The real estate broker continued, "Located in the central part of the southern area, although the location isn’t that prime, the shop is quite large, two stories high, with eight rooms in the backyard, and it won’t sell for less than eight hundred taels."
Seeing that the broker had already quoted the lowest price, making it look as if they would indeed not sell for less, An Jing didn’t immediately say anything but looked at Xiao Changyi instead.
Seeing Xiao Changyi give her a slight nod, knowing that the two shops were indeed worth the price, An Jing then said to the broker, "Then please take us to see these two shops."
Then, the broker took An Jing and Xiao Changyi to have a look at the two shops.
Since they were closer to the shop in the central part of the south, they visited that shop first.
The shop was indeed as the broker had described, but it was somewhat old and needed to be thoroughly renovated.
After that, they went to see the shop near the center of the county.
Upon arriving at the shop’s entrance, An Jing and Xiao Changyi were surprised to find that only two shops separated this shop from Qian Wei Tavern.
Although they hadn’t entered Qian Wei Tavern to look around, the constant stream of customers allowed them to know that business was truly booming there.
And this shop was also a bit old, but it didn’t need major repairs, just some simple refurbishing would do.
"Husband, what do you think...?" An Jing was indecisive for a moment and asked Xiao Changyi.
Xiao Changyi said, "This one."
Since her husband was satisfied with this shop, An Jing didn’t waste any brain cells overthinking it and turned to the broker, "Uncle Broker, we’ll take this one."
"This one is good," the broker said with a smile. "Look, when would you like to meet with the owner and finalize the purchase of the shop?"
An Jing asked, "Is it possible to meet today?"
The broker glanced at the sky outside and then said hesitantly, "The owner of this shop lives a bit far away; I’m afraid it might not be possible today."
"How about tomorrow?"
The broker said, "Tomorrow can work. I’ll go inform them right away. How about you meet here in the shop tomorrow at the third quarter of the hour of si?"
Since it was already getting late, and the meeting was scheduled for the next morning, An Jing and Xiao Changyi didn’t travel home in the dark but stayed overnight at an inn in the county.
The next day, at the third quarter of the hour of si, An Jing and Xiao Changyi met with the shop owner and the broker.
Then, An Jing and Xiao Changyi spent one thousand and four hundred taels to buy the shop near the center of the county.
Afterwards, An Jing and Xiao Changyi found another broker and signed up four long-term workers to help out at their rice shop.
After parting ways with the broker, An Jing and Xiao Changyi headed home.
When they passed by Sixteen Town, Xiao Changyi stopped the ox cart and drew a symbol on a corner of the wall. Then, they continued on their way and headed home together.
But just as they left Sixteen Town, they heard the sound of horse hooves; soon after, they saw Meng Zhuqing riding a black horse, leading another horse with a reddish coat.
Xiao Changyi stopped the ox cart and blew a loud whistle in the direction of the horses. The reddish-coated horse immediately neighed loudly, swiftly freeing itself from the reins held in Meng Zhuqing’s hand, and bolted towards Xiao Changyi.
The speed was really fast, and An Jing could only see a shadow rapidly approaching them.
An Jing knew that this horse must be Xiao Changyi’s warhorse — Zhuri.
Xiao Changyi hadn’t even dismounted from the ox cart when the robust and imposing Zhuri had already rushed to his side and abruptly halted. Rearing on its hind legs, it let out a sky-piercing neigh, exuding a pride unmatched by any other.