned for a moment.
"Is this man some distant relative of your master's? Does he want to take over this shop without paying?"
Qiu Xuan and Yue Yang turned their heads away. This scene was really unbearable to watch.
Only Zong Xiao coughed twice, reminding Zong Anji not to speak so bluntly.
Their table was the only one left in the shop, so the waiter didn't hide anything anymore and revealed some of the owner's affairs.
It turned out that the owner of this restaurant was surnamed Tian, and he was the elder brother of Master Tian Sanye. Master Tian Sanye's full name was Tian San. He was a tyrannical and overbearing person, so everyone called him Master Tian Sanye when they saw him.
"He's actually my uncle." Qiu Xuan frowned and sighed. Ever since she came to this world, she has discovered that human nature is the most terrifying thing, and family affection always becomes distorted because of interests.
The waiter had worked in this shop for many years and had feelings for the owner. He said indignantly, "That's right. As soon as the owner's family ran out of money, he came to rob them, calling it giving money. Who doesn't know what he's up to? It's a pity that our young master is too focused on studying to run a shop. Alas."
Qiu Xuan thought about what Tian San said and asked again, "Is the master's wife sick?"
The waiter nodded and said, "The master's wife has always been in poor health and has relied on medicine to keep her healthy these years."
So that's how it is. No wonder Tian San is so arrogant. He is deliberately bullying the orphan and the widow.
Qiu Xuan immediately thought of the clan mother. Although the second and third clan elders did not snatch things from her, they did treat her coldly.
Qiu Xuan felt pity for them, but unfortunately she had no power or money, so she could neither protect them nor buy their shop.
"I wonder how to sell this shop? How to rent it?" Zong Xiao remembered Qiu Yun saying that if they made enough money in the future, they could buy a shop and a house in town.
However, their combined assets are only thirty taels, so they definitely cannot afford to buy it. But they don't know if they can rent it.
If they could really rent it, they would have a place to stay and wouldn't have to set up stalls on the street every day.
The waiter had been dealing with people all the time, so when he heard this he immediately understood what they meant.
He whispered, "I really don't know. But if you really want to, you can ask our young master tonight. He comes to this little restaurant every day after school."
"I'm afraid it won't be possible at night. We don't live in town. How about this, can you help find out the rental price? We'll come back tomorrow. If your master is willing and the price is right, we can rent it." Zong Xiao took out a few copper coins and quietly placed them in the waiter's palm.
The waiter's face lit up with joy and he readily agreed, "Okay, I'll definitely pass on this message."
During the conversation, the stir-fried dishes ordered by several people were finally served on the table.
You can't tell from its appearance, but you'll have to try it to know its taste.
Liu Yueyang was the only one among the group who had eaten their food. She only took a small bite before putting down her chopsticks.
Qiu Yu asked, "Doesn't it suit your taste?"
Liu Yueyang shook his head. "It's not that it's unpalatable, it's that the taste has changed."
Different chefs cook dishes that taste different. Now that Jinwei Restaurant has changed its chef, the taste has naturally changed. If it tastes better, it would be fine, but the taste is too bad.
It's just average, and I'd rather cook it at home.
Qiu Xuan took a bite and agreed, "Although I haven't tasted the same flavor as before, this one is definitely not as good as what Third Brother made."
"Really?" Zong Anji was praised and quickly picked up two pieces of food with his chopsticks. After tasting it, he nodded proudly, "Then it seems that I can be a chef too."
Less than an incense stick had passed since they finished their meal when another table arrived in the restaurant as they were leaving.
It's dinner time now, so business is obviously very bad.
Zong Anji and the other two bought everything they wanted while strolling around, and they didn't continue shopping after leaving the restaurant.
Taking advantage of the clear sky at noon, everyone got on the mule cart and went home.
On the way, I gave a few people a ride up the mountain and earned nine copper coins.
Including the six I gave to the waiter, I didn’t lose out this time.
Because there were outsiders on the mule cart, no one mentioned renting a shop along the way.
After they got home and finished their work, they sat down to discuss it.
Zong Anji had been patient all this time, and now that he was finally able to speak, he naturally wanted to be the first to ask, "Second brother, do you really want to rent the shop? Putting aside the price, I think that the person who is causing trouble and trying to seize the shop...it's not easy for us to rent it."
Zong Xiao had naturally considered what Zong Anji said.
His idea was completely opposite to his. He felt that the troublemaker was not the key point, the price was the key point, and if the price was right they would rent it.
"That's not the case. Tian San wants to occupy the shop for free. Do you think the young owner of the shop would agree? Of course not, otherwise it wouldn't have dragged on until today. I think they might want to sell it directly for some money. Isn't the young master a scholar? Studying costs a lot of money." Qiu Yu's idea was the same as Zong Xiao's. If this shop could really be rented, it would be perfect.
The appearance is right, the position is right, and the reputation is even more right.
Just the price...
"What are you discussing? What shop do you want to rent?" The clan mother came in carrying a pot of brown sugar ginger tea. The tea had been boiling in the pot for a long time, waiting for them to come back and have a bowl for each of them to drive away the cold.
Qiu Xuan took the porcelain bowl and told her mother what happened today.
"The place where we always set up our stall has been taken by someone else, and there's no other good location on that street. We thought it would be great if we could rent a shop."
It was rare for people from the mountains to set up stalls in town, but now they have to rent a shop!
If this were to happen in another family, the elders would definitely not agree. But the clan mother was not an ordinary person. After hearing this, she immediately asked, "But you are short of money. Mother still has some. It's not much, but it can make up for it."
Zong Anji raised his hand and said, "I can also spare three taels."
The three of them had a total fortune of thirty-seven taels, which seemed like a lot, but it was not certain whether they could rent a shop in the town for a whole year.
"Let's just think about this matter first. It's still unclear whether we can make a decision or not. Let's wait until tomorrow. We will go down the mountain again tomorrow and ask around." Qiu Xuan said.
-
In the evening, Tian Yongwen walked out of the small gate of Qinglin Academy with a shoulder bag on his back.
He frowned. Ever since his father passed away, his family had become a mess. The only place he could find some peace and quiet these days was in the academy.
But leaving the problem unresolved is not a solution. What will happen if all the shops wait for his orders?
Tian Yongwen sighed, bought two vegetarian buns from the roadside, and ate while walking towards the restaurant.
In the past, the restaurant was always bustling at this time, but now there is only a waiter standing at the counter.
Tian Yongwen swallowed the last bite of the bun. He knew that he could no longer keep the shop and he would only lose money running it.
"Young master, you are finally back." The waiter saw him standing in front of the door and immediately helped him in.
Such a hurried look made Tian Yongwen feel alarmed.
He asked, "But my third uncle is here again?"
"Yes, I came this afternoon." The waiter repeated everything that Master Tian San had said. "Master San said he would give it to you when he had enough money, but he had to use the shop first."
Tian Yongwen sneered. If he really took over the shop, would he still be able to pay him?
The waiter continued, "By the way, young master, someone wants to ask you a question today."
Tian Yongwen: "You say."
The waiter said: "Someone wants to know if you want to rent this shop, and if so, how much is it?"
Tian Yongwen: "Anyone wants to rent it?"
Tian Yongwen actually wanted to sell it, as it would make money quickly. Now his mother's illness was getting worse, and she needed money to buy medicine.
The waiter guessed that he was unwilling, but the opportunity now was really good.
He couldn't help but say a few more words on Qiu Yun's behalf, "Young Master, those guys don't look like they'd be able to own a shop, but they're all strong men, and one of them even has a scar on his face. He looks intimidating. If we rent it to them, Third Master probably won't come."
"A burly man with a scar on his face?" Tian Yongwen thought about it and felt that such a person was indeed quite intimidating.
The waiter replied, "That's right. At noon, the Third Master came to the shop with his men in a threatening manner. Only their table stayed. They sat there calmly, not afraid at all."
Not afraid of his uncle! And he even wants to rent his shop!
It seems like a good idea to rent the shop to such a person.
But he needs to think about this matter again. It is better to sell than to rent.
"Did they say when they would come again?"
"Tomorrow at noon, in our shop."
"Okay, then we'll close the shop for a day tomorrow. I'll come over and take a look before making a decision."
Tian Yongwen didn't know how he got home. His steps were so light as if he was walking on cotton.
This news was undoubtedly good, and he had to tell his mother.
As soon as I entered the house, I heard bursts of coughing coming from the room.
"Mom." He hurried in.
On the bed, a frail woman with a pale face covered her face and coughed lightly. Seeing someone come in, she smiled and said, "Why are you so anxious? I'm fine, but are you hungry? I asked San Ya to save some food for you."
"I ate it, Mom." Tian Yongwen was just a fifteen-year-old child after all, and he immediately became like a child when he saw his mother.
"Mom, that shop..."
"But Tian San is causing trouble again?" The woman held his hand tightly and shook her head. "Son, even if the shop is still there, we can't let them take it away for nothing."
Tian Yongwen naturally thought so too. He consoled her, "Mom, I definitely won't let them take it away. But there are so many people eyeing this shop right now. Mom, do you think we should rent it out or sell it?"
Tian Yongwen thought her mother would say "sell", but unexpectedly she heard the word "rent".
"rent?"
The woman nodded. "You haven't married yet, so you don't understand. If we sell the shop, those people from the Tian family will shamelessly come to you to ask for money. So it seems better to rent it out."
The woman thought about Tian San's behavior and sighed again, "It's not certain that we can rent it out. Now that Tian San's days are passing, who would be willing to take over our shop?"
"Yes." Tian Yongwen told her about Qiu Xuan's visitor asking for the price today. He said, "Mom, I'm thinking of going over to take a look tomorrow. If those people are really willing to rent it and can keep Third Uncle under control, why not rent it to them?"
The woman raised her hand and stroked his face, saying with relief, "Xiao Wen has grown up. You can handle this matter as you see fit. If it really works, the price will be cheaper."
"Don't worry, mother. I know what's going on."
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