IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 20

Chapter 20 The store is fine, I have… I have no money.

Chapter 20 The store is fine, I have… I have no money.

Lin Yan’s nightlife ended before it even began.

He took Yun Qi around the medical clinics in the Capital City, some directly said they couldn’t do anything, some boasted about miraculous cures, some sold expensive special medicines, some said they needed forty-nine procedures and suggested giving them all the money, but none of them said they could cure him.

After buying some odds and ends and exposing a string of colorful swindlers, Lin Yan chose to listen to Yun Qi’s advice – go to bed early.

“These doctors in the Capital City aren’t that great, they can’t even cure a headache.” Lin Yan, forced into a healthy routine, yawned and muttered, looking at the listless Yun Qi beside him, “Do you think the Imperial Physician in the palace might have a way?”

Yun Qi, tossed around all night by Lin Yan’s wild sleeping posture, instantly woke up when he heard Lin Yan say this. He shook his head like a rattle-drum, his words sounding as obedient and sensible as possible: “It’s nothing serious, Brother, don’t worry.”

“How can I not…”

“I’ve counted, there are over two hundred taels of silver now.” Yun Qi knew the reason for his headache. He didn’t want to continue arguing with Lin Yan, so he directly changed the subject.

After spreading out the bank-notes and silver from the purse on the bed one by one and putting them back, Yun Qi stuffed the bulging purse into Lin Yan’s hands: “With so much money, we should be able to rent a pretty big shop, right?”

The Capital City gradually awakened, and the streets became lively. Lin Yan pushed open the window and immediately took a fancy to the most prosperous Central Street. He weighed the purse in his hand and pointed in the direction of the glittering gold: “I want a prime location in a prime area.”

“This is a prime location.” The broker smiled so wide his eyes disappeared, pointing at the stores on the side one by one, his enthusiasm enough to burn people to ashes. “This is the most famous Ru Yi Ward in the Capital City, next to the main branch of Drunken Pleasure Tower, which is absolutely amazing…”

Lin Yan was very satisfied, but in order to bargain later, he still had to try hard to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up. He tugged at Yun Qi’s sleeve and said softly, “It looks really good.”

“Yes, it’s good as long as Brother likes it.”

“If you sincerely want it, I can give you an 20% discount on this shop.” The broker’s eyes were sharp, and he could see through Lin Yan’s little trick. Seeing that he had laid the groundwork, he finally revealed his true colors, mysteriously making a gesture: “Such a good shop only needs this much…”

“Eighty taels?” Lin Yan thought it was very cheap and was already preparing to take out the money.

“Sir, you jest.” The broker coughed awkwardly and pushed back the bank-notes Lin Yan handed over. “For such a good shop, other places would want over a thousand taels, but our agency only needs eight hundred taels.”

Lin Yan was shocked by the exorbitant price. He looked at Yun Qi in confusion.

Yun Qi understood the market very well. He snorted coldly, pointing out the broker’s inflated price: “Three months ago, it was still…”

The broker was very candid, adding another layer of protection to the quoted price: “Can three months ago be the same as now? Three months ago, the one sitting in that position was still the Tyrant Emperor.”

The new Emperor didn’t care about the late Emperor, and the common people followed suit. Various unofficial histories flew everywhere, and the newly popular storybooks in the teahouses were all about the palace secrets during the late Emperor’s time.

But the late Emperor was the late Emperor. When the common people mentioned the new Emperor, they were still respectful. The broker cupped his fist towards the imperial city, the previous disdain swept away: “How can the Tyrant Emperor be compared to the new Emperor?”

There was no room for negotiation.

Lin Yan shook his head regretfully and saw the exquisite little shops on the street. A dine-in plus delivery service, even if the place was smaller, would be fine.

Yun Qi understood and pointed to the pastry shop next door: “Do you have any slightly smaller shops?”

“Smaller ones, look at this one.” The long-legged business came back around again. The broker seized the opportunity, spouting eloquent phrases: “This is also a prime location, small and exquisite, move-in ready, just change the sign and you can open for business, only five hundred taels.”

Lin Yan felt that what was shrinking wasn’t the shop, but his wallet. He struggled to find fault: “This shop is full of problems, and you still want five hundred taels?”

The broker was determined to make this deal, counting on his fingers and earnestly persuading: “Don’t underestimate this shop because it’s small. The customer flow here is huge. You can earn back five hundred taels in three or two months.”

Lin Yan shook his head. Yun Qi pretended to be dissatisfied and continued to ask: “Are there any smaller ones?”

Smaller? Lin Yan gestured twice and muttered, “Any smaller and it’ll be a toilet.”

The broker finally understood. He closed the booklet, and the smile on his face faded a lot: “Just tell me, what’s your budget?”

“Two hundred taels.”

Hearing this price, the broker chuckled.

Yun Qi glared fiercely, his voice much colder: “What are you laughing at?”

“Cough, I remembered something happy.” The broker babbled nonsense, “My wife, uh, yes, gave birth to twins.”

Lin Yan cupped his fist, congratulating him expressionlessly: “Congratulations.”

Even a mosquito is still meat. A two-hundred-tael deal could still earn the broker five or six taels. He flipped through the ledger for a long time, finally customizing the most suitable plan for Lin Yan: “For two hundred taels, I recommend you partner with someone. There are several suitable candidates, look…”

Lin Yan listened with great interest, but Yun Qi secretly worried.

Lin Yan’s food was delicious and quite famous in the small town, but his cooking was unconventional, and he had many secrets. If he shared a shop with someone, who knew how many more things would happen.

But he couldn’t advise him like that, and he couldn’t say it like that.

Yun Qi’s eyes darted around, and he immediately had an idea. He tugged at Lin Yan’s sleeve, pitifully muttering: “Brother, let’s buy a smaller shop. Brother’s cooking is good, good wine doesn’t need a deep alley.”

“I still want to…”

“Brother, have some pity on me.” Yun Qi’s voice trembled slightly. He pointed to the scar on his face, looking even more pitiful, “If I share a shop with someone, I’ll have to wear makeup every day. If I slip up, then…”

Hearing Yun Qi say this, Lin Yan immediately changed his mind. He interrupted the broker, who was still babbling, and completely rejected the idea of sharing: “Is there a two-hundred-tael shop?”

“Two hundred taels, the location would be…”

Suddenly, two people turned out of the alley, their greasy gazes making Lin Yan uncomfortable. Yun Qi stepped forward, blocking Lin Yan.

The two men chuckled dryly, took out a wrinkled deed from their pockets, and handed it to Yun Qi: “Don’t look at us like that, young master. We just heard you were looking for a shop, so we came… came to offer something… something special.”

Yun Qi didn’t intend to pay attention to these two ruffians pretending to be refined, but the location of this shop was really good. He hesitated for a moment and handed the deed to Lin Yan.

The broker had been busy for half a day, only to find that all his efforts were in vain. He couldn’t bear it any longer and rolled up his sleeves, preparing for a big fight: “Where did you come from, stealing my business?”

The two men were still somewhat polite to Lin Yan, who was a big customer, but they didn’t show any kindness to the broker. They were too lazy to say anything and picked up the broker like a chick.

Faced with pure strength, the broker’s recently ignited fire was instantly extinguished, not even leaving a spark. He struggled to break free, frantically picking up the ledgers on the ground, and cupped his fist to Lin Yan and Yun Qi: “Gentlemen, there are still some things to do in the shop, I’ll leave first.”

“You…” Lin Yan stretched out his Er Kang hand, but couldn’t stop the broker’s fleeing footsteps.

Only the broker’s perfunctory farewell was left in the air: “Keep in touch if you need anything!”

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