Chapter 204: Bargain
He’s actually not here.
Shang Wan frowned. “When will he be back?”
Chen Cai: “In these couple of days. Once the person returns, I’ll go ask. Once I get it clear, I’ll give you a reply.”
“Alright. Before it’s finalized, if you have any other good shops on hand, let me know too. I can switch anytime.”
Chen Cai: “…”
Dream on!
Handing over Chu Xu’s letter to the post station, Shang Wan and the others sat in the ox cart and went home.
Three days later, Chen Cai brought news. The shop’s owner agreed, but with one condition: Shang Wan had to figure out a way to ruin the restaurant, or he wouldn’t lower the rent.
Shang Wan: “…”
This owner really knew how to scheme. For a hundred taels, he wanted her to help ruin the restaurant? What a pipe dream!
“If he lowers it by another two hundred taels for me, I can consider it.”
Chen Cai was speechless and fanned his folding fan vigorously to cool his temper.
He said irritably, “Are you renting or not? If not, don’t waste my time.”
The demands were so many and nitpicky; if it were anyone else, he would’ve quit long ago.
“Of course I’m renting. Why wouldn’t I?” Shang Wan glanced at him sideways. “The unreasonable one isn’t me. Listen to his demands—would you be willing if it were you?”
Chen Cai… indeed wouldn’t be willing.
“But your two hundred taels is asking way too much.”
Shang Wan sneered. “Isn’t this just to test his sincerity?”
Chen Cai: “…”
Who’s really the landlord here?
He said, “I can help you ask, but don’t hold out too much hope.”
Shang Wan: “Thanks.”
Two days later, new news arrived.
The shop’s owner wanted to meet Shang Wan in person, right at the restaurant across from the shop.
Shang Wan: “…”
Well then, before even opening, he was already pulling hatred for her. What a ruthless guy.
·
Chen Cai led Shang Wan into the private room on the second floor of the restaurant, where someone was already waiting inside.
“Young Master Zhong, this is Lady Shang.” Chen Cai introduced the two.
Young Master Zhong had just had his coming-of-age ceremony, with a flirtatious appearance and a pair of peach-blossom eyes that shone brightly.
His gaze swept over Shang Wan, then he raised his hand in salute. “I’m Zhong Li—the Li from ‘betrayed by all and forsaken by kin.'”
Shang Wan twitched her mouth. What a unique introduction.
She curtsied in return. “My surname is Shang—the Shang from ‘no business without deceit.’ Hello, Young Master Zhong.”
Zhong Li: ???
Chen Cai: “…”
The atmosphere in the private room grew a bit awkward for a moment. Zhong Li gave a dry laugh to break the ice. “Lady Shang really knows how to joke.”
Shang Wan curved her lips in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not as much as Young Master Zhong.”
Zhong Li: “…”
“Let’s all sit down and talk.” Chen Cai shot Shang Wan a look—tone it down, are you still renting the shop or not?
Shang Wan of course wanted to rent, so she obediently sat down.
Zhong Li got straight to the point. “If I agree to lower the price and rent to Lady Shang, how do you plan to deal with the restaurant?”
Shang Wan glanced at the shop assistant waiting nearby.
Good grief, plotting right in front of the staff—playing hardball openly, huh.
She smiled, but her words weren’t polite. “Is Young Master Zhong trying to get something for nothing?”
Even a donkey needs a radish dangling in front; this guy wanted a free plan with just a word. What a pipe dream!
Perhaps not expecting Shang Wan to be so direct, Zhong Li was stunned for a moment, then laughed, waving for the shop assistant to leave.
The shop assistant walked out in small steps, clearly wanting to eavesdrop more.
Zhong Li said coldly, “Waiting for a kick from me?”
The shop assistant immediately switched to running, as if chased by a dog, slamming the door shut with a “bang.”
The footsteps gradually faded, and voices resumed in the private room.
“Lady Shang speaks bluntly, so I won’t beat around the bush.” Zhong Li tapped the table with his fingers, his peach-blossom eyes staring straight at Shang Wan with a hint of menace. “How confident are you, Lady Shang?”
Shang Wan: “The lower the annual rent, the more confident I am. No rent at all would be even better.”
Zhong Li: “…”
Chen Cai tugged at Shang Wan’s sleeve under the table—easy there.
Shang Wan pursed her lips in a smile. “Just kidding. My confidence depends on how much sincerity Young Master Zhong shows.”
The woman wore a pink pomegranate skirt, looking delicate and pretty, but her words were not soft—quite arrogant.
Zhong Li suddenly laughed twice, pointing his finger at the floor. “Do you know who owns this restaurant?”
Shang Wan honestly shook her head.
Zhong Li gave an ambiguous snort of laughter, a cold glint in his eyes. “This is Young Master Qiao’s restaurant, Qiao Yu Gui’s.”
Qiao Yu Gui?
Shang Wan chuckled inwardly. This world was truly small.
Zhong Li looked at her. “In the whole city, not more than a handful dare oppose Young Master Qiao. Lady Shang has guts.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Not as much as you—coming to discuss it right on his turf.
“Not as much as Young Master Zhong.” Shang Wan curved her lips. “Young Master Qiao’s leg was nearly crippled.”
Zhong Li’s eyes darkened, the brightness in his peach-blossom eyes gone, looking somewhat gloomy.
“From whom did Lady Shang hear this rumor?”
“Rumor?” Shang Wan stared at him. “I don’t think it’s a rumor. What do you think, Young Master Zhong?”
Zhong Li met her gaze for a moment, then his expression suddenly softened, thinking of something.
“That medicine came from you.”
His tone was certain. Shang Wan knew what medicine he meant and didn’t deny it.
Chen Cai silently drank his tea, minimizing his presence.
“Lady Shang has impressive skills.”
Shang Wan inexplicably heard a hint of gritted teeth in those words.
Fair enough. He’d finally set up a trap to ruin Qiao Yu Gui’s leg, only for her medicine to save it—naturally he’d grit his teeth.
She thought for a moment and asked directly, “So, is the shop still for rent?”
If not, she could find another.
“Yes.” Zhong Li laughed dully like a madman. “I hope Lady Shang doesn’t disappoint me.”
A few hundred taels meant nothing to him. If he could see Qiao Yu Gui suffer, he’d be delighted.
Shang Wan started to get curious about the grudge between these two. Chen Cai probably knew; she could ask him sometime.
Zhong Li said, “First year’s rent two hundred taels, then four hundred taels per year after. What does Lady Shang think?”
Compared to the original five hundred taels after bargaining, this price was already very reasonable.
But Shang Wan’s bargaining principle was: not done until pushed to the limit.
Taking advantage of Zhong Li’s good mood (probably), she decided to strike hard again.
She held up two fingers. “Two hundred taels for two years’ rent.”
Real man, why raise the price?
Zhong Li truly hadn’t expected Shang Wan to bargain so fiercely. He glanced at Chen Cai, who was acting uninvolved. You taught her?
Chen Cai: “…”
No!!!
This woman was self-taught; it had nothing to do with him!!
Shang Wan watched Zhong Li leisurely, waiting for his decision.
This guy was clearly pitting her; how could she not hit back?
Zhong Li lowered his eyes in thought, his long lashes casting a shadow in his eyes.
“Fine, but I have one condition.”
Shang Wan listened attentively.
“Ruin the restaurant within a month.”
Shang Wan: “…”
This guy thought too highly of her.
Ruin the restaurant in a month? Ha, she could only smash it in one night.
“One year.”
“Half a year.”
“Eight months.”
“Three months.”
The two went back and forth, finally settling on half a year, with a deed as proof.
Signed and sealed, done.
Zhong Li was generous, even covering the portion Shang Wan owed the middleman.
Shang Wan and Chen Cai were both very satisfied.
