Chapter 105 - 105 Water Well
105 Water Well
Lin Zheng asked uncertainty, “Boss, are you sure you want to rent this one? It’s more remote than the others. I could always look for more if you’re unsatisfied with these options.”
Su Binglan said, “No, I’m not unsatisfied. This one is pretty good because it is cheap. The selling point was the water well.”
The water well would make it more convenient to make tofu. Su Binglan forgot to tell Lin Zheng about the need for a water well when she told him to go and look for shops to rent. She did not expect Lin Zheng to be so quick and diligent with his task.
Nonetheless, the shop he found had a water well that Su Binglan needed, which would be convenient for several things.
Su Binglan continued, “That’s an excellent shop to have. We can rent it for a year for the time being. Could you ask them if we can pay rent every six months?”
Lin Zheng replied straightforwardly, “There’s no problem with that, Boss. However, I’ll tell you the truth. That shop belongs to my sister. My mother-in-law gave it to her as a dowry, but my sister wants to rent it out.
“I noticed it was in pretty good condition, so I put it on the list of shops alongside the other ones. Also, my sister has a good personality and won’t cause you trouble down the line.”
Su Binglan patted Lin Zheng’s shoulder and said, “Considering the market right now, that shop should cost between two silver taels or one and a half silver taels. Did she lower the price?”
Lin Zhen scratched his head and said, “I-I’ve asked my sister about it, and she said one silver tael a month is fine.”
Su Binglan sighed and said, “Okay, let’s rent your sister’s shop. We’ll pay rent every six months.”
“Yes, Boss!” Lin Zhen admired Su Binglan the most out of everyone he had ever met. He would do whatever she said. He would not even ask her to pay rent if the shop belonged to him.
However, it was his sister’s shop, and she also needed to make a living. Lin Zheng could not let his sister allow his boss to use the shop for free.
Lin Zheng inwardly sighed because he realized he did not own much and still needed to work hard alongside his boss to earn more.
After selling the candied chestnuts, Su Binglan went to the westernmost area to check out the shop. It was indeed of significant size. She could merge the front of the shop into two and build a small shed in the front as a stall. Also, the shop was in a remote area beside a spacious road, and it would be more convenient for renovations.
Su Binglan felt that the shop was indeed a good place to start. She immediately signed the agreement with Lin Zhen and paid half a year’s rent upfront. Then she went home shortly after.
…
It was rather late when Lin Zheng got home. He immediately went to the courtyard and told his sister, “Here’s the signed agreement and half a year’s rent, Sister,” As he spoke, he gave six silver taels to her.
Lin Qin took two silver taels from the six she received and gave them to her brother. “These are for you. I won’t be home on weekdays, so you must take care of yourself.”
Lin Zheng sniffled as he said, “B-But this is your money, Sister. To tell you the truth, we could’ve rented your shop out for more than one silver tael a month.”
Lin Qin smiled and said, “You think I don’t know what you’re like, silly brother? I trust that you did the right thing. Besides, I didn’t even know if we could rent that place out because it’s in a remote area. I couldn’t have done it without you.
“It seems you’ve grown up. I’ll be in the prefectural capital for a while and won’t be home much. Don’t cause our parents and siblings too much trouble. Think of ways to learn new skills or something so it would benefit your future.”
Now that Lin Qin was married and lived in the prefectural capital, she could only return home a limited number of times a year. Nonetheless, she was closest to Lin Zheng among their many siblings, and he was the one she was concerned about the most.
She knew Lin Zheng was a good person, but Lin Zheng did not like to go to school, which their parents disapproved of. Lin Zheng also possessed little to no skills, so he could not live up to his big brother and his parents’ expectations.
Their parents always scolded Lin Zheng, which caused him to give up on himself. However, Lin Qin realized she worried too much because Lin Zheng had become more mature than before.
Lin Zheng said smilingly, “I know, Sister. I will work hard and support you when the time comes. Then no one can bully you.”