GTB Chapter 11
by VolareChapter 11 Are You Afraid I’ll Fall For You?
Song Fuge pointed to the seat opposite, signaling the two to sit down and talk.
After they sat down, Ji Shutíng looked at the handsome young man in front of her with a happy expression, waiting for him to state the price, thinking that since they knew each other, the rent would definitely not be too expensive.
Song Fuge pinched the teacup in front of him, turning it little by little on the table, and said a price that wasn’t too far from the market, “Two thousand six hundred taels.”
Ji Shutíng and Jiang Jiuchu were both stunned when they heard the price. A shop like this would definitely be no problem to rent for three thousand taels, but they didn’t expect it to only cost two thousand six hundred taels.
Seeing that the two didn’t answer, Song Fuge deliberately asked, “Is it too expensive?”
“Not expensive, not expensive at all, we’ll rent it now.”
Ji Shutíng waved her hand and immediately took out two thousand-tael silver notes from her sleeve, then looked at Jiang Jiuchu, “Did you bring silver notes?”
Jiang Jiuchu shook her head and looked at Song Fuge, saying, “These two thousand taels will be considered the deposit, and I’ll make up the remaining six hundred taels tomorrow. We’ll come back to sign the lease then.”
Song Fuge didn’t answer but ordered Leng Da behind him, “Go downstairs and get pen, ink, paper, and inkstone to write a lease.”
After he finished instructing, he looked at Jiang Jiuchu, “We know each other, are you afraid I’ll go back on my word? I happen to be free today, so let’s sign it together! Save the trouble of coming back tomorrow.”
Seeing him say this, Jiang Jiuchu didn’t decline, “Okay, then I’ll send the silver notes over tomorrow morning.”
“No rush, you can send them anytime.” Song Fuge fiddled with the Xuan Iron Bracer on his wrist, his gaze shifting from the two of them to the outside of the window, landing on the willow branches swaying in the wind by the lake.
He didn’t know why, but he had only met this girl twice, yet he had a feeling of wanting to be close to her. He smiled wryly to himself, perhaps she was the last bit of warmth he had before entering the Shadow Gate.
Ji Shutíng inconspicuously looked at the two of them, feeling that the atmosphere between them was a bit strange. Didn’t they know each other? Why did it feel so indescribably unfamiliar?
The three of them were silent for a while, waiting for the lease documents to be delivered from downstairs.
Before long, Leng Da came up with two copies of the drafted lease documents, as well as pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. After everyone signed, Song Fuge left the teahouse.
Jiang Jiuchu and Ji Shutíng carefully looked over the upstairs and downstairs before returning to the Ji residence together to discuss their respective division of labor.
Stars dotted the sky, and night fell.
In the seventh prince’s courtyard, Yu Qin sat by the window, looking up at the bright sky.
Her gaze swept across the sparkling stars, finally settling on the dazzling bright moon. After a long while, she tilted her head and asked the maid beside her, “Xiao Tao, does your Highness like to listen to the qin very much?”
Xiao Tao thought for a moment and replied truthfully, “Miss Yu, our Highness has played it himself a couple of times, but he doesn’t seem to listen to it much usually. However, he listens to the qin when he’s drinking, especially when he seems to be in a bad mood.”
“Is that so!” Yu Qin said thoughtfully.
“Miss Yu doesn’t need to overthink it. You’re the only woman our Highness has taken into the residence on his own initiative. His Highness’s interest in you is definitely not just because of your qin skills.”
Xiao Tao felt that she didn’t need to say the rest, and she would understand.
She felt that this girl, who was taken into the residence by His Highness’s initiative, must be special in His Highness’s heart.
Yu Qin didn’t expect that she was just asking a casual question, but this little girl knew what she meant. Sure enough, even the maids in the royal residence were not stupid.
She also really didn’t expect that the person who had taken a fancy to her was a prince, and the seventh prince at that. She had heard that the seventh prince had an extraordinary handsome appearance, and although he was known as a playboy outside, he didn’t have a single concubine in his residence.
And she was the only woman to enter the seventh prince’s residence. But she didn’t see the seventh prince when she entered the residence today, so… did he really take a fancy to her, or did he just want to have another qin player in the residence?
If it was the former, she seemed to have no choice.
After all, who could disobey the dignified seventh prince? If it was the latter, then she could let Changxuan come and redeem her in the future.
The next day.
Jiang Jiuchu went to Mo Feng Pavilion early to deliver the silver, while Ji Shutíng took her family’s discerning steward to the human market to select the staff needed for the shop.
Inside the private room on the third floor of Mo Feng Pavilion, Song Fuge took the one thousand tael silver notes Jiang Jiuchu handed over and instructed Leng Da beside him, “Go get four hundred tael silver notes.”
Leng Da was stunned when he heard this. Didn’t he and his master have silver notes on them?
Why did he have to go get them? He didn’t quite understand his master’s words and didn’t dare to directly take out the silver notes for a moment.
Seeing Leng Da’s stunned look, Song Fuge spoke again, “Hurry up and get the silver notes.”
“Yes.” Leng Da finally confirmed this time that his master meant for him to leave.
Seeing Leng Da leave, Song Fuge looked at Jiang Jiuchu, who was still dressed as a man, and pointed to the seat opposite, “Sit down! They’ll be here soon.”
As he spoke, he picked up a white jade cup and poured a cup of tea, placing it opposite her. Seeing her sit down, he asked, “Do you usually dress like this?”
“Ah! No, I’ve only worn it three times.”
Jiang Jiuchu had just sat down when she heard Song Fuge’s question. She looked at her outfit and quickly explained awkwardly.
Song Fuge laughed, “Three times? I’ve only seen you three times. What? Are you afraid that after I take a liking to you, I’ll use my kindness to force you to repay me with your body?”
“Cough, cough, cough.” Jiang Jiuchu choked on the tea she had just taken a sip of because of Song Fuge’s words.
She quickly put down the teacup in her hand, waving her hand with a red face, “No, no, it’s just… coincidental.”
Jiang Jiuchu didn’t expect him to say that, and she didn’t know what to do for a moment.
Song Fuge looked at Jiang Jiuchu’s flushed face, thinking to himself, she really has grown up.
“Just kidding, why did you take it seriously?”
Jiang Jiuchu really wanted to say that this joke wasn’t funny at all. She didn’t expect that Brother Fu, who was taciturn back then, would make this kind of joke.
Song Fuge leaned back, resting against the back of the chair, looking at Jiang Jiuchu, whose blush hadn’t faded.
“It seems you’re starting a shop behind your family’s back. Tell me, what do you plan to do? I don’t want the people who rent my shop to lose money and ruin my shop’s feng shui.”
Jiang Jiuchu was stunned when she heard this. She had heard that people in business were very particular about feng shui. She didn’t expect it to be true.
“We plan to sell snacks. Brother Fu…, Young Master Fu, don’t worry, we won’t lose money. Aunt Lan’s snacks in my residence are very delicious, with excellent skills and many varieties. The most important thing is that you can’t buy them here in Kyoto.”
Song Fuge was a little unconvinced, “Is that so? It sounds pretty good, but doing business isn’t just about not losing money, it’s about making money. Just relying on good taste, I’m afraid you won’t make much silver.”
“You must create your own unique characteristics, and these characteristics aren’t just in the taste. After all, taste and style are the easiest things for people to imitate.”
Jiang Jiuchu was a little confused by what she heard. Can’t you make money if it’s delicious?
But since Brother Fu said so, there should be some truth to it. After all, his Mo Feng Pavilion makes a lot of money every day.
She immediately asked, “Then how can I make it so that others can’t imitate it? Besides the taste and style, what other characteristics can there be?”
“Master, here.” Leng Da hadn’t gone far, but was standing outside, feeling that the time was about right, and walked in at the appointed time.