Chapter 328: Viewing the Building, Time to Buy Real Estate
Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong exchanged a glance. Pulling Wen Yao aside, Qiu Rongrong said in a low voice, “I already felt yesterday that that courtyard was a bit small, and its location is far too remote. If we come to the prefectural city to handle business, it’s inconvenient as well. I was thinking yesterday that since we aren’t short on money right now anyway, and we’ll be coming to the prefectural city frequently in the future, we might as well purchase a courtyard in the city. Whatever we do, it’ll be more convenient.
“Coincidentally, Manager Wu mentioned that the courtyard is better suited for a workshop, so why don’t we turn that courtyard into a workshop and look for a new place to stay instead?”
Wen Yao had rented that courtyard back then simply for the convenience of using her spatial storage cheat. Hearing Qiu Rongrong put it this way, she hesitated slightly at first, but upon second thought, using her spatial storage cheat didn’t require so much trouble anymore anyway.
After weighing it back and forth, Wen Yao was ultimately tempted.
Indeed, with more opportunities to visit the prefectural city in the future, they couldn’t possibly keep staying in that tiny, dilapidated courtyard forever. They might as well take the opportunity now to buy a house in the prefectural city.
Real estate was something that would never result in a loss, no matter the era.
“Alright,” Wen Yao gritted her teeth and nodded.
Hearing that they prepared to buy a new courtyard, convert their current residence into a workshop, and purchase it outright rather than renting, Manager Wu was overjoyed. He quickly reacted, asking, “Young Ladies, these roast duck and milk tea shops—could they happen to be Yunwu Roast Duck and Yunwu Milk Tea?”
The two smiled: “We didn’t expect our roast duck and milk tea to be so famous already.”
Manager Wu grew even happier, hastily cupping his hands in respect: “So this is Manager Qiu! I’ve long heard of your esteemed name! To be frank with you, I heard about it long ago—not just heard, but visited and ate there several times! The flavor of your roast duck is truly one of a kind. There are shops in the prefectural city that copy you by selling roast duck as well, but compared to yours, their flavor falls far short.
“Now that you plan to open a few shops in the prefectural city, that is truly wonderful! In the future, when I want to eat it, I won’t have to travel so far.
“Rest assured, both of you—I will definitely pick the absolute best location for you.”
“Then we shall trouble Manager Wu,” the two offered their thanks and waited at the agency.
Manager Wu flipped through his register on the spot, picking suitable locations for them. Ultimately selecting a few spots, he said, “There is indeed a teahouse up for transfer. The space isn’t small, and the grounds are large enough. Since it was originally a teahouse, the interior decorations, tables, chairs, and benches are all ready to go. Right in the middle of the teahouse, there’s even a small stage—the place where storytellers used to perform.
“If there’s any downside, it’s that this restaurant isn’t on the main street, though the foot traffic on that street is quite decent as well. Furthermore, I have full faith in Zui Xian Tower’s culinary craft; once it opens up, no matter the location, there’s no fear of lacking customers. Wouldn’t you two say so?”
The two nodded, asking again, “What about the price?”
Manager Wu smiled: “How about I take you two to inspect the place first before we discuss the price?”
That sounded good—checking the place out first was best. If the price was right, they would settle on it; if not, they could look at other options.
Manager Wu had someone hitch up a horse carriage right away, leading Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong to that street.
Just as Manager Wu described, the teahouse wasn’t located on the main street, but it wasn’t far off either, and the foot traffic along this street was fairly decent.
Moreover, compared to the main street, the storefronts on this side appeared much newer.
Before long, the two horse carriages came to a halt at the entrance of a teahouse. The teahouse doors were open, but there were few customers inside—only a scattered few tea-drinkers sat around, while the stage in the center stood empty, as the storyteller hadn’t begun his performance yet.
Manager Wu explained, “Business at this teahouse isn’t what it used to be. In the past, business here was thriving too, but as more teahouses opened up across the prefectural city, several others hired storytellers as well. People who drink tea, listen to music, or listen to stories act purely on personal preference; with this location being a bit out of the way, business grew worse and worse.
“Originally, the owner didn’t want to transfer the teahouse either, but he prepares to head south to seek his fortune, so he decided to pass the teahouse on.”
The two nodded, following Manager Wu through the door.
The shop assistant had originally assumed customers had arrived, but seeing Manager Wu bringing two young ladies along, he guessed he was bringing people to view the place, and immediately came forward with enthusiastic warmth.
“Manager Wu, troubling you again! Hurry, hurry, please come in! This small one will brew tea for everyone.” As the assistant spoke, he curtsied respectfully toward Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong.
It was no wonder he was so enthusiastic; these might very well be his future employers, so he naturally had to show respect. Ordinary errand-running assistants like them couldn’t follow their boss to the south, so they naturally wished to remain working in the same place, which meant their attitude had to be better.
Qiu Rongrong and Wen Yao held a good impression of this teahouse assistant. The group followed the assistant to find a place to sit. Having settled them, the assistant immediately went to brew tea for them, bringing the teahouse’s manager over along the way.
Manager Wu and the manager exchanged greetings before introducing Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong.
“These two—this one is Miss Qiu, the owner of Zui Xian Tower, and this one is the daughter of Lord Wen, the Agriculture Director from Yunwu Town.”
The teahouse manager was a man in his nineties, short and thin, yet appearing extremely capable. He curtsied respectfully to the two before speaking up: “Young Ladies, our teahouse was renovated just last year, and everything inside is brand new. Don’t look at how few customers there are today—in the past, there were plenty of people. Had the owner not decided to head south to seek his fortune, this teahouse would never have been put up for transfer.
“This small one has been at this teahouse for over twenty years. Whatever you two wish to know, just ask me.”
Wen Yao didn’t stand on ceremony either, speaking up: “Manager, please tell us about the teahouse’s situation.”
The manager cast a glance at Manager Wu, who said, “Just speak truthfully; Manager Qiu and Miss Wen are genuinely looking to buy.”
Only then did the manager comply, explaining the circumstances of the teahouse and its owner to the two.
During this interval, Wen Yao sized up the teahouse carefully. Like Zui Xian Tower, it was a small three-story building, though the layout was somewhat different. Perhaps to make it more convenient for upstairs guests to listen to stories and music, most of the tables and chairs on the second floor faced inward. The second and third floors had private rooms respectively, with windows all facing inward, meaning the hallways were likely on the reverse side.
The tables and chairs they sat at appeared new as well, suggesting the manager hadn’t lied about the teahouse having been recently renovated. However, she wondered how the kitchen was in the back.
As the manager wrapped up his introduction, Wen Yao proposed wanting to check the kitchen in the back. Running a restaurant required a large kitchen.
The manager hurriedly led the two toward the kitchen with utmost respect.
Perhaps due to the lack of business, quite a few workers in the kitchen were idle, sitting around to rest, yet everyone had tasks in hand—either scrubbing and washing, or tidying up items. Seeing the manager lead people inside, everyone stood up, bowing respectfully to greet them.
Wen Yao looked around; the kitchen was indeed quite large, with several kitchens of various sizes, and a water well sat beneath the open courtyard in the center.
Wen Yao walked over to take a look; the water inside was cool and clear, and standing at the mouth of the well, one could feel a wave of refreshing chill.
Checking the various kitchens and storerooms, she found everything kept spotless. There was a specific tea room for brewing tea, a kitchen specifically for making tea pastries, plus two large kitchens for hot dishes—one could say it was fully equipped.
Setting location aside, this teahouse fully satisfied the requirements of both herself and Qiu Rongrong. Wen Yao even felt that rather than opening a restaurant like Zui Xian Tower here, it was far more suitable for opening a hotpot restaurant!
Just imagine: three or two close friends gathering together, eating hotpot while swishing meat, while listening to the storyteller recount brilliant and extraordinary tales—would that not be sheer delight?
