“What?” Lu Zheng looked utterly baffled.
My business is doing perfectly fine, and you come to discuss cooperation or acquisition? But to directly ask to buy my shopfront…
Having never done business in the modern world, Lu Zheng had acquired this shop through a broker in this era. He genuinely didn’t know if there was a custom of directly asking an operating shop if its premises were for sale. Perhaps it was something out of urban web novels, where the protagonist shows off?
Seeing Lu Zheng’s confusion, Zhou Mingsheng felt a bit awkward. Directly asking a merchant running their own shop if their premises were for sale was indeed somewhat impolite. Unless an irresistible price was offered, it was asking for trouble.
However…
Zhou Mingsheng’s visit wasn’t quite like that. The Zhao family of Yizhou, with its vast wealth, was entering Tonglin County to start a cloth business. They planned to buy a row of five shopfronts in Cong’an Lane to open a large cloth shop, and Lu Zheng’s shop happened to be one of the five they had their eyes on.
For small merchants with only one or two shopfronts, the Zhao family wouldn’t bother with niceties. They’d visit, offer a price five to eight percent above market value, and most merchants would give face. At worst, they’d relocate to another shop, which was just a bit of hassle, but it meant forming a connection with the Zhao family, potentially leading to future cooperation.
Initially, Zhou Mingsheng thought Lu Zheng was such a merchant. From his inquiries, Lu Zheng was just an outsider who had moved to Tonglin County two years ago, owning only one shopfront and a sugar refinery. Against such a figure, the Zhao family’s influence was significant.
But upon entering today, Zhou Mingsheng realized his assumptions were wrong. Though located in an ordinary residential area, the courtyard’s decor was far from simple. The tea set, vases, incense burners, and furniture were all exquisite and costly. The young master, though youthful, carried an extraordinary demeanor, clearly no ordinary merchant.
Zhou Mingsheng couldn’t read Lu Zheng. Would such a person care about a connection with the Zhao family or a slight price markup, only to go through the trouble of buying another shop and moving?
…
Hearing Zhou Mingsheng’s words, Lu Zheng was momentarily stunned. “Buy my shopfront, and the price is negotiable?”
Lu Zheng blinked, instinctively asking, “How much are you offering?”
This showed his inexperience. Despite his cultivated demeanor from years of practice, he still thought like an ordinary person. Since the shop wasn’t entirely off-limits, he naturally asked about the price.
Zhou Mingsheng’s eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity. “I offer four hundred and fifty guan!”
“What?” Lu Zheng was even more baffled.
You come to buy my shop with such confidence, acting like the price is negotiable, and I thought you’d offer double the price. And this is it?
Lu Zheng said irritably, “I paid four hundred and thirty guan when I bought it!”
“What? Isn’t the market price four hundred guan?” Zhou Mingsheng thought his offer was generous, over ten percent above market.
“Can’t I have paid a premium?” Lu Zheng realized the so-called negotiable price wasn’t the lavish offer depicted in web novels.
Now it dawned on him. He wasn’t short of money, so why bother haggling over prices?
Waving his hand, Lu Zheng said, “Alright, Steward Zhou, I’m running a small business for self-sufficiency and enjoyment. I have no plans to sell the shop. There are plenty of shopfronts in Cong’an Lane. You can look at others.”
That won’t do!
Zhou Mingsheng jolted. Lu Zheng’s shop was the second from the left in the row of five they aimed to buy, and they had already secured the one on the left. Two of the other three were listed with brokers, and the last was nearly finalized. Lu Zheng’s was the only holdout.
If he couldn’t secure this one, Zhou Mingsheng would face consequences from the Zhao family.
“Young Master Lu! Please wait!” Zhou Mingsheng said urgently.
“What?” Lu Zheng asked.
“I sincerely wish to buy,” Zhou Mingsheng said. “I didn’t know the price you paid before. Please forgive me.”
“No matter,” Lu Zheng shook his head. It wasn’t a big deal. “But I’m not short of money and have no intention of selling. Just look at other shopfronts in Cong’an Lane. There are plenty of good ones listed with brokers.”
True, but the good ones are held by Tonglin County’s prominent families, and there aren’t any other suitable rows of five!
“Four hundred and seventy guan,” Zhou Mingsheng offered another figure. “Our third young master will also enroll in the county school. You two could become friends.”
“No need,” Lu Zheng shook his head. “If there’s nothing else, Steward Zhou, please take your leave.”
“You ignorant scholar, the Zhao family taking interest in your shop is…”
“Silence!” Zhou Mingsheng quickly cut off his servant, looking apologetically at Lu Zheng. “My servant spoke out of turn. My apologies!”
Lu Zheng remained expressionless, merely nodding lightly and raising his teacup to signal their departure.
Seeing the visit was fruitless, Zhou Mingsheng knew he had to report back. He clasped his hands, bid farewell, and left hurriedly.
…
Shaking his head, Lu Zheng didn’t dwell on the matter. Noticing it was nearly noon, he crossed to the modern world, grabbed some fruit from the fridge, bought a five-spice roast chicken downstairs, and had Aunt Liu plate it. Carrying the food box, he strolled toward Benevolence Hall.
“Brother-in-law!”
“Young Master!”
As he stepped out, he ran into Liu Qingquan and Uncle Liu San, heading to deliver lunch to Liu Qingyan and her father.
“Qingquan, Third Uncle.”
Liu Qingquan sniffed, catching the scent of roast chicken. “Chicken!”
“Sharp nose. Let’s eat together at noon,” Lu Zheng said with a laugh.
“Great, great!” Liu Qingquan nodded eagerly, like a pecking chick.
They arrived at Benevolence Hall, where Liu Qingyan and Old Man Liu were tending to patients.
“Uncle Liu! Qingyan!”
“Lu Lang!”
Seeing Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan waved happily, then turned back to her patient. She conducted the consultation, checked the pulse, and prescribed medicine with practiced ease, finishing the elderly patient’s visit.
Amid the old man’s thanks, Liu Qingyan’s smile was pure and sincere, and Lu Zheng could faintly sense a holy aura about her. As his mastery of the *Spirit Transformation Technique* deepened, he could detect the faint golden light of merit around Liu Qingyan.
Doing good and accumulating virtue, without relying on external means, with a sincere heart, naturally brought merit.
“Daddy, Sister, let’s eat,” Liu Qingquan said sweetly.
“No rush. There are a few more patients. I’ll join you after I’m done,” Liu Qingyan replied.
“Dr. Liu, eat first. We’re not in a hurry.”
“Exactly!”
“It’s fine,” Liu Qingyan smiled. “You haven’t had lunch either. Once I’m done, you can go home and eat.”
“Let me help,” Lu Zheng said, setting down the food box and calling over a few patients.
