042 – Rent a Shop
After the sun set, it rose again for the new day.
Qin Mian slowly drank the egg soup in the bowl, his calf under the table bumped against Lei Tie’s leg. “Today, let’s go to the town and buy everything that need to buy. Besides, I’d like to see if I can rent a shop. Autumn and winter seasons are the perfect times to make money.”
Lei Tie’s hand paused, “Sell what?”
Qin Mian tapped the bowl with the soup spoon and said confidently, “Food.” He had all kinds of food in his head, not a thousand, not a hundred. Anyway, he had spiritual spring water, he wasn’t afraid that he couldn’t make money. If he wanted to stand up in this era, he must have money, authority and influence. At present, he could only aim at money. Plus, the food industry was the fastest way to earn money. For the other things, he would consider them later.Lei Tie profoundly looked at him before he nodded.
After breakfast, the two drove to town in an ox cart. The wheels rolled up the withered leaves and blew them farther along the wind.
There were a lot of things to buy. The ox cart didn’t have a carriage, so Qin Mian and Lei Tie were sitting on the shaft together. They weren’t cold as they wore a lot of clothes and it felt refreshing when the cold air blew on their faces.
Qin Mian had quietly fed some spiritual spring water to the ox and therefore, the young ox completely awakened human attributes. It cooperatively walked by the side of the road and automatically bypassed pits and stones on the ground, which made people secretly wonder.
When they got to town, they followed the street to find the suitable shop. However, Qin Mian very quickly found out he had been too optimistic. Running Water Town was a lively town, but because of this, the marketplace had been saturated and relatively stable, it was not easy to find a store for rent or sale.
After not finding the suitable shop around the town, Qin Mian didn’t quit and went to look for a broker. There were several shops in the broker’s hand, one of which was near the fork in the road. The size and location of the shop were very suitable, but the shop was only for rent and the price was 200 taels. Qin Mian couldn’t afford it. He could only wave his hand regretfully and consider turning a house into a shop. However, the houses that were sold and rented in the broker’s hand were not suitable for shops.
“This is a good one.” Not giving up, the broker recommended the 200 taels shop to Qin Mian. “Such a big shop with good light is worth only 200 silver taels! There is no such shop as this one beyond this village.”Qin Mian laughed hollowly. Even if he had money, he wouldn’t want to buy it.
“This one.” Lei Tie opened up, as his long finger pointed to a piece of paper on the table.
Inwardly, the broker was pleasantly surprise. This shop had been up for a long time, but nobody showed an interest to it. Could it really be able to rent out today?
Qin Mian was a little stunned. When Lei Tie was with him, especially during business matter, he usually didn’t speak easily. This was the first time that the man offered an opinion. However, he didn’t feel displease but instead he was happy because it made him feel that he wasn’t alone.
He smiled at Lei Tie before looking at the paper, which briefly introduced the situation of the shop. He frowned slightly, “This place is good, but it’s too small. How can we accommodate five or six tables when we are selling food?”
Lei Tie said: “I’ve an impression of this place. The shop is not big, but there is an open space at the door.”
Qin Mian’s heart jolted. If there was an open space at the door, it would be fine to add some tables outside. Thinking of this, he asked the broker, “What’s the situation of this shop?”
The broker was happy at once and spoke in detail, “We’re honest person and I’m not afraid to tell you the truth. Several years ago, a hundred year old tree was planted here. On the left was a grocery store and on the right was a clothing store. Later, the tree was bought and dug out by a rich family. The feudal official felt it was a pity that the land was empty, so they built a house here, which turned out to be a tea shop. Although the shop is small, it has a good location and the rent is not high. It’s only 2 silver taels a month, 24 taels a year.”
“So, it was like that.” Qin Mian was a little moved. “Can we visit the shop to have a look?”
“Of course, I’ve the key.” The broker was smiling from ear to ear and was even more polite, “These two gentlemen, please.”
They followed the broker to the shop and the broker opened the door. Qin Mian looked at the left and right shops before entering. There were four sets of tables and chairs in the room, which were old but intact. The shop was indeed not very big and its entirety could be concluded as crowded. It was trapezoid, narrow inside and wide outside. The inside couldn’t run a back kitchen, only could place four more tables at most. As Lei Tie said, there was an open space outside the door, which could hold about four or five tables.
Qin Mian thought the place was small before, but now he thought it was just right. If the shop was too big, he and Lei Tie might be too busy to handle it.
Qin Mian looked at Lei Tie in consultation.
Lei Tie nodded.
Qin Mian made up his mind and said to the broker: “This shop, rent for a year.”
The broker said happily, “Good, let’s go back to sign the paper first?”
Qin Mian gestured towards him to lead the way.
After going through the formalities at the brokerage, the broker gave Qin Mian the key.
Holding the key, Qin Mian felt a subtle emotion: we can be considered as people with career. He excitedly led Lei Tie forward. “Go, let’s make up the things in the shop today and open it as soon as possible.”
