Chapter 199: Two Places
The two bought quite a lot, so the shopkeeper was naturally happy and even gave them a box of lip rouge. He smilingly saw the two off at the door, saying he would give them a discount next time they came back.
Shang Wan glanced at that big bundle of things and thought to herself that it definitely wouldn’t be used up in less than three months.
Floral dew wasn’t hard to make. When she had free time, she could try making some, adding some spiritual spring water—it would surely be a holy product for skincare.
The ox cart drove into Fifth Alley. Shang Wan casually asked a lady for directions, and the lady enthusiastically led the way for her.
Shang Wan originally thought the lady was just a kindhearted person, until she saw the so-called Chen middleman give the lady ten copper coins as reward money.
Turns out there was money to be made—this Chen middleman sure knew how to do business.
Shang Wan enthusiastically waved at the person standing in the doorway. “Long time no see.”
Information Broker: “…”
How did this evil star find her way here?
“So you’re surnamed Chen. Your business reaches pretty far.” Shang Wan jumped down from the ox cart and walked right inside without standing on ceremony.
Xiao Huan curiously glanced at the youth in the doorway, then hurried to catch up.
Information Broker Chen Cai hastily instructed the doorkeeper boy to watch the ox cart, then turned and followed inside.
The three sat down in the hall, and a maid came in to serve tea.
Chen Cai looked at Shang Wan. “Let’s get formally acquainted. My surname is Chen, given name Cai—the Cai of ‘talent high as eight measures of grain.'”
“Cheng Cai?” Shang Wan smiled and played along. “Good name.”
Chen Cai ignored the teasing in Shang Wan’s tone and jerked his chin toward Xiao Huan. “And this young lady is?”
“My younger sister.” Shang Wan didn’t introduce her in detail—after all, an information broker like Chen Cai probably didn’t need her to.
She got straight to the point without wasting words. “I want to rent a shop to open an apothecary—not too big, not too small. Best if it has a courtyard for drying medicinal herbs, and it should have lots of foot traffic, in a prominent location.”
Chen Cai’s mouth twitched as he listened. “You sure have a lot of demands.”
Shang Wan smiled. “If you think that’s too few, I can add some more.”
Since she’d gone to a middleman, it would be a waste not to make a few demands.
Chen Cai: “…”
No need at all!
He leaned back in his chair and recalled for a moment, then flicked open the folding fan in his hand and fanned himself.
“None that satisfy everything, but there are two with courtyards in pretty good locations. If you think they’re okay, I can take you to see them.”
“Then let’s go.” Shang Wan took a sip of tea and stood up, urging Chen Cai.
Chen Cai: “…”
No need to be in such a hurry.
Xiao Huan was already used to her sister’s hasty temperament. She hurriedly drank her tea and stood up, following her sister’s footsteps.
Chen Cai hadn’t even had a sip of tea before picking up the hem of his robe and chasing after them. “Do you even know the way? Running ahead like that—wait for me!”
…
…
Two shops: one in north of the city, one in south of the city.
North of the city had mostly wealthy residents, while south of the city had all sorts of people from all walks of life. Security was a bit worse there, but it had more people and was livelier than north of the city.
The group went to north of the city first, then to south of the city after viewing it.
The shop in north of the city had nice decoration, but anyone with eyes could tell it had originally been a restaurant. Right across was a restaurant, and the surrounding shops were all restaurants too.
The shop came with a large courtyard. The backyard had three rooms: one kitchen and two bedrooms, probably for shop assistants.
At the end of the street was a medical hall, but it looked like it was about to go under—the shop assistant was dozing off in the doorway.
Because there were so many restaurants here, the street was bustling with people, livelier than the surrounding streets.
The shop in south of the city had average decoration, with lots of miscellaneous items piled inside. The shopfront wasn’t as big as the one in north of the city, and the courtyard was smaller too, with only one room.
The location was fairly prominent. Diagonally across was a medical hall, around the corner was another, and across the street was a small apothecary with a young resident doctor inside.
The shop in north of the city had an annual rent of five hundred thirty taels of silver; the one in south of the city was cheaper at only four hundred sixty taels.
After some bargaining, and with Shang Wan forcefully haggling, the rent for the north of the city shop dropped to five hundred taels, and south of the city to four hundred twenty taels.
Shang Wan wasn’t too satisfied with the prices and was about to haggle further when Chen Cai threw up his hands.
The shopfront wasn’t his anyway—he was just the middleman, earning a bit of hard-earned money. If Shang Wan kept haggling like this, who would want to rent to her?
Seeing Chen Cai get anxious, Shang Wan figured these prices were probably close to the bottom line. She discussed it with Xiao Huan and felt both shops had pros and cons, so they should go back and consult with the family before deciding.
Shang Wan said to Chen Cai, “I’ll go back and discuss with the family. Hold these two shops for me for now, and I’ll give you a definite answer tomorrow.”
Chen Cai held out his hand. “I can hold them, but deposit of ten taels—no bargaining.”
Shang Wan stared at his hand. “We’re old friends—exchanging a deposit feels too formal.”
“Even close brothers settle accounts clearly.” Chen Cai shook his folding fan twice. “Pay the deposit, and I’ll give you a piece of news.”
“What news?”
“The deposit.”
“You’ve really got your head stuck in the money pit.” Shang Wan muttered, then used the bundle to cover as she took ten taels of silver from her space and gave it to him. “Here.”
Chen Cai quickly pocketed the money.
Taking silver from Shang Wan’s hand was just more enjoyable than from others.
“News about the Lu Family.” Chen Cai deliberately dangled it to see Shang Wan’s reaction.
Shang Wan gave him a sidelong glance. “Itching for a beating?”
Chen Cai: “…”
So what if she had martial arts!
“The Lu Family is packing up their belongings. Rumor has it they’re moving the whole family to the capital city.”
Hearing this, Shang Wan’s first reaction was that the Lu Family was fleeing out of guilt.
She looked at Chen Cai. “Why are you telling me this?”
Chen Cai smiled without speaking, and Shang Wan felt her fist itching.
She held back and asked, “Any movement from the county yamen?”
Chen Cai’s eyes darted, and he covered his mouth with the folding fan. “I’m just an ordinary citizen—I wouldn’t dare meddle in government affairs.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Definitely needed a beating.
“Gentlemen talk with words, not fists!” Chen Cai retreated two steps, staring at Shang Wan’s hand. “You you you, don’t do anything rash. If you hit me, watch out—I might not rent you the shop!”
Shang Wan smiled as she walked toward him. Under “friendly” negotiation, she successfully got the information out of Chen Cai.
Chen Cai glumly rubbed his arm. What on earth did this woman eat to grow up so strong?
“Yesterday, yamen runners escorted a batch of prisoners to the prefectural city. Rumor has it they committed a capital offense warranting beheading, and they’re being sent to the prefectural yamen for the prefect to decide.”
Chen Cai watched Shang Wan’s expression as he spoke. “My people picked up an old woman and a young woman at the city gate. They claimed they were implicated by the Chen Family, and the county magistrate let them go. They begged me to take them to the Lu Residence, promising heavy thanks.”
“An old woman and a young woman?” Shang Wan inexplicably thought of Wei Lao Tai and Liu Yuzhi. “What are their surnames?”
Chen Cai’s words confirmed Shang Wan’s guess—it really was Wei Lao Tai and Liu Yuzhi.
Shang Wan frowned. What relationship did these two have with the Lu Residence?
“Where are they now?”
“Lu Residence.”
Shang Wan looked at him. “Heavy thanks?”
“If a pack of tea leaves counts.” Chen Cai had the expression of someone who’d done a losing deal. “I threw in a bottle of good medicine for nothing.”
“You didn’t ask what their relationship with the Lu Residence was?”
Chen Cai: “Didn’t ask.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Yeah right!
This guy would dig up someone’s ancestors for eighteen generations the moment he met them.
