Chapter 100: Buying a Mansion
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
She couldn’t say that she was fair, but she could only try her best.
After occupying this body, she would do her filial piety.
As long as everyone could get along with her, she would be a very easy person to get along with.
After doing some jewelry shopping, they went to the restaurant to eat.
She still refused to go to Yihe Restaurant.
The food in this restaurant was quite good, and business seemed to be faring well.
After lunch, they returned to the inn.
She left Bai Cha behind to take care of her family. Although they would not wander around, it was better to leave a young, strong, and capable person behind. It would make Han Qiao feel more at ease.
They walked to the Broker’s Firm.
Puyi County was quite big. Currently, there were two broker firms that specialized in helping people buy and sell houses. They would take a certain percentage from it.
The managers of Broker’s Firm were not the owners, so they were extra careful when they spoke and did things, and they didn’t talk too much.
If Mr. Hu had come, people like Heng Yi and Han Qiao who wanted to buy houses and shops would have already found one a long time ago, and they might already be on their way to see the house.
“Are the two of you planning to buy a shop? What is your budget?”
When Han Qiao noticed that Heng Yi didn’t say anything, she said, “It’s best if you have three shops connected. But one shop is also fine.”
“If you have a house on sale, we want a bigger one.”
The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, “Then I’ll let the assistant take you to see the residence first.”
“Alright.”
The assistant was much more energetic than the shopkeeper.
“Dear guests, shall we walk or take a carriage?”
“Let’s walk and look around,” Han Qiao said.
She walked next to Heng Yi, holding hands quietly.
This shop assistant was very talkative and knew the streets and alleys of Puyi County very well.
He had a vast knowledge of what was being sold on that street.
“Well, those three shops are for sale.”
Han Qiao looked over.
The three shops were currently operating as a tavern, but the business was very cold and almost no one went in.
Not only was the shopkeeper listless, but even the shop assistant was also dejected.
“What’s going on?” Han Qiao asked.
“Last month, someone died in that tavern. It was also the start of the shop owner’s bad luck. The family of the deceased caused a ruckus in the tavern for a long time. In the end, they paid the money and the business collapsed. This shop was not small. There were two courtyards at the back and a private room upstairs. If the business had been successful, he could earn a lot.”
Han Qiao nodded.
The location of the shop was also very strategic.
There was also some distance between Yi He Restaurant and the tavern.
“How much does he plan to sell it for?”
“Earlier, he said he wanted six hundred taels. Now, you should be able to buy it with five hundred taels.”
Six hundred taels. If the business was good, one could earn it in a year. It was a good price.
“Can I go and take a look?” Han Qiao asked.
“Of course.”
The assistant led the way.
When the owner and manager of the restaurant saw the assistant, they were silent for a moment before they finally sighed.
“Please come in.”
The restaurant was bigger than Han Qiao had imagined. It was also very clean. There were eight private rooms upstairs, and behind the lobby was the kitchen. Not only was the kitchen big, but it was also spacious.
The two chefs were nervous when they saw Han Qiao and Heng Yi enter.
Although they were hoping to sell the restaurant, they didn’t want it to be sold.
After all, if they changed owners, it was hard to say if they could still keep their job.
There were a few rooms behind the kitchen, most of which were used to store food. Two were left for the waiters to stay in, and also to look after the shop.
The tavern’s location was not bad, and the layout was also very good. If it was not a last resort, the owner wouldn’t want to sell it.
Heng Yi knew nothing about business, and Han Qiao had been the one talking to the boss the entire time. The boss had wanted 600 taels of silver at first, but he couldn’t sell it at that price for more than a month.
When the buyers found out that someone had died in this shop, they refused to even consider buying the place anymore.
In the end, the cost dropped to five hundred taels.
“Five hundred taels is a very suitable price.” Han Qiao said.
She was much more experienced than Heng Yi.
Not only did she want the chef to stay, but she also wanted the shopkeeper to stay.
“As long as you work hard, I can give you a bonus.”
“A bonus?
The shopkeeper and the chef asked in unison.
“Yes, work hard and run the restaurant well. I can take out 30% of the profits for you.”
When business was good, this shop could earn six or seven hundred taels a year. 30% was about two hundred taels.
“I also have a request. If you work in this restaurant and get a bonus, you can’t make the restaurant’s signature dish when you decide to leave. I’ll write all of this down on paper. ‘Those who can’t eat at the table will curse when they get off the table’, don’t you think so?”
“That’s right.”
Han Qiao still bought the restaurant for 500 silver taels.
The two chefs, the manager, and the four servants stayed behind.
The next step was to close the shop and renovate it.
Although she said “renovate”, they were actually just cleaning up the interior and exterior. Only the corners and roofs were renovated.
Once the tables and stools were all cleaned, Han Qiao asked the shopkeeper to sort out the counters, wine, and grains. She would have her own use for them when the store opened.
“Boss, are you still planning to open a restaurant?” Manager Liao asked.
He had been running the restaurant all these years and had been through a lot to earn some money, but he had also been exhausted by this accident.
Especially when the money was spent and the matter was not settled. Only then did he realize the importance of power and backing.
That was why he decided to sell the tavern and become an idle shopkeeper.
“Yes.”
Not only did she want to open a restaurant, but she also wanted the best specialty restaurant in Puyi County.
Han Qiao had an idea the moment she saw this restaurant.
After settling the matter of the restaurant, they went to look at the residence.
It was said that this house was bought by the former county magistrate’s wife. She bought two courtyards and demolished them to rebuild them. It had only been repaired for a few years. Everything inside was very new, and even the furniture and items had not been moved away.
“Has the county magistrate been promoted?”
“Yes, the county magistrate’s wife is said to be the daughter of the capital’s prime minister.”
Han Qiao nodded.
No wonder this house was so magnificent.
If her guess was correct, those furnitures were all made from top-notch rosewood.
“How do you plan to buy this house?”
“One thousand two hundred taels is not a small amount.”
Han Qiao expressed her understanding.
The prime minister’s daughter definitely did not lack money.
She had already made a price, so it was impossible for you to bargain. It would make her feel embarrassed and she would rather keep it than sell it.
That was where she stood on the matter.
“There are also people who came to take a look. Firstly, they feel that this courtyard is expensive. Secondly…” The assistant leaned closer to Han Qiao. “Someone died inside.”
Han Qiao raised her eyebrows.
“It is said that the county magistrate doted on a little servant girl. He made the servant girl pregnant, and the county magistrate’s wife poisoned her to death together. One corpse and two lives were lost. The corpse was thrown into the lotus pond behind. When it was discovered, the body was already swollen.”
“I don’t believe you.” Han Qiao chuckled.
“Why?” The assistant asked.
“Since she is the daughter of the Prime Minister, she must be well-read and talented. She can’t be calculative with a servant girl. Moreover, the county magistrate might not even take a fancy to a servant girl.”
“The layout of the house, the furniture, the items, all have an expensive taste”
“It’s said that servants follow their masters. Her servants won’t do something like sleeping onto their master’s bed.”
“They wouldn’t dare.”
The assistant was very surprised.
However, the steward, who stayed behind to guard the house, laughed when he heard Han Qiao’s words, “My young lady said that the house will be sold to a fated person. You’re the first person who doesn’t believe the rumors and firmly believes in my young lady’s character. I’ll sell this house to you.”
Han Qiao was surprised, but she didn’t refute it..