Chapter 329: How About That One?
The manager and Manager Wu accompanied them on a few loops, inspecting the teahouse thoroughly upstairs and downstairs. Speaking strictly from the hardware conditions, this teahouse was entirely suitable.
However, Qiu Rongrong harbored a lingering worry: “Yao Yao, is the layout of this building suitable for a restaurant?”
Seeing the two whispering, Manager Wu used the excuse of having matters to discuss with the teahouse manager to lead him away, leaving only the two sisters at the seating area.
Scanning the area, Wen Yao nodded slightly: “Sister Rongrong, for a traditional restaurant, it might be slightly lacking, but if we continue the teahouse model and open a hotpot restaurant, it’s just perfect!
“Think about it: three or two good friends gathering together, eating hotpot while listening to the storyteller’s brilliant and fascinating tales on the stage—would that not be pure delight?”
Qiu Rongrong’s eyes lit up: “Right! How did I not think of that? Your brain is sharper after all. So you think this building will do? If it will do, let’s negotiate the price with them.”
Wen Yao nodded. She wasn’t worried about the hotpot base—chili peppers were available now, and whether she made it herself or bought it directly from the spatial storage, it was all readily available without fear of running short.
Although there was already a practice of swishing ingredients in a hot pot in this era, the flavor was worlds apart. Eating hotpot without spice—could that even be called hotpot?
Having agreed, the two called Manager Wu back over.
Manager Wu was in the middle of talking with the teahouse manager. Seeing them call, he whispered in the manager’s ear, “It should work out this time. Both of these ladies are capable individuals; just wait to send a reply to your boss.”
The teahouse manager cupped his hands in respect toward him: “Then I am truly troubling Manager Wu. Furthermore, the people in our shop…”
The teahouse manager hesitated, leaving his words half-said.
Manager Wu offered him a reassuring glance: “Alright, I understand.”
The manager offered another deep bow, watching Manager Wu walk over without following him, merely returning behind the counter to await the news.
Manager Wu sat down beside Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong, saying with a smile, “Young Ladies, how have you considered it?”
Qiu Rongrong got straight to the point: “Manager Wu, you and Yao Yao are old acquaintances, and Broker Deng has dealt with us for many years as well. Since he recommended you to us, he naturally trusts you. Give us sisters a real price—if it’s suitable, we’ll take over this teahouse.”
Manager Wu smiled: “Manager Qiu, you can put your heart at ease regarding this! Old Deng instructed me beforehand that for your business, it must be focused on affordability—even if no money is made, I must help you buy the place you want.”
The two sisters offered a faint smile. As businesswomen themselves, they knew to take such polite pleasantries lightly.
Without standing on ceremony either, Manager Wu extended a hand, folding two fingers down: “Let me tell you the bottom-line price in the teahouse owner’s heart—this figure is the absolute minimum. Originally, he wanted to sell it for this much.”
Manager Wu extended one of those two folded fingers back out and continued, “Naturally, he wants to sell it for a bit more silver, which is only human nature. But having been a broker for so many years, I can say that for this teahouse, a price of three thousand taels is still well worth acquiring. After all, everything inside is new, having been renovated just last year, and the assistants and manager are ready to go. If you two accept it, to put it simply, you could directly change the plaque and open for business tomorrow.”
Three thousand taels—it was surprisingly this expensive. Yet upon second thought, it made sense; after all, this was the prefectural city, and no matter how prosperous Yunwu Town was, it couldn’t compare to the prefectural city.
This operated under the exact same logic as county towns versus provincial capitals.
“Can’t it be lowered any further?” Qiu Rongrong knitted her brows slightly. It wasn’t that she found three thousand taels unaffordable, but doing business meant bargaining in the end.
Withdrawing his hand, Manager Wu said, “I am giving you the real price as well. This price is the absolute lowest the owner can accept. I negotiated for an even lower price with him before, but failed to bring it down. To be frank with you, several parties wanted to buy this teahouse previously, and all failed to reach an agreement over the price.”
Three thousand taels—if the two partnered up with each taking half the restaurant, given Wen Yao’s current financial situation, she could afford her share. After all, she had just received such a massive payout of silver.
At this thought, Wen Yao asked, “Manager Wu, are there other places?”
They want to check other options? Manager Wu knew as well that one shouldn’t settle after inspecting merely a single place, so he nodded: “There are indeed, though I feel you two might not necessarily take a liking to them. How about I lead you to take a look?”
“Alright.”
Manager Wu brought them along to view two other restaurants, but they either found them too small or the location too remote. In the end, none of them were as satisfying as the initial teahouse.
Sure enough, whatever caught one’s eye at first glance proved the most pleasing and suitable in every way.
“Sister Rongrong, how about that one?” Wen Yao whispered.
Qiu Rongrong felt as well that after looking back and forth, that initial teahouse was the most suitable. Letting out a helpless sigh, she whispered, “It’s three thousand taels, though—I still wanted to bargain a bit.”
Recalling what Manager Wu had said, Wen Yao shook her head: “I think the price might be hard to negotiate down further. I’ve dealt with Manager Wu a few times as well; he won’t make exorbitant demands on matters like this. I fear this price truly is the other party’s bottom line, and he gave us the honest bottom line as well. Take a look—if you think it’s good, let’s buy that teahouse, turn it into a hotpot restaurant, and keep the performances inside going while retaining the tea pastries.
“Guests who come can eat hotpot if they want, eat cooked dishes if they want, and during the afternoon, they can enjoy tea pastries while listening to stories—it’s quite nice.”
The private rooms on the second and third floors could be put to use as well, outfitted with a few mahjong tables—eating, playing, and listening all in one, simply perfect.
Listening to her arrangement, Qiu Rongrong nodded: “Then we’ll do as you say—let’s buy it!”
Both possessed decisive, swift personalities, immediately telling Manager Wu that they decided to take over that teahouse and asking him to help make the arrangements.
Joy surfaced on Manager Wu’s face: “Great! I’ll send someone to bring the owner over so we can discuss it face-to-face.”
After speaking, Manager Wu hesitated for a moment. Wen Yao then asked, “Manager Wu, if you have something to say, speak straight out.”
Wen Yao guessed it likely pertained to those assistants in the teahouse.
Sure enough, Manager Wu offered an embarrassed smile and said, “Young Ladies, as you open this restaurant, will you still be hiring? After all, running a restaurant requires assistants, a manager, and the like. This humble self will presume upon my age to offer a suggestion: the owner won’t be taking the assistants or the manager from this teahouse away. You two could evaluate them—after all, they are accustomed to working in this building and understand any situation that arises here quite well. Wouldn’t you say this makes sense?”
