She needed to have a good talk with Granny Lu when she got back home; she couldn’t let Hu Li take advantage of them again.
After wrapping up the books, Qin Xiangnuan finally spoke up about her thoughts in front of Qin Xiangyang and Granny Lu.
Doing business can make a person sharp, just like Aunt Hua, just like Granny Lu. Perhaps it’s not about being smart, but because they’ve seen more, spoken more, and met more people, their perspectives naturally broaden.
In the past, they faced the loess and turned their backs to the sky, hardly scheming at all. But now, Granny Lu’s views are different. Don’t underestimate her small food stall; she earns about US$ 30 a day selling lotus leaf pancakes. By the end of the year, she makes tens of thousands of dollars, and her family has even bought a new TV set. Life couldn’t be better. As for what Hu Li, Qin Pengfei, and Qin Xiangmei are up to, what does it have to do with her? They mistreated her daughter’s children, not even treating her grandchildren decently. Why should she be kind to them? Does everyone think she’s a fool?
No matter how Granny Lu handles it, Qin Xiangnuan won’t interfere. However, she believes that this time Granny Lu won’t be bullied like before, or stay silent about it.
Moreover, the building for foreign business cooperation in the city has been completed. They’ve invited her to pick a shop space—a major event that Qin Xiangnuan must attend personally. She still remembers the US$ 20,000 debt to Jian Zhiqing. She hasn’t planned to touch the money from Granny Lu, afraid that the old lady might feel burdened knowing she suddenly owed so much. Qin Xiangnuan could incur the debt because she has a way to repay it. Once she gets the shop, renting it out will bring money.
Typically, three shops are lined up together; for each shop, she doesn’t say much, but charges US$ 300, collects a year’s rent, plus some deposit, summing up to about US$ 10,000 a year. Of course, the rent will increase eventually. The so-called hike won’t happen now—at least, the prices would remain steady around the year 2000, with no major changes until after 2000 when prices will rise rapidly, a rate that could even seem terrifying compared to now.
It was the factory manager who took them there. Apart from some small schemes initially, he actually was quite approachable.
"Which three shops do you want to choose?"
The factory manager asked the Qin siblings, "How about these few?" He pointed at a few shops, "These are well-located and have good lighting, right in front of the street."
Of course, his advice was genuine, not deceitful.
"Factory manager uncle, we would like those at the back," Qin Xiangnuan pointed to several shops at the back, subtly changing her address from ’factory manager’ to ’factory manager uncle’, bridging the distance somewhat, easing the awkwardness in the manager’s heart.
He actually thought about it; it wasn’t the kids’ fault. The old factory manager had deceived them first. Compensating them with a few shops now was fair and just, which even the foreign investors had agreed to; what could others say?
Regarding the shops Qin Xiangnuan pointed out, he quickly shook his head, "These aren’t good, too hidden. Even though they’re slightly larger, they lack access."
"No need, factory manager uncle, we’re fine with these, having these shops is great enough." Qin Xiangnuan said shyly, her words sounded beautiful, yet her mind had its own plans—and once she was determined, not even nine oxen could pull her back.