Chapter Sixty-Six: Taking Over the Shop (Part Two)

Cheng Bo paid a deposit of two taels of silver on behalf of Liu Qin and instructed Madam Jiang to wait inside for further news. Before leaving, Liu Qin asked Master Jiang to bring out another jar of wine to take home for her father, using the opportunity to build goodwill. The Jiang couple firmly refused to accept any money for these two jars, insisting they were gifts for Liu Qin and her family. Liu Qin was moved—truly, the Jiangs were honest folk.

As they left the tavern, the Jiang couple accompanied them all the way to the carriage stop at the alley’s entrance. Liu Qin, noticing that the house next to the tavern was shuttered and seemed uninhabited, inquired about its situation. Madam Jiang explained that the family had moved away from Wucheng to another place, leaving the house vacant for over half a year. It had been entrusted to a broker for sale, but perhaps due to its poor location, it hadn't sold.

Liu Qin nodded, already forming a plan in her heart. Since Master Liu was still at the yamen, she didn’t go to disturb him; she knew he would visit the estate in a few days to see them anyway. So, the group boarded their carriage and headed straight back to the estate.

Back at the estate, Cheng Bo grew increasingly uneasy about the matter. Remembering Liu Qin's repeated instructions not to mention anything upon their return, he didn’t dare speak to the old madam. After all, he had indeed acted rashly, being tempted by good wine and swayed by a mere child’s persuasion.

While Cheng Bo fretted, Liu Qin was decisive as ever. She called Xing Sheng, An Kang, and Da Tong to Jiang Li’s room; naturally, Fang Nuo was present as well, and Xiao Wu, ever the silent shadow, followed her everywhere, rarely speaking or offering opinions, as if other people’s affairs had nothing to do with him.

Liu Qin gave three important instructions. First, Fang Nuo was to take Chang Xing and Chang Sheng to the tavern the next day to sign the employment contract with the Jiang couple, following the format of the contract Da Tong had signed with the Liu household. Second, they were to ask the broker about the price of the house near the alley entrance and, if it was reasonable, pay a deposit, with the three of them deciding after comparing surrounding prices. Third, they were to contact the owner of the tavern’s shop—this step depended on successfully acquiring the first house. If they could buy it, then they would negotiate to either renew or purchase the tavern property; if not, and someone else bought it, there would be no need to renew, and Liu Qin would consider finding another place for the wine business.

She laid out everything clearly, and after making sure everyone understood, she turned to Fang Nuo with a bright smile. “Ah Nuo, you’ll be in charge of all the money matters—make sure you keep the accounts in order!”

Being entrusted with such responsibility, Fang Nuo was both excited and anxious, lacking confidence. “Do you think I can manage it?” he asked.

“Of course you can,” Liu Qin replied, patting his shoulder in a grown-up manner. “Who else but you is fit for this? Am I right, everyone?”

Everyone agreed, and thus Fang Nuo officially took up the position of chief accountant.

The next day, Liu Qin borrowed a hundred taels of silver from her sister-in-law to give to Fang Nuo for their tasks. She was, after all, a little capitalist from a young age—ever since her first birthday, she’d clung to her gold ingot and amassed several hundred taels over the years from birthday and New Year’s gifts, never spending it, always saving for the future. Now, finally, her foresight was paying off.

That day, Liu Qin was so focused on the wine business she had no desire to go out and play, which surprised the old madam. “How is it you’re so well-behaved today? Has the sun risen in the west?”

Near sunset, Fang Nuo and the others returned. The three boys, having accomplished such a big task for the first time, were thrilled and all spoke over each other to report what happened, leaving Liu Qin with a headache before she finally understood.

Overall, things had gone smoothly. They first visited the tavern and signed the contract with the Jiang couple, then went to the broker to negotiate for the house. Since it had been unsold for half a year, the owner was eager, and the price came down. Thanks to Chang Xing’s calm bargaining, they closed the deal at eighty taels. They had already investigated the local market; though the northern city wasn’t as lively as the main streets to the east, south, or west, prices were much lower, yet still, for a property within Wucheng, had the owner not been in a hurry, it would’ve fetched at least a hundred taels.

The house was paid for on the spot, and the deed was transferred under Jiang Li’s name, as Liu Qin had arranged—what belonged to Jiang Li belonged to her, after all; there was no need to split hairs within family.

Negotiations with the tavern’s property owner were more complicated. At first, they couldn’t find the right person; when they did, he had no authority to decide. Finally, when the decision-maker arrived, they agreed that the property could be bought for seventy taels, or, if only renting, the rent would go up. After much back-and-forth, the lowest price the owner would accept was sixty taels. Fang Nuo and the others said they’d need to consult the principal before agreeing, which delayed their return.

Liu Qin considered everything. If they were to run a long-term business, it would be best to buy the property outright; with ownership, they could renovate as they pleased. Besides, as her past-life knowledge of real estate made clear, in peaceful times, land and property never lose value. It was a safe investment.

She decided to have Cui Yu accompany her to the city the next day to fetch more silver from home, since she didn’t want to raise suspicion by borrowing again from her sister-in-law before speaking with her father. She also reminded Fang Nuo to set aside funds for Master Jiang to continue brewing good wine to stock up for reopening.

With everything arranged ahead of time, all that remained was to wait for Master Liu’s return. Yet days went by with him too busy at the yamen, sending only a message to the estate apologizing for his absence.

During these days of waiting, Liu Qin did not idle. She quickly befriended all the children on the estate, including Cheng Bo’s grandson and Zou Yougui’s son, both seven or eight years old. Once the little lords and ladies arrived, the former head of the estate’s children graciously ceded his position to Liu Qin, who soon became the undisputed leader—her every word was heeded, her every whim followed, and she enjoyed her newfound prestige immensely.

By day, they discussed going to the river’s edge to catch fish or climbing fruit trees in the orchard; at night, they lounged in the cool air, counting stars and telling stories. When Liu Qin recited tales from Journey to the West, the children, young and old, were spellbound and begged for more each night. Only Jiang Li watched her with suspicion—where had his little sister read such tales, and why didn’t he know of them?

One day, after Liu Qin had explored every corner of the estate, she led her carefree band to the edge of the fields to watch the farmers weeding the rice paddies. Most were villagers from nearby, though some, like Feng Da, were estate workers. Feng Da noticed Liu Qin from afar and quickly came over to pay his respects.

After more than a year of hard labor, Feng Da was darker, stronger, and much more honest. Only a glint of cunning in his eyes betrayed his true nature. Having greeted them, he took the opportunity to cool off in the shade. While Liu Qin and her companions stood, Feng Da dared not sit—he stood awkwardly to the side, constantly wiping his sweat and fanning himself with his sleeve.

At that moment, a farm girl carrying a bamboo basket approached, and before she even drew near, she called out shyly, “Brother Feng!”

Oh? Something interesting was afoot. Liu Qin’s eyes widened, unwilling to miss a single bit of gossip.