Chapter 26 Find a Store

Jiang Yanwen ducked behind Jiang Peiyu after being smacked, not daring to come out.

“What do you mean I put her up to it? It was my little sister’s idea! I’m just a partner, that’s all. Besides, let them say what they want. Once I start making money, let’s see who still dares to laugh at me!”

“The national policy has changed now. In a few more years, the only thing people will look down on is being poor.”

Jiang Yanwen argued back, which only made Li Shuzhen angrier. She got up and tried to hit him again, but Jiang Peiyu stopped her.

“Mom, don’t hit him anymore. Second Brother’s not wrong. The country allows private business now.”

“Why should people laugh at us? Once we make money, we can build a nice brick house for the family—let’s see how they laugh then.”

“My girl,” Li Shuzhen sighed, “doing business isn’t as easy as you think.”

“You need capital, and you could lose money. And you’re a college graduate—why not find a decent job? Becoming a self-employed vendor is so shameful…”

Li Shuzhen was still very opposed to the idea of her children venturing out. They wouldn’t starve growing crops at home. But if the business failed, they really could end up with nothing.

Just as she was about to say more, Jiang Fugui put down his tobacco pipe and spoke:

“Opening a shop? Do you have the money?”

“Yes, Dad. I brought some when I left the Xia family.”

“And we got 5,000 yuan out of Xia Zhihao.”

“After handing over part of our melon earnings, Second Brother and I saved a few hundred too.”

In the first month, they gave all their earnings to the family. By the second month, their father discussed it with the family and decided they’d only need to contribute twenty yuan each month. Their older brother and sister-in-law agreed.

“Well then, do what you want to do. Go all in!”

“I’ll always support you. Just remember, if you’re going to do it, do it well. Don’t be afraid of failure.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“We understand, Dad.”

With their father’s support, Jiang Peiyu and Jiang Yanwen were thrilled.

“Old man?” Li Shuzhen didn’t understand why her husband had agreed to let their children run a business.

“Let them try,” Jiang Fugui said. “The world has changed. The city has lots of people doing business. Our children are grown, and we’re getting old.”

“It’s time they learned to carry this family. Let them try. Even if they fail, this will always be their home.”

That settled it. Peiyu and Yanwen let out a sigh of relief.

After they left, Li Shuzhen couldn’t help but grumble.

“Old man, why did you agree to let them open a shop? Wouldn’t it be better for them to stay home and sell melons? We may not be rich, but we’re not starving either.”

“We sell rice, sweet potatoes, and other crops. We have chickens and ducks, and they lay lots of eggs. We can still make good money.”

“If they open a store, even if they earn money, it’ll be exhausting—up early, staying up late, and dealing with customers. It’s too hard.”

“Our son is one thing, but how can our daughter handle that? It’s our fault as parents… we can’t give her a good life, and now she has to worry about supporting the family.”

Jiang Fugui let out a long sigh.

“The kids are grown. We have to learn to let go.”

“The policies have changed, the world is changing, and life is getting better.”

“We’re not young anymore. How many more years can we keep farming? Our second son isn’t married, and our daughter isn’t either.”

“Even if they lose everything, at least they’ll have tried. When the time comes, they’ll know what’s possible and what’s not.”

“We just need to tend our land. And if they do fail, they’ll still have a hot meal waiting at home.”

“They won’t starve out there…”

Li Shuzhen thought about it and agreed. Her husband was right—the children were adults now. As parents, it was time to let go.

She quietly prayed the gods would bless them with success. Her daughter was clever and lucky, and her son may not be bright, but he was strong.

Ah, enough thinking. Let them do what they want.

The next day, after selling melons, the two decided to walk around the city to look for a storefront for rent or sale.

In the afternoon, they tied the ox-cart under a big tree and asked the old man selling buns next to them to help keep an eye on it while they went looking.

After walking around all day and checking several places, Peiyu wasn’t satisfied. Either the rent was too high for too small a space, or the location was bad.

They could only head back a bit dejected.

On the way, they ran into the middle-aged man who had bought melons from Peiyu several times.

Peiyu greeted him warmly, “Brother, out shopping?”

“Yeah, little sister, where are you two coming from?”

“Ah, not gonna lie, big bro—we were looking to rent a storefront and start a business. But we didn’t find anything good.”

“Little sister, what kind of place are you looking for? Tell me. Maybe I can help you out.”

“Thanks, big bro. I’m looking for a place between 30 and 50 square meters, preferably with a storage room.”

“It needs to have good foot traffic, best if it’s near the city center. Renting or buying is fine.”

After hearing her requirements, the middle-aged man thought for a bit. Then he remembered: Old Li had two adjoining 25-square-meter shops he was eager to sell.

“Little sister, I actually know an old man who has just what you’re looking for.”

“But the price is kind of high…”

“The location is good, though—right across from the cinema.”

“The building is a two-story house built by the owner himself. Behind it is the elementary school staff housing. Diagonally across is the department store.”

“You’ll love the location.”

“What about the price?”

“The owner’s last name is Li. We all call him Grandpa Li. He’s a bit eccentric…”

“He says he wants to sell to someone ‘fated,’ and he insists on selling the whole building at once.”

“The two storefronts together go for 4,250 yuan.”

“Most people either buy to run their own business or rent them out. At 85 yuan per square meter, yeah, it’s pricey. Even at 20 yuan a month in rent, it would take 17–18 years to break even.”

“The upstairs apartment is cheaper, though. Two bedrooms and a living room, also 50 square meters—only 1,000 yuan.”

“He’s firm on the price—won’t bargain a single cent.”

“So… do you want to go take a look? Pricey, yes, but it’s a great property in a perfect location.”

Jiang Peiyu thought for a moment and decided it was worth seeing. Two connected storefronts with a living space upstairs sounded ideal.

“Big bro, could you take me and my brother there?”

“No problem, little sister. I’ll take you.”

“I’m Yang Gang, by the way. Let’s be friends from now on.”

“Brother Yang, I’m Jiang Peiyu, and this is my second brother, Jiang Yanwen.”

“Nice to meet you. Come on, I’ll take you to find Grandpa Li.”

And with that, the three of them arrived in front of the building. Grandpa Li lived upstairs on the second floor.