8. Decide to Buy a shop

Translation: muzgodass

Early the next morning, Mo Yanzhi woke up first. Looking at the arm around his waist, his feelings were complicated.

At this moment, Han Tingxuan opened his eyes.

When he met Mo Yanzhi's eyes, he was slightly stunned, and then smiled.

"Yanzhi, you are awake?"

Mo Yanzhi slowly lowered his eyes and responded softly. "Yes."

Han Tingxuan noticed that he was putting his arm around Mo Yanzhi's waist. It felt very warm and comfortable. Now it was getting cold. It was not bad to have such a warmer on winter days!

"Yanzhi, the weather is getting colder and colder. Our house still needs to be repaired."

Mo Yanzhi raised his head. "What do you want to do?"

"We should hire a few workmen to remodel the cottage all over again. We can hire many."

Mo Yanzhi thought about it and said, "You can build an extra building outside."

"I think so too," Han Tingxuan nodded. "We need a place to live. So there won't be changes to our living room for now."

The two of them got up and discussed some details before Mo Yanzhi went to make breakfast.

He made porridge with fine rice and fried a pancake.

Mo Yanzhi was rejected by Han Tingxuan when he was going to eat coarse food grain. "Food does not cost that much. So there's no need to save money."

Mo Yanzhi glanced at Han Tingxuan and could understand that Han Tingxuan was not testing him, not joking, nor was he satirizing him.

It was his first time to have a bowl of porridge that was made of fine rice since ever. Last night, he didn't eat much fine rice for the sake of saving more for the family. Until this morning, he had a whole bowl of fine rice for breakfast.

Mo Yanzhi felt more complicated.

Han Tingxuan still felt that it was not what exactly he wanted. The so-called fine rice was just ordinary rice, which was the most basic thing in his past life.

Now, they had fine rice, but you still needed vegetables for breakfast. But now they only had rice porridge and pancakes, plus the pancakes did not taste very pleasant. It was hard for Han Tingxuan to enjoy the breakfast.

Han Tingxuan knew that he was a picky eater, but anyone would go crazy if he ate like this every day!

Living standard was very important!

Thus, Han Tingxuan said, "Yanzhi, when you go out to hire workmen today, get some vegetables."

Mo Yanzhi paused and nodded. "Okay, I got it."

After breakfast, Mo Yanzhi went outside. Han Tingxuan was drawing designs at home.

Since they were going to remodel the house, he needed to design it himself.

Therefore, when Mo Yanzhi came back with more than ten workmen back, Han Tingxuan had finished a design draft. However, he did not show it to the workmen, but pulled Mo Yanzhi aside.

Mo Yanzhi did not understand the modern design but with Han Tingxuan's explanation, he quickly understood.

"Green bricks will be delivered later. We can start working here," said Mo Yanzhi.

"Alright, I don't understand this, so I'll leave it to you," said Han Tingxuan. "Today, I have to go to the town to see what we are doing in the future."

Mo Yanzhi was worried, "Are you going alone?"

Han Tingxuan instantly remembered that he was still in trouble now... However, it didn't matter because he was no longer the original owner. He would be fine!

Thus, Han Tingxuan smiled. "Yes, don't worry. It's fine."

Mo Yanzhi pursed his lips but didn't say anything. He just said, "Alright, be careful."

Even though Han Tingxuan wanted to do exercises, he was still not used to walk by foot. He was considering if he could get a bull cart.

The most important thing was that if they did a business in the town, they could not always hire a bull cart every time, would they?

With that thought, Han Tingxuan decided to buy a bull cart!

To get rich, buying a car was necessary!

When he arrived at the town, Han Tingxuan, who felt a little thirsty, got into a Doufu stall. First, he tried to relieve his thirst, and then he was trying to find out some information.

"Sir, I want to ask you about something," Han Tingxuan paid five copper coins. The old man was in a good mood and said happily when Han Tingxuan had something to ask, "What is it?"

"I want to make some small businesses. So I want to see if there are any rental shops available in this town..."

"You are in such a good luck. If you had asked this yesterday, I definitely wouldn't have known. But now the news has spread in the town. The boy from the Liu family is seriously ill and wants to sell their shop. It is said that the entire family are going to go to State of Yong to see doctors. He is currently looking for someone to rent their shop!"

There were a total of three cities and nine states in the Heavenly Empire, and State of Yong was one of the states. And the town was a small part of the State of Yong.

Han Tingxuan's gaze flashed at the information and he smiled. "Does it mean that there are so many people lining up for rent their shop? Sorry that I do not have much money."

The old man hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "You are a good person. I will tell you something that others don't know. That shop..." The old man said as he lowered his voice and looked around and said, "There aren't many people getting interested in that shop."

Han Tingxuan was shocked. "Eh? Why is this? "

The old man sighed. "Old Liu's male wife died in his early years, leaving behind a son, his only son. Old Liu and his male wife were in deep love so he never married again. It was not easy for a he-man to raise the kid all these years. When his son is old enough to get married, trouble came. Old Liu's son is a handsome young man, and his male wife is also beautiful. Actually he is too beautiful. A big figure gets interested in him."

When he said this, the old man carefully looked around. He obviously did not want to be heard by the big figure!

As no one was paying attention to them, the old man continued, "The big figure started to pursue the male wife of the Liu family. But the male wife was a man of dignity. He and Old Liu's son were in deep love. Of course, he said no to the big figure. In the end, he was forced to hung himself in the shop as a way to refuse the big figure as the big figure threatened the Liu family with the shop. The big figure was afraid of getting in trouble, so he did not do anything harmful to the Liu family. However, Old Liu's kid fell sick because of his male wife's death. Now he was incredibly sick. Old Liu wants to sell the shop and take his son away, probably because he wants to start a new life in State of Yong."

The old man sighed. "Just because someone committed suicide in that shop before, there aren't many people getting interested in buying it."

However, this was not the only reason. More importantly, not many people got interested in the shop because they were scared by the big figure.

Han Tingxuan smiled. "thank you so much."

The old man waved his hand and said bluntly, "I shared the information with you because my male wife is somehow a distant relative of Old Liu. If you are interested in that shop, I can give you the address of the store."

"That would be perfect. Thank you, sir," Han Tingxuan left after tipping the old man a few more copper coins.

The old man looked at Han Tingxuan's back and sighed softly. "Old Liu, that is what I can only do now. I hope you can sell the shop as you wish and go to another place to start again..."

After Han Tingxuan got the address, he did not go there directly. Instead, he walked around the town.

Along the way, he heard something.

Some were discussing the things about Old Liu's shop that the old man had mentioned earlier, as well as some other gossips.

In front of a fruit stall, Han Tingxuan heard gossips about the "big figure". It turned out that he was county magistrate's brother-in-law.

The biggest official here was the county magistrate! No wonder the Liu family would be so scared!

Han Tingxuan knew that the citizens did not fight with officials since ancient times.

However, in order to survive the business occasions, businessmen had to get along with the officials, or else they would be miserable. It was the same in both modern or ancient world!

Although the shop was a good one, the most important thing was not to cause trouble! However, he did know how to deal with someone like that...

He had a plan in his heart, and went to ask more about gossips. After knowing that there were no other stores in the town for sale, Han Tingxuan walked to Old Liu's shop.

The location of the shop was not good nor too bad. He went to have a look what business Old Liu was running.

When Han Tingxuan arrived, Old Liu was standing by the door. Han Tingxuan walked over with a smile. "Excuse me, I heard that your shop is for sale? May I have a look?"

Old Liu's eyes brightened. "Please come in."

Old Liu welcomed Han Tingxuan in.

It was a grocery shop. Han Tingxuan saw the layout of the store.

"You... are interested in buying the shop?" Old Liu asked.

Han Tingxuan smiled bitterly. "Are you the shopkeeper?"

Old Liu nodded.

Han Tingxuan continued to smile bitterly. "To be honest, I am interested in renting this shop and do a small business. But I was told by the owner of the Tofu stall that you are selling instead of renting it out. I do not have much money. Although it's better to have my own shop, I'm afraid I do not have enough money."

Old Liu's heart was beating a little. "How much money do you have?" After asking, he felt that he had made a mistake. It was not a proper manner to ask him how much money he had, so he hurriedly added, "That's not what I mean. I just want to know how much you can offer. Since you have heard from the owner of the Tofu stall, you must know about my situation, right? I'm in a hurry to get rid of the shop. We can negotiate the price, but not too hard."

Han Tingxuan took a deep breath. "Sir, I see. Why don't you name a price first and see if I can accept it? I came over with extreme sincerity. Please offer an affordable price."

Old Liu took a deep breath and lowered the standard in his heart. "We don't plan to return to this place. There are two rooms behind the shop. You can have the things at the shop at a low price. Three hundred taels, that is the best I can do. In any other conditions, it is worth 500 taels."

Han Tingxuan knew that he was telling the truth. Although he was a businessman, he felt sympathy on what Old Liu experienced. Besides, Old Liui was an honest and nice man.

Three hundred tales of silver was a great deal!

Han Tingxuan was confident that he could bargain off a few dozen taels of silver if he insisted on doing so. But... there was no need!

Thus, Han Tingxuan took a deep breath. He nodded. "Deal! Three hundred tales! I'm afraid that I'll have to spend all my money on it! But sir, I admire your courage to let go behind your past so easily and bravely. I will go home and prepare money now!"

Old Liu was a little teary as Han Tingxuan said that he was going to spend all his money on buying the shop.

"You... are you going to buy the shop?"

Han Tingxuan nodded. "Yes, I am!"

Old Liu took a deep breath and said softly, "Do you have any idea about my family's situation? If you take over the shop, trouble might find you."

Although Old Liu was desperate to get rid of the shop, he was touched by the sincerity of this young man, therefore, he decided to tell the truth and alert the young man.

Han Tingxuan smiled. "Thanks for you kind reminder. Since I have made up my mind to buy this shop, I won't regret. Now I am going back home to get my money. So please prepare relevant materials that we will need to transfer ownership."

"Okay, okay," Old Liu said with tears.

Han Tingxuan bowed and left.

Old Liu closed the door and quickly walked to the backyard.

After entering his son's room, Old Liu finally couldn't help but cry. "Cong, my son, we can leave... leave this place..."

Although Old Liu's son was not at the stage of terminal illness now, he was also feeble. He was sitting on the bed, looking fragile. At this time, he was surprised and sad when Old Liu told him so.

"Wha-at?!...You sold it? That wicked man... That wicked man came to cause trouble yesterday. Who dared to buy our shop? Is he afraid at all? Cough cough... Cough cough... "

Liu Cong, Old Liu's son, was so excited that he coughed.

Old Liu quickly poured water for his son. "Cong, don't get excited, calm down."

Liu Cong finally caught a breath and quickly asked, "Who bought our shop?"

"Oh no!" Old Liu patted his head. "That young man only said that he would go home to get the money immediately. I forgot to ask his name. He was introduced by your uncle. He definitely wouldn't be fooling me."

Liu Cong was suspicious at first, but when he learnt that the buyer was introduced by the owner of the Tofu stall, he chose to believe the buyer. "I have faith in uncle because he is always right about a man's quality. This time, I have to thank Uncle."

"Yes," Liu Lao nodded. "When we leave, we should thank your uncle."

"Father, has the buyer gone away to fetch money?"

"Yes, I should hurry to prepare materials and documents. Today, we will go to transfer ownership lest bad things happen." After saying this, Old Liu rushed to get things prepared.