Chapter 70: Are You Short Of Money?
Translator: Flying Lines
Proofread by Claire.KK
Again Ye went to the governnt office to look for Xiao Baoshan, told him about the restaurant which was available to rent and said that she would like to get it.
“Baoshan, my plan is like this. I really have to rent that restaurant and I have the confidence to open it up, but I don’t have enough money and I still need three more taels of silver, so could you borrow so for ?” Ye Xiaoxian said with determination.
That restaurant was indeed in a good location and so long as the dishes were delicious with their own style, they would surely make a profit in the future. Moreover, it was almost autumn and they could not depend on selling cold jelly and douhua for long. When the weather beca cold they would have to open up shop in the wind and rain which was just too laborious.
Xiao Baoshan did not speak and seed to think.
Ye Xiaoxian knew that Baoshan was a thoughtful person so she asked, “Baoshan, what do you think? Don’t worry, just tell your ideas.”
Xiao Baoshan then asked her, “I heard that you have to go to the local comrcial firm and register if you want to open up a restaurant. Do you know about this?”
“I’ve heard it before,” said Ye Xiaoxian.
At this ti all the agricultural land as well as stores in town were owned by local wealthy landlords. Wealthy landlords owned them and rented out to people who did business. Still, so successful business people would finally purchase the store as their own private property.
Xiao Baoshan asked again, “Did you ask the manager if he owns the shop or has rented it from the comrcial firm?”
“Uh? I didn’t ask him about this.” Ye Xiaoxian was only thinking to rent that store as soon as possible so she had not asked about the details. Ye Xiaoxian then said, “He only charged ten taels, so he must have rented it. If he owned it then he would at least have charged fifty taels.”
Xiao Baoshan answered, “Yeah, you’re right. If he has rented it from the comrcial firm, we might as well find a friend and let them negotiate the price.”
“So do you have a friend in the comrcial firm?” asked Ye Xiaoxian.
“We’re just going to inquire about it, so it’s not that complicated.” Xiao Baoshan smiled. “We can go to the comrcial firm now.”
...
The comrcial firm was in another street and a little bit remote. The size of it was about that of a pawn shop and there were two mbers of staff inside.
Xiao Baoshan led Ye Xiaoxian inside and showed his card as a handyman in the governnt office. The staff saw that Xiao Baoshan was from the governnt and thought he was here for business, so the staff were quite polite to them.
Xiao Baoshan asked them to see if the restaurant had been registered with the comrcial firm and whose property it was. As it turned out it was quite a coincidence, because the property was that of Lord Liu.
When they ca out of the comrcial firm Xiao Baoshan suggested that Ye Xiaoxian talk to Lord Liu. If Lord Liu would like to give her a discount she may get the store for eight taels of silver instead of ten.
Ever since Ye Xiaoxian had the idea of opening up a restaurant she started to pay attention to the tricks and ways of doing business. She did not expect there to be so many complicated relationships involved in this.
She imdiately went to find Lord Liu. Lord Liu heard that she wanted to rent that shop and smiled. “No wonder you are not willing to work for us, as it turns out that you have such ideas. That restaurant in town is ours. Several managers have been changed over the last couple of years and the business has not done very well. So argued that it was not a good place to open up a restaurant because of fengshui (geomantic on; it prevailed in China that the location of a house or tomb supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family).”
“It all depends on human effort. Others failed but that doesn’t an that I won’t succeed.” Ye Xiaoxian smiled.
“It’s good to be so determined. Since you’ve made up your mind I’ll let Housekeeper Liu discuss it with the manager for you and also get the restaurant back.”
“Well, thank you so much, Lord Liu, but...” Ye Xiaoxian continued. “I actually have another request. When I open up the restaurant I may not be able to cook for Miss Qianqian everyday and if you and miss were hungry for my cooking, perhaps you could co to my restaurant in person or I could always ask my staff to deliver the food to you.”
Lord Liu looked at Ye Xiaoxian with a smile. “You’re hoping that we can make a na for you, right? You little girl, you want to maintain appearance as well as save money. You’re indeed a future business person.”
Ye Xiaoxian smiled.
Lord Liu then said, “Well, well, you don’t have to co and cook for us if you don’t want to. We can go to your place or ask the servants to take so food ho, but you have to give us so discounts with extra food in every portion.”
“Certainly I will!” Ye Xiaoxian promised.
As Housekeeper Liu went there personally, things were going very smoothly. It originally cost ten tales but after the negotiation it had been reduced to seven taels, which happened to be all that Ye Xiaoxian had saved. After the transfer fee she had to pay two taels every month in rent.
There was still half a month left on the previous manager’s lease and Ye Xiaoxian could have a good think about how to open up a restaurant.
Ye Xiaoxian just strolled around the town for a whole afternoon and had rented a restaurant, which surprised everyone in the second household. During the dinner that night they were all staring at Ye Xiaoxian in a daze.
Although Ye Xiaoxian looked very calm and ate her al as usual, she was chuckling to herself.
“Little, little Ye...what on earth is on your mind?” Li Hongi asked her, unable to hold it in.
“I’m thinking of expanding the business. Don’t you always say my cooking is great? Even Lord Liu loves what I cook so why can’t we open up a restaurant?” Ye Xiaoxian asked.
“In our Daliang village...won never open up a restaurant. Not just won, but even n don’t have the guts to do this. All the n of the village were doing work for others, like your elder and third uncle who were working for the governnt office as attendants, which can be counted as a great achievent, besides, doing business does not always an that one makes money.”
Ye Xiaoxian said, “If we can’t make money out of it we might as well continue to sell cold jelly and douhua, so we won’t starve to death. Anyway, we haven’t opened the restaurant up yet, and Ma, how could you be so sure that we can’t make money?”
“I didn’t an that. I don’t worry if you can make money or not. I’m just...very surprised. I had no idea you’re so brave. Little Ye, whether you can make money or not Ma will always support you,” Li Hongi said firmly.
Xiao Baofeng had not moved his gaze from Ye Xiaoxian. At this mont he found his sister-in-law to not be a village woman, instead she was like a mysterious lady depicted in books.
While Xiao Baozhu suddenly recalled the novels she read and she found that her sister-in-law possessed the characteristics belonging to the heroine, which were determination, ambition and strength. Xiao Baozhu thought that she should learn from little Ye Xiaoxian and only by that could she beco the kind of heroine in those novels.
“Little Ye, you have enough money? You said it was ten taels and you’re short three taels?” Of everyone in the family only Xiao Baoshan asked the most realistic question.
Although he knew that Ye Xiaoxian had made money by selling cold jelly and had also made quite a few coins by cooking in Lord Liu’s, he never asked the specific amount.
Ye Xiaoxian answered, “It’s almost there and we’ll have enough from selling more cold jelly.”
“Do you need to redecorate the restaurant?” asked Xiao Baoshan.
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