Chapter 109 The Deal is Made
He needs to think about it carefully...
Time ticked by, and Sun Shang grew increasingly anxious.
"Is there anything you're dissatisfied with, Manager Zhu?"
"Yes! Although Fengxianju is not as good as Mingyuelou now, it was once glorious for more than ten years. Although it has fallen into disrepair now, the location is really good. If you buy it and do business there, you will not lose money."
Sun Shang's foolish cousins seemed even more anxious than he was, fearing that the restaurant would not be able to be sold, and they took turns trying to persuade Zhu Mingyue.
Zhu Mingyue: ...
He just wanted to calm down and think things through, but the incessant chirping of birds around him made it impossible for him to have any peace.
Seeing his slightly furrowed brows, Sun Shang also felt that his silly cousins' behavior was inappropriate, and gently scolded, "Shut up, don't disturb Manager Zhu."
He nodded slightly: "Today is just a meeting to discuss things in detail. If the business deal doesn't go through, that's fine too. We can just consider it as making friends."
Zhu Mingyue smiled and said, "Very well, I'm determined to befriend you, sir."
What does that mean? So this business deal really can't go through?
A flicker of sadness crossed Sun Shang's eyes. He was genuinely disappointed, but he didn't show it too obviously. He just smiled somewhat forcedly and said, "I am honored to have a friend like Manager Zhu."
The rest of the group: ...
Weren't you here to discuss business? How come you've already become friends before even starting the business? Is that right?
Little did Zhu Mingyue know that she was already hatching a plan.
Since he's here, he must be interested in Fengxian Residence. He's not one to socialize much, and he wouldn't have come to this event unless absolutely necessary.
That was just a psychological tactic, making them think that their attitude towards Fengxianju was indifferent, barely worth considering. Afterwards, I'll befriend Sun Shang, putting their guard down, and then business negotiations will be much easier.
If he were to propose buying Fengxianju at this point, the other party would certainly not dare to act arrogantly. After all, he was only "reluctantly" buying Fengxianju, and if the negotiations broke down, he would not suffer any loss. On the contrary, the other party would be asking for his help.
Zhu Mingyue sipped the tea. To be honest, the tea tasted exceptionally sweet and refreshing. Although he didn't know much about tea ceremony, even as a layman, he could tell that it was a top-quality tea.
Sun Shang, keeping his eyes down and knowing that Zhu liked tea, said proactively, "This is the first tea harvest of this year from Kangyang County. It's been sitting at home for a while, but few people drink it. If you like it, Manager Zhu, I'll have a servant send some over to you later."
Zhu Mingyue smiled and shook her head: "No need to trouble yourself. I'm just trying something new. It would be a waste for me to have such good tea. It's better to save it for someone who truly understands and loves tea."
No matter how good the tea was, he couldn't accept it. He couldn't accept something for nothing; if he accepted something before the deal was even done, wouldn't he be held back and put in a passive position during the rest of the negotiations because of this favor?
Having exchanged all the pleasantries, it was time to get down to business. Zhu Mingyue put down her teacup and looked up at Sun Shang: "To be honest, I am indeed quite interested in Fengxianju, otherwise I would not have come to keep this appointment today. However, as for this interest—it depends on how the final discussion goes. As you probably know, besides the two Mingyuelou restaurants, I also have teahouses and shops, and it is currently quite difficult for me to expand further."
Sun Shang is a smart man; he's already explained things to this extent, so what else could he not understand?
He immediately replied, "Since we're friends, we can discuss the price."
Zhu Mingyue narrowed her eyes, seemingly pondering for a moment, before slightly parting her lips to utter a number: "Four hundred taels."
Sun Shang looked troubled: "This... Manager Zhu, if I may be so bold, is indeed too low."
Zhu Mingyue was just casually mentioning a number to test the waters. He had spent 365 taels of silver to buy the building in Shangyang County back then, but the situation was quite different then than it is now.
The administrative area of Ganzhou is located in Guangyang County. Although it is not as prosperous as the capital, Ganzhou has the most dignitaries, wealthy merchants and tycoons, so the land price is naturally very high.
He had a deep understanding of land prices in Guangyang County. His second Mingyuelou restaurant was also located in the suburbs, and it cost him a lot of money just to buy more than 20 acres of land. Moreover, Fengxianju is located in a bustling downtown area.
Zhu Mingyue secretly observed Sun Shang and realized that asking for four hundred taels was outrageous. It was only because the Sun family was desperate and needed his help that they agreed. If it were anyone else, they would probably turn their backs and leave in a heartbeat.
He pursed his lips, making a slight concession: "It's negotiable, why don't you also state your expected number?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Shang immediately sat up straight. "Since that's the case, I won't beat around the bush with Manager Zhu." He paused slightly before uttering a number: "Five hundred and fifty taels."
Zhu Mingyue lowered her eyes and remained silent for about a minute before raising her eyes and saying, "It's too expensive, and I don't have that much money."
Sun Shang chuckled twice, somewhat embarrassed: "Manager Zhu is joking." What a joke! Not to mention Ganzhou, how many merchants in the entire Kangyang County didn't know that Mingyue Tower was currently riding high, making a fortune every day? Let alone a few hundred taels, they could easily come up with several thousand taels.
If He An could hear his thoughts, he would definitely clarify things for Zhu Mingyue without hesitation. As the acting manager and accountant, he knew exactly how much silver was in the accounts. A few hundred taels was indeed nothing, but he certainly couldn't easily come up with several thousand taels.
What business doesn't require costs? The more you earn, the more you spend. For example, the restaurants, teahouses, and football fields built in Guangyang County cost a fortune.
A while ago, Xiao Cui said that the downstairs of the shop in town was leaking when it rained. Zhu Mingyue immediately asked him to allocate funds for repairs. The shop was renovated inside and out and looks much more impressive than before, but it cost a lot of money.
The difference between four hundred taels and five hundred and fifty taels is not small.
Zhu Mingyue remained calm and leisurely sipped her tea.
He wasn't in a hurry; it was the other person who was.
Sun Shang's face showed a hint of struggle, as if he had made up his mind. He gritted his teeth and said, "How about five hundred and twenty taels?"
Seeing that Zhu Mingyue remained unmoved, he then tried to appeal to her emotions: "Manager Zhu, as you can see, my uncle has taken over the Sun family's business, and Fengxianju has also collapsed. Only our family, the old, the weak, women, and children, are left—" He glanced at the long line of heartless, dull-witted cousins behind him and sighed with disappointment, "They are having a really tough time. This price is the most sincere I can offer."
Zhu Mingyue also sighed: "I deeply sympathize with your plight, which is why I came here to discuss this matter with you. Now, apart from me, there should be no one else in Guangyang County willing to take over Fengxian Residence."
The implication is that appealing to my emotions won't work, and complaining about the low price is even less effective, because no one else is willing to take the job except him, and you have no other choice but me.
Seeing that appealing to emotions was useless, Sun Shang was at a loss. After all, the initiative was in Zhu Mingyue's hands, and he could only wait for Zhu Mingyue to speak.
Zhu Mingyue smiled almost imperceptibly, hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly asked, "How about four hundred and ninety taels?"
After another thirty taels were cut, Sun Shangxin's heart sank. But what could he do if he didn't agree? If he didn't agree, the restaurant would not be sold, and he would not only not get a single tael but also have to pay taxes.
The Sun family had dozens of mouths to feed. Before Sun Weifu's downfall, although he had practically emptied the family coffers, Fengxianju's revenue was still substantial. To maintain appearances, the family wasn't short of money. Now that Sun Weifu is gone, Fengxianju has collapsed, and the Sun family's reputation is ruined. They haven't had a single penny of income in the past few months. They have no choice but to sell the restaurant and use the money to move the whole family elsewhere to start over.
Since they were both in such dire straits, Zhu Mingyue felt embarrassed to take advantage of them. Just as Sun Shang was about to agree, he cleared his throat and said, "If you think this price is acceptable, we can still talk about the Sun family's other businesses in Kangyang County."
Sun Shang's pupils suddenly contracted, then shone brightly. If he hadn't retained his rationality, he would have almost lost his composure.
"I wouldn't say there are any other businesses, just Fengxianju now. Manager Zhu should know about the other two Fengxianju stores. I just don't know if you can..."
Zhu Mingyue interrupted him with a smile: "As long as the price is satisfactory, you can naturally eat it." If the price is not satisfactory, even if you can eat it, you won't bother to eat it.
Sun Shang breathed a sigh of relief: "That makes things easier."
Those silly cousins were also excited. They thought the business deal was off, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. Not only did they succeed, but they also had the opportunity to sell other restaurants.
This Manager Zhu is not only good-looking, but also kind-hearted. It's no wonder that my second uncle was ruined by him.
If Zhu Mingyue knew that these people were secretly praising his kindness, she might spit out the tea in her mouth.
He certainly didn't take over these restaurants out of charity or altruism. What others saw as a hot potato, he didn't. If he could acquire them at a low price, it would be a good thing for the Sun family, and for him, it would be a huge bargain.
Take this Fengxian Residence, for example. It's in the best location. In the past, it would have been a pipe dream to buy it for less than four hundred taels of silver.
An hour later, Zhu Mingyue was sore from talking that she drank cup after cup of tea.
He An also followed along, making an excuse to go to the restroom halfway through.
I even gave him a suggestion in private: "Next time we do business with someone, let's bring more people with us."
Zhu Mingyue replied without hesitation, "This time it was my oversight."
The difference in numbers is too great; whether they can win or not is another matter, but it's clear they can't.
The other party consisted of ten people. Not to mention Sun Shang, who was negotiating with him, the other nine talked more than sparrows outside the window, their spittle could drown a person.
Fortunately, after an hour, both sides were very satisfied with the final result.
Sun Shang managed to get rid of the unsellable hot potato in just one day, while Zhu Mingyue bought a restaurant in her desired location for the price she wanted.
"Take care, my dear brother, we'll meet again someday!"
"Brother Sun, please stop here. We'll take our leave now. Remember to bring your land deed and house deed when we meet again."
Both sides felt they had gotten the better deal and were quite pleased with themselves. They stopped using distant terms like "shopkeeper" and "sir" and started addressing each other as brothers.
Guan Jing chuckled. His boss had complained privately before that, despite both calling each other "brother," Zhu Mingyue addressed others as "Big Brother" more warmly than he addressed him as "Brother Wang." Apparently, these "brother" and "sister" terms were all wholesale; the shopkeeper just threw them out. No wonder his boss didn't find it endearing.
He An helped Zhu Mingyue lead the horse, but Yin Xue was still unhappy and kicked its hooves a few times in protest. Zhu Mingyue stroked its face, and it calmed down, snorted, and obediently followed He An.
"Shopkeeper, here you go!" Guan Jing bought him two strings of candied hawthorns from somewhere after leaving the restaurant.
Zhu Mingyue accepted it, saying, "Thank you!" She remembered that he loved candied hawthorns.
Guan Jing scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled, "It's only right." He worked at Mingyue Restaurant and earned a generous monthly salary. He ate and drank at the restaurant, and he and his brother rented a small courtyard, so they didn't spend much money each month. He had already saved quite a bit. He had been wanting to buy some food for the manager, but he hadn't had the chance until today.
Zhu Mingyue took a bite, and in a good mood, she found the candied hawthorn delicious. She immediately squinted her eyes in enjoyment.
He An leaned over: "Where's mine?"
Guan Jing: ...Sorry, there's none for you.
He An didn't mind; he didn't like this sour, sweet, and sticky food, and it was just a casual question. He glanced back at Fengxianju from afar, then looked at Zhu Mingyue with some suspicion and asked, "Manager, you've taken over the Sun family's restaurant; do you have a plan in mind?"
When Zhu Mingyue said to his face that she would consider taking over all of the Sun family's restaurants, he was surprised, but then he realized that this was probably just something Zhu Mingyue said casually to bargain, and he shouldn't take it seriously.
When the two finally completed the deal, He An was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
This isn't just any restaurant; there are three of them!
It would cost nearly nine hundred taels of silver to buy it, which is no small sum. Zhu Mingyue is being far too bold.
He simply didn't believe that Zhu Mingyue could be so reckless. He thought that since she dared to take on the task, she must have already made a plan... right?
Zhu Mingyue slowly licked the sugar stains off her lips and said, "Hmm, I've made up my mind."
Guan Jing asked curiously, "Are you still running a restaurant?"
Zhu Mingyue shook her head: "I'm not doing it anymore. Even outsiders know that once our Mingyue Tower opens up, the restaurant market in the county will be saturated. Why would I bother buying another restaurant to steal our own business?"
Guan Jing thought for a moment and said, "That makes sense!" Who would rush to share their own pie?
He An: "What should we do with these three restaurants, Manager?"
Seeing their intense curiosity, Zhu Mingyue figured there was nothing she couldn't say, so she simply told them the truth: "Opening a hot pot restaurant?"
"A hot pot restaurant?" they both exclaimed in unison. "What's that?"
"As the name suggests, it's for eating hot pot!" After saying that, he belatedly realized that hot pot didn't exist in this dynasty at all, which the two of them naturally didn't know, so he quickly added: "It's just another way of eating dishes."
He An, quick-witted, guessed it from the name: "Does it mean putting the vegetables in a pot to cook?"
Before Zhu Mingyue could even speak, he immediately posed the probing question: "Then what's the difference between this and cooking at home?"
Uh... it doesn't seem to make any difference.
Zhu Mingyue was almost convinced, but shook her head violently: "There is still a big difference."
"When you cook at home, you usually just boil some cabbage or add some pork. The ingredients aren't very plentiful. Hot pot is different. You can order whatever you want. If you like, you can order a dozen or twenty dishes. And it's not all stewed in one pot. You can cook whatever you want in the broth."
Guan Jing asked, puzzled, "Shopkeeper, this isn't anything special, is it? The food is bland and tasteless when it's boiled, it's not even as good as the staff meal I eat! Would anyone be willing to pay to eat here?"
"How could it be tasteless?" Zhu Mingyue's mind conjured up the image of a bubbling hot pot, and she couldn't help but swallow. "Anyway, it's delicious. You'll see later."
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