In the evening, Second Aunt Song came looking for Song Jinzhao, carrying half a basket of eggplants.
She stared at the food on the table, swallowing her saliva.
Stir-fried pork with green peppers, winter melon soup, and a roast chicken brought back from a restaurant.
It was even better than what she ate during the New Year.
Seeing her drool almost dripping onto the table, Song Jinzhao couldn't help but urge her to leave.
"What brings Second Aunt here?"
Second Aunt Song piled on a smile, took the eggplants out of the basket, and placed them on the dinner table.
"I saw your backyard is mostly planted with herbs, not many vegetables. I picked some eggplants to bring over for you."
Song Qiming and Song Shixue, holding their bowls, exchanged a glance. Second Aunt never took the initiative to deliver things to their door. Unrequested kindness surely had an ulterior motive.
Song Jinzhao glanced at the eggplants. They were probably picked in the afternoon and looked a bit wilted.
"Thank you, Second Aunt. Grandfather also brought over some eggplants today. You should take these back for yourself."
Second Aunt Song's hand resting on the basket stiffened slightly. She should have brought leeks instead.
Staring at Song Jinzhao's face, she pretended concern. "Jinzhao, you look like you've lost weight. Is the stall too much to handle? Do you need my help?"
The fox's tail was showing. Song Jinzhao found it laughable.
Not only had she grown taller, but she had also gained a few pounds. How could Second Aunt have the nerve to lie so blatantly?
If she really let her help, who knew how much money would be pocketed.
"No need. The stall is manageable. Second Aunt has three children to look after, where would you find time for anything else?"
Second Aunt Song's eyelids fluttered, remembering when they discussed the arrangements for the four children; she had used the excuse of having too many kids to care for.
Jinzhao hadn't seemed to be present at the time, so why did this now feel like a pointed remark?
With an uneasy heart, Second Aunt Song forced a bitter smile, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and hurriedly left.
Song Shixue looked up at Song Jinzhao and said earnestly, "Elder Sister, Grandfather said if the stall gets too busy, we could send Anhao to the old house, and then I could go help."
With Aunt Song pregnant and staying home, and the waterwheel meaning Old Man Song and Oldest Song no longer had to fetch water from the river every day, they had quite a bit of free time.
Song Jinzhao shook her head. "I plan to buy a shop and hire another person. I'll take you and Anhao there during the day."
Song Qiming and Song Shixue's eyes lit up. Buying a shop in the city?
No time like the present. The next morning, Song Jinzhao went to the brokerage to inquire if any shops on Middle Street were for sale.
The broker flipped through his ledger. "Shops on Middle Street are the most sought-after in Xining City. People rarely let them go easily."
He then changed his tone. "However, Miss Song is in luck. Someone just put one up for sale a few days ago. It's right next to the cloth store on Middle Street."
Song Jinzhao focused, recalling. "That shop sells rouge and powder, right? It was still doing business yesterday."
The broker slapped his thigh, the broker's plaque at his waist swinging.
"That's exactly why I say you're lucky. The news only came out the day before yesterday. The owner is now urgently selling off the stock. It'll be vacant in seven days at the latest."
Considering its good location, Song Jinzhao asked, "Can I see it now?"
The broker tucked the ledger into his pocket. "Of course. I'll take you there right now."
The rouge shop was located in the middle-to-rear section of the southern part of Middle Street, about three hundred meters from Song Jinzhao's current stall.
When they arrived at the door, the shop assistant inside was still doing business. Piles of rouge and powder were stacked on the shelves, as if clearing inventory.
"This shop has two rooms front and back. The front is the shop floor, the back is the storeroom, and it comes with a small courtyard. The beams and pillars are made of fine pinewood. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, solid as a rock even in the fiercest storms."
"Middle Street shops are in high demand. Once the news spreads, who knows how many people will be scrambling to buy it. You and this shop are fated to have met just at the right time."
After looking it over, Song Jinzhao thought it was acceptable. The storeroom window faced the courtyard, so it was fairly bright.
With the corridor in between and the door closed, outside noise couldn't be heard.
The downside was the small courtyard and the lack of a well, which would have to be dug.
Seeing Song Jinzhao's interest, the broker immediately said, "The owner is from a scholarly family and is reluctantly parting with it due to family matters."
"Normally, this shop would sell for two hundred and forty taels of silver. Now it's only two hundred."
Song Jinzhao pursed her lips, staring at the broker. This shop was only worth two hundred taels at most.
"This shop is in the rear half of Middle Street. The courtyard is so small and there's no well. Who knows if we'd even hit water after digging?"
The broker's eyelids twitched, and he quickly waved his hands.
"It will definitely hit water. The breakfast shop ahead has a well in its backyard. It's only about a hundred meters from here. The water is not only clear but also sweet."
"The shelves in the front aren't old, made of fine elm wood. The owner isn't taking them. If you buy the shop, they're included."
Song Jinzhao scoffed. "I sell tea drinks. I have no use for so many shelves. One hundred and fifty taels at most. I can pay the deposit today."
The broker didn't expect Song Jinzhao to be so firm. Gritting his teeth, he said, "One hundred and ninety at the very least. Any less and the owner won't agree."
Song Jinzhao: "One hundred and sixty. If not, I'll go look at other shops. I don't have to buy on Middle Street."
The broker hurriedly stopped Song Jinzhao, stomped his foot, and agreed. "Fine, one hundred and sixty it is. All because this shop and you are fated."
After paying the deposit, Song Jinzhao arranged with the broker to meet the seller at the brokerage tomorrow morning.
The broker immediately ran to notify the owner.
Provincial Graduate Wang put down his teacup, looking slightly surprised. "Sold so quickly?"
The broker smiled flatteringly. "It was a coincidence. The buyer happened to want a shop on Middle Street. Ultimately, it's because Graduate Wang's shop is in such a good location."
Provincial Graduate Wang's expression relaxed. "May I ask what business the buyer is in?"
"The food business."
The broker continued, "Please trouble Graduate Wang to bring all the relevant documents to the brokerage tomorrow at mid-morning. Once the documents are verified, the buyer and seller can go to the county office to sign the official deed."
Provincial Graduate Wang nodded in agreement.
In the afternoon, the manager of the rouge shop came to report on the inventory clearance. Provincial Graduate Wang casually asked about Song Jinzhao's viewing of the shop that day.
The manager mentioned offhandedly: The buyer the broker brought today was the vendor selling pearl milk tea at the front.
Provincial Graduate Wang's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say so earlier!"
The manager was stunned, unsure how to react.
When a shop is handed over to a brokerage for sale, does the buyer's identity matter?
Provincial Graduate Wang shooed the manager away, then pounded the table in frustration, venting his anger at Madam Wang.
"I heard that person sold her recipe to the Shiyouji restaurant for several hundred taels. If I'd known she wanted to buy a shop, I should have set the price higher with the brokerage from the start."
Madam Wang twisted her handkerchief tightly, agreeing. "Exactly. If the Middle Street shop could sell for more, we wouldn't have to sell the West Street residence."
Provincial Graduate Wang paced back and forth in the hall. "No good. We set the price low because we were in a hurry to sell. I didn't expect someone to buy it after just two days. One hundred and sixty taels is absolutely unacceptable."
Madam Wang frowned, troubled. "But the preliminary agreement is already signed. Breaking it means paying double the deposit."
Provincial Graduate Wang said sternly, "I'm not refusing to sell. That vendor wants a shop on Middle Street, and ours is the only one available now. She has no choice but to buy it."
