"Not to mention making a profit in a year, it would be a blessing if we don't lose money. I've simply closed a few shops to avoid having to subsidize them. You can take a look. If it suits your fancy, we can discuss the rent."
Qi Jiao reached out and stroked the smooth wooden cabinet. This shop used to sell rouge and powder. To make it convenient for female customers to try on makeup, there were compartments on both sides of the hall, and there was a small courtyard with a well in the back.
There were two side rooms on either side of the small courtyard. What pleased Qi Jiao was that there was also a small kitchen attached to the back.
Qi Jiao smiled and curtsied to Zhang Yi. "Sir, your shop is excellent. Let's not beat around the bush. May I ask how much the annual rent is?"
Zhang Yi laughed and said, "Not much, not much. Eighty taels of silver a year should be fine."
Qi Jiao was secretly shocked. Sure enough, she and Mei Mei were not in the same class as the rent - collecting Zhang Yi.
But she could understand.
After all, this shop had a good layout and was in a prime location.
In Lingle County, regardless of one's wealth, when people thought of shopping and strolling around, the first place that came to mind was Qing'an Avenue.
Didn't you see that the road on Qing'an Avenue was twice as wide as an ordinary street?
If properly managed, it was almost inevitable to make a fortune.
Seeing that Jiao Niang was interested, Pei Xia bowed to Zhang Yi. "Sorry to trouble you, sir. I also think your shop is very good. But we need to discuss it with our family first. Can we give you an answer tomorrow?"
Zhang Yi was not a petty man. He waved his hand. "It's okay. Just come to Zhang Mansion and tell me after you've made up your minds."
Actually, he didn't need to come in person for such a trivial matter.
But there was nothing he could do. Who made him so keen on collecting rent?
He had no other hobbies. He had so much money that he couldn't spend it all, and the interest kept pouring in even when he was just lying around. So he simply stopped making more money.
Going out to check on his shops from time to time was a way for him to exercise.
After making an appointment with Zhang Yi, the group rushed to the third location.
The third shop was not far away, located in the alley behind Qing'an Avenue.
This alley was called Pomegranate Alley, named after the pomegranate trees planted at the entrance.
Pomegranate Alley was very interesting. It was a place where business and residence coexisted.
Although Pomegranate Alley was very close to the glamorous Qing'an Avenue, just a few steps away and you'd find yourself in a different world.
There were charming women with their hands on their hips scolding their husbands, little kids with red head - strings running around naked, tea waiters reciting the menu fluently, poor scholars studying hard by the window on the second floor, and the scents of wine, tea, rice, and beautiful women...
This was a living and breathing world.
It was full of charm, sounds, and colors, with both excitement and tranquility.
The moment Qi Jiao stepped into Pomegranate Alley, she had a feeling that this was a very livable place.
There was everything you could ask for, from food and drinks to entertainment and daily necessities.
It could be said that Pomegranate Alley was surrounded by Qing'an Avenue, the county magistrate's office, and the county school, forming a commercial and residential area.
It was not only a prestigious school - district property but also had good security.
You could enjoy the prosperity when you went out and the peace when you came back.
After they saw the third shop, Qi Jiao didn't even blink an eye and made a final decision. "This is the one."
Shi Er was a bit stunned. "Are you sure?"
Ye Yun also advised, "You should think it over."
But Pei Xia smiled. "This place is really good."
It turned out that the third shop didn't have the traditional layout. The front yard was a two - story attic with a total of four rooms, and there was a back courtyard.
The front yard was bustling, while the back courtyard was quiet.
What made Qi Jiao and Pei Xia both satisfied was that there was a well in the yard, which was extremely convenient for daily use.
Moreover, they could open a business in the front and live in the back, killing two birds with one stone.
Qi Jiao wondered why such a good place was empty.
Shi Er, who was usually quick - tongued, suddenly stammered. "The previous owner had committed a crime... and had a bad reputation..."
Oh.
Qi Jiao thought it was a haunted house.
"What crime did he commit?"
Ye Yun said, "The owner was a gambler, addicted to gambling. We've all seen that guy. He used to be a noble young master, but unfortunately, he squandered all his family fortune and owed a huge debt. This property was confiscated by the government and left idle for two years. It was only put up for auction this year."
Qi Jiao understood. "I see. So this house is only for sale and not for rent?"
Shi Er nodded. "Theoretically, that's right."
He added, "I showed you this house because it's very practical. I thought that if you wanted to buy it, it would be a good choice. But I didn't mean to force you to buy the gambler's house. Don't be offended."
Shi Er was busy clearing himself, which made Qi Jiao find it funny.
She said, "It's excellent! Brother Shi has helped us so much. A - Xia and I are grateful and how could we blame you?"
Qi Jiao knew that houses that were confiscated by the government and then put up for auction were usually sold at a discounted price.
Moreover, a place with a bad reputation in the eyes of the common people wouldn't attract many real buyers, so the price would surely be low.
Actually, Shi Er and Ye Yun had a very good relationship. As soon as he heard that Ye Yun was looking for a shop for his god - sister, he did his best and used his various connections.
One of them was an official in the government who was in charge of this kind of thing.
That official was worried that he couldn't sell the house in his hand and couldn't even get a kickback.
Shi Er had an idea and added this shop to the ones he showed Qi Jiao and the others.
Unexpectedly, Qi Jiao and Pei Xia were really extraordinary and had great vision.
"Are you going to buy it?"
Qi Jiao was certain. "Yes, I will. I wonder how much this house costs?"
Shi Er said, "It's not very expensive, but it's not cheap either. Buying the whole place, front and back, will cost one hundred and six taels of silver."
Qi Jiao quickly calculated in her mind. If she moved the pastry business and some handicraft work to the back courtyard and opened a shop in the front yard, she could save on the delivery costs. She might be able to get back the one hundred taels in no time.
It couldn't be compared to a big hotel like Zhenxian Lou.
She could open a private - dining restaurant here and limit the number of customers every day. In this way, she wouldn't be too busy and could also use her other time and energy to develop other products.
There were still many things to be developed.
Qi Jiao turned around and asked Pei Xia for his opinion.
Pei Xia said, "Just go ahead and do it. I'll support you no matter what."
Qi Jiao smiled with her eyes bent into crescents and immediately made the decision.
Qi Jiao was also very interested in Zhang Yi's shop.
She wanted to have her cake and eat it too. But one had to eat one bite at a time.
First, make the small shop stable, and then expand it into a big one.
The next day, Qi Jiao prepared a gift box.
It was filled with pastries and salted duck eggs, and there was also a jar of the new - made fermented bean curd and mud carp she had made. The jar was sealed with red clay and tied with a bright silk cloth.
When she got to the Zhang Mansion, Qi Jiao explained her intention and apologized for not renting the shop for the time being.
Zhang Yi was not unhappy. He cheerfully took the gift box. "It's okay. I have plenty of shops anyway. If you want to rent a prosperous shop, you can come to me at any time!"
Qi Jiao said, "I will definitely."
Zhang Yi's eyes accidentally swept across the gift box and were attracted by the words "Jiao Niang's Handicrafts" on it.
Surprise flashed across his face. "So you're Jiao Niang?"
Qi Jiao smiled and said, "My surname is Qi and my given name is Jiao. Jiao Niang's Handicrafts is my business brand."
Zhang Yi's eyes lit up and he said happily, "No wonder. During the New Year, someone from the Shu family sent a gift box. It was exactly the same as the one you brought, except there was no jar of fermented bean curd and mud carp. I didn't expect to meet the real owner here."