Chapter 77: Finally Bought the Shop

“You guys know each other?” Boss Hu asked curiously, wondering if his box of cookies would still be safe—after all, once a gift is given, it’s not supposed to be taken back.

“This is my brother’s good friend. I didn’t expect Boss Hu and my brother to find him together.”

“Mom, this is Guan Zhiman, Teacher Guan. He’s very close with Third Brother,” Xu Jiaojiao said these words through gritted teeth.

“Oh, it’s Auntie! You’re so beautiful—if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were Jiaojiao’s sister!” he said overly enthusiastically. But Xu Jiaojiao saw through him completely and didn’t want to say a single word.

Yan Fenglian chuckled happily, finding him more and more pleasing to the eye.

“If Jiaojiao wants this shop, I’ll let you use it for a few months. If you think it’s good, you can buy it then. How about that?” His tone was very sincere.

But Xu Jiaojiao didn’t want to owe him a favor. She was afraid he’d credit everything to her third brother. Not knowing this man well, she didn’t want to push her brother into a fire pit.

Thinking this through, she firmly refused.

Guan Zhiman clicked his tongue with a bit of regret. “Why is your whole family so guarded around me? It’s no fun at all.”

Xu Jiaojiao carefully looked around the clothing store. It was about 50 square meters, with counters, shelves, and even various fabric scraps—everything made her heart itch with excitement.

“Zhiman-ge, just give me a normal price, okay? Sell me your shelves and sewing machines too.”

“Sure. How about 12,000 for everything?”

Even though they’d mentally prepared, the price still shocked them. An average person wouldn’t earn that much in a lifetime.

But then again, this was right next to a state-owned restaurant—the foot traffic in this part of town was unmatched. Any decent business would do well here.

Boss Hu tugged at Xu Jiaojiao’s skirt and whispered, “Jiaojiao, that price is great. Really good.”

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t know the exact market value, but she did know the price of those three sewing machines. It really was a steal. If she had more money, she’d have bought it on the spot.

“Alright then,” Xu Jiaojiao said with a smile, not even bargaining. This guy was clearly giving her the lowest price possible.

Just like that, before Yan Fenglian and Xu Yan could say much, the deal was finalized in just a few words.

They agreed to go to the housing bureau tomorrow to transfer the ownership—money in one hand, shop in the other.

“Jiaojiao, want to have a meal? My treat.”

“No need, Zhiman-ge. You sold it so cheap—it should be my treat.”

Xu Jiaojiao was in high spirits. She had finally resolved a major worry. The first thing she needed to do was hurry back and draw up the shop’s renovation design. She planned for it to have a refined and affordable style.

After all, never underestimate the spending power in small towns.

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That night, the girl squatted down and opened a large camphorwood chest. Inside were some valuable things—clothes she couldn’t wear now, little winter boots, and the like. The chest was both moisture- and pest-proof, often only found in wealthier homes.

This camphorwood chest had been her mother’s dowry, freshly varnished this year and still looking brand new.

Xu Jiaojiao took out 13,000 yuan from inside. She was worried there might be unexpected fees the next day, so she didn’t plan to go herself. Instead, she’d let her brother handle it.

Mainly because if she went, she wouldn’t be back until almost evening, and then she’d be entangled with Xie Zhi again—his charms were dangerous.

The girl gave herself a pep talk and decided she would stay home tomorrow and work hard on the renovation drawings. Just imagining her future shop made her eyes gleam with joy.

Xu Jiaojiao wrapped the money in paper and took it to her brother Xu Yan, who was still racking his brain trying to gather enough money.

But no matter how he counted, they only had a little over 500 yuan between them—not even enough for a down payment. Thinking about his sister possibly losing her shop deal drove him crazy with frustration.

Suddenly, there was a clear sound at the door, and a fuzzy little head peeked in, blinking: “Ge (brother)~”

“What’s up, Jiaojiao?”

The girl unceremoniously plopped onto her brother’s bed—though the room was small—and placed the money beside her. “Here’s the money for the shop. There’s an extra thousand, just in case there are some fees.”

“Ge, I’ll be staying home to work on the renovation drawings tomorrow. Can you go sign the contract for me?”

Xu Yan picked up the thick wad of bills, weighing it in his hands, raising an eyebrow. “Jiaojiao, where did you get this money?”

“Xie Zhi gave me some, and some from Big Brother, plus a bit I saved myself.”

“You’re sure you want to buy it?”

Xu Jiaojiao thought he was hesitant and hugged his arm, speaking sweetly, “I’m sure. Please, Ge, help me out.”

For some reason, in this world, Xu Jiaojiao felt an easy closeness with her family. Maybe it was because she knew everyone truly cared about her.

“Of course, I’ll help you.”

“I knew you’re the best, Ge—I love you to death!” Xu Jiaojiao beamed and spun around happily, hugging her brother in thanks before rushing back to her room.

---

Meanwhile, Sheng Jie still wasn’t allowed to return home. He was forced to wear filthy, stinking clothes in a dilapidated room reeking of rot.

Next to him was the constant grinding sound of sharpening knives. His smuggled kitchen knife had been confiscated. He’d managed to slash one man deeply in the arm.

But his face was swollen, clearly beaten multiple times.

“Bastard. If something happens to Lao San, I’ll make sure you die,” one of them said.

“We were gonna let you go out of kindness, but you’re just disgusting. Come to hell with us.”

Sheng Jie curled up on the floor, glancing up at the gray sky outside the window. There weren’t even stars tonight—it would probably rain tomorrow. He regretted everything. Deeply. He wished he’d never sought these people out.

But often, from the moment you entertain evil thoughts, the outcome is already set.

Sheng Jie muttered bitterly to himself, “Hell? My life was already in hell a long time ago.”