Restaurant
"Zhou Yu, I want to buy some fish seeds*. Do you know who sells them in the village?" When Zhou Yu came to the house to report, Shen Yanbei grabbed the person and asked.
*raw wrote yúmiáo: fry: a small fish hatched from the roe for breeding.
Zhou Yu scratched his head. "No one in our village raises fish. But the family of the newly married eldest daughter-in-law of Uncle Shen's Family is in Dongtang Village on the edge of the Dongjiang River. The people of Dongtang Village breed lotus roots and raise fish. You can go to ask to Uncle Shen's house."
Shen Yanbei knew it well. He straightly went to Uncle Shen's house that day.
A small fish hatched from roe for breeding.
"You want to buy fish seeds?" Uncle Shen's eldest daughter-in-law, Shen Liu-shi frowned and said bluntly, "I have some in my family. But the fish seeds are ordinary domestic fish. The color is not as dark as the koi. So it is not suitable for viewing and admiring. "
It was no wonder she thought so. Scholars liked to play wind and moon* most. In addition to reading and writing, they also planted flowers, fish, and went for a walk in a quiet place with a bird to cultivate their temperament.
*fēngyuè: wind and moon, generally refers to the scenery; refers to the love affairs of men and women.
Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you are misunderstood. What I want to buy are domestic fish seeds."
Koi was indeed prosperous and beautiful. Wut what he had to do now was to earn money. So he didn't have the leisure to watch and admire fish.
Shen Liu-shi was curious, but she was not familiar with Shen Yanbei. She had only heard of the name of Master Xiucai of Shenjia Village, so she was ashamed to ask him what he wanted to do with fish seeds.
"Then how much do you want?"
Shen Yanbei asked the price and said the number. Shen Liu-shi then was even more curious. Shen Yanbei wanted so many fish seeds. Were those to raise fish? But there was no fish pond in the Shen's Family!
"When do you want it? I'll tell my elder brother and send it over at that time."
"Send it in five days. I'm bothering my sister-in-law."
The village head helped him to order seedlings and find someone to farm. After the paddy field was cleaned, the seeds had to be soaked for two days. After five days later, then it worked.
"You are welcome." Shen Liu-shi smiled shyly. She now thought that Shen Xiucai was not as arrogant and rude as rumors.
Shen Yanbei was about to leave. Before he left, a fat man with a round face appeared outside the fence. The fat man watched the harmonious atmosphere, his eyebrows were somewhat similar to Uncle Shen.
Shen Yanbei turned over the memory of the original owner. He smiled slightly and said, "Laifu Gē."
What a coincidence, he was looking for this person!
The fat man was stunned. He looked at Shen Yanbei hesitantly. "Shen Xiucai?"
During these two days, when he returned to the village, the one he heard the most was about Shen Yan Xiucai. He still doubted whether the villagers said it was true. He didn’t expect to verify it face to face soon. The young man in front of him, with a smile at the corner of his mouth and his calm eyes, was far from the arrogant Master Xiucai in his memory!
Was it really a character change?
Shen Yanbei nodded. "Laifu Gē, why are you back?"
Shen Laifu smiled bitterly. "It's time for plowing in spring. I'll go back to help if I have nothing to do." After speaking, he looked at Shen Yanbei. "Why do you come to my house? Are you here to find Father?"
Shen Yanbei shook his head. "I'm asking my sister-in-law to buy some fish seeds."
Shen Laifu felt weird. He was about to ask what he was buying fish seeds for. But he heard Shen Yanbei said, "I have something to talk about. Can we?"
Shen Laifu was full of doubts. He was just a cook who could only cook. What did Shen Xiucai ask him about? But when Shen Yanbei was discussing business with him, he almost couldn't hold the joy.
"You mean that you want to buy the restaurant and hire me to be a chef?" Shen Laifu's voice changed with excitement, staring eagerly at Shen Yanbei.
"That's right." Shen Yanbei's eyes were serious. "I've seen the restaurant. The location is pretty good. If you manage it well, you may be able to make a profit."
Although Shen Laifu was excited, his mind was still very calm. "Shen Yan, do you know how much money it would cost to buy such a restaurant?"
The consumption in the small county town was not high, but this restaurant was in a prosperous area on the street. So it couldn't be taken away without two or three hundred taels.
Thinking of this, Shen Laifu had some doubts in his eyes. "Can you get so much money?"
He didn't stay in the village often, but still understood things about Shenjia Village. His father sent vegetables to the restaurant every day and would talk to him about the village from time to time. Shen Xiucai was seriously ill before and bought an ugly Shuānger to help him. But he was so poor that their wedding even without having a wedding drink.
Faced with Shen Laifu’s doubts, Shen Yanbei did not explain too much. He said, “It's true that branches grow where they shouldn't*. If Laifu Gē is free, can you come with me and talk to your old boss in person?”
*jié wài shēng zhī: metaphor has a new problem in addition to the original problem. Many fingers deliberately set up obstacles to prevent the problem from being resolved smoothly; new problems crop up unexpectedly; bring up unnecessary ramifications.
Shen Yanbei's posture didn't look like a joke. Shen Laifu was surprised.
After thinking about it, Shen Laifu wrinkled his face and sighed. "Even if you really have the money to buy the property, how can you, a scholar, know how to do business? Instead of losing money, it is better to save money and live with your family wife!"
Both Father Shen and Mother Shen were very kind people. Shen Laifu called them uncle and aunt when he met them. Shen's Family now only had Shen Yan, a scholar. These silvers might be last Shen's Family wealth. It was fine if he wants to use it. But if the other party lost the money because of this, Shen Laifu felt uneasy.
Shen Yanbei nodded secretly in his heart and said with a smile on his face, "Laifu Gē, I have already discussed with my wife how to operate this restaurant. Also, you can help us, Laifu Gē. You can still think about doing this business. Even if we don’t manage it well in the future, there are still fields at home. So don't need to worry about food."
Shen Laifu persuaded him again, but Shen Yanbei insisted. Shen Laifu could only say, "Okay. If you really want to, I'll accompany you there now."
"Alright. I'll go back first to change clothes!"
"I'll be waiting for you at the entrance to the village."
Shen Yanbei walked home quickly. He took the silver ticket and took Gu Changfeng out.
"Wifey, let's go to the county to buy that restaurant!"
Gu Changfeng didn't expect him to move so fast. "Really want to buy?"
"Buy! You'll be the boss!" Shen Yanbei laughed while played with Gu Changfeng's hands. "It's far harder to farm than to do business. Also, the money comes quickly. If you want to live a good life, you can't only count on these two acres of land."
Gu Changfeng pursed his lips but did not answer. It was fine now. It didn't matter if he did farming all his life, but if Shen Yanbei yearned for another relaxed lifestyle. It didn't matter. He would try to keep up with him.
Shen Laifu, who was waiting at the entrance of the village, sat in his bullock cart. He saw Shen Yanbei from a distance and beckoned to him. When he saw Shen Yanbei with a tall man next to him, he was so curious about this man who looked unfamiliar. Which family this relative from? When Shen Yanbei came closer, he suddenly remembered that this tall and strong man was not someone else, but the husband whom Shen Yanbei had just married!
Looking up at Gu Changfeng who was tall more one head from him, Shen Laifu swallowed. He barely pulled out a smile. "Shen Yan, this is your..." He wanted to talk 'Shuānger you bought', but saw Shen Yanbei brought the person here. Obviously, this Shuānger weighted Shen Yanbei's heart. So he hurriedly changed his words. "This is your husband. Really..."
Speaking of this, Shen Laifu paused again. The other party had a masculine and cold face that far away from beautiful and graceful. He had to suffocate a word-- "Really sturdy!"
Shen Yanbei. "..."
F*ck your uncle. Did you know how to praise? Although he loved the muscles of his wife to death, his wife might not be happy after hearing it!
Sure enough, Gu Changfeng's eyes flashed. Shen Yanbei quickly held his hand and smiled at him.
Gu Changfeng lowered his head and nodded slightly.
"Haha..."
This Shuānger looked really imposing. Shen Laifu wiped the non-existent cold sweat on his forehead and told the two of them to get into the car.
Shen Yanbei lowered his voice to Gu Changfeng. "It was my fault. I forgot to tell Laifu Gē that I take you with me."
His wife was so sexy, but others might not appreciate it!
Knowing what Shen Yanbei meant, Gu Changfeng said in a faint voice. "I don't worry about it..."
What did others think, what did it have to do with him? He just...
Shen Yanbei turned Gu Changfeng's face around and gave a quick kiss. Then pointed to his own face and smiled. "Come... Kiss this Lord too!"
Gu Changfeng's cheeks were hot. He clenched his fists. "...someone is watching."
Shen Laifu, who was driving in front, heard the sound from behind but sweated profusely in the bright and cool morning.
...
The ox cart swayed for half an hour before arriving in the county. Shen Laifu put the ox cart and took Shen Yanbei to the yard behind the restaurant to find the owner.
In the yard, the owner's wife was standing at the window and complaining.
"Dāngjiāde*, we have to leave, the father-in-law can't wait! Don't regret it if èrfáng** will give it a cheap price!"
*the head of a family; husband.
**The second member of the old family.
"Hurry Hurry! Do you think I don't want to leave? I bought this place with a full two hundred and fifty taels. These guys who fish in trouble waters* is unreasonable, bargain two hundred taels. Laozi would die by losing money!" The owner replied cursingly.
*chènhuǒdǎjié: take advantage of others' difficulties for one's own benefit.
"Don't lose a great deal through trying to save a little! Go back and look after your old father. We can't tell if when the time comes to divide up family property and live apart, only will give you a few hundred taels!"
"I……"
Shen Laifu stepped forward and knocked on the door: "Lǎo Dōngjia*, open the door!"
*Old Owner.
After a moment, a mustache middle-aged man dressed in rich and noble clothes opened the door. His gaze passed by Shen Laifu and fell on the body of Shen Yanbei, who looked refined and gentle with the character of the eight-character Hu*. "This Gōngzǐ... What's the matter?"
* from the physiognomy point of view, the character of the eight-character Hu is very cheerful, lively, and even humorous. While the one-character Hu is rigid and rigorous.
Shen Yanbei said, "I Shen Yan from Shenjia Village. I heard Laifu Gē said that this restaurant is gonna be sold. So I came to talk to the owner."
The owner was overjoyed. "It turns out to be Shen Gōngzǐ. Impoliteness... Impoliteness! Please come in!"
He moved sideways so Shen Yanbei could enter the store and noticed Gu Changfeng behind him. The owner thought that Shen Gōngzǐ also brought a servant. It must be that his family background pretty good! He was secretly happy. But when Shen Yanbei introduced Gu Changfeng to him, the owner almost dropped his jaw.
"This is my husband. He wants to buy your store. I wonder what the selling price of your store is?"
On the way here, he had already asked Shen Laifu about the situation in the store and asked about the market price. He had a general idea about the price.
The owner looked at Gu Changfeng, who was sitting there with a strong physique and a calm face, then at Shen Yanbei, who was standing beside him with a thin and handsome appearance. His mouth wide opened and was speechless for a while.
Shen Laifu said, "Lǎo Dōngjia, this is Master Xiucai of our village. Can you give us a suitable price?"
"Master Xiucai?" The owner re-examined Shen Yanbei and said, "Because you are introduced by the Lǎo Huǒjì*. For the sake of him, I'll give you two hundred and eighty taels!"
* partner; a business associate.
Shen Yanbei raised his eyebrows. Meanwhile, Shen Laifu frowned.
Seeing Shen Yanbei's silence, the owner was a little unhappy. "My restaurant has a good location and there are many guests. There are wing rooms behind the restaurant. If it isn't for the rush, I won't sell it under three hundred taels of silver."
"Two hundred and twenty taels." Gu Changfeng, who didn't speak before, looked directly at the owner with his black eyes. He said in a voice calm, "Only this price then we can go through the transfer procedures now. If we can't, we will leave."
The owner was taken aback by him.
Shen Yanbei looked down at Gu Changfeng in amazement. Gu Changfeng's expression was the same color as usual. But if you observed, you would find that his eyes were much harsher than before.
"How is it?"
The voice fell heavily in his ears, the owner suddenly recovered. The owner trembled and hesitated for a moment. Then he finally gritted his teeth and said in pain, "Okay! If two hundred and twenty, then it's two hundred and twenty!"
Shen Yanbei immediately took out two hundred and twenty taels of silver bills. The owner's heart hurt even more. But time was running out, so he could only endure his heartache. He took the title deed and he and trio Shen Yanbei ran to the yamen to complete the procedures.
"Wifey, you are amazing! I originally planned to use two hundred and fifty taels for this restaurant!" On the way home, Shen Yanbei praised Gu Changfeng.
Gu Changfeng's face blushed. "I just heard their conversation before. The owner said that he bargained for 250 taels, but the people who intended to buy the restaurant only gave them two hundred taels in the past two days..."
"Unexpectedly, my wife. Not to mention you can do martial arts, you also are good at bargaining! You can hear what the other party is saying from far away!" Shen Yanbei grabbed his hand and said with a smile.
Gu Changfeng pursed his lips and made a soft "um" sound.
Shen Yanbei was in a better mood. He shook Gu Changfeng's hand and kissed him. "When we finish the spring plowing, we will redecorate the restaurant. Um, I have thought of the name, it is called Tongfu Restaurant!"
"What do you think?"
"...Good." Gu Chang covered his red ear. But the heart was hotter than the face.
He Originally thought that when Shen Yanbei said that putting the restaurant under his name meant that he should be his face-to-face owner. But Shen Yanbei directly put his name on the transfer document of the restaurant and asked him to press his handprint!
It stood to reason that as a slave, he couldn't own private property. But the transfer document bore the official seal of the county government, which was clear and effective! The only explanation was-- Shen Yanbei had removed his slave status!
