Chapter 260: Save Wherever Possible
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The villagers typically took their rice out to dry and brought it home at night. Then they would pound the rice to peel the husk when it was dry. However, these were not urgent tasks. Since it took a long time to do, the villagers worked slowly.
After the autumn harvest, the villagers no longer had to work so hard as they started peeling peanuts, corn, and pound rice at home. After that, they prepared for the frigid winter.
Sometimes, it would snow so heavily that the mountains would become inaccessible. That’s why most prepared themselves in advance for the winter so they would not have to go out.
Of course, those with free time occasionally went hunting in the mountains just before winter. However, they did not go too deep into the mountains and would hunt rabbits at most.
Su Binglan did not want to think about winter because it was still autumn, and she still had a lot of things to do. After harvesting rice, she began working on starting the hotpot restaurant. After all, one needed a big shop to open a hotpot restaurant.
In her opinion, the hotpot restaurant would be famous, so a small shop would not suffice. One needed a shop big enough, preferably one with two floors, so that they could accommodate more people.
When Su Binglan went to town, the first thing she did was look for a shop. Then she would let Lin Zheng handle the matter.
Lin Zheng was ecstatic when he learned that his master would open another shop. “Master, do you want to rent a shop with a perfect location or just a decent one?”
Su Binglan said, “The location won’t matter, but the most important thing is that the rent is cheap, and the surrounding streets should be spacious and suitable for parking carriages. Also, I’m looking for a two-story shop.”
Lin Zheng said smilingly, “I understand, Master. I’ll look for one right now. I guarantee you that the price will be reasonable. Also, I know the shop you open will be famous, no matter where it is. It’s just as you said: Quality goods need no advertising.”
Su Binglan patted Lin Zheng’s shoulder and said, “All right, go and do it quickly. The weather is getting colder, so I need to open the hotpot restaurant as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Master.” Lin Zheng hurriedly went to complete his task. He was efficient as he found a few shops that met Su Binglan’s needs in one day. He found a few two-stories tall shops, but they were in different places.
Su Binglan looked at a few shops and chose one. “Let’s do this one since it’s only two silver taels a month. Also, the shop is huge, and the entrance is spacious.”
Indeed, the rent was cheap and was Su Binglan’s primary concern. Although she had earned a lot of money, Su Binglan learned from her mother that she should save wherever possible. Moreover, she wanted to buy more land quickly.
“Master, this shop is also on the west side, close to your dessert shop. It’s just one street away but big, so it won’t be easy to get a hold of.”
After some thought, Su Binglan said, “Didn’t I hear something about many people renting shops in the west? That means the prices have gone up, right?”
“Yeah, that’s near our street, and it’s all thanks to you, Master. No one would want to do business there if you didn’t open your shops and the barbecue stall didn’t become so popular.
“It’s easier to rent the shops over there but not the ones on this street, mainly because the shop you want has two floors instead of one.”
Su Binglan understood that most people did small-scale businesses, and renting a shop was just taking over a small business. Very few would rent a big shop since most did not need so much space and the rent was more expensive.
Therefore, renting a big shop in a remote area was difficult. In Su Binglan’s opinion, two silver taels a month was more cost-effective.
“Then let’s rent this shop,” Su Binglan said.
Lin Zheng smiled. “The shop owners on this street will have to thank you again, Master. Once you open your shop, it’ll become famous and make that street more lively.”
Su Binglan remembered that Lin Zheng had yet to try hotpot before. “How do you know it’ll be famous?”
Lin Zheng replied confidently, “Well, your food is always delicious.”
Su Binglan smiled and said, “All right, go settle the paperwork for the shop.”
“Yes, Master.”
After Lin Zheng had settled the paperwork, Su Binglan tidied up the shop and told Su Zhengde to handle the renovations.
Su Zhengde was thrilled when his niece asked him to handle the renovation.
“Don’t worry, Binglan. I will do a good job according to your requests.”
After he built the house for Su Binglan and her family, Su Zhengde took on a lot more work and was almost unable to handle it. When Su Binglan told him to renovate her shop, he did not say a word and postponed the rest of his projects.
He prioritized his niece’s renovations because he did not want to delay Su Binglan’s shop opening.
“Thank you very much, Uncle Zhengde.”
Su Zhengde waved his hand and said, “You’re too polite, Binglan.”
He felt he should be thanking his niece, even though it was strange for him to do so. Su Zhengde knew he needed to put all his heart into his niece’s renovation as a more effective way of thanking her.
“I’m not concerned about your work, Uncle Zhengde. I went to look at my family’s new house, and your team built it according to the blueprints I drew. It’s impressive,” Su Binglan’s words were sincere.
“You flatter me, Binglan.” Su Zhengde was delighted that his niece praised him. He could not hide his smile, no matter how hard he tried.
Madam Zhou watched from the sidelines, and emotions filled her heart. She knew how serious her husband was in the past as he rarely smiled. Now, he always smiled whenever faced with Su Binglan.
Madam Zhou could sense Su Zhengde’s genuine happiness because her husband could do many things. Many looked up to him and trusted him to work for them.
Su Zhengde felt at ease, so his mood naturally improved, not to mention Madam Zhou. Many villagers and townsfolk went to order furniture for her, so she always slept with a smile.
Su Binglan handed the shop blueprints to Su Zhengde and said, “These are the blueprints I drew. You can renovate the shop according to them.”
Su Zhengde looked at the blueprints and was amazed. “Is that a table, Binglan?”
“No, that’s a stove. I want each table to have one, and the customers can sit on both sides. There will be an opening under the stoves for burning charcoal, and it’s connected to the ventilation on the outer wall.”
There was no electricity in that era, so Su Binglan could only develop primitive methods for her hotpot restaurant. She had it all figured out and designed the shop based on modern hotpot restaurants.
Moreover, the customers would feel a sense of novelty when they ate at the restaurant.
Su Binglan explained everything in detail. Since Su Zhengde had worked as a carpenter for many years and helped several people build houses, he knew what to do the moment Su Binglan explained her designs..
