roccoschili Chapter 256 The Shop is Finalized
Chapter 256 The Shop is Finalized
Chapter 256 The Shop is Finalized
Shen Siheng was overjoyed and almost jumped up: "That's great, sister-in-law! We won't have to squeeze outside anymore. Don't worry, I'll be a regular customer from now on."
Zhang Rongrong rolled her eyes at him: "I don't want to call you out on it. Look at your greedy face, you're thinking of getting a free meal again, aren't you? They're just doing business properly, don't think about eating for free all the time."
"Sister-in-law, how could you say that to me?" Shen Siheng complained while helping to clear the dishes.
“When I’m out in the world, I still have my pride. What I’m thinking is that my mother won’t have to run back and forth to bring me meals anymore. Anyway, she’s very idle at home all day, so I’ll let her go to the restaurant to help out and save us from arguing with you again.”
Zhang Rongrong looked at him in disbelief: "Brother-in-law, when did you become so kind? You're up to no good, aren't you? We've argued so many times before, and you've never once spoken up or helped us. Now that you're saying these things, I'm starting to suspect you have ulterior motives."
Shen Siheng was almost speechless after being choked by her words. In the end, he stubbornly tried to save face: "I was thinking of both of you. So, who am I helping? It would be best if I didn't help either of you."
Zhang Rongrong brought over the food box and chatted with Xu Chaoyan for a few minutes: "We can go to the bookstore to pick up some bargains. The owner there sells pretty good quality items. Based on the principle of small profits and quick turnover, we can stock up on writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to have on hand."
These past few days, Xu Chaoyan has been very busy. She has to set up her stall and do business, and she also needs to plan what kind of business to do in the future. With the money she currently has, running a small stall is enough for them to make ends meet. However, if they expand their business and open a shop, they will need to purchase various items, and they may find themselves short of money.
In March, as spring begins to return to the earth, people gradually begin to wear less clothing.
Zhang Yueniang initially disapproved of her renting a shop to do business, but after careful consideration over the past few days, she agreed with Xu Chaoyan's idea, since no one can withstand wind and rain.
They had already checked out the layout of the bookstore and picked up some bargains, enough for the two of them to use for about half a year. Although the location was a few steps away from the county school, it wasn't as bustling as the shops right in front of the school. Plus, the owner was very eloquent, making their writing implements much more popular.
Even though Xu Chaoyan and her group run a small food stall, they can't guarantee how their business will fare in the future. At least they have a shop to shelter them from the wind and rain. It's better than them being out in the elements, and at least they have a place to rest at lunchtime.
Overall, Xu Chaoyan was quite satisfied with the shop. The front could be used as a main hall, and a large pot could be set up outside to serve fresh tofu pudding.
After several days of careful consideration, Xu Chaoyan decided to start with what they were most familiar with. Besides, her older sister was rather introverted, and running the shop alone wouldn't be enough for her, especially since she wasn't exactly flush with cash. With her sister contributing some money and some technical expertise, the two families could easily make ends meet by working together.
Behind the bookstore was a small courtyard and a small kitchen. The courtyard was fully equipped, even with a well. It was small but complete, and for Xu Chaoyan, it was like finding a treasure.
I heard that the bookstore owner and her family usually live in this small courtyard. She has no plans to hire anyone for the time being. She, her sister-in-law, and her older sister are working hard, but they can manage.
Five days later, Xu Chaoyan was tidying up the shop and packing up some things. She wanted to change the layout a bit and also wanted to buy some tables and chairs. This was a considerable expense. She was writing and drawing on paper, looking worried, when Zhang Rongrong's voice suddenly came over.
"Xu Chaoyan, I brought you some snacks. Would you like to rest for a bit? You look so worried, is something bothering you?"
They had already signed a contract with Zhang Rongrong's family, and with her help, the shop had been rented. The original rent was fifteen taels of silver a year, but their daughter had managed to haggle it down to eight taels a year.
Old Zhang was furious, but out of consideration for his daughter, he reluctantly rented the shop to them.
Eight taels of silver was a considerable sum for them, and with the initial investment of at least thirty or forty taels, it was estimated that the shop would only be able to get started.
Xu Chaoyan quickly moved a long bench over and asked her older sister to get some tea. Then she said apologetically, "Rongrong, I'm really sorry. I didn't have any good tea to serve you in such a hurry. Please don't mind our simple country tea."
Last year, my aunt and I picked some honeysuckle, dried it, and stored it. Where is it stored? At this moment, Zhang Yueniang brewed some and brought it over, respectfully handing it to her. This time, the shop was made possible thanks to Shen Siheng's sister-in-law. She had been thinking of thanking her, but she didn't know how to express her gratitude.
They were poor and didn't have much to offer. The only thing the Zhang family had was their skill in making tofu, and their tofu pudding was not bad. They had previously discussed with Xu Chaoyan about making some dried tofu and bean curd sticks as a thank-you gift. Xu Chaoyan had taught her how to make bean curd sticks, but it was a bit laborious and the yield wasn't very high. They themselves were reluctant to eat them.
Zhang Rongrong took the honeysuckle tea and smiled slightly at her: "Sister Yue Niang, you are a few years older than me, so there's no need to be so polite with me. Honeysuckle has the effects of clearing away toxins and dispersing wind-heat, so drinking it is good for our health. This is obviously dried by your own hands, I'm so grateful, how could I possibly dislike it?"
After saying that, he pulled Zhang Yueniang down to sit with him.
"I feel a connection with you all. I get so bored in the shop on weekdays, so I thought I'd come over and chat with you for a bit. Or maybe I could take back the shop next door and start a small business, so I can be with you guys. My shop is surrounded by old fogies and scoundrels who tell dirty jokes all day long. It's much more enjoyable to be with you guys."
Xu Chaoyan was taken aback, then glanced at the shop next to her: "That's yours too. Your family has quite a few businesses."
Zhang Rongrong covered her mouth and chuckled softly: "To be honest, both shops belong to my father. He has no business acumen, yet he loves to make a living. Of the shops inherited from our ancestors, only these two or three remain. If he continues to squander them like this, both will soon be gone. My elder brother isn't cut out for business either. Now, if we rent out these two shops, they can live a stable life at home running the family-run cloth shop, making a little money through small profits and high sales volume. If we let them squander these two shops, they'll most likely be ruined in their hands. That's why I suggested they rent them out."
Moon Lady also realized what was going on and casually asked, "Then if you're going to do business with us, what kind of business do you plan to do?"
Zhang Rongrong was taken aback by her question: "I haven't thought about it yet. It's just about basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Everyone needs these things, but it doesn't seem like a good place to open a silk shop near the county school."
The shop next door also sells stationery, but it's not particularly good either. However, it's better than their previous shop, and they can make a living without any problem.
There are so many bookstores near the county school that it's hard to count them all, but the few that do the best business are the ones near the school gate. It's said that the bookstores are owned by relatives of the county magistrate, which is why they occupy the best locations.
"Forget it, I don't really know what I want to do, so I'll just put it on my agenda for now. I overheard the landlord complaining a bit about how business is bad and he wanted to reduce the rent, but my father hasn't agreed. But I don't know if he'll renew the lease or not. The lease is due to be renewed in mid-May. If he doesn't do business by then, I'll get started."
Xu Chaoyan suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "I thought of mid-May. If he doesn't renew the lease, you can sell some plum juice, ice jelly, and the like. In the sweltering summer, who wouldn't want to drink something cold and refreshing?"
Zhang Rongrong's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "That's a great idea! We can discuss the details in May. You're more quick-witted and have more ideas than me. I'll provide the shop, and you can provide the staff. By the way, what kind of business are you planning to do? And why did you look so worried just now? Is there some kind of difficulty?"
Xu Chaoyan pointed to the empty space: "I'm thinking about whether to find a carpenter to make a few new sets of tables and chairs, or to buy some new or used ones."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Rongrong smiled and said, "You're so worried about this? I'll take you to the secondhand market area and maybe we can find some cheap items."