300: Scheming for Personal Gain (1)
Li Hengyi glanced at Xie Zhinuan.
He pressed his lips together in a slight smile.
Then, thinking of the news Yuanbao had reported back, the fondness in his eyes deepened.
Even if Xie Zhinuan had forgotten everything, she remained the little sister in his memory, as well as the girl he now secretly held dear in his heart.
Xie Zhinuan chatted with Li Hengyi for a while before getting up to attend to her own affairs.
She sent Stupid Girl to the Pawnshop to summon Lian’s wife over.
Lian’s wife arrived promptly.
“Please, take a seat!” Xie Zhinuan said softly.
Lian’s wife also smiled gently, “Manager Xie has called for me; what may I do for you?”
“It’s like this, I’d like to buy another two manors. It doesn’t matter where they are, as long as they have arable land; size doesn’t matter either!”
Xie Zhinuan had thought it through. Since she managed a restaurant, she should grow her own rice. That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to buy food or others charging high prices.
“Also, mountainous land would be fine too; I could use it to grow wheat!”
Now, by buying land and flipping it for winter wheat and vegetables, it would be excellent. The vegetables needed by the restaurant could come directly from her own farms, saving money and ensuring peace of mind. Purchasing land now, they could even cultivate many kinds of vegetables.
“Should it be somewhat close to the county town?” asked Lian’s wife.
“Not necessarily very close, just accessible by boat from the docks. By the way, is buying a boat expensive?”
Lian’s wife looked slightly surprised and after some thought, she said, “It depends on what kind Manager Xie wants to buy. A general wooden boat with paint isn’t particularly expensive; you could get quite a large one for around a hundred taels of silver, which is very good for transporting goods. If it’s better, with cabins, it’ll be more expensive, at least starting from five hundred taels, and for even bigger and better ones, it goes up to a thousand taels or more!”
Xie Zhinuan thought for a moment and then asked, “Can people live on the five hundred tael kind?”
“Yes, they can. Manager Xie, if you’re thinking of buying one, I’ll arrange it and take you to see them when the time comes!” Lian’s wife looked at Xie Zhinuan earnestly.
‘Kechanglai’ was doing so well it was unbelievable, with people coming and going several times a day just to deliver and buy vegetables, and even more coming to dine, especially students, scholars, minor officials, or passing merchants.
Some hoped to try their luck in meeting His Highness, while others simply yearned to admire his paintings and calligraphy.
Just catching a glimpse was considered a fortunate occurrence of three lifetimes.
As such, the business here was booming, sparking envy among many. Several other restaurants saw their business dwindle, with those merchants eating here in hopes of currying favors with Manager Xie, aiming for smoother dealings in Fengping County in the future.
Many from the Martial World had also come, those rough and burly types, solely for the deliciously flavored dishes.
The food tasted truly wonderful. The only downside was that the drinks were expensive; Drunken Snow Brew sold for a thousand taels of silver per tael, and who could afford that? Especially those from the Martial World, who had little money to spare, struggling just to get by.
“The boat isn’t urgent; help me look for the manors first, and it’s best if they come with the farmers included!”
“Don’t worry, Manager Xie. Generally, when manors are sold, the farmers come with them!”
Only those with no other recourse and forced by circumstances would sell their manor, and naturally, the farmers wouldn’t be taken away.
It was rare for families like the Xu Family to use manors to curry favor.
Xie Zhinuan didn’t want to exploit Li Hengyi anymore for personal gains, as it could smear his reputation.
“I’d prefer to discreetly inspect the manors when purchasing; there’s no need for people to know I’m the buyer!”
Lian’s wife was extremely surprised at these words.
Why wouldn’t Xie Zhinuan take the opportunity to buy the best manors at the cheapest price?
“Sometimes, doing something once is enough. Before, I had no choice. If I exploit His Highness again for personal gains, it doesn’t matter how I’m viewed, but people might criticize his judgment for being so close to me and even say he was harmed by me!” Xie Zhinuan said with a light laugh.
One should cherish their feathers.
Chapter 301