bookrandom Chapter 411 Encountering Shopkeeper Su at the Ferry Crossing
Chapter 411 Encountering Shopkeeper Su at the Ferry Crossing
Lin Qingchuan gritted his teeth and nodded, "I'll buy it. Five thousand taels it is. But I only have four thousand taels on hand, and I'm still short one thousand taels. Could you give me a few days' grace so I can go back to my hometown and get it for you?"
The man looked somewhat embarrassed, but after thinking about it, he decided that paying a deposit of four thousand taels and giving him a few days to collect the money was better than waiting idly for someone to come and the deal to fall through.
So he readily agreed.
"Alright, you pay a deposit of four thousand taels first, and we'll draw up a contract to finalize the deal. I'll give you three days to pay the remaining one thousand taels. We won't charge interest, how about that?"
Lin Qingchuan nodded and then shook his head. "Three days probably won't be enough. I'll take a boat back to my hometown to get the silver, and then come back. That round trip will probably take at least four days."
Waterways are faster than land routes, and you won't encounter bandits. However, it took them five days to get to the capital, so even if waterways are faster, three days is probably too rushed.
The man's eyes darted around, and he thought to himself that as long as he received a deposit of four thousand taels, he wouldn't have to worry about the buyer running away. He wouldn't have to worry about the remaining one thousand taels being reneges on the debt. If the buyer really couldn't pay, then the restaurant would never be transferred to him.
He nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll wait for you for another four days. But remember to make up the remaining one thousand taels by the deadline."
Lin Qingchuan smiled and nodded repeatedly. He took out a money pouch from his sleeve, which contained exactly four thousand taels of silver notes.
"Here is four thousand taels. Please count it carefully."
The man licked his fingers, counted three times carefully, and then a smile bloomed on his face.
“Four thousand taels, not a penny less. Let’s draw up a written agreement right now.”
Unexpectedly, things went so smoothly today; the restaurant was sold just like that. It's truly a pleasant surprise.
The man wrote down the agreement in a long and eloquent manner, and both parties pressed their fingerprints on it. There was also an IOU for one thousand taels of silver.
After Lin Qingchuan returned to the inn and told his wife what had happened, he quickly packed a bundle and carried it to the ferry.
Liu wasn't as quick-witted as her husband and eldest daughter, nor was she as adept at buying things. However, she supported whatever her husband and eldest daughter decided.
She was left alone in the inn with her two children. She couldn't offer much help, nor could she hold her husband and eldest daughter back at this critical juncture.
Lin Qingchuan, carrying a bundle, was asking a boatman about the departure time when a large boat approached and gradually docked. Manager Su was standing at the bow of the boat.
Lin Qingchuan thought he was seeing things, so he rubbed his eyes and looked at him carefully. It really was him.
Lin Qingchuan immediately waved to greet him.
"Manager Su, what brings you here?"
As the ship docked, a servant carrying a bundle walked out of the cabin and followed him off the ship to Lin Qingchuan's side.
"A few days ago you wrote to me asking me to arrange for someone to send things up the mountain. The letter was short, but it made me very worried. I was thinking of settling the two restaurants and the medicinal herb fields, and then I would come to the capital to check on your situation. Has Xiao Tang returned from the mountain? Are those bandits still not releasing her? Have they reported it to the authorities?"
Lin Qingchuan was quite frustrated.
“A few days ago I went up the mountain to look for Xiaotang. I found her, but the bandit leader was unwilling to let her come back, saying that he was afraid that if Xiaotang never returned, no one would teach them how to grow medicinal herbs.”
Fortunately, Xiao Tang had gained their trust. She was well-fed and clothed on the mountain and didn't suffer any injuries. The two bandit leaders seemed to treat her well, and she could even speak up for them.
When Manager Su heard that Xiao Tang was alright, the worry on his face faded away.
"Although they are treating Xiaotang well so far, they are still bandits. If they are unpredictable, Xiaotang will be in danger as long as she doesn't come down the mountain. We still have to find a way to rescue her."
Lin Qingchuan was somewhat troubled. "A forceful approach won't work. If we report to the authorities, I'm afraid that before the soldiers even reach the mountain, they will get the news and kidnap Xiaotang, making her even more dangerous."
If we don't report it to the authorities, they will insist on not releasing her. We can't fight back with just our bare hands. If we want Xiaotang to get down the mountain, we'll have to find another way.
Xiao Tang has always been decisive. She wanted to teach the bandits how to grow medicinal herbs, planning to use their manpower for her own purposes. They had already cleared land on the mountain and planted the herbs. She wondered if those unevenly trained men would eventually follow her instructions.
Manager Su raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that Xiao Tang really had the courage and boldness to take business into the heart of bandits.
For a young girl to survive and thrive in a bandit's den is truly unprecedented and likely to remain so.
He had always admired this adopted niece, and now he admired her even more!
"Since Xiaotang has her own plans, we don't need to worry too much. You had a grudge before, but he didn't seek revenge and killed Xiaotang. He even listened to Xiaotang's advice on planting medicinal herbs, which shows that Xiaotang's abilities are extraordinary."
Seeing that you are all safe and sound puts my mind at ease. My purpose in coming to the capital was first to see if I could be of any help, and then I would like to visit my family.
Lin Qingchuan nodded and thanked Manager Su, "I am very grateful for your help in arranging the delivery of the medicinal herbs. The cost of the medicinal seed seeds is on my tab, and I will instruct the accountant to keep the accounts clear."
"Xiao Tang calls me Second Uncle, why are you being so polite with me? Besides, in our business relationship, why should we distinguish between 'yours' and 'mine'?"
Lin Qingchuan felt a little embarrassed. Manager Su had helped his family a lot all along. If it weren't for the opportunity Manager Su gave them back then, they wouldn't have been able to sell braised pig's trotters, nor would they have had the capital to grow their business step by step. Later, when they opened a braised pig's trotters shop, a restaurant, and planted medicinal herbs, they couldn't do without Manager Su's help. Especially in terms of capital, Manager Su was generous and never complained to his family.
He said, "You have helped us too much. If I continue to take advantage of you like this, even if you don't mind for a year, two years, ten years, or eight years, I will lose face."
"In the past, when things were tough, I could shamelessly take advantage of others, but now that I have money, I'd be ashamed to keep doing that. Manager Su, our cooperation is far from over, and I'll need your help in the future, so please don't be so polite with me in this regard."
Manager Su sighed and finally relented.
"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Just have the accountant clarify the accounts. Everything is negotiable. Just don't damage our friendship."
After exchanging pleasantries, Manager Su remembered to ask him where he was going.
"Oh right, I was so busy talking that I almost forgot to ask you where you're going from the ferry crossing?"
Lin Qingchuan then began to recount the process of buying the restaurant.
"The deal was made for five thousand taels of silver. I only have four thousand taels on hand, and I was thinking of taking a boat back to Dushui County to get some more silver to make up the difference."
Manager Su immediately said, "Let's open this restaurant together. You've already paid a deposit of four thousand taels, so I'll give you another four thousand taels. You can use one thousand taels to make up the difference, and the remaining three thousand taels can be used as capital."
"Having just bought a restaurant, we not only need to find waiters and chefs, but also register with the government, make deals with everyone involved, and purchase ingredients. There are so many places that require money. Luckily, I've come to the capital, so we can make arrangements quickly and open as soon as possible."