Huo Yanqing immediately flicked the reins, "Giddy up!"
After that, their carriage moved quickly along the mountain road.
The journey was rushed, but also went smoothly.
Just as the sun was setting around 5 PM, they successfully arrived at Lichong County.
"We've finally arrived!" The carriage stopped in front of a very impressive-looking shop, and Lin Qixia immediately jumped down to stretch her muscles.
After all, traveling by carriage for several hours is no easy task.
Her whole body ached and her bones were stiff. She moved her body around, while Lin Jiudong and Lin Yi couldn't wait to get off the carriage.
Upon seeing the signboard with the three large, gilded characters "Xiahezhuang" hanging in front of them, and the grand shop building behind it, the two of them couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"
"This is the shop you own?" Lin Jiudong asked incredulously.
Lin Qixia grinned, "How about it? Impressive, right?"
Lin Jiudong pouted, feeling a little uneasy. "Tch! It's just so-so."
However, although she was stubborn, her actions betrayed her, and she had already stepped onto the stairs, eager to see what was happening inside the shop.
Lin Qixia sneered upon seeing this.
"Ah!" Soon He Zhilan's exclamation rang in her ears.
Lin Qixia turned her head to look and saw He Zhilan peeking out, looking at the shop in front of her with a surprised expression.
She was also stunned by the grandeur of the shop and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Xia'er is really amazing," she praised Lin Qixia.
"Of course~" Lin Qixia replied smugly. Seeing He Zhilan carefully getting off the carriage, she quickly stepped forward to help her: "Sister-in-law, take it easy."
Afterwards, she and He Zhilan walked to the shop entrance together, and everyone waited for Lin Qixia to take out the key to open the door.
Several days ago, Lin Qixia had already signed a contract with Fangya and completed the rental procedures. Now the shop is in her hands.
Lin Qixia opened the shop door, and what hit her was not the musty or dusty smell of someone who hadn't lived there for a long time, but rather a very fresh smell.
She ventilated the house a few days in advance, and the back windows were also open so that the wind from the backyard would blow into the front room.
Because the previous owner loved gardening, the backyard was filled with green bamboo and various plants.
Even in autumn, the courtyard is full of blooming chrysanthemums, and the air is fresh and fragrant with their scent.
"What's that smell? It smells so good!" Lin Jiudong exclaimed, and then walked through the front hall and headed towards the backyard.
A moment later, Lin Jiudong's happy voice came from inside: "So many flowers! They're so beautiful!"
"Flowers? Where are the flowers?" Lin Yi's eyes lit up, and she ran over to take a look.
The front hall suddenly became much quieter, with only He Zhilan, Lin Qixia, and Huo Yanqing silently following behind them.
He Zhilan looked at the spacious and elegantly decorated shop in front of her with a face full of surprise, and murmured, "This—this is really our family's shop?"
“Of course~” Lin Qixia said as she showed He Zhilan around, “I have already paid the rent here, and all the official documents and procedures will be completed in a couple of days. Then—I plan to open a grain shop.”
"You want to open a grain shop?" He Zhilan asked Lin Qixia incredulously as she finished speaking.
Lin Qixia patted her hand to comfort her, "Don't panic, sister-in-law, I know what you're thinking."
"You must think that since Huailiang Prefecture is currently experiencing a famine, opening a grain shop at this time will inevitably lead to supply shortages and people looting and causing chaos, right?"
Before she could finish speaking, He Zhilan nodded hurriedly, indicating that this was exactly what she was worried about.
Seeing this, Lin Qixia calmly reassured her, "Don't worry, I have a way to handle the supply. You can just sit back and wait to collect the money!"
Although food is scarce these days, her system allows everything to be traded and exchanged for food.
There's no need to worry about that at that time. The biggest concern is whether the various forces in Huailiang Prefecture will use every means to force her to hand over the grain once they know she has it.
It even disrupted her normal business operations.
This is also why she chose to recruit the bandits on the mountain and make them work for her.
In that case, in addition to conventional means of resistance, force will be needed to defend the resources in their hands at critical moments.
"Xia'er, I'm relieved that you've made such arrangements." He Zhilan didn't ask any further questions after hearing how confident she sounded.
Glug glug—
Just then, He Zhilan's stomach suddenly rumbled, and she looked up at Lin Qixia with some embarrassment.
Lin Qixia was reminded by her and patted her head, "Look at my memory, you must be hungry after traveling all day, you should eat first."
"Okay." He Zhilan replied, then turned to call the people in the backyard, "Dong'er, Yi'er, come out quickly, we're going to eat!"
"They're here! They're here!"
"What are we eating? We're not going to eat out today, are we?"
The two of them couldn't wait to run out of the backyard, each holding a colorful chrysanthemum.
As I approached them, a fragrant aroma wafted towards me.
"Oh dear, how could you pick the flowers?" He Zhilan scolded with a pained expression.
Lin Jiudong quickly replied, "The flowers in the backyard are all in full bloom. We only picked a few, it's fine!"
"Auntie! Here are some flowers for you!" Lin Yi realized she had caused trouble and carefully held out the flowers to Lin Qixia to appease her.
Lin Qixia was taken aback, then took the flowers from her and said, "Thank you, Yi'er."
She leaned closer to smell it and said with a smile, "This flower does smell quite fragrant."
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
He Zhilan, who was standing next to her, was the same.
"Let's go out for dinner." Lin Qixia took Lin Yi's hand and walked out.
He Zhilan walked on the other side of Lin Yi and scolded her in a low voice, "From now on, you are not allowed to touch anything here without Aunt Xia'er's permission!"
Ultimately, this place was acquired by Lin Qixia through her own abilities; she is the true owner of this place.
He Zhilan was aware of this.
As they walked out, Lin Jiudong overheard He Zhilan's deliberate reprimand, which seemed to be directed at her as well.
Lin Jiudong pursed her lips, feeling somewhat sad.
Yes, Lin Qixia is capable, unlike me—
Even though he felt uncomfortable, Lin Jiudong knew that Lin Qixia was indeed stronger than before.
She has no choice but to accept it.
"Sister!" Soon, Lin Jiudong put on a nonchalant, even slightly fawning smile, and moved closer to Lin Qixia, hugging her arm and asking in a sweet, coquettish voice, "What are we having for dinner tonight, sister?"
Lin Qixia got goosebumps from her cloying voice. She shuddered and said, "Eat noodles!"
She's spent too much money lately and can't afford to treat them to lavish meals and drinks for the time being.
I plan to wait until the official opening in a few days, then order a few tables of food and wine from Yuxianlou and invite everyone to have a good meal.
"Noodles? That's wonderful!"
To their surprise, they were overjoyed to hear this answer.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
