Chapter 42: Renting a Shop to Make Money (The one who owes the debt pays it back…)

It was settled.

However, the rent was quite high. After calculating the costs, buying the shop seemed more practical.

The broker asked detailed questions. If they were willing to pay the asking price, a one-year lease was possible.

“The owner said the annual rent would be sixteen taels of silver, but buying the shop outright would only cost fifty-five taels,” the broker said, still hoping she would purchase it.

Sixteen taels of silver was a substantial sum. If Su Yi’an hadn’t sold her sausage recipe, she would never have been able to afford it.

“Why is the selling price so low?” Zhuang Shan asked, comparing the rental and purchase costs. The asking price was at least forty taels below market value.

The broker chuckled awkwardly. “You’ve seen right through me. To be honest, I won’t hide it from you. Another party has their eye on this property and wants to buy it at a bargain price. That’s why the owner is eager to sell it quickly to someone else.”

“But if they’re both selling at a loss, what difference does it make who they sell to?” He Ningwen asked, puzzled.

If they were going to lose money either way, why care who they lost it to?

The street was bustling with people, and discussing such matters in front of the shop wasn’t appropriate. Zhuang Shan closed the shop door and led them to the back courtyard.

A stone table stood in the courtyard, still set with warm tea—the same spot where Su Yi’an had been sitting earlier.

Knowing Su Yi’an was seriously considering renting, the broker explained the owner’s reasons for lowering the price in detail.

It turned out the owner had a close nephew. Years ago, when the owner first set up a stall in town, his elder brother had helped him out. Now that the owner had prospered, his brother’s son came knocking.

He demanded the shop and courtyard, arguing that since they had moved to a grand mansion, they might as well sell this small place to their nephew. They could settle it with a token sum of money, just to show goodwill between the families.

Su Yi’an understood. While they called it a “token sum,” if the owner’s elder brother asked, he wouldn’t dare ask for proper payment.

But the original favor might have been just one or two taels of silver. Now the nephew was demanding an entire shop and courtyard. How could the owner possibly agree?

He Ningwen still didn’t understand. If the place was such a bargain, why hadn’t someone else bought it?

“Ahem, those who want it can’t afford it, and those who can afford it don’t want to get involved in the drama,” the broker said bluntly. It was the truth. If he had the money, he’d buy it himself.

The owner was desperate to sell, but renting it out would also work, as long as his nephew stopped pestering him.

Su Yi’an calculated. Even if she retrieved the twenty taels from the prefectural capital, she’d only have forty taels in total—still not enough.

“Could you ask if they’d lower the price further?” Su Yi’an suggested. “After all, even if we rent it, his nephew might still cause trouble.” She still felt this place was the most suitable.

Not only did it have multiple rooms in the courtyard, but it also had a well. For a food business, having a well was essential. Without one, they’d have to make countless trips to the public well every day.

Seeing that Su Yi’an genuinely wanted to rent the shop but couldn’t afford to buy it, the broker revealed his bottom line: “I can knock off two taels of silver at most. That’s the absolute lowest I can go, and that’s only because I’m waiving my commission.”

Brokerages typically took a cut from both rentals and sales. The broker’s firm stance made it clear that the price was truly non-negotiable.

With the terms agreed upon, they just needed to pay and sign the lease agreement before Su Yi’an could move in.

Though Su Yi’an didn’t suspect the broker of dishonesty, she couldn’t read the local script. If there were any hidden clauses in the lease, her efforts would be for nothing.

“Let’s do it tomorrow,” Su Yi’an said. “I don’t have that much silver on me today.” They agreed to meet again at Butcher Zhuang’s shop before noon the next day.

After all, the landlord’s nephew might wander over again. If he saw them, the rental deal could fall through.

After the broker left, Yun Niang asked Su Yi’an why she hadn’t signed the lease immediately. “Why wait and risk complications?” she urged. “If you really want the shop, you should buy it tomorrow. If you’re short on funds, I can lend you the money.”

Yun Niang knew Su Yi’an’s character well. Besides, the shop was nearby—where could she possibly run off to?

“This is no small sum,” Su Yi’an replied, shaking her head. “How could I ask you for such a large loan?” She suspected Yun Niang had some savings, but borrowing dozens of taels felt inappropriate.

Even the closest relationships could strain under the weight of debt.

Su Yi’an and the others had left early that morning, without saying when they would return.

Madam He, worried they might rush back and miss lunch, cooked extra food.

Today’s meal consisted of rice porridge, steamed buns kept warm in a bamboo steamer, and a small head of napa cabbage.

During the New Year celebrations, they had eaten meat every day, their stomachs heavy with oil. A lighter meal was a welcome change.

“I wonder how their search is going,” He Songyuan said. “We should have sent Second Brother with them. Brokers might try to take advantage of them, especially since Yi’an used to be confined to her chambers and knows nothing about rental prices.”

Madam He also felt a twinge of unease. She had approved their trip, but what had seemed straightforward earlier now seemed worrisome as they discussed it at the table.

“There’s only one road to town,” Madam He said. “I’ll go check on them later.”

He Yunhuai set down his chopsticks and stood up first. “I’ve finished eating. I’ll go.”

Though it was midday, the air was still chilly. He Yunhuai felt the cold as soon as he stepped outside.

He went back inside to grab two hand warmers.

The others were still talking inside, completely unaware of his presence outside the door.

He Songyuan’s voice drifted out, teasing yet sincere: “Second Brother has really stepped up. I always thought he was just a bookworm back at the academy, but now he’s so thoughtful.”

“Mother, now that Wan Xu has given birth, why don’t I move in with her? That way, Second Brother and his wife can have this room,” He Songyuan suggested, feeling guilty for keeping the newlyweds apart.

Madam He, with her years of experience, saw through everything. She sighed, “Don’t say such things again. Affection should develop naturally. Besides, Yi’an didn’t even perform the proper wedding rites when she married into our family.”

A few days ago, she had briefly entertained the notion that Yi’an might harbor some affection for Erlang. But now, she realized it wasn’t the kind of love that bound two souls together for life; it was the affection one felt for a family member.

“Mother, what do you mean?” He Songyuan asked, puzzled.

“If Wan Xu went to town, would she invite you along?” Madam He glanced at him.

“Of course,” He Songyuan replied. As husband and wife, they were inseparable.

“That’s all there is to it,” Madam He said, ending the conversation. She had only wanted to warn He Songyuan against making rash assumptions in the future.

She had already reluctantly pressured Su Yi’an once; she didn’t want to do it again.

Outside, He Yunhuai noticed the fallen handwarmer and quickly bent down to pick it up.

Afraid someone inside might see him, he hurried out of the courtyard. Only after he had gone some distance did he brush the dirt off the handwarmer.

His mother was right. He had simply assumed they should be together.

From the beginning, his relationship with Su Yian had been unequal. She had been forced to marry him because of his severe illness, when she deserved better.

The cold wind swept across his face, calming his restless heart once more.

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This trip to town had been solely to inspect the shop and courtyard, so Su Yian hadn’t bought anything on the way back.

They would be returning tomorrow anyway, and they could get whatever they needed then.

He Ningwen skipped and hopped along, her excitement bubbling over at the thought of their own little shop and no more daily treks back and forth.

“Sister Su, doesn’t that person look like my second brother?” she said, pointing to a figure approaching in the distance.

Su Yian paused, then looked up. It really was He Yunhuai.

“Second Brother!” He Ningwen dashed forward, unable to stop before throwing herself into his arms.

“What’s got you so excited?” He Yunhuai ruffled her hair and handed her one of the hand warmers he had brought.

He Ningwen wasn’t cold, but she couldn’t refuse her brother’s kindness. She accepted it with a smile. “Let Sister Su tell you,” she said.

He Yunhuai instinctively turned to Su Yian, his gaze deep and intense.

Su Yian smiled back and stepped forward to He Ningwen. “Didn’t you want to say it? Why are you making me do it again?”

“I wanted to hear Sister Su say it again.”

The walk home was still quite long. As they walked, Su Yian explained, “That’s how it is. I think we should rent it for now. We can buy it later when we’ve saved enough money.”

He Yunhuai naturally agreed with her decision. Whether to rent or buy, he would follow her lead.

“You went to town on business, didn’t you? Why did you walk so far?” Su Yian asked him.

He Yunhuai slipped another hand warmer from his sleeve into Su Yian’s hand and calmly lied, “I was planning to visit the bookstore.”

He Ningwen, ever sharp, blinked and asked, “The bookstore? Then why did Second Brother bring two hand warmers?”

He Yunhuai glanced at his younger sister, a rare flicker of regret crossing his face. If I’d known she’d ask, I should have just let her freeze. Why did I bother with the hand warmers? He continued his lie, “I thought I might run into you both, so I brought them just in case.”

Su Yian raised an eyebrow, thinking he was surprisingly quick-witted today.

As soon as they returned home, Su Yian described the shop she had found to Madam He and the others.

The shop was spacious, with a separate small kitchen and a well in the courtyard for easy access to water.

“A place to shelter from the wind and rain is good enough,” Madam He thought after listening to Su Yian’s proposal.

“The best part is, the courtyard has four rooms. We’ll all have our own space,” Su Yian said, turning to He Xingchen. “Plus, it’s just a short walk to the Academy—only one street away. Going to school will be much easier.”

“You won’t even need anyone to take you. You can walk there yourself,” Su Yian said, patting He Xingchen on the shoulder with earnestness.

Madam He hadn’t expected the most important point to come last. She paused, then asked, “How can we all go?”

Su Yian looked around at everyone in the room, equally puzzled. “Of course we’ll stay together as a family.”

“We can sign the lease tomorrow and move to town. I thought I’d go ahead to tidy up the place. Once it warms up a bit, I’ll bring Wan Xu and the others over.” Su Yian had planned all this on the way home.

Wanxu was still recovering from childbirth, Man Mei was too young to travel, and someone needed to stay behind to care for the house. That’s why Su Yian would go first and bring them over once everything was settled.

That night, Wan Xu called Su Yian into her room.

She pulled out a pouch hidden beneath her bedding and poured all the copper coins onto the kang.

Three qian of silver and one hundred and twelve copper coins—all the money she had.

“What’s this for?” Su Yian frowned.

“Yi’an,” Wan Xu said softly, pushing a money pouch toward her. “You spent a lot on renting the shop, and now you’re sending Xingchen to school in town.”

“Stop right there,” Su Yian said, refusing the pouch. “He Xingchen will earn the money to pay me back himself. I don’t need yours.”

A six-year-old earning money? How long would that take?

Wan Xu knew Su Yian was making excuses, but she couldn’t argue with her.

“Fine, he can pay you back later. But you have to accept this from Songyuan and me,” Wanxu insisted, confident she had left Su Yian no room to refuse.

If Su Yian were short on funds, she would have taken the money without hesitation. But with money in hand, she didn’t want to accept it all.

“Once things are settled in town, I’ll be waiting for you and Eldest Brother to come help me at the shop. Neither of you can escape,” Su Yian said, taking a small piece of silver from the pouch. She tucked the rest, along with the pouch, back under Wan Xu’s quilt.

“Alright, we’ll do as you say,” Wan Xu replied, unable to suppress a smile.

The next morning, Su Yian woke up later than usual.

Having already finalized arrangements with the broker, she wasn’t in a rush to go to town and decided to have breakfast at home.

Seeing smoke rising from the kitchen chimney, she assumed Madam He was cooking.

Pushing open the door, she called out, “Mother!”

Instead, He Yunhuai stood by the stove, an egg in one hand and bamboo chopsticks in the other, looking at her in surprise.